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.

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...