The word “innovative”; is it a crime to have it on your résumé?

June 16, 2013 3 Comments

Innovation

Innovation (Photo credit: masondan)

Did you know the word “innovative” is a cliché? According to some job search pundits it is. It made some notorious list that circulated on the blogosphere. TheFreeDictionary.com defines a cliché as “a trite or overused expression or idea.” If “innovative” has become overused, than it is by definition a cliché, but could it be called trite?

I have to admit that I’ve been telling my jobseekers to keep “innovative” and other adjectives off their résumé and out of their vocabulary, as they are subjective–it’s better to show than tell how you’re innovative. In fact, I wrote an article bemoaning the use of words that are considered clichés, some good words at that. So it appears I’m contradicting myself, but this wouldn’t be a first.

But I had an epiphany when I was talking on the phone with a customer whose résumé I’m writing. As I was going over her résumé pointing out some of her accomplishments, I told her she is innovative, at which she agreed with great delight that, yes, she is. To get her to realize this made the word “innovative” special, not a cliché.

I once described myself as innovative but when I read that it was one of the 10 clichés to avoid on your LinkedIn profile, I stopped writing and saying that I’m innovative. After all, it’s a cliché, right? This was like the time my brother said Miso soup tastes like low tide. His expert opinion ruined the soup forever for me.

I just sent my customer her résumé with the adjective “innovative” included in the professional profile, and I didn’t feel the least bit guilty–considering she had initiated social media at her current company, implemented a preventative care program at yet another company, and more accomplishments that clearly show her as innovative.

In fact, my customer also demonstrated that she’s “creative” and “dynamic,” which are also considered taboo by the cliché police. With all of what I’ve expressed, I’m beginning to question the validity of experts who trash some great words just because they’re considered overused.

What if there are a lot of jobseekers and workers who are “innovative,” “creative,” and “dynamic,” and these are the best words to use to describe them? Should we use words that don’t mean quite the same, or should we use words from a different language? No, we need to show rather than tell, right?

“Designed a (an innovative) social media curriculum for students at risk that taught them how to market the school’s English Language Art’s program, earning Department of the Year.

I suppose this secondary teacher’s accomplishment statement shows innovation, but what’s wrong with using “innovation” in the sentence to give it more flavor. Further, when a job description calls for someone who’s “innovative,” and you’re trying to meet as many of the keywords to pass the Applicant Tracking System’s test, do you exclude this word? Just a thought.

I’m now beginning to think a little too much emphasis is being placed on finding ways to reinvent ways to describe jobseekers and workers. To hell with worrying about what the pundits consider to be clichés. They’re ruining the pleasure I get when writing a résumé or advising jobseekers on how to describe themselves, just as my brother had ruined my appetite for Miso soup.

Filed under LinkedIn, Résumé Writing Tagged with , , , ,

How important is your LinkedIn Snapshot area? 8 reasons why

June 13, 2013 2 Comments

cameraYou know that area at the top of your LinkedIn profile? I refer to it as the Snapshot because it’s a snapshot of the rest of your profile, a peek into the professional you. If you think it’s insignificant, than you think first impressions don’t count in life. In this small space the Snapshot tells potential employers a great story.

The story begins with your photo. There  are many questions about the photo…should you have one, how should it be taken, what should it say about you? To answer the first question; most LinkedIn members, including recruiters and employers, agree you should have one, period. Your photo brands you.

You have two options for the kind of photo you should display, highly professional or casual professional. Both tell visitors about your personality. For example, your photo may say you’re serious, creative, compassionate, humorous, outgoing, reflective, curious, etc. It’s important that you are accurate in your depiction of who you are. In other words, don’t post one of you in your early 30′s if you’re in your mid 50′s.

Professional Title. A poll taken years ago on LinkedIn concluded the Professional Title is the first verbiage a visitor will hone in on, not the Summary or Experience sections; so it must impress. You can go with a branding statement: As VP of Human Resources & Practice leader, I consult with company XYZ clients to provide strategic HR solutions!

Or perhaps a branding title that tells people who you are and what you do, as well as some of your major areas of expertise is more of your style. Here’s one form one of my valued connections, Laura Smith-Proulx: 9-Time Global Award-Winning Executive Resume Writer ★ Past Recruiter ★ LinkedIn Premium Moderator ★ Job Hunt Expert.

Both are great branding titles because they express the LinkedIn members’ value to employers and clients.

snapshotYour location and industry must be given some thought. You may be tempted to simply list where you live, such as Westford, Massachusetts; but seriously who knows where Westford is? It’s best to select the nearest large city that is known by most. Boston, Massachusetts is the nearest city.

On the other hand, if you are in business and you want your clientele to reside around Westford, you may want to stick with it.

I tell my workshop attendees their industry should be one by which people know them. You may decide that you’d like to change industries, perhaps from manufacturing to software; this can be expressed in the Summary section. If you’ve been in manufacturing your whole career and decide you want to switch to medical, who will recognize you from the medical industry?

Current and Previous fields. People who are out of work struggle with what they should do with their Current field. Should they leave their former employer as active, in which case they’ll appear to be employed and (depending on who you ask) will be more marketable? Or should they own up and accurately state their situation? Whichever way you decide to go with this is up to you; just keep in mind that some employers value honesty and integrity.

The Education field only includes one’s most recent school, not the previous schools.  This, I think, is a mistake on LinkedIn’s part, as a visitor might consider reading the rest of someone’s profile based on the school he went to for his Bachelor’s Degree. One of my connections attended three schools, in reverse order, Boston University, UMass Lowell, and Williams College. If a visitor is interested in connecting with someone from Williams, she’ll not know this based on the school shown in my connection’s Snapshot, Boston University. Not unless she scrolls down to his Education section. (Currently the public profile shows multiple schools.)

Contact Info: LinkedIn provides valuable information about your first degree connections in their Contact Information drop down. These include your  e-mail address, Instant Messaging handle, phone number (1) Twitter handle, and website addresses (3).  Each of these can be important information for your connections to know. I have selected to show only my e-mail address, Twitter handle, and blog address; not my IM handle, telephone number and home address. (I encourage jobseekers to include at least their e-mail address and a phone number.)

Who knew such important information about you could be included in your Snapshot area? This area is a reflection of what you’ve written in various sections of your profile, as well as information you directly add to the Snapshot. Don’t underestimate any information you include on your profile.

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10 pros and cons of LinkedIn’s new platform

June 10, 2013 8 Comments

PlatformWell, isn’t this just great…LinkedIn has gone and changed its platform on me. Like most changes, there are some pros and some cons, but in general I like the changes. The worst part about adapting to these changes is I now have to get up to speed real quick to better inform my workshop attendees, some of whom have had the new platform for over a month.

I had a great sense of anxiety before I was to deliver a workshop to a bunch of business folks. I had been obsessed over the fact that my attendees would have the new platform, and I wouldn’t.  Then BAM! I opened LinkedIn and found the new, sleek look and feel two days before my upcoming workshop. I had some cramming to do.

When I did some quick learning on the changes between the old and new LinkedIn, I saw some pros and cons. Albeit not that drastic, save for one, I’m generally pleased.

1) Pro: Recommendations has been removed from Profile, creating less clutter and things to remember in those drop-downs.

Con: So what’s up with removing Recommendations from Profile? This is concerning a number of people, some of whom have said to me in a fit of rage that LinkedIn removed Recommendations all together. Don’t be alarmed (not yet), Recommendations are still there.

Chose Edit Profile and travel to the basement of LinkedIn where your Recommendations reside. Click on that little, blue pencil and choose “Ask to be recommended,” if you want to request a Recommendation. If you want to write one (this took me awhile to discover), choose “Manage visibility.”

2) Pro: LinkedIn didn’t get rid of Companies. This is one of its greatest feature for researching organizations and making connections/introductions to decision makers.

Con: They buried it in the Interests drop-down. Why? This is a feature that should be highlighted above many others.

3) Pro: They didn’t get rid of Jobs.

Con: They didn’t get rid of Jobs. I’ve never been a big fan of LinkedIn’s attempt at offering a job board. Leave that to Monster.com, Indeed.com, Dice.com, and the like. I’ve heard of many more people getting a job through networking with Companies than taking at stab at Jobs.

4) Pro: The Search menu is larger and more convenient. I no longer have to select things like People, Companies, Jobs, etc. LinkedIn is now smart enough to show us a sample of Companies (information), People, and Jobs. Further, if I want to be more selective, I can slide over to the left and choose from People, Jobs, Companies, Groups, Updates, Inbox.

Con: I’m good with this. For a more in depth explanation of the new Search engine, read LinkedIn’s Voltron Search: What’s New and What’s Missing.

5) Pro: They didn’t get rid of Signal. Signal is my saving grace, as I have the memory of a gnat. I use it to follow my own updates. Now it is accessed through Search. It’s called Update. Search  topics, companies, or people across the updates stream with Updates.

Con: The initial shock of not seeing News on the menu bar and not seeing Signal in any of the drop-downs, prompted me to use the F word and offend my whole family. I’m over it now.

6) Pro: Skills and Expertise is still here. With the popularity of Endorsements, LinkedIn would never do away with Skills and Expertise.

Con: But now I have to go to http://www.linkedin.com/skills/ (another thing to remember) in order to get some great information about my skills and expertise. I love the information I used to get by simply hovering over a skill or expertise, but now that capability is gone. This boarders on ugly, as along with that great information (brief description, suggested skills, companies, etc.), LinkedIn would also suggest people with whom to connect, as well as groups to follow.

7) Pro: The menu disappears when you scroll down the page and reappears when you hover over the main bar.

Con: It’s not a significant improvement; more aesthetic than anything.  Sometimes I wonder if LinkedIn’s brainstorming sessions are really that productive.

8) Pro: Top menu bar is simplified and now has cool graphics, such as an envelope for Inbox, a flag for Notifications, some goofy +head thingy for Add Connections, and your photo for a number of features, such as Sign Out, Account, Settings, etc.

Con: Nothing to complain about here. The icons are cool looking, even if you have to remember what they mean.

9) Pro: It’s obvious that LinkedIn is putting emphasis on its members connecting with alumni, given that one of the three options under the Network drop-down is Find Alumni.

Con: No complaints here. This is a good thing. Your alumni can be your greatest supporters, so it’s important that they be easily found.

10) Pro: You can send an update to individual first degree connections, along with the rest of your connections, by typing @bob mcintosh in the Update field. You’re guaranteed to get a response from that individual.

Con: I love this touch. It seems to be available only on my homepage, however. No big deal.

So as you can see from my review of LinkedIn’s changes, there are some that impress me and others that annoy me. The fact that I have to acclimate myself to a new LinkedIn platform to better instruct my workshop attendees is the biggest bummer. Oh well.

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4 tips for introverts on going to networking events

June 8, 2013 17 Comments

Recently I was given a ticket to a guest-speaker event put on for a group of young professionals in my community. This, I thought, would be great because I’d be seeing Erik Qualman speak about social media–Erik wrote Socialnomics and is a great speaker. I thought I would be able to sit comfortably and listen to an expert on social networking entertain me.

When I arrived at the event I discovered it was to follow a networking hour and that I was woefully under dressed  My vision of kicking back and listening to a great speaker was dashed when I entered a hallway full of networkers engaged in conversation. I promptly went to the men’s room, looked at my sad self in the mirror, and exited the building.

I needed air. It took me a few minutes to collect myself and prepare for an unfamiliar group of well-dressed people I’d be meeting (or hiding from). I was starting to feel like I was in a dream where I was in one of my workshops dressed in my underwear only. But I promptly re-entered the building and (luckily) spotted someone I knew.

An article titled Networking for Introverts brings to mind some great points, namely: 1) network on your own terms, 2) create a comfortable environment for yourself, 3) leverage your skills as an introvert. All of these suggestions were negated the moment I entered the large hall.

I have four tips to add to Karl Stark’s and Bill Stewart’s article, all of which advise that introverts prepare for a networking event, not simply go with eyes closed–I’m proof of this. Here are my four tips.

  1. Know what’s on the agenda. In retrospect the first thing I should have asked when accepting the ticket to this event was what kind of event it was going to be. Instead I gratefully accepted the ticket  from a benefactor failing to ask a very important question, ”What is the agenda  for the night?” If she told me there would be some networking involved, I would have been better prepared. To an introvert this is essential.
  2. Ask if there’s a dress code. Not all networking events are created equal.  Had I known there was going to be a networking session before the speaker went on, I would have dressed better. Imagine my surprise when most of the men were wearing suites and the women wearing dresses. There’s nothing more distracting than knowing you’re under dressed for a networking event.
  3. Go with business cards. I have business cards for work as well as personal business cards, none of which were on my person. Had I known what was going to precede the speaking event, I would have brought a set of business cards. There is nothing worse than someone handing you his/her business card and having to say, “I’m sorry, I didn’t bring my cards with me.”
  4. Mentally prepare for the event. Related to number 1, introverts have to develop a “Just do it” attitude. We need to prep ourselves to get outside our comfort zone, which includes preparing for small talk, not relying on seeing a room full of familiar faces. Preparing for a networking event might begin hours before the event, or, for some, days beforehand.

The evening turned out to be great fun for me. I spoke to people who were no more prepared than me and others who were there to work the room. When I re-entered at the beginning of the event, I knew there was no turning back; and I’m glad I didn’t. One thing I wish I had done that evening was stay for the food, which looked awesome.

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Want great customer service, go to Starbucks

June 5, 2013 4 Comments

starbucksI’m a coffee snob. But I’m frugal. I buy a pound of Starbucks dark roasted coffee at the grocery store to brew at home; and when I’ve brewed a full pot, I’ll pour what my wife and I don’t drink into a container, which goes in the refrigerator.

As a treat, I’ll go to Starbucks drive-through and buy a Venti ice coffee with half ice. (Yes, I use the word “Venti.”) When time and the funds permit, I’ll frequent a Starbucks café. (Read Chief Influence Officer Brian Ahearn‘s post on 5 Reasons Why Starbucks is so Persuasive.)

Starbucks has not only won my loyalty for its excellent coffee; it’s won me over for its customer service, as well.

Customer service is such a priority to me that I’ve abandoned a famous hamburger joint up the street from us because it takes forever to get served. I’ve also traveled miles out of my way to give my money to another branch of a large retail store because I’ve been treated rudely by some teenager whose main concern is texting his girlfriend.

Customer service weighs so heavily on my mind that my kids get sick of hearing me say, “That was great customer service,” or the opposite, which is more the case than the former these days. My kids also get embarrassed when I ask for the store’s manager so I can commend an associate who did his/her job the way it should be done.

As much as I hate poor customer service (maybe we’ve come to expect it), I feel much stronger about superior customer service. And thus, I feel Starbucks “is all that” when it comes to customer service. Why? Let me reenact a greeting from a Starbucks associate at the drive-through I frequent when driving home from my mother’s-in-law house.

“Good evening. Welcome to Leominster’s Starbucks. How may I help you?” the young man wearing the headsets says.

At this point my wife and I look at each other and mouth, “Great customer service.”

“I’d like a Venti ice coffee with half the ice,” I reply. Less ice, more coffee.

“Venti ice coffee light on the ice. Will that be all?”

“Yes, thank you,” I say driving forward. My kids in the back seats drone, “Great customer service.”

“Thank you, my friend,” I hear as I’m approaching the bend. Now I think, here is a guy who really loves his job.

And here’s the kicker—Starbucks’ coffee associates always get my order correct, whether it’s at a café or drive through.

I think about customer service wherever I shop, but there aren’t many retailers that prompt me to ask a manager what contributes to their associates’ excellent customer service. I’ve spoken to a few Starbuck’s managers about why their  customer service is so great. Perhaps this is because great customer service isn’t all that prevalent; maybe not enough businesses are focusing on training their employees on this seemingly lost art.

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4 reasons to say no to a job offer

June 3, 2013 Leave a comment

no thanksOriginally posted on Tim’s Strategy.

I don’t recommend that my customers say no to a job offer unless there’s a good reason. That’s why when one of my most promising customers told me she was reluctant to accept a job offer at a leading hotel corporation, I advised her to consider the circumstances.

First of all, she would be assuming a great deal of responsibilities. And second she’d be making 70% of what she previously made. Both of these factoids seemed the equivalent of doing hard labor in a rock quarry and being paid minimum wage.

I only needed to point out the disparity of salaries for her to decline the offer, even though she had negotiated a $4,000 increase. (Actually she’s smart enough to realize this.)

There are times when you should decline an offer. My customer’s story is just one of them. A ridiculous salary offer isn’t the only reason for declining an offer. There are three others.

Motivation. When pundits say you’re not the only person interviewing you, they’re correct. The responsibilities of said position have to motivate you to be your best. Motivation is a key factor in being a high achiever, and you don’t want to settle for less than being your best.

One of my best connections and an expert on motivation-based interviewing, Carol Quinn, states that motivation-based interviews is one of the best ways for interviewers to determine the potential of a candidate. So it figures that not only should the employer be concerned about your motivation; you would want to be motivated as well. Will the position challenge you to do your best and offer variety, or will it be a dead-end street?

Bad work environment. Another reason for not accepting an offer is sensing a volatile work environment. A former colleague of mine would often confide in me that where she was working was a toxic work environment. Management was distrustful of its employees and would often be abusive.

During an interview you should ask questions that would uncover the company’s environment. A simple one is, “Why did the former marketing specialist leave?” Or, “What makes your employees happy working here?” What about, “How do you reward your employees for creativity and innovation?”

Sincere answers to these questions will assure you that you are entering an environment with your eyes wide open, good or bad. Vague responses should raise a red flag. The best way to determine what kind of environment you may inherit is to network with people who work at a potential organization.

Security. A third reason for not accepting an offer is the financial status of the company. If you discover through discussions that the company is at risk of closing its doors soon, it’s not wise to accept the offer, even if you “just want a job.” This also goes for grant-funded positions. A position that will end in less than a year should make you consider if you want to join the organization only to be let go before you even get your feet wet.

Lack of goals. Some of my customers have told me that they’ve been taking temp-to-perm positions that have spanned over many years; and that they’re tired of the short-term stints. Additionally, their résumé resembles one that shouts, “Job hopper.”  Your current unemployment can be a time to strategize about where you want your career to go, a time to experience clarity, not throwing darts at a wall of short-term jobs.

While I wanted my customer to land a job in a short period of job seeking, I would have kicked myself for telling her that a bird in hand is better than nothing. I have tremendous faith in her abilities and tenacity. She will be land soon. That I’m sure of.

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2 ways to ensure you receive a timely, quality LinkedIn recommendation

May 30, 2013 Leave a comment

RecommendationMany jobseekers and employers think LinkedIn recommendations are worth gold. Recommendations espouse jobseekers’ performance, describing valuable skills and accomplishments, and are visible on their LinkedIn profile for potential employers to see. What a great LinkedIn feature.*

However, as valuable they are, requesting a recommendation can be frustrating for two reasons, timeliness or the quality of a recommendation…or both.

So after waiting for months and receiving something that doesn’t describe you the way you’d like, what do you do? Do you send the recommendation back to your reference, or do you post it on your profile as is? You send it back and you risk waiting even longer for a revised recommendation.

Let me suggest two ways to ensure a shorter wait, as well receiving a recommendation with which you’ll be happy.

1) First, offer some guidance to the person who’s writing your recommendation in terms of the types of skills, accomplishments, and experience you’d like to be included in the recommendation. Having written recommendations for others, I know how difficult it is to determine what to write about the recipient.

So eliminate any guesswork and tell your reference you’d like her to hit upon your leadership, customer service, team-building, technical expertise, or other strong skills. Also remind her about any accomplishments, e.g., you increased productivity 55% by taking the initiative to develop a better process to track and store electronic parts; just in case she has forgotten.

2) The second alternative is one that will require more work on your part; writing your own recommendation. This is a last-ditch effort but one your reference will greatly appreciate. You may remember doing this where you worked, when your manager told you to write your own for her to sign. Same idea.

This takes considerable work on your part because it takes stepping outside yourself to evaluate your performance. In other words, how would the person writing your recommendation see your current or past performance? You’ll be promoting yourself, which is not always the easiest thing to do. But this is not hard to do as long as you are as objective as possible. Refrain from using adjective like “excellent,” “outstanding,” “perfect,” etc. Stick to the facts. Also expect your professional reference to edit what you write, perhaps revise it significantly.

Recommendations are still valued by employers who visit your profile. It gives them an idea of your talents and promise for the future; so why drive yourself crazy waiting for them to arrive, and why guess what you’ll receive from the well-intentioned reference.

*Recommendations have been replaced by Endorsements as one requirement to reach 100% completion for a profile. This implies endorsements hold real value, which many LinkedIn members dispute. These naysayers think it’s a lot easier to click on someone’s skill/s than it is to write a thoughtful recommendation. I agree.

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