Category Archives: Networking

June 9, 2016 · 9:45 am

Want to move your career ahead? Stop eating at your desk

It is easy to get in to the habit of eating at your desk.  It seems like you are squishing in some extra work and looking super productive.  In fact, you look anti social and usually end up with heartburn.

Lunch was invented for a reason.  We need to stop and refuel.  It is a chance to change our surroundings and interact with different people.  It does not mean you have to spread out the white tablecloth and silverware.  Even if you just grab a quick salad or sandwich and sit with a few people, you will head back to your desk feeling refreshed.

The eating area is a common gathering place so you can learn a lot.  Not just gossip either.  You can hear what other groups are working on, get in on the good jokes and get exposed to a lot of different kinds of food.  You never know when you might have to opportunity to share your knowledge of where to get great Korean barbecue with the CFO. 

Three other things to consider when deciding what to do about lunch:

Walking through a cube farm with your lunch smells wafting by is not always going to make you popular.  

Crumbs in your keyboard is definitely frowned on by IT.  

If you are not into eating (diet, Ramadan, cleansing), a walk outside is a great alternative.  Especially if you do it with someone else.  This can be extremely refreshing.  We refer to this as “walk n’ rant”.

So take the time and change your space.  It will be worth it.

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April 2, 2015 · 9:40 am

Spring Cleaning for your Network

This weekend marks the practical beginning of spring. I know it was a couple of weeks ago on the calendar but I can still see my breath in the mornings so it’s not here yet.

Spring is when we think about cleaning, decluttering and generally freshening things up.  This should not include just your living room, fridge or stinky, salt stained car but also your network.

Yes, I said network.

I am not saying you should unfriend people in droves however, once in a while, you need to take a look at your network to see if it reflects your needs. Your network is a bit like insurance.  You really only learn about the consequences of choosing the cheap plan when you get into an accident and realize what is not covered.  

You don’t want to figure out that your network is made up of mostly peers from the same company or industry when there is a downturn in that business.  You will all be moping at the same time.  Not helpful.

Here is what really drove this home for me:  Justin Bieber.  Seriously.  We watched his roast on Comedy Central this week.  It was hilarious (on many levels) but what struck me was the diversity of the people willing to go on tv to roast the kid.

You might expect comics like Kevin Hart and musicians like Ludacris.  They are his natural, industry network.  They probably go to the same parties and award shows and have  a lot in common.

Guess who else was on the stage?  Shaquille O’Neil, Snoop Dog and, wait for it, Martha Stewart.

No matter that they were only there to make fun of him.  That’s not the point.  The point is that they were willing to expose themselves by telling jokes about him to a live audience.  

That is a powerful network.  With that kind of diversity, Justin should be able to steer clear of all kinds of career obstacles.  He should be able to use them to evaluate opportunities and get doors opened for new ideas.

So, who would do your roast?  Can you pull together people from difference industries and backgrounds?  Do they know enough about you to tell some stories?  

Forget cleaning the fridge.  Spruce up your network instead.

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Filed under career change, Interview, Networking

November 27, 2014 · 9:43 am

Holiday Shopping and Career Advancement

Don’t even think of writing off the month of December for advancing your career.  You know all that time you spend sneaking in some on line shopping?  Or how about the quick trip to the mall at lunchtime?

You can use some of that holiday flex time to update your resume too.  There is always some time to kill before the group lunch or while you wait for your kids Christmas concert to start.

Break the activities into little chunks. For example, adding the latest courses, certificates or training courses can be done in 20 minutes or so.  Adding a few bullets to describe your latest project is also a 10-15 minute job.

Setting up job alerts on eluta.ca, indeed.ca or linkedin.com also takes only a few minutes.

Calling former colleagues to see if they want to have lunch – ten minutes each.

Taking time to eat your sandwich in the kitchen or cafeteria does not take any extra time and has the added benefit of built in networking.  You never know – you might find yourself having lunch with the President.

Make sure you have some positive things to say about your work.  When someone from another department asks how things are going, they do not want you to roll your eyes and sigh.  They want to hear to that you are involved in some really cool projects and learning a lot.  That’s how to make a solid impression.

So don’t write off December before it has even started.  Put some of these ideas in your calendar and tackle them one by one.  It will make those New Year’s resolutions a lot easier!

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Filed under career change, Job Search, Networking, Resume

October 16, 2014 · 9:45 am

Take a minute. Take my call.

This week I have spent most of my time talking with candidates who are not looking for new jobs. They have jobs and they like them.

But something compelled them to make some time to hear about the role I am helping my client to fill.

Maybe they found the message compelling. Maybe they were having a bad day. Maybe they were just plain curious. It doesn’t matter why. What matters is that they took a few minutes to explore an opportunity.

It’s all well and good to be happy with your job but how do you know its the best place for you? You only know that by comparing it to other roles in other places.

When recruiters call, its a great chance for you to kick the tires on something new with no obligation. You can assess the role, gauge the compensation package and get a better understanding of the market for your skills.

What if you have a rare, in demand skill set and it feels like you get calls all the time? Then be judicious about which recruiters you engage with but be conscious of the fact that sometimes companies go straight to recruiters. Some roles never get posted on corporate job sites.

I worked with a highly recognizable name brand company in the food and beverage sector and they used our firm for all their marketing positions. They found that when they posted these jobs on their own, they were inundated with hundreds and hundreds of applicants. Sifting through them was just too much.

Recruiters add value in two ways. By posting roles on behalf of clients and by digging into the market to find candidates who might be interested and qualified.

When we reach out to you, it is because we think you have good skills and experience. Only a conversation reveals the rest of the story. So talk to us. You have nothing to lose and solid market intel to gain.

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

July 24, 2014 · 9:45 am

Hiring Doesn’t Stop – Neither Should You

I talked to a lot of candidates this week who said that they had put their search on the back burner because they figured no one was going to make hiring decisions until the fall.

Wrong.

I see lots of action happening this summer. I think it would be a mistake to write off the next four weeks.

It used to be that people, especially senior leaders, took two weeks off every summer and really checked out. They went on a big family trip or they spent time at the cottage. No calling in, no messages, nothing. All you needed were two stakeholders doing this back to back and the whole hiring process got derailed. I don’t think that is as common now. My clients are going for a week at a time and then its usually over one of the long weekends.

The other current trend that helps the hiring process is stay-cations. This is where someone is out of the office for a week but they still check in once or twice each day. I did this myself and really enjoyed it. It was kind of like having nine Saturdays in a row. Productive and relaxing for sure.

This allows projects, like hiring people, to keep rolling and promotes smooth handovers between stakeholders.

So don’t turn off the networking machine. Don’t stop applying and sending inquiries. More people are paying attention than you think.

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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

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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Filed under Job Search, Networking, Resume, Uncategorized

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

March 29, 2012 · 9:43 am

True Networking: Ask for it!

Here’s what they don’t you tell in networking classes:  you have to be ready to ask for what you need.  Say you are wrapping up a call with someone and they say “Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.  Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.”

Your response should start with “Well, as a matter of fact…..I was wondering if you know…”

When you are offering your expertise, it is perfectly fair to ask for something in return but usually, we are so flattered to have been asked that we forget.

When someone thanks me for helping with their resume, I could put on my business development hat and ask if their company is hiring.  Or I could ask if they might be willing to put a recommendation on linkedin.

When someone asks to borrow my French press coffee maker, I usually ask if I could have a cup, too.

This is not to say that everything has to be reciprocated.  Life should not be one negotiation after another.  Just be on the lookout for ways other people can help you and don’t be shy about it.

People want to help.  It makes them feel good but they can’t read your mind.  You have to spell out what you need even when you think it should be dead obvious.

So put it out there.  Keep thinking and keep asking.  You’ll be surprised at what can happen.

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