4100weeks

The fastest way to achieve your goals? . . . Don't give a shit.

Sometimes our goals don't align with who we are, and we are so focused on achieving them that we don't see it. Studying who we really are, where we have already been, what we have already done and comparing that with our goals can be an eye opening experience. George Carlin did this, and it changed his career . . . 

What do you do?

Author Dan Pink detests the question "What's your passion?" In his recent monthly column for the Sunday Telegraph titled Think Tank: Ever felt like your job isn't what you were born to do? You're not alone, he says a more productive question to ask is "What is it you do?" He says that while hot steamy passion is good, it's the long term, calmer true love that is where the enduring magic is. Here are a few more to ask . . . 

What did you do last Saturday afternoon – for fun, for yourself?

What books do you read or blogs do you visit, not for work, but just because you're interested in them?

What are you great at? What comes easily to you?

What would you do – or are you already doing – for free?

 

Goal Setting that Works!

You're feeling fresh and new, buoyant with energy from the New Year! This year is going to be different! This year you're going to follow through and make the changes in your life you've been talking about for ages.  You're going to get that new job, shed those extra pounds, find a new relationship, start that novel, take some classes, go on that dream holiday (oh, wait...is this last one a goal or is it a reward?  More on this later).
 
But how many of us have set goals or made New Year's resolutions only to find ourselves quickly going back to old habits, reneging on our promises to ourselves or just plain giving up? I know I have! Until I came up with this process.  I use this every year for myself and my clients with great results!

Read the rest here.

Intellectual Curiousity

Have you ever wondered why some are curious - not just intellectually curious but curious about most everything?   The smartest people I know all have a passion for learning - not just in classrooms or through study but by constantly seeking knowledge in conversation.  These individuals seem to have an endless passion for knowledge and growth.

The result is often a well-rounded, interesting and capable person that constantly learns through the art of the question.

What drives intellectual curiosity?  I don't know but it's a skill I encourage with my family, friends and associates.

If you are curious, see the following blog by Les Potter.

Where’s the curiosity among today’s students?

by Les PotterLes Potter is a Senior Lecturer at Towson College in Maryland

I’ve noticed that among my Millennial students, there is a disturbing lack of curiosity. I wonder if I am the only person who feels this way.

This concerns me because it has employment implications. A lack of curiosity may well hurt graduates’ hiring prospects. The Washington Post reported May 17, 2009, that after contacting eight to 10 area schools, about 35 to 40 percent of seniors are graduating without jobs or a predetermined plan in place. Typically, that number is 10 to 15 percent.

Given, this is the worst economy we’ve seen in a long time. Companies are hurting, and jobs are scarce. But that is all the more reason for graduates to pay attention to every detail that will help them secure a good job.

Why am I saying there is a lack of curiosity? This past spring semester, I had approximately 75 students in four classes. I interact with these students in class twice a week. I talk with them in the halls. They come to my office for things. They participate in our PR Group, the student professional association chapter. Yet in all of these interactions, only occasionally will someone ask a question of any substance. Few make observations that capture insightful interest in or understanding of things. Most never even comment on their surroundings. They seem oblivious to a deeper exploration of ideas and concepts, not only the abstract or obtuse, but the practical as well, like how to get and keep jobs in communication/PR/IMC.

In short, they seem to be devoid of curiosity. Some specific examples:

• Students rarely if ever ask about the working world. I spent 35 years earning a living doing what I now teach. It seems to me that that might provoke some questions. College is a time of becoming exposed to many new and different ideas and concepts. Why then are there so few probing questions? Why so few substantive questions about careers and work?
• Students don’t ask why things are the way they are. They seem to accept everything at face value.
• This is a personal, nonscientific observation, but I think it tells us something; students don’t seem to notice things around them. A specific example of this is that students do not see things in my office. I have a small but nicely appointed office with a few carefully chosen decorations, like interesting photos and original art. I purposely designed my office to be an interesting and relaxing place to visit or work. But students don’t comment on photos, memorabilia, etc. They don’t even see these things.

It does not hurt my feelings that students who visit my office do not comment on my artwork. But it does bother me that they don’t even notice their surroundings. What if it was a job interview? The ability to converse easily, perhaps initiate a conversation about a unique photo or piece of art, is a plus for the job seeker. The ability to build rapport and sell yourself with employers is critically important.

As a manager who hired, trained, and terminated many employees in my career, the ability and willingness to ask probing questions is a competitive advantage for job seekers. 

One of my more memorable supervisors got furious at employees who didn’t demonstrate curiosity. He blasted employees who “were not the least bit curious at why sales were flat, or why this project did not work, or that process cost so much, etc.” In general, he wanted curious employees who dug deep to find better ways of doing things. Those employees were favored. The employees with curiosity were trusted with more meaningful assignments. They got raises and promotions. But first, they got hired.

As May graduates try to enter the job market, I think a sense of curiosity is a big plus.

 

You're Only Looking for One (Job)

A participant in last week's free call on Career Management and Job Search issues has been out of work for awhile and I asked her what she'd been doing to find a job.  She replied by saying that there were 'no jobs in (her) industry!' I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 

I wanted to laugh because there are always jobs available.  No matter how bad the economy is, people are being hired every day.  Cry because this is the prevailing attitude of so many people I see.  And as a result, they just give up.  And the saddest thing I've ever seen, is someone who has given up: given up on themselves.  Given up on their resourcefulness. 

I've worked with people professionally for over 30 years.  First as a waitress (Red Lobster and Swensens), then as a Front Desk Clerk in a hotel (The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville), then an Accountant with with a Big 4 CPA firm (pauses for flashbacks), then as a Recruiter with several firms and finally as a Career Coach, Speaker and Trainer.

If there's one thing I've learned from 30 years of working with people it's that they are endlessly resourceful once they put their mind to something.

And, in this economy resourcefulness is just what's needed.

So think of your job search as a target.  Your Bulls Eye is obviously a role in the same industry you've worked in.  But let's say that's not available to you.  Your particular function is being phased out for some reason.  Go to the first circle away from the bullseye.

What other functions can you do within your industry?  No job is strictly one dimensional.  People have been asked to do more with less and have been actively cross training for the last 20 years.  What other skills could you bring to the table doing something that is needed in this economy?

No ideas?  Okay, let's say for arguments sake, that there really are NO jobs in your industry.  For some reason, your particular field was made completely obsolete overnight by some new fangled invention that just hit the market.  That's actually the ONLY way that there would be NO jobs available, by the way.  There may be fewer jobs and they may be in different geographies, but there are always SOME jobs.  You may need to employ different strategies to find them, but they are out there.

Then what?  Time to move to the second circle around the Bulls Eye.  What other industry would LOVE to hire someone with your skills?

Still no options there?  I find that extremely difficult to believe, but okay I'll run with it.  Maybe it's time to think about what you would you have done had you not trained to do what you've spend the last X years doing?  Is that an option now?

How about owning your own business?  Statistics  show that more start up SUCCEED in a down economy than a buoyant one. 

Seriously, the target actually doesn't have to get that big to find a niche you can slide into if you are flexible, persistent and use multiple strategies to source work.  

So, if something isn't working (job search strategies, industries or functions you are targeting) try something else.  And if that doesn't work try something else.  And if that doesn't work, try something else.  See where I'm going with this?

I will always remember the advice I was given as a young accountant (pauses for more hideous flashbacks) looking for my first role outside of the Big 4.  I had applied for a job with Coca Cola. I remember being so excited when I got a call from the recruiter handling the role.  I put on my pin stripe suit and little silk bow tie (hey, it was 1991!) and went to meet him.

He informed me that I was one of 400 people that had applied for the same job and was probably one of the least qualified to do it.  My face just dropped. 

Then he looked at me and said the words I will never forget.  'Don't worry, it doesn't matter how many hundreds of people are looking for jobs.  You're only looking for one.  You may not get this one, but as long as you don't give up, you'll find one that's meant just for you.' 

I found my job within a month.  Those words changed my life because they changed my attitude.  And attitude is everything.  

So don't give up.  Get flexible and stay persistent.  Resourcefulness will prevail.

How to Write a Killer Resume

What is a killer resume? I have a sample resume with do's and don'ts by section on my website. Feel free to download it. But first a few thoughts. A killer resume is a resume that gets you an interview. Period. It may not be the flashiest, fanciest, most unusual or best designed resume. But it has the best content because it concisely, articulately and
succinctly demonstrates that you can solve the hiring manager’s problem or add value to the company.

But how do you know what that problem is or what value they need? Here is where the proverbial rubber meets the road. It’s up to you to find this out and then to tailor your resume (at least somewhat) to demonstrate this for each job you apply to. But what if you can’t find this information out? What if you are simply answering a blind ad on a job site? Then you make your best guess.

Securing an interview is the ONLY reason to create a resume. And the only way to secure the interview is to demonstrate the above.

And you have 15 seconds tops to do that in. Huh? That’s right. The BEST of resumes are only read for an average of 15 seconds? That’s what the statistics say. Now, look at your watch - measure 15 seconds. Not a lot of time is it?

How can you possibly portray your experience, qualifications, achievements, personality, etc. in 15 seconds? You can. And if you want an interview, you must.

To help you, I’ve put together a list of Top 10 Tips. If you follow these you’re sure to make your ’15 seconds of fame’ count (and you may even get an interview out of it.) In fact, many of my clients report going from not receiving a call for an interview in months to receiving multiple calls per day once they reformat their resume using these tips.

Go ahead. I dare you. You have nothing to lose, and if my clients’ past experience is any indication, everything to gain.

So, in ascending order of importance:

10.) How far is too far?
The only reason to go back more than 10 years is to demonstrate that you have experience that is beneficial to the job you are applying for, that you have not done in recent times. Otherwise, there is no need. Would you really want to do a job you did 10 years ago?

9.) The company does what?
Itʼs very important to let the reader know what your previous employers do, especially if youʼre in a position of responsibility,. A sentence or two on the size of the company, the companyʼs products and any other relevant information helps the hiring manager understand your background in more depth.

8.) Donʼt look like a job hopper when youʼre not!
Many candidates list different positions within 1 company as completely separate jobs, repeating the company name, etc. Interviewers are basically lazy (and you would be too if you had the number of resumes to read that they do at the moment). At first glance they may not realize that youʼve been promoted every 18 months to 2 years (which is a good thing). They may interpret your format to mean that youʼve changed jobs every 18 months to 2 years (not such a good thing). The proper
format is to list the company name and details once and make it stand out (larger font, Bold and Underlined, etc). Then list each position underneath and make it obvious that they are positions within the same company.

7.) How long is too long?
Remember the 15 second rule? Resumes should be from 1 - 2 pages in the United States and up to 4 (at the most!) pages elsewhere in the world, depending on your level of experience. Less is more, as long as itʼs impactful. The only exception to this is a traditional Curriculum Vitae, which would be used in academia or scientific fields.

6.) A picture tells 1,000 words.
Except on resumes. The rule of thumb here is never including your picture on your resume. Ever. Full stop. Period. The end.

5.) Ditto
In regards to including your age, marital status, children or pets names (donʼt laugh, Iʼve seen more than 1!) see #6.

4.) Form over substance.
Again, remember the 15 second rule? Make it easy for the interviewer to read your resume and keep it from the bin. Use lots of white space, put paragraphs into bullet points, donʼt use a lot of different fonts, standardize your presentation and be concise and articulate in your descriptions.

3.) Once is never enough.
One standard resume is generally not sufficient to apply for every role you look at. I encourage my candidates to have 2 - 3 resumes highlighting different areas of expertise. But always, always always customize your resume to the job you are applying for.

2.) Iʼll call you.
Make sure that you have your contact details (name, phone number and email are sufficient these days) in your header or at least on the top of your first page. Donʼt make the interviewer struggle to figure out how to contact you or they may just say, “next!” Also, make sure that you have voice mail turned on if youʼre actively looking (with an appropriate message). And nowadays itʼs perfectly appropriate to include your Linkedin Profile in your contact details as well.

1.) Substance over form
The most important thing on your resume is not your duties and responsibilities, not your education, awards or qualifications. The most important thing on your resume is your achievements. Your achievements should be specific accomplishments that are a result of your doing your job or (preferably) going above and beyond your job description. They are what separates you from others with the same experience.

Having specific, quantifiable, robust achievements will do more to differentiate your resume from the hundreds of other applying for the same roles than anything else. Get this right and you will have hiring
managers calling you within hours to set up interviews.

Achievements are:
The end result of a project
A demonstration of your going ‘above and beyond’
An accolade or award
Typically quantifiable

Achievements are NOT:
A process procedure
Part of your job description
Expected as a routine part of your daily work

Bonus: I know I shouldnʼt have to say this but I must, given the number of spelling and grammatical errors I see on resumes. Spell check!!! Itʼs easy enough to do with todayʼs software. Itʼs also a good idea to have at least 3 people look it over, including at least one person that has no idea what you actually do. Many human resources people do the first screen on roles that they are not that familiar with. Having someone unfamiliar with what you do ensures that anyone can follow your resume.

Your resume doesnʼt need to win awards. What it does need to do is keep the reader engaged long enough to have him or her say, “I need to call this person for an interview.”

By following these simple steps you will come one step closer to hearing those words you long for, “Youʼre hired!”

The Consultants Creed

I can do it right.

I can do it cheap.

I can do it fast.

You get to choose any TWO.... 

Face to face communications

While at a learning conference I had the pleasure of sitting in on Arch Lustberg's session on Face to Face Communication/Presenting. Arch is still going strong at 83. His session had the audience completely engaged, roaring with laughter and at the end giving a standing ovation. Here are some of his key points and tips along with links to video clips from Arch's website:

• Become a storyteller (not jokes). Tell stories from your life.
• Don't try to impress with your competence or skill. Just be yourself, be the audience's best friend.
• Likability wins! In a conversation or presentation your mind shows your competence on the subject, your face whether or not you are likable.
  • A closed face (tight, scrunched up eyebrows) means either angry, deep in thought or worried and the other party always assumes anger.
  • Open face (big eyes, raised eyebrows, smile) is key to likability.
• Say little . . . Brilliantly!
• Simple + Brief + Clear + Concise = Easy to Understand
• Silent pauses work! Learn how to pause. Remain silent but keep eye contact with an open face.
  • Many people are afflicted with "intellectual dysentery"  sounds flow out of their mouths with no control . . . ahh, like, ok, you know.
  • Sometimes eye to eye contact is uncomfortable, look for other location such as mouth, nose, etc.
  • Rhythm of eye contact - your mouth should never be moving when your eyes are down or up or looking at any inanimate object.
• Simplify the message. Avoid jargon.
  
  • If using a word that some people may not understand use it in a way that describes the word.
  • Use simple words (we think big words make us seem impressive).
• You are most impressive when you are expressive!
• Speak with pride and enthusiasm.
• Be honest, positive and caring.
• If the question presented to you is hostile, think of how it would be phrased by a decent human being.
• Best presentations are given by a performer (not an actor). A performer shows himself at his best.

Arch summarizes using a Chinese Proverb . . . “Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.”

                                       

The power of positive reinforcement

 

Me in India - When I first learned to ride my scooter.

I drive a scooter.  I never thought of myself as someone who would drive a motorbike.  They always scared me.  But after riding one in India I thought, 'how bad can Sydney be?' I love the convenience of it.  And the inner environmentalist in me loves the fact that it uses very little petrol.

But getting a drivers license in New South Wales is not easy.  Especially a motorbike license.  First there is a 2 half day course followed by a written test (which I failed the first time...I don't think I've ever failed anything in my life before taking the NSW drivers test!).  Then 3 - 12 months later you go back to the riders testing center for a full day course followed by a practical exam to get your provisional license (or 'P's' as it's known here). 

It was pouring down rain the first time I did my course and I fell off the bike during the quick stop part of the practical.  It turns out that they frown on you actually falling off of the bike during the test.  Needless to say I did not pass.  And I waited almost until I was out of time to take the test again.  But I finally screwed up the courage to do so and did it yesterday.

And guess what?  It was raining again!!!  We've had beautiful weather in Sydney almost since the day of my first test...until this week.  I was not happy!

But what happened served to remind me of the power of positive reinforcement.  Despite all of my own positive affirmations, visualisations and positive self talk I really wasn't sure I could pass it. I was scared.

But I had two people who believed I could do it and they made all the difference.  First, my boyfriend David who came with me and kept telling me how easy it was going to be and what a capable person I was. 

Then the instructor who said to me, 'This is a wet weather course.  You probably failed it the first time because it was dry.'  Ha!  Nice try!  I told him it was wet and that's why I fell off.  Then he told me that I couldn't fall on this course because it had a special grippy surface due to the metal flecks they put into the concrete.  Huh?  Well, I did see something shiny, so I chose to believe it.  :)

Unfortunately I was the lucky last of our group of 9 to go.  Unlike the last time I took the test (where 5 of the 7 of us failed) the first 8 passed!  And I know why. 

When it was time to take my test I drove my bike onto the course and the positive reassurance started right away from the instructor.  The first few skills are easy and I passed with flying colours, despite my pounding heart.  The last two are the killers.  But from the moment I drove onto the course the instructor, who's name I now wish I remembered, treated me like I was the best rider he'd ever seen.  I got so much encouragement (without him compromising the test) like I felt I couldn't not pass the last two skills, even when I had to repeat them both.  I knew I'd pass...it just wasn't an issue.

That started me thinking of all the people in my life that believed in me when I had questions and doubts and what a difference they've made to my life through the years.

The human brain is an amazing thing, it believes what it hears (either internally or externally).  Who has made a difference in your life by believing in you when you didn't believe in yourself? 

Conversely, are you giving positive reinforcement to yourself and those around you?  Or are you giving them a different message?  And what impact are you having that you may not even be aware of? 

Something to think about... 

Job Search 101

I know a lot of people in the US are looking for work right now.  I wanted to take this opportunity to share some strategies that will help - dramatically.  Even if they've been unemployed for a long time. 

So if you know anyone who is struggling to find a job please pass this post along.  It's something I'm passionate about. I know they work.

Using robust and multiple job search strategies will make all the difference in how long you look for a new job, especially if you are unemployed.

Many people simply rely on recruiters to find them a job. They believe that recruiters will act as their talent agents and simply sit back, letting others control their job search.

This approach is extremely problematic! Why? Think about who actually pays recruiters? The client company. Their service is free to you, the candidate. This distinction is subtle, but very very important. Recruiters are paid to find talent to fill roles. They are not paid to find roles for candidates. The best recruiters do act as a quasi talent agent for the best candidates, certainly. But it’s a little known secret that even the best recruiters can only place 1 in 8 to 1 in 10 candidates. Many roles are filled through the company’s own network before they ever hit a recruiter’s desk.

Job search preparation

So, what other strategies can you use to find a new job? Plenty! But first need to develop a couple of tools.

The most important tool in this process is your “Value Statement”. This is your 30 second elevator pitch that not only helps you remember and articulate the value that you can add to a prospective employer, it changes your mindset from one of, “Please Mr. Employer give me a job” to “You are one of several people I’m talking to in the market place. I’m here to see if there is any synergy between what you are looking for and what I have to offer.” See my previous post on how to develop a Value Statement.

Incredible mind set shift and one that has led to more than one of my previous clients successfully finding work quickly after struggling for months (and in one case years).

The second tool you need is an achievement based resume. Statistics show that the best of resumes are only read for 15 seconds. Don’t take any chances with yours! Download my free resume format. I’ve had many many people tell me that they started getting calls for interviews within hours after submitting their resume using my format, even if they hadn’t been called for months previously. It works.

Job search strategies

So, you’ve got a great value statement and a killer resume. You’re now ready to go out and find your next job. What’s next?

Certainly, work with recruiters. Good ones are worth their weight in gold. But make sure they do never send your resume out without your prior permission.

But in addition to recruiters you need to be prepared to market yourself online, use your own network of contacts and approach companies directly.

Online marketing

I LOVE social media. It’s such a great tool! And you can use it to find your next job. If you’re not on Linkedin sign up today. It’s interviewing while you sleep. There are lots of resources available to help you set up a profile and make sure people find you. Google them. I’ve also got a free PDF with top level bullet points on the Career / Job Search Tools section of my website.

But Linkedin isn’t the only online job search tool. Almost every job site has a resume database. Make sure your resume is online. There are also several independent resume databases coming online now. Google them and get listed.

Use Twitter. Here are a couple of really good articles on this:
http://www.loveforbiz.com/using-twitter-for-business-networking-and-even-finding-a-job
http://mashable.com/2009/03/13/twitter-jobs/
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1903083,00.html

Take the direct approach

Make a target list of companies that you want to work for that have the types of roles that you want to do.

Monitor their websites regularly to look for open jobs and apply immediately.

• Make a list of absolutely everyone you know in your local area.
• Former supervisors
• Former subordinates
• Former Peers
• Former classmates
• Friends
• People from your church, child's school or other community organisations that you are involved in
• Acquaintances

Cross reference the two lists above. Who do you know that can make introductions to people within the companies on your target list? Develop a calling plan and start to contact them.

Call the other people on your list to find out who they might know that they can introduce you to who will help you find a job.

Network, network, network

Where do the hiring managers who hire for your roles hang out? Are there any groups or organisations that they may join? If so attend their meetings. Better yet, get involved in their organisations to develop deeper relationships with people of influence.

Treat finding a job like having a job

If you are unemployed it’s extremely important to have discipline around this area. Go to "work" every day; keep regular office hours, set aside some place in your house just for "work", dress like you're going to the office.

And finally, treat your job search like a project with KPI's; set a goal for a certain number of outbound phone calls, coffee catch ups, roles applied for, etc. Then manage yourself to achieve those goals and reward yourself when you do.

Order business cards with your contact details on one side and the types of jobs you are searching for on the other.

Keep mentally fit

And finally, keep mentally fit. You will project what you feel in an interview so make sure you feel great! One of the most fun and effective tools I use with my clients is to create an “I Rock!” file. A physical file of evidence reminding themselves that they do rock! Cards, notes, letters, or maybe just memories. All kept in once place and frequently referred to. It's actually my "Tool of the Week" this week.

If you follow these steps rigorously I guarantee that you won’t be unemployed for long.