Briefcase Coach's Career Briefs: Job Search Smarter

In this issue: Delayed starts for new hires, new salary regulations, the pursuit of happiness, method behind layoffs and more...

Author

Sarah Johnston
April 26, 2023

Dear Reader:

Whether driving across town or on a long road trip, nothing is more frustrating and discouraging than a detour. The orange signs with arrows leading you on a path you didn't choose. A path you are unsure how long you will be on. The thing about road detours is, that while it may add time to your trip, will put you back on course - eventually.

A career setback can feel a lot like a road closure. Job searching is unbelievably hard. Job searching post-layoff adds an extra level of emotion and disheartenment. It is one of the top 5 biggest life stressors behind death, moving, and divorce & above incarceration.

When you hit a detour on the road, there is a sense of confidence that you will end up at your destination, even if not the way you planned. If you are job searching, there is confidence in the same result. You will eventually end up where you are supposed to be.

This is for a season... hopefully a short one... but you will not be a job seeker forever. Try to use the time to refocus on your values and what you need in your job to feel successful.

I want to encourage you to spend time in daily prayer or meditation. Prayer can also help fight cynicism (a struggle of mine). YES, you can even be thankful during a job search season when you start looking for blessings.

Find a friend or accountability partner who is also job searching. It helps to have someone in your corner to celebrate each other’s victories & validate the other’s feelings when necessary.

You can do this. I believe in you. I’m always rooting for you.

The Graduate’s Job Market

WSJ article made waves last week when it reported consulting firms McKinsey and Bain have hired a new crop of MBA graduates, but due to lingering effects of the pandemic, the new hires may not begin work for several months. New hires are having to delay their start by months to a year. I asked my LinkedIn followers and industry experts to weigh in on advice they would give a mentee in this situation. In this article, we discuss the pros and cons of waiting to start and share advice from career experts, business school professors, and recent graduations.

Does parental income correlate with career choice? In this Op Ed article, current Harvard Economics student, Aden Barton, explores the historical shift of Harvard graduates’ career journeys and their shift to predominantly finance and consulting careers. This is a fascinating read. Thanks to my buddy, Paul Millerd, for sharing it with me.

Salary and Benefits

New regulations are forcing companies to address pay equity. The regulations require companies to report on their gender and racial pay gaps and take steps to address any disparities. In this article, career expert Josh Bersin emphasizes the importance of addressing pay equity and provides guidance for companies to do so effectively. Bersin argues that companies that prioritize pay equity are more likely to attract and retain top talent, improve employee engagement, and enhance their reputation.

Forbes presents conclusions from a new Pew Research Center survey that found job candidates who negotiate for a higher starting salary often receive one. Of the 2,800 workers surveyed, 70% said they negotiated their starting salary, and 55% of those received a higher offer. However, the survey also noted that women and younger workers are less likely to negotiate their starting salary.

Personal Growth

I really enjoyed this podcast episode where Harvard Professor, Dr. Arthur Brooks discusses the science of happiness and how to achieve it. He’s the author of the just-published book, From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life. If you are a fellow success-addict or overachiever, I think you’ll find some nuggets of wisdom in the podcast and his book.

Satisfaction comes not from chasing bigger and bigger things, but from

paying attention to smaller and smaller things.

Layoffs

This recent Wall Street Journal article highlights the difficult and complex decision-making process that companies face when laying off employees. Discussed are how large companies decide who to lay off during a crisis, the decision-making process and the impact of layoffs on diversity and inclusion efforts. The article also looks at how some companies are offering voluntary separation packages or furloughs to avoid layoffs.

Women in the Workplace

Female power rankings are often criticized for being superficial or not representative of all women. However, this article from Inc. argues that they can still be valuable in promoting gender diversity and recognizing female achievement. Such lists serve as a tool to recognize and promote women who are making significant contributions in their fields and should be used to support and celebrate women in all industries.

Career Meme

Thursday, May 11 @ 11:00 AM ET on LinkedIn

New data from LinkedIn reveals growth marketing managers and chief growth officers are among the roles most in demand.

The Chief Growth Officer is rapidly becoming essential for businesses of all sizes. Here at the Briefcase Coach, we've written more CGO resumes over the past 12 months than the previous three years combined!

I'm excited to talk to Jared Robin, one of the leading experts on the role of the CGO and the co-founder of Rev Genius, a community of 35,000 revenue pros collaborating on the future of B2B GTM.

We will cover the following:

★ Why companies are investing NOW in this position
★ How to leverage community to be seen - when you're looking seriously and casually
★ Agism in "online community settings"
★ The path to becoming a GTM leader
★ How to position yourself online for your next leadership role
..... and more!

Have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Send me an email and I'll consider it!

Can you do me a favor?

I’m on a mission to help job seekers land amazing jobs. Would you consider doing one of the following:

  • Forward or use the referral link below to share this newsletter with your job-searching friends or post about it on social media. This small act really helps!

  • Reach out to us about featuring your executive job posting in our newsletter. We are looking for hiring managers, founders, and search firms to talk on video about their ideal candidates.

  • Consider sharing my company name with your HR leadership. We are a great “white-glove” boutique option for executive outplacement

  • Recommend me as a paid speaker for your company events on networking, job searching, or leveraging LinkedIn

  • Recommend my services to high performers wanting to work one-on-one with an executive resume writer / or experienced interview coach

In Case You Missed It...

Top five content pieces from our past two newsletters:

LinkedIn Headline: How to Write a Winning One - Briefcase Coach

Your LinkedIn headline is the first impression people have of you. Make it accurate, engaging, and memorable with these top tips.

Getting Past “I Don’t Know What I Want to Do” in Your Career - Mac's List

A common theme emerges among job seekers who aren’t 100 percent certain about where they want to go next. The big question: “How do you find your career path?” There’s a lot of advice out there that says to follow your passion; however, award-winning author Elizabeth Gilbert has an interesting twist to add.

Get promoted: What makes you promotable? - Briefcase Coach

How does one get promoted? Are there ways employees can position themselves more strategically to get promoted? The answer may surprise you.

16 Google Search Features You Should Be Using

Google’s Search function isn’t limited to just finding websites. You can use the same search box to perform calculations, find flight information, and even tune your guitar. Here are a few less-known features of Google Search that you should be using.

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