Job Search Follow-Up: Stay Visible to Become a Memorable Candidate

June 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

In every step of the job search process follow-up is vital for being seen and heard, and for building relationships based on integrity. Follow-up processes begin with your success in networking. If there isn’t consistency in your follow-up actions, others may be hesitant to promote, refer or recommend you to their employers.

When someone in your network provides you with information on potential opportunities, be sure to act on it quickly to demonstrate your interest and appreciation. And, be sure to follow-up period, many don’t. More than 75% of hiring managers expect some kind of thank you or follow-up letter and those surveyed said they only receive them 35% of the time. Stand out – send a note!

Especially if the contact sent a note to you and to a potential employer, both would be waiting for your response. Every step you take will be evaluated as potential employers try to determine if you are someone worth getting to know and learn about for a possible position in their company. Could you be someone that will help their company grow? Your job is to prove you are the right person for the job by providing positive results from the onset of communications.

Once interest is established and the interview process begins

it is important for you to follow-up in order to:

  • Thank each interviewer for their time and the opportunity to interview with their company.
  • Reiterated your excitement and interest in the position and your true passion for the field, industry or company.
  • Remind the interviewer of who you are and the value and potential contribution you can make to their team, department or company.
  • Utilize another opportunity to wow them by sending a follow up that provide answers to questions they had and provides additional information on areas discussed at the interview.
  • Keep communication open. Even if you don’t have the technical skills or experience required for the job, if you become a memorable candidate they might try and work you in someplace else or give your name to another department or even competitor.
  • Create the squeaky wheel that is needed to differentiate you from several other potential candidates by continuing to maintain contact with the company and hiring manager throughout the decision making process.  Staying visible may give you the advantage for a call back or job offer.

Whether you are aggressively searching for a job or contemplating a change, it is important to be seen and heard in order to be remembered. Using follow-up notes, thank you notes, relevant article links or simple emails to check on the decision making process, it is helpful to stay in touch so your name and abilities are always just a recent memory away.

Shine On Job Seekers!

Filed Under: Career Mgt., Job Search, Networking, Social Networking Tagged With: , , , ,

Your Job Search: Are You Nurturing it to Ensure Success?

May 23, 2011 By 1 Comment

Weeds finally began peeking through my garden floor a few weeks ago. They usually come up just before the perennials and in Michigan it is a sign that things are finally unthawing and warm sunny days are not far away. Although weeds usually drive me crazy by the end of the summer, I am always excited to see any sign of life at the early entrance of spring.

Typical for Michigan, we have jumped from 40’s to 70’s in just a couple of weeks and the gardens, trees and weeds have exploded with life after a few warm days. I know if I don’t keep tight reigns on my gardens and the weeds in them, they will be cause of a lot of extra time and work because I let gardens slide and weeds creep in.

We have such a short growing season that everything seems to happen fast and I have learned that I become much less frustrated if I commit to spending a certain amount of time every week in my gardens, keeping an eye on the plants and the weeds. I am happier with the results when I spend frequent time in the garden nurturing the young plants and controlling older mature plants. It lets me enjoy the growth process and watch as blooms open and often close in just a few days. It helps me realize what is not working in my garden and what I am spending too much time on. It also gives me more control over the hardy weeds and lets me remove them by the root before they get too large so that I snap them and then they just end up coming back and causing more work.

Gardening always provides me with life lessons as I nurture the garden. As I work I notice the change that has occurred every few days and it reminds me of the importance of nurturing your job search just as you would your gardens. It is critical to stay active as you progress in your search, not repeatedly doing the same things but really taking notice of what is working and what is not. Weeding out the efforts that are not showing any signs of budding opportunity or those that side track you with positions that are not in line with your long term goals.

When I start a new garden I draw the type of garden I want, whether it will be a sun or shade garden, spring, summer, or fall blooms, and the style and design. I actually use a map and color in the plants where I will plant them and provide space that they’ll need in a few years and not just when they are first planted. I develop this plan so that I will know how I need to proceed as the garden develops and it keeps me on track, although these days I work with maintenance plans and try not to give in to the urge to start a new garden.

In my earlier years when I was still learning what worked in my soil, in Michigan, and what I enjoyed I would journal the progress of my gardens. I don’t need to do that much now but it was very helpful and taught me many different tricks and tips in dealing with particular plants, weeds, insects and the pesky rabbits and deer that also enjoy my gardens. I would pour through every book and magazine I could find to learn about techniques of gardening, went and saw other gardens and would talk with gardeners at length to share what I had learned and hear new ideas from them.

Just as in a garden it is important to keep track of your job search progress, seek new ways to expand and improve your search and network with others to see what works for them and share what is working for you. The more time you spend learning about the search and ways to succeed in it the faster you will be able to see the beauty and bounty of your search.

Good luck job seekers!

Filed Under: Career Mgt., Job Search, Networking, Positive Attitude Tagged With: , , ,

Job Search Reminders Taken from a Ball Hog

May 6, 2011 By 2 Comments

While watching my niece’s soccer game recently, there was one girl on her team that was obviously very skilled. This particular girl worked mostly alone and tended to be a ball hog. While she played hard it was noticeable that there was a disconnect with her and the rest of the team. When asked about her I was told that although an excellent player, her attitude and behavior toward her teammates was very negative. On the field the rest of the players had a hard time playing with her and working as a team.

My niece said because there was so much animosity the coach had begun to play her less and the team was actually playing more effectively. The team knew they should leave their personal issues and conflicts off the field but they found it hard to do. This girl was creating enemies and missing out on utilizing her obvious talents to help her team. This situation is not uncommon in the school, teams, volunteer activities and in the workplace as well.

When looking to meet new contacts, networking, and especially when interviewing being likeable and a team player can be as important as what you have accomplished or your expertise. There is an abundance of competent competition and sometimes the only thing that may help you stand out, is You – your unique personality, your friendliness and your likeability.

The key is to know that fine line that allows you be confident not arrogant when sharing your skills, achievements and expertise sounding, friendly and like a team player. Like the soccer player, working alone and trying to hard to show off your skills may not be the best course to getting noticed. Instead be sure to demonstrate genuine friendliness and the successes you have had working with others to show employers how you will fit into their culture and work environment.

How you treat others, your willingness to be a team player and your personality are things to be very aware of while you are searching for a job and while you are in a job. A pleasant demeanor is vital when you are working and it will help your employer determine if a raise is deserved, if a promotion will be yours and if a strong recommendation will be given when you look for another job in the future.

Getting along with others and being nice should be a given, but for some it is something that needs to be kept in check or it will hold them back, so be nice!

Filed Under: Help Others, Interview Prep, Job Search, Networking Tagged With: , , ,

Job Seekers: Is Guilt Keeping You in Your Stressful Job?

March 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Many of my clients are working in environments that have changed drastically in the last 3 years. Teams and offices that once employed 8, 10, or 12 employees are currently doing the same work but with only 4 or 5 people. The remaining employed staff members are expected to do twice the work while often being “asked” to agree to a pay cut. Sound familiar?

These remaining employees have done an incredible job maintaining sales, production, and service levels but at a great costs. My clients in this position have confided that their mental and physical health as well as their relationship  with family and friends is being affected by the stress and long hours. They often say because they currently have a job that supports their family or lifestyle and so they actually feel guilty looking for work, but can’t take the pressure any longer.

Three recent clients that come to mind, the first told me “I woke up and decided I was done”. He walked in to his office that morning and resigned from his position, collected his personal things and decided to move to another state and look for work there. No plan, no preparation. Most people can’t take this route if they have families that need to be included in the decision. For him it was a fresh start and that excited him. However, he has taken on 2 part time jobs in his new state to meet living expenses while  he continues to search for a position that meets his true career goals.

My second client stayed with her position while she worked with me to prepare her resume materials and got caught up on her job search and networking skills. When she had completed her efforts with me she felt she was ready to quit her job, which she did. She immediately began her full time job search, to which she was extremely successful, landing a new position in just 3 weeks. She had planned, prepared, saved money, and was ready for the challenge; getting her ducks in a row before leaving her company and position.

My newest client, a single mom, has a very detailed plan and time line for her transition. She plans to relocate with her 2 teenagers to another state before the start of school next fall and must have a new job by then to make her plan a reality. We are working to update her resume materials to include a Masters Degree she will be finishing up next month and to really target the type of position and company she is looking to work for. I have no doubt she will have a job waiting for her when she moves later this year. She has already contacted recruiters, developed an extensive network and joined geographically local groups on LinkedIn and Facebook and has plans for a 2nd trip to the new city next month to talk with people she’s met and visit with a few directors for companies she is targeting.

All three of these job seekers were at jobs that kept them working well beyond 40 hours a week and often closer to 60 hours in order to manage their work load. They felt very guilty for wanting to leave their jobs when so many others were desperate to find work. And all three still needed to work to support themselves and their families, but have finally came to the realization that finding a new job was doable and would restore some kind of balance back into their lives.

Whichever route you take, don’t let guilt hold you back. Remember, when you find a new, better fitting job there will always be a candidate or two that will be thrilled and grateful to step into your old job. I would however, think through your decision so you can successfully prepare for the changes that will come with your decision to look for a new job.

Shine On Job Seekers!

Filed Under: Career Mgt., Job Search Tagged With: , , , ,

You’re Fired: Handling a Professional Breakup

March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

With a new season of The Apprentice beginning, we will once again be hearing and joking about the now house-hold phrase, “You’re Fired”. But for those in the real world that have to pick up the pieces and carry on after being fired, the phrase is far from common. Just like a personal breakup, professional relationships can end on good and bad terms. As the employee, the outcome will stay with you and affect your career, so it is important to handle any professional breakup, regardless of who initiated it, with professionalism.

It is understandable that emotions come into the breakup equation, but if you were fired from your job it is critical to assess how this will impact your career and then immediately begin implementing damage control to salvage what you can of the relationship and your reputation.

Clients often ask me about the best way to proceed after being fired. My suggestions usually depend on the situation but dusting off the old and preparing for the new is usually my best advice.

You can begin by seeing if you can get a positive reference from someone above you at the place you were let go. If you are not able to generate an effective letter or contact name it might be worth a small investment to contact a reference checking company such as www.alllisontaylor.com which will inquire about your services at your previous employers to see what they’re recommendation will be. It can save you in sleepless nights and the uncertainty of not knowing what they will be saying about you.

As you prepare for your job search make sure your online presence has a consistent message and relates directly to your resume and your current goals. Take time to make the necessary changes to your online and offline materials to ensure a strong branded message. Develop a motivated plan for your search  including  narrowing down the industries, companies, and location you will focus your search on and ramping up your networking.

Assume you will have to discuss the reason you were let go from your previous job. Spend some time either writing or talking with someone to get out your feelings, fears, frustrations and even anger regarding your departure. Once you’ve got it all out you can organize an honest yet positive response that isn’t dripping in spite or excuses. You want an answer that does not bog down the interviewer with details or emotions, but does leave them seeing the positive nuggets that came from the breakup which you learned about yourself. Share with them that what you learned about yourself will be valuable to your next employer.

As you look for your next job make sure the position and the company are the right fit for you. Do your due diligence to confirm that the company, culture and employees align with your personality and goals. Use your networking savvy to find contacts that can provide rave reviews and hand deliver you to your next opportunity.

Filed Under: Career Change, Career Mgt., Job Loss, Job Search, Networking Tagged With: , , , ,

Your Job Search and the Daytona 500

February 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Sunday was the start of NASCAR’s 2011 season at the newly paved Daytona 500 speedway. It ended up being an especially exciting opener for the fans. The weather was beautiful, the track was fast and the race was riddled with caution flags, crashes, and spin outs including a 15 car pile up.

Most of the mishaps were due to the pairing up of cars using drafting to gain advantage and speed. Drafting is when two race cars drive so close to each other that they are almost touching bumper to bumper. The leader is pushed while the vehicle in back is pulled letting both cars go faster, with just inches between them. Each team of drafters takes a turn running in the lead position for maximum use of their vehicles.

Watching how these drivers, often from different racing teams and different automotive manufacturers, work together to help each other and themselves reminded me of how effective it is for job seekers to work together.

Like the drivers who provided information and assistance to other drivers, job seekers can benefit tremendously by having a partner. Your partner doesn’t have to be in the same field or even same industry just one that is in the same job search race as you. They are great for accountability, support and keeping you motivated, and can often help you with your search by sharing do’s and don’ts of their own search.

It was pretty neat to hear the drivers talking with each other as they planned their strategies (while driving 150+ mph)and to see the notable acceleration of speed they gained by working together. And the results? Rookie driver Trevor Bayne who turned just 20 years old on Saturday was the winner of the 53rd Daytona 500. An underdog for sure, but so gracious and thankful (and happy); it was great to see.

So, if you are plugging along in your job search alone and learning and doing everything yourself, maybe it’s time to find a partner or a group that is working toward the same goals. You can contact someone you know that is also looking for work or join a local networking group (in person or online) to find a partner.

Sharing information, victories, rejections, and fears will help you and others to realize you are not alone and your situation is not uncommon. It is will also give you tips, pointers and maybe the one piece of information you need to be successful more quickly in your own job search.

Shine on Job Seekers!

Filed Under: Career Mgt., Current Events, Job Search, Networking Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Job Search Success: Get Prepared – Get Noticed – Get Referred

February 3, 2011 By 2 Comments

Everyone seems to have an opinion on the correct way to perform a job search. Some say recruiters are the only way for success, others swear by cold calling targeted companies and others go for the buck shot strategy and send their resume to every vaguely close job description they come across in their search. Which ever tactic is working and generating results, is the route you should use.

For those that are not having success, what I have found after talking with dozens of my clients, job seekers, hiring managers, and recruiters is that a referral by a respected employee or industry colleague is going to bring the fastest results. To make sure this happens you must first prepare and then get in front of potential referrers.

Get Prepared

For the search to be executed successfully, your written marketing material needs to be focused, concise and attention-grabbing. If your resume looks like the last 50 resumes reviewed by the hiring manager, it will end up in the seen-that pile and will never really get read.

So, preparing attractive marketing materials is a must. Once the written material is ready you can focus on your online presence to make sure it is equally ready. Your online presence is usually in the form of profiles, online resumes, professional bio’s, blog contributions, and your interaction on social networking platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook (and now BranchOut), and Twitter. Keeping the written, online and live communications consistent will help you get noticed quickly and remembered easily .

Get Noticed

Once you have your marketing materials in place it is time to get noticed. Networking is all about communicating with targeted groups of people and sometimes specific individuals to become someone they know and value.

You can search online to find live and online networking groups, industry or field based forums, and real-time social media networking such as using twitter hash tagged (#) words and chats. Doing so will begin to put your name, brand and value in front of those that will be helpful in getting your resume in front of decision makers at targeted companies. They can be recruiters, people that work at a particular company, field or industry, or maybe someone who writes about the industry.

By engaging in conversations that are professional and industry specific as well as a few getting-to-know-you conversations, you can develop relationships that will be beneficial to both you and the new contacts. As you build these relationships make sure you bring value in the form of knowledge, experience, and outside information such as blog or article links to help others in your growing network.

Get Referred

Now that you have prepared for your job search and have developed a strategic network of potential references, it is time to find contacts that can help you in your job search. This move into action shouldn’t feel unnatural and planned. Although you are intentionally seeking contacts in your targeted industry, the relationship and trust building needs to happen naturally.

As you grow your network you will be talking about the companies that others work at, positions of interest and industry information and so they will be aware of your situation just as you are of theirs. Hopefully you will be able to help others along your path in finding their next opportunity. These relationships will continue to grow if nurtured, so don’t stop working to maintain those contacts after you have found your ideal job. They can become an important part of your career management and not just help for a one-time job search.

Being honest and open will encourage others to do the same. People that do not feel pressure are more likely to help. When asking for assistance start broad by asking for suggestions, ideas or people they may know to get you closer to the decision maker in a particular company. Use their suggestions to get closer to your targets. If your contact is the person between you and your targeted employer then you will need to ask them directly to assist in delivering your resume and a recommendation. Honesty and genuine interest is vital at this time but if done right is very effective.

Communication is key. Successfully finding people to refer you and your value to targeted decision makers takes relationship building and trust, but if done correctly is the fastest way to land your resume directly in the hands of the right employer for you.  And of course, remember your manners and thank them!

Filed Under: Career Mgt., Job Search, Networking Tagged With: , , , ,

Job Seekers: How Do You Handle Rejection?

January 20, 2011 By 2 Comments

Just as in dating, with job search success often comes a few rejections. Hearing the dreaded words, “We decided to go with another candidate” can be enough to knock the wind out of anyone’s sail. Candidates that strive to learn from rejection are those that will land the right job quicker.

Some lash out in anger regardless of why they received the rejection and even go so far as to bad mouth the company or write negative comments about the company on Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace.  Burning bridges in any economy is not a good idea. On occasion candidates are called back and offered the position if the first choice doesn’t work out.  It may be detrimental to your chances with future companies too, remember that companies often research candidates when they are interested and they will be able to read your comments.

Keeping a positive outlook and professional demeanor will help you to look at things from both sides and see the big picture that will hopefully help you to keep moving forward even with rejections. Whether or not you learn from your experiences is up to you and it is determined by how you respond to the rejections.

Two ways to learn from the rejections are to look at yourself externally and internally. External learning refers to finding out what others think of your resume documents, networking techniques, interview skills and your overall professional impression. If you are not sure of what others think of you professionally – ask! Only good can come from it, either you are doing a great job and you will receive a well deserved compliment or you receive guarded criticism and learn from what others are offering as suggestions for improvement.

If you are contacted after an interview with the dreaded rejection email or phone call, ask a few questions to find out what exactly were the points that worked against you. Maybe you were not as prepared as you should have been or maybe you appeared over/under confident and it worked against you. What ever the reason, it is important you find out so you can make corrections in your appearance, behavior, interaction or presentation to make you more competitive for the positions you target.

Looking internally can also provide pertinent information about your job search and interviewing techniques. Think back to your most recent interview or networking event and focus on your verbal skills. How did you present yourself? Were you able to ask and answer questions easily about your job search and more specifically about you the skills and value you present to a company? What cues did you send with your non-verbal language? Had you prepared enough before the meeting so that you were fluent on the company’s history, mission, goals and culture? Spend time going through the meeting and look for clues as to where you are having issues and then find ways to correct them.

Rejection can be humiliating and hurt but they are part of the job search process and a vital source of information for improvement. What you project and what you think you project are sometimes two different pictures. Take time to learn from others and yourself to improve your presentation and interviewing skills. Simple modifications may be all it takes to eliminate rejection and take your interview skills from bland to brillian.

Filed Under: Career Mgt., Interview Prep, Job Search Tagged With: , , , , ,

Job Seeker Tip – Why a Strong Personal Brand Gets Noticed

January 13, 2011 By 1 Comment

If someone is considering you for a position at their company or the company they represent, they will most likely research you online as well as review your resume. A simple Google search of your name and a check for any kind of a social media presence will quickly uncover a great deal of information about you. In order for you to be recognized as a valuable asset for a company your identity both online and off should offer a consistent message.

Why is it so important to have a consistent brand both online and off? Well, if potential employers are taking the time to research you, they are hoping to find something that will make you stand out and give them a reason to contact you. They would much prefer to spend time with a few select candidates that stand out instead of online researching numerous unqualified ones.

Along with making it easier for the employer, having a consistent message in person, on paper, and online demonstrates that you are organized and understand the importance of providing a focused message. Being Internet and social media savvy will also help to highlight your communication and technology skills. Uncovering a focused presence in various mediums will capture attention and have recruiters calling.

So, if your  profiles, comments, and pictures on LinkedIn and Facebook do not match the image you want to project, make changes today to get them in line with your goals. Strengthen your brand with consistency. If you are not sure of what your message should be, find out what is expected of employees in the position you are seeking. If you are not promoting the achievements and tasks related to that position you may need to rethink what you are saying about yourself.

Decide on the message you want to convey and then repeat that message everywhere you are online and in person in order to build a strong and recognizable brand. Look to examples of well known branding such as the McDonald’s golden arches or the Nike swoosh, both easily identified even without words. Or the green and yellow of John Deere products – the colors symbolize solid, dependable products. You too, can develop a brand that will illustrate your value and help you to be easily recognized and remembered.

Shine on Job Seekers!

Filed Under: Career Mgt., Job Search, Networking, Online Identity, Social Networking Tagged With: , , , ,

Close Encounters: Elevator Speech Tips for Job Seekers

January 10, 2011 By 4 Comments

I was recently interviewed by a local newspaper on the importance of a clear job seeker elevator speech and the effectiveness

of having one to share at a moment’s notice. Our discussion prompted this post. The term itself was inspired by the amount of time a job seeker would have to plead their value to a potential employer if they were riding in an elevator. Usually a trip in an elevator ride lasts less than a minute and often as little as 20 seconds.

In that short amount of time is it really possible to capture attention and be remembered? Absolutely! Two main ideas to remember when developing your own speech are to first understand who your audience is and what is most important to them and secondly knowing who you are and your true value to a company. Seems simple enough but in order to make it sound simple, concise, and authentic it can take some thought to get it just right.

An elevator speech includes five parts.

Who you are and the type of work you are looking for – Depending on your audience, explain what your positioning is in your industry so the listener is clear on what you are looking for. If you are speaking with someone outside and unfamiliar with your industry you can use a bit of generalization to help them understand your current goals.

The Strengths You Want to Promote – This is where you tell listeners what you do. You can do this by describing 1 or 2 top skills you have that are sought for the targeted position, and an example of an achievement.

Some use a hook or catchy line here which will capture attention but just be careful, cute and catchy phrases can sound good on paper but are often hard to say with conviction. Make sure it sounds genuine so it will be remembered.

A success story often works extremely well here because stories are easier to remember, easier to say and can quickly capture attention. In the short story include the skills and value you use and will bring to a new employer such as an achievement that you can quickly convey.

Action Step – If the situation calls for an action step offer a business card, ask for one and if you can call them soon, ask if they know of someone they could talk with or a company that could use your experience. It is bold but can be very effective.

Trim & Strengthen Speech – Write the speech so that it is easy to say and easy to understand. Once you have the information you want to share written down, begin to shave it down and flesh out the excess so that your value really stands out and your 30 seconds of time is something that will be remembered.

Practice, Practice, Memorize, and Practice some more – Once your speech is clear and ready, read it, say it and memorize it. Practice it until it sounds effortless and then get out there and start using it.

Example – I am a senior accountant for a Fortune 500 company where I work as an analyst managing internal controls as a way to keep costs down. Last year the quality control measures I put in place in our department were used to find a discrepancy that saved the company $750,000 dollars. Would your company benefit from my experience?

You may find it helpful to create 2 or 3 different versions to use in different environments such as a networking group, social activity or a close encounter with a targeted decision maker. Knowing what your target companies and contacts are looking for and knowing yourself will help to keep the material genuine in tone and memorable.

Filed Under: Career Devel., Networking, Social Networking Tagged With: , , , ,
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