Monthly Archives: May 2012

Don’t let your competition respond first

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Just because the interview has concluded, doesn’t mean you are finished. You still need to send a Thank You note. Timeliness (and responsiveness) are key at this stage of the process. Offers are not always extended to the most qualified candidate. Employers are looking for the total package. If you are lax in your follow up or follow through, it will be noted. It may even be the deciding factor in offering you, or your competition the job.

 

Remember, you are anxious to hear from the employer after and interview. If they take too long to respond, you begin to have doubts about them. It’s the same from their perspective. They want to hear from you that you are excited about the opportunity and want to join. Follow up as soon as possible. The same day before close of business is ideal. Certainly within 24 hours of the meeting.

40 hours a week (or less)!

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Is your cubical your home? Do you feel like your (actual) home is just a place you visit to get clean clothes? Well, there’s good news for all you workaholic’s!

It appears that recent studies are disproving the 40 hour work week theory which has been the accepted minimum standard for the past century. Instead, researchers have found that productivity and quality sharply decline beyond 40 hours. While short-term gains can be realized by working more hours, overall productivity, quality and morale plummets after a week or two.

Throughout my Corporate career I was subjected to a number of misguided Managers who demanded long hours and even weekends from their teams. Few of these Managers led by example though. For the most part the employees accepted this as the norm. However, they spent several hours of the day on non-work related endeavors, numerous coffee breaks, organizing “Team Building” potlucks, etc.

Many of the trendy new, gotta join organizations are offering employees shorter, less structured work weeks and/or flex-schedules. The key to increasing productivity, quality and morale is time management. If your employees know what needs to be done and focus on getting it done, 50, 60, 70 hour weeks are not necessary.

One of my favorite motivational quotes is attributed to General Patton. He said, “Don’t tell people what to do, tell them what you need done and they’ll surprise you with their ingenuity.”

‘John Smith‘

Let them know you want the job!

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Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. If you are investing your time to interview for a job, it’s safe to assume (in most cases) that you want the job. Don’t leave the interview without making it absolutely clear that you want the job. In fact, ask for it!

 

Far too often we hear from hiring managers who relay that they liked a candidate, but it wasn’t clear that the candidate really wanted the job. Interviewing can be nerve-wracking. Too often candidates try to stifle their nervous energy and as a result, they stifle their enthusiasm. And, many candidates do not wish to appear over enthusiastic or rude, so they don’t ask for the job.

 

If you go through the interview process and fail to let everyone you speak with know that you want the job, you’re wasting your time and theirs. You don’t have to do cartwheels across the conference room to make your point. You just need to sincerely and professionally state your interest in the opportunity.

‘John Smith‘

Is it clear why you’ve applied?

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Launching a Career search is easier than ever these days. With the click of a mouse you can submit your resume. As a result, most HR departments are inundated by applicants. Consequently, your resume will be reviewed very quickly (i.e., glanced at) IF, it’s reviewed at all.

 

This seems like common sense, but before you click “send”, make sure you’re even qualified for the job. Nothing aggravates HR or a hiring manager more than to post a vacancy requiring VERY specific skills and experience, only to hear from candidates who “are certain they could learn to perform the role if just given a chance”!

 

Secondly, assuming you are indeed qualified, take the time to tailor your resume to the opportunity. Bullet and/or BOLD key attributes. Don’t assume that your resume speaks for itself. Clearly listing relevant skills and experience will improve the odds that your resume receives more than a cursory review.

 

The bottom line is that everyone is pressed for time these days and no matter how great a candidate you might be, you are not the exception to the rule. If it’s not immediately clear why you applied for the vacancy, no one is going to invest the extra time to read between the lines and unravel the mystery.

 

‘John Smith‘

Minding your own business

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How I learned to mind my own business: I was walking past the Mental Hospital the other day and heard all the patients shouting, “13…13…13.” The fence was too high to see over, but I saw a little gap in the planks, so I looked through to see what was going on. Some idiot poked me in the eye with a stick, then they all started shouting, “14…14…14.”

The preceding anecdote illustrates why it’s important to mind your own business. Our lives are surrounded by drama (family, friends, neighbors, etc.). Don’t complicate your professional life by getting involved in Office Politics. It’s easy to get sucked in to the latest office rumor or by a coworker’s personal dilemma. After all, we spend the bulk of waking hours with these people and we want to do our best to get along, to fit in. However, if you get too involved you’re liable to get hurt.

 

I’m not saying you should be anti-social. What I’m saying is, you need to exercise common sense and judgment before getting too involved in things that don’t concern you. One of the keys to a long and happy professional life is leaning when to mind your own business.

‘John Smith‘

Resign without throwing your Career away

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Now that you’ve won that new role, there is one final hurdle you must clear with your current employer. Your resignation. How you handle your resignation (and your final days on the job) can mark you as a Professional or be a black-mark on your career record for years to come.

 

In actuality, the process starts when you first decide to make a change. Searching for a new job while currently employed is a delicate balancing act. As long as you’re employed, you have a moral and ethical obligation to your current employer (no matter how good or bad your current situation is). You need to remain focused while on the clock and not let your job search consume you.

 

Don’t use company resources to launch or supply your job search. That means, the office computer, internet, phone, photo copier, paper, postage, etc. Remember, they’re paying you to do a job, not find a new one.

 

DO NOT broadcast your intentions to your co-workers (no matter how close you think you are), and keep a low profile on your social media sites regarding your plans. It’s not your coworkers’ responsibility to keep your secret. Just as you assume they would never say anything, they feel the same way about the “trusted friends” they tell. The last thing you want is for your boss to inquire about your job search. Those conversations usually result in an unplanned termination.

 

When it comes down to actually tendering your resignation, do it in person. If, it is logistically impossibly to meet face to face, then at least call your manager. Either way, the message needs to be delivered by you. Always follow up your verbal resignation with an official letter, which should be delivered at the conclusion of your conversation.

 

Don’t’ burn your bridges. No matter what the circumstances motivating your decision to leave, take the high road and leave on good terms. You never know when your paths may cross again, and the last thing you want in your career is to create a enemy.

 

Once you’ve tendered your resignation, you can’t just coast through your remaining days/weeks. You need to work as hard (or harder) than usual. Tie up all loose ends. Leave everything on your desk in good order. If you know the person(s) who will be taking over for you, take the time (or at least offer) to bring them up to speed. And know this, no matter how good of an employee you were during your tenure, fingers will be pointed in your direction once you leave. It’s an unwritten corporate law, that the person who just left is to blame for everything. None the less, maintain your integrity and do the right thing.

 

Once the farewell party is over and you’re on your way to your new adventure, DO NOT bash your former employer or coworkers. Especially on Social Media sites. Sooner or later it will come back to haunt you.

 

The impression you make when you leave a company is as important as the impression you make when you join.

 

‘John Smith‘

Personal (Social Media) Branding

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Many candidates I speak with (from all age  groups) are reluctant to delve too deeply into Social Media. They don’t know what to say and/or get hung up on what to say in the personal bio section of their profile. Consequently, many of their online profiles say absolutely nothing about them beyond a brief (often vague or incomplete) rundown of their work history. Many even lack a profile picture. Worse, some of the people look like they were forced against their will to sit for the photo and they post something akin to a bad mug-shot.

 

In a world where Digital Profiles are mainstream, how do you give a static profile some personality? How do you distinguish yourself from the millions of other profiles out there? The trick is to weave some of your unique personality into it, make it personal. It’s not easy for most people to talk about themselves. I’m not telling you to give out sensitive personal information. Just to add a personal story into the summary section of the bio. It doesn’t have to be lengthy. It can be an anecdote from your youth, first job, recent past. Think of the experiences that made you, you. Just a blurb about a hobby or interest can add warmth to your profile.

 

The goal with Social Media is to be Social. All “Personal Branding” really is, is letting people know what’s unique about you. Giving people a glimpse of who you are adds a little life and character to your static profile. It lets them know you are a real person, not just a digital icon (otherwise it’s like reading a phone book). Like it or not, Social Media is here to stay. And, it’s become a necessary part of your Career toolkit. Give people a reason to seek you out, connect and network with you.

 

‘John Smith‘

Be Prepared

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Whether it’s an interview or a team meeting,  be prepared BEFORE you arrive. Lack of preparation not only makes meetings drag on longer than necessary, it makes the meeting less effective and, it reflects poorly on you. You can’t control others, but you can control yourself. Always leave a favorable impression by being prepared.

 

 

 

‘John Smith‘