TIMING

Q: I'm employed in a privately held traffic engineering firm in Dallas. The owner was chairman, became chairman emeritus and has appointed his wife as chairman. His son is the chief marketing officer. His other son just graduated from engineering school and has no job. I'm the last hired. With what's happened so far, do you think it would be a good idea for me to start looking for a new job?

Through the grapevine I've heard that the majority of the highly paid engineers have had pay cuts, and some have gotten one paycheck per month when they're supposed to get two. I had a pay cut as part of a firm-wide pay cut. What is your advice? Worried

A: Dear Worried, You're seeing the writing on the wall. While it's always good to keep one eye on the market, begin your job hunt in earnest.

Line up your references and any referrals they'll give you. Develop your contact list. Research and create a list of at least 20 companies you'd like to contact. Update your resume. You didn't mention wanting to leave. Make yourself valuable to the company so they look elsewhere to cut. Consider using an offer as a bargaining chip. mlc

CONSULTANTS

Q: Dear Dr. Culp, Do you know someone who consults in getting a mid-level job? Thank you. Getting Ready

A: Dear Getting, The best method for finding a consultant is to ask people you know if they've used one or heard of one. If you've already done that and you've had no luck, check with recruiters, psychologists, marketers and your alumni office. Read the newspaper to find people discussing the issues someone in your situation finds compelling.

If you can't find anyone locally, search Google. Assess websites. If they're poorly done, you probably wouldn't like the way they conduct business. Too sharp? How well does a representative support the sales pitch in conversation?

When you find a prospect, ask how many people he/she has helped and in what industries. Most importantly, find out what marketing experience the consultant has. You aren't looking for a career counselor. You want someone who can tell you how to market yourself.

In all cases, ask for references. While the service is confidential, the person must have one or two people, including a colleague, to comment. Dig out favorite success and failure stories. If the conversation doesn't flow, keep hunting. mlc

**BlogTip**

DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS

Lisa Hanock-Jasie (linkedin.com/in/lisahanockjasie) maintains that details are extremely important. Attendance at networking events, where you blend in to stick out, is one of them. "Almost every industry has an association or two," she remarks. "Those associations hold events where you can establish yourself, get the word out about what you do and gain a personal recommendation for interviews." Why not make yourself memorable? The sticky name tags on the front table might stick to your clothes, but what's a trip to the dry cleaner's by comparison? When in Rome, do what the Romans do.

Take pains to prepare for an interview by reading the newspaper and going online to be as current and thorough as possible. "A friend of mine once went on a whirlwind tour of interviews and made no time for online research of the firms," Hanock-Jasie reports. "Unfortunately for him, one company hiring manager asked what he thought of the direction in which the CEO was taking the company. Staring back at the interviewer like a deer in headlights, my friend had no answer." He wasn't called back.

Does your interview require work samples? "Leave the rolling luggage at home and carry a small USB port with your portfolio files instead," she advises. "You're headed for a job, not a vacation."

(Dr. Mildred Culp welcomes your questions at culp@workwise.net. © 2011 Passage Media.)