Greater Milwaukee Jobs

2 GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS • January 21, 2016 recruiters or interviewers. If possible, include a brief explanation – layoff, sab- batical, family care, attempt to start your own business, etc. – in a cover letter. Then prepare to go into further detail in an interview. Be honest. The real reason you haven't been working may be less hurtful than a lie, partly because a lie might be discovered in a back- ground check. Honesty also reflects good character. You also may be able to work in some human interest stories that show how you're a caring or reliable person; most employers want "people people" in their work environments. • Be positive. It may be hard to put a good spin on the work gap if you've been lazy or unwilling to take a job you considered beneath you. But you need to try to shape opinion in your favor. To be sure, gaps such as rais- ing children or caring for ill family members are easier to explain. • Tell how you continued to use your skills. Ideally, you can talk about volunteering, freelancing or educational advancement. Prospective employers will see those as indications of your energy or your commitment to your trade. • Explain that you stayed current. Employers want people to hit the job running, and they're worried that you might have lost computer skills. It will help if you've kept active in a professional or trade association or if you can honestly talk about stay- ing connected by reading industry periodicals or blogs. The bits of advice may be frustrating to job hunters who have done their best to regain employment and have still come up empty. It's completely understandable for workers to prolong job searches because they're not willing to settle for less than they had before. But some- times reality intrudes. The job market of 2015, and probably 2016, although much improved, isn't the same as before. Despite sta- tistical job market health, the full-time, benefits- and pen- sion-provided employment of years past is far rarer these days. The ranks of self- employed people testify to that. But now is as good a time as any to attempt re- entry to payroll employment. gaps ... from page 1 Networking doesn't happen overnight & A Q A. Networking is impor- tant, and depends on trust and mutual benefit. So, while there's no point in taking the response personally, it would be valuable to reflect on your approach. Think about some recent episodes.What strategies are you using? What steps are you taking? Many people will simply send an email and leave it at that. Often this will be too passive, given the volume of emails these days. The tone of your contact is extremely important. Reread your emails or think about your voice mails. If you sound demanding or if your tone is "off" in some way, this will be a serious deterrent. Don't rely on your own perception, because you're likely to see what you want to see. Instead, ask a friend to give you feedback.As always when seeking input, resist any impulse to argue or make excuses – use it as an oppor- tunity to improve. Now, here's the hard part. Networking is not a quick turnaround strategy. Relation- ships need to be built over time and on a foundation of mutual benefit. If you are using a short term network- ing strategy, that could account for the indifferent response you're receiving. Given these factors, here are a few things to think about to improve your approach. In particular, consider addressing the following questions from the point of view of the person you're reaching out to: • Why should I trust you? Be able to explain, briefly, who you are, how you're connected and why it's safe for them to connect you with people they know. You're asking people to take a reputational risk, so it's fair to have to demonstrate your credibility. • What do you want me to do? Do your research to know what you want, and then be specific in asking. If you can name a person you'd like to meet, mention that (and explain the reason you would like the introduction). If you're trying to learn more about how their company works or opportunities in the industry, explain that. It's your responsibility to make it easy for them to help you. • What if I say no? Gener- ally speaking, people want to be nice and like to be helpful. That said, sometimes there are constraints that prevent them from engaging. If you can make it comfort- able to say no, you'll leave a better feeling with them. In the interest of building longer-term relationships, this is very important. • What will I get in return? You may not have anything concrete to offer right now, but at least note that you're committed to helping them – or someone they know – in the future. And then keep notes on something that may be inter- esting to them; even sending a link to an article they might like sends a positive message. Remember, this is not "one and done." Build an ongoing practice of relationship build- ing to help further your career for the long run. Q. I am in the market for a new job and am trying to network to find opportunities. But people are not very responsive and I'm wondering why it's not working for me. Should I take it personally? By Liz Reyer Tribune News Service (TNS) Liz Reyer is a credentialed coach with more than 20 years of business experience. Her company, Reyer Coaching & Consulting, offers services for organizations of all sizes. Submit questions or comments about this column at www.deliverchange.com/coachscorner or email her at lizdeliverchange.com. A publication of Conley Media Call Center Director: Cindy Shaske 262-306-5016 cshaske@conleynet.com Account Executive: Julie Sears 262-306-5008 jsears@conleynet.com Story Coordinator: Dan Muckelbauer 262-513-2626 dmuck@conleynet.com Production: Patricia Scheel 262-513-2690 GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS Volume 18 • Number 18 January 21, 2016 To place an ad: Call us at 262-306-5008 or fax us at 262-338-5271 deadline: Noon on Wednesdays Distributed by: Conley Distribution 262-513-2646 ©2004 by Conley Media, LLC Waukesha County Independent and Locally Owned GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS is published weekly by Conley Media – Waukesha County, 801 N. Barstow St., Waukesha, WI 53186. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS assumes no liability for any error in copy or content. It is the advertiser's responsibility to be aware of the laws pertaining to employment advertising. Call 262-306-5008 for information. At 15, Amol R. Kohli began working as a server at his neighborhood Friendly's restaurant in suburban Philadelphia. While in high school, he scooped ice cream, washed dishes, and was a host, a cook, and eventually a shift supervisor before head- ing to college. Twelve years later, Kohli now owns 10 franchises of the restaurant chain in southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In December, he opened his ninth, and he's set to soon open his 10th. He also owns a Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery fran- chise and plans to open a second Tilted Kilt in the New York City area in June. Kohli, 27, is the youngest Friendly's franchisee among 27 owners and 259 Friend- ly's restaurants, primari- ly in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, said David Ulgenalp, Friendly's chief development officer. "While he may be young, his business acumen is probably the equivalent of franchisees who are 15 to 20 years older, if not more," Ulgenalp said. "He's a very sharp guy." Kohli oversees 700 full- and part-time employees and a $3.1 million annual payroll. Total revenue for all his restau- rants is projected to exceed $15 million in 2016, he said. He did not always expect to be in the restaurant business. When he headed to Drexel University, where he majored in finance and marketing, his required co-op internship was supposed to be at an options- trading firm. But it fell through, and he said, "I scrambled to find a job very quickly." Kohli called his old boss, who had become a Friendly's see ENTREPRENEUR . . . page 6 Young entrepreneur finds franchise success By Linda Loyd The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) (Alejandro A. Alvarez/Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS) Amol R. Kohli will soon open his 10th Friendly's restaurant. The 27-year-old Drexel University graduate opted for work as a restaurant franchisee after first considering Wall Street.

• Cover