How to assist Project Management colleagues looking for a new role

At this point in the COVID world, we all know someone who has been affected by layoffs, restructuring, or downsizing. Project managers and those in the software industry have been hit especially hard as companies are spending less money and budgets are being cut.

Job hunting can be an emotional, scary, and stressful experience. Especially when there is an abrupt end to a loved role, with caring and supportive colleagues. Some layoffs happen with little to no warning, even when companies may communicate internal concerns with the health of the business.

Once a project manager needs to look for a new role, there is nothing more frustrating than submitting hundreds of resumes and hearing nothing. Especially when the job market is flooded with highly-qualified candidates. Emails and phone calls go unanswered. Recruiters ghost after initial contact or an interview. People begin to create mountains of self-doubt that they will ever find another position.

Within this tough employment environment, shown below are recommendations that those within the Project Management community can support other project managers looking for a new role. Consider it karma.

1.Make personal referrals and introductions

Personal connections matter. If you know a hiring manager that has an open requisition, share it with connections in your network who would be a good fit. When you refer someone to the hiring manager that you can vouch for, it increases the chances of their resume being reviewed and moving along in the hiring process.

Make personal introductions via professional networking sites such as LinkedIn. In the non-COVID world, introduce them in a professional setting such as conferences or networking events.

2. Share job postings within your social media channels

Many companies have employee referral programs and may provide bonuses once someone is hired or if they reach employment milestones. Share jobs within your social networks if there is a match between the job requirements and job skills of your network. HR systems such as Jobvite allow you to share positions that include links that identify you as the source of the referral.

3. Suggest additional certifications and training

Review the colleague's past experience, training, and certifications to look for any gaps that may exist. Common qualifications for seasoned project manager roles require at least 10+ years of experience and a PMP certification. Share information and experience on how you gained your certifications, including any relevant training materials. Don't provide the questions or answers to exams, as this is illegal and could forfeit your own certification.

4. Review and provide feedback on job seeker's resume

Ensure that the job seeker is truly representing their experience. When reviewing a job seeker’s resume, look out for red flags such as gaps in their resume, listing job descriptions and responsibilities instead of listing achievements or accomplishments. Check the resume for spelling and grammatical errors. A suggestion would be to use a resource such as Grammarly or a resume screening service. Look for key realistic action-based words.

An important suggestion would also be to ensure that the job seekers voicemail has a professional greeting so potential employees have a positive first impression.

5. Run mock interviews

Practice interview scenarios with a job seeker. That includes video interviews and chats. Ensure that they are fully prepared for common interview questions and have a solid 5-minute elevator speech about themselves and their background. Provide timely and constructive feedback to ensure that the mock interview process is helpful.

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About the Author:

Lori Schoenhard is an experienced senior IT delivery and program manager with over 15 years of experience leading high-performing global strategic programs partnering with cross-functional project teams within the SaaS space. Lori has worked with companies that span Fortune 500s to small family owned businesses leading program delivery for digital transformation, implementations, integrations, business analysis and testing, and delivery improvements efforts. Her focus and passion is in Business Operations, Program Management and Customer Success. She is the founder of the Adventures in SaaS Program Management blog. https://saasprogrammanager.com/

Lori is a graduate of Boston University with a Master’s Degree in Computer Information Systems and IT Project Management. She holds several certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP), ITIL Foundations, Certified Scrum Master (CSM), and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO).