So, why hasn’t he found a job?

That was my first question.  However, as I continued to watch, his problem became apparent.  He had been lazy in his search!  For 18 months, the only thing he’s done to try and find a job is go to an outplacement center everyday and submit on-line applications.

If you haven’t learned anything else while following this blog, you must know that I am a STRONG advocate for trying multiple approaches to a job search.  While moving out of your comfort zone is never easy, if you don’t want to end up unemployed for 18 months or longer, you must stretch yourself.

If you aren’t familiar with social media and social networking, I’m sure you know at least one young person who is.  Ask him/her to show you how to use these options to get yourself and your credentials out there for others to see.  You’re shy and aren’t good at meeting people, no problem!  Read back through several of my former blog posts for some great ideas on how to get started.

In today’s labor market, it is highly competitive.  If you are to be the one to hear, “You’re hired,” you’re going to do more than the basics.  To only rely on one (outdated!) method to find a job will truly do you a disservice.  Take a chance and try new things.  By incorporating multiple efforts in your search, you greatly increase your chances of landing the job you want.

Until next time….

If you’re wondering what you should look for while paying attention, here are a few hints: 

1. Check your own performance.   For your ego, this may be a hard thing to do, but it’s necessary in order to determine your “organizational value.”  Ask yourself the following questions:
   1. If I were to leave, what impact would it have on my department, coworkers and boss?
   2. What value am I really bringing to my employer?
   3. What was the last feedback I received about my performance from my boss?
   4. Do I get along with my coworkers, or am I considered to be a trouble maker?
2. Time is not your friend.  If you have time to “surf the net,” play computer games or do anything else besides work, this could be a good indicator that your job won’t be needed too much longer.  In this era of downsizing where companies are requiring employees to do the work of two (or more) people, having a lot of extra time on your hands could be the writing on the wall, “We don’t need you.”
3.  Busy work is the new norm.  If some of your company’s clients have moved on to greener pastures and you’re doing a lot of “busy work,” this could certainly be a sign of the end.  Even when you’re a valued employee and your job creates tremendous impact, you will only be kept around for so long to sort old files and rearrange office furniture if there aren’t enough clients to fund your income!
4. Rumors of M&A.  If your company has divested itself of divisions of your company, and if there are rumors of a merger or acquisition with another company, you should brush the dust off of your resume and begin to circulate it.  It’s a rare (if impossible) occasion to see a company take such steps and not follow it up with layoffs.
5. Like friend, like friend.  If you have friends or professional colleagues in similar jobs within the same industry who begin to suffer layoffs, there’s a good chance that your company and job are next.  Industry layoffs tend to happen in waves; what you see happen with your direct competitors could be a sure sign of what may be coming your way, especially if your company isn’t the industry leader.

The most important thing you can do is to pay attention to what’s happening around you.  If you notice a change, don’t stick your head in the sand and act like it’s not happening.  Too many employees get “caught with their pants down” because they ignored the warning signs that were glaring in their sight….until it was too late.

Until next time…..

As much as people don’t want to hear this, it’s true; at least to some degree.  While I’m not aware of any recruiter (at least none I know!) who would hire someone strictly based on looks, I’d be willing to bet that most recruiters would hire the more attractive person if they interviewed two people with similar sets of credentials.

Why, you ask?

I don’t know.  It could be our society’s ridiculous pre-occupation with physical appearance and our inability to resist it.  It could be because even the Bible says, “While man looks at the outward appearance, God judges the heart.”  If God said it, it must be true, right?  Whatever the reason, it’s wrong and we all know it.

However, there are many things in our society that are wrong, but they still are.  If you feel you others would overlook you because of your physical appearance, there are a few things you can do to help your cause:

1.  Work very hard to make your credentials as strong as they can be.  As a recruiter, even if you have someone in your office who’s drop-dead gorgeous, it’s next to impossible to pass up a really strong candidate!

2.  Smile!  It sounds simple, but people who have a pleasant demeanor always help themselves by showing it to others.  No one wants to hire or work with a curmudgeon!

3.  Dress one level up.  There’s an old saying that applies here – “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”  Make sure your clothes are nice (not necessarily expensive); meaning they are clean and pressed, fit well, colors that bring out your features, appropriate for the occasion, etc.  If you wear clothing that enhances your natural look, believe me, others will notice.

4.  Be the best you, you can be.  Have you ever known someone who, at first glance, didn’t appeal to you, but as you got to know them better, their great personality made them look better?  Well, it’s true when searching for a job.  If you are a positive person, let others know it.  If you have a great sense of humor, fuse it into your job search.  By being the best you, you can be, it can transform any opinion others may have of you.

Until next time….

Nevertheless, that’s my problem.

During my hiatus, I ran across several topics that I thought were blog post-worthy, so I set them aside for such a time as this.  The first one came from an on-line article I read from Newsweek called, “Poll: How Much Is Beauty Worth at Work?”  The net-net: it pays to be good-looking.

To learn more, click on the following link:   Beauty at Work  In my next post, I’ll give you my thoughts.

It’s good to be back!

Until next time….

With new job offers come new money and perks possibilities – salary boost, more vacation, paid for conferences, sign-on bonus, etc.  Here comes the challenge ….

How do you negotiate for all of these great things??

To help you overcome the hurdles to your financial payout, check out these two links which offer great tips to practice when having that compensation discussion.

Negotiating Salary Tips

Negotiating Salary Tips 2

Good luck and congratulations.

Until next time….

What’s great about having one is it allows you to be able to present your credentials to anyone, at any time and in any place.  Because of its size, you can present it at any party, the grocery store, church/synagogue/mosque/temple or hair salon/barber shop without looking like a desperate opportunist!  After you’ve engaged in great conversation and ‘casually’ mentioned that you were searching for employment, just whip it out of your wallet and voila!  Your information can now work for you instead of your working to give it.

Because of its limited space, you really need to think through what you want to communicate.  I recommend:

The Front Side

• Obviously, your name, phone number(s) and an email address
• Very high-level summary of your past experience (six words or less) – these should represent the functional expertise you possess – e.g. Industrial Engineering or Sales Management or Human Resources Generalist
• If you’ve worked in multiple industries, list them
• The type of work you’re seeking (again in 5-7 words or less) – e.g. Seeking executive-level IT in Telecommunications industry

The Back Side

• Here’s where you list all of the key qualifications you’ve acquired that are relevant to the type of work you are seeking – e.g. People Management, Fluent in Spanish, Top-Level Government Security Clearance, Photoshop, Budget Management

One other important thing to remember is your Resume Card represents you.  If you can afford it better, avoid a plain white card with black lettering.  Do you remember when generic products first hit the grocery shelves years ago with their white boxes and black letters?  Well, this is what a plain resume card looks like as well.  Boring!  The more polish you add to your card, the more polished you’ll look.

Until next time….

Since I just did a three-part series last month on the importance of networking, how to develop and how to maintain your network, I won’t bore you by rehashing all of this.  Instead, this time I want to focus on what I call the “Networking Event Cold Call.”

What is the Networking Event Cold Call?  I’m glad you asked.

One action I always recommend to build up a network is to attend gatherings that are specifically designed for networking (hint: it’s usually part of the title!).  Great advice, right?  For those who know what to do once they get to the event, it is indeed great advice.  However, I’ve learned that there are thousands…..probably millions of people, who can find the event but have no idea what to do once they arrive!  Is this you?

Never fear, I have the answers to your dilemma right here.  

1. Prior to attending, ditch your friends.  If you attend by yourself, good for you; it’s takes courage to do this and you certainly have it.  But, if you are attending with others, commit to NOT spending very little time at their side!  You already know them (they’re in the same dilemma you’re in!) so why do you need to converse with them at the event?  Further, isn’t the whole point in going to meet other people?
2. Find out as much as you can about who will be in attendance.  If the head of recruiting (that’s me!) or senior “big wig” for a company you’re targeting will be there, you can strategize your approach to create an opportunity to meet him or her.
3. Dress the part.  There’s an old saying that says, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”  Enough said.
4. Arrive early.  Wouldn’t it be great if the person/people you’re targeting also arrive early when there are just a few of you in attendance, and you get quality time with him or her all by yourself?
5. Don’t be rude.  I’ve seen it happen and I’ve had it happen to me.  Watch body language.  If you see 2-3 people engaged in a conversation and they clearly aren’t giving off signals that they’re open to others joining the conversation (e.g. they aren’t looking around smiling at others in an inviting way), please do not barge in.  That will come across as offensive and hurt your chances for a real connection.
6. Display confidence and be confident in what you have to offer.  Acting timid and scared will create the opposite effect of what you want.  The people you try to engage will probably politely and quickly work to move away from you.
7. Smile, look the person in the eyes, shake their hand, introduce yourself and begin to ask them 2-3 questions.  That’s right; do not start out talking about you and why you came.   The best and easiest way to engage others in conversation is to get them talking about themselves.  I don’t know why we’re like that, but welcome to the human experience – self absorption!  Further, it takes the pressure off of you to perform!  Here are some great starter questions for you to use.  What’s your name?  So, other than the obvious reason, what are you hoping to gain from attending this event?  Have you met any interesting people since you’ve been here?  What do you do for a living?  These are all great ice breakers and can allow you to learn more about the event as well.
8. Focus on the other person and how you may be able to assist them.  As others are responding to your questions, make sure you are indeed paying attention but at the same time, start generating ideas for how you can help them or seeking out things you have in common with them based on their responses.  Once they are done responding, chime in with your idea for further connecting or how you can assist.  These types of actions “boost your stock price” at networking events.  When I’ve done this, I’ve later had those same people find me at the event to introduce me to others!
9. Be prepared to present your “30 Seconds of Fame”  and resume card.  To learn about the “30 Seconds of Fame,” click on either link here which will take you to an earlier post I did on this.  Now, the resume card is something I haven’t blogged about yet, but will in my next post so stay tuned….
10. Don’t marry anyone in attendance.  Sounds crazy, but it happens all of the time.  You strike up a good conversation with someone and 40 minutes later you’re still talking with him or her.  Give even the best conversations no more than 10 minutes.  Remember, your goal is to meet as many people as possible.  You can’t do that if you don’t mingle.
11. Conduct effective follow-up and follow through.  If you commit to sending someone information, send it.  If you promise to make a phone call, make it.  The worst thing you can do is fail in these two areas.  Remember, it’s a small world and you might run into the person again.  Further, by not doing these things, you cut off your connection and made the entire networking effort a waste of your time.
12. Have fun.  Remember, it’s not jail!  It’s a networking event.  You will probably walk away feeling like you just met some good people and you know what, you did.  Enjoy the experience, learn from it and seek out the next one!

Until next time….

Gather a list of questions that are relevant to your search (ask yourself, “If I interviewed candidates for this position, what would I want to know?”) and either have a friend practice reading the questions to you while you respond, or you can practice by yourself in the mirror….out loud.  For additional tips, check out these video clips.

Of course, there are thousands of interview questions you can be asked, but to aid you in your practice; I thought I’d list 10 of my favorite questions you should be able to answer for any interview: 

1. Tell me about a circumstance in which you had to work with a difficult co-worker.  How did you overcome the challenges? 
2. Describe an innovative solution you developed in order to solve a problem.  How did it address the problem?  What were the results?
3. Describe a difficult (internal or external) client you’ve had.  How did you overcome the challenges?  What were the results?
4. Based on what you now know about the position, how do you feel your background would help to enhance our efforts?
5. Tell me about a time when you had to influence someone in order to achieve a result?  What obstacles did you have to overcome?  What was the result?
6. Describe a time when you anticipated an opportunity to help boost results and came up with a idea to address the opportunity?
7. What do you consider to be your biggest work accomplishment and why?  How did you achieve it?
8. If I were to meet your current/last boss and ask him or her about an area you need to develop in more, what would (s)he say?
9. Tell me about a work goal you set for yourself and how you went about achieving it.  What were the results?
10. Describe a time when you played a lead role on a work project or in accomplishing a work task.  What was the result?

Of course I could go on for hours thinking of questions, but if you begin your interview practice by answering these questions, you’ll give yourself a good foundation for a successful interview.

Until next time….

The article I’m recommending you read today is from June 16, 2009, however, since there are still so many people out of work, I think the content is still very applicable.

Making an Easy Re-Entry Into the Work Force

Until next time….

As a seasoned recruiting leader (and sometimes candidate), I have found that this same principle also applies to a job search.  Let me explain:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Product – Just like every company or organization has to be clear on what it is they’re selling, every candidate for hire must do the same.  The problem is that candidates usually fail to realize they are their product!  It’s critical that you realize you must sell yourself in the same way companies and organizations must sell their products or services. 

Price – All companies must determine what the fair market value is for their products or services.  For those selling “me too” options, it’s easy because they usually price them relative to their competition.  However, when a new type of product is being introduced, it can be trickier.  Pricing a product or service too high can prevent you from selling the quantities desired or even enough to become profitable!  Pricing it too low can give the impression that the product or service is inferior. 

Candidates must approach compensation in much the same way.  Through a little due diligence, you can usually uncover what your competition is making in your marketplace.  However, if you’re looking to break into a different field, it’s important that you learn what the fair market value is for your experience, education, licenses/certifications, etc.  One option you can use as a gauge for salary information is the Salary Wizard® on Salary.com’s web site.  While some compensation circles say this site is not the best one to use for salary comparisons, I have found it to be at least worth checking out.                       

Place – Companies must determine where the best marketplaces are for their products or services, whether this is by geography (city, state, region or country), store format (chain, upscale, food or mass merchandise), demographic (age, race, sex) or other parameter.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Candidates must apply this same principle in their job search.  Are there certain cities you’d prefer to live or certain parts of your current city that you’d want to work?  What industries are the most promising for your occupation?  Do you prefer a small organization or a large, multinational employer?

Promotion – Once a company has determined the first three elements, they can more effectively outline and launch their promotion plan – how they will market their products or services. 

Candidates must identify the best ways to market themselves.  Will you network with people currently in the profession, use social networking or media, work with an executive search firm, post your resume to an on-line job board, use other means or all of the above?

Once you outline your plan (4 P’s), I think you will see greater results that will help you land the job you want.

Happy marketing!

Until next time….