Thursday, October 13, 2011
Indeed.com – save time by eliminating the need to hop from job search site to job search site
If you are applying for jobs online, chances are you spend a lot of time jumping from sites like Monster, to CareerBuilder, to The Ladders to ………… on and on and on every day in search of the newest job postings. Well here’s an idea: use Indeed.com. It is different than a lot of job search sites in that it funnels in job postings from major job search websites, classifieds, and other third party job posting sites to give you access to all of them in one place. Indeed.com also makes your searching easier by allowing you to narrow your search using simple point and click commands once you have a list of jobs. It will save you time, and you can focus more effort on networking and other job search endeavors.
A few interview tidbits to chew on
There are so many different aspects of interviewing for a job that can be covered; so many so that there are literally hundreds of books that have been written on the subject. In actuality it is does not need to be that complex, and I am wholeheartedly 100% against the interviewing books that teach people how to answer questions the way they think we want to hear it. It’s so easy to spot the rehearsed answers and B.S. If you want to be the ‘fake” candidate, then by all means use the canned and pre-packaged responses. If you want to actually impress, be genuine by being yourself, and by answering questions honestly.
I will be devoting more time to interviewing in later posts, but for now I wanted to talk about some of the DO’s and DON’Ts that come to mind. Every interview of course should be approached as a professional meeting, so treat it that way.
Let’s start with some DON’Ts:
Whatever you do, DO NOT bad mouth your current company or boss………EVER. This is the quickest way to disqualify yourself from a job. If you do it to someone else, what will stop you from doing it to them in the future.
DO NOT ask questions about salary and benefits – let them bring it up. You can refer to why this is so in a previous post, but let’s just say it shows a genuine interest in the scope of the job, not just the pay.
DO NOT chew gum, eat candy, or bring a drink with a straw. It’s annoying.
DON’T flirt. This may work if you’re looking to work at Hooters, but the majority of places will not look upon it favorably.
DON’T talk too much. It’s great that you talk about yourself, but dominating the conversation sends the wrong message. Use your listening skills and genuinely pay attention to what the interviewer has to say.
Now for the DO’S:
Study up on the organization you are interviewing with. Nothing is more impressive than interviewing a candidate who has actually done her/his homework. Conversely, nothing shows you could care less when not even knowing the company’s full name.
Focus on positives, not negatives. Nobody wants to hear about all of the bad experience in previous positions. Talk about the positive ones instead.
Use good body language and posture. This will show an interest in the position, and what the interviewer has to say.
Dress for the part, and dress appropriately. You probably shouldn’t be wearing a tux or evening gown, but for high-level professional jobs, a suit and tie for guys and a dress or women’s suit for gals fits the part. Some interviews may be less stringent, with business casual being the way to go. There usually are no circumstances were halter tops, mini-skirts, flip flops, t-shirts, or shorts are appropriate, Use your best judgment, and take some time to investigate the company if you are unsure.
Be on time. If you can’t make it to the interview on time, the very first impression you are giving them of you, then how can you expect them to believe you would be punctual if hired?
Turn your cell phone OFF. As much as this seems like it should be common sense, I’m still surprised how many people forget to do it. Even worse are the few people who have answered a call. It’s happened twice, and both times I ended the interview right then and there.
Bring a couple of copies of your resume. It’s always nice to have some just in case you end up interviewing with multiple people, or if the interviewer forgets his/her copy.
Most importantly – prior to your interview, be prepared with 4 or 5 professional achievements in mind. You will be surprised how you can use your accomplishments in almost any interview question. We want to know about you in an interview, and relaying personal examples is by far the best way to do it.
I will be devoting more time to interviewing in later posts, but for now I wanted to talk about some of the DO’s and DON’Ts that come to mind. Every interview of course should be approached as a professional meeting, so treat it that way.
Let’s start with some DON’Ts:
Whatever you do, DO NOT bad mouth your current company or boss………EVER. This is the quickest way to disqualify yourself from a job. If you do it to someone else, what will stop you from doing it to them in the future.
DO NOT ask questions about salary and benefits – let them bring it up. You can refer to why this is so in a previous post, but let’s just say it shows a genuine interest in the scope of the job, not just the pay.
DO NOT chew gum, eat candy, or bring a drink with a straw. It’s annoying.
DON’T flirt. This may work if you’re looking to work at Hooters, but the majority of places will not look upon it favorably.
DON’T talk too much. It’s great that you talk about yourself, but dominating the conversation sends the wrong message. Use your listening skills and genuinely pay attention to what the interviewer has to say.
Now for the DO’S:
Study up on the organization you are interviewing with. Nothing is more impressive than interviewing a candidate who has actually done her/his homework. Conversely, nothing shows you could care less when not even knowing the company’s full name.
Focus on positives, not negatives. Nobody wants to hear about all of the bad experience in previous positions. Talk about the positive ones instead.
Use good body language and posture. This will show an interest in the position, and what the interviewer has to say.
Dress for the part, and dress appropriately. You probably shouldn’t be wearing a tux or evening gown, but for high-level professional jobs, a suit and tie for guys and a dress or women’s suit for gals fits the part. Some interviews may be less stringent, with business casual being the way to go. There usually are no circumstances were halter tops, mini-skirts, flip flops, t-shirts, or shorts are appropriate, Use your best judgment, and take some time to investigate the company if you are unsure.
Be on time. If you can’t make it to the interview on time, the very first impression you are giving them of you, then how can you expect them to believe you would be punctual if hired?
Turn your cell phone OFF. As much as this seems like it should be common sense, I’m still surprised how many people forget to do it. Even worse are the few people who have answered a call. It’s happened twice, and both times I ended the interview right then and there.
Bring a couple of copies of your resume. It’s always nice to have some just in case you end up interviewing with multiple people, or if the interviewer forgets his/her copy.
Most importantly – prior to your interview, be prepared with 4 or 5 professional achievements in mind. You will be surprised how you can use your accomplishments in almost any interview question. We want to know about you in an interview, and relaying personal examples is by far the best way to do it.
10 Steps to increasing your visibility and success on LinkedIn
As a job seeker, the point of being on LinkedIn is to make yourself as visible as possible for hiring managers and recruiters. So with that in mind, be mindful of the bar showing what percentage your profile is complete. If it is not fully complete, it will not be as visible as it could be. Here are ten ways to improve that, step by step:
1. Include a picture
2. Work on getting the number of your contacts up. One thing that you can do is search for people in the advanced search section with keywords of "IT LION." LION stands for LinkedIn Open Networker, and these are people who will accept anyone as a contact. They also usually have hundreds if not thousands of contacts which opens your network significantly. IT I of course use simply as an example for Information Technology, but you can use any words that accomplish the search purpose, LION is the key though.
3. Get recommendation. You don't need 20, but 4 or 5 won't hurt
4. Joined some associations. Be sure to participate in some of the online forums and give yourself chances to interact with others.
5. Make sure the Skills section is pretty well filled in. This will give additional key words a searcher may be searching for.
6. I would look at perhaps creating a personal website or blog. Although not completely necessary, it also can be a nice touch if you can show observers more about you, especially when it comes to your professional expertise. A blog is a perfect medium to do this.
7. The title. Think of a description to use. Something like "Highly experienced ,,,,,." It doesn't need to be out of this world, or too elaborate, but just something that gives some interest.
8. Perhaps most important, and this is why I saved it for near the last, is the Summary and Experience sections. I would copy and paste it directly from your resume, because that is more in-depth than the descriptions you have now. I would use the Key Contributions and everything. Also don't forget Technical Skills. If you have been laid off, or if you have an impending layoff, you can and should also mention that at the beginning of the Summary. In this case a title such as "Qualified .......... seeking position as......." would be appropriate.
9. Answer questions. This is something that helps increases exposure.
10. Use the status bar once in a while to update your status and by saying things like, "seeking position as ....."
Beyond that just keep being persistent and seek out contacts such as recruiters or colleagues that can help you. Also I would recommend researching anywhere from 5 - 10 companies that you would like to target, and once you have built your network start doing searches to see names who pop up within that company so you can send them direct emails. Often times you will notice that a job pops up on Monster or CareerBuilder, but instead of applying directly send someone in the company an email. It is a way to get around the red tape and get in the door.
1. Include a picture
2. Work on getting the number of your contacts up. One thing that you can do is search for people in the advanced search section with keywords of "IT LION." LION stands for LinkedIn Open Networker, and these are people who will accept anyone as a contact. They also usually have hundreds if not thousands of contacts which opens your network significantly. IT I of course use simply as an example for Information Technology, but you can use any words that accomplish the search purpose, LION is the key though.
3. Get recommendation. You don't need 20, but 4 or 5 won't hurt
4. Joined some associations. Be sure to participate in some of the online forums and give yourself chances to interact with others.
5. Make sure the Skills section is pretty well filled in. This will give additional key words a searcher may be searching for.
6. I would look at perhaps creating a personal website or blog. Although not completely necessary, it also can be a nice touch if you can show observers more about you, especially when it comes to your professional expertise. A blog is a perfect medium to do this.
7. The title. Think of a description to use. Something like "Highly experienced ,,,,,." It doesn't need to be out of this world, or too elaborate, but just something that gives some interest.
8. Perhaps most important, and this is why I saved it for near the last, is the Summary and Experience sections. I would copy and paste it directly from your resume, because that is more in-depth than the descriptions you have now. I would use the Key Contributions and everything. Also don't forget Technical Skills. If you have been laid off, or if you have an impending layoff, you can and should also mention that at the beginning of the Summary. In this case a title such as "Qualified .......... seeking position as......." would be appropriate.
9. Answer questions. This is something that helps increases exposure.
10. Use the status bar once in a while to update your status and by saying things like, "seeking position as ....."
Beyond that just keep being persistent and seek out contacts such as recruiters or colleagues that can help you. Also I would recommend researching anywhere from 5 - 10 companies that you would like to target, and once you have built your network start doing searches to see names who pop up within that company so you can send them direct emails. Often times you will notice that a job pops up on Monster or CareerBuilder, but instead of applying directly send someone in the company an email. It is a way to get around the red tape and get in the door.
Monday, September 19, 2011
What are Applicant Tracking Systems, and how do they work?
A common fear that I see among job seekers can be summed up in 3 words: Applicant Tracking Systems. These are the big, bad, intimidating gatekeepers many companies use to screen applicant resumes before they reach the view of a human eye. With the increased benefits and simplifications provided, they are becoming more common today, and understanding how they work is important when you are embarking upon a job search
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are databases or other software systems that store and retrieve job information, and in theory identify and match applicants to specific positions open at any given time within an organization. Although ATS’s really only became mainstream in 2006, they are becoming more popular, and more companies are beginning to use them. An ATS can fulfill many functions, and can not only be used for screening candidates, but also for applicant testing, scheduling interviews, managing the hiring process, checking references, and completing new-hire paperwork. Each resume that is submitted can be stored for several months, or many years. It all depends on the time parameters set by the company. An ATS streamlines the search process as it can organize, screen, sort, track, and reply to applicants.
When used properly, an Applicant Tracking System can simplify the candidate sourcing process significantly. But they are not completely foolproof either, so keep that in mind when applying to jobs electronically. In theory, the best candidates are found by searching for key words or phrases within resume (and sometimes cover letter) stored in the database. Along these lines, an ATS should increase the probability of finding the right candidate for the job since there is a larger pool to draw from. But this isn’t always the case, and there are many great applicants who slip through the cracks each day. A prominent example would be when the employer conducts a search and uses the wrong key words, or when otherwise great candidates do not have the right words incorporated. It is VITAL that you position your resume with the right key words so that you give yourself the best chance of being selected.
But what key words should you use?
The easiest way to incorporate key words is to read through the specific job posting a few times, and be mindful of the words that stick out as being the most important. These are the words you need to infuse in a key word section, Profile and Summary of Qualifications. But I caution you that you should include key words or phrases ONLY IF you have actual experience with it. For example, if you are an accountant and you are applying for a position with a publicly traded company that requires Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) experience, don’t include “Sarbanes-Oxley” or “SOX” unless you actually have that experience. It will catch up to you sooner or later if you do make it past the screening. The closer you can align key words wanted for the position with your resume, the greater your chances are to be selected. It may take 5-10 extra minutes to do so, but if it saves you searching for months, it is well worth it.
One last area of Applicant Tracking Systems that I want to mention so that you will be aware of is the aspect of social media. Social media avenues are being used now, and will be used well into the future to recruit for new jobs. Don’t be surprised if you are notified via Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn about new opportunities within a company. The advantage social media presents is not only it’s reach to a wider audience, but also the precise manner it can target specific candidates. There is still much to be defined on exactly how social media will be used, but be aware that it is going to be the next big thing used in Applicant Tracking Systems. I will be expanding on this subject in greater detail in the near future.
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are databases or other software systems that store and retrieve job information, and in theory identify and match applicants to specific positions open at any given time within an organization. Although ATS’s really only became mainstream in 2006, they are becoming more popular, and more companies are beginning to use them. An ATS can fulfill many functions, and can not only be used for screening candidates, but also for applicant testing, scheduling interviews, managing the hiring process, checking references, and completing new-hire paperwork. Each resume that is submitted can be stored for several months, or many years. It all depends on the time parameters set by the company. An ATS streamlines the search process as it can organize, screen, sort, track, and reply to applicants.
When used properly, an Applicant Tracking System can simplify the candidate sourcing process significantly. But they are not completely foolproof either, so keep that in mind when applying to jobs electronically. In theory, the best candidates are found by searching for key words or phrases within resume (and sometimes cover letter) stored in the database. Along these lines, an ATS should increase the probability of finding the right candidate for the job since there is a larger pool to draw from. But this isn’t always the case, and there are many great applicants who slip through the cracks each day. A prominent example would be when the employer conducts a search and uses the wrong key words, or when otherwise great candidates do not have the right words incorporated. It is VITAL that you position your resume with the right key words so that you give yourself the best chance of being selected.
But what key words should you use?
The easiest way to incorporate key words is to read through the specific job posting a few times, and be mindful of the words that stick out as being the most important. These are the words you need to infuse in a key word section, Profile and Summary of Qualifications. But I caution you that you should include key words or phrases ONLY IF you have actual experience with it. For example, if you are an accountant and you are applying for a position with a publicly traded company that requires Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) experience, don’t include “Sarbanes-Oxley” or “SOX” unless you actually have that experience. It will catch up to you sooner or later if you do make it past the screening. The closer you can align key words wanted for the position with your resume, the greater your chances are to be selected. It may take 5-10 extra minutes to do so, but if it saves you searching for months, it is well worth it.
One last area of Applicant Tracking Systems that I want to mention so that you will be aware of is the aspect of social media. Social media avenues are being used now, and will be used well into the future to recruit for new jobs. Don’t be surprised if you are notified via Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn about new opportunities within a company. The advantage social media presents is not only it’s reach to a wider audience, but also the precise manner it can target specific candidates. There is still much to be defined on exactly how social media will be used, but be aware that it is going to be the next big thing used in Applicant Tracking Systems. I will be expanding on this subject in greater detail in the near future.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Searching for a job while employed? Be aware of this recruiter scam
It is estimated that recruiters now account for filling about 1/10 of all job openings. Most recruiters are reputable, and strive to work ethically. However there are some that don’t. I am reminded of this again today, and thought I would share this scam with you.
In a nutshell, here’s how it works: This particular scam happens when you are searching for a job while currently employed. You respond to an advertised job by applying, and/or have posted your resume online. In either case, a recruiter has a copy of your resume and contacts you. He/she has a great job opportunity, and your background is an ideal fit. The tip though is that he/she wants to make sure you are currently still employed. Why? Because the intent in this scam is to be the first recruiter to have the opportunity to recruit a new job……..yours. Unbeknownst to you, your boss receives a call from this recruiter after speaking to you, and informs him/her that you are intending to leave the company, and that he/she would love the opportunity to present candidates to fill it. Talk about a stab in the back. But when a recruiter has no boundaries, it happens. Now you really will be looking for a job……unemployed.
It is important to utilize a recruiter (or recruiters) as part of your job search. Just make sure you have a solid relationship, and that you know what kind of track record he/she has. Ideally, the best time to do this is before a full-fledged search for employment. If you know people who have been placed by a particular recruiter, or have positive referrals, it’s probably a good bet. Also, it may seem intuitive to contact many recruiters, but this can actually backfire on you. I have spoken to this in a previous post, but essentially it can cause problems when it’s time to be represented as a candidate, and you may get someone who doesn’t know the first thing about you which will reflect negatively when you are presented to the company.
Just be careful about who you contact, where you submit a resume, or posting your resume online at all when you are conducting a job search while employed. Ideally if you can build these relationships of trust prior to conducting a search, then that will be the most beneficial to you. Avoid falling for this scam, or others while searching. Keep in mind that a few recruiters have their own best interest in mind, not yours.
In a nutshell, here’s how it works: This particular scam happens when you are searching for a job while currently employed. You respond to an advertised job by applying, and/or have posted your resume online. In either case, a recruiter has a copy of your resume and contacts you. He/she has a great job opportunity, and your background is an ideal fit. The tip though is that he/she wants to make sure you are currently still employed. Why? Because the intent in this scam is to be the first recruiter to have the opportunity to recruit a new job……..yours. Unbeknownst to you, your boss receives a call from this recruiter after speaking to you, and informs him/her that you are intending to leave the company, and that he/she would love the opportunity to present candidates to fill it. Talk about a stab in the back. But when a recruiter has no boundaries, it happens. Now you really will be looking for a job……unemployed.
It is important to utilize a recruiter (or recruiters) as part of your job search. Just make sure you have a solid relationship, and that you know what kind of track record he/she has. Ideally, the best time to do this is before a full-fledged search for employment. If you know people who have been placed by a particular recruiter, or have positive referrals, it’s probably a good bet. Also, it may seem intuitive to contact many recruiters, but this can actually backfire on you. I have spoken to this in a previous post, but essentially it can cause problems when it’s time to be represented as a candidate, and you may get someone who doesn’t know the first thing about you which will reflect negatively when you are presented to the company.
Just be careful about who you contact, where you submit a resume, or posting your resume online at all when you are conducting a job search while employed. Ideally if you can build these relationships of trust prior to conducting a search, then that will be the most beneficial to you. Avoid falling for this scam, or others while searching. Keep in mind that a few recruiters have their own best interest in mind, not yours.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Use creativity when sending your resume, but AVOID GIMMICKS
One of the biggest frustrations job applicants experience when sending resumes to companies is in making sure they were indeed received. Many organizations are experiencing application rates as high as ten times or more the norm, and it is becoming more difficult to ensure your resume is not just lost in the shuffle. There are a few things to keep in mind, and a few ways you can track your submission.
Unfortunately, with high submission rates also come challenges in viewing all resumes. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) can help alleviate much of this burden, but as I will explain in a forthcoming blog post, they are not always 100% efficient either. If a company does not have the luxury of using an ATS, then a manual undertaking becomes quite overwhelming. If 700 resumes are submitted, and the unfortunate soul charged with sorting through the applications finds 20 or more “good” resumes in the first 200, you may arbitrarily be out of luck. If you are applicant number 201, your resume won’t be seen. It’s not fair, but in some cases it’s reality. So, you need to know if your email was received and opened.
The simplest way is to pick up the phone, call the employer, and say something to the effect of: “I’ve been having some issues with spam filters and wondered if you could verify that you received the resume I emailed you?” If you are savvy enough, you can use this as an opportunity to get the ear of the hiring manager or recruiter, and if leveraged properly could turn into an interview.
There are many free email notification services out there such as MSGTAG (www.msgtag.com). And you can always Google phrases such as “read receipt email” and “delivery receipt email” to find similar remedies.
Ideally, you want to have a direct contact in the company who can walk and hand deliver your resume directly to HR and/or the hiring manager. This of course is only ideal, and not often possible. Even so, there are still many ways to make sure your resume makes it to her/his desk. If you don’t have a direct contact, make one. Do some legwork on LinkedIn, conducting a search for employees currently employed with the target company. Make contacts at LinkedIn.com and Facebook. Call the company and ask for the correct spelling of the person in charge of your prospective opportunity. If the situation seems okay, consider hand delivering your resume to the company’s front desk attendant.
Another way is to physically print and send your resume with a cover letter directly to the hiring manager via snail mail. Take an unblemished white paper copy of your resume and print it on nice paper at a place like Fed Ex/Kinko’s. Then send it in an 8 x 11 manila envelope. If you are going to do this, then stay the professional route with a cream or light colored paper. Professionalism is the number one priority on any creative method you utilize. Beyond that, it’s becomes games and gimmicks.
I have seen resumes show up in bright neon green, pink, yellow and orange. I have had resumes come in paper that is slightly bigger than normal resume paper, the theory being that it will get noticed when stacking it with normal paper. I have seen and heard of the corny gifts showing up with the resume, including the shoebox with one shoe, a resume, and a note saying “just trying to get my foot in the door.” Sure these things get noticed, but mainly for the wrong reasons.
The day I start putting resumes at the top of the pile based on the gimmicky way I received it is the day I should probably call it quits in this business. I feel confident in saying that the overwhelming majority of my peers would agree 110%. A resume with extreme graphics or completely crazy formats has a place; in fields related to design or artistic expression where you are using the opportunity to showcase relevant skills. In most professional businesses, it comes across as ridiculous. And the common thread I have noticed in the gimmick-filled resumes: the candidates are usually not qualified. They are screaming out for attention.
Don’t expect a positive response if you send a resume with pop-up features or in a color that cannot be safely viewed without sunglasses. We don’t care if R2D2 shows up and plays a hologram message, or if your resume contains a computer chip that plays music. At the end of the day, the evaluation is made on the relevancy of the skills, background, and abilities of all candidates in order to find the best. Gimmicks will get you noticed, but not for the right reasons. Place the focus of your resume on your accomplishments, relevant background, personality, and unique skills that put you in the best light. Apply for positions that you are a good fit for. Doing so will put your best foot forward, and garner the right attention.
Unfortunately, with high submission rates also come challenges in viewing all resumes. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) can help alleviate much of this burden, but as I will explain in a forthcoming blog post, they are not always 100% efficient either. If a company does not have the luxury of using an ATS, then a manual undertaking becomes quite overwhelming. If 700 resumes are submitted, and the unfortunate soul charged with sorting through the applications finds 20 or more “good” resumes in the first 200, you may arbitrarily be out of luck. If you are applicant number 201, your resume won’t be seen. It’s not fair, but in some cases it’s reality. So, you need to know if your email was received and opened.
The simplest way is to pick up the phone, call the employer, and say something to the effect of: “I’ve been having some issues with spam filters and wondered if you could verify that you received the resume I emailed you?” If you are savvy enough, you can use this as an opportunity to get the ear of the hiring manager or recruiter, and if leveraged properly could turn into an interview.
There are many free email notification services out there such as MSGTAG (www.msgtag.com). And you can always Google phrases such as “read receipt email” and “delivery receipt email” to find similar remedies.
Ideally, you want to have a direct contact in the company who can walk and hand deliver your resume directly to HR and/or the hiring manager. This of course is only ideal, and not often possible. Even so, there are still many ways to make sure your resume makes it to her/his desk. If you don’t have a direct contact, make one. Do some legwork on LinkedIn, conducting a search for employees currently employed with the target company. Make contacts at LinkedIn.com and Facebook. Call the company and ask for the correct spelling of the person in charge of your prospective opportunity. If the situation seems okay, consider hand delivering your resume to the company’s front desk attendant.
Another way is to physically print and send your resume with a cover letter directly to the hiring manager via snail mail. Take an unblemished white paper copy of your resume and print it on nice paper at a place like Fed Ex/Kinko’s. Then send it in an 8 x 11 manila envelope. If you are going to do this, then stay the professional route with a cream or light colored paper. Professionalism is the number one priority on any creative method you utilize. Beyond that, it’s becomes games and gimmicks.
I have seen resumes show up in bright neon green, pink, yellow and orange. I have had resumes come in paper that is slightly bigger than normal resume paper, the theory being that it will get noticed when stacking it with normal paper. I have seen and heard of the corny gifts showing up with the resume, including the shoebox with one shoe, a resume, and a note saying “just trying to get my foot in the door.” Sure these things get noticed, but mainly for the wrong reasons.
The day I start putting resumes at the top of the pile based on the gimmicky way I received it is the day I should probably call it quits in this business. I feel confident in saying that the overwhelming majority of my peers would agree 110%. A resume with extreme graphics or completely crazy formats has a place; in fields related to design or artistic expression where you are using the opportunity to showcase relevant skills. In most professional businesses, it comes across as ridiculous. And the common thread I have noticed in the gimmick-filled resumes: the candidates are usually not qualified. They are screaming out for attention.
Don’t expect a positive response if you send a resume with pop-up features or in a color that cannot be safely viewed without sunglasses. We don’t care if R2D2 shows up and plays a hologram message, or if your resume contains a computer chip that plays music. At the end of the day, the evaluation is made on the relevancy of the skills, background, and abilities of all candidates in order to find the best. Gimmicks will get you noticed, but not for the right reasons. Place the focus of your resume on your accomplishments, relevant background, personality, and unique skills that put you in the best light. Apply for positions that you are a good fit for. Doing so will put your best foot forward, and garner the right attention.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Post-Interview Thank You Notes
As part of any job search, you should always plan on sending thank you notes after interviews. It shows that you genuinely have an interest in the company and position, and even more importantly it can have an impact on the interviewer’s decision. I often am asked what type of thank you note is the best – via email, typed letter, handwritten, or just a phone call after. The answer really depends on the audience, and those are observations to keep in mind as you are interviewing.
There are different schools of thought on the type of correspondence to use, but personally I like the handwritten thank you note that comes in the mail. The reason is simply that a personalized note written on a card is the only type I seem to remember. I think it has an impact when someone takes the time to write a note on a card and send it, particularly in this day and age when almost everything seems electronic and impersonalized. I have found that most people don’t take the time to do this which is also probably a reason it makes an impression.
That’s not to say that an email or a typed thank you note are not good alternatives also, but you have to take the time to observe the personality of the interviewer in order to determine if these are a good fit. If he/she is extremely business minded, then a typed letter is probably better. If it seems like his/her desk is weighed down by paperwork from 6 months ago, a note via mail may just be added to the pile. An email may work better in this case. If the decision on the job will be made in a relatively short amount of time, snail mail may not make it before that choice is made. An email right after the interview would probably be the best option. And some interviewers prefer a phone call. If he/she seems to not be a fan of email, smart phones, or technology in general, a voice mail would be advisable.
Regardless of which method you use, it is important to make sure a thank you note is part of your interview process. It can make all the difference by keeping you at the forefront of the interviewer’s mind when it comes time to make the choice on who is hired.
There are different schools of thought on the type of correspondence to use, but personally I like the handwritten thank you note that comes in the mail. The reason is simply that a personalized note written on a card is the only type I seem to remember. I think it has an impact when someone takes the time to write a note on a card and send it, particularly in this day and age when almost everything seems electronic and impersonalized. I have found that most people don’t take the time to do this which is also probably a reason it makes an impression.
That’s not to say that an email or a typed thank you note are not good alternatives also, but you have to take the time to observe the personality of the interviewer in order to determine if these are a good fit. If he/she is extremely business minded, then a typed letter is probably better. If it seems like his/her desk is weighed down by paperwork from 6 months ago, a note via mail may just be added to the pile. An email may work better in this case. If the decision on the job will be made in a relatively short amount of time, snail mail may not make it before that choice is made. An email right after the interview would probably be the best option. And some interviewers prefer a phone call. If he/she seems to not be a fan of email, smart phones, or technology in general, a voice mail would be advisable.
Regardless of which method you use, it is important to make sure a thank you note is part of your interview process. It can make all the difference by keeping you at the forefront of the interviewer’s mind when it comes time to make the choice on who is hired.
Friday, August 19, 2011
5 Things to do Before a Job Loss to Help you Prepare and Survive Financially
This is a great article from Forbes magazine earlier this month that addresses 5 ways to prepare yourself financially just in case you lose your job. I definitely thought this was an article worth sharing:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ellendorle/2011/08/09/5-things-to-do-before-a-job-loss-to-help-you-prepare-and-survive-financially/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ellendorle/2011/08/09/5-things-to-do-before-a-job-loss-to-help-you-prepare-and-survive-financially/
The pitfalls of posting your resume online
When you are in the midst of a job search, posting your resume on sites such a Monster and CareerBuilder seems almost like a no-brainer. The more exposure you have, the better…..right? How will recruiters and hiring managers find you if you don’t post your resume all over the web? Although it may seem counterintuitive, there are some pretty conclusive reasons why you may want to rethink this.
The most obvious reason why you shouldn’t post your resume online would be because you are currently employed. If you are conducting a secret job search, and put your resume online, your intentions are not so secret anymore. Most companies have access to Monster and CareerBuilder, and your name on a resume will be plain to see. This could cause issues for you come the next round of layoffs. After all, you’re planning to leave anyway, right?
Another reason (and you may have experienced this before) is that you don’t want to put yourself in “claim of rights” war with recruiters. What happens is that when a company decides to hire for a position, they will contact a few recruiting agencies to assist them in the search for the right candidate. They usually will also post ads on the major sites to try to find the right candidates themselves. Suddenly you have 5 agencies contacting the exact same candidate resumes as found on Monster or CareerBuilder (or both), and it becomes a race against time to be the first to make contact with candidates, and thus secure “rights” over them. It becomes further complicated if you as a candidate apply for the job directly with the company. Now your resume is in the company’s database as having applied directly, and 5 recruiters are staking claims on you to present to the company for an interview. If you are the ideal candidate, this can destroy your chances entirely. How do 6 parties decide who gets credit for the candidate? It’s almost impossible to do. Believe it or not, and I have seen this happen many times, because a fair conclusion cannot be determined, the candidate is dropped altogether. Unbelievable I know, but that is the nature of the business.
So how do you avoid situations like this? Become a passive candidate. Don’t post your resume online at all!
As recruiters, we like passive candidates. You’re much more attractive. Think of it as the guy who no matter how hard he tries just can’t get a girlfriend. He does anything and everything to get a girlfriend, but it just isn’t working. Now you can probably imagine this guy from people you have known or observed in real life. He’s that guy who oversteps his bounds, is too aggressive, and overly obsessed with this pursuit. Rather than attracting women, he’s actually repelling them. There is an air of being desperate that follows him, and women aren’t finding that too attractive. As long as he continues down this road, the girlfriend will never happen.
Now assume this same guy realizes what he’s been doing wrong, and starts making steps to change those things. Eventually he gets that girlfriend. Now, instead of women being repelled, they are attracted to him. If you have seen this happen before, they literally start coming out of the woodwork. Why? Because he suddenly became more attractive by virtue of having a girlfriend and thus something they want to be but can’t have. This same reasoning holds true when searching for job candidates. Who wants the job seeker who has posted his resume all over the internet where anyone can find him? There is a school of thought among some hiring managers and recruiters that only desperate and unqualified job seekers post on sites like Monster or CareerBuilder. We want the gems. We want to find the people who have jobs and are tremendous assets to their companies. If you are good at what you do, why would you have to post your resume? The recruiters and hiring managers will be attracted to you.
If you aren’t visible on Monster or CareerBuilder, then how do they find you? I can’t stress this site enough, but the answer is LinkedIn. Passive candidates on LinkedIn who are currently employed but aren’t adverse to listening to other offers are the most attractive candidates out there. These are the gems that not everyone can find. This is why it is so important to complete your LinkedIn profile and build your network (refer to my earlier blog post on LinkedIn). More hiring managers and recruiters are using LinkedIn now than other sites, so make sure you are present there so you can be found.
Think about some of these reasons before posting your resume everywhere. It may just save you from losing opportunities you otherwise would have secured.
The most obvious reason why you shouldn’t post your resume online would be because you are currently employed. If you are conducting a secret job search, and put your resume online, your intentions are not so secret anymore. Most companies have access to Monster and CareerBuilder, and your name on a resume will be plain to see. This could cause issues for you come the next round of layoffs. After all, you’re planning to leave anyway, right?
Another reason (and you may have experienced this before) is that you don’t want to put yourself in “claim of rights” war with recruiters. What happens is that when a company decides to hire for a position, they will contact a few recruiting agencies to assist them in the search for the right candidate. They usually will also post ads on the major sites to try to find the right candidates themselves. Suddenly you have 5 agencies contacting the exact same candidate resumes as found on Monster or CareerBuilder (or both), and it becomes a race against time to be the first to make contact with candidates, and thus secure “rights” over them. It becomes further complicated if you as a candidate apply for the job directly with the company. Now your resume is in the company’s database as having applied directly, and 5 recruiters are staking claims on you to present to the company for an interview. If you are the ideal candidate, this can destroy your chances entirely. How do 6 parties decide who gets credit for the candidate? It’s almost impossible to do. Believe it or not, and I have seen this happen many times, because a fair conclusion cannot be determined, the candidate is dropped altogether. Unbelievable I know, but that is the nature of the business.
So how do you avoid situations like this? Become a passive candidate. Don’t post your resume online at all!
As recruiters, we like passive candidates. You’re much more attractive. Think of it as the guy who no matter how hard he tries just can’t get a girlfriend. He does anything and everything to get a girlfriend, but it just isn’t working. Now you can probably imagine this guy from people you have known or observed in real life. He’s that guy who oversteps his bounds, is too aggressive, and overly obsessed with this pursuit. Rather than attracting women, he’s actually repelling them. There is an air of being desperate that follows him, and women aren’t finding that too attractive. As long as he continues down this road, the girlfriend will never happen.
Now assume this same guy realizes what he’s been doing wrong, and starts making steps to change those things. Eventually he gets that girlfriend. Now, instead of women being repelled, they are attracted to him. If you have seen this happen before, they literally start coming out of the woodwork. Why? Because he suddenly became more attractive by virtue of having a girlfriend and thus something they want to be but can’t have. This same reasoning holds true when searching for job candidates. Who wants the job seeker who has posted his resume all over the internet where anyone can find him? There is a school of thought among some hiring managers and recruiters that only desperate and unqualified job seekers post on sites like Monster or CareerBuilder. We want the gems. We want to find the people who have jobs and are tremendous assets to their companies. If you are good at what you do, why would you have to post your resume? The recruiters and hiring managers will be attracted to you.
If you aren’t visible on Monster or CareerBuilder, then how do they find you? I can’t stress this site enough, but the answer is LinkedIn. Passive candidates on LinkedIn who are currently employed but aren’t adverse to listening to other offers are the most attractive candidates out there. These are the gems that not everyone can find. This is why it is so important to complete your LinkedIn profile and build your network (refer to my earlier blog post on LinkedIn). More hiring managers and recruiters are using LinkedIn now than other sites, so make sure you are present there so you can be found.
Think about some of these reasons before posting your resume everywhere. It may just save you from losing opportunities you otherwise would have secured.
Salary requirements: should you disclose it in your resume or cover letter?
When it comes to salary requirements, if a job ad doesn't specifically mention it, then DON’T offer it. Most ads don’t ask for salary requirements, but when they do, there are reasons for doing so. The most prominent is to weed out candidates who are out of the desired range. If your salary requirement is too high, you will most likely be screened out because the company assumes you will not be happy working for less than you desire. On the other end of the spectrum, if you state a salary that is lower than they intend to pay, then you may be shooting yourself in the foot assuming that you make it through the interview process. Either way, it is important to do your homework before you rule yourself out.
The first rule of thumb when asked to provide salary information: DON’T lie about compensation from past positions. It’s very easy to verify with just a phone call, and if you burn this bridge of trust, you can pretty much kiss any chance you had goodbye. Be honest and provide truthful information. Sure, it may be tempting to overstate your salaries because you are aiming for a higher paying job, but eventually it will catch up to you.
So how do you answer the salary requirement question, and not be discarded? Do some research and see if you can figure out what range the salary they will offer would fall in. For your part, state a salary range instead of a specific amount. You probably don’t want a range of $30,000, so staying within $5,000 to $10,000 is reasonable. And make sure your range is realistic. I remember quite well the interview I conducted a few years back for a VP of Human Resources. The majority of candidates I brought in to interview were at the level of compensation the client was willing to offer. This was because of the scope of responsibilities, size of the company, and number of direct reports. In this particular case the salary was right around $130,000. One of the last candidates to come in had passed the screening because she had not been forthright about her salary history. I did my homework, and knew she was currently making $65,000. And her salary was right in line for the scope of responsibilities she had. I was curious when I asked her about her salary requirements to see what she would say. She didn’t hesitate to respond $130,000. I nicely explained that I had researched her current position and knew she was only making half of that amount currently. After an awkward silence, the interview abruptly ended.
The point is, her expectations compared to her skills were completely unrealistic. If you are not within the range they want to pay, either high or low, it’s probably not worth the time to apply. I have seen companies that ask for salary requirements and then state a range of compensation based on experience. The ranges can fluctuate substantially, for example $70,000 to $100,000 depending on skills and background. The reason they do this is because they have not completely decided what exactly they want the position to entail. By evaluating a pool of applicants, they may be able to hone in on candidates that possess qualities they feel would best fit the company. Sometimes that means they figure out candidates in the $70,000 to $75,000 range will suffice; other times the $90,000 to $100,000 applicants appear to be the best fit. Don’t automatically assume that you fall at the top end of the range. More often than not I see the applicants who believe they are at the high end are in reality the ones who are actually at the lower end. They eliminate themselves quickly.
So how do you present salary requirements when requested? Unless asked specifically to state your requirements on the cover letter, you will want to create a separate “Salary Requirements” addendum that lists your salary history and clearly states your desired salary. This can be submitted with the resume and cover letter when you apply. Some additional tips in this regard include:
• Stating that you expect competitive or fair compensation based on the position, particularly if you feel you are underpaid now
• Expressing your salary flexibility
• Stating that you would prefer to discuss salary in an interview, but also make sure to reinforce the fact that you do not believe the range offered will be an issue
• Stating that your salary requirements are negotiable based upon the position and the overall total compensation package, including benefits and perks - this includes bonuses, amounts paid by the employer toward medical premiums, 401k matching, stock grants or stock options, and paid time off. Evaluate the package as a whole
The last bit of advice is whenever possible, let the employer bring up compensation. In an interview setting, this will work wonders. I will talk more to this in another post, but to negotiate the best possible salary for yourself, let your skills, background and qualities do the talking; if you do your chances for a higher offer go up significantly. There is a psyche about the perception of actually being interested in the job versus only being interested in what it pays.
The first rule of thumb when asked to provide salary information: DON’T lie about compensation from past positions. It’s very easy to verify with just a phone call, and if you burn this bridge of trust, you can pretty much kiss any chance you had goodbye. Be honest and provide truthful information. Sure, it may be tempting to overstate your salaries because you are aiming for a higher paying job, but eventually it will catch up to you.
So how do you answer the salary requirement question, and not be discarded? Do some research and see if you can figure out what range the salary they will offer would fall in. For your part, state a salary range instead of a specific amount. You probably don’t want a range of $30,000, so staying within $5,000 to $10,000 is reasonable. And make sure your range is realistic. I remember quite well the interview I conducted a few years back for a VP of Human Resources. The majority of candidates I brought in to interview were at the level of compensation the client was willing to offer. This was because of the scope of responsibilities, size of the company, and number of direct reports. In this particular case the salary was right around $130,000. One of the last candidates to come in had passed the screening because she had not been forthright about her salary history. I did my homework, and knew she was currently making $65,000. And her salary was right in line for the scope of responsibilities she had. I was curious when I asked her about her salary requirements to see what she would say. She didn’t hesitate to respond $130,000. I nicely explained that I had researched her current position and knew she was only making half of that amount currently. After an awkward silence, the interview abruptly ended.
The point is, her expectations compared to her skills were completely unrealistic. If you are not within the range they want to pay, either high or low, it’s probably not worth the time to apply. I have seen companies that ask for salary requirements and then state a range of compensation based on experience. The ranges can fluctuate substantially, for example $70,000 to $100,000 depending on skills and background. The reason they do this is because they have not completely decided what exactly they want the position to entail. By evaluating a pool of applicants, they may be able to hone in on candidates that possess qualities they feel would best fit the company. Sometimes that means they figure out candidates in the $70,000 to $75,000 range will suffice; other times the $90,000 to $100,000 applicants appear to be the best fit. Don’t automatically assume that you fall at the top end of the range. More often than not I see the applicants who believe they are at the high end are in reality the ones who are actually at the lower end. They eliminate themselves quickly.
So how do you present salary requirements when requested? Unless asked specifically to state your requirements on the cover letter, you will want to create a separate “Salary Requirements” addendum that lists your salary history and clearly states your desired salary. This can be submitted with the resume and cover letter when you apply. Some additional tips in this regard include:
• Stating that you expect competitive or fair compensation based on the position, particularly if you feel you are underpaid now
• Expressing your salary flexibility
• Stating that you would prefer to discuss salary in an interview, but also make sure to reinforce the fact that you do not believe the range offered will be an issue
• Stating that your salary requirements are negotiable based upon the position and the overall total compensation package, including benefits and perks - this includes bonuses, amounts paid by the employer toward medical premiums, 401k matching, stock grants or stock options, and paid time off. Evaluate the package as a whole
The last bit of advice is whenever possible, let the employer bring up compensation. In an interview setting, this will work wonders. I will talk more to this in another post, but to negotiate the best possible salary for yourself, let your skills, background and qualities do the talking; if you do your chances for a higher offer go up significantly. There is a psyche about the perception of actually being interested in the job versus only being interested in what it pays.
Friday, August 12, 2011
BEWARE: online job search sites that require YOU to pay a fee
As an unemployed individual in this economy, there inevitably comes a point (for most) when desperation starts to set in. Beware: there are people waiting in the wings to prey on this type of anxiety, and they are good at it too.
Be very cautious of websites that require the payment of a fee for job search assistance. Some make guarantees that you will find a job, while others promise to connect you with multiple recruiters in your industry.
Signing up is easy, there’s a great sales pitch, and an innovative approach. They lure job seekers with a 30-day money back guarantee, and a promise of one month free. So after trying it out for a couple weeks, you’re not satisfied. You decide to cancel, and the runaround begins. You’re asked to fill out a link, but your membership doesn’t cancel. You call customer service and are sent another link, but it doesn’t work. Now you have to fax a cancellation letter. That mysteriously never makes it. Another call to customer service lets you know it’s just a matter of filling out some info on the website and it will be cancelled. But it never is.
In the meantime, you are billed numerous times, and the hoops to jump through in order to get a refund are endless. It probably won’t happen. And for those who do run the course, the outcome is usually the same; no results. You also figure out that the jobs that are posted on the website are also found on most free websites, and no recruiters contact you.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking about professionals who can legitimately provide interview coaching, skills enhancements or other career training. These can be extremely beneficial for active job seekers, and in fact many of these activities are encouraged. What I am talking about are companies or individuals that make guarantees about job placements or interviews for a fee. Let me explain why.
Recruiters are paid (or at least should be) by the client with which they place candidates. There should NEVER be a fee charged by a recruiter to a candidate to be sent on interviews or to meet with clients. There is no need to. The average recruiting fee is 25% - 33% (and in some cases much more) of the first year salary of the candidate placed. That means that a recruiter who places someone at $100,000 a year would expect to make a commission of between $25,000 and $33,000 (on average). It can be a very lucrative business, but keep in mind that sometimes to find that “perfect” candidate a recruiter has to weed through hundreds of prospects. In most firms the recruiter would take home about half of that figure, with the other half going to the firm. Even at that rate, only 8 placements during a year would equate to $100,000 take home. That is conservative for many in the business. To find those 8 placements, a recruiter will literally go through hundreds and even possibly over a thousand candidates. It’s a pretty small percentage who actually get placed, but for the recruiter to do his/her due diligence, it is necessary in order to find the best person for that job.
Now think about how this applies to the companies that are charging fees to job seekers to “connect” with recruiters, or better yet are “guaranteeing” job placement. The example I used is pretty conservative; 8 placements from a pool of about 1000 people. That translates to less than 1% of the same 1000 obtaining a job through that recruiter in that particular year. Yet companies or individuals are willing to take your money when they know full well there is about a 99% chance nothing will come of it. And that is IF you are actually contacted by a recruiter at all.
Look at it from another angle. If these companies were so sure that you would get a job, why would they need to charge you at all? Moreover, charging people period would actually not be in their best interest because the more people they could attract and place, the more money they would make. A fee would actually serve as a huge deterrent. As a hypothetical example, let’s say a “job placement company” attracts 500 people who sign up during a month. I don’t know what the actual numbers are, but I’m guessing on basic math alone that in order for the company to make money, this is a workable number. The key is “in order to make money.” IF they are referring all 500 of these people, who are all subsequently placed by recruiters, now you are looking at HUGE $$$$$. Let’s say the average starting salary is $60,000. At 25%, that’s a $15,000 commission on each. With 500 placements, that’s $750,000 in commission, all in the space of a month. Surely the “job placement company” isn’t going to let recruiters take that entire pot. After all, it was them who referred all 500 people to these recruiters in the first place. It is only fair they get a share of the pie as well.
And yet, they still charge you $39.95 a month?
The reality is that it is complete nonsense. They provide nothing more than what a job seeker can do on his/her own, and in most case a lot less. Times are tough and there are too many of these bottom-feeding sites around preying on the desperation of job seekers, and stealing their money. Just remember, if you see claims such as a “95%” success rate, or “guarantees,” my advice would be to turn the other way and run until you are completely out of breath. Then run some more. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If nothing else, encourage them to pursue a career in recruiting. If they can translate that type of success even marginally as a recruiter, they can retire in 3 months.
Be very cautious of websites that require the payment of a fee for job search assistance. Some make guarantees that you will find a job, while others promise to connect you with multiple recruiters in your industry.
Signing up is easy, there’s a great sales pitch, and an innovative approach. They lure job seekers with a 30-day money back guarantee, and a promise of one month free. So after trying it out for a couple weeks, you’re not satisfied. You decide to cancel, and the runaround begins. You’re asked to fill out a link, but your membership doesn’t cancel. You call customer service and are sent another link, but it doesn’t work. Now you have to fax a cancellation letter. That mysteriously never makes it. Another call to customer service lets you know it’s just a matter of filling out some info on the website and it will be cancelled. But it never is.
In the meantime, you are billed numerous times, and the hoops to jump through in order to get a refund are endless. It probably won’t happen. And for those who do run the course, the outcome is usually the same; no results. You also figure out that the jobs that are posted on the website are also found on most free websites, and no recruiters contact you.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking about professionals who can legitimately provide interview coaching, skills enhancements or other career training. These can be extremely beneficial for active job seekers, and in fact many of these activities are encouraged. What I am talking about are companies or individuals that make guarantees about job placements or interviews for a fee. Let me explain why.
Recruiters are paid (or at least should be) by the client with which they place candidates. There should NEVER be a fee charged by a recruiter to a candidate to be sent on interviews or to meet with clients. There is no need to. The average recruiting fee is 25% - 33% (and in some cases much more) of the first year salary of the candidate placed. That means that a recruiter who places someone at $100,000 a year would expect to make a commission of between $25,000 and $33,000 (on average). It can be a very lucrative business, but keep in mind that sometimes to find that “perfect” candidate a recruiter has to weed through hundreds of prospects. In most firms the recruiter would take home about half of that figure, with the other half going to the firm. Even at that rate, only 8 placements during a year would equate to $100,000 take home. That is conservative for many in the business. To find those 8 placements, a recruiter will literally go through hundreds and even possibly over a thousand candidates. It’s a pretty small percentage who actually get placed, but for the recruiter to do his/her due diligence, it is necessary in order to find the best person for that job.
Now think about how this applies to the companies that are charging fees to job seekers to “connect” with recruiters, or better yet are “guaranteeing” job placement. The example I used is pretty conservative; 8 placements from a pool of about 1000 people. That translates to less than 1% of the same 1000 obtaining a job through that recruiter in that particular year. Yet companies or individuals are willing to take your money when they know full well there is about a 99% chance nothing will come of it. And that is IF you are actually contacted by a recruiter at all.
Look at it from another angle. If these companies were so sure that you would get a job, why would they need to charge you at all? Moreover, charging people period would actually not be in their best interest because the more people they could attract and place, the more money they would make. A fee would actually serve as a huge deterrent. As a hypothetical example, let’s say a “job placement company” attracts 500 people who sign up during a month. I don’t know what the actual numbers are, but I’m guessing on basic math alone that in order for the company to make money, this is a workable number. The key is “in order to make money.” IF they are referring all 500 of these people, who are all subsequently placed by recruiters, now you are looking at HUGE $$$$$. Let’s say the average starting salary is $60,000. At 25%, that’s a $15,000 commission on each. With 500 placements, that’s $750,000 in commission, all in the space of a month. Surely the “job placement company” isn’t going to let recruiters take that entire pot. After all, it was them who referred all 500 people to these recruiters in the first place. It is only fair they get a share of the pie as well.
And yet, they still charge you $39.95 a month?
The reality is that it is complete nonsense. They provide nothing more than what a job seeker can do on his/her own, and in most case a lot less. Times are tough and there are too many of these bottom-feeding sites around preying on the desperation of job seekers, and stealing their money. Just remember, if you see claims such as a “95%” success rate, or “guarantees,” my advice would be to turn the other way and run until you are completely out of breath. Then run some more. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If nothing else, encourage them to pursue a career in recruiting. If they can translate that type of success even marginally as a recruiter, they can retire in 3 months.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
How to effectively use LinkedIn
Any job seeker, whether employed or unemployed, should be using LinkedIn as part of his/her job search. In fact, because of the many networking opportunities LinkedIn provides, it should be a good portion of the search. If you haven’t used LinkedIn much, or even at all, don’t worry. I’m going to give you some tips on how to create and utilize your profile so that it will optimize your job search efforts.
The first tip is to start using LinkedIn before you need it. Ideally this would be while you are still gainfully employed, and long before that unforeseen layoff. You want to be able to build your network of contacts so that if that day comes, you will be prepared to immediately utilize your connections to find a new position.
Never leave your LinkedIn profile unfinished! The best way to think of it is like a search engine, but not for a website…….it’s to find you. Include parts of your resume, and key words for your industry. You will see when building your profile that the more positions, education, skills, and recommendations you list, the easier it will be for recruiters and hiring managers to find you. The vast majority of recruiters and hiring managers alike are using LinkedIn to source candidates for open positions, so the more visible your profile the better.
You can also increase your visibility by answering the “answers” section. Respond to questions, and ask a question if you need information or assistance.
Build up your connections. You can do so by adding professional colleagues, former classmates, past employers, friends and even family. The more contacts you can build, the greater the span you will have when it comes to searching for specific companies, industries, or names of people. Your contacts have the potential to help you grow your career or find a new job Unlike CareerBuilder or Monster, where you post a resume and wait for employers to contact you, LinkedIn gives you an opportunity to be proactive. You have the tools at your disposal to conduct searches that will lead you directly to people in your industry, or within target companies.
Start by searching for specific companies and/or industries. You can do this by searching the company directory on LinkedIn within your industry, or target industry. Locate companies in the city you live in, or in cities you hope to relocate to. Then search your network (”People Search”) for that particular company name. As long as you have built up your contacts, you will be amazed at the names that pop up. Now you have people you can contact directly! Why is this so important? It’s important because a good number of the positions that exist out there are not advertised online. Having a direct contact is the only way you will find out about new jobs at that company.
I also suggest you search for jobs on LinkedIn within the job search section. Some jobs posted there will not be found on other sites, so it is important to look regularly. You can search the Jobs section by keyword and location, or use the Advanced Search option to search by more specific criteria.
Another important thing to do is get recommendations. These can essentially serve as built-in references for those who come across your profile. The more you have, the better. Join employment groups, college alumni associations, and employer alumni associations. Joining groups will help tremendously in networking, and even in building your own network of connections.
As a warning, LinkedIn is meant to be a site for professional networking. Treat your posts as if you were on a job interview. LinkedIn is not the place to be posting funny pictures, offensive material, or other information that could hurt your professional reputation. Be very careful about what you do on Facebook too (see my previous post entitled “Let Social Media (Facebook) be your friend, not your enemy”).
By following these suggestions, you too can experience the results so many others have on LinkedIn. You will be more likely to be found by hiring managers and recruiters, and you can expand your network of contacts substantially. Hopefully you will find the same results as those who found new jobs through LinkedIn as well.
The first tip is to start using LinkedIn before you need it. Ideally this would be while you are still gainfully employed, and long before that unforeseen layoff. You want to be able to build your network of contacts so that if that day comes, you will be prepared to immediately utilize your connections to find a new position.
Never leave your LinkedIn profile unfinished! The best way to think of it is like a search engine, but not for a website…….it’s to find you. Include parts of your resume, and key words for your industry. You will see when building your profile that the more positions, education, skills, and recommendations you list, the easier it will be for recruiters and hiring managers to find you. The vast majority of recruiters and hiring managers alike are using LinkedIn to source candidates for open positions, so the more visible your profile the better.
You can also increase your visibility by answering the “answers” section. Respond to questions, and ask a question if you need information or assistance.
Build up your connections. You can do so by adding professional colleagues, former classmates, past employers, friends and even family. The more contacts you can build, the greater the span you will have when it comes to searching for specific companies, industries, or names of people. Your contacts have the potential to help you grow your career or find a new job Unlike CareerBuilder or Monster, where you post a resume and wait for employers to contact you, LinkedIn gives you an opportunity to be proactive. You have the tools at your disposal to conduct searches that will lead you directly to people in your industry, or within target companies.
Start by searching for specific companies and/or industries. You can do this by searching the company directory on LinkedIn within your industry, or target industry. Locate companies in the city you live in, or in cities you hope to relocate to. Then search your network (”People Search”) for that particular company name. As long as you have built up your contacts, you will be amazed at the names that pop up. Now you have people you can contact directly! Why is this so important? It’s important because a good number of the positions that exist out there are not advertised online. Having a direct contact is the only way you will find out about new jobs at that company.
I also suggest you search for jobs on LinkedIn within the job search section. Some jobs posted there will not be found on other sites, so it is important to look regularly. You can search the Jobs section by keyword and location, or use the Advanced Search option to search by more specific criteria.
Another important thing to do is get recommendations. These can essentially serve as built-in references for those who come across your profile. The more you have, the better. Join employment groups, college alumni associations, and employer alumni associations. Joining groups will help tremendously in networking, and even in building your own network of connections.
As a warning, LinkedIn is meant to be a site for professional networking. Treat your posts as if you were on a job interview. LinkedIn is not the place to be posting funny pictures, offensive material, or other information that could hurt your professional reputation. Be very careful about what you do on Facebook too (see my previous post entitled “Let Social Media (Facebook) be your friend, not your enemy”).
By following these suggestions, you too can experience the results so many others have on LinkedIn. You will be more likely to be found by hiring managers and recruiters, and you can expand your network of contacts substantially. Hopefully you will find the same results as those who found new jobs through LinkedIn as well.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Cover Letters.....how important are they really?
I’m often baffled, amazed, and even disgusted at the prices I see resume writers charging for cover letters. It seems in some cases, the lure is to advertise a lower priced resume, only to promote “necessary” add-ons such as cover letters and thank you notes in order to substantially raise the price.
So do you actually need to send a cover letter each time you apply?
The answer is definitely YES.
BUT, don’t spend an inordinate amount of time making it perfect. Why? Because at this point in time in a down economy the number of resume submissions has increased by over 10 times the norm in many cases. This means that jobs that would normally see 50 resumes submitted are now seeing over 500. We simply don’t have time to do anything other than quickly skim the resume, let alone read an entire cover letter.
Don’t let the increased number of resume submissions scare you though. In reality 80% - 90% of resumes submitted to these positions are from people who won’t be considered because they don’t qualify In a down economy such as this, the level of desperation has skyrocketed, and people are submitting their resume to every single job posted out there……literally.
Another very important reason to submit a cover letter with your resume: we notice if you don’t. As strange as it sounds, I have found myself on resume number 52, and suddenly thinking to myself how lazy this applicant must have been for not including a cover letter. It’s also at this point I realize I haven’t so much as skimmed the actual content in any of the letters from 1 to 51; I only noticed it was present. The point is, even though time limits a reader’s ability to do much more than skim resumes, the absence of a cover letter leaves a negative impression. Again, it doesn’t need to be perfect, but it should be accompanying.
So what is that important information that is typically included in a cover letter?
Examples could include the reason for wanting to transfer industries, an impeding move to a city across the country, or explaining a gap in employment. These are all still factors that are extremely important to convey, but because cover letters aren’t always being read, they have to be conveyed in the resume. Including this info briefly in your Profile accomplishes the same purpose, only it’s likely to be read since it’s among the opening statement(s) of your resume. I cannot stress how important it is to tailor your resume to the intended each time before submitting, and areas that typically would be covered in a cover letter must be present in your resume.
If nothing else, it is standard to include the company name, address and if possible the name of the contact person at the top. A concise summary of the skills and abilities you possess that are pertinent to the position should comprise the main parts of the body. Make sure you clearly state the position you are applying to. The most important element you should include is your achievements/accomplishments, and these can be pulled directly from your resume and placed in a bullet pointed list within the letter itself. Make a clear separation in the middle of the page, with a line or two of white space surrounding it. If nothing else, someone who skims the letter will be drawn to your achievements, and thus is more likely to have a piqued interest in looking at the resume.
Don’t get me wrong, because I am not trying to completely downplay the importance of the cover letter. Just keep in mind that in an environment where applicants are at astronomical levels, the important elements normally covered in a cover letter need to be covered in the resume. And whatever you do, don’t pay hundreds of dollars for a bunch of variations that most likely won’t be read anyhow.
So do you actually need to send a cover letter each time you apply?
The answer is definitely YES.
BUT, don’t spend an inordinate amount of time making it perfect. Why? Because at this point in time in a down economy the number of resume submissions has increased by over 10 times the norm in many cases. This means that jobs that would normally see 50 resumes submitted are now seeing over 500. We simply don’t have time to do anything other than quickly skim the resume, let alone read an entire cover letter.
Don’t let the increased number of resume submissions scare you though. In reality 80% - 90% of resumes submitted to these positions are from people who won’t be considered because they don’t qualify In a down economy such as this, the level of desperation has skyrocketed, and people are submitting their resume to every single job posted out there……literally.
Another very important reason to submit a cover letter with your resume: we notice if you don’t. As strange as it sounds, I have found myself on resume number 52, and suddenly thinking to myself how lazy this applicant must have been for not including a cover letter. It’s also at this point I realize I haven’t so much as skimmed the actual content in any of the letters from 1 to 51; I only noticed it was present. The point is, even though time limits a reader’s ability to do much more than skim resumes, the absence of a cover letter leaves a negative impression. Again, it doesn’t need to be perfect, but it should be accompanying.
So what is that important information that is typically included in a cover letter?
Examples could include the reason for wanting to transfer industries, an impeding move to a city across the country, or explaining a gap in employment. These are all still factors that are extremely important to convey, but because cover letters aren’t always being read, they have to be conveyed in the resume. Including this info briefly in your Profile accomplishes the same purpose, only it’s likely to be read since it’s among the opening statement(s) of your resume. I cannot stress how important it is to tailor your resume to the intended each time before submitting, and areas that typically would be covered in a cover letter must be present in your resume.
If nothing else, it is standard to include the company name, address and if possible the name of the contact person at the top. A concise summary of the skills and abilities you possess that are pertinent to the position should comprise the main parts of the body. Make sure you clearly state the position you are applying to. The most important element you should include is your achievements/accomplishments, and these can be pulled directly from your resume and placed in a bullet pointed list within the letter itself. Make a clear separation in the middle of the page, with a line or two of white space surrounding it. If nothing else, someone who skims the letter will be drawn to your achievements, and thus is more likely to have a piqued interest in looking at the resume.
Don’t get me wrong, because I am not trying to completely downplay the importance of the cover letter. Just keep in mind that in an environment where applicants are at astronomical levels, the important elements normally covered in a cover letter need to be covered in the resume. And whatever you do, don’t pay hundreds of dollars for a bunch of variations that most likely won’t be read anyhow.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Let Social Media (Facebook) be your friend, not your enemy
As a job seeker, social media can be your best friend. It also can become your worst enemy. When it comes to Facebook, it is probably a good idea to set your profile privacy parameters in a manner that does not let the public see your personal exploits. Think of it as another “reference check.” If you are posting pictures showing you engaging in sketchy behavior, or making posts that could be construed as offensive or discriminatory I nature, you could be ruled out automatically by an employer. And just because you set your privacy settings or detag yourself from pictures, realize that they still exist. Once something is posted online, it never totally disappears.
Just to go ahead and answer it…….yes we do check out profiles on Facebook. A citation in the Bloomberg article notes that a study by Harris Interactive found that 45% of employers surveyed were using social networks to screen job applicants. Keep in mind that the article was written in September of 2009, so that number has most likely risen substantially since then. It may seem completely innocent or done out of frustration at the time, but comments and posts can prove detrimental.
The following articles speak more about the potential pitfalls of Facebook.
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0718/features-facebook-social-media-google-destroy-job-search.html
http://www.businessweek.com/careers/workingparents/blog/archives/2009/09/jobs_facebook_and_the_clueless_generation.html
The final post from a blog shows real life stories where people lost their jobs because of poor social media etiquette. Just as a caution, there is some language that may be offensive. I am including this as an example of what really happens out there though just to serve as a reminder.
http://blog.brand-yourself.com/social-media/social-media-news/social-media-etiquette-horror-stories-top-5-ways-to-lose-your-job-via-social-media/
Use common sense, and treat Facebook as you would a professional job interview. If you wouldn’t mention something there, then you wouldn’t want to display it on Facebook either.
Just to go ahead and answer it…….yes we do check out profiles on Facebook. A citation in the Bloomberg article notes that a study by Harris Interactive found that 45% of employers surveyed were using social networks to screen job applicants. Keep in mind that the article was written in September of 2009, so that number has most likely risen substantially since then. It may seem completely innocent or done out of frustration at the time, but comments and posts can prove detrimental.
The following articles speak more about the potential pitfalls of Facebook.
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0718/features-facebook-social-media-google-destroy-job-search.html
http://www.businessweek.com/careers/workingparents/blog/archives/2009/09/jobs_facebook_and_the_clueless_generation.html
The final post from a blog shows real life stories where people lost their jobs because of poor social media etiquette. Just as a caution, there is some language that may be offensive. I am including this as an example of what really happens out there though just to serve as a reminder.
http://blog.brand-yourself.com/social-media/social-media-news/social-media-etiquette-horror-stories-top-5-ways-to-lose-your-job-via-social-media/
Use common sense, and treat Facebook as you would a professional job interview. If you wouldn’t mention something there, then you wouldn’t want to display it on Facebook either.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Searching for a new job while still employed? Don’t make these mistakes!
You have a job, but maybe you don’t completely feel secure due to layoffs. Or perhaps you like your job, but aren’t adverse to hearing about new opportunities. Whatever the case, there are some definite rules of thumb to follow so that you don’t inadvertently end up being discovered by your employer, or end up in the next RIF yourself.
First, be very careful about openly posting your resume on job search engines such as Monster or CareerBuilder. Many companies have access to these sites as part of their own employee sourcing process, so you will be plainly visible to them when they look. From the recruiting end, there are parameters on both sites (searching by company, industry, name) that make it simple to see if any employees are searching. Also be aware that newly posted resumes are displayed to hiring managers each day. These sites do allow you to make position titles, company names and your own name “confidential.” But it still can be very obvious who you are as much as you may try to hide. It’s not worth the risk, especially if your company is looking for candidates to lay off.
Interviews will require that you dress your best. The problem is, most will be conducted during business hours on weekdays. Don’t stick out like a sore thumb in a casual workplace by suddenly showing up in a suit and tie. You’ll almost certainly get the “so who are you interviewing with today” comments. Leave your jacket and tie in the car, and put them on in the car or in a bathroom OFF company premises before the interview. Ladies, accessorize in the same manner. Change to heels or add that suit jacket off site. The smallest rumor gets around pretty quickly, so don’t give anyone a reason to start one.
Speaking of interviews, try to schedule interviews at times that won’t interfere with your regular job schedule. Scheduling during lunch, after work, or before work are your best bet. Disappearing at 2:15 and showing back up at 4:15 on a Wednesday may arouse suspicion.
I don’t know why people are so willing to do this, even with me ……… DON’T participate in a phone interview in your office or cubicle at work! It seems like common sense, but it happens every single day.
Be careful who you tell, if anyone, at your current company about your intent to look for a different job. Even those who seem to be the most loyal, or are your closest colleagues can slip and pass that info on. Again, the last thing you need are rumors to start and spread.
Don’t search for jobs on your company computer, or during work time. And don’t print your resume on a company printer! These are the property of the company, and you leave your internet footprint whether you clear out your cache or not. It’s easy for an employer to track, and be tipped off to your leaving.
If you are doing any of these things, you are doing them at your own risk. With RIF’s and layoffs being so common today, don’t give your employer a reason to show you the door.
One thing that you should do, and that I absolutely recommend, is update and perfect your profile on LinkedIn. The vast majority of recruiters and hiring personnel alike are using LinkedIn almost exclusively to find new candidates. This is particularly due to the outrageous fees charged by the CareerBuilder’s and Monster’s of the world, with little or no return. These sites have been inundated with resumes, and it is like searching for a needle in a haystack for the best candidate. Having a professional profile on LinkedIn that is highly visible will give you a leg up. Take a look sometime at your own connections, and you will notice that close to 80% - 90% of them have their parameters set to include interested in “Job Opportunities.” This makes it that much more discreet since nearly everybody else has the same thing. Additionally you should be building your network, and networking as much as possible. LinkedIn is the perfect platform for this.
First, be very careful about openly posting your resume on job search engines such as Monster or CareerBuilder. Many companies have access to these sites as part of their own employee sourcing process, so you will be plainly visible to them when they look. From the recruiting end, there are parameters on both sites (searching by company, industry, name) that make it simple to see if any employees are searching. Also be aware that newly posted resumes are displayed to hiring managers each day. These sites do allow you to make position titles, company names and your own name “confidential.” But it still can be very obvious who you are as much as you may try to hide. It’s not worth the risk, especially if your company is looking for candidates to lay off.
Interviews will require that you dress your best. The problem is, most will be conducted during business hours on weekdays. Don’t stick out like a sore thumb in a casual workplace by suddenly showing up in a suit and tie. You’ll almost certainly get the “so who are you interviewing with today” comments. Leave your jacket and tie in the car, and put them on in the car or in a bathroom OFF company premises before the interview. Ladies, accessorize in the same manner. Change to heels or add that suit jacket off site. The smallest rumor gets around pretty quickly, so don’t give anyone a reason to start one.
Speaking of interviews, try to schedule interviews at times that won’t interfere with your regular job schedule. Scheduling during lunch, after work, or before work are your best bet. Disappearing at 2:15 and showing back up at 4:15 on a Wednesday may arouse suspicion.
I don’t know why people are so willing to do this, even with me ……… DON’T participate in a phone interview in your office or cubicle at work! It seems like common sense, but it happens every single day.
Be careful who you tell, if anyone, at your current company about your intent to look for a different job. Even those who seem to be the most loyal, or are your closest colleagues can slip and pass that info on. Again, the last thing you need are rumors to start and spread.
Don’t search for jobs on your company computer, or during work time. And don’t print your resume on a company printer! These are the property of the company, and you leave your internet footprint whether you clear out your cache or not. It’s easy for an employer to track, and be tipped off to your leaving.
If you are doing any of these things, you are doing them at your own risk. With RIF’s and layoffs being so common today, don’t give your employer a reason to show you the door.
One thing that you should do, and that I absolutely recommend, is update and perfect your profile on LinkedIn. The vast majority of recruiters and hiring personnel alike are using LinkedIn almost exclusively to find new candidates. This is particularly due to the outrageous fees charged by the CareerBuilder’s and Monster’s of the world, with little or no return. These sites have been inundated with resumes, and it is like searching for a needle in a haystack for the best candidate. Having a professional profile on LinkedIn that is highly visible will give you a leg up. Take a look sometime at your own connections, and you will notice that close to 80% - 90% of them have their parameters set to include interested in “Job Opportunities.” This makes it that much more discreet since nearly everybody else has the same thing. Additionally you should be building your network, and networking as much as possible. LinkedIn is the perfect platform for this.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Maintain A Positive Attitude
I wanted to share an article that I came across the other day in which stories of triumphing over long-term unemployment during this recession are shared (http://www.slate.com/id/
I have a close colleague who I met for lunch one Friday afternoon. He had been laid off from a position as a Financial Reporting Manager for a Fortune 1000 company three months prior, and after a long and tumultuous effort to find a new job without success had all but thrown in the towel. It was apparent in his attitude that the negative effects of being unemployed and not having had any success in his job search had taken it’s toll. Instead of being confident in interviews, he approached them with self-defeat. How could he ever expect to land a job when he didn’t believe in himself?
His problem was not that he lacked credentials, accolades or experience. His problem was that he was wallowing in self-pity and self-defeat. It was as plain and easy for the interviewers to see as the words on his resume. I tried my best to give him a motivational talk, and suggested he go to the nearest bookstore and buy a copy of “The Power of Positive Thinking.” It could have been any of a number of books, and by no means am I promoting that exclusively (although I have seen many people thrive after reading it and acting upon its precepts). I knew though he needed something that would inject a dose of positivism into his outlook. If he was going to change his dismal outlook on his job prospects, he needed to first change his attitude, and leave the self-defeat behind.
On a Friday morning exactly 2 weeks later, I received a string of texts from him on my way in to the office. That very week he had been offered 3 jobs, and was on his way to accept one of them at that moment. He told me he let go of every negative thing that had been holding him back, tried to be positive, and it was as if suddenly a magnetic force was attracting hiring managers and recruiters to him.
Magnets work because they have a magnetic field. The end that points in the North is called the North Pole of the magnet, and the end that points South is called the South Pole of the magnet. Like magnetic poles repel each other, whereas unlike poles attract each other. If you are mired in self-defeat, you’re repelling people in a position to give you a job. If your magnet is steered in a positive direction, you will likewise see incredible results. It may not happen overnight, or in a week, or even in a month. But if you stay the course, it will happen, and you will be sharing your success story with others to inspire them.
Let me close by relating a story from the book “Think and Grow Rich.”
“An uncle of R.U. Darby was caught by the “gold fever” in the gold-rush days, and went out West to dig and grow rich. He had never heard that more gold has been mined from the brains of men than has ever been taken from the Earth. He staked a claim and went to work with pick and shovel. The going was hard, but his lust for gold was definite. After weeks of labor, he was rewarded by the discovery of the shining ore. He needed machinery to bring the ore to the surface. Quietly, he covered up the mine, retraced his footsteps to his home in Williamsburg, Maryland, and then told his relatives and a few neighbors of the “strike.” They got together money for the needed machinery, and had it shipped to location. The uncle and Darby went back to work the mine.
The first car of ore was mined, and shipped to a smelter. The returns proved they had one of the richest mines in Colorado! A few more cars of that ore would clear the debts. Then would come the big killing in profits.
Down went the drills! Up went the hopes of Darby and Uncle! Then something happened! The vein of gold ore disappeared! They had come to the end of the rainbow, and the pot of gold was no longer there! They drilled on, desperately trying to pick up the vein again - all to no avail. Finally, they decided to quit.
They sold the machinery to a junk man for a few hundred dollars, and took the train back home. Some “junk” men are dumb, but not this one! He called in a mining engineer to look at the mine and do a little calculating. The engineer advised that the project had failed, because the owners were not familiar with “fault lines.” His calculations showed that the vein would be found just three feet from where the Darbys had stopped drilling! That is exactly where it was found!
The “junk” man took millions of dollars in ore from the mine, because he knew enough to seek expert counsel before giving up.”
You may be standing 3 feet from gold right now. Don’t stop until you find it.
How to Network Effectively
Networking is the single most effective way to job hunt and to increase business opportunities. Without a circle of high quality professional acquaintances, you will be severely disadvantaged throughout your career. However, building this circle requires planning and you have to continually work at it. How do you get started? Most importantly, how do you make sure you aren’t turning people off or damaging your reputation? Read on to learn the fundamentals of effective networking - what TO do and what NOT to do.
How to Start
There’s really no single formula. However, I recommend that you start with a specific goal and timeframe. For example, decide to meet 3 new people in your field who work both in your company and in other firms over the next 6 months. Once you “program” that goal into your brain, you’ll be amazed at the number of opportunities that come your way. Sign up for seminars, attend presentations, take a class, or ask a friend to introduce you to someone. Just get going. And don’t worry about imposing – people are generally very nice and like to help each other out.
How to Get People Interested in You
Who are you interested in networking with? Probably people who are cheerful, hard-working, well put together and well thought of, right? Well, then you need to work on being that kind of person yourself. You have to demonstrate that you are worth building a relationship with.
If you’re meeting someone for the first time, let them do most of the talking. People love to talk about themselves. Ask them about their interests, profession…whatever. First, you’ll learn pretty quickly if this person is someone you want to keep in touch with. Second, if you do ask them for their business card or contact information, they will gladly give it to you because they now look upon you very favorably as being “a good listener”. Make sure you ask for permission to contact them in the future. Don’t assume that you can. Just say something like “I’m glad we met. May I keep in touch with you?” If you’ve used the active listening approach I described, they always say “Yes” or “Of course”.
If someone isn’t interested in networking with you, just back off. Don’t bug them or try to change his or her mind. Be objective about why this is the case and try to determine if there is something about yourself that needs improvement. If they never come around, don’t worry about it. The world is a big place and there are plenty of great people out there.
Start Off Conservatively
Wait for at least 24-48 hours to pass before getting in touch with someone after you meet them. Otherwise, they might get the impression that you’re needy or over-eager. Don’t ask for huge favors the very first time you communicate with someone, either. Networking is a give-and-take process, not a one-time event. People don’t “owe” you anything just because you were introduced or exchanged business cards.
Mind Your Manners
What ever happened to “Please” and “Thank you”? People of all ages are violating this basic rule and it’s appalling. Use an appropriate level of formality and respectful tone. Over time you can become more relaxed but never, ever lose basic courtesy. If you’re sending an email, watch your grammar and spell check it before sending. If you’re leaving a voicemail, write it out first and practice saying it a few times. That way, it will be delivered it smoothly and naturally. Your verbal and written communication reflects who you are.
Demonstrate Respect for Process and Position
Don’t ask people to go around their company’s internal processes or to leap over organizational levels for you. This puts them on the spot. Instead, ask them to explain what their company’s process is and who they recommend that you contact. Always, always ask for permission to use their name before doing so. This approach shows that you are a responsible and trustworthy person. And, you will ultimately get in touch with the right individual(s) through a series of personal internal referrals Trust me – this works.
Set Up a Schedule
A preset schedule will ensure that you keep in regular contact with your networking circle. 2-3 times a year is a good guideline, unless you are working with someone on a specific project or request. Make it a convenient time for them – breakfast, coffee, lunch, or after work. Keep it to 30 minutes. If the other person wants to make it longer, let them suggest it, not you.
Keep the Conversations Productive
Be completely professional and upbeat in your networking activities. Networking is not a vehicle for you to whine, complain, or badmouth. It’s an opportunity for you to learn from others and to help them out as well. Anybody who is a quality individual for you to know will not be interested in listening to garbage. In networking circles, word travels fast about which people to avoid. Don’t get on that list.
Be a Giver, Not a Taker
Keep track of how many times you ask for favors. You should be giving and taking in equal measure. End each conversation with “Thanks for your time. Please tell me how I can help you.” Even if the other person says “Oh, don’t worry about it.” or “I don’t really need anything right now.” - they will always remember you as being a very unselfish and thoughtful person. I cannot stress enough how much networking is about helping others. Again, word travels fast about which people just take, take, take and never do anything for anyone else. Don’t get on that list, either.
Be on Your Best Behavior at all Times
Not everyone is an outgoing extrovert. And we all have bad days. But the world is a small place and people have long memories. You never know who you will run into and whose assistance you will need, even if it’s years and years from now. You can never go wrong by being kind and respectful to everyone all the time.
You Must Sow Before You Reap
Start networking NOW. Don’t wait until you need something. There is nothing more annoying than getting a phone call from someone you just met or someone who hasn’t been in touch for years (or worse yet, didn’t return your calls when you contacted them) asking for a big favor.
If you truly don’t need anyone or anything right now, then reach out to others and help them. And be sincere about it. Develop the reputation for being someone who helps others. Not only is it the right thing to do, but by doing so, you will build up a “bank” of goodwill that you can easily tap into when you really need it. Believe me, that day will come and when it does, you’ll be amazed at the outpouring of assistance you’ll get.
Protect Your Good Name and Reputation
Don’t feel obligated to let just anyone into your personal network. Be especially careful if you have any doubts about how a person’s behavior will reflect upon you, even if you’ve known this person since childhood or if she is your second cousin. It can take someone less than 5 minutes to ruin the good reputation you’ve spent years and years building.
Don’t blow the person off. Return the phone call and listen to the request with respect. Then simply say “I wish I could help you out. Unfortunately, I’m not in a position right now to be of assistance. If things change, I’ll certainly get in touch with you.” Leave it at that.
Source: here
The importance of NETWORKING
I have received a lot of wonderful feedback as well as questions regarding the job search blog. Because I have been receiving so many questions on this subject, the first and probably most important area that I want to focus on initially is networking. Now more than ever networking is vital in landing positions. These are things that I have seen work and hopefully may be able to help you or someone you know as well.
1. Alumni Networks: If you haven’t done so, get acquainted with the services your college or University provide to job seekers. This does not include only the Career Services department. Find out if your alumni base has a local club where you can meet and network with fellow alumni. With college football season fast approaching, this may be a good time to join the local alum game watch. There are also often times “secret” networks that exist via your University’s website where jobs are posted by alums for alums.
2. Volunteering: While you are searching for a job, why not look for opportunities to volunteer in the community? I can’t explain why or how, but I have seen numerous individuals find positions through volunteer endeavors. Whether it is good karma or networking, it has worked and may just work for you too.
3. LinkedIn: I can’t stress enough the importance of setting up a profile on LinkedIn. It is the top online networking tool that currently exists for professional networking. I will be talking more about LinkedIn in the future, but for now I am including a link that explains more about LinkedIn and how to get started.
10 Steps to Effective Networking
Although I’ve got 10 steps listed here – the reality is that there are 3 that are extra critical and generally get missed, so cover the whole list, but make sure you pay special attention to #’s 1, 7 and 10!
1. Develop a Networking Mindset
Free your mind and the rest will follow! There are plenty of techniques and tips to make you a better networker, but the real key is approaching it in the right frame of mind.
2. Develop a Great 30-Second Commercial
What’s your unique selling proposition? Can you get across what you do in an interesting and concise way? Just like on television, you need to grab attention quickly.
3. Identify Your Target
Have you ever seen a fly fisherman that pulls in fish after fish? He knows what he’s fishing for and he knows what those fish like. Do you know what you’re after?
4. Identify Where to Network
Sure you can network almost anywhere, but there are only so many hours in the day so you should identify what will work best for you.
5. Prepare Your Meeting Strategy
One of the best ways to overcome fear is to be prepared – decide what you want to do.
6. Work the Event
You weren’t planning on just showing up, having a few drinks and throwing your cards around were you?
7. Ask Questions
People enjoy being listened to. The secret to being a great listener is to ask the right questions. Go with open-ended questions that will get people to talk.
8. Don’t Sell
Don’t do it…at least not at networking events, it doesn’t work and it’s likely to annoy people! Don’t be ‘that’ guy (or person)!
9. Go With a Team Approach
Not only is there safety in numbers, you can get a lot farther with teamwork than you can on your own.
10. Follow-up
If you were a farmer, you would have spent a lot of time determining the best thing to plant, preparing the field and going to pick out the seed. However there will be no crop if you don’t actually plant the seed and water it. There are a lot of ways to follow-up, including phone, email or even LinkedIn – the key is to make sure you do something with the contacts that you make to keep the ball rolling (when it makes sense).
Obviously this list is high level – but it should give you some ideas on what to focus on. Remember the end result that you’re looking for is developing relationships – mutually beneficial, win-win relationships and that starts by helping other people out first.
Source: here
JOB SEARCH BLOG
As a recruiter, I am asked questions related to job searching, interviewing, networking, and a myriad of other areas by job seekers every day. Most of the questions are the same, and I have thought that I wish there was a way to consolidate all of the advice, and make it accessible to all. I have been talking about the idea of starting a blog that focuses on job search advice for over a year (maybe longer), but just have not found the time to sit down and start it. Now is the time. I will be starting the actual blog in the next week or so, but until then I wanted to send out an email and get the ball rolling with an article focusing on a subject that has come up recently.
My hope is that this blog will not only allow job seekers the opportunity ask questions and get ideas in their respective job searches, but will also be a forum where input on methods that have helped them can be shared. Should you have others in your circles or network that are currently searching for a job, feel free to pass along this email. Hopefully it is a great way to help them and also a great way to give to those who find themselves in less fortunate circumstances this year.
Gaps of unemployment on resumes
So you’ve found yourself in the predicament of needing to look for a job. Maybe you are looking for greener pastures, because those long hours are starting to add up. Or perhaps, and unfortunately, you find yourself looking out of necessity due to a layoff. Certainly there are advantages to looking while you are still gainfully employed, most obvious being that you still have a job and income. On the flip side, the job search can be a little more challenging while unemployed. I’d like to focus the attention of this post on the latter, particularly in regard to how to approach the “gaps” in your resume as time marches on. Weeks turn into months, months approach a year, and as I’ve seen several times in this economy, a year turns into two or even three. How do you occupy your time doing something meaningful (and keeping your spirits up) to put on your resume? Here are a few suggestions that may not only help fill the void, but land you a new job as well.
My personal favorite is volunteering. Volunteering not only provides an opportunity to use your time in a manner that benefits others, but it also allows you to focus on positives instead of dwelling on negatives. Keep in mind that volunteering is also a great way to network with other professionals. But volunteer work does not only need to be limited to charities. Seek out new businesses or struggling organizations where your unique skills or background may be of use as a volunteer. You can make invaluable connections, and if your performance is top notch, you may well be on your way to being offered a paid job.
Another way is to spend time by focusing on developing new skills. Whether it’s completing an online class in Microsoft Excel, or brushing up on typing, new skills that can be added to your resume will make you more marketable, and thus more attractive to prospective employers. Do some research while you are applying for jobs, and pay close attention to what employers in your industry are looking for in employees. If there is a theme across jobs of a certain designation that is required, and you don’t have it, this could be what’s holding you back. It’s also an opportune time to complete it.
This is also a time that can be beneficially used to learn more about your industry, and network with other professionals within it. Never underestimate the power of networking – it really can be about who you know, and successful job seekers are able to attest to this every day. Networking on social media avenues such as LinkedIn or Facebook, or through alumni groups or professional associations can lead to great results.
This may be the time to start your own business, even if only for a short time. It could be something related to a hobby or talent, or it could be a start-up business in an area that you already have a solid background and skill set in. Believe it or not, some of the most successful businesses today were created during times of economic downturns. Would you ever believe that big names such as Microsoft, GE, CNN, HP, MTV, FedEx, Trader Joe’s and Burger King all started during similarly bleak economic times? The key is to find a market need, and fill it. It could be an underserved niche, an opportunity to streamline, or the idea for a new product. As counterintuitive as it may sound, the best time to start a new company may be in a down economy.
How about starting an accounting services business? Why? Because small companies often seek out help in order to identify areas of cost savings, inefficiencies, or potential problems in down economies. Hiring someone on a project basis can far outweigh the costs associated with poor expenditures and unsound financial decisions. A few more recession proof ideas include areas relating to health care, IT, discount luxury items, personal services, cosmetics, and believe it or not, candy.
But as a caution, be careful about how you represent entrepreneurship on your resume. Although you fill a gap and create more experience and skills, it can also be a double-edged sword. Many prospective employers shy away from entrepreneurs due to being burned in the past – a number have taken positions temporarily during down times, only to bolt back to entrepreneurial endeavors once economic conditions pick up. Be sure to clearly convey your intention to get back into a full-time position, and assure the reader that your personal business aspirations will not interfere.
But what if out of necessity to pay bills, you have to take a job where you are underemployed? The answer is, it’s a lot better than nothing, and it has more value than simply sitting around. It could also provide an opportunity to develop new skills such as people management, working as a team or customer service. If the choice is working a job that is lesser than your background or skill set indicates, or not doing anything, choose the lesser job. The more idle time you have on your hands, the less attractive you begin to look to recruiters and hiring managers.
The point is, there are number of productive ways to use your time while looking for a new job. It’s highly unlikely that it will take all day, every day to apply to jobs online. Applying online is necessary, but it shouldn’t be the only method used. Think outside the box, use your own creativity, and use some of the ideas discussed. The job seekers who are taking a proactive approach to their job searches are also having more positive results.
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