Bringing a job search to a successful conclusion requires much more than having a well thought out resume and developing an effective network of contacts. It requires the ability to locate work opportunities that interest you, and then having the talent to convince the employer that you are the right fit.
Determining what work really interests you and convincing the hiring manager that you are not only qualified to perform the work, but that you have the talent to contribute to the success of the organization is the key to a successful search. My experience as a recruiter has taught me that too few candidates are prepared to address these issues. It seems to me that determining the work that really interests you, preparing yourself to competently perform that work, and selling your capabilities are components of a successful search that too few job seekers are willing to undertake. Being interesting requires the understanding that you are human. The willingness to share information about yourself, your strengths, and weaknesses is a challenge few people are willing to tackle.
The ability to express a passion for your work in a convincing way makes for an interesting conversation and an interesting interview. Candidates who are qualified and interesting get offers of employment! I recall numerous instances where candidates with a less than ideal resumes convinced me that they were the best qualified candidate, because they had a compelling story to tell.
This point was driven home to me in reading a recent New York Times article about an interview with Tony Hsieh, C.E.O. of Zappos.com. Here is the answer he gave to a question about the questions he would ask in hiring a senior executive—“I’m not sure there’s that much you can get out of the in-office interview. They need the relevant skill set and experience and so on. But far more important is, are they going to be good for the culture?”
Probably the most interesting question asked was about the one or two questions he would ask to get a sense of a person. Hsieh responded, “If you had to name something, what would you say is the biggest misperception that people have of you? Then the follow-up I usually ask is, What’s the difference between misperception and perception? After all, perception is perception.”
Hsieh went on to say about what he was trying to discover with these questions, “I think it’s a combination of how self-aware and how honest people are. I think if someone is self-aware, they can always continue to grow. If they’re not self-aware, I think it’s harder for them to evolve or adapt beyond who they already are.”
The ability to share with others who you really are takes courage, confidence, and maturity. The people who will get the first crack at opportunities as they emerge will possess these abilities.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Getting Back in Shape for the Job Chase
I read this article in the January 3, 2010 edition of The New York Times, and have added it to my blog.
By PHYLLIS KORKKI
Published: January 2, 2010
THE beginning of this new year — after a very difficult 2009 for job seekers — offers a good opportunity to review and fine-tune every element of an employment search, from résumés to thank-you notes.
While you may be doing almost everything right, neglecting or mishandling just one or two pieces of the process could keep you from getting a job, especially in this ultracompetitive market.
Here, then, is a checklist that covers some of the major links in the job search chain:
THE RÉSUMÉ When was the last time you took a word-by-word, letter-by-letter look at your résumé? Make sure it’s completely up to date and tailored to the types of jobs you are seeking. (After all, your situation might have changed since you started looking.) Now is also the time to create alternate versions, to reflect different types of positions.
Have someone else look at your résumé. If you cannot afford a career coach, give your résumé to friends or family members to scrutinize, said Alison Doyle, a job search specialist for About.com, which is owned by The New York Times Company.
Little things count. You could have overlooked a typo or another error. This happens more than you might think, and “it can knock you right out of the running,” Ms. Doyle noted.
And have copies of your résumé printed, so you’re ready to hand them out at interviews, she said.
REFERENCES If you have not talked to your references lately, call or e-mail them. Make sure they are still in the same jobs, and tell them you’re still looking. This helps expand your network, because references may know of job openings. It’s also a good time to consider whether to add or remove some people as references.
COVER LETTERS Maybe you’ve set up a few basic templates in advance, but that’s not enough. Each cover letter you write should be geared specifically to the job for which you are applying.
WARDROBE Check your closet to ensure that you have appropriate professional attire, including shoes, ready for interviews.
ONLINE PRESENCE Check and update your LinkedIn profile and make sure that it’s consistent with the information in your résumé and any other online presence you have, Ms. Doyle said. Hiring managers look at LinkedIn, and any discrepancies could be red flags, she said.
Review your contacts on LinkedIn and reach out to new ones. Check whether anyone new can write a recommendation for you on the site.
And, while you’re at it, Google yourself and check Facebook or other social networks to make sure that nothing embarrassing shows up.
NETWORKING Do not isolate yourself for days on end. Network , through e-mail messages, phone calls, coffee, lunch, appointments and meetings.
Julie Morgenstern, a productivity consultant in New York, recommends setting up some kind of in-person meeting every day during the week. This helps bring structure to your day, keeps you in touch with the outside world and prevents you from becoming complacent or depressed, she says.
APPLYING A glance at huge online job sites isn’t usually the best way to find jobs. You are more likely to succeed through people you know or meet through networking, or through professional or alumni associations.
When you look for jobs online, Ms. Doyle recommends these sites because they collect job listings from sources like company Web sites: Linkup.com, Indeed.com and Simplyhired.com.
THE FOLLOW-UP These days, it is common to apply for a job and never hear back from the company. Without being a pest, take the initiative by following up with a phone call a week or so after you apply. If no name is listed on the job posting, use research skills to find one. Or, if you know someone at the company, check whether that person will put in a word for you.
INTERVIEWS If you are getting plenty of interviews but no return calls or job offers, take a ruthless look at your interviewing skills. This is one area where investing in a career coach may pay off, Ms. Doyle said. But if you can’t afford one, try to find a job group or service that conducts free mock interviews.
In addition, the same day that you have an interview, make sure to send a thank-you note by e-mail or regular mail.
SUPPORT SYSTEMS Finally, recognize that looking for a job — especially in a market like this — can take a psychological toll. Don’t take it personally if your job hunt is taking a long time. Many excellent job candidates, victims of the economic downturn, are in the same boat now.
Even in the best of times, a job hunt is often about rejection — and that can be hard to endure. Staying in touch with family, friends, professional networks and fellow job seekers can help you maintain a positive attitude and a sense of perspective.
In this job market, job seekers need all the help they can get, practical or otherwise. “Don’t be afraid to get help if somebody’s willing to give it to you,” Ms. Doyle said.
By PHYLLIS KORKKI
Published: January 2, 2010
THE beginning of this new year — after a very difficult 2009 for job seekers — offers a good opportunity to review and fine-tune every element of an employment search, from résumés to thank-you notes.
While you may be doing almost everything right, neglecting or mishandling just one or two pieces of the process could keep you from getting a job, especially in this ultracompetitive market.
Here, then, is a checklist that covers some of the major links in the job search chain:
THE RÉSUMÉ When was the last time you took a word-by-word, letter-by-letter look at your résumé? Make sure it’s completely up to date and tailored to the types of jobs you are seeking. (After all, your situation might have changed since you started looking.) Now is also the time to create alternate versions, to reflect different types of positions.
Have someone else look at your résumé. If you cannot afford a career coach, give your résumé to friends or family members to scrutinize, said Alison Doyle, a job search specialist for About.com, which is owned by The New York Times Company.
Little things count. You could have overlooked a typo or another error. This happens more than you might think, and “it can knock you right out of the running,” Ms. Doyle noted.
And have copies of your résumé printed, so you’re ready to hand them out at interviews, she said.
REFERENCES If you have not talked to your references lately, call or e-mail them. Make sure they are still in the same jobs, and tell them you’re still looking. This helps expand your network, because references may know of job openings. It’s also a good time to consider whether to add or remove some people as references.
COVER LETTERS Maybe you’ve set up a few basic templates in advance, but that’s not enough. Each cover letter you write should be geared specifically to the job for which you are applying.
WARDROBE Check your closet to ensure that you have appropriate professional attire, including shoes, ready for interviews.
ONLINE PRESENCE Check and update your LinkedIn profile and make sure that it’s consistent with the information in your résumé and any other online presence you have, Ms. Doyle said. Hiring managers look at LinkedIn, and any discrepancies could be red flags, she said.
Review your contacts on LinkedIn and reach out to new ones. Check whether anyone new can write a recommendation for you on the site.
And, while you’re at it, Google yourself and check Facebook or other social networks to make sure that nothing embarrassing shows up.
NETWORKING Do not isolate yourself for days on end. Network , through e-mail messages, phone calls, coffee, lunch, appointments and meetings.
Julie Morgenstern, a productivity consultant in New York, recommends setting up some kind of in-person meeting every day during the week. This helps bring structure to your day, keeps you in touch with the outside world and prevents you from becoming complacent or depressed, she says.
APPLYING A glance at huge online job sites isn’t usually the best way to find jobs. You are more likely to succeed through people you know or meet through networking, or through professional or alumni associations.
When you look for jobs online, Ms. Doyle recommends these sites because they collect job listings from sources like company Web sites: Linkup.com, Indeed.com and Simplyhired.com.
THE FOLLOW-UP These days, it is common to apply for a job and never hear back from the company. Without being a pest, take the initiative by following up with a phone call a week or so after you apply. If no name is listed on the job posting, use research skills to find one. Or, if you know someone at the company, check whether that person will put in a word for you.
INTERVIEWS If you are getting plenty of interviews but no return calls or job offers, take a ruthless look at your interviewing skills. This is one area where investing in a career coach may pay off, Ms. Doyle said. But if you can’t afford one, try to find a job group or service that conducts free mock interviews.
In addition, the same day that you have an interview, make sure to send a thank-you note by e-mail or regular mail.
SUPPORT SYSTEMS Finally, recognize that looking for a job — especially in a market like this — can take a psychological toll. Don’t take it personally if your job hunt is taking a long time. Many excellent job candidates, victims of the economic downturn, are in the same boat now.
Even in the best of times, a job hunt is often about rejection — and that can be hard to endure. Staying in touch with family, friends, professional networks and fellow job seekers can help you maintain a positive attitude and a sense of perspective.
In this job market, job seekers need all the help they can get, practical or otherwise. “Don’t be afraid to get help if somebody’s willing to give it to you,” Ms. Doyle said.
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