Possibly time to start looking

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Author Message Possible new job hunter (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2011 - 09:41 am:    I don't see an employment category anymore so asking question here. After a comment made to me this week, I'm a little worried about my job (spec writer for a firm). Trying to be prepared for a worse case scenario, should I be looking for a head hunter to see what's out there? Been employed by same employer for 20 years so looking for job skills are a little rusty. Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1335 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2011 - 10:44 am:    Yes, you should talk to a head hunter, and one who specializes in professionals in the construction/design industry. I know someone; email me if you want his contact information. ljavoroski@flad.com David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 1264 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2011 - 06:03 pm:    Possible new job hunter, My advice would be to be proactive. Take your boss out to lunch and have an honest discussion about your future with the firm. Maybe you can convince him(her) that you are needed. If you feel like the end is imminent, then start making preparations NOW! Backup any files you want to keep. Erase any personal e-mail files. Organize your paper files as to what you want to take. Go through books to determine what is yours and what is the office property. Etc. I would even start taking stuff home at night little by little so as to not draw suspicion. That way went the day comes you can hand over your key and walk out the door. David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 1265 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, November 10, 2011 - 01:08 pm:    I forgot the most important thing to do....update your resume!! Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1337 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, November 10, 2011 - 01:11 pm:    Good advice, David, for all of us at any given time. (especially if you have something significant to add - do it before you forget) And a good head hunter can help you write a better resume, too. J. Peter Jordan (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Thursday, November 10, 2011 - 01:44 pm:    If you have a LinkedIn account, make sure that it is almost exactly the same as your resume. Someone who may be looking for you can push the "PDF" on your LinkedIn page and have an instant resume. This goes for your current employeer, too (they may be compiling resumes to respond to an RFQ) so this doesn't necessarily attract unwanted attention. If you are invited to an exit interview, updating your LinkedIn page will be easy and a quick way to get resumes out. Prospective employers and headhunters do comb through this stuff, mostly electronically, but with some eyes-on activity as well. E Jones Senior Member Username: ejonesspec Post Number: 6 Registered: 01-2011 Posted on Friday, November 11, 2011 - 12:19 am:    Headhunters can have a reverse effect in some cases, by making you more expensive since the new employer would have to pay a cut of your 1st year's salary to them. Lisa Goodwin Robbins, RA, CCS, LEED ap Senior Member Username: lgoodrob Post Number: 148 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Friday, November 11, 2011 - 08:05 am:    Talk to other local specifiers; we are a chatty bunch. Try your neighborhood SCIP members who are independents. We know which firms are busy and which are staffing up for new projects. We also have clients who would benefit from an in-house specifier; they want more service than an independent provides. Good luck! Scott Mize Senior Member Username: scott_mize_ccs_csi Post Number: 54 Registered: 02-2009 Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 03:26 pm:    Do you belong to CSI? Are you active in your local chapter? Both are very good networking opportunities. I was let go in the first wave of the 2008 meltdown/bloodbath. I landed on my feet very quickly due to contacts I'd developed in the time I'd belonged to my local chapter. Scott Mize Senior Member Username: scott_mize_ccs_csi Post Number: 55 Registered: 02-2009 Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 03:27 pm:    And I'd like to second everything David and Lisa said. It's good advice, all of it. Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: rlmat Post Number: 457 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 03:36 pm:    Good Advice! When I lost my job in February of this year, all of my leads came from fellow CSI members. I landed my current job due to a lead I received from a CSI member and product rep. The reps generally have better leads because they are in architect and engineers offices and know who is busy and who might be looking. You won't see too many ads for spec writers, it's generally by "word of mouth" Nathan Woods, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 401 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 04:03 pm:    Richard! That's good news. Where did you land if you don't mind my asking. Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: rlmat Post Number: 459 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 04:06 pm:    What's your e-mail and I'll send you my contact info. John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1344 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Friday, November 18, 2011 - 10:36 am:    Every (good) job I have ever had I found by working my network in the industry directly. That's not to say that other methods don't work. I did get my first coporate job (after having my own business) through a head hunter. But that was before access to a professional network (I didn't have one yet), and before the internet changed how one searches. The one job I got by answering a posted ad turned out to be awful, though probably not because of the way I got the job.