Hannah Morgan

The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth

Perry Mason, the well known TV defense attorney would expect nothing less than "nothing but the truth".  However, when interviewing, you are not on trial.  Nor are you in a confessional. 

There is the truth, then there is the whole truth and finally there is nothing but the truth...when you provide an answer in an interview, what level of truth should you be providing? (Thank you to my dear colleague Gloria for introducing me to this analogy!)

Human nature, or our natural instinct, directs us to provide the  "nothing but the truth" answer.  Yet this is usually the answer that will get you eliminated because it illustrates some of your flaws.

On a first date, you probably wouldn't confess that you snore, have chronic gingivitis, are seeing a psychologist for help with your OCD, filing for bankruptcy, regularly talk with your deceased Uncle George, or any of your extreme political or religious beliefs, right? So why then, during an interview are you inclined to tell them the absolute truth?

We all have filters that run in our head. Sometimes these filters work wonderfully, other times, well, not so well. 

Your first, gut response answer, is usually not filtered very well.  It is raw.  It is instinctual.  This is why it is so important to practice your answers to interview questions- not just once, but several times so that the unpolished answer becomes a well crafted gem.

Sure, the people interviewing you want the truth.  But don't scare them away.  How much of the truth do they really need to know on the first date?  Some things need to be treated delicately.  Some things just don't need to be revealed.  They are often irrelevant to the employer/employee relationship. 

Remember, no matter how badly you were treated, no matter your disability, illness, weakness or flaw, filter out the details that don't need to be shared. 

Please, let me be clear.  I am not endorsing lying or with-holding information. I am merely suggesting that you carefully consider what information you provide and when. 

If you are in doubt or are unsure, ask for advice from several people.  Listen to what they say, really listen.

Why Did You Leave Your Job?

This is a fairly common interview question and oh, by the way, it is also on every job application too.  Sometimes, the reason employers ask this question is to see how and what your response will be, not so much the words you use, but the emotions you connect with the experience. Sounds kind of "heady" I know, let's keep it simple.

Candidate A was part of a company wide downsizing.  When asked in the interview why they left, Candidate A goes on and on. They blame bad strategy and the history leading up to the company's decision to layoff employees.  But wait, Candidate A goes on further and talks about how no matter how hard they worked they could never please their immediate supervisor.  Wait, there is still more.  Candidate A confesses that some of their technical skills and industry knowledge might not have been so up to date. Yikes.  Too much information.

What the interviewer hears are all sorts of reasons NOT to bring Candidate A in for another interview.  There is emotional baggage not to mention a deficiency in skills.

Candidate B was part of a company wide downsizing too.  Their answer to the question went something like this.

"XYZ company had unfortunately lost some of their key accounts and as a result had to eliminate positions.  All but two people in my department were let go." 

Candidate B didn't shoot them-self in the foot by providing too much information.  They stated the facts.

Answering this question requires some rehearsing.  Your first attempt will most likely not be the best.  Try to craft your answer on paper.  Bullet point the key point(s) you want to make.  There is a fine line between sounding rote and sounding confident. 

Additionally, the answer you provide should sound null of emotion or perhaps empathetic.  Never, ever blame anyone during the interview.  Sure, companies make bad choices, but there is no value in pointing out flaws, errors, problems, or "issues".  Negative, emotionally-charged answers will always work against the candidate.

If you have emotional baggage connected to the "unfair or unjust" termination, then you might need to work on that first because it WILL come out during the interview. 

Doing vs. Really Doing

Nothing is harder or more exasperating than looking for a job. If you are like many job seekers, you've been attending workshops and reading about job search. You've tweaked your resume more than once (OK, maybe you've tweaked it 50 times).  You've attended all the networking groups.  You've arranged informational meetings and still, no job offer.  So what isn't working?

The answer isn't that simple.  It takes an audit.  Audits aren't fun.  They sort of force you to see the "reality".  Sometimes, the answer is, there isn't anything wrong, this just takes time.  If you are ready to conduct an audit of your job search, have someone you trust ask you these questions.  You may be thinking, "I'll just ask myself these questions", but don't do it.  Get an outsider to do it. 

• How many hours did you spend in job search related activities last month?
• How many interviews did you have last month (over the phone and in person)?
• What is the status of those interviews?
• How many target companies have you identified?
• How many target companies do you have inside contacts in?
• How many industry contacts (people who are within your industry) did you contact with last month?
• How many recruiters did you initiate contact with last month?
• How many jobs did you submit your resume to?
• What is the geographic range of your job search? Can or when will this be expanded?
• How much money have you spent on coffee? (Just kidding!)

Encourage the person asking you these questions to be tough.  Tell them you really want them to dig deep so that you can identify some things you might be able to do differently. 

One last thought: The tendency we all have is to get defensive or make excuses.  No emotions please.  Just the facts! This is a creative problem solving exercise.

Tom Peters says "The calendar never lies"!

When was the last time you reviewed your calendar from previous weeks?  Gosh, I can tell you, personally, maybe once or twice in the last year.  That's why I was so impressed by Tom's video.  Tom says "You are your calendar".  While many may disagree, either because they don't keep a calendar or don't write things on the calendar, it does show you where your time has been invested...it points to the priorities.

Frequently job seekers miss the structure of their jobs.  Using a calendar is an effective way to manage your time.  Duh, you know this already.  It is hard to do.

The other point Tom makes is that you should line up a "buddy" to review your calendar with you to really see where your priorities have been and if you are living up to what your commitments are!

Go ahead and watch this video (it is only 2.28 minutes).  I hope this motivates you!

Five Little Secrets About Networking

 Networking isn't about looking for a job.  The truth is networking is a way of life. It is about making new friends and developing trust! Whether you a college graduate or seasoned executive, it is never too early or to late to start.  Here are five things to help you understand the real meaning of networking.

1. BE "OTHER CENTRIC"

Networking is not about spewing your 45 second commercial. It is about meeting people and developing a relationship.  Always show interest in others.  Ask them what they do and really listen to their answer.  Even ask sincere follow-up questions. 

2. GATHER INFORMATION

The time to start gathering information is while you are employed. Speak with co-workers and peers about what they are doing, what they find interesting and listen. Listening is a key ingredient to being a good networker. Ignore that voice in your head that wants to weed out information or discard it.  All information is good information!

3. TRACK MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Carve time into your schedule to meet industry movers and shakers.  Read their work, follow their activities.  See what makes them tick. 

4.  MAKE IT FUN

Every time you leave your house you have the opportunity to meet new people.  Consider it a personal challenge or game, because you just never know what may happen or who knows who.  The next time you go to fill up your car with gas, pay inside and chat with the cashier, just for a second.  Doing this is great practice at making small talk and again, you just never know.  Maybe it is the dry cleaner, supermarket check out or coffee shop barrista...all of these folks are great practice and worthy of becoming new acquaintance's.

5.  "LATHER RINSE REPEAT"

Just as the instructions say on a shampoo bottle (or used to) networking is an on-going process. Meeting someone once does not form a relationship.  You need to continuously make the effort to re-connect with them.  It can be as simple as sharing an article or sending them a quick note about an upcoming event they may be interested in or a message asking them about a project they said they were working on.  Listening is important.  It will be very difficult to do this follow-up if you haven't been listening to what they've talk about. 

FINAL NOTE:

Greater than 80% of jobs are secured through some form of networking contact.  If you feel this sounds like a game, ignore that voice in your head.  Approach networking as "information gathering" and an "opportunity to meet new people". There is no hidden agenda there. 

Be patient.  Networking takes time and so does establishing trust.  This is not a wonder drug that will promise immediate results.  This is an investment in your future.  Networking is about establishing relationships and it is a quality vs. quantity mentality that will best serve you. 

I am honored to be part of Career Collective, a community of extremely talented resume writers and career coaches. This post is one of many responses to NETWORKING. Expect to find other tips and advice on:

• Overcoming networking fears
• Tips for introverts AND extroverts
• Making networking fun

I encourage you to visit other members' responses linked below. Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective.

  I want to thank Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, MRW, CPRW, CEIP (www.careertrend.net) and Miriam Salpeter (www.keppiecareers.com) for bringing this team of experts together.

Networking: Easy as 1, 2 , 3, @WorkWithIllness

How to Take the Intimidation Out of Networking, @heathermundell

Networking for the Shy and Introverted, @KatCareerGal

A tale of two networkers, @DawnBugni

Introvert or Extrovert: Tips for the Job Search No Matter Which 'Vert' You Are, @erinkennedycprw

Networking for Job Candidates Who Hate Networking, @heatherhuhman

Networking? Ugh! @resumeservice

Network, Network, Network, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes

3 ways to make networking fun for introverts and extroverts, @Keppie_Careers

Grow Your Career Networking Seeds Organically, @ValueIntoWords

Networking: It's a Way of Life, @WalterAkana

Social Media Networking & Your Career, @GayleHoward

Networking for the Networking-Phobic, @JobHuntOrg

Networking: Why Who You Know Doesn't Count, @Chandlee

Summary Sunday

Here are some of the posts retweeted this week.  I consider Twitter to be source of information for learning.  If nothing else, by following great people in your industry you come across some great information.  Hey, you might make a friend along the way too!

EMPLOYED AND LOOKING

Your Job Mis-Match will Kill Your Career by Scot Herrick

Don't Quit Your Job from Job-Hunt.org

THE SEARCH

4 Ways Not to Reek of Desperation from Six Pixels of Separation

7 Brilliant Ways to Use Your Contacts to Find a Job from The Undercover Recruiter

Don't Make These Online Job Hunting Mistakes from Keppie Careers

Searching for a Job in the Real-World by Jeffrey Lipschultz

CAREER CHANGE

Career Change- How Old is Too Old from Boomer's Next Step

PERSONAL BRANDING

Express Your Essence in a Sentence from Reach Personal Branding (this is a short video)

TRENDS

"How Outsourcing Sabotages Our Economic Future" from The Vancouver Sun

Reading Again...

Instead of selecting "beach novels", I've been busy reading "work" related books this summer. While on vacation, I got plenty of comments and a few dirty looks while reading a book that clearly wasn't deemed "summer reading".

Strategy, Leadership & the Soul goes beyond the traditional "leadership" books.  It takes a look at the future and how businesses are projected to behave and as a result of those changes discusses how leaders must adapt. 

Career Distinction is on the bedside table now.  I am enjoying every minute of this too.  Arruda and Dixson have explained the logic of why we must manage our own careers.  They have started to lay out the process for how we will do this.  

Once I am done with this, I will move on to Drive.  I have to admit, this has been in the bullpen for awhile. 

Somehow, I find it more fun to read books in groups of 3s.  I usually find a common link that runs through them all.

I hope that your summer reading list includes something that will help you professionally. 

Personal Brand...Do You Have One?

Having a personal brand is hot and hip right now.  All it really means is that you know how to package yourself.  We all have skills, talents, abilities and passion.  If you look at each of these by themselves, they aren't unique.  You and your brand become unique once you've combined them together. 

I was talking to a city planner turned into historic preservation fanatic the other day.  He's worried that his return to the city planning world may look fishy to employers.  Instead, I helped him see how his historic preservation credentials combined with his city planning experience can make him a really sweet candidate to the right city/town/area.  It was an "Aha" moment.  Instead of covering up his historic preservation interest, he's going to partner it as a unique brand!

In talking to another person about her recent relocation without a job, she understood how her blend of different work experiences add value to her where ever she goes. 

Before you embark on a job search or if you are already full swing into it, you need to understand and begin embracing this concept.  It will require introspection, but it will be well worth it in the long run.

Here are some posts and blogs to read to more fully immerse you into the concept:

It all started with Tom Peters:  The Brand Called You!  from Fast Company

10 Ways Personal Branding Can Save You from Getting Fired from Mashable

Define Your Brand with Simple Questions from Harvard Business Review

Now here are some blogs dedicated to the topic of personal branding!

Personal Branding Blog

Reach Personal Branding Blog

Brand-Yourself.com

Personalbranding101.com

Job-Hunt.org Personal Branding Posts and info (featuring expert Meg Guiseppi)

The Buzz 101

Jorgen Sundberg

On Twitter:  Lists to follow:

Mohammad Al-tee's List of personal branding @MAltee/personal branding has the largest number of folks to follow.

Interviews but no offers?

Interviews can be stressful, unpleasant, or fun.  It all depends on how you view them.  I tell people all the time to change their mindset/programming before they enter an interview.  Instead of thinking:  "I need this job" or "I really want this job", think to yourself, "DO I want this job?".  Changing your thinking can greatly impact the emotions about the interview and can also change the dialog during the interview.  Consider it exploratory.  I know, easily said, yet hard to do. 

If you have had many first interviews, but not gotten a follow-up or second interview, it may be time to do an audit.

• How are you answering questions?
• What questions are you asking?
• How do you prepare for the interview?
• What is your body language saying?
• How are you presenting yourself?
• What are you wearing?

There is no "right" answer for everyone. It is a style and personality thing.  If you haven't seen yourself in action, video yourself answering questions.  It feels strange and awkward, but it so worth it!

It is important to recognize that every interview will not translate into a job offer.  There used to be a statistic that said it took about 5-7 interviews with different companies to land an offer...

The more interviews you have under your belt, the better! 

The Garden

Back in May my family planted a vegetable garden in a community plot across the street.  In the beginning, we checked on it regularly, weeded and watered and even added MiracleGro (sorry Amy).

As the summer started up and we got busy with summer activities and vacations, the garden, still in its infancy got ignored...until yesterday.

I should include a picture so you can laugh at the weeds which have grown as tall as the rows of corn we planted.  After carefully stepping in and finding the surviving vegetable plants, I harvested 4 string beans, one tiny zucchini and one sprig of basil. Yahoo!

There is an obvious metaphor here.  Your network needs to be maintained.  Your job search won't run itself. It requires regular attention, not just when you need it.

It is difficult to manage this into an already full schedule, however, the one thing that has the greatest return on investment are the relationships you've grown.

Summary Sunday

This week's summary is truly a mixed bag of great posts from this week! 

INTERVIEWING

Interview Regrets to Avoid from Tim's Strategy

3 Questions You Don't Know the Answer to After a Job Interview from Work Coach Cafe

EMAIL

8 Tips for Getting Your Email Read from Design Resumes

Create a Compelling, Helpful, and Memorable Email Signature from Career Success Partners

SOCIAL MEDIA

7 Tips for Sharing Articles on Twitter from Interview Angel

Top 60 LinkedIn Groups for Job Seekers and Recruiters from Jobmob

7 Ways to Ensure Social Media Isn't Ruining Your Job Hunt from ERE.net

CAREER MANAGEMENT

5 Simple Career Management Lessons from Mikelally.net

The New Work Rules from CBS Moneywatch

LEADERSHIP

Top 25 Online Influencers in Leadership from HRExaminer.com

Who Do You Need To Know?

Over the past two weeks I've had conversations with a lot of interesting people.  They were with an MBA intern, Branding Guru, Human Resources enthusiast, Leadership author and Social Media/website pro.  And that's only a partial list.

The backgrounds and talents of these people were all over the map. This is what made it so interesting and exciting.  I learned something from each of them.  Things that enlightened.

The point of this post is to help you understand that "networking" (I hate this word), isn't just something you do to find a job or secure new business.  It is something you do to develop yourself.

Several months ago I was asked to list 2-3 people I would like to get to know better- people I admired or respected.  Geography was not a restriction.  I was supposed to reach out to them and and cultivate a relationship.  This was really hard and it still is. But it is a challenge I put forth to you. Why? Because it is difficult and because if you do carry it out, you will be so much better off.

Before you reach out to these people, do some prep work:

• Ask and answer why you want to meet them
• Research them online
• Construct a list of questions you want to ask them

Now, pick up the phone and call them.  Tell them why you would like to meet with them.  You won't always get a yes, however, if your reason for meeting with them is well thought out and sincere, I am willing to bet you will get more "yes's" than "no's".

What if you were to do this every week for the rest of your life? It is like a "bucket list" of people you want to meet before you die, but on a smaller, more achievable scale.  Who knows, it might lead to your meeting someone really spectacular.  Imagine what you may learn.

Tracking Your Job Search Activities

It is hard to know what's working and what's not if you aren't tracking what you are doing and how you are spending your time.

I remember asking a job seeker how many jobs they had applied for in the past week, the response: "A lot". Probing further, I asked for a number, even a range.  The person couldn't estimate how many.  This isn't unusual. But, it might be worth changing.

Weekly, are you asking yourself these questions?

• Looking back over the past week, what do you feel you've accomplished?
• Where do you feel you fell short?
• What will you do to fix or change this?
• What are your goals for next week?
• How will you accomplish them?
• Is there an issue or problem you need advice on?

I've heard people complain that tracking this stuff is a job in itself.  At first, yes, but after a while it becomes easier.  If you don't know what your are doing, how can you change? Measuring your activities is really important.

There are lots of ways to track your activities.  I don't like re-inventing wheels, so I am going to show you one I particularly like.  Jibberjobber.com also is a great job search tool.  F.R.E.E. It is internet-based and user friendly!

Orville Pierson wrote The Unwritten Rules of a Highly Effective Job Search.  I've found his productivity chart to be super effective at tracking and evaluating!

If you would like to download an Excel version, use this link.  Download Job search tracking And here is a pdf Download CS Productivity horizontal and definitions

To really get the most out of this, meet regularly with an accountability partner and review it with them. 

A Job Search Check List

Embarking on a job search can be confusing and overwhelming.  I recently came across this document and I wanted to see if it might be useful. This is a link to the .pdf  Download Job Search Check List.

Having an idea of what to do next and setting goals can really be helpful in driving your search forward.

Hope this helps.  As always, let me know what you are thinking!

Do You Still Use A Rotary Phone?

There are children today who have no idea what a rotary phone looks like.  Remember dialing your friends who had nines and zeros in there phone number...it took for ever to call them. (Or so it seemed).

We've advanced well beyond Alexander Graham Bell's innovation with today's cell phones and technology.  Maybe it is time to innovate how we manage our careers?!

It will always be about relationships

Though the method we are using to communicate with friends and family, coworkers, colleagues, etc. has changed, the purpose is still the same.  Maintaining relationships is at the core.  We are just finding new ways to do this. 

Those who are resilient and seem to land on their feet more quickly are usually the ones who have continued to maintain contact with their network.

Innovative Thinking

It is going to take more than just doing your job well to succeed.  It is going to take more than just producing cheaper products for our country to succeed as well.  This requires innovative thinking.  How can you take what you've learned into new industries that need that help?  How can you expand on what you've learned to take it to the next level?  Seth Godin and others write about our workforce needing to be more than cogs.  They need to be empowered to be innovators. 

Look for quality not quantity

Many people focus their sights on the "stability" of large organizations.  Bigger isn't always better.  Many of today's employers are operating lean and mean.  They want to grow, but with the right people.  These can be quality employers, if you can find them!

As you look for your next job, internally or externally, consider how you can nurture relationships, innovate and respect quality!

This post has been greatly influenced by "Strategy, Leadership and the Soul: Resilience, Responsiveness and Reflection for a Global Economy" by Jennifer Sertl and Koby Huberman.

Web cam Interviews...are you ready?

3, 2, 1, ACTION!

Technology is advancing so quickly.  Just as you've become a master of email, you need to learn social media, now, are you ready for web cam technology?

There are not a lot of employers using this right now, but it is something worth talking about.  Colleges are using it for their student recruitment too!

FIrst, why would an employer use web cam technology (Skype or Google Talk are the biggest right now)?  They are free and save the recruiter time which saves money!  Reason two: recordable so they can keep it on file if they chose.

Tim Tyrell-Smith wrote a post on web cam interviews and he lays out some great tips!  You can see his post here:  10 Ways to Survive a web cam interview.

Netshare wrote a post:  Smile you are on interview camera which also lists some basic advice.

Career Pro Talk also addresses the topic in his post:  Treat phone interviews seriously (including iPhone facetime and and Skype screening. 

All you need is a webcam.  You can purchase one for under $50. 

If you are looking for more info on Skype here's a link to their site.  If you would like more information about Google Talk, you can follow this link. 

Straight Shooting Advice and Info

Sometimes HR (Human Resources) gets a bad rap.  They are put in challenging situations by their organizations many times.  However, there are a lot of super people in HR trying to do wonderful things. 

I love straight shooters and Laurie Reuttiman is one.  She blogs on Punk Rock HR.  What I like about her is that she stays current with what's going on out there, she knows what she's talking about and she lets it fly.  More than once, I've read posts that advocate for pro-job seeker policies and best practices.  

Recruiters also get a bad rap sometimes.  There are several recruiters I read regularly for their wisdom and insight.    I respect Chernee Vitello of Whiting Consulting.  She's got spunk and great depth of knowledge.  Her blog is getting more attention these days and I am really enjoying the posts! 

Brent Peterson is a well regarded job seeker resource, aka Interview Angel. If you are on Twitter, you will definitely see Brent!  He understands how to use this tool!  He also offers great insight on many job search topics. 

Hopefully these writers will help dispel any myths about the hiring practices going on today as well as enlighten and motivate!

The Way We Work Is Changing

Time Magazine covered the topic in-depth in "The Future of Work".

If you want the Reader's Digest version, literally, they covered it in "Quick Study: The Future of Work"

Seth Godin writes about it in "Linchpin" and regularly challenges our thinking in his blog.

And Odesk created this presentation to address the change! 

Is it real or imaginary?  And what will you do to change with the it?

A Nation of Takers?

Have we become accustomed to hand outs? Do we feel entitled? Typically these are qualities associated with the younger generation, however, it may be cultural or societal.

No one promised us employment or the "right to work", did they? In a changing global economy, it has become every man, woman and child for themselves.  Survival of the fittest. And I believe this is a good thing for the majority of lazy Americans.

We need to develop a hunger or sense of passion.  We need to earn a living, not have it handed to us on a silver platter. 

I am on this rampage because I've been witnessing job seekers who are upset over being denied WIA training dollars (free government grants), angered over the fact that Unemployment Insurance extensions may no longer exist and who only want to participate in FREE professional development opportunities.

Please, where are your survival skills?

When thousands of immigrants rush to enter our country for the opportunity to work and and make money, doesn't it make you wonder? What is it they they see that we don't?  They are doing more than just looking for a better life.  They are risking it all for a better life.  They leave behind their families, friends and community to earn money and perhaps build a new life. 

When the pilgrims came to this country, they were hungry and passionate for a better life.  They risked it all and left behind the stability of their lives.  They became entrepreneurs, providing product and services that their community needed.  They weren't looking for handouts.  They weren't expecting to be supplied with training on how to farm, how to make candles or be a blacksmith.

Yes, our world is different today.  Many jobs do require advanced skills.  How do you acquire them?  The key is to identify them before you need them.  Become hungry or passionate.

And yes, the immigrants and pilgrims had less to lose. What is it that you are afraid of losing?

So before you start complaining about needing a job, ask yourself, am I hungry enough to do what it takes to survive?

Got thoughts?  Did I hit a nerve? Please comment.

Job Search Deja Vu

I was picking up some weekly groceries at the local supermarket, Wegmans this weekend. (I love Wegmans.  The store has everything wonderfully presented plus you NEVER have to wait in line) The fun thing about living in a small town is that you always run into someone you know.  It makes me feel like I belong here.

OK, anyway, back to the topic.  I ran into Steve, a job seeker I've known for several months.  Steve was telling me how his search this time around has been easier that his first time after 9/11.

This got me thinking.  Why would it be easier if the economy/job market is so much tougher?  I didn't need to think long to realize that it is because he's been through it before.  The second, third, forth time you've had to do something, it gets easier. 

There is less of a learning curve.

Job search requires so many skills:  networking, resume crafting, interviewing, negotiating, job search correspondence are just a few.  If you've brushed up on those skills recently, they are fresher.

You know what to expect. 

Well, kinda.  Hindsight is 20/20.  From a previous job search you learned some valuable lessons:

• Never stop looking
• Don't hold out for the perfect job
• Meet as many people as possible
• Follow up on every lead
• Ask good questions during the interview
• Don't take rejection personally
• Diversify your search (occupations and/or industries)

This sense of deja vu, as unwanted as it is, is a huge benefit.  It allows Steve and others who've experienced job loss the ability to hit the ground running sooner and faster. 

Your body and mind can focus on the known rather than getting stuck in a rut by the unknown. 

Regularly, I hear people say that they just want a stable job and they never want to go through this experience of job search again.  I say to them "Get used to it, you WILL be going through this again and sooner than you think!".

What about you?  Has this job search been easier than your first time?  Tell us why! 

Summary Sunday

There are just not enough hours in the day to write about everything a job seeker should know.  Additionally, there is good advice then not so good advice.  I love to find what I consider the best of the best posts in my "Summary Sunday".  I hope that you will add some of these bloggers/authors to your regular reading list after you've taken in their posts.

10 Ways to Survive a Webcam interview from Tim's Strategy

How to Figure out which Job You will Excel at from Jobmob

Job Search Success Wooden Style from ExecuNet Insights

Connecting the Dots of Your Career from Brazen Careerist

All About Passion from @garvee and Steve Jobs from Whiting Consulting

Are you a resistor?  from the Wise Job Search

Happy Reading and stay focused! 

Will Your Next Job be a Leap of Faith?

Deciding to take a new job is scary.  You know the pros and cons of your current job, if you are employed. What would it take to make you jump ship and leave the familiarity of your current organization?  Pain, extreme dissatisfaction, money, or all of the fore-mentioned.

I've known many people who thought they had done due diligence in investigating their new employer, only to find out they ignored the warning signs or their gut instincts. 

To read more about questions to ask yourself:  read this post "Pay attention to the "Red Flags"

I spoke with a recruiter yesterday who mostly seeks out passive candidates (they are currently employed). A major part of his time is being spent trying to convince the passive candidate to at least take a look outside of where they are now. 

This now leads me to the whole issue of employers avoidance of the unemployed.  There has been much discussion about this.  CNN explored the issue in this post.  It has also been covered by many other media sources.    

So, this is quite the oxymoron.  Do you take a job even if you know it isn't a good fit in order to find another job? It depends on many things and there are many right answers.  Remember, life is a journey...

4 Steps to Assessing Your Next Dream Job

It seems that companies are still laying off employees.  We aren't out of the woods yet and perhaps we never will be.  The reality of today's work is that it could end tomorrow, no matter how valuable you are or how secure you think your job is.

New York state, as well as other states, are having a difficult time balancing their budgets which is trickling down to schools and municipal services.  In my town we've lost a bunch of full time firefighters and our school district is laying off hundreds.  These are the kinds of employees who have become used to feeling secure.  Who would have thought they would be in the ranks of unemployed?  We NEED teachers and firefighters.  

It just goes to show, no one's job is safe any longer.  The faster you realize this, the easier it will be to start taking steps today to proactively managing your career. 

So what do you do if you think you will be next on the chopping block or you want to start being proactive?

Determine what excites you

If you've been in a job awhile, you may have forgotten why you started doing it in the first place.

• What is is you love doing within your role?
• What is it that motivates you to go to work?
• What types of people do you enjoy working with? 
• What kinds of problems do you like to solve? 
• What has been one of your most memorable accomplishments?

These are not easy questions.  They are absolutely the most important ones to answer first.

What would your dream job look like (literally)?

Before you start searching the job boards, identify your dream job.

• Would you go to an office?
• What would the office look like?
• What kinds of people would work there?
• How would your day be structured/how would you spend your time?
• What kinds of things would you be doing?
• Who would you report to?
• How would you like to be compensated?
• What kind of recognition would you want to feel good about the work you do?

Answer these questions without filtering out answers that seem crazy or unrealistic.  Just dump the answers on the page for now.

Inventory your skills

Create a list of skills you love to use and think you're good at.  While you are at it, create a list of skills that you don't like.  Then create a list of skills you want to develop or get better at using.

If you want a good listing of occupational skills, visit this link from ONet. 

Talk it out

Now you are ready to run this information by people you know and trust.  Ask them for their advice on where these things might fit.  This will allow you to create yet another list of ideas to pursue.

There is no magic wand.  There are tons of assessments out there, some free, some are not.  Even these assessments will not be able to say "You should be a Nano Technologist".  This isn't an exact science.  Finding a fulfilling job is as unique as you are and there is always more than one "correct" answer.  The good thing is, no one says you have to do this job for the rest of your life.  If you don't like it, guess what, you can leave!  

Sometimes it isn't the destination, but the journey, that enlightens! 

Career Management Is Not For Me

I write a lot about "managing your career".  I also know a lot of people who don't want to do this or at least say they don't care about a career. (They don't read my blog either.) They want time with their family or time to do things THEY want to do. Climbing the corporate ladder is not their thing.

My friend Kelly doesn't see herself as a career enthusiast.  She works part time and fits that in around her family's schedule.  She views attending meetings as an interruption to her personal life and a drain on her wallet.  She has zero desire to network for the sake of meeting new people in her field of work.  Kelly's desire is to be a mother and take care of her family.  Her interest in her "career" is very low at this point in her busy life. 

There are lots of "Kelly's" out there-  people who have priorities and values which don't really include a career. I get it. 

Though Kelly doesn't think she is managing her career, she is. Here are some reasons why:

• Her work does require her to interact with other departments and she does a phenomenal job at managing these relationships. 

• She is a life-long learner.  Though Kelly doesn't read trade publications, she does talk with others in her field regularly to learn what's going on.  She also has maintained the certifications necessary to work in her field.  

• She has developed a reputation of being fair and honest and hard working.

Kelly would never use LinkedIn or Twitter.  She'll never have a blog. But she doesn't need to. What Kelly does day after day is develop a reputation as an expert among her peers.  She does this by doing her job well.  She plays nicely with others.  She seeks out information and is current in her knowledge. 

Kelly is being true to her personal values. She is a survivor. She understands relationships.  She shows interest in others 100% of the time.

For those of you thinking, "Kelly has a job", I can tell you that she has been a job seeker more than once and every time she's searched, she's found something and it didn't take her long. 

I hope this helps those of you who say you just want a job.  I know it has helped me understand that there's more than one way to manage a career!

 

Go Twitter

I love Twitter and I want you to also.  Well, at least like it. OK, please at least try it. 

Twitter is an amazing tool for marketing (read ERE's post Twitter: Media or (Un)Social Network )

It isn't difficult and it doesn't take long to set up.  The more people you follow, the richer your experience.

Once you've set up your account, you will want to start following people.  Who?  At first this can be difficult.  Why not start with people you are connected to on LinkedIn.  There are a couple of ways to do this:

1. You can look at the LinkedIn profile and see if they've listed their Twitter handle. 
2. Use the new app on LinkedIn that allows you to see the twitter stream of people in your network. 
   Executive Career Brand has a post about this here.  

Another way to start finding people to follow on Twitter is to follow lists that other people have created.  If you want to see who I'm following for expert career advice on Twitter (and blogs), you can view this list career experts.

Still another way to find people to follow is by using Twellow.  (Considered the yellow pages for Twitter)

Now that you've found people to follow, look at what they are saying.  What information are they sharing (retweeting)? 

Twitter: The Newest Job Board from Job-Hunt.org has a great post with suggestions on how to get the most out of Twitter.

If you are looking for more basic information about Twitter (and other tools) Hubspot has put together 12 videos to help you get started with social media.  The first three are about Twitter.  

I have found Twitter to be invaluable as a networking AND marketing tool.  What has your experience been?

Summary Sunday

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!  I hope you enjoy your special day!

Instead of just listing posts this week, I am sharing 5 of my favorite career blogs.  Finding a blog is like finding a favorite book author.  They have a style of writing that either appeals to you or not.  Additionally, there is a genre (fiction, non-fiction, business, self-help, etc) that each blog author falls into. 

These are only five of the blogs I read.  I subscribe to many more for different reasons.  It is how I get my news and ideas and motivation.  Please visit all of these and find some that suit your style! 

Keppie Careers

 

Executive Resume Branding

Tim's Strategy

Brand Yourself.com

Adventures of the Job Search Ninja

Light the Fire Under Your Feet

I am honored to be part of Career Collective, a community of extremely talented resume writers and career coaches. This post is one of many responses to “heating up your job search".

I encourage you to visit other members' responses linked below. Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective.

  I want to thank Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, MRW, CPRW, CEIP (www.careertrend.net) and Miriam Salpeter (www.keppiecareers.com) for bringing this team of experts together. 

When do you feel you need to put the pedal to the metal and zoom into full speed? When are you going to treat your job search as a sprint? Summer is almost here and it is tempting to take some time off.  DON'T! 

Summer can be one of the best times to network and catch people at work.  In order to make the most of your time and efforts and to be able to feel productive, you'll want to think about deploying some of these strategies.

ACT WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY

Sure, we all say we want a job soon. How soon is the question.  Self impose deadlines for activities such as setting up specific networking meetings, followup after an interview or meeting, increasing your LinkedIn connections or adding more target companies to your list.  Assigning a "due date" to every task can hold you accountable. It also can provide a greater sense of ownership.  Let's face it, it is so easy to say, "well, she never called me back" or "I've been meaning to contact him, I've just been so busy".  No more excuses.  Figure out a way to meet your deadlines, just like you had to do at work.

If you are looking for a list of job search activities that need deadlines, check this out.

MANAGE YOUR TIME

Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People discusses the 4 quadrants of time management.  Read the chapter "First Things First" to learn more.  The goal is to disperse your time appropriately.  I like this model because it helps us see where you SHOULD be spending more time (quadrants 1 & II), however, we get lured into quadrants III & IV way too often.  

MOVE

This isn't a paid vacation. Keep yourself moving forward.  Do things that challenge you and feel uncomfortable.  Set your plan into action and work it. Or as the Nike motto says: "Just Do It".  Back in November when the government was adding extensions to unemployment benefits I wrote this post: Are You Determined to Get A Job or Ride Out Unemployment. 

You have what it takes to survive.  This is just a small test and chances are very good that you will get a job sooner or later. Hopefully sooner.

Don't miss the expert advice below!

Turn Off The Computer, Tune Into What’s Happening, & Heat Up the Job Search, @chandlee

Heating up the Job Search-How to Stay Motivated During the Summer, @erinkennedycprw

Cool Job Seekers Heat Up Their Search in the Summer, @barbarasafani

Some assembly required, @DawnBugni

Summertime, Sluggish Economy Provide Strong Motivation for an Updated Resume, @KatCareerGal

9 Ways to Heat Up Your Job Search This Summer, @heatherhuhman

Getting Out From Under Chronic, @WorkWithIllness

Upping Your Job Search Flame; Be 'Needed, Not Needy,' @ValueIntoWords

Is Your Career Trapped in the Matrix? @WalterAkana

Put some sizzle in your job hunt - how to find a job now, @keppie_careers

Summertime - and the Job Search Ain't Easy, @KCCareerCoach

Heating up your job search. 5 ways to dismiss those winter blues, @GayleHoward

Hot Tips for a Summer Job Search, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes

Heat Up Your Job Search: Avoid Job Boards, @JobHuntOrg

Heating Up Your Job Searching Skills: Networking 101 and 102, @GLHoffman

Treasure Hunt—Yo-ho-ho! Heat Up Your Job Search, @resumeservice

Assertive, Aggressive or Afraid

A friend called me the other day, excited and nervous because she had gotten an interview for a job she had recently applied for.

"What do I ask them", she asked me. 

"What do you want to know" I said.

"How much do they pay, what are their benefits like, what is their vacation policy" she answered questioningly.

"NO!" I screamed into the phone. 

"You want to decide if you want this job!  What are the most important things they'd like to see you accomplish within the first 90 days or so, what is the culture of the company, why is the person leaving this position...these kinds of things."

"Can I really ask these kinds of questions?" she asked me.

Holy cow, of course.  And more!  The interview is a mix of exploration and sales.

Would you know a good job when you saw one?  Make a list of the things that would constitute a good job and don't forget to include the work environment and less tangible things.

Explore what their needs are, who they really are- is there a match!  IF the signs are positive, show that you are interested.

A very important part of sales is asking for the sale.  Why then is it so difficult for a job seeker to ask for the job during the interview?

Practice asking questions out loud.  Write a script and work from it.  It may not feel comfortable.  It may not even sound like you.  That's OK.  

There is a fine line between assertive and aggressive. However, in most cases I don't believe we ever really try to figure out where that line is, we just know we don't want to get near it.  Try crossing the line once, I dare you.  See what happens!

Driving Change from the Bottom

Can change really happen from the bottom and move up the ladder?  Do "grass-roots" efforts succeed? 

I attended the local meetup of "Linchpins are Everywhere Raise the Flag" last night.  For those who don't know what I am talking about, Seth Godin, author of Linchpin and many other books and one of the most popular blogs on the block organized a worldwide meetup of linchpins. The mission: "A completely non-commercial chance to find and connect with other members of Seth's tribe, an opportunity to talk, challenge, and inspire your fellow travelers." 

What happened? 

A small group of people with one common connection, Seth, met to talk about his ideas and our own as well.  We were from different occupations and different generations.  The common thread was enough to unite us.  No one was sure where this was headed or what the outcome would be, but there was enough interest to draw a small crowd.

What happened, really?

We sat around and talked about stuff.  We discussed "linchpin-ness" and how to carry it out. We talked about how we might like to meet again and what that might look like. 

No, what really happened?

It brought together people.  Isn't that enough?

Thanks to our local organizer, Juli Klie for making this happen.  I met some new terrific people and re-connected with others.

Worth Repeating: Job Search Wisdom

As I dig through blogs and filter through tweets I am looking for original ideas.  How can I put a fresh spin on something that's been said one thousand times by hundreds of experts?  The answer certainly isn't easy.  Maybe it is enough to just repeat the message.  They say that an adult learner needs to hear something about seven times before they actually hear it.

But perhaps there is a lesson in this. Job seekers should remember this too. 

HOT POTATO

The news about your quest for a new job shouldn't be treated like a hot potato.  In other words, don't blast the message out just once and think you've done your part.  Just because you've told your network once what you are looking for, doesn't mean they'll remember it. 

KAMIKAZE NETWORKING

If you've created a target list of people and companies to connect with, dive-bombing to meet with them once isn't enough.  Maintain contact.  Pepper them with meaningful followup.  Be a nurturer.

TESTING 1, 2, 3

Near the end of the interview make sure they know you are qualified.  Ask the interviewer if there is anything on your resume that they have questions about or if there is anything they think you may be lacking to be seen a a top candidate for the position.

LATHER RINSE REPEAT

When leaving a voice mail message clearly state your name at the beginning and remind the listener at the end by repeating your name and telephone number.

Summary Sunday

Let's start this week's Summary with a Tom Peter's video!  If you crave more, you are in luck, he has a host of them on his website here. 

Now, we can move on to the regular posts!

The Danger of Becoming Complacent from Personal Branding blog by Kyle Lacy

10 Ways the Next 10 years are going to be mind blowing from High Existence

So You're Not an Expert You can still help someone by Jake LaCaze

I Got an Offer...But Why Didn't I get the job Offer I wanted? from Work Coach Cafe

LinkedIn Tip:  How to Rank Higher In Search Results from CIO.com

Twitter Power:  Learning for Ourselves in Realtime from USAToday

Finding Professional Development Ops- Part 2

Yesterday's post talked about identifying skills gaps and the need to develop a training plan or road map of what development you are looking for. 

Today's post is just the beginning of where to go to find professional development opportunities. 

The internet is truly full of wonderful information.  Libraries too!  Colleges/universities and many schools are offering adult education programs at low or no-cost.  Before you spend any money, ask for endorsements or recommendations and ask people you know about the program.  It is called due diligence!

Leadership, Etc:

Personal MBA

Tom Peters

Online MBA

BlessingWhite

MIT/Sloane School of Management    (thanks Mike Lally)

YouTube:

Intelligent YouTube Channels from Open Culture

Professional Associations:

Listing of Professional Associations from Job-Hunt.org

Another Source of Professional Associations from Weddles

I have listed professional associations because many times they have free newsletters, offer webinars, and other opportunities to learn from others in your occupation. 

There truly is so much out there it can be overwhelming.  That is why you will want to identify the type of development you are looking for before you start searching for "anything".

Have a great weekend!

Seeking Training- Part 1

This week I mentioned the decrease in company training budgets in one of my posts.  The result...WE need to pursue our own personal and professional development.  So easily said.  Where do you turn for training?  Before you get frustrated or give up on this initiative, let's take a step back.

What is the training you are seeking?  Let's look at the whole picture and not just the immediate need.  Training is not a quick fix.  It should be process of learning and development. 

Start with an assessment of where your skills are.  Then look at which ones you want to develop. 

This is a model of general workforce competencies from the Department of Labor.  It is a solid list.  The DOL has a site filled with specific industry competencies, so visit their site here. 

Tier 3 competencies:

• Teamwork
• Adaptability/Flexibility
• Customer Focus
• Planning & Organizing
• Creative Thinking
• Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Working with Tools & Technology
• Workplace Computer Applications
• Scheduling & Coordinating
  
• Checking, Examining & Recording
• Business Fundamentals

Now, where do you rank and where do you need or want to be?  Can you say Gap Analysis?

With this information in hand, you can begin to develop your personal learning plan.  It will give you an idea of what type of training and development to look for as well as prioritize.

Imagine actually creating this gap analysis and bringing it in to a meeting with your manager? OK, not everyone should or could.  But it will provide you with the logic to build a case for pursuing training that might need the financial support of your company. 

You could use the findings from your gap analysis and plan to network to find training resources.  Imagine asking a colleague where you might find resources for developing creative thinking.  Have they read any good books, attended any seminars or seen any webinars on the topic?

Another really helpful resource for creating your personal training plan in ONet Skills Search.  Especially if you are thinking about changing careers or industries or both.  It maps out the skills required for hundreds of occupations.  

Remember, Emotional Intelligence:

1. The ability to recognize, understand and express emotions and feelings
2. The ability to manage and control feelings
3. The ability to generate positive effects and be self-motivated
4. The ability to understand how others feel and to relate to them
5. The ability to manage change, adapt and solve problems of a personal and interpersonal nature

Also remember Resiliency.

The Only Constant is Change

Even the ancient Greek philosophers such as Diogenes Laertius knew that change was inevitable.  Little did they know how fast changes would occur in the world today.

With that said, how do we accept the fact that there are changes in life, most beyond our control.  How can we better adjust and react to the unpredictability of life?  The study of resiliency may hold the key. 

How well you bounce back depends on many things.  The good news is that we can improve our bounce-back rate!  It is as simple as changing how we think. 

Take this quiz to see how adaptable you are! View this photo

Here are two other posts on the topic:

Resiliency:  Three Ways to Increase Your Range of Motion

What is Your Threshold for Change

 

Personal Development Is Dying

What happens to the training budgets and staff when a company is in financial trouble?  They are cut, right.

What kind of budget does a small company (1-100 employees) have for training there workers on soft skills?

Where is the average employee getting their soft skills training today?

Are colleges and universities specifically developing self-awareness knowledge in their curricula?

These are the questions we need to think about and answer.  We need leaders.  We need good employees that won't leave due to poor management or unhealthy work cultures.  This can't change unless we invest in the personal development of our workforce.

I've worked for a large law firm and smaller companies and I can honestly say that I have only received soft skill training once.  OK, maybe twice, if you call Diversity Training soft skill development.

If this is indicative of what others have not experienced, we are all in trouble. 

How do we expect to have a company of innovators and strategic leaders if we haven't taught them how to communicate effectively with different personalities or if they don't know how to manage their emotions?  Do we expect a one-time seminar or workshop will "fix" them? 

So maybe it isn't about "training" per se, but about building a mentoring program which would supply regular feedback and coaching and development.

Emotional Intelligence is a key factor to an individuals success in life and the job.  Where are we supposed to go to learn how to develop our Emotional Intelligence? Todd Bavol of Adventures of the Job Search Ninja wrote a super post about Emotional Intelligence and if you are wondering what it is, here are the five elements as he simply defines them:

1. Knowing your emotions
2. Managing your emotions
3. Self-motivation
4. Recognizing and understanding the emotions of others
5. Managing relationships or, to put it another way, managing the emotions of others

These are the areas we should be developing.  Improvement in these areas will make us better, stronger, more employable, better innovators, better leaders.  Or so I think.  What are your thoughts?  Where is this training happening? 

Facing Your Biggest Fear Head On

Is it true that people don't change until they hit rock bottom? 

I've met some truly incredible people along the way who've overcome pretty amazing odds.  They've defied cancer, overcome the loss of a child, survived a divorce and many more.  What awes me is the ability of these people to move on with their lives.  Are they better people because of their experience?  I don't know.  But I do know that their stories are inspiring. 

My biggest fear was always the death of my parents.  I couldn't see life without them in it.  This year I lost my father.  It was devastating.  It still is.  But what choice do I have but to continue on and cherish his memory, right?

For the job seekers out there who are still looking for work, what is your biggest fear?  Is it not finding a job?  Is it losing your home?  Divorce?  I feel sorry for you all.  You are in a sort of purgatory.  You spend hours a day toiling away with this wet blanket of fear weighing heavy on your shoulders. 

What will you do to face your fear head on?

What if you were to resolve to the fact that you won't get a job. What would you do to survive?  How would you make money to pay your bills?   How would thinking in these terms change how you are living your life?  Would you be able to move forward? 

Thinking in this way would force many other life changes.  The sale of a house.  The downsizing of the family budget.  Is that so bad?  Who said that life was about accumulating stuff?  What are the things you value most in your life?  Relationships. People. Family.

Somewhere along the line, we were poisoned into thinking that life was about the objects that surround us.  What if life is about the people who surround us?

When you meet people who have beat an serious illness or life altering challenges, what is it that has made them successful?  Was it their ability to accept and move on?  Was it their belief in relationships over objects?

What I am pushing for with this post is unrealistic, I know.  But what I wish for is a society which puts   the best interests of people first- not the accumulation of wealth and commodities.  How many pairs of shoes do you really need?  Do the kids need every new toy that comes to market?  Speaking of which, how many hundreds of dollars are you spending on technology upgrades: smart phones, computers, the latest and greatest gadgets?  And that improves the quality of your life how, exactly. 

Where to Find Job Search Help

There is so much to learn about job search and so little time. Everyday you ask yourself questions

"how long should I wait before I follow up?"

"should I take the time to find the hiring manager's name?"

"should I be working with a recruiter?  What do they do anyway?"

This is just the tip of the iceberg.  I am pretty sure you have hundreds of other questions too. You are not alone.  Every job seeker has questions.  Most of them are the same.  In other words, there are predictable themes of questions that job seekers frequently ask.  How do you get your questions answered? 

• Join a job seeker networking group
• Read books and blogs
• Take part in workshops/seminars (online and in person)

More and more, coaches and experts are taking their expertise online.  It is easier than ever.  You just need to find them.  Allow me to help.

Every Sunday at 9 pm, there is a fantastic webshow hosted by Blogging4jobs' Jessica Miller-Merrell   "Job Search Secrets"  Once a month, Jessica also hosts a free webinar on social media.  Visit her website for more information.  

There are web radio shows, twitter chats and many other no-cost job search resources for help and getting your questions answered.  No excuses! 

Summary Sunday

The internet is full of useful content!  It can be overwhelming to find what you are looking for.  Each week I summarize some of the favorite posts I've re-tweeted.  If you follow great people, you are sure to find great content on Twitter. 

Workplace/New Job

4 Things They Must Teach Every New Hire from bNet

Networking

How to Organize Your Contacts for Networking Success from Mashable by Dan Schwabel

How to Effectively Use LinkedIn's Group Feature to Grow Your Network from Careerealism by Andy Robinson

Questions to Ask During Informational Interviews or Networking

Leadership/Self Development

A Ritual to Help You Keep Your Focus and Your Temper by Peter Bregman

9 Ways to Prepare for Jobs of the Future from More.com

100 Ways to Develop Your Mind from Change Your Thoughts, Change Your life

Personal Branding

15 Personal Branding Tasks You Can Do Every Day from Personal Branding 101

Personal Branding and Career Self Marketing Article and Tools from QuintCareers

Same Old Networking Events Getting Stale?

You and I have both attended them.  Those networking events where all the same people show up and cluster together.  I feel like I am in high school all over again.  Yuck. The reason I attend these events is to meet new people, not hang with my old pals. 

So, here's the challenge to all those hosting networking events...what can you do to add value?  What can you do to give back to those people attending your event?  It isn't enough to get the space and invite people.  You have to give them a reason to come and stay and connect!

I'm not bashing networking events, I am encouraging people to consider improving upon their current efforts.  What can you do differently?

Have crazy name tags?

Create a type of scavenger hunt?

Really, let's get beyond the standard mingling, which people aren't so good at anyway and really give them something to talk about and engage with new people.  That's why they are there too.

Hope this sparks some ideas.  If you've been to an extraordinary event, please share what made it so!

Leading A Team of One

We all lead a team of one (sometimes more).  Being a leader doesn't mean that you are directing/managing/guiding others.  It means having an awareness and practicing the competencies that make you the best person you can possibly be. 

I've lifted/listed this tremendous list from NYS Work Force and Success

Accountability	Empowering Others	Managing Risk
Analytical Thinking	Entrepreneurship	Negotiating
Building Trust	Establishing Focus	Organizational Communications
Change Management	Exercising Self-Control/Being Resilient	Partnering/Networking
Coaching	Facilitation	Political Skill
Communicating in Writing	Fiscal Management	Project Management
Communicating Orally	Flexibility	Providing Direction
Conflict Management	Getting Results	Providing Motivational Support
Continual Learning	Influencing Others	Solving Problems
Continual Improvement	Initiative	Systems Thinking
Customer Focus	Innovation	Technical Credibility
Decision Making	Interpersonal Skills	Technology Use/Management
Delegation	Listening	Thinking Strategically
Developing Others	Maintaining Personal Credibility/Meeting Ethical Standards	Valuing and Leveraging Diversity
Emotional Intelligence	Managing Performance	Visioning

Which of these is NOT important to your personal success?  How would you rate yourself in these areas?  Are there any that you think you should improve upon? 

As I re-read Seth Godin's "Linchpins" he talks about changing our perspective of work.  Godin says we should no longer cogs in the system.  Not being a cog, to me, means developing these leadership competencies.  What do you think?

Your College Grad Children Are Living with you...why?

Thousands of new graduates have been released into the world.  What percentage of them have secured jobs?  Figures as low as 25% (from Careerealism).

Sure the market is tough and there aren't a lot of jobs.  But what exactly did they learn in college?  Were they taught about what jobs to compete for?  Were they taught how to network and develop relationships?  Were they taught how to look for a job or better yet compete for jobs in this economy?  Maybe, if they visited the campus career center (where is that anyway?).

Excuse my tone, but parents, you should be outraged.  How much money did you just shell out to have your child receive an education?  What good is that education if it doesn't translate into work?  Isn't that why they went to college?

Of course, many students are pro-active and attended on campus interviews and began searching, but most probably did not.  Partially due to denial.  Partially due to fear. 

The results...they are home with mom and dad, living in their old bedrooms.  Where's the incentive to find a job?

My guess is, if you took a look at the resume and job search activities of your child, you would be disappointed in both.  It really isn't their fault, they don't know how to do this.  No one taught them and job search is not an innate skill.

Parents, if you haven't looked for a job yourself in the last nine months or so, don't even attempt to help your child.  Your input is probably not as good as valid as it used to be, sorry.

Here are some resources that specifically address the issues of a new graduate looking for work in 2010.  Share these with your family!

On Twitter, you can follow my list of New Grad Tweeters :  @careersherpa/new-grad

This is a listing of some of the top bloggers for Gen Y/New Grads:

Lindsey Pollak

Gradspot

Heather Huhman

Brazen Careerist

Careerealism

Student Branding Blog

There are tons more, but this should get them started.  You might also want to check in with the college career center now, visit a One-Stop for free job search help or hire a professional coach...

What the World Needs Now Are Linchpins

Seth Godin's "Linchpin" could become one of the most inspirational and culture changing books ever written...that is if people actually begin shipping.

It is quite possible that you've not heard of Godin.  If that is the case, then please, go to his website (it is really a blog, but there are still many people who aren't sure what that is, so I've called it a website).  

Linchpin challenges the status quo.  It talks about innovation, a new way of doing work, and so many more topics.  Dare I say- it should be required reading for all college graduates and everyone collecting unemployment.  

Being a linchpin is OUR responsibility.  Not the responsibility of employers.  It isn't a job title, it is a way of looking at managing your career. Being a Linchpin is about making yourself indispensable. 

On June 14th, in cities across the world, there is a "free and unofficial" meetup. 

If you find yourself looking for other like-minded people- people who are serious about how to better manage their careers or be an innovator, not a cog, this is your chance.

Here's to making a difference! 

You've Landed A Job, Now What?

You've persevered and finally secured a new job.  Congratulations!  You'll have a lot of work ahead of you to learn your new job.  Well, not really the job, but what your new employer expects of you and how to fit in.  This in itself is more than a full-time job.  You are bound to feel overwhelmed.  Give yourself time to adjust, however, don't forget to stay actively connected to the hundreds of new contacts you've made.  You will need this network again, maybe sooner than you want.

Here's a simple list of things to do when starting a new job:

• Have a One on One with your new manager. 

Before you do this, read Scott Herrick's post:  The Ultimate Introduction to Your New Manager from Cube Rules

• Learn the rules from your new co-workers
• Chisel time into your schedule to continue to attend professional meetings
  
• Look for opportunities to continue to develop your "brand"
• Be open to new ways of doing things (Don't be a know-it-all)
• Inform recruiters of your new status, but stay active with them
  
• Keep a running list of Accomplishments from your new job (you'll need them)
• Maintain contact with job search friends (LinkedIn can make this less time consuming)

Sharing your success story is also important.  People want to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Give back by telling your story.

Is there anything you would like to share?

Happy Memorial Day

As you watch your hometown parade today, remember the sacrifices made for our country.  As tough as things have been here over the past few years, we are still some of the most fortunate people in the world.

If you were asked to sacrifice something, what would you be willing to give up?

• Mobile phone
• Automobile
• Choice/options while shopping
• Freedom of speech
• Access to immediate information
• Personal safety
• Clean water sources
• Safe food

Do we feel entitled to these things?  Do we deserve them?  What if... tomorrow, you were to lose one of these? 

There is so much we take for granted and feel we deserve or have earned.  When you think about your happiness, which of these items really adds to that feeling? 

My hope is that today, and every day, you show gratitude and appreciation for the things and people in your life.  That you take stock of what you do have and pay little attention to what you lost or no longer have. 

Summary Sunday

Here is  summary of great posts from this week on career advice.  I hope you enjoy reading them.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

The Problem with Work/Life Balance from AMA (American Management Association)

The No. 1 Habit of Highly Creative People from Zen Habits

NETWORKING

How to Work a Cocktail Party from Keith Ferrazzi

INTERVIEWING

Playing Hard to Get - A Good Job Search Strategy or A Recipe for Disaster? from The ICT Job Hunter Blog

TWITTER

Twitter Chats - Great Way to Expand Your Network from Keppie Careers

#JobHuntChat Twitter Digest Moderated by  @MsCareerGirl @Blogging4Jobs @CornOnTheJob

PERSONAL BRANDING

Best of Branding from Brand- Yourself.com

7 Examples of Kick-A$$ Personal Branding from Social Mouths

Networking: How to ask for a favor

The other day I received an email asking me to do someone a favor. The request made me feel uncomfortable and I pondered for a day on how to respond.  As an active networking job seeker, I am fairly certain you run into these kind of scenarios as well. 

"Could you introduce me to..."

"Would you give my resume to..."

"Can you call your contact and ...."

If my dear friend, past colleague, family member or someone else close to me were asking for this type of favor, I wouldn't think twice.  Would you? (well, in 99% of the cases).  I probably wouldn't have a problem telling them why I couldn't do it either.

The problem lies when the person making this request in a virtual unknown.  Maybe you've met them once before, maybe even a couple of times.  However, you feel uncomfortable being able to carry out their request.

Being the straight forward, no-nonsense kinda gal I am, I emailed him back and explained to him as nicely as possible that his request was a tad unreasonable. 

1) I didn't know him well enough

2) He didn't provide specifics about why he was qualified or interested in the job

3) There was no reason provided as to what was in it for me (WIIFM) to do this

4) He assumed that I knew these contacts well enough to put in a good word

In my email, I also explained what he could do to try and make this an easier request. I listed all four of these things and how to fix them and invited him to call me for clarification.

He did. We spoke. I think he got it.

Here are the two lessons from this post:

1) Learn how to appropriately ask the right people for referral and favors.

2) Teach others the errors of their ways so that next time they will better succeed

I truly believe that each one of us has a duty to help educate and develop one another. 

Do you have a similar story...how did you handle it?

Social Media In Job Search

As a last minute sub, I presented this information on Social Media in Job Search yesterday.  It was a great crowd and lots of good questions. 

What amazed me most was the fact that most people did not read blogs.  I asked them how they got their news...however, I didn't get a lot of answers, so the jury is still out. 

SmartBrief, Alltop, Technorati are wonderful sources to use to find blogs by industry and key words. 

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Social Media In Job Search

View more presentations from careersherpa.

Career Fairs: 7 Best Practices

I wanted to re-post some reminders about working career fairs.  No, they aren't a waste of time if you approach them with the right objectives.

A major part of job search is getting yourself out there.  What better way than to attend a career fair.  First of all, it is going to help you get more comfortable talking about yourself to strangers and builds a little confidence. If you are going to go, do some serious preparation.  

1.  Find out what companies will be there and research them for a "Must Visit" list.

It sounds obvious, but, if the company isn't in your field or industry, then, you don't NEED to visit their table.   If you don't see companies from your target list at the fair,  perhaps it isn't worth your time to attend.

2.  Visit their websites and see what jobs they have posted. 

Generally, companies that attend a career fair have posted jobs.  If you can't find them on their website, check Indeed.  

3.  Customize your resume for that one job and put together your stunning cover letter

The letter explains why you want to work for that company and list some of your top qualifications for the job. How much more impressive is this than a generic cover letter and resume?

4.  Wait in line. 

Yes, you might have to. But use this time to meet other job seekers and share industry news.

5. Know your 45 second commercial

Confidently and happily convey your elevator pitch. 

5a. With interest and enthusiasm, ask good questions of the recruiter at the table.

 2-3 questions might be all you have time for.  You want to leave them with a positive, interested and qualified mental picture of you!

6.  Ask when and how to follow up.

"We'll call you" isn't good enough, ask when you can call if you don't hear from them.  Nicely, but assertively.  

7.  Follow up, don't give up!

Companies are not giving away jobs at a career fair.  They are there to "source human capital".  They are looking for the people who are better than the average bear.  

Miscellaneous:

Get there early while the recruiters are fresh. Have business cards to hand.  Turn your cell phone off. Always look your best (wear a suit).  Breath mints.  

Miscellaneous II:

Chris Brogan attends LOTS of conferences.  Here is his post on 27 Things to Do Before a Conference

When I worked in HR, I represented my company at career fairs.  We had two boxes under the skirted table.  One box was for resumes we would take back to the office and the other box, well, it is painful to admit...

Find and Follow- New on LinkedIn

Finding who you are looking for is generally the toughest part of the battle.  LinkedIn has just made this incredibly easy, well, for Twitter users at least.

Here is the most recent post from the LinkedIn Blog (which I hope you all are reading for updates and news on this networking tool)

Find and Follow Your LinkedIn Connections on Twitter

I just added 14 people to the Twitter followers who were part of my LinkedIn network, but who I didn't know were playing on Twitter.  Twitter users are always looking for new people (or old friends) to follow. 

In order to take advantage of this Twitter sync, you need to install the Tweets application.  The link to do this is in the blog post above.  And in case you are wondering, it is free.

The benefits of using Twitter continue to mount, so what are you waiting for?  Come engage and connect on Twitter (@careersherpa)

Going Up or Going Out

The cream always rises to the top, or so the saying goes. Today's organizations are becoming flatter and so is our world.  This poses a problem for those career enthusiasts who wan to "climb the corporate ladder", which has fewer rungs.

Where do you go if you can't go up?  Is the answer out? 

Sometimes yes, sometimes no, it depends on what you need. 

If you are not finding job satisfaction or you've reached one of the highest rungs, consider adding side projects to your plate.  These could be for skill development (ie more challenging work), fulfillment, additional income, personal brand development, or other reasons. 

Side projects could be writing, speaking, consulting, photography, graphic arts, music...or any other interest that burns within you. Is it entrepreneurship?  Kind of.  Managing your career is entrepreneurial too.  (visit Tom Peter's blog for more about this!) 

On #MBAChat last night, the question was asked:

Perhaps we shouldn't be thinking about sequential careers, one job leading us to the next job.  What if we considered our career a mix of different jobs we hold simultaneously?  

I like this thought, first because I wrote it, second, because it provides insurance for WHEN we are let go from a job. 

Does it take time, well, yes and I think that will be the reason most won't buy into the concept.  Our personal time is precious and it is highly valued by certain upcoming generations.

What are your thoughts about finding professional satisfaction from adding work to your portfolio?