Blog | The Write Solution

What’s your perspective?

24 January 2011, 1:39 pm

I recently reviewed a resume for a potential client. He had written it himself and hadn’t done too badly. It was well-constructed, contained quantifiable, qualifiable examples of his accomplishments and had a pleasing aesthetic. But something was missing in his presentation. He wrote from the “I know it, so everyone else must know it” perspective.

One of his bullets read: (Edited to protect confidentiality)

Converted organization to include production capabilities with {name of specific software}

Sounds like a “good” resume bullet, right? However, by assuming “everyone” would understand what “converting the organization” entailed, he missed a perfect opportunity to tell his story and differentiate his unique skill set. He was trying to break out of his current industry, yet mentioned software by name, rather than function. Most likely, only individuals in his current industry would recognize the software and its significance. He left his “non-industry target audience” wondering what the software did and, more importantly, what it meant mean for them and their company. Without telling the organizational conversion story, he buried his skills. He expected the reader to somehow “magically” know what skills his sentence was trying to convey.

Unfortunately using such a myopic approach to the presentation of skills undersells the job seeker and leaves lots of “saleable” information uncovered and unstated. Use an “If I don’t tell them; they won’t know” perspective instead. And please, that’s not carte blanche to tell absolutely everything. Focus on your audience. Target your skills to respond to their needs. Differentiate your talents – boldly and unequivocally.

I frequently use this line in response to the “Why isn’t my resume working?” question.

“Flopping duties on a sheet of paper and hoping a hiring authority will extrapolate accomplishments and figure out where you fit in the organization doesn’t work.”

It is not up to the hiring authority to figure out where you fit; it is up to you to tell them. Adjust your perspective to that of the reader when crafting your resume and be sure to incorporate that approach in everything search related – written, verbal and everything in between. Sometimes, a slight change in approach nets substantial results.

Filed under Resumes. Tagged Attitude, Communication, Job Search, LinkedIn, perspective

5 Comments

Everything old is new again

3 January 2011, 4:41 pm

Career Collective post: Once a month, a group of career professionals blog on a subject topical and timely for a job seeker. We’ll post our thoughts on our own blog and link to the post of our colleagues on the same topic.

This month’s topic: Things job seekers should keep an eye on in 2011 (trends/tools/hiring practices)

Responses from others contributors linked at the end. Follow the hashtag #CareerCollective on Twitter.

A few weeks ago on Twitter, Kim Woodbridge (@KWBridge on Twitter and my brilliant WordPress support person) tweeted this user-name-availability site. I follow Kim on Twitter not only because she has a wicked sense of humor, but also because she’s a great resource for all things web. When I followed the link, I thought I’d find perhaps 20-30 sites. Instead I found four columns listing 37 sites each for a grand total of 148 potential places to interact with other online.

I was astounded. This list, while certainly extensive, doesn’t even touch on the thousands of interaction opportunities in smaller niched communities. We do love our social media.

I did a quick calculation. Taking 10 minutes to put up a profile on each on the 148 sites listed would take almost 25 hours. Of course, a user probably wouldn’t sign up for all those sites, but you can see how easily online networking can become a major focus just from the sheer enormity of opportunities.

True. A positive online presence serves you well in a job search and a career. And well-managed time invested in building an online network is worth it. However, the depth and breadth of long-term relationships and solid professional networks comes from layering in one-on-one personal interactions and multiple communication methods.

Networking into a new position certainly isn’t a new trend for 2011, but certainly is one to be watched and used. With all the new tools and resources emerging via social media, it’s important to remember to mix up methods. Pick up the phone and call. Send an unexpected email. Or perhaps, dash off the occasional, snail-mailed, hand-written note.

In today’s job market your network, your mentors and your skills must be portable as you shape your career. Give to, care for and keep your network robust so it’s there when you need it for support.

I won’t tell you how to network in this post. I’ve written on that topic several times before and Googling brings back literally millions of articles covering that topic. Networking is about building relationships and helping each other (AKA: friendship.)

I will tell you how memorable (and fun) it is to answer the phone and have someone I met online or haven’t heard from in ages on the other end. Bottom line: If all the “kids” are bonding virtually, be sure to set yourself apart with some old-fashioned telephone conversations and friendly emails. This market is all about differentiation.

Here’s what my colleagues have to say:

Social Media Recruiting to Grow Further in 2011, @debrawheatman

Another Year, Another Job Search Begins, @GayleHoward

In 2011, Increase Your Prospects With Better Differentiation, @WalterAkana

4 Lessons Learned From Job Search in 2010, @Careersherpa

Your Career Action Plan for the New Year, @KatCareerGal

Trends Job Seekers Should Look For in 2011, @erinkennedycprw

Things Every Job Seeker Should be Thinking About in 2011, @expatcoachmegan

Let your presence be known or send out a red flag, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes

How to find a job in 2011: Pay attention to emotional intelligence, @Keppie_Careers

2011 Employment Trends Supercharged with Twitter, @KCCareerCoach

3 Traits for Facing Weather, Employment and Chronic Illness, @WorkWithIllness

Everything old is new again @DawnBugni

Career Trend 2011: Accountability + Possibility = Sustainability, @ValueIntoWords

Career Tools to Check Out in 2011, @barbarasafani

What Was in 2010, What To Expect in 2011, @chandlee

The Future of Job Search: 3 Predictions and 2 Wishes, @JobHuntOrg

Filed under Career Collective, Networking. Tagged Barbara Safani, Career Collective, Chandlee Bryan, Communication, Dawn Bugni, Debra Wheatman, Erin Kennedy, Gayle Howard, Hannah Morgan, Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, Job Search, Katharine Hansen, LinkedIn, Martin Buckland, Meg Montford, Megan Fitzgerald, Miriam Salpeter, Networking, Rosalind Joffe, Susan Joyce, Walter Akana

33 Comments

Assumptions, gifts and a dog named Louie

17 December 2010, 7:15 am

Louie

I received a package in the mail a day or so ago. The return address read “Send Out Cards.” Several months ago I received a similar package. That package came from local entrepreneur, Bruce Brown. Bruce and his wife Marge own Fat City Cards, independent distributors of Send Out Cards. I moved to the “natural” assumption this was more of Bruce’s wonderfulness.

Since I “knew” they were brownies and I “knew” they were Christmas greetings from Bruce, I opted not to open the package immediately. (These brownies are GOOD. I have no self control. :)).

Yesterday morning, Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter (fellow career professional and dear friend) and I scheduled a catch-up call. We’ve learned, when we start sharing industry information, business tips and girlfriend stuff, we need to block out some serious time. With both our busy practices, it’s a rare and wonderful treat and a two hour phone conversation is not unusual.

After we hung up, I had a little time before a client appointment. The box on the counter beckoned. I opened “Bruce’s brownies” and found the most wonderful card. It started:

Hi Dawn (and Gary!),

And I thought, how wonderful of Bruce to remember my husband’s name. They’d only met once that I could recall. The card went on …

… so happy to have met you online and in-real-life.

I’d met Bruce in-real-life at a local bloggers meeting. We were friends on Facebook, followed each other on Twitter, so this sentence made perfect sense.

Next came,

A spirited, special and spectacular Christmas (*alliteration smile*)

I’m a writer, so thought how sweet of Bruce to personalize the card that level – personalizing it to my profession and passion with my favorite thing alliteration. Gee. Did he put this much time into every card he sent? Wow. I knew he was a dynamo, but goodness that was a lot of work.

It went on to mention “your furry children” and “thoughts to your ‘children’ who have moved on to their pet ‘kingdom'”

Bruce knew I am a dog lover and have several (OK, lots of) companion animals. I’d tweeted about losses; and again I thought how wonderfully detailed.

It was signed,
Jacqui

I thought, gee, that’s funny, Bruce’s wife’s name is Marge.

Rob

Hmmmm. Rob must be someone that works with them.

And Louie (arf arf)

Only then. ONLY then, after reading Louie’s name did the fog clear. This wasn’t from Bruce at all. I’d just spent two hours on the phone with the sender and didn’t even acknowledge the package or the thoughtfulness.

I cracked up at my complete and utter bewilderment as to the origin of the box. Laughing, I dialed Jacqui’s number to THANK HER profusely and apologize for my oversight. As I told her the entire hilarious story, I commented, as any good writer would, there’s a blog post in here somewhere. Know what? There is:

Conclusions:
1. Bruce Brown has an incredible presence and has properly distinguished his affiliation with Send Out cards. Imagine if you were an engineer or purchasing manager, and the only one who came to mind as a leader in your industry was you. Ask Bruce. It takes time, effort and commitment to build that strong a reputation; but look at the power of his reach. He was credited with a gift he didn’t send by virtue of his association of Send Out Cards for two full days. (And it was something Bruce would do. He’s thoughtful like that.)

2. Reader perception “pays the bills.” I was so completely and thoroughly convinced of this package’s origin, I completely rationalized facts to meet my personal belief. The fact that Jacqui and I frequently share alliteration phrases in the Twitter stream and in our correspondence completely escaped me. For goodness sake, the fact that Jacqui signed her and Rob’s name escaped me.

I frequently tell clients, you have to take the reader by the hand and escort them down your career path. Left to their own device, you never know what conclusion they will draw. If you’re an administrative assistant with managerial aspirations set the tone from the beginning of your resume. Walk the reader down the path as a manager, taking them where you want to go; not where you have been. I proved the power of reader belief when left to my own device with this story.

3. Jacqui commented how it took an animal connection to grab my attention. Her reference to my husband, alliteration, my “fur children”, AND finally, signing her and Rob’s names weren’t enough to break my perception of fact. It took Louie’s name at the end of the card before triggering the connection. I glanced (10-15 seconds) at the package and drew my own conclusions before even scratching the surface. Sound familiar?

You don’t know what brings that (subjective) connection for the reader. Jacqui sent a gift she KNEW I would like and filled this beautiful note with references that “should” have revealed the sender almost immediately. Each one flew past me. A generic, non-differentiating return address (like a generic, non-differentiating introduction on a resume) helped me travel down the wrong path. Once there, it took a while to get back on the correct one, even with exquisite detail and multiple connecting items. Make career documents rich and robust and full of attention-grabbing details. Then if your reader strays, you’ll be sure to have a “Louie” bringing to them back.

Thank goodness for Louie. Otherwise Bruce would have been getting a thank you note and wondering, “Who are Jacqui and Rob and why does Dawn want to know when I hired them?”

Filed under Communicaton. Tagged Communication, LinkedIn, perception, resume content, Resumes

10 Comments

It’s all a matter of perspective

9 December 2010, 2:38 pm

A portion of our daily walk

I walk with my neighbor, Brenda, four to six times a week. Last week she was out of town. Unfortunately, my motivation went with her and we both ended up on a brief “no walk” sabbatical. This week, determined to re-launch our partnership, we met at our normal 8:30 a.m. time. Before she left we’d enjoyed temps in the 60s and 70s – in November. This week, a cold front moved in and temps were in the teens, low twenties. {It’s nice folks to the north like to share cold fronts with Southern states, but stop it. Please. 🙂 } Brrrrr. Not only did we have to jump start our motivation; we had to bundle up to do it. Again. Brrrrr. Once we got going, of course, we warmed up – she has a quick step for a 65-year-old!

This morning, like most mornings, I spent a little time on Twitter before our walk. While there, Erin Kennedy’s @ErinKennedyCPRW retweet of Michelle J. Iseman’s @QueenSchmooze weather report floated by in the stream:

Erin said:
“Yuck. I thought our 7 degrees here was c-c-cold. RT @QueenSchmooze: Cold now -22C in Ottawa”

I added:
“Whoa! No complaints a/b 27º now. RT @ErinKennedyCPRW: Thought our 7º here was c-c-cold. RT QueenSchmooze: Cold now -22C in Ottawa”

See how Erin’s and my view changed because Michelle shared her morning reality. The thought of Ottawa’s MINUS 22ºC (-7F) made Erin’s Michigan 7º less daunting and my North Carolina 27º downright balmy. About a quarter of the way into our walk, I took off my gloves. Half-way through my hat came off and I unzipped my jacket just a bit. I know it sounds crazy, but viewing 27º against temps of -22C (-7F) and even 7º changed my entire perception of the morning. It wasn’t “freezing” as I told myself every other morning this week. It was now tolerable and we were fortunate not to have the true freezing temperatures that would have prevented our enjoyably morning constitutional.

I’m grateful for my perception reminder this morning. Hopefully it’ll help the next time you’re feeling defeated by a difficult task or you think you can’t do another job search-related thing. It really is all a matter of perspective. I proved it to myself yet again: The battle of the day is won in the mind.

Filed under Attitude. Tagged Attitude, Career Advice, LinkedIn, perception, perspective

3 Comments

Do you think they’ll notice?

29 November 2010, 11:11 pm

My husband shaved off his mustache last Wednesday. It took me seeing him twice that morning before I noticed it. The last time he made this dramatic change to his face, he finally pointed it out to me … the following day.

Since he’d been on Thanksgiving break, today was his first day back to work. I called him about three hours after his starting time to see if anyone noticed. He replied, “Only one person so far.” He works at a high school so by this time he’d literally seen hundreds of people. (Yay. I’m not such a bad wife after all!)

I used to work with a man who grew a full beard every winter. He shaved it off every spring. It always took me a little while to realize when he shaved … and this was an annual event.

I stopped coloring my hair about two or three years ago. Last month, I decided to start coloring it again. (Who knows why we girls do what we do.) I went from salt-and-pepper, with MUCH more salt than pepper, to dark brown with blond highlights. (I look like my website and FB photos and Twitter avatar again.)

I walk with my neighbor four or five mornings a week. We’ve been walking together regularly since January. It took her three days to notice I’d changed my hair. I finally pointed out the change to my other neighbor after seeing her four times that week. And I didn’t notice a few months earlier when she changed her hair color either. We’ve known each other for 15+ years. Since my hair change, I’ve been to two events with people I see fairly regularly. Again, no one noticed. (Or at least they didn’t say anything.)

So what could this possibly have to do with job search and your career??? Why did I share these stories of complete and total obliviousness with you? Think about it. If I didn’t notice a major change in the man I’ve lived with for the past 12 years and the rest of the changes listed above went unnoticed, what makes you think a complete stranger or professional associate will notice anything about you without some help from you? I know. That sounds pretty harsh, but it illustrate the importance of tooting your own horn when job searching and reminding superiors of your accomplishments as you move through your career.

Don’t assume people know the skills associated with “opening and closing the store.” Tell them. Don’t count on your boss to remember the major project you spearheaded six months ago. Remind him as it nears review time. Don’t conclude because you didn’t get a call when applying for a position “they” hate you. Follow-up. (“They” are probably so overwhelmed with the craziness of their own day; they have yet to realize you’re even in their inbox yet.)

Face it. We’re all so wrapped in our own lives, we seldom notice things outside our immediate sphere. Be polite, but be bold in pointing out your wonderfulness. As you can see waiting for someone to notice isn’t going to work.

Filed under Communicaton. Tagged Career Advice, Communication, Job Search, LinkedIn

5 Comments

Oh no. Not the phone!

28 October 2010, 9:23 am

This month’s topic: How to avoid scary career/resume mistakes? How to ensure your resume/career “costume” fits you / attracts your target audience?

Responses from others contributors linked at the end. Follow the hashtag #CareerCollective on Twitter.

Photo by patrickcoe via Flickr

I’ve been “writing” this post in my head for months now. When I saw The Collective’s Halloween topic, I knew it was time to get it out of my head and on to my blog. (Gee I wish I had a USB port for that.)

The scariest thing I see people do in a job search and throughout their career is ignore offers of help from people with a smidge more knowledge than them about a specific topic. They ask questions, expecting “easy” no effort answers but when it requires {HORRORS} dialing the telephone, they disappear. Where do they go? What evil force sucks them into a land of no phone access bringing an inability to follow up and gather the information they so desperately needed before “THE PHONE” reared its ugly head?

Example One:
A young man on Twitter sent a public request to an HR follower and me asking for our impression of his LinkedIn page. I try to be gracious when I get requests like this from complete strangers. Depending on my workload / schedule, I’m not always able to help, but I do what can. I had a moment, so I looked at the page. It needed focus and a clearer presentation of value. Rather than attempting to give helpful feedback in 140-characters or multiple tweets, I sent him a Direct Message* (DM). I told him the profile could be improved and then offered to have a brief conversation with him to give more specific feedback. He sent back a surprised DM, “Really? You’d talk with me about this? Let me check my calendar and get back to you.”

~I never heard from him again.

(*For you non-Twitter people, a DM is a private message sent from one Twitter user to another.)

Example Two:
I got an email from a former client asking the best way to approach a specific company. She gave me minimal information. There were so many unknown variables, I didn’t want to answer the question without more detail. I sent her an email letting her know I needed a bit more information before I could give her a good answer. I told her to call me and we could “hatch a plan” together. I let her know my schedule for the next two days and said call at your convenience.

~I never heard from her again.

Example Three:
A follower on Twitter made me aware of one of their follower’s questions asking if they should let an employer know their salary expectations in the early stages of the interview process. The questioner was a recent college graduate. I replied to her inquiry (NOOO) and said I’d happily share some resources with her; give me a call. True, I didn’t give her my phone number outright, but a quick trip to my Twitter page and on to my website would yield that information in about 20 seconds.

~ I never heard from her.

I have plenty more examples of “spooky” disappearing questioners, but you get the point. I don’t understand why otherwise intelligent people freeze when it comes to picking up and dialing the telephone. Is having a conversation really that scary? I (absolutely) don’t know everything, but I do have wonderful career resources through professional organizations and an extensive Twitter community. Usually, if asked a question and I don’t know the answer, I know of a resource or can tap into my network and at least point the questioner in the right direction.

Originally, these people were hungry for information, but when it meant they had to do something other than type 140-characters on Twitter or click the send button on an email, they disappeared. No matter where you are in your career, given the opportunity to hear a fresh, new perspective, or garner insights from someone who might know, especially given a “free, no obligation, I just want to help” opportunity, JUMP on it. You don’t know what you don’t know until you follow through.

(Lest my phone start ringing off the hook, bear in mind this is my profession. I’ve grown accustomed to living indoors and eating regularly, so have to earn a living. I can’t always accommodate requests for free advice and don’t always time for “quick” calls to “pick my brain.” (Ewwww.) However, if I offer, it’s sincere and I’ll make the time. I’m sure other professionals operate the same way.)

Here’s what my colleagues have to say:

Where Are the Wild Things, Anyway?, @WorkWithIllness

Is Your Job Search Making You Feel Like a Smashed Pumpkin?, @DebraWheatman

Hiding in Plain Sight, @WalterAkana,

Don’t make these frightful resume mistakes, @LaurieBerenson

How Not to Be a Spooky Job Seeker, @heathermundell

A Tombstone Resume:Eulogizing Your Experience, @GayleHoward

The Top Ten Scary Things Job Seekers Do, @barbarasafani

Oh, Job Search Isn’t Like Trick or Treating?, @careersherpa

A Most Unfortunate Resume Mistake No One Will Tell You, @chandlee

Oh no. Not the phone!, @DawnBugni

Halloween Caution: Job Seeker Horror, @resumeservice

Boo! Are you scaring away opportunities or the competition? @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes

Your Career Brand: A Scary Trick or an Appealing Treat?, @KCCareerCoach

How to avoid mistakes on your resume, @Keppie_Careers

Sc-sc-scary Resume Mistakes, @erinkennedycprw

A Flawed Resume is a Scary Prospect, @KatCareerGal

Job Search Angst: Like Clouds Mounting Before a Storm, @ValueIntoWords

Does Your Career Costume Fit You?, @expatcoachmegan

Filed under Career Collective, Communicaton. Tagged Career Advice, Career Collective, Communication, Dawn Bugni, LinkedIn

20 Comments

Networking: It ain’t easy

25 October 2010, 8:13 pm

This past Saturday night I attended my 35-year high school reunion – Millbrook High School in Raleigh, NC. The organizers picked a wonderful venue, food was plentiful and we had a decent turnout. Considering, more than 25 years passed since I last attended a reunion this was going to be a true test of (an aging) memory and an opportunity to practice what I preach about networking.

Yes. That's my senior picture. BTW: Our class slogan was -- '75 don't take no jive.

Being an introvert, large crowds drain me (as evidenced by the two naps I took on Sunday), but I was determined to catch up with as many people as I could during the event. My darling husband assured me he’d be fine and encouraged me to go mingle. Being an extrovert, he was in his element. He’s never met a stranger so I sallied forth leaving him to make his way as I conquered my own apprehensions. Truth be told, I would have been fine hanging with him all night, but that defeated the purpose of going.

What I found is (like this is going to be a huge revelation) networking is difficult and takes effort, lots of effort – especially when starting with little common ground, other than a shared experience 35 years ago. When I go to local TweetUps, attendees have Twitter and a love of social media in common. When I went to the Career Management Alliance (CMA) conference earlier this year, participants shared a professional and a membership bond. When I manned volunteer booths for animal rescue organizations, it was easy to talk with complete strangers about animals. While each of these examples demonstrates networking opportunities, they come with an inherent commonality absent from a class reunion.

We are the Wildcats. The mighty, mighty Wildcats.

We have a wonderful alumni site for our class and many of us reconnected via Facebook in the past few years, but other than those few connections, we were all flying pretty much blind as to what we had in common any more. Armed with what I know about networking, I met my classmates with a firm handshake or a big hug and made a point of putting the focus on the person I was meeting.

It was interesting. Some people followed my lead and mirrored back the questions I was asking making for a nice exchange. Others launched into an autobiography, complete with pictures which was also fun. Others answered with a basic yes/ no responses making it like “pulling hen’s teeth” to keep the conversation going. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed every conversation and don’t share this to pick on any one approach. It was absolutely marvelous catching up – regardless the conversation style. But, I looked at things through a career professional’s eyes. I had the opportunity to experience unfamiliar networking waters first hand. After all, I “preach the gospel” of networking. I should dive into the deep end once in awhile too. And perhaps some of what I learned could help my clients and my blog readers.

You’d think in a room full of 50-somethings, with wonderful lives and stories to tell, there would be no trouble with small talk. And with all the information out there about meeting people and networking, at our age, we’d all know what to do. What I found was just the opposite. It’s uncomfortable in the incipient stage of the conversation – regardless age, background, accomplishments or in my case, networking knowledge. I was as nervous approaching people as I’m sure they were about approaching me. I kept the conversation rolling by asking about jobs, children, current location or was honest in sharing, “I really don’t remember you from high school anymore than you remember me, but isn’t this a great party?”

Once we’d broken the ice, things got easier. But those first tentative syllables were excruciating for the majority of us. Why do I share this story with you? To let you know it’s OK to be a bit apprehensive and uncomfortable when you’re out meeting a group of strangers. (I was, and I write about and coach clients in networking frequently.) And also to let you know, after the first few encounters, it does get easier and you will become braver. But, most importantly, I want to let you know, there are very few people out there who are gifted or even knowledgeable in the art of small talk. We’re all a bit intimidated by the prospect of approaching a stranger and striking up a conversation. You are not alone. Armed with a little networking knowledge you’ve already differentiated yourself from the rest crowd and can now help you put others at ease – a winning proposition for your next event.

I discovered a few other things on Saturday night too:

People you didn’t think would remember you, did.
People you thought (hoped?) would remember you, didn’t.
Things you did in high school you thought, at the time, were memorable, weren’t.
Things you did in high school and forgot were remembered.

Transitioning that information into a networking lesson: never underestimate the power of a simple gesture and don’t think you’re “all that” either. So get out there. Be interesting. Be interested. You never know what connection you’ll make, what memory will be stirred or what common ground you’ll uncover, just by extending your hand.

Filed under Networking. Tagged Communication, LinkedIn, Millbrook High School Reunion, Networking

11 Comments

Tap. Tap. Tap. Is this thing on?

11 October 2010, 11:13 am

My husband and I enjoy Mexican food. For those that partake of adult beverages, you know Mexican food goes wonderfully with Mexican beer – Dos Equis is my favorite; Corona my husband’s. The standard way to serve a Corona is with a slice of lime. “Everyone” drinks it that way. That is everyone but my hubs. He likes his Corona with lemon, and orders it that way. Do you know how many times (out of the last 10) the server brought his beer with lemon, as ordered? ZERO. It’s become a source of entertainment for us.

Server: Can I get you something to drink?
DH: Yes. I’d like a Corona with lemon please. That’s lemon. Not lime. Lemon. I know it’s unusual, but I like it with lemon.
Server: OK. I’ll bring that right out.

Moments pass. The Corona arrives … with a lime.

DH: I ordered this with lemon.
Server: Lemon? Oh yeah. That’s right. Let me go get you some lemon.
DH: Never mind. It’s already got the lime in it. Just make sure the next has a lemon.
Server: Absolutely. Sorry about that.

IF we order a second beer, we go through the same process … with about 50% delivery accuracy. Yesterday, after bringing his beer with lime our server remarked, “I get the yellow and the green ones confused.” (She was young and cute enough to get away with that excuse. LOL.) After we pointed out the difference, she went back and got a bowl of both fruits and let him pick the right one.

When I work with clients I coach them on how important it is to have focus during a search. I ask them to forward two to three job postings to help with that focus and ensure “we’re selling what the buyer is buying.” I’ve gotten anywhere from none – “Oh, I didn’t think you really needed that.” – to twelve, heading down four different career paths – “Oh, I thought you’d want to know everything.” I’m very direct when I request this information, yet it seems to fall on deaf ears (much like a request for lemon, not lime.)

“Send two or three posting indicative of your target. More is not better in this instance. It is important to have laser-sharp focus for a successful search. Don’t send a lot of posting heading down different career paths. We can use them if we’re going to do different versions, but to start; we’ve got to be tight in our approach. If you send a bunch of stuff and expect me to extrapolate your career direction, I’ll send you an hourly invoice for the time it takes to read everything.”

(That last sentence is always said with a smile, kidding and in a kind way. I want them to understand how important it is to be focused in their approach and sometimes bringing their wallet into the picture is what finally grabs attention. As you can read, even that doesn’t’ always work.)

When I recruited, I worked in the lighting industry. I recruited design engineers, sales people and engineering managers. These were not entry-level positions. The client was adamant about the number of year’s experience, in the lighting industry, they wanted for these important, sometimes high-profile positions. When I wrote the ads I put in all caps, bold:

“XX YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IN THE LIGHTING INDUSTRY A MUST. CANDIDATES NOT MEETING THESE CRITERIA WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. NO EXCEPTIONS.”

After I posted the ads, I had to plow through 300+ emails to find the two or three people who actually had the qualifications my client demanded. The rest of the “non-direction-followers” either went into the black hole of my database or fell victim to my aggressive delete button. My boss and I used to kid that people thought “lighting experience” meant they could flip a light switch.

(For those recruiters reading this and rolling their eyes about the “post and hope” approach to recruiting, save your breath … this is why I no longer recruit. 🙂 I now know why this doesn’t work – on either side of the search.)

So what do beer with lemons, job posting and the lighting industry have to do with a job search? Imagine you’re the hiring authority on the receiving end of career documents. You take the time to carefully outline requirements. You don’t pull any punches on what’s required to be considered for the position. You “should” be receiving only “qualified” responses to the ads. Instead, your inbox is full of documents from people who “know” they can do the job, but don’t take the time to demonstrate it. They flop job descriptions on a sheet of paper and expect the reader to extrapolate skills and how they fit into the organization. They cloud pertinent skills with lots of fluff adjectives and share every shred of detail about their career for the past 25 years in hopes something will grab the reader’s attention. Guess what? The reader’s eyes are glazed over as their finger hits the delete button. (The first pass read though of a stack of documents is for elimination, not inclusion.)

Now imagine you’re that same hiring authority receiving a focused document demonstrating the skills required for the position, succinctly outlining how the sender can help ease the company’s pain. Your heart skips a beat. FINALLY, someone listened. They heard what the company needed and took the time to deliver what was requested. The person may not be a slam-dunk for every single qualification listed, but they took the time to demonstrate they met 90%-95% of the requirements and even indicated how they could quickly be up to speed on the missing qualifications. Do you think that person will at least get a phone call? Most likely yes. (Not always. Sometimes the clutter of unqualified applicants causes qualified applicants to slip through the cracks …)

Evidently listening, comprehending and delivering what was requested is a dying art. Take a moment to demonstrate your ability to listen and you’ve differentiated yourself from the rest of the “spray and pray” job seekers out there.

If my darling husband ever gets a lemon with his Corona, you’ll hear us cheering from wherever in the world you are. And that server will be rewarded. Sometimes, it truly IS the little things that make the biggest difference.

Filed under Job Search. Tagged applications and submissions, Attitude, Career Advice, Company Research, Job Search, LinkedIn, Listening

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Should a pro write your resume

7 October 2010, 5:53 am

When Sharlyn Lauby, the HR Bartender, asked for input for a blog post she was writing to address a reader’s question about using a professional resume writer, I was happy to oblige. Good friends and resume writing colleagues Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter of Career Trend and Erin Kennedy of Professional Resume Services also contributed to the article.

Here’s the introduction to Sharlyn’s post:

A note from a reader asks:

“I’m unemployed and need advice. What’s your opinion on having a professional write your resume?”

Timing for this question couldn’t be better. Seth Godin (aka a marketing guy) just wrote about it. I figure when non-HR folks are talking about resume development, it’s a big deal. If you listen to Seth, he puts out a pretty compelling argument for having a pro write your resume (or business plan for that matter). You can check it out here.

I believe part of making the decision to have your resume written by the professional is understanding what they can do for you. So I’ve tapped into my network and asked three of the best professional resume writers to offer up their thoughts.

You can read the rest of the post here.

Thanks for the opportunity Sharlyn!

Filed under Guest Postings, Resumes. Tagged Erin Kennedy, HR Bartender, Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, Professional Resume Writer, Resumes, Seth Godin, Sharlyn Lauby

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Favorite resources for job seekers

27 September 2010, 3:15 pm

This month’s topic: Favorite resources for job seekers.

Responses from others contributors linked at the end. Follow the hashtag #CareerCollective on Twitter.

I love this month’s topic. By the time everyone has contributed their wisdom, we should have quite an impressive collection of information for job seekers at all points in their career. Bookmark one Career Collective post this month and you’ll have access to solid career site suggestions from career professionals from around the world. The best part of the project, you don’t have to conduct hours of searches and sift through countless links to get to the best job search and career information. It’s all compiled right here, through The Collective.

My contribution to favorite job search resources is an invitation to glance right. Yep. That’s right, look at my blog roll. I’ve assembled some of the top industry links and resources there already. I’m sure, after this post goes live, I’ll be adding to content to several sections.

In addition to my encouragement to look right, I want to expound on a few a few non-career-focused sites that can be useful during a search.

First is a site and service started by a good friend of mine, Gayle Tabor, @Goal_Coach on Twitter — Stay on Target. Even if she weren’t my friend, I’d read this blog. I love how she takes life lesson’s and spins them into something inspirational. And her follow-up service to help reach goals is marvelous. I recently engaged her help in working toward a personal goal of my own. She didn’t help me set the goal. She didn’t yell. She didn’t berate me for setting, but not quite making the weekly goal. She quietly asked, “How did you do? What are you going to do this week?” Just knowing I’d get a polite email about “promised progress” helped me keep promises I made to myself. The positive tone of the blog combined with a prodding, if needed, is definitely an “off-the-beaten-path” job seeker / careerist tool. The tagline: “We don’t make your goals. We just help you reach them” speaks volumes.

Next, I’m going to recommend FlyLady.net. What? What could a blog and e-letter about household organizing have to do with career and job search? The core principle, you can do anything in 15 minutes intervals and the mantra: “You are not behind! I don’t want you to try to catch up; I just want you to jump in where you are. OK?” applies to effective job search strategy too. The concept of baby steps to any project rings true in a search. With a little imagination, you’ll find lots of job-search-applicable ideas on this international organization site.

A third, frequently overlooked resource is the public library. I wrote a blog post about how to conduct targeted company searches using library resources here and Twitter connection, Steve Levy @LevyRecruits added another layer of ways to use the public library in a job search in a February 2010 post on his blog, here. Not every tool in a job search / career management tool chest is computer connected.

One more fun site offering insight into what your writing is saying is Wordle. The graphic to the left of this paragraph is a Wordle of this post. Copying and pasting text into Wordle not only yields a fun graphic; it give visual validation the message you’re trying to convey is getting through. (For some reason technology is cropping my Wordle strangely and truncating “resources” and “careers” … )

I’m sure the rest of my colleagues will come up with lots of ideas, so I’ll stop now … but not without mentioning my favorite job search resource of all time – YOUR NETWORK. I’ve written 10 posts addressing networking in some way, shape or manner. To spare you a recap, I’ll let you explore unescorted: Here’re the search results for that topic on my blog.