6 topics to include in your interview follow-up note

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Thankyounote2

Some job candidates believe the interview is over after they’ve shaken hands with the interviewers and have left the room. Well, that went well, they think, and now it’s time to wait for the decision.

And perhaps it went well. But perhaps one or two other candidates also had stellar interviews and followed up their interviews with notes sent via e-mail or a thank you card.

So here’s the question: when is the interview really over?

The answer: after you’ve sent the follow-up note.

If you don’t believe that a follow-up note is important, read the article, Write a Post-Interview Thank You that Actually Boosts Your Chances to Get the Job, and note that by not sending a follow-up note (according to CareerBuilder):

  • Employers are less likely to hire a candidate–22%.
  • Employers say it shows a lack of follow-through–86%
  • Employers say the candidate isn’t really serious about the job–56%.

If these figures aren’t enough to convince you to send a follow-up, then don’t hold out much hope of getting a job, especially when smart jobseekers are sending them. I hope this gets your attention.

So if you’re wondering how to go about sending a follow-up, consider to whom you’ll send it and how you’ll send it.

Who do you send it to? If you’re interviewed by five people, how many unique follow-up notes should you send? That’s correct, five. Take the time to write a unique follow-up to everyone who interviewed you.

(Read my post on a thank you note that was sent to my daughter after a college visit.)

How do you send it? You can send your follow-up note via e-mail or hard copy. This depends on your preference and/or the industry, e.g., someone in the humanities might prefer a thank you card, whereas someone in high tech might appreciate an e-mail.

Here’s an idea: send both, an e-mail immediately after the interview and a professional card a week later.

What do you say in your follow-up note?

1. Show your gratitude. Obviously you’re going to thank the interviewers for the time they took to interview you; after all, they’re busy folks and probably don’t enjoy interviewing people.

2. Reiterate you’re the right person for the job. This is the second most obvious statement you’ll make in your follow-up  notes. Mention how you have the required skills and experience and, very importantly, you have the relevant accomplishments.

3. Interesting points made at the interview. Show you were paying attention at the interview. Each person with whom you spoke mentioned something of interest, or asked a pertinent question. Impress them with your listening skills by revisiting those interesting points.

4. Do some damage control: How many candidates wish they could have elaborated on a question, or totally blew it with a weak answer? Now’s your chance to correct your answer. This may be of little consequence, but what do you have to lose? Besides, interviewers know you were under a great deal of pressure–it’s hard to think of everything.

5. Suggest a solution to a problem: Prior to the interview you were unaware of a problem the company is facing. Now you know about the problem. If you have a solution to this problem, mention it in your follow-up or a more extensive proposal.

6. You want the job: You told the interview committee at the end of the interview that you want the job. Reiterate this sentiment by stating it in you follow-up note, which can be as simple as asking what the next steps will entail. This shows your enthusiasm and sincere interest in the position.

After you’ve made it this far in the process–networking, writing a tailored resume and cover letter, and multiple interviews–it would be a shame to blow it by not sending a follow-up note. Take the time to send a unique follow-up note (within 24-48 hours). When you get the job offer, you’ll be happy you did.

Photo: Flickr, Mac Mirabile

6 reasons to use LinkedIn after you’ve landed a job

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LinkedIn cloth

Many people believe LinkedIn was created for job-seeking purposes. This is understandable, as the platform provides a great tool for connecting with others and organizing your job search, or a Jobs feature that is second on the list of job boards according CareerXRoads, or a Companies feature that gives users the power of finding people at their desired companies.

Actually, LinkedIn was developed in 2003 for business purposes, which not surprising is similar to the job search. Finding potential business partners, reaching out to them, connecting, developing relationships, closing deals. Sound familiar?

So my questions are why do people join LinkedIn only when they need a job, and why after landing a job do they dump LinkedIn like a bad habit? I struggle with these questions when job seekers tell me they’re on LinkedIn but haven’t touched it in three, five, seven years. I ask them if they have a profile they’re proud of. They give me blank looks.

Here’s the thing: you should come to someone like me and proudly say that you’re very happy with your profile. Then when I look at it I make a mental checklist. Photo, check. Branding Headline, check. A Summary that shows immediate impact. An Employment section that is well developed and supports accomplishment statements with  quantified results. Endorsed skills. Check, check, check. You get the idea.

LinkedIn is a great tool for your job search. There is no better way to reach out and connect with bona fide networking contacts. You conduct a search, with the Companies feature, of people you’d like to connect with from your target companies list, and then you begin building relationships until you land a series of face-to-face conversations.

You use the jobs feature and happen upon one or two jobs that are a good fit for you and the employers. When you submit your LinkedIn profile, it is received well…very well. You secure a series of interviews. The rest is history.

So why would you stop building more relationships and reduce your engagement on LinkedIn significantly? Hasn’t history shown you that nothing is for certain. You may want to move on to a better opportunity, or you may have to leave the company for no fault of your own.

Your LinkedIn campaign should be ongoing. You won’t need to reach out for the same reasons you did when you were unemployed, but you still need to use LinkedIn for its original purpose. You’ll need to show the love for the following reasons.

Develop Your Network Before You Need It

This is the first reason why you need to stay on LinkedIn, to accumulate more quality connections. Not only can your connections help you in the form of future possibilities, you can help them if they’re in the hunt.

And some of my customers have been selfless in alerting others to positions in their new companies. That’s good networking.

The first time I meet my customers is usually when they’re scrambling to build up their network. They’re frantic because they have less than 100 connections, wondering why they’re not getting any play. Keep this in mind, I advise them. Be smarter the next time.

Develop Your Reputation, Be Relevant

To build up your reputation, you want to come across as the authority in your industry. What better time to write posts on LinkedIn than when you’re getting back into the mix?

A person who lands a project management job in medical devices can write about the development of these devices, where they’re of most value, how they benefit patients, etc. Not only is this person demonstrating her knowledge, she’s helping to sell her company’s product.

One of my connections works for a company that develops office management software. He starts a teaser on LinkedIn Publisher with a link to the company’s write-up of the product, which he wrote, by the way. This is a perfect way for him to gain exposure on LinkedIn, as well as sell his product line.

Continue To Learn

I bet one of the reasons why you landed your job is because of what you may have read or discussed on LinkedIn. For example, you may have read an article you found through one of your connections. Or you may have read an article on Pulse.

Maybe a discussion you participated in one of your groups prompted you to connect with the originator of the discussion, which led to a lead after your relationship was forged.

As I mentioned above, you should be increasing your thought leadership. So take advantage of what people in your industry write. LinkedIn is a great source of information. Take advantage of it.

One of my connections, Janet Wall, wrote: “Yes, LI is not only for job hunting, in fact I don’t see it as the prime reason for LI. It is for learning, and I learn so much from my connections!”

Engage, Engage, Engage

Despite what you’ve been told, visiting LinkedIn four times a week ain’t gonna do it. A minimum of once a day—or seven times a week—should be your level of engagement. You want to be seen, not forgotten. And don’t only appear when/if you need to make a move. (Read my post on why you should engage on LinkedIn.)

Many people, including myself have written posts on how you can engage—and be remembered—with your connections. One post that I particularly like is 10 Status Updates for Job Seekers by Hannah Morgan. In it she gives LinkedIn members 12 ideas on how to share updates. Check it out!

But engagement doesn’t stop there. You can send direct messages to your connections informing them of how you’re doing—hopefully you’re doing well. You can also use a feature called Keep in Touch, which lets you congratulate your connections on their work anniversaries, birthdays, new jobs, etc.

Enhance Your Company’s Image

You are representing the company for which you now work; therefore, you must have a stellar profile. When people visit your company’s LinkedIn page, they want to see profiles that impress them. See the profiles as if they’re fine paintings in a museum.

This doesn’t only apply to sales people. It applies to every function in the organization. People will have more faith in the company for which you work if the employees come across as competent accountants, publish relation managers, technical trainers, and CEOs.

When your manager asks you, “Bob, why do you have such a well-developed LinkedIn profile?” as my manager once asked me, explain that your LinkedIn profile and engagement will only benefit the company. If your manager tells you to shut it down, you will realize you joined the wrong organization.

Pay it forward

As I mentioned earlier, some of my customers get back to me with jobs that their companies are trying to fill. Some of these jobs are not yet posted; they’re some of the 80% of hidden jobs. These are the best jobs!

Remember how you were helped during your job search. Maybe you were just alerted to a job that panned out, or someone delivered your résumé to the hiring manager of your department. Don’t you think it’s time to return the favor to someone else?

Your work on LinkedIn is not over when you’ve landed your next job. See it as just beginning. See it as an investment. For all of my former customers who are secure in their employment, I am happy. I just ask that you prepare for your future.

Photo from Coletivo Mambembe, Flickr.com

 

10 ways to make a better impression while networking

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I was invited by one of my customers to attend a local networking event. Intrigued by what this networking group was all about, I agreed to take some time from the office and visit the group.

Networking_Group2They say timing is everything. Nothing illustrated this more than when I entered a hall-full room of networkers, and a man met me at the door and pounced on me before I was able to take off my coat.

“You’re Bob, right?” he said. I nodded, wondering how he knew who I was. I guess my customer told people I’d be going to the event.

“I’m Jim. I heard you’re pretty good at LinkedIn. I was wondering if you could help me with my profile. I’m not getting many hits. I’ve been on LinkedIn for more than a year. Do you think you could help me write it?”

“I lead LinkedIn workshops at the Career Center of Lowell,” I told him. “You should come to the Center and attend my workshops. Then I can critique your profile.” I hoped this was the end of our conversation, as I hadn’t even grabbed a coffee, but no the man continued.

“Well, I don’t really have time to go to the career center (probably because it would disrupt his online job search). And I’m not sure it will serve my needs, being an urban career center.”

I felt like telling him that people exactly like him come to our career center. Instead I told him I’d forgotten my business cards (lie) but he could call our local number if he wanted to come in for my workshops. I knew he wouldn’t make the call.

This, folks, is what gives organized networking a bad name. Going to a networking event should not start on an unpleasant note from point of contact.To make networking a pleasant experience for others, practice the following:

  1. Approach potential connections slowly, yet confidently. Don’t spring upon a person like the fellow I mentioned above. I didn’t appreciate being bombarded before I was able to get settled. Instead casually approach the person with whom you’d like to meet and give a nod of recognition.
  2. Make eye-contact and smile before approaching. People can tell a lot about you from your causal eye-contact. Your eye contact says you’re approachable. And smiling shows warmth and acceptance. Those who don’t smile seem indifferent, which doesn’t encourage conversation.
  3. Extend your hand in a non-aggressive manner. This is a sign of welcome, and to me says you have solid character. That said, shake a person’s hand gracefully and don’t squeeze so hard that it hurts. No limp or wet-palm handshakes either–as my daughter would say, “Ewww.”
  4. Think small talk first. There’s no reason to immediately launch into your elevator speech. Ease into the conversation by using the methods listed above and wait for the right moment to explain what you do and talk about the value you bring to employers.
  5. Give the person your undivided attention. Later in the morning I was talking with someone who kept looking past me like she was expecting Prince Charming to come through the door. I realize I’m not Brad Pitt, but come on. If it ain’t happening, make an exit gracefully.
  6. Don’t offer your personal business card if you don’t mean business. It’s disingenuous and a waste of paper when you give your card to someone with whom you have nothing in common or feel no connection. I distrust people who give me their card as soon as we start talking. Don’t you want to know my name first?
  7. Understand cues that tell you your networking companion has had enough. Despite what you may think, not everyone is interested in hearing you talk excessively about your services, products, or unemployment woes. Watch for rolling eyes, shifting feet; hear when people say, “Mmm,” or “Yep” or “Right.” These are cues to move on.
  8. Have a polite exit plan. There will be times when you’ll be cornered by a talker who’s goal is to tell you about every aspect of his life. Politely disengage politely. Something like this might be effective: “It’s been great talking with you, but I’m here to meet with someone about her job search. It will help to have a safe zone, a person to retreat to.
  9. Catch the person on your way out. Do you ever leave a party without saying goodbye to the host? Of course not; that’s just plain rude. Make sure you afford your potential contacts the courtesy of letting them know you’re leaving. Otherwise, they’ll get that feeling of being blown off or continue to look for you during the rest of the event.
  10. Follow up. This goes without saying. Tell those with whom you have something in common that you’ll follow up your conversation the next day…and do it. When you follow up with your new connections, you show responsibility and respect. Further, you solidify the relationships.

On my way back to the office I stopped by the neighborhood Panera Bread, where I ran into one of my customer who’s trying to find a job. The meeting was easy and refreshing and reminded me of what networking is all about—great conversation with the subtlety of networking in the background, yet ever-present. The timing was just right.

 

4 reasons why personal pronouns are acceptable on your résumé

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During a résumé critique one of my customers presented me with a résumé that was quite good. When I come upon a great résumé, I don’t try to to rip it apart like some people, who want to show off their expertise do.

Grading Papers

Could it have been better? Sure, but for starters it had the elements of a solid résumé—a branding headline; a short, yet factual Performance Profile; few duties and numerous quantified accomplishments; and was well formatted and easy to read. You get the picture.

There were a few things I suggested he correct, but the one big thing I took issue with was his use of personal pronouns. It’s not that I’m opposed to the use of personal pronouns on a résumé.

It’s that his résumé was littered with them throughout the whole document, in the Performance Profile and in the Work Experience. So I was curious why he decided to go narrative with it.

He simply said it felt right. OK, that’s like asking my kid why he skipped track practice and him telling you…because he wanted to.

Later in the week this guy’s Career Advisor (my colleague) approached me with a quizzical look on her face asking me why I thought said person’s résumé was acceptable. Is this how résumés are being written, she asked me.

My response was that some job seekers, not many, are using personal pronouns on their résumé.

She then wanted to know if I condone personal pronouns on a résumé. That’s like asking me if I condone red hair. I continued to say that many professional résumé writers are also including personal pronouns on their client’s résumé.

Here’s my opinion.

If there is any section on the résumé where the personal pronoun  is justified, it’s  in the Performance Profile where it can add value without distracting the reader. Consider the following separate statements that emphasize the two candidates’ value:

Increasing sales—the past five years running—through a customer-centric approach has been the hallmark of my career ~ I lead with a unique style that increases production from colleagues of various talent levels.

And

I develop and nurture  lasting relationships with partners, customers, and the media; resulting in an increase of visibility for organizations  and 75% new business ~ My managers often referred to  me as a prolific writer who enhances the value of an organization’s print and on-line literature.

Here are four reasons why personal pronouns work in each of these statements:

  1. Show ownership. Each statement can be written without the pronoun, “I,” but they lose their emphasis and originality. 
  2. Personality. True, the candidate could eliminate the personal pronouns, but then the accomplishments seem more impersonal. The personal pronoun gives the résumé a stronger voice.
  3. Flow. The first statement can be rephrased to carry the same message of “customer-centric approach,” but we speak in complete sentences. Résumé sentences are grammatically incorrect.
  4. It’s unique. A very small percentage of résumés employ personal pronouns. Whether you agree or disagree with the use of personal pronouns, your document will grab the attention of the reader.

Arguably some recruiters or employers may question job seekers for taking liberties and breaking the traditional mold—that which says, no personal pronouns—but would they automatically discount a job seeker for going against tradition? Only if they are out of their mind.

Nonetheless, I decided to query professionals on LinkedIn to get their opinions.

One former recruiter wrote: “Candidates certainly benefit from a professionally written résumé, but in my experience as a recruiter, we hired plenty of candidates… with ‘I’ on their résumé.”

Another respondent was very adamant about the use of personal pronouns: “Personal pronouns should NEVER be used on a résumé.”

A professional resume writer and former hiring manager, with whom I’ve worked, responded to my query by saying he uses personal pronouns “sparingly,” adding, “Who can realistically find fault with a little sprinkle of personal pronouns in an impressive career document from an impressive candidate?” My point exactly.

Yet another respondent supports the use of the personal pronoun: “As a recruiter, I really enjoy reading a résumé that tells who the person is, where they came from and where they want to go.”

Read this article on WSJ.com from one of my valued LinkedIn connections, Lynda Spiegel. She’s a resume writer who believes in the first person résumé.

I personally think personal pronouns are acceptable in the Performance Profile section but using them in the other sections…goes too far. If you have a strong opinion, one way or another, let’s hear it.

Photo: Flickr, Sofia

4 ways your LinkedIn photo is an impostor

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How my guilt over being an impostor forced me to change my photo.

Will the real John Smith stand up? You’ve probably seen it before. You see someone’s photo on LinkedIn, you meet him in public, and notice that he barely resembles his photo. A bit older. Somewhat heavier. He’s an impostor.

Portrait, young business man

We’ve all been there. People look significantly different than they’re portrayed on their LinkedIn profile, almost to the point where we don’t recognize them in a crowd of people (one reason to have a photo is to be recognizable). You feel like you’ve been duped…hoodwinked.

An Impostor I met

I tell a story to my LinkedIn workshop attendees about a time when I met the real John Smith (not his real name). Weeks before meeting him I saw his photo on LinkedIn. I thought that the man portrayed on LinkedIn was young and muscular, but when I saw him in person he was older and thin.

Whether out of spite or because it just popped out of my mind, I said, “John, you don’t look anything like your LinkedIn profile.” Shortly after, I noticed that his photo changed to one that was more recent.

The Impostor I am

I experienced the other end of the Impostor Syndrome when I was leading an Advanced LinkedIn workshop. I showed them my profile pointing out that I have a photo, and one attendee told me I look older in person than I do in the photo. Ouch.

I passed off being an Impostor by telling the group I hadn’t had the time, nor resources to get a professional photo taken. It still stung when I was told I look younger in my photo. Maybe it’s because my current photo is at least four years old.

What makes one an Impostor?

Four possible thoughts cross my mind when I encounter an Impostor.

  • He is vain. This is the worst kind in my mind. Pride is listed as one of the 7 deadly sins. Vanity is a form of pride. As my father said, “We enter this world naked and we leave it naked.” As Popeye said, “I Yam What I Yam.” Why should we pretend to be someone different?
  • He doesn’t realize that eventually he’ll be outed (as in my story). I’ve entered many a room where someone says, “Hi Bob.” Not caring much about etiquette, I respond by asking who they are. I learn that they’ve seen me on LinkedIn. It’s flattering, while at the same time a little creepy. People do recognize you on social media, so you will be outed, if you don’t update your profile.
  • He doesn’t realize that honesty is the basis for networking. One point I make in my Advanced LinkedIn workshop is that those who don’t have a photo on their profile will not be trusted as those who do. To gain complete trust, don’t put up a photo of you in college when you’re 20 years beyond those golden years. What does this say about your trustworthiness?
  • He isn’t concerned about branding himself. Your photo is a way to brand yourself in a positive light. It can tell people about your personality; it really can. My photo, old and new, I’ve always felt it tells people that I’m caring and nurturing, and, hopefully, wise. Others can brand people as authoritative, creative, serious, intelligent, etc.

Lately I’ve been struggling with the Impostor Syndrome. You see, I have a photo that is at least four years old. Since getting it taken, I’ve added some wrinkles and gained white facial hair. Oh, I’ve also gained some weight (gulp).

I’m no longer an Impostor

bob2

I’d like to say that I haven’t gotten my photo retaking because of financial reasons, but who am I kidding? I haven’t gotten it retaking because I’m vain. I don’t like how I look and don’t want my ugly self being part of my branding—I mean everyone looks so great.

So recently I had a colleague take the photo of the real me. He took it with his own camera in plentiful lighting, and he even blurred the background. I appreciate his willingness to do this, as well as his encouragement, but I’m not too fond of my true image.

Here’s why: the faults I mentioned above show brilliantly clear. His camera is of great quality. He has a steady hand. Basically there’s no excuse for why I look like I do. I guess I’m vain. One of the seven deadly sins. I’m doomed.

So what do I do? Do I continue to go with the older me, or do I present the real me (the photo included)?

If you care to weigh in, I would appreciate it.

First Photo: Flickr, Kathy Tarochione

Photo: Tim O’Connor

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What a college student taught me about follow up notes

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college campusAnd how job seekers can take a lesson from this college student.

You learn many things when you bring your child on a college visit. You learn, for example, that visiting five schools in four days can be exhausting. You learn that your child is drawn to the most expensive schools. And you learn that some schools do a better job than others in trying to recruit potential students.

This last point was most apparent when one of the three schools sent a follow-up note in the form of a postcard. It was from a student ambassador who took my daughter out for lunch—the ambassador refused to let me come.

The postcard arrived two days after my daughter’s visit to the school, which happened to be the most expensive of the five schools. Not four days after the visit. Not a week.

What impressed me most was that the card was written in the ambassador’s own handwriting, with a scratched out word and a little too many explanation points. Don’t dwell on the negatives, dear reader.

Instead think about the personal effort this young woman put into writing this card to my daughter. Especially focus on how the girl said, “It was really great getting to know you and learning about the mills in Lowell.”

“Wow,” I said to my wife, “Chloe talked about the mills.” I’ve never heard my daughter speak word one about the mills. The fact that they talked about the mills indicates that the conversation took an interesting turn.

(According to my daughter she and the ambassador talked about many other topics, but she wouldn’t elaborate.) Reading the postcard further I saw that the young woman hoped that my daughter feels better—she had pneumonia at the time of the visit.

This follow-up note in the form of a postcard showed me professionalism, great business sense—they want to recruit as many potential students as possible—and it illustrated why job seekers need to send follow-up notes.

I tell my customers to follow up with the employer no later than a day or two after the interview. Most are good about this, while others don’t even follow up.

I’m not naive to think that this woman sent the card on her own accord. I know the school has a policy requiring that the ambassadors send personalized postcards after a prospective student visits the school. It’s good marketing.

It’s good marketing because the young woman paid attention to what my daughter had said during lunch and wrote about the encounter in her own words, not some generic follow-up note the school sends to everyone.

This will definitely be a good lesson for my job-search workshop attendees when I explain the importance, again, of the follow-up note. If a 20-year-old woman can send a note of appreciation to my daughter, a job seeker can send a unique thank-you note to an employer.

As I said, my daughter is most interested in the college that sent her the card. She told me this before the card even arrived. Before our visit I was impressed but not in love with said school. The card cemented my decision to send her there. Now my wife and I have to prepare for the astronomical expense for the tuition and other costs we’ll have to endure.

Photo, Flickr, Christian L87

8 ways to shorten your job search

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This article originally appeared on Recruiter.com, but I have since added two more ways to shorten your job search.

I’m not writing to advise you of the eight guaranteed ways to find work in less than three weeks. People who make a promise like this are raising your hopes and making a mockery of the career development field.

Job search

However, I will tell you how to make your job search shorter. By how much? That’s up to how dedicated you are to achieve this— and some timing.

I work at an urban career center, where I’ve helped hundreds of job seekers who’ve struggled with their job searches find rewarding careers. Some of them have struggled less than others, however.

Why? Because they followed some very simple procedures, are tenacious, and maintain hope.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask …

The first thing the successful job seeker realizes is that they must solicit help from others. As adults, we have this silly notion that we shouldn’t rely on others when we need help.

But psychologists assert that when people help others, it gives them a sense of power and makes them happier. So don’t be afraid to ask for help. Going it alone will not shorten your job search; it mill make it longer if you don’t.

Asking for help doesn’t mean you approach people whom you think have connections and bluntly ask them if they know of any available jobs. This puts them on the spot, makes them feel uncomfortable, and will probably make them unwilling to help.

…But Help Yourself First

Before you seek the help of others, you need to keep the following in mind: You won’t be successful in gaining their help if you’re not willing to help yourself. To help yourself means demonstrating confidence and an upbeat attitude.

This will take emotional intelligence, which means you possess the “ability to manage emotions, including the ability to regulate your own emotions, and the ability to cheer up or calm down another person.”

I’ll be the first to tell you that putting on a front is hard to do. I’ve also been out of work. I know that you may feel despondent or even depressed, but you can’t come across this way. It’s human nature to back people who are positive, not negative.

Help Others as Well

As Edythe Richards, a certified emotional intelligence practitioner, explains in one of her posts: “Empathy is your ability and willingness to take notice of and be sensitive toward the needs and feelings of others….

Job seekers with frequently engaged empathy are attuned to others, easily take others’ feelings into consideration, and have an accurate ‘emotional read’ on people.”

Also known as “paying it forward,” helping others before expecting help will create good karma. What goes around comes around; meaning you will get the help you need from another person. Just don’t expect reciprocity from the people you help, as they may not be able to offer you the same type of help.

Show Value

Of course, your résumé and LinkedIn profile need to be powerful. These documents should showcase your value through your relevant accomplishments. Remember, it’s not accomplishments you think employers want to see; it’s accomplishments that match the requirements you see in job posts that matter.

But a great résumé and LinkedIn profile are not enough. You’ll need to connect with quality people on LinkedIn and engage them in conversations that include your employment status.

I warn against mentioning your situation in your first message. Develop relationships with your new connections first. I recall a person asking to connect with me because he needs help in his job search. That’s a bit abrupt.

Connect With Others

Your marketing campaign will also involve employing your verbal communication skills, such as connecting with others, telephone correspondences, and the interview itself.

You notice I don’t use the word “networking.” That’s because when job seekers hear that word,they picture large groups gathered in churches or libraries. Get “networking” out of your vocabulary. Connecting can happen in other ways.

An effective way to connect with others is by engaging your former colleagues, people in your community—essentially everyone. Your superficial connections—those you meet once or twice—may even come through for you. Again, you must come across as confident; as someone that people will want to help.

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

Conduct your diligent research before attending an interview. By researching the position, company, and even the competition, you will be better prepared. And being prepared will give you more confidence.

I tell my job seekers that reading literature online isn’t enough. If they know someone who works at the company where they want to work, they should use said person for inside information.

Find out the smaller details of the position and company, such as responsibilities that weren’t mentioned and facts about the culture. Taking a deep dive like this will impress the interviewer/s.

Follow Up

The conclusion of your job search is the follow-up note you send employers thanking them for their time and mentioning interesting points made during the interview. Employers take note of those who don’t send thank-you notes. Don’t let them down.

Oh, and don’t send form notes; make each one unique for everyone who interviewed you. Interviewers don’t appreciate it when candidates don’t go the extra mile. Here is a post on what to include in your thank-you note.

Volunteer

Oh no, you’re probably thinking. You mean work for free? Yes, precisely. But let me be clear; you’ll volunteer for an organization that requires your expertise, not an animal shelter or the town’s soccer league.

The downside is you won’t get paid for your labor, but there is plenty of upside.

  1. Volunteering is a great way to network. You’ll be in the industry, where people for whom you volunteer might know of opportunities or, at least, people with whom you can speak.
  2. You can enhance the skills you have or even develop new ones. Let’s say you’re a web developer who needs to improve your Java skills, or you need experience in fundraising. What better way to gain these skills?
  3. You may even get hired by the organization. It’s happened with some of my customers. You never know.
  4. Some pundits believe that your chances of getting a job increase by more than 25 percent. Now if that ain’t a good enough reason, what is?
  5. You’ll feel more productive than if you’re sending your resume to companies who are receiving hundreds, if not thousands, resumes for one position.
  6. It’s a great way to cover a long gap on your résumé. A Forbes article gives this reason for the Long-Term Unemployed. I see listing this experience on your résumé beneficial for everyone.

As I said earlier, don’t fall for posts that claim to help you land a job in a certain number of days or weeks. Everyone is different. For some it may take longer than others. I do guarantee, however, that the harder and smarter you look, the shorter you search will be.

Photo: Flickr, JobMax

10 first impressions for job-search success

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When I watched the first episode of Game of Thrones, I was not impressed. I’d heard it was a great show, but the gratuitous violence did more to turn me off than draw me into the most important episode of the series. I haven’t returned to the show since.

First Impressions

I know you’re thinking this is a post about first impressions job seekers make at interviews, but it’s not. It’s about how important it is to make great first impressions in every aspect of your job search, not just how you shake the interviewer/s hands, maintain eye contact, etc.

Making a positive first impression can come into play before the interview phase, perhaps when you least expect it. I’m imaging a scenario where you’re at your local Starbucks, scoping out a comfortable chair to sit in for a couple of hours, and see the only one available among eight.

As you approach coveted chair, a woman dressed in a tee-shirt, yoga pants, and Asics also has her eyes on the prize. You have two choices; you can beat her to it, or you can offer her the chair, knowing there are plenty of stools at the table along the window, albeit uncomfortable ones. You take the high road and offer her the chair and retreat to one of the stools.

A week later you’re at an interview for a job that’s perfect for you. As you’re making the rounds shaking hands with the interviewers, you notice the woman to whom you offered the chair when you were at Starbucks; and she notices you as the kind woman who gave up that chair.

She’s the VP of marketing and a key decision maker in the hiring process. A couple of traits she desires in the next hire is integrity and selflessness. The interview is off to a great start because you made a great first impression by relinquishing that chair. Little did you know that that act of kindness would pay off in a big way, an act of kindness that had nothing to do with the interview process.

You may be thinking to yourself, “But that’s my nature.” Or maybe you’re thinking, “I can’t let my job search dictate how I act every minute of the day.” The point is when you’re in the job search, you’re constantly on. Let’s look at other ways you make a first impression before the interview begins.

  1. The way you dress. When you leave the house during the warm seasons, are you wearing your Red Sox Tee-shirt, baggie shorts, and sneakers without socks? You might want to ditch the Tee-shirt…and everything else. Work casual dress shows you’re serious about your job search. Trust me on this: I know which one of my customers’ job-search stint will be short based on how they dress.
  2. Body language. I tell jobseekers that people–not just employers–can read your body language like a neon sign and will make judgments. People can tell if you’re tense and therefore unapproachable. Alternatively, people sense you’re open  if you have an open stance and pleasant smile.
  3. Possitive attitude. I see plenty of people who are understandably angry, and they’re not afraid to show it. There are other people who are angry because of their unemployment but don’t display their attitude. Think whether you’re more likely to help others who show a negative attitude or those who come across as friendly. I would never insist that you must feel positive; I’m just saying fake it till you make it.
  4. Effective communications. At a networking event or during a phone conversation, are you demonstrating proper communication skills? Are you listening or just doing all the talking? If you’re doing the latter, it could be a turnoff for those with whom you’re speaking…a possible employer or valuable networking contact. I’m highly sensitive to people who do most of the talking.
  5. Activity. One of the best ways to present a great first impression is by being active in your job search. I’m not talking about being overbearing or obnoxious–I’m talking about due diligence, including sending appropriate e-mails, making telephone calls, attending networking events, calling on recruiters, engaging in daily networking, and whatever you’re capable of doing in a professional manner.
  6. Personal business cards. Nothing says professional and serious about the job search than personal business cards. They’re perfect to bring to networking events, job fairs, informational meetings, or just when you’re out and about. My close LinkedIn connection and branding master explains how business cards brand you.
  7. Your online presence. While it’s a well-known fact that employers are using social media to hire talent–approximately 96% use LinkedIn–it’s also known that they are using social media to “dig up dirt.” So make sure your online presence is clean, that there are no photos of you sloppy drunk in Cancun, that you haven’t used Twitter to blast your previous boss. (If you type “Bob McIntosh” on Twitter, you’ll find my tweets, and I guarantee they are professional in nature.)
  8. Chillax. In the job search you’re so focused on getting your next job that you may come across as too focused and determined. Give yourself a break every once in a while. People can sense those who are desperate. Read my post on displaying emotional intelligence in the job search.
  9. Follow up. This can’t be stressed enough. When you say you’ll call or email someone or meet that person for coffee, make sure you follow through with your commitment. And be sure you’re on time by the minute. Being late leaves a negative first impression.
  10. Pay it forward. In the above scenario you demonstrate selflessness by offering the other person the chair. It so happened the recipient of the chair was someone on the interview team. Your act of paying it forward worked out nicely, as she appreciated your act of kindness.

The story of you meeting the VP of marketing at Starbucks and offering her the coveted seat ends well; she casts a heavy vote to hire you for the job of your dreams. You still don’t know what you did to earn her vote, but does it really matter as long as you consider being the say you are. The power of first impressions.

If you found this article helpful, please share it with others.

 

11 reasons why I share posts so often on LinkedIn

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Yesterday I tried really hard to refrain from posting more than one LinkedIn status update. This resolution lasted an hour before I gave in to my urges, like someone on a bad diet. I don’t know what it is about this habit of mine, where I update no less than five times a day.

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Daniel Newman an Adjunct Professor of Management at North Central College probably had me in mind when he posted Six Bad LinkedIn Habits That Must Be Broken on TheSavvyIntern.com.

I quote Daniel, “People don’t check LinkedIn nearly as often as Facebook or most other Social Networks for that matter. So I recommend that statuses are updated no more than once or twice a day.”

It’s not only Daniel’s suggestion that makes me examine my propensity to update. One of my colleagues told me I’m over the top and need an intervention, some kind of professional help he told me. So to validate why I update no less than five times a day, I came up with 11 reasons.

Visibility. I reason that to be relevant on LinkedIn one must update. But how visible is too much? When people tell me they see me a lot on LinkedIn, are they just being nice and really thinking they see me too much on LinkedIn?

It’s fun. I can hear the guffaws from the peanut gallery, those who can’t think of what to update to save their life. Believe it or not, I enjoy writing and sharing articles.

It keeps me from having to watch crappy television shows. Weighing watching The Bachelor against scanning my home page or Pulse for articles to comment on. Well, I’ll take the latter any day of the week.

It’s ideal for introverts. Here you go again, Bob, talking about introverts. I personally believe that updating on LinkedIn is an ideal way for introverts to communicate their thoughts. (Read 6 reasons why introverts prefer to write to understand what I’m talking about.)

I’m competitive. Or somewhat narcissistic if you like. Maybe subconsciously I enjoy receiving “Likes” or, better yet, comments on what I post. It gives me a feeling of being on the screen in Times Square.

I want to educate my followers. This is my pat answer to my aforementioned colleague and others who ask why it’s important to update at least once a day. Sharing articles…many times my own…what’s going on in my professional life, sage words of advice, etc, are intended to help my connections.

I’m addicted. This is perhaps my greatest fear. That I’m out of control and may need an intervention, as my colleague suggests. But like any addict, I can’t stop going to the strategically placed Share an Update box (now Start a Post) on my home page. It’s calling for me, “Bob, why aren’t you updating. It’s been an hour since your last one.” STOP, I yell. But then I give in.

I’m not as bad as some. I know this is a lame reason, almost an excuse, but some of my connections show up on my home page 10 times in a row. Do I remove them from my list of connections? No, I understand their addiction.

I use it as a teaching tool. During my LinkedIn workshops when my attendees are outraged by the idea of having to update at least once a day, I demonstrate how to share an update within three minutes.

To share is golden. I wrote a popular post about sharing others posts that are relevant to your connections. One of the best ways you can serve your connections is by sharing educational posts. I prefer to share my connections’ post before those published by popular publishers.

Okay, I’m an exhibitionist. I admit I like the attention that comes with updating and getting responses, positive and negative. I won’t go all Freudian and say this has something to do with my childhood, but I know I like to be seen.

So here you have the reasons why I update and feel it impossible to follow Daniel Newman’s suggestion to update (only) once a day. I hope that he’ll revise his article to say, “Update as much as you’d like.” But I don’t think that’s likely because in all honesty, I’m the perfect example of an update freak.

Photo: Flicker, Eva the Weaver

Do you play well with others? 5 approaches to take

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sandbox

You may remember your impressionable years when you played in a sandbox in the park with other children. Think about whether you joined the other kids who were playing together, or if you sat alone with your new, shiny shovel and bucket. If it was the latter, your parents probably worried if you would be aloof and have a hard time making friends.

How about at work? Do you join your colleagues or stay to yourself? While staying to yourself and burying your head in the work that needs to be done may seem like the correct way to work, you may be labeled by your coworkers as a loner, antisocial, or even a snob. This is not how you want to be seen.

Be social, join your colleagues for lunch

Where I work we have a staff room where most of the employees gather to eat together. There we talk about current events. Anything from sports; local or worldwide news; family; and, yes, politics. We touch base. Laugh. We try not to talk about work, but that is sometimes unavoidable.

Sometimes I would prefer to eat lunch at my desk, rather than trudge to the staff room, but I know it’s important to interact with my colleagues. I don’t need to stay the whole hour we’re allotted for lunch, so I may eat and leave in half an hour. In this way, I get in a few laughs and engage in enough banter to remind my colleagues that I’m part of the team.

Be willing to help others

You’re buried with an assignment or two. You’d like to close your office door, if you have one, or retreat to another part of the building. How am I going to get all this work done, you wonder? One of your colleagues needs you to help her with a customer. You, after all, are the only expert in this area.

You have the option to tell your colleague that “there’s no way I can help you. I’ve got my own work to do.” But here’s the thing: when you’re working as a team, you don’t only have your own work. You are contributing to the overall goal of the company, and your work is merely a piece.

Am I suggesting you drop what you’re doing immediately all the time? No. There will be times when helping others can wait an hour, day, or even a week. This is when your ability to prioritize is important. One of my colleagues asked me if I could help his customer with a résumé. I told him I could in a few days. He and his customer were very grateful.

Deal effectively with conflict

For some reason a colleague has it in for you. You’re not sure why, but it’s obvious that there’s a conflict. You can ignore your colleague, react with anger, or take the high road and make an attempt to resolve it.

I recall a time when I didn’t make an effort to resolve a conflict between a colleague and myself. At first I was angry and willing to ignore her. Then I had a sense of uneasiness. Finally I was resigned to not speak with her at all. This went on for close to six months. To say I didn’t handle this well is untrue.

Another time I had a dispute with a colleague, but instead of letting it fester, I addressed it that day. “We should talk,” I told him. “I’d like that,” he said. I told him why I reacted with anger for what he had done. He explained how he misunderstood a procedure set in place. Wanting to be the bigger person, I apologized for my actions. Was I right or wrong? It didn’t matter. The very next day we were talking as if the incident never occurred.

I call one of my colleagues the peacekeeper, because when I tell him I’m disappointed with the behavior of another colleague, he’ll remind me that I need to let some things go. And  he’s right; there are some issues that aren’t worth addressing. Some battles not worth fighting.

Accept others’ failures

Are you always right? Do you perform your duties without failure? Are you perfect? The answer to these questions is probably, “NO.” And if this is true, you’re not alone; no one is flawless. So why should you expect those you work with to be without flaws?

You will come across a boss who expects you to hand in perfect work. He may demand that you take on more work than humanly possible. In other words, he may be unrealistic in his expectations. Good bosses understand that their charges will commit errors, and occasionally will let them pass.

Don’t be too proud

There’s a reason why Pride is considered one of the most severe of the seven deadly sins. Of course a little pride is important, but when you feel you own every project or assignment and won’t let others contribute, you jeopardize the success of the team.

Have you ever felt that you were the only person who should be the leader of a project? I know the feeling. There was a project that I fought my boss to control to no avail. I realized I had to give up the project and let others contribute. I was proud and wanted the project for myself. I was that kid in the sandbox who wouldn’t share my shinny bucket and shovel.

Letting go of your pride may be difficult at first, but when you understand how important it is to let others contribute, so they can gain experience; you’ll see the bigger picture. This truly shows emotional intelligence (EQ). In addition, ask yourself if what you’re doing is necessarily right or the only way to do it.

What I’ve talked about in this post is the ability to get along with your colleagues and boss. Over and over I’ve spoken with job seekers who have lost their job due to personal conflict with the people with whom they work. Employers value more than ever the “soft” skill referred to interpersonal. Your ability to interact with your colleagues will take you places. Unable to work with others may lead you to talking with me…and I don’t want that.

Photo: Flickr, Maggie