Claire asks
Dear Inge
I have only today discovered your fantastic site and article on using diverse skills as assets. I wonder if I may ask for some advice please?
I took time out from my career to raise a family (I was a successful project manager/consultant) and although I continued to work, it wasn’t in my specialist area. I intended to return to project management in October 2013 when our youngest started school. Luckily I found a job share last December and was appointed to a project support role, getting my feet back under the table. However, I am now back up to speed, have renewed my PM certification and am biting at the bit to start managing my own projects again. I feel much more capable and have more potential and more to give than ever before ( I did work at the 5th best public school in the country during my “break”) but am struggling to get an interview for the roles I am applying for. I have had one interview but was told although I was very appointable, they gave it to someone already in the service (I am private sector based) and my salary levels were higher than they were paying even though the salary range given was not.
I’m wondering where I might be going wrong – should I have not taken a job in project support, or has the right one just not come along?
I would be very grateful for advice from an expert.
Expert Answer by: Inge Woudstra -Working Womens Expert
It sounds to me like you have done all the right things. The answer, sort of depends on your situation. If there are not so many jobs available in project management at the moment, it may be you just have a lot of competition. You will know by the number of opportunities you see passing by when you scan the market.
If you have send endless letters (eg. over 30) to very appropriate jobs and didn’t get a single interview, it’s worth asking a career coach to have a look at your CV and cover letter, and how they match with the job descriptions. It can be small things, such as how you word your career break, or which location you currently live in that can make a difference. It can be worth phoning up a few companies that didn’t invite you to ask why not. It may sound scary, but what have you got to loose? Perhaps they just tell you they got 2000 letters and it was quite impossible to wade through.
However you did get at least 1 interview, and from https://artsandhealth.ie/ventolin/ what you describe it went really well. Not getting that 1 job sounds to me like just being unlucky, especially as they had a sensible argument. Also well done to find out why you didn’t get the job.
Of course there is always the bias that you will have more children. There are various views on whether to mention this or not. Personally I believe it is good to let the employer know why you are so suitable for the job and you believe you can really do it. That includes stressing how ready you are for a bigger job, how you freed up enough time away from your family to be able to do that and how you are looking forward to growing to more responsibilities in the next 3-5 years. That way you clearly state your priorities are now on your career, rather than on having more children.
Some other strategies you may try are: returning to your old employer and asking for help via their network, and approaching people you know from the past for help. You would be surprised how many people that you knew 6 or 10 years ago are still willing to help. Just use Linked_In to get back in touch.
Expert Answer by Nicol Chaplin of Chaplin Coaching
Hi Claire
When I first read your note I was struck by how focused and busy you’ve been what with working and keeping yourself up to date with the latest PM skills. I was also impressed that you secured an interview in your field and though the job went to an internal candidate, you were told you are ‘very appointable’. Extremely positive feedback.
If we were working together I would now ask you to recall in detail all the questions you were asked at the interview as well as the feedback you were given as being aware of what they liked about you and your offer will help you confidently prepare for further interviews. I would also encourage you to use one of your key strengths and to step into ‘planning mode’. Think of finding new interview opportunities as a project. From this mindset ask yourself, ‘What is the first thing I need to do to get this project up and running? ‘Who do I know who can help me?’ and ‘What does phase one look like?’ As you start to answer these questions, others will occur to you and very soon you will find yourself with a project plan which you can act on.
Claire I hope this is helpful and I wish you every success for the future.