Moving the Energy (by guest contributor Jamie Craw)

Today's topic is MOVING THE ENERGY, brought to you by guest contributor Jamie Craw.

As someone whose profession it is to find the match between candidate and opportunity on behalf of others, I believe I am the different side of the same coin as a job seeker. As someone who has spent the better part of her career speaking with job seekers, candidates, and persons in transition, I feel we are a kindred spirit and I identify wholeheartedly with the plight, the frustration, and pure joy of the rollercoaster of job searching and finally finding the perfect fit. So what advice can I impart to you that will get you a job? The answer may surprise you.

There is very little we can control when we are looking for a job, and same as in life, the only thing we have any power over is ourselves. You may think this is not the time to pursue your creative side, but I wholeheartedly disagree. Now is the time to do all the things you said you had to wait for, the things you have put off because you don’t have enough time, or you should be looking for a job. NOW! Now is the time to move your energy around, block out the naysayers, and sign up for a painting class or take a road trip or strike a yoga pose.

The thing is, we are all a ball of energy, and sometimes our energy gets stuck. It may be so deep inside of us, a passion we have been putting off for so long, that it has made an impasse in the very depths of our psyche. And somehow, it is manifesting itself as being stuck in your job search and you don’t know where to go.

The biggest disservice we do to ourselves is to deny our creativity. It is only when the energy starts to flow and when you try something new that the paths of your career and life start to open up infinitely. If you’ve been feeling a big move or change is needed, now is the time to make it. If you are tired of the view outside your window, now is the time to change it. Change is good, it is healthy and it is imperative for growth.

You may find that taking a class opens the door to meeting your future boss  or the contemplation during yoga opens your mind to new possibilities and a road trip might unveil your dream home and the perfect job around the corner. You don’t know until you try and you will answer all of your questions if you stop thinking about all that you can’t do, or are limited by, and start pursuing your dreams, one by one. I believe your career is holistic and a reflection of your whole being. When you are fulfilling your personal goals, your professional ones are sure to follow.

-Jamie Craw (guest contributor)

The Art of the Job Search (What's your process?)

What’s your job search process?

As an HR leader, I occasionally get the opportunity to review corporate recruiting processes to ensure that we are being as efficient as possible while also being compliant with employment laws, etc.  As I’m currently going through this again in my position, I thought to myself “What about the process for job seekers?”.  So many people go blindly looking for a job that they forget to put together a map and a process for finding a job. 

There’s an art to finding a job, and having a process mapped out will help you immensely!  Here are a few suggestions to get you started...

Take a Personal Inventory
You’ve got to take some time to reflect on your skills and your career ambitions so you will be able to align them with your job search.  For me, I would have to take into account that I want a position that allows me to work with people.  I would also make note that I would want to work in an organization that offers me unlimited room for career growth.  When you are taking inventory, you should consider your values, your interests and your skills.  Then be ready to discuss these with potential employers.  You should also put together interview questions that you are able and ready to ask employers that will help you determine if the organization and the position you are interviewing for is a good fit for you. 

Involve Others
Next, you MUST have a support network.  The people in your life are invaluable to you when it comes to career search and networking.  Talk to your friends, your family, coworkers, coworkers from previous jobs, the teller at your bank, the ladies in your bridge club, etc..  Never underestimate the power of networking and letting your network know what you’re up to!  I personally have kept in touch with most people I’ve worked with over the years.  You never know when they may be able to help you out. 

Organize Yourself
 If you’re not organized, you need to be.  Looking for a job can be overwhelming.  It can be disastrous and futile if you don’t keep track of what you’re doing.  Get a binder, make an Excel spreadsheet, whatever it takes.  Keep track of who is in your network, where they work, who they know, what your activity with them has been to date, etc.. Follow up with them regularly.  Things change all the time.  Make sure you’re keeping up with your network.
 
Stay Upbeat NO MATTER WHAT!
Make a commitment to yourself early on (or better yet, do it right now!) that you will stay true to yourself in the process and ALWAYS stay positive.  If you get turned down for a position, don’t take it personally.  Learn something from it.  Thank them anyway!  I can’t tell you how many times a candidate I’ve interviewed didn’t get the job initially.  But they were thoughtful enough to thank me for my time.  When things didn’t work out with the candidate we were going to hire, you better believe I knew exactly who I was going to bring back in for consideration!  Be yourself, and do whatever it takes to stay positive!

Until next time, keep on keeping on!  Your dream job might be right around the corner!

Whiny Job Seekers and Shy Networkers--WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND HERE?

Have you ever heard “It’s not WHAT you know, it’s WHO you know.” or “It’s all about networking.”?  I recently overheard an acquaintance of mine (well, more like I saw them broadcasting the news across Facebook…Gotta love that!) whining about not being able to find a job.  He was frustrated because he felt that he just didn’t know the right people to get a foot in the door somewhere…anywhere.  He had been applying for jobs online for months, scouring Monster and Careerbuilder and other job sites looking for a job to no avail.

I know I’ve told you all before, but I have never been hired for any position by applying to it online or sending in my resume.  And yet, I seem to always have a job…and they’ve always been pretty darn good jobs!  “How is that possible?” you might be thinking.   The truth is… (drum roll please) I just love to connect with people, and I do my best to make sure they remember me, and I try to stay in touch with my contacts over the years, and I try my best to be a positive person, and…the list goes on and on.

What about those of you who aren’t so eager to meet others?  How can you become a better networker if you’re a little intimidated or shy?  Here are a few things to keep in mind.

1.       Get over yourself!   Yes, I said it.  Lots of us are introverts naturally, but we know that in order to get ahead we have to wear our “extrovert” hat occasionally.  Pretend like you’re not shy…like you’re an actor playing a part.  Don’t be fake, and don’t try to be the life of the party when you’re not.  But ACT like an outgoing person would act.  You’ll be surprised at how far this will get you.  AND it will ease your nerves in the meantime.

2.       Introverts make the best networkers (TRUST ME) because they are excellent listeners.  Cherish your listening skills and listen to others genuinely.  While the “type A” folks are busy jacking their jaws about themselves, you will be getting ahead of the curve by learning invaluable information about those you’re networking with.  Listening is powerful.

3.       Be prepared.  Bring your business cards, a pen, something to write on.  Make sure your teeth are flossed, that your breath isn’t atrocious and that you’re presentable.  Wear clothes that are appropriate for the situation but also COMFORTABLE.  I can’t tell you how annoying it is to be in a professional or networking situation and be in clothes that don’t feel right.  UGH! 

4.       Know why you’re there.  Have a goal, whether it’s to meet 3 new people or to find someone there who works at one of your target companies or to find out more details about the latest development in your industry.  Don’t leave until you’ve met the goal.

5.       Lastly, KEEP IT UPBEAT!  This means SMILE big and often.  In no circumstances should you complain or come across whiny.    NO MATTER HOW DESPERATE YOU ARE, don’t let ‘em see you sweat!  Networking events usually don’t last too long.  Get in, accomplish your goals (your reasons for being there) and get out.

Until next time, I challenge you to meet someone new who has the connections to improve your world this week…be it professionally, personally, spiritually, whatever.  Make it your mission to connect with someone new who may be the missing link to your network.  You’ll be amazed how easy it is, and you’ll be thrilled with the results that come your way once you start networking like a PRO!

Cheers!

Radio Show-Discussion around CANDIDATE EXPERIENCE!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/viewsfromthetop/2011/08/26/im-a-person-not-an-application

This was a radio show I recently participated in about the candidate experience.  It's a little long, but there is some great information from a panel of guests in the recruiting industry.

Getting Hired in today's economy

How can you stand out among so many candidates?

People ask me all the time “How can I stand out as a candidate when there are SO MANY people going after the same position?”.  I can tell you that here in Atlanta (or most major metropolitan areas of the country), if I post a position on any of the job boards or Craigslist for an Administrative Assistant or similar position, I can count on having 500+ resumes in a matter of 24 hours.  That is A LOT of resumes!  So standing out among the crowd is CRITICAL to getting hired in today’s economy.

So, what can you do?  Well, you already know I believe that networking is the BEST, if not the ONLY, way to get your new job.  I personally have never EVER been hired for a position that I applied for.  So, what do I know about getting hired in today’s economy, you might be thinking… WELL, I've only ever found positions by networking and most recently on LinkedIn and Facebook…just by paying attention to my network.  It really works!!!

BUT if you’re newer to a community, or if you have a hard time networking, there are a couple other things I recommend you do to ensure you stay at the top of that pile of 500+ resumes.

1.    Be Prepared.  Do you know what a SWOT Analysis is?  If not, you should!  Here’s a link to some SWOT templates. http://www.businessballs.com/swotanalysisfreetemplate.htm You need to be prepared.  Do a SWOT analysis on yourself.  Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is critical to knowing yourself.  Do a SWOT analysis on the company you are interested in.  Showing the company that you have prepared for your meeting with them by researching the company and understanding their strengths, weaknesses, etc… will make you STAND OUT in the crowd for sure!

2.    30/60/90 Day Planning.  One of the best books I’ve read is “The First 90 Days”.  It talks about how you prepare for stepping into a new role.  Put together an idea of what you plan on accomplishing in these first 90 days in your new position.  Again, this shows solid forethought and consideration for the company….rather than just wanting a “job”, you come across as a thought leader who will more likely have a good impact on the organization you are applying to.

3.    “Kudos” Book.  Keep every single “attaboy” email or note you get from your boss, your coworkers, your peers.  Get recommendation and endorsements on LinkedIn.  Make a folder of these “kudos” and keep them handy.  This does two things:

-Makes you remember that you’re good enough, you’re smart enough, and doggone it!  People like you!  Keep yourself reminded of your value every day!

-It also can serve as a recommendation when meeting with employers.  If you go to a LinkedIn profile that has 0 recommendations and compare it to another that has dozens of recommendations, which one do you think the employer is more likely to call?  Believe me, we check out your LinkedIn and Facebook profiles.  You can stand out for the good or for the bad.  It’s your choice.

4.    THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.  If you get a response telling you that they gave the job to someone else, thank them.  If you get an interview, thank them.  Handwritten notes are the best, but email is fine too (and much faster).  Whatever you do, EVEN IF YOU IGNORE EVERYTHING I’VE JUST TOLD YOU, Always remember to say THANK YOU!  It is the single most effective thing you can do in the process.

Add these to your repertoire and you are guaranteed to fare better in the job search process! 

Until next time, keep on keeping on!!

Don't bother submitting a cover letter without these 6 things!

I get questions from candidates all the time about cover letters.  Whether or not you use a cover letter depends on the situation and is entirely up to you.  In many cases, it is not necessary.  But often an employer may request one.  I personally use a cover letter whenever possible.  Either way, it’s a personal decision.  If you are going to use a cover letter, there are a few things you need to make sure you are mindful of:

6 Steps to a Powerful Cover Letter

1. Address it to a person (you know, with their name on it!).  Do YOU like getting mail addressed to “Current Resident”?  The same is true for whoever is on the other end of that submit button.  Make it personal!  If it’s not readily available, call the company, Google them, or do a LinkedIn search.  At least try to find who you’re sending it to.

2. Make sure you grab their attention in the first paragraph and show confidence…but not arrogance.   

3. Focus on your key accomplishments, NOT your job duties!

4. Keep it to less than a page.  Recruiters and hiring managers don’t want to read a book about you.  They want sound bites that spark their interest and “WOW” them!

5. Always include your Unique Selling Proposition

6. Include a “Call to Action”.  Make sure you ask for the interview.  It’s the old sales adage “ABC” Always be closing, and always be selling.  You’re up against too many candidates to leave an open ended letter on the table.

While these are all important, the two that seem to give people the most trouble are the KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS and the UNIQUE SELLING PROPOSITION.  Key accomplishments are a mystery for so many, and I’ve never quite figured out why.  No one else in the world knows what yours are.  So, it’s totally up to you to remember what you’ve accomplished.  Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you’re having difficulty coming up with your examples.

Key Accomplishments

• How have you done your job better than others in your department?
• Did you take on any special projects?  What was the outcome?
• Did you go above and beyond?
• Did you have higher sales numbers than the next guy?
• Did you find a way to save the company money?
• Did you get promoted often? 
• Did you win any awards, such as Employee of the Month?
• Quantify and Qualify. Numbers matter!  Include things such as:
• Increased sales by 30% in FY11
• Led a team of 12 Client Service Reps
• Reduced company expenses by 12%

By answering these questions and recalling what you’ve done, you should be able to come up with some key accomplishments.  Believe me- it can make a huge difference!  By adding a couple of these to your cover letter (and hopefully some of them in your resume as well) you will also be subliminally adding them to your subconscious…. So the next time you get asked “Tell me about your accomplishments.”, you won’t be caught off guard. 

Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

I’m a marketing professional who just happens to be in the recruiting industry.  So let me share this marketing term with you.  A Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is an advertising term that translates nicely into the job search.  It is the one thing that makes a product (or in this case, you and your resume) different from any other.  What is something that makes you unique?  What makes you stand out above all the rest of the candidate competition?  What do you bring to the table that no one else does?   When you determine your USP and build it into your strong cover letter, you will immediately have a tangible advantage over the competition.  For example, mine might be something like this:

“Because of my unique combination of experience in the fields of marketing and human resources, I am able to truly uncover hidden talent and attract them to my organization.  Because of this, my company saves time, money and ultimately hires better employees”

So there you have it!  Remember these tips the next time you create a cover letter, and you will be far more likely to get a call back.  Like an actor who gets a casting call, the show must go on.  Will you be ready to take the stage?

Until next time, continued success to you in your career journey! 

Why are some people more successful than others?

What makes some people more successful (in their job search or just in general) than others?  In all my years of recruiting, I have consistently seen the following traits show up in each and every successful person.  I call it the CPA (Clarity, Perspective, Accountability) approach to reaching your dreams.  Take a look and imagine what an impact it will make when you implement these into your job search...or in your daily life.

First you’ve got to have CLARITY.  Being goal oriented and future focused about what you want is the single most effective thing you can do when it comes to reaching your goals or finding your dream job.  How many people do you know who carry around dreams for most of their lives without ever realizing them?  Sadly, that is a lot of people in this world.  There would be nothing sadder than being at the end of your life and realizing how many dreams you left on the table.  And for what?  Understand what you want (also known as your values), align your actions to your values, and set yourself a deadline. 

A little PERSPECTIVE goes a long ways.  Put your ideas on paper, align them with dates into your calendar or in your diary, state your goals out loud as often as you can.  Stating your intention and your goals out loud causes your subconscious to start accepting them as truth, and the added value of bringing ideas from your subconscious mind into your conscious mind can be tremendous.  Be realistic about where you are, what your strengths are, what your areas of opportunity (also known as weaknesses, but I detest that word) are, and be realistic about where you want to go.  Understand that the economy or your boss or your spouse are outside of your control.  Realize that you and only you are responsible for whether you reach your goals.

Make yourself ACCOUNTABLE to someone else.  Have you ever had a dream or ambition to do something that you kept to yourself and never ended up getting it done?  Or maybe you just procrastinated a bit?  Don’t worry.  We’ve all done this.  The thing is, though, when you make yourself accountable to someone else in the process, you are stating aloud your intentions and this is HUGE!  Accountability will help keep you on track, and this accountability with another person automatically energizes your thought process and may even open up a whole new realm of dreams and possibilities.  (I personally work with a life coach to keep me accountable on some of my personal dreams and projects.  He's AWESOME!  Bob Kiser Coaching.  http://www.bobkisercoaching.com/)

Are you stuck in a rut in your career or in your job search?  Are you lugging around an unfulfilled dream that’s just collecting dust and rusting away in the back of your mind?  Pick one area you want to work on (finding a job, getting promoted, improving your relationships, learning a new language, etc..) and apply the CPA to it.  I bet you’ll be happy (and definitely more accomplished) in no time at all!

Until next time, continued career success your way!