Tuesday, February 23, 2010

New Blog Address

I have officially moved my blog to www.RecruiterUncensored.com. Please join me there. Blogspot was fun while it lasted. The new blog still needs some tweaks. You'll notice the new features as they are added. Thanks in advance for following me to my new site.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Airplanes

What could airplanes possibly have to do with a job search? I'll get to that in a moment. First, a little background.

I hate to fly. HATE IT! Even though I look composed while securely strapped in my seat, I'm a mess of nerves. When I fly there is always a Reader's Digest in my hands. The humor pages help distract me from my anxiety during take-offs and landings.

Because I hate to fly, I am only boarding a plane when my destination is so far away I'd rather risk death by airplane crash than endure days of highways and road trip food. That means my flights are long. Long flights are to blame for the second problem I have with flying, who I get stuck sitting next to.

Surely I'm not alone in dreading who my flight buddy might turn out to be. Even though we're only talking a few hours, it doesn't seem that way when pressed for space and trying to tend to ones sanity. My tolerance goes way down. Will I be stuck next to a talkative wiggler? Will the person get up and down constantly for bathroom breaks and carry-on bag search expeditions? Will the person be drowning in some Calvin Klein scent designed to gag those who haven't built up an immunity?

The person who sits down in the seat next to me is a big deal. We're going to spend crucial time together. Their proximity to me will play a role in my ability to hit my goal of getting off the plane without enduring an embarrassing panic attack. Never mind this person may be the person I share my last precious moments of life with should the plane run out of gas or all of the screws suddenly rot away. Do you see the significance?

Now, for how this relates to the world of job searches. If you are a candidate being interviewed for a job, it's not impossible the interviewer is wondering what it would be like to sit next to you on an airplane. Okay, not exactly, but kind of. Your skills may be top notch, but how would it feel to be stuck in a confined space through stressful moments with you? Keep in mind people often spend more waking time interacting with co-workers than their own families. That's a lot. No one is going to want to saddle themselves with someone who drives them bonkers. That's not meant to be a dig. It's part of the human condition to drive people bonkers at times. We all have the potential to annoy someone if we are out of sync with how that person operates.

This isn't about discrimination or not appreciating diversity. I'm not condoning individuals who don't give people a chance because they are different from them in some way. We all do need to learn how to reach out to others and compromise. What I'm pointing out is the reality that personalities and habits play a role. Skills alone aren't enough to proclaim someone a fit. On the bright side, the door swings both ways. Job seekers are equally capable of recognizing a potential supervisor may not be in sync with them enough for the job to be a good option. Chemistry matters to both sides and that's okay.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

You Don't Know What You're Missing

This is going to sound like a no-brainer, but when you make a networking connection it is important to provide that person with a way to get in touch with you. Job seekers who are out mingling with the business crowd have the ear of a number of people in a position to learn of opportunities soon to hit the market. It's fantastic to give those you meet an idea of what leads would benefit you. What's tragic is when you do that and leave them wanting to help you, but fail to provide a means for them to find you in the future. I'm in that boat right now. I met a wonderful woman a few days ago with a solid background in her field. Today I learned of a position through my Twitter feed I'd love to tell her about. I can't though. As luck would have it, I only know her first name. She has my card and left me with a promise to email me her contact information. I'm sure I'm on her list and will here from her in the near future. Unfortunately, the near future may be too late for her to capitalize on the lead that crossed my desk today.

Don't miss out on opportunities because people have no means of finding you. Create a business card you use for your job search efforts. Update your profile on LinkedIn. Send an email to those you meet reminding them of your contact information. Job seekers who aren't conducting confidential searches should be the most findable people on the planet.

If you are reading this post and wondering if the lead I have might be for you, dig out my card and drop me a line. I'd love to pass this job information on.

A Thank You A Day Keeps Your Job Search In Play!

Do you want to add more energy to your job search? Commit to sending out at least one thank you letter a day. Truly motivated individuals will shoot for more. Why assign a goal to the process of sending out thank you letters? It's simple. When you have a goal like that you are more likely to stay focused on having the type of contact with people that would warrant sending a thank you. This contact dramatically increases the odds of you finding employment sooner.

As much as I appreciate job seekers realizing the importance of sending thank you letters in general, it is stunning to me how many only have the occasional need to send one out. If you are only cranking out one or two a month, you've got trouble! Either you're neglecting to say thanks or you simply aren't doing enough to justify more. As much as the first possibility disappoints me, the second is worse. Insufficient activity can be your worst enemy during a search. Imagine the momentum you could be experiencing if you had thirty people to thank each month versus two. Tell yourself each day I'm going to connect with at least one person in a way that warrants follow-up with a thank you note. Every week that goes by with you adding 7 people to your job search efforts will bring you closer to the prize.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Are You Fixing What's Truly Broken?

A dear friend of mine is on the umpteenth version of her resume. She's constantly tweaking the content. She's been looking for a job for several months now and keeps feeling the need to make changes. Everyone is weighing in on what could be different or better.

What's interesting to me is she hasn't really had trouble landing interviews and connecting with people. Since the resume serves as part of the foot in the door process, my bet is that she is fixing something that isn't broken. The best indicator your resume needs work is the absence of interviews. Since she's doing fine in that area, something further down the line is likely causing her problems. It could be any number of things. The key is identifying where the problem is in the process and focusing on correcting likely causes. Investing time, energy and resources repairing what is already working well for you in a job search won't change the outcome.

Another friend has been working very hard on interviewing techniques. He's read many books and attended a number of workshops on the subject. Great idea, but he has the opposite problem of the friend I described previously. He rarely gets called for interviews. Though it's valuable to refine interview skills, for him he probably needs to devote more time to improving his flow of job leads, his resume and his introduction to companies. His ability to interview well won't amount to much if he doesn't repair whatever is preventing him from having a chance to show that skill off.

So, how do you know what to fix? Break the process of landing a job down into categories and figure out where you are coming up short. If you aren't getting interviews, perhaps your resume and means of identifying job leads are failing you. If you are getting plenty of first interviews, but aren't being invited back as a finalist, something may be wrong with how you engage the decision maker, show your relevance for the job and address the questions asked of you. If you get to the final stage and aren't getting acceptable offers, you likely are fine in the resume and question answering department. Your attention probably needs to be directed towards your efforts to close the deal. Perhaps you are lacking in negotiation skills or in the way you highlight how your strengths translate to bottom line value for the company. Another unfortunate possibility is that your references are causing a snag. Something to think about.

In a nutshell, there are things job seekers need to fix along the way. Keeping an open mind to how you or your strategy should change is important. Make sure you are fixing the part of your search that is actually broken, however. Focusing on the wrong things just adds to the frustration one feels when putting forth a lot of effort with minimal return.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Don't Be A Momentum Killer

When I encounter a job seeker determined to dwell on the negative, it feels a lot like when a slow moving vehicle pulls out in front of me and forces me to take my foot off the gas pedal. One moment I'm cruising along, accomplishing things on my mission. In the next moment, I'm stuck waiting for a person to speed up or pull over so I can continue on my way.

I understand there are many things that stink about looking for a job. Times are tough and the list of potential things to complain about is long. Perhaps your own mission lacks momentum at the moment, but others may have what it takes to lead the way out of this mess. If you meet people traveling at a fast pace and aren't prepared to stay ahead of or beside them, pull to the side and let the leaders roll by. No one benefits if everyone gets to the finish line late. Ride in the draft. It will make the journey easier for all. When you aren't at the top of your game, the best contribution you can make to a team effort is to avoid getting in the way. Who knows? After drafting you may find the power to move to the front when others run out of energy.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Palm-to-Forehead Moments

Have you ever had a palm-to-forehead moment after an interview when you realized you failed to mention key details about your qualifications and accomplishments? You're not alone. I'm going to skip the lecture on how proper preparation prior to an interview helps prevent this outcome and jump right to what to do when it happens.

Keep in mind what employers hope to accomplish from an interview. The goal is to process as much relevant information as possible to determine if the person can do the job well, enhance the team, be retained for a reasonable amount of time and help meet corporate objectives. If there is something about your background that is important to figuring out if you are the right person for the job, decision makers usually want to know. Your "I wish I would have said that" could easily result in "I wish I would have known that" for employers if you leave information off the table.

So, what's a good plan for fixing the problem? The decision to reject you for a job usually comes quickly after an interview. Whatever you failed to share with an interviewer needs to be addressed immediately. That means an email or phone call is in order. I recommend an email because it can be shared readily with other decision makers and included in your file.

Here's an example of what I would say...

Dear Tom,

Thank you for the time you took to meet with me today. My interest in the Sales Manager role is high. After reflecting on our conversation, I realized I have additional information that may help you determine if I am the best fit for your opportunity and wanted to share it with you immediately.

First, I am an active member of 'XYZ Association' and have access to a number of corporate and community leaders. These contacts would enhance my efforts to grow your business. Second, I am fluent in French. Your company has operations in Quebec. In the event having a bilingual individual on staff would benefit you, I wanted to be sure you were aware of my language abilities.

Thank you again for your consideration. I hope the additional information I provided was helpful. If you would appreciate further details, I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.

....

That gives you an idea. The key is to make it clear the information is being shared to benefit the decision maker. There is no need to dig into why you forgot to mention this or that. Keep it simple and get to the point quickly. Feel free to beef this up with an additional paragraph reiterating what you revealed in your interview that makes you a fit, just don't turn the email into a novel. The point of this message is damage control. If you supply this information and are still rejected for a job, at least you'll know you were ruled out with all critical information on the table. You won't have to wonder if the outcome would have been different had the decision maker known what you failed to share.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Um, Who?

When interviewing someone, one of the main things I look for is whether or not the person gets it. Now, what is "it?" In a nutshell, the person needs to show me they have a clue of what it takes to successfully navigate the job. Their words and actions must convey they are engaged in the task of delivering quality work versus simply going through the motions or telling me what I want to hear.

To help make my point, I'm going to toss in a quick story. Jake, not his real name, applied to be a recruiter on my team several years ago. He patted himself on the back for his ability to build connections. Connections are the name of the game in recruiting. Jake pulled out a stack of business cards approximately 2 inches thick and set them on my desk. "These are the connections I've made just in the past few weeks," he bragged. The stack looked impressive. I picked up the stack, selected a card from the middle, showed him the card and asked him to tell me about that person. Jake's response was to tell me the person's name, title and company. Great, he can read a business card. I wanted more. "Tell me about the person, Jake. In connecting with this person, what did you come to learn about him and his company?" Jake's eyeballs rolled up in his brain to look for a good answer. There wasn't one to be had.

Jake found himself in the unfortunate category of those who don't get it. His mind told him having a person's business card equaled having a relationship. Not so. Jake lacked the basic understanding of what it took to be successful in the job he was convinced was a fit. When I pointed out Jake didn't really have relationships with these individuals, he became defensive. Clearly I didn't appreciate his abilities. He was no longer interested in working for me. In his mind, I didn't get it. Me, the one with "President's Club" and "Million Dollar Producer" stamped on my business card.

So, what to do with this tidbit? Honestly, I don't know. It's hard to be aware of when you may not "get it" at times. You can reduce your chances of falling into this category by truly considering what it would take to be successful with every job you apply for. Be honest with yourself about where your talents truly lie. When interviewers hint you may be coming up short in some way, give the points consideration before becoming defensive. Not getting it doesn't have to be a permanent condition.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Help Me Get Lansing Professionals Working

Some of you are aware I am working on a special project to bring unemployed professionals together and increase their exposure to corporate decision makers in the Lansing, Michigan. As of last week, Capital Area Michigan Works has given me the green light to organize career networking groups. These groups will be organized by profession, meet regularly at Capital Area Michigan Works, encourage the exchange of leads, provide ideas on job search strategy and allow companies a direct means of reaching out to specific career types. There is no cost to participate. Meeting dates and times will be determined once we have an idea what works best with the schedules of those participating.

If you know of individuals in the Lansing area who are unemployed and have a background or interest in the professional categories listed below, I'd appreciate you putting them in touch with me. I am looking for individuals who would benefit from participating in the networking groups. They are set to launch in early March. There will be an opportunity for some of have a leadership role within the groups, increasing their likelihood of collaborating with corporate decision makers.

Here are the categories for the career networking groups:

1. Business Management (HR, Accounting, Admin, Operations)
2. Information Technology / Information Systems
3. Sales / Marketing / Business Development
4. Health / Medical
5. Science / Engineering / Manufacturing
6. Just for Boomers (Cross Professional)

This is an exciting and much needed initiative. I appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word. Interested individuals can message me through Twitter (www.Twitter.com/RecruiterUncens) or email me at Lisa(at)FindAFit(dot)com. Hopefully I've avoided spam by recording my email address this way. Time will tell.

I'd like to close with a big THANK YOU to Kate Tykocki and the rest of the Capital Area Michigan Works team for helping to get this idea off the ground! By the way, I recommend following Kate on Twitter. She frequently Tweets jobs in Mid-Michigan. You can find her at camwkate.

Another THANK YOU goes out to a fantastic group of job seekers who participate in my round table who are helping to launch these groups. You guys are great. Especially, I must thank Bill Nurmi whose Tweet started all of this goodness in motion.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Sob Stories

Sob stories are problematic. When I find myself on the receiving end of one there is often the sense the individual spinning the tale believes he or she is the only person to have experienced some sort of obstacle or set back in life. Solutions and suggestions of how to look at the experience in a more positive way are met with head shakes and comments about not understanding. I haven't walked in that person's shoes, you see. I don't get just how uniquely impossible the situation is.

At the risk of sounding insensitive, it seems necessary to say few things in life are rare. Those who believe they have an obstacle others couldn't possibly understand are likely wrong. Most people experience wrenches along the way. I don't have to specifically walk in another person's shoes to understand loss, fear, rejection, exhaustion, anger, inequality and insecurity. The human experience dictates most of us will struggle with all of these in our own way through life. The bad things in life that happen to us don't define who we are. How we address them and move forward plays a greater role. Those stuck in the belief their sob story tops all others and is responsible for goals remaining out of reach fail to consider those they complain to may have overcome that and more.

I used to work with a woman who was a magnet for obstacles. You wouldn't know it by looking at her, but just about every thing that could go wrong in her world did. She kept her chin up and her eyes on the future. Just like me, she sat across the desk from many people who dismissed her point of view as coming from a person who couldn't possibly understand. She was successful and happy, you see. Little did they know their problems would have been a nice vacation for her. She didn't wear it on her sleeve. When she gave people advice, advice that was dismissed, she really did understand.

My advice, when you're having a hard time with something don't write off those who seem to have had an easier path as not understanding. Don't dismiss their advice as coming from someone with a charmed existence. There really is no way to know the experiences of others. Anyone who has found a way to be healthy, successful and happy deserves consideration. It is highly unlikely, if they are indeed human, to have gotten as far as they have in life without some sort of sleep robbing, ulcer generating, ego slicing problem popping up along the way. The person you are sure couldn't possibly understand may turn out to be the person with the best ideas for how to overcome your problems.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Just Flick Him Off Of Your Shoulder!

You know that little guy sitting on your shoulder whispering all sorts of negative stuff in your ear? Flick him off! Seriously. He's not doing you a lick of good. It frustrates me to no end when I meet someone more willing to embrace the opinion of an imaginary person than a seasoned professional. What gives this little guy so much power? Even if he knows some deep dark secret about you, it's not like he can hold it against you. He doesn't have a Twitter account at the ready where he can send the world messages of your short comings and obstacles. You're the only one who can hear him. The only way his view of you or your situation can be revealed to the rest of us is if you take his words to heart and allow them to come through in what you say and do.

I talk about this little guy with many of my clients. I can't see or hear him, but I know when someone is carrying him around. While discussing strategy, leery eyes stare back at me. The head twitches to the side to take in what he has to say. A quick rub of the shoulder hints to the weight of this little guy's negativity.

Be gone with him! Only you can make the choice. Others can help brush him off, but as long as you offer him safe harbor, their efforts won't be enough. Bring your index finger to your thumb and set him sailing. Then step on him. Splat! Uh-oh, I'd better stop. My violent side is emerging.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Job Seekers Missing In Action

As a resident of the state with highest level of unemployment in the nation, you'd think I'd be tripping over job seekers right and left. Not so. Except for my clients, who actively network with me, I rarely encounter the unemployed in business circles. It's astonishing to me how hard it can be to find a job seeker at times. The few who cross paths with me because of their own efforts to be seen by the business community stand out.

Where are the rest? Hiding in their cave of despair? At home waiting by the phone for the call that's unlikely to come? Surfing the net so they can apply to a job 500 other people have spotted as well?

For those looking for a job, I can't stress how important it is to be visible. It really shouldn't be a rarity for me to rub elbows with a job seeker at, say, a Chamber of Commerce event. I understand those on a limited budget do need to be strategic in how and where they get out. What concerns me is the number of people not getting out at all. If you are missing in action at business events, you are missing THE action when it comes to being in the loop of opportunity.

My challenge to those of you on the hunt for employment is to get out there. The business community wants to know who you are. They want to put a face on those looking for work. There is a desire to band together to find a path to solutions.

Job seekers frequently tell me they feel forgotten. It's a tough place to be, but you have to ask yourself if you are doing what it takes be remembered.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

The Cure For "Me-Me-Me" Cover Letters

Do you want to avoid your cover letter being more about you and less about your reader? I have an easy solution. As a rule, I encourage all of my clients to make sure the first thing the cover letter says is the name of the company they are writing. For example, "Smith & Sons is currently recruiting for a Director of Communications. The desired skills emphasized in your company's posting include blah, blah, and blah." By starting the letter that way, the focus is immediately on the reader's needs. Starting a letter with something like, "I saw your ad for a Director of Communications and would like to submit my resume for consideration," makes the letter more about the candidate's needs and increases the chances the rest of the letter will follow the "me-me-me" pattern.

Once you've started your letter with a focus on the company's objectives, it's easy to highlight the skills and abilities you have that satisfy the job's requirements while still making it about the reader. "My background in blah allowed me to develop and refine the skills Smith & Sons noted to be crucial for this opportunity." Go on to give a concise account of the skills/abilities you have that would be most relevant to the opportunity. Concise is the operative word. Be sure whatever you note either ties directly to the job posting or indicates a way you are able to improve the bottom line of the company (efficiency, cost savings, diversity of skill, growing/recapturing/retaining business).

All that is left to do is to close the letter in a confident and gracious way. Thank them for reviewing your resume, stress your interest in the opportunity and state you are looking forward to an interview where you can discuss, in greater depth, how your background compliments the position's requirements.

There is no written in stone way cover letters must be done, but I can tell you many of my clients have had great results by following this simple formula.

Friday, January 15, 2010

The Greatest Man I Never Hired

John was one of those people you just fell in love with instantly. I'm not talking romantic love. His spirit, energy, warmth and humor made itself known immediately. Those drawn to vitality were easily pulled under his spell.

I first met John when he interviewed with me to be a recruiter on my team. Though I recognized how special he was as a person, I also saw how he was not a fit for the job I had available. All of John's strengths could not save him from his greatest weakness, the absence of a poker face. Every thought and emotion played itself out on John's face without restraint. In the world of third party recruiting, you encounter all sorts of unusual situations and need a reliable poker face to get you through those experiences without additional drama.

So, I did not hire John. When I gave him the news he did something that was so John. Without skipping a beat, he asked me to have lunch with him so we could figure out how to connect one another to more people. My verdict on him not being a fit for my company wasn't personal to him in the least. For those of you who are thinking he was making a move on me, think again. Without being too personal, I'll tell you a romantic lunch with me was the furthest thing from his mind. John felt a connection between the two of us and wasn't about to let the fact he wasn't right for my job kill any other chances we had to have a positive relationship.

The lunch John and I shared was the beginning of a fantastic friendship. It was a friendship that paid off for me in spades when I said goodbye to the company I'd been working for and struck out on my own. John referred my first corporate client to me. He was my cheerleader in so many ways. In return, I found ways to help him with his dreams and goals too. I was the sounding board when he had an unreasonable mortgage client and the strategist filling his brain with different ways to market himself.

I learned this week that John passed away. Sadly, we'd lost touch several years ago and I chalked it up to John no longer being interested in maintaining a friendship long distance. How stupid for me to think that. Just as I tell all of you not to jump to negative conclusions over someone else not following up with you, I should have heeded my own advice and realized that was so far from John's true character. He wasn't ignoring my emails. They were going unread by a friend who'd made his mark on this world and left it a better place.

To honor his memory, I wanted to share a piece of John Solis with you. That was his real name. In my heart, I know he'd of been tickled to be a part of helping others in their job search. Follow John's lead and don't let rejection distract you from life's possibilities. Show your interest in people even when things don't go your way. Realize there is more to a person than what you may see when sitting across their desk. Always ask yourself what potential is out there still unrealized.

I love you, John. You are missed and I feel immensely honored to have been on the receiving end of the light you brought to this world in your life. Rest, my friend. I won't say "in peace" because peace bored you to tears.