Dear Bev: I'm getting a lot of calls about jobs, but how do I juggle everything at the same time?

by Beverly Weinstein, Jan 26, 2009, 9:00 AM

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Guess what, there are actually some pretty good jobs out there chasing a select group of people. Surprised? So were the executives I spoke to that are getting the calls.

These executives all have certain things in common. They speak on industry panels, are quoted in industry trades and/or have built top notch professional networks. This group may not be smarter or better qualified than others whose phones have been noticeably quieter, but they made sure to manage their career visibility. Now it's paying off.

As fortunate as this group is, they are confronting real issues as they decide on next career steps. How long do they have before the calls stop coming in? How do they juggle opportunities without losing some along the way? And should they compromise on title and salary?

Timing. My observation is that most job prospects surface within the first four weeks. By the three-month mark, things quiet down considerably. At six months there's likely to be another "pretty face" that the market is courting.

It can be hard to decide what to do as things are coming at you. Try to qualify your interest in jobs right away. Make time for meetings and phone calls. Keep an open mind. Even if something doesn't sound quite right, you may change your opinion when you find out more.

Salary. Determine a reasonable salary range. But keep in mind if retailers and home sellers are adjusting prices downward, you can bet employers expect job candidates will be willing to as well. It's likely some of the jobs you'll be contacted about will fall too far below your bottom number. You may want to eliminate those as long as you have other good options. If every job you're getting called on is below your goal, better consider rethinking that range.

Title. When it comes to title, you may have to back down a notch for the right opportunity, and the right company. Keep your ego in check; you may regret saying no later on.

Making a decision. Most importantly, try not to get pushed into making a decision before you can get a sense of what all of your options look like. And even if calls keep coming in, reach out on your own as well.

Be honest with potential employers and recruiters. Tell them that you are in multiple job conversations and expect to have other offers. Don't go radio silent with any of your prospects while you're waiting. It's easy to interpret that as a lack of interest.

Remember. It's a tight employment market and if you're juggling offers, you're one of the lucky ones. Don't blow it!

Editor's note: If you've lost a job in the media industry recently, or are afraid of doing so, despair not. Beverly Weinstein's column will reappear here regularly dispensing sound advice and practical tactics for managing your career in a volatile employment market. If you have specific questions about what you should do, please post them below, and Bev will help you out. Or if you feel uncomfortable posting your queries publicly, feel free to email Bev anonymously at dearbev@markhammedia.com

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