Wednesday, December 11, 2013

LinkedIn and the College Student

I was helping a college student with her LinkedIn profile. She asked me if LinkedIn can help college students and of course I answered in the affirmative.  Why not have a leg up on the competition by having a LinkedIn account now rather than after graduation?  You can always update it to reflect your different experiences and skills.  So what did we do?

1.   We created a Summary or Background statement and wrote it in the first person; you know "I" and "My".  In it we showcased the skills that she has grown into as a student and part time employee.  We looked up the skills needed in her chosen (for now at least) professional and worked those into her statement.  For example, if the skills needed in a future job include problem solving and decision making, we used those words to describe some of her characteristics (as long as it's honest). We downloaded her resume here too.

2.   We added more to the Employment section than company name and title.  We completed a quick description of the position responsibilities.  We found some of those words by Goggling the company website. 

3.    We added Skills and Expertise: We added these as they related to the jobs she has had and the jobs she is interested in.  We also added some of her more technical skills such as Microsoft Office.

4.    We Collected Volunteering and Organizations: We added the names of the organizations for which she volunteers and a short description of what she does.

5.   We Searched for Groups:: We looked for groups in her college major, college groups, college internship groups and the college or university LinkedIn page.

6.     We Added Contacts: I showed her how to invite people using real words and not the canned invitation and left that to her.

7.    We Looked for Companies to Follow: I showed her how that worked and let her select those on her own.

      8.  We Selected a Photograph: We selected a professional looking head-shot from her "thousands" of  photos.

That’s it.  It took a couple of hours but at least this young college student can stand apart from the crowd with a professional LinkedIn profile.  It certainly won’t hurt her chances of finding an internship or professional position down the road.

Monday, December 9, 2013

On Having Fun at Work and School

I was reading an article on LinkedIn about the lack of play or fun in organizations and this led to many thought-provoking comments about the lack of play in schools.  One man said that play is a structure that kids are placed into to work around the narrow requirements of the parent’s work schedule.  Wow. Another commented that as a teacher he has noticed that many children don’t seem to know what to do with themselves when given free time or a recess.  The kids may have more equipment and balls than we had in school yet they don’t seem to know what to do with it all. Another mentioned that all the testing and structure and requirements that go on in school don’t take into account the right-brained children; those that thrive on creativity and arts. 

That’s all very sad.

I belong to a Facebook group that celebrates the memories of an elementary school.  They talk about their favorite teachers and memories. My dad was a teacher at that school so I joined to bring in some of the memories that he shared with me.  It’s funny; these folks are all grown up and have families and successful careers of their own.  When they talk about the school they talk about the teachers who took them on walks to identify trees and seeds, they talk about the 5th grade vs. the 6th grade baseball game, they talk about the Christmas play, they talk about the love, compassion and impact they felt from specific teachers and they talk about the fun they had learning. 


My dad, the teacher that they all mentioned in the above categories used to tell me that when I found my calling or profession that I should love it and have fun with it or move on to something else.  I was lucky enough to have experienced fun and teamwork and synergy my entire career.  I swear that it came from having fun as a kid.  I think that rather than concentrating so much on common core standards and left-brain mentality, educators and administrators should inject a little play, arts and recess into the schools.  Perhaps we’d get better rounded employees out of it, those who can have fun in their jobs and grow the company profits while doing so.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Job Search During the Holidays

Just because the holidays are quickly approaching doesn’t mean that it is a time to slack off on your job search; especially networking. The holidays bring in plenty of opportunities to meet with new and old friends and to let them know that you are actively searching for work. The key is to build relationships, keep your eyes open for opportunities but not let it consume you. Target family and friend gatherings, volunteer or professional group end of year celebrations, neighborhood parties... I think you get the idea.



Here are a couple of tips:
1. Be prepared with a short, casual elevator speech. Think of what you’ll say if people ask about you about yourself. Here is an example.

You: “Hi Joan, how have you been?”
Joan: “Great but so busy lately, how about you? How are things?”
You: “Good but like you trying to get everything done with the few weeks that we have left to the year. I’m also in the middle of a job search. My company outsourced my department a few weeks ago and on top of the holiday rush, I’m also trying to find a new job.”
Joan: “It’s ridiculous – this is going on everywhere. What is it that you do again? I'm sure you told me but I forgot.”
You: “I’m technical writer and I really love it. I want to stay in the field and have started serious job hunting. If you happen to know anyone in your company or from your contacts, I sure would appreciate the help.”
Joan: “Let me think about who I might know. Let’s talk more after the holidays.”
You: “That would be great, thanks Joan. By the way, how is the college search going for Erin?”

2. Listen and be open to the person that you’re talking with. In other words, don’t make it all about you.

3. Be gracious with everyone.

4. Have fun, give yourself a break and enjoy yourself. Don’t be caught off guard but don’t feel as if you have to push yourself constantly.

Talking, listening, laughing and sharing are all parts of networking; all a part of life. It's important to be prepared for any networking situation but enjoy your friends and family first and savor the season.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Interviewing Questions for the Second Interview

Honestly, if you don’t go into a job interview with a few questions for the interviewer, why even bother going to the interview? You will be removed from the list of candidates in a heartbeat if when asked, “Do you have any questions for me?” you respond, ”No thanks, you’ve been quite thorough.”

It’s easy enough to Google questions to ask the interviewer in an initial interview. Some questions can include:

a. What is the company environment like?
b. What concerns need to be addressed immediately?
c. What do you see happening with this position for the next 3 to 6 months?
d. What are the particular attributes needed to succeed in this job?
e. What are the challenges a person coming to this job will face?

What if you are called back for a second interview and this time it is with your potential peers or team members?  There are questions for that group too.  Similar to the questions used in the first interview they can include:

 1. How would you describe the company culture?
 2. What do you like about working for the company? or What have you enjoyed most about working for the company?
 3. What made you decide to work for this company?
 4. What have past employees done to succeed in this position?
 5. Are there opportunities for training or professional development at the company?
 6. What kinds of people really grow here?
 7. What are the critical challenges your team is facing right now? How can the person stepping into the role help?


Your questions show that you care enough to prepare and research a company. To these add your ability to answer behavioral and common interviewing questions and having an idea of the products and services of the organization. They can only increase your chances of doing well in the interview. 

Monday, October 21, 2013

LinkedIn Recommendations

As I prepare for another Creating a LinkedIn Profile program, I noticed that I didn’t include a section on recommendations.  That’s an important piece to LinkedIn. It’s especially helpful for potential employers to read what your past manager co-workers, directors and other folks that you may have worked with think of your work. Here is how you do it:

1. Move your cursor over your photo in the top right of your homepage and select Privacy and Settings. You may be prompted to sign in to your account.

2. Click the Manage your Recommendations link under Settings

3Click Ask to be recommended  after each job listing

4. In the "Who do you want to ask?" section, enter name(s) of your connections into the text field or click the LinkedIn icon to search a listing of all of your connections.  

5. Use the template LinkedIn provides to ask for a recommendation or better yet, create your own letter asking for recommendation.

6. Hit Send

To make a recommendation for someone else, go to the same Privacy and Settings area and follow the same steps for Manage your Recommendations. Click Make a Recommendation towards the bottom of the page and follow these steps:

1. Select a name of the person you’d like to recommend from your LinkedIn connections

2. Follow the prompts asking how and where you know this person and then write out your recommendation. 

3. Click submit.
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Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Are Cover Letters Still a Good Thing?

A recent survey asked HR managers about their thoughts on cover letters.  Ninety seven percent said that while they may not always read them, they better be included. Why include a cover letter?  A cover letter sets you apart from other candidates and allows you to showcase your brand. Since it’s the first impression a recruiter or hiring manager has of you, it’s vital in these days of job insecurity that you identify what makes you a specialist, expert or a leader in your field. 

There are a couple of different formats to writing a cover letter but the important part is that it is unique to you and to the open position.  Don’t use the same cover letter for every position.  Don’t lift something from your resume and plop it down in your cover letter either. Rather, explain how your background and experience can fill the open needs identified by the company

You can use a standard bulleted list or the newer “T” format. The bulleted summary statement emphasizes your particular strengths and achievements. .  If the job responsibilities call for experience in scheduling, communication and event planning then you need to succinctly highlight your experience in these areas. In the “T” you can create a column or “T” that matches the job skills needed by the employer with your skills and experience.”

Here is an example of a “T” cover letter.  You can substitute the middle paragraph with a standard bulleted list if you’d rather stick with the tried and true.

Proper Salutation/Address Information Date
Dear Mr. /Ms. Last Name;
The open position for a Human Resources Assistant, listed on the (company) website calls for many of the abilities I have developed in my 10 years of Human Resources experience. My background indicates experience and successful implementation of a number of innovative recruiting processes with (company) including:

In the body of the cover letter, set up a "T" column. On the left side of the "T", write out several of the job requirements. On the right side of the "T", state your accomplishments as they relate to each of the listed job requirements.


There are other areas of my background including my educational background, solid social networking and employee referral abilities, on-boarding program design and organization skills that may also be of interest to you. I look forward to the opportunity of meeting with you personally to discuss how I might fit into your
organization. 

Sincerely,

Name
Phone number





 

Friday, September 27, 2013

New Interviewing Technique

I just read a group discussion on LinkedIn about a new hiring technique.  The woman who started the conversation said that she no longer asks for resumes; instead she has applicants send her answers to these three questions:
·        Tell me everything you know about my company
·        Why you are applying for this job?
·        What makes you a great employee?
If she likes the answers she will call them for a telephone interview and then, if she really likes them, she will invite them in for a panel interview.  Talk about pressure.
As an applicant you must do your research on the company and the position. You need to be prepared with specific examples of your accomplishments and skill set. That’ a given.  If you don’t, well, it’s your loss and hopefully you’ll be better prepared next time.  An organization is looking to weed many candidates to get to the very best match. That said, it’s almost as if some companies are taking a “better than thou” approach to hiring these days by coming up with all sorts of new hiring and rather odd hiring techniques.  I’m not talking so much about the example I read this morning although that technique is teetering on the edge of unnecessary torture. I’m talking about the wacky questions that appear to have no relation to the open position. Questions like:
·        How many planes are currently flying over Kansas? (Question asked at Best Buy)
·        How many cows are there in Canada? (Question ask at Google)
·        A penguin walks through that door right there wearing a sombrero.  What does he say and why is he here? (Question asked at Clark Construction Group)
·        Can you say Peter Piper picked a pickled pepper and sell us a washing machine at the same time? (Question asked at MasterCard)
·        What do you think of garden gnomes? (Question asked at Trader Joes)

If any of these question deal with the open position or the company then OK but as a business owner, I would want to ask questions relating to the applicant’s skills set.  I’d want to see if there is a match and from my interviewing questioning get an idea of the applicant’s communication and interpersonal skills.
Sometimes I think that companies are playing games and with the unemployment numbers high (I’m talking about the real numbers); these new interviewing techniques are unwarranted. What do you think? Have you come across this in your interviewing?

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Easy Job Search Tips

I had a job search coaching session with a delightful, intelligent, thoughtful young woman this morning. She just got out of graduate school and wanted to know how to find a job in her field when the unemployment rate for young adults is so high.  She also would like to take a position out of state.  We discussed the following:

1. Go to a job search engine and open a position that interests you. Look at the job responsibilities and ask yourself  if your skills match. How? Where? Add some of this specific job focused wording to your resume if it matches your skill set.

2. Have a specific resume for each opening.  Don't rely on a cover letter for specificity because half the time those aren't read.

3. If you know someone in the town that you would like to move to, ask for their permission to change your current address to their address.  You can just use the town and state. Make sure that this new information is also on LinkedIn.

4. Make sure to add some some soft skills to your resume. 

5. If you speak another language add it to your resume with the word Bilingual. It looks good up on the top in your Summary Statement.  Add the type of  language (example Spanish, French) in the Skill Set section of your resume.

6. Use your LinkedIn group connections to ask for introductions into various companies and advice.

7.  Change your LinkedIn privacy settings to Anonymous and look for contacts.  You can send your resume to these contacts or send them a private message. Don’t forget to change your LinkedIn profile back to normal when you have finished looking for contacts.

There are other things that a job seeker can do.  Do you have any suggestions?

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Summer Internships Prove Deadly

A young man from Germany who was an intern for the Bank of America recently died. While the results of his autopsy have yet to be released, some say his death was caused by the numerous hours that he worked during his seven-week internship.  They claim that the University of Michigan student along with the other interns in the office regularly worked 12 to 14 hours a day. Apparently this is pretty common.  This article provides a bit more detail.

This isn't the first time we've heard this.  It concerns me because these practices are widespread and have become standard operating procedure. Creating a solid career path at one of these high visible organizations takes blood, sweat and tears and if you can't keep up there will always be someone ready to step on you to take your place.

With the unemployment rate for this age group is high of over 12% I can understand the willingness to work these ungodly hours.  I also know about peer pressure.  You can't be looked at as the team member if you don't pull your weight.

Companies and universities need to reevaluate their policies and stop condoning this kind behavior.  Companies also need to step up and stop shelling out the meal, travel and overtime allowances.  They need to stop looking at it like a competition. What happened to the work life balance policies that they all outwardly push? What happened to project planning?  What happened to corporate accountability and responsibility?  It all comes down to these AND the fact that since this whole economic mess started, companies are making due with a leaner workforce. 
Unfortunately, that workforce is human and as we've seen, human beings have limits.

Friday, July 26, 2013

NC Budget and the Job Search...Huh?

My daughter is a teacher in North Carolina.  Like many teachers she works hard for very little pay.  Her hours are long (7:00 am – 7:00 pm) and every year she digs into her own pocket for school supplies.

This week the state budget in NC passed and it included no raises for teachers, the elimination of tenure, the elimination of the incentive to obtain a graduate degree, the elimination of jobs for teacher assistants, cuts to instructional supplies and a shift of $10 million to income-based vouchers for private schools. In April they passed a bill to eliminate limits on classroom size.

What does this have to do with a job search blog? Well, some simple statistics may explain:
·       The NC Unemployment Rate is 8.8%
·       The NC Labor Underutilization Rate is 16.2% *

*“The total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers.” (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Not all kids get to go to private or charter schools; some stay in public school.  What about them? You don’t have to be a genius to know that cuts to public education lead to larger classroom size and a larger classroom size leads to less one on one attention to the students. A learning assistant could have helped with that larger classroom but now her position has been eliminated further increasing the unemployment rate and even worse, seriously affecting the learning process for the children. 

So what’s the outcome?   

All children will not get the education that they deserve. Period. Their learning will suffer and they will eventually give up.  When they give up their employment prospects will be severely limited and the unemployment rates and labor underutilization numbers will continue to rise.  Do you see a cycle here?

Over the past several years there has been push towards comprehensive STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) within all levels of the education system. This push is supposed to enhance our ability to be competitive in the future workplace.  For most people, especially women and minorities, a solid background in STEM will provide a strong foundation and an opportunity to thrive professionally.  Taking away the finances to support this and other educational initiatives will only further push the unemployment cycle within the state.

I’m no politician.  I’m a job search trainer and coach and I see a lot of despair and unhappiness because people lack education and resources. Why would a state (this week it is NC but it could be any state) take away any and all incentives to the teachers and especially the students who will ultimately suffer the consequences?   

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Creating a LinkedIn Profile That Gets You Noticed

I had a meeting yesterday with a man who is an expert in his particular field. He is in full job search mode, his resume is good but he is having trouble getting noticed. He asked me for some advice on getting visibility. 


Linkedin®

1.  Develop your LinkedIn Profile. Go to YouTube for some easy to follow advice on the set up. LinkedIn also has a tutorial.

2. Join the group Linked Strategies on LinkedIn for even more advice on creating a profile to get you noticed.

3. Start a blog and write about what you know. Link the blog to your LinkedIn profile and then announce it on the “Activity” section of your profile. 

4. Get a Twitter account and Tweet about what you know. Follow other accounts that are similar to your own and retweet their posts. Attach your Twitter account to your LinkedIn profile.

5. Use the edit feature of LinkedIn to upload any presentations to your Summary or Experience sections. One you are in edit mode, click the icon that looks like a box with a plus sign in the corner to add links or upload files.

6. Upload a professional looking headshot. It doesn’t have to be taken by a professional but it shouldn’t be blank, a cartoon character or any other non-professional looking pictures.   

Here are some other tips:
} You can join 50 groups for free plus 50 sub-groups
} Your 50 connections make for a completed profile
} 300 characters are allowed for each invitation to connect
} You are allotted  lifetime 3000 invitations to connect
} You can send 50 people a message at once.
} You are allotted  140 characters for the Status field

On LinkedIn you will want to get noticed.  After updating your profile you’ll get the All Star Profile Strength icon. That should help you be seen.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Interviewing Questions

In preparing for an interviewing class next week, I came across this article. It was from a February, 2009 broadcast on ABC News.  In it, David Schmier of Gethired.com lists 7 questions you should not ask during an interview and 7 ways to pose questions you should always ask an potential employer.

7 QUESTIONS NOT TO ASK IN A HIRING INTERVIEW
As a candidate, there are lots of questions you'll want to ask in a hiring interview. But many of them are things you should wait to ask until later in the hiring process. OR you should never ask at all.

1. "WHAT'S MY SALARY GOING TO BE?" Asking about salary at the beginning of the interview process will give the impression that you care more about how much you'll make, rather than doing a great job and contributing to the success of the company. So, do what you can to delay talking compensation until later in the process, (preferably when they've made you an offer, or are about to). Also, discussing compensation as late as possible will give you more leverage to negotiate. But if a hiring manager presses you, simply say, "I'd like to hear a bit more about the responsibilities of the job before I give you an answer." Or, "I'm sure you have a salary in mind that is consistent with current industry standards and I would be very happy with that."

2. "WHAT KIND OF HOURS WILL I HAVE TO WORK?" Asking about hours early in the interview process gives the impression that your big concern is how hard you'll have to work. But if the hiring manager asks, "How many hours do you expect to work in this job?", you can answer "I expect to work a full day with the understanding that there may be times that require late hours or even weekends to get a specific project done. My goal is to do an excellent job and I'll put in whatever hours are needed to make sure that happens." 3. "HOW MUCH VACATION WILL I GET?" Most businesses follow U.S. standards on vacation time, typically 2 weeks per year along with major holidays. So, asking about vacation is a wasted question. It also gives the impression that you're reluctant to work hard.

4. "HOW SOON CAN I GET PROMOTED?" Asking for a promotion is really another way of asking for a raise. So, discussing a raise before you've even been offered the job is never a winning strategy. One of the more popular questions hiring manager ask though is, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" If you're asked this question I suggest you stay focused on the present. For example, "Well Bill, five years is a long way off. Right now I'm staying focused on landing a great job, that I'll enjoy doing, with a team I love working with. And if I do a great job in that role, I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities to take on increased responsibilities at the company."

5. "DO I GET AN ASSISTANT?" It's completely appropriate to want to know what resources you'll have available to help you do your job. But this is the wrong way to ask it. It gives the impression that you're a prima donna and are looking for someone to do your work for you. Look under the following "7 Questions You SHOULD Ask at a Hiring Interview" to see the correct way to ask this question.

6. "CAN I WORK FROM HOME ONE DAY A WEEK?" Items like telecommuting and flex hours are usually considered compensation issues. Leave questions like this for later in the process.

7. "CAN I BRING MY CHILD TO WORK IF MY NANNY DOESN'T SHOW UP?" You should always avoid any suggestion that there are things in your personal life that could interfere with your getting to work every day or doing a good job. Make sure you find solutions to any possible disruptions at home before you start the job - that will keep them personal and not professional.

8. BONUS QUESTION. Any questions that don't support your argument that you're the very best person for the job should always be avoided. Questions like: "I hate dressing up every day. Do you have casual Friday's here?" Or "Is it okay if I bring my dog to work? She gets lonely sitting home by herself all day. Or "Are there a lot of singles at this company? I'm single and I think it's really great to go for a drink or hang out with my co-workers after work."

7 QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK IN A HIRING INTERVIEW
The questions you should ask are ones that support or enhance your argument that you're the very best person for the job.

1. "WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB?" Before you can convince a hiring manager that you're the best person for the job, you'll need to be certain what the job is. Always start an interview with something like, "Mary, after reading the job description, it's my understanding that you need someone who can do X, X and X. Am I correct in that?" If Mary confirms your understanding, then you can continue to build your case that you're a perfect match for what they're looking for. But if your understanding is off, you now have the opportunity to adjust your presentation so that you do match up.

2. "WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING THE PERSON WHO WILL GET THIS JOB?" The person they hire is one who will not only excel at the routine tasks but one who can successfully tackle the difficult bits as well. This question helps you find out what that big problem is so that you can build your case that you can help solve it for them.

3. "WHAT RESOURCES WOULD MY DEPARTMENT HAVE AVAILABLE TO HELP US DO A GREAT JOB?" This is the correct way to ask "Do I get an assistant?" Your question is based on wanting to do a better job. Also, you're not asking just for yourself, but on behalf of your entire team.

4. "HOW WILL THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PERSON HIRED BE MEASURED?" Getting the answer to this question will further help you identify what the company is looking for so that you can match yourself to that.

5. "BASED ON MY RESUME AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE HEARD TODAY, DO YOU THINK I HAVE THE RIGHT QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE JOB?" As the interview is coming to a close, asking this question will help you identify any weaknesses the hiring manager might feel you have. This will give you the opportunity to address it as you continue the hiring process. To address it immediately acknowledge what the hiring manage is saying, and respond by saying it's an area you felt you needed to work on as well. Then let them know how you're taking action on that - either with an online course or in a volunteer opportunity. Then in your follow-up contact with them, give an update on how you're doing with that effort.

6. "WHAT ARE NEXT STEPS?" After the interview, you'll want to be in touch with the hiring manager at key moments. But for that contact to be effective it needs to be at the right times. For example, if they're making a decision in a week on who they're bringing back for follow-up interviews and you check in with them in three weeks then you've missed the boat. Here's a good way to ask, "Ms. Garcia, do you know when you'll be making a decision on who you'll be bringing back for follow-up interviews?" Once you get the time frame for the follow-ups, you should ask, "And when do you expect to make a final decision on the person you're hiring?" Finish with, "If I have anything I wanted to add to what we've talked about today, or if I find something that you might find interesting, would it be okay for me to get back in touch?"

7. "SHOW THEM THAT YOU LIKE THEM AND THAT YOU'LL FIT IN". This is not about a specific question but how you'll pose any question you ask. Companies want employees who are excited to be working there. So, don't hesitate to show your enthusiasm at the prospect of joining their team. Companies also want to know that you'll fit seamlessly into their culture. Do this by incorporating their cultural symbols  how they talk, what they talk about, how they dress, what their values and goals are, etc. You can easily find this information by researching them on the web or in the media, by talking to people who work there or did in the past, or by speaking to your recruiter if you're working with one. You can also stop by company location and discretely observing them for a few minutes.

8. BONUS QUESTION: "AS AN EMPLOYEE YOURSELF, WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING HERE?" Asking this question serves two purposes. First it gives the interviewer a chance to talk about themselves a bit, (and everybody loves to do that.) It can also reveal things about the company that you'll want to know. Even though we're in a serious jobs recession, you'll still want to be happy wherever you work. If you discover things about the company that you just don't think you can live with, it might be better to wait for the next opportunity to come along.


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Transparency in the Job Search Process

As I a reviewed a resume this morning, there was one thought that kept running through my mind.  It's this; be specific.

You and I both know the number of miscommunications that can happen if we aren't direct.   Being transparent is the word of the day in politics so why is it that some of us have a tough time doing it?  How can this relate to your job search?

Today’s resume said this, “Greet customers”. I say,
Who are the customers?
How do you greet them?
Why do you have to greet them?
Is there a standard that you have to follow such as “Greet customers according to a company standard of 60 seconds.”

Asking questions like this tends to narrow the focus and allow you to think of measurable results for your resume.

The same thing holds true about interviewing. Again, be specific.  When the interviewer says, “Take me through the process you follow as the front desk receptionist from when the client walks through the door”, you can clearly go through the step by step process that you follow so that the interviewer can get an idea of how you operate on the job.  Don’t just say, “ I greet them, make sure they are comfortable and then call their contact."  

How do you greet them? “When someone walks through the door I make sure to smile and make eye contact.  I then ask them who they are here to see and ask them to make themselves comfortable.  I then call the contact and let them know that their guest is in the lobby.  I then return my attention to the client and point out the rest room or coffee station.”

Clarity is everywhere in life and at work.  Did you ever get feedback from your boss on a job done well?  What if your manager said, Steve, great job”?  It might make you feel great for a second but then you’d probably wonder what you did that made it great.  Something more specific would be, “Steve, great job handling that difficult client.  I like the way that you calmed him down by offering to substitute the defective item with another one.  You followed the process perfectly! Let’s look into why these widgets seem to be breaking.” 

See the difference?

Transparency, clarity, articulateness, whatever you want to call it has a place in your resume, interview and then once you are hired, at work.  How do you make sure that you are coming across clearly?








Friday, June 14, 2013

Dunkin' Donuts Nightmare: A Lesson Learned

I saw an article this morning about a woman who went on a racist, profanity laced rant on a couple of workers in a Dunkin' Donuts in Florida.  She didn't get a receipt for her order the previous day so she returned video camera in hand to record the episode.  She proudly proclaimed that she would immediately post her outburst on Facebook. It is also on YouTube. What she didn't expect was that the tables turned and rather than supporting her, millions of people on social media now scorn her.

Supposedly the ranting woman (I'm not even going to name her) is a college grad who is now in law school.   I Googled her and guess what I found? I found a page full of unflattering articles about her now infamous rant.  Of course, this being a job search blog, you can imagine the first thing that went through my head…

What law firm would want to hire her after seeing that?

The lesson to be learned here has nothing to do with her because I honestly don't think that she is worth our time.  Other than her tirade of brainless, dense and embarrassing rantings, she is also an example of minding how you use social media.  It can come back to bite you in the butt.

PS: The two Dunkin’ Donuts co-workers are being recognized for their outstanding customer service.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

The LinkedIn Invitation to Connect. Has it Disappeared?

LinkedIn has changed once again and while some of the changes have made it easier to navigate, there is one that still bugs the heck out of me.  It's the "Connect" button.  Now, if you want to connect with someone, you simply see their picture or name on the right side of your home page, click the "Connect" button and an invitation is immediately forwarded to them. Boom - it's done without giving you a chance to personalize the note.  The recipient will get an email message that says, "Name. It's good to see you on LinkedIn" and it's up to them to connect with you.

 I don't know about you but I don't like this new feature and every morning when I open my email there are several of them that I'll most likely delete because I don't know these people from a hole in the wall.  If their invitations let me know that we share a group or if they were in one of my classes it would be a different story.  Now I immediately think that they are trying to sell me something; especially those names that are in lower case letters. (Really? You can't edit your name properly?  But that's another blog.)

Here's how you can personalize the invitation to connect on LinkedIn in three easy steps:
1. Click on a name using the People You May Know" feature on the right-hand side of your Home page.
2. Once their profile opens, click "Connect"
3. The original "Invite Name to Connect" window opens.  Fill in the boxes, add a personalized sentence and send. Done.

I know it's easier to bang out a bunch of invitations to connect using the new LinkedIn feature but that doesn't make it better. Call me old fashioned but I'd rather read a sentence saying how we know one another or why you'd would like to connect than see, "Nancy, it's good to see you on LinkedIn."

Saturday, June 8, 2013

You Didn't Get The Job. What Went Wrong?


The Wall Street Journal  published an article this week that stated that in most cases, if you interviewed and didn’t get the job, you aren't going to find out why.  Most companies are worried about discrimination lawsuits and you’ll be lucky if you only receive the general, “A more qualified candidate received the position.”   So what can you do about it?  Not much.  What you can do is take a good look at yourself (both inside and outside) and make some changes.

Your overall look.  Yes, it counts.  Look at your wardrobe and either fill it in with a few professional, updated pieces or clean up and modernize what you have.  Is your interviewing wear clean and pressed? Are your shoes polished and neat?  Do you look current?  Do you look confident? These things matter.

The job.  Pull up the job description and be prepared to speak to every job responsibility listed.  Make sure you have real life examples to support these.  You may not be asked about every bullet but at least you will be prepared. Be ready with the strengths, weaknesses, why work here responses too.

The company.  Google the company or pull up the company website.  Read the “About Us”, “Our Company”, “Our Employees” or “Press” tabs.  Be prepared to speak to how you can easily adjust or slip right into the company culture.  Show that you did your research.

Your attitude. Think about it.  Does your body language show that you are open and receptive to the interviewer?  Do you have a firm handshake and a smile?  Do you make eye-contact?  Do your eagerness or enthusiasm come through?  These things matter. Don’t complain about your employment situation and definitely don’t put down your former company.

Afterwards. Send a thank you note within 24 – 48 hours and personalize it to the job and interviewer.


These things won’t guarantee a job but they may increase your chances of finding one.  You may not find out why you weren’t hired but you will know that you gave it your best shot.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Watch for Resume Misinformation

I was doing some research for a resume and the more I dug into the internet for data and samples, the more frustrated I became.  Is it any wonder that people are confused about what to include in a resume when the internet is full of misinformation?

I saw a number resumes that included a person's age and marital status.  These people were from the USA; not some foreign country where including this type of information is looked at favorably. I also saw objectives in almost every resume sample out there.  I started to enter job titles just to see how many resumes I could find that included an objective.  The same thing happened with the "References Available Upon Request" samples. These resumes were not from individual people who posted on line; they were from legitimate resume writing businesses that charge you and arm and a leg to write your resume.

There were a number of businesses and college placement offices that provided directions on completing a resume that included these steps.  This misinformation includes: 
1. Write an objective stating the types of position that you are looking for.
2. In a chronological resume, list your position responsibilities in bulleted form.
3. Keep your resume to one page.
4. Include the names and contact information for your references.

Instead, a resume should include the following:

1. A summary statement that is a brief overview of your skills.  It is your branding statement that is carefully crafted to reflect what makes you different from the rest.
2. A listing of your accomplishments. This can be a bulleted listing but it must include measurable statements.
3. A resume can be two pages.
4. Your references and their contact information should be on a separate document.

Never include any personal information such as marital status, age, race, religion, etc. The most important part of the resume is the listing of your accomplishments.  You should spend most of your writing time crafting and refining these statements.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Resume Preparation Worksheets


When you attend any of my job search classes you leave with an armful of worksheets designed to help you write your resume, interview or network. You’ll get as many free samples and tools that you’re comfortable using. Two of these tools are designed for resume writing; specifically for writing your accomplishments. Writing  your accomplishments is one of the hardest parts of resume design.  Most people don’t think of about the impact of their actions and instead, use their resumes as a listing of job activities.  This is the worst thing you can do with your resume and is a good guarantee that it will end up in the trash.  Resumes must be tailored to each position and need specific, measurable examples of your accomplishments. After all, an interviewer or resume reviewer wants to know, “What’s in it for us?”
The first worksheet, Measurable Accomplishments looks like this:

What did you do?
Who was Involved?
Why did you do it?
How did you do it?
What was the result?
1.




2.




3.




4.




5.





The purpose of this form is to review you job responsibilities and as you are doing so, jot down the answers to these questions.  Your honest evaluation should help you uncover the measurable results of your actions. 
The second worksheet is a simple two-column chart.  On the left you will list the responsibilities of the open position and on the right, you would add examples of your experience that match with or align with those responsibilities.

New Position Responsibilities
Examples of Your Accomplishments That Support These











Both of these worksheets should help your identify your accomplishments and allow you to build a specific, tailored resume.  They will also help you with the interview, especially with any behavioral questions.

Please Visit a Dermatologist

Today I had surgery for a Stage 0 Melanoma. It was discovered about a month ago when I went to my dermatologist for my annual skin screening...