Category Archives: Job Search

February 20, 2014 · 9:43 am

Dating, Dreaming and the Olympics

I have been watching the Olympics like a fiend and have come to a conclusion:  I want to date a bobsleigh brakeman.

I know it might seem silly and I don’t want to sound like a romance novelist but I think the combination of focus, determination and strength wrapped in such a nice package is a pretty great combination.

But the hard truth is that I can’t.

I can’t date a bobsledder any more than I can be a CFO. Just because I admire them and think that what they do is neat, there is no way we would find any common ground

I am not athletic or even fit for that matter. I am a desk rat rather than a gym rat. I don’t go out much in winter. And nothing I do is measured in hundredths of a second. Nothing.

Applying for jobs is the same thing. Just because you think the role is interesting or cool does not mean that you would be suitable date material.

When you read the requirements, pay attention to what they are really describing. Does it really reflect what you do, or more importantly, have done?

Will the receiver of your resume instantly be able to see why you are interested and why this makes sense for you and for the hiring manager?

We can all date bobsledders in our dreams but should save the heartache and focus on more realistic pursuits in our careers. Me included.

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Filed under Interview, Job Search, Resume

February 6, 2014 · 9:43 am

What would Gaga do?

I once saw Anderson Cooper interview Lady Gaga on the venerable CBS show 60 Minutes.  She is a pretty interesting character.  Anderson was asking her about how she handles the way the press hang around waiting to catch her in an embarrassing situation.

“Well, Anderson, I am just not a barf in the bar kind of girl”.

Love it.

Love it.

Love it.

This is the kind of authenticity that everyone needs to bring to an interview.  It does not matter if it is a telephone interview with a recruiter or a face to face meeting with a hiring manager.  Confident, direct and truthful is the way to go.

This does not give you permission to be rude or disrespectful.  If you are asked how you got along with your former boss, you really shouldn’t say he was a jerk or he couldn’t read financial statements to save his life.  It is okay, however, to explain that you made decisions differently or you had different approaches to customer service.

An interview is like the nice pair of shoes in the shop window.  You go in to see if they have your size. You try them on.  You walk around for a while, thinking of outfits that will work with them.  You think about whether you can afford them.  You see if the salesperson will give you a deal and together, you decide if they are the right pair for you. 

If they don’t feel comfortable in the shop, don’t buy them, no matter how good a deal they are.  They will mock you every time you see them in your closet.

Lady Gaga wouldn’t settle for ill-fitting loafers.  Why should you?

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January 30, 2014 · 9:45 am

Any Questions? How to leave a lasting impression

Picture this: you are at a job interview and things are going really well. The hiring manager leans back in her chair and asks if you have any questions. Bang! Here is your opportunity to cement everything and nail the job.

So, what do you ask?

Hint: Do not begin with when does the job start. If they really want you, they will have already asked that question.

There are a couple of ways to go. One is to focus on the hiring manager. When did they start with the company? What do they like about the organization? What is the most meaningful part of their work?

You can also dig deeper into the company and it’s culture. What challenges does it face? What sets them apart from their competitors? What is the style of the senior leadership team?

Or you can ask about the role itself. You can ask about the compensation. Careful though. Sometimes employers don’t want to talk about that until quite late in the process. You could ask about whether there is variable compensation and how it’s tied to your performance. The answer to that could be quite insightful. You could also ask for more detail about other other
perks such as savings plans, company discount programs or tuition reimbursement. This one is nice because you could get a follow up question about your future goals around learning.
( so be ready for that).

There are lots of choices. The important thing is to think about it before you get there so that they are ready at hand. You don’t want to end an interview with a blank look and a shrug.

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December 5, 2013 · 9:43 am

Gifts for the Job Seeker

It’s that time of year…..when you try to find thoughtful gifts that don’t break the bank. But what to do for the folks you know who are in transition?  The holidays are a tough time for them and there are many ways to show you are thinking of them that are both thoughtful and constructive.

 Top ten gift for job seekers:

  • Resume editing gift certificate – everyone’s resume needs a brush up
  • Lunch date – either with you or better yet, with you and someone who might be a good connector for the job seeker
  • Introduction – to a key hiring manager
  • Invitation to a members only networking event???????????????????????????????????????????
  • Free haircut or manicure – by a professional – no DIY here
  • New shirt – interviews always feel better in new clothes
  • Mixed tape of power songs – or today’s equivalent from iTunes
  • Lunch box – for their first day
  • Coffee gift cards – a free coffee is always a treat

There you have it. Be a pal and have some cheer- help someone find a job next year. 

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Filed under career change, Interview, Job Search, Networking

October 10, 2013 · 9:43 am

The Eight Year Internship

My first real job lasted eight years. I was not in the same role for that whole time. It was a fast growth company and as things grew and evolved I was thrown into different responsibilities.

I can’t tell you that I loved every day because I didn’t. There were many days when I felt like I was in way over my head. But armed with a high capacity for action (I was younger then) and a sense of humor, I managed.

It was during that time that I learned exactly where what I liked and what I was good at intersected.  That became the jumping off point for the rest of my career.your career

When I was in the middle of all that work and craziness, I certainly did not think of it as an internship. No way. It was serious. It was my life.

I think about all the things I got to do and try and how often I draw on those experiences now and it amazes me.  It really was like an internship albeit for eight years.

If you look back at the jobs you have had, can you find an intense learning period?   I am not talking about learning lingo and product specs. I am talking about real business learning: customers, innovation, process and all that stuff.

It’s a long weekend. Give this some thought while you are napping or walking off your turkey dinner. These are the kind of stories you will need for your next job interview.  You’ve got the experience. Get ready to talk about it.

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June 20, 2013 · 9:43 am

Is it time to develop your inner Googliness?

I saw the movie “The Internship” last night. I’m not a fan of Owen Wilson (he always seems to be slightly whiny) or Vince Vaughan (who usually plays a dolt) but I thought it might provide some useful insights into a new and slightly mysterious workplace: Google.

But really, all I was left with was a story about old style sales guys showing the ways of the world to the youth of today. I did not need a movie to show me that and frankly, it did a disservice to college students.

It seemed that the student interns learned a lot about tequila, sex and sales but the two “dinosaurs” did not learn anything except that the future is not really that scary. For Pete’s sake! What kind of lesson is that?

I would like to have seen much more balance. We all have stuff to learn in the workplace. It is imperative that interns and presidents figure out how to lead and learn.

That’s what companies like Apple and Google are supposed to be revolutionizing. Every single person who works there has something to develop and something to contribute.

Whether you are working on the first steps of your career or the next steps of your career, think about what you have to contribute. What are you good at?  What is the essence of what you do well every day?

If you can figure out how to articulate this in a way that is clear and easy to understand, you will be on your way to moving a lot closer to your dream job.

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May 23, 2013 · 9:01 am

LinkedIn for Students

Let me lay this out plainly for you: If you are about to graduate from university, you need a profile on LinkedIn.
People want to see who you are and you don’t want them going to Facebook to do it. LinkedIn is a professional place where professional folks hang out and get known.

  • Start with a head shot of you –not your dog, not your boyfriend, not you driving your hot car. Just you smiling confidently at the camera. It should look like you might actually be able to hold down a job.
  • Make sure you include your degree, specialties and volunteer work. If you were involved in campus clubs or teams, those can be included too. Just be careful about the message you send when you mention the Hangover Club and the “I only go to school on Tuesdays” club.
  • If you did a thesis or special projects, those can be listed too. They might, for example, contain a lot of keywords that people like me look for.
  • Make sure that you profile states clearly what you are looking for – whether it’s an internship, summer job or a permanent position.
  • Finally, make it easy for us to contact you. Either include your email address in the contact section or, at the very least, hook your account up to an email address you actually check. Otherwise it’s a bit of a waste of time.

So get out there and get found. You never know – maybe someone is looking for you right now!

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October 18, 2012 · 9:43 am

So…..are we exclusive?

I was talking about LinkedIn with a group of people on Monday evening.  One of the big questions seemed to be about invitations. When someone invites you to connect, should you accept?

Some people only accept invites from people they know. Others, like people in my profession, accept all invitations.

The answer lies in why you got on LinkedIn in the first place. Is it a place to hang out with former colleagues?  A place to develop your consulting reputation?  Maybe you want to grow your community of influence, so that when you throw a highly pithy comment out there – you get lots of feedback.

Most of us keep our profiles current and polished so we can get noticed. We want prospective employers or clients to find us and look us over. The way we get “found” is by broadening our networks either by accepting invitations or joining groups.

Here’s a possible strategy:

  • Take a look at your invites once every week or so. You don’t have to do it right away. They will not evaporate.
  • If you don’t know the person, click on their name. Maybe that will jog your memory or you will realize that they know a lot of the same people you do.
  • Decide if you want to accept, ignore or procrastinate a little longer.

So, when you are deciding whether your network is going small and exclusive or open and diverse, think about how you want to be treated. When you reach out to someone, you want to be acknowledged, right?

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October 11, 2012 · 9:57 am

They want you. Now what?

Salary negotiations at the end of the interview process can be tricky.  They shouldn’t be, but they usually are.

The problem, I think, lies in when they happen.  Usually, it’s the very last step.  The candidate has met the whole team and is in love with everyone.  The hiring manager is already filling that person’s name in on the Holiday Party seating chart and then bam!  Everything grinds to a halt when some mentions base salary.

Whether you are the candidate or the hiring manager, salary should be among the first things to discuss.  Once you think there is some skill crossover and a bit of chemistry, get money on the table.

There is no point in going through an extensive interview process only to discover that there is a $40K gap in what you want and what they have.  It is crushing for both sides.

If you are in a first interview with a hiring manager or a recruiter and the subject of compensation has not come up, ask the question.  Don’t just wait for it to come up later.  This is especially true if you are near the top of the market or are pretty senior.  Take the bull by the horns and bring it forward.

“This sounds like a very interesting role.  What kind of salary range do you have?”

“I work in a large company now with a lot of perks.  What kind of package does this job come with?”

If the answer is hedgy or not clear, be wary.  You don’t have to run for the hills, just make sure to keep it on the list for the next conversation.

I know that money is not everything but let’s face it:  If there is a big gap in base salary expectations, it can be problematic.  Psychologically, we know what we are used to and what we have nurtured and developed over our careers.  Taking a big haircut is not always in the cards and if it is possible, better to know if up front so we can start rationalizing the offsets.

It’s like looking at the dessert menu before you order your main course.  It just makes sense.

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Filed under career change, Interview, Job Search, Networking, recruiter, Resume

April 26, 2012 · 9:43 am

It’s Time to Bait the Hook

If you are thinking about making a job change, consider the old adage:  fish where the fish are.

What is it that you want to do next and where are the people who are doing it now?  Better yet, who is doing it now and has a problem that you can fix?

Imagine you have decided that you want to move from a customer service role to an outside sales role.  You have been feeling hemmed in lately.  You really want to get out in field and get face to face with customers.

How about this?  Look for a company that has a product that’s the same or similar to yours and then drill down to find trouble.

Trouble could be in the form of a growth spike, a quality issue or wider market acceptance.  These challenges are pain points for company leaders.  Leaders want to relieve pain.  Figure out how to market yourself as the prescription.

An email message might say:

I have been listening to customers like yours for years.  I know what they need and how to package your product so that it provides a solution that fits.  Couldn’t you use someone like me in the field?

Just attach your resume and hit send.

There is certainly no guarantee that one email will start a conversation but it’s a good start.

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