It's time to start that holiday card list. The holidays are a great time to reach out to people either to re-connect or to keep connections alive. Many clients have said they are uncomfortable sending a card to someone they haven't spoken to in a while, in some cases years. Yet when I get a card from someone I haven't heard from my only thought is to feel good about being remembered and the renewed contact.
So start that holiday list now. It takes work and time to get out cards, and the holidays will be here before you know it!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
How Many Mistakes Can One Career Counselor Make? Count Them!
I was recently looking back at the last position I applied for and realized I made mistakes I would have never have let one of my clients make. Learn from the following...
The hiring manager asked me for references and salary history. I know you're supposed to KEEP IT SHORT and talk in ranges! I got nervous, like most of us do in that situation, and gave more information than I needed to. When talking about compensation, make sure you are prepared to try a first round where you talk in ranges versus exact numbers. Remember that the first one who puts a solid number on the table typically is the one who loses the negotiation game.
I hadn't heard from the hiring manager and was getting nervous, so I decided to place a call. I know you should avoid leaving a message so you can call back without feeling like you're stalking someone. Yet when I heard her voice on the answering machine, I went right into message mode, kicking myself the whole time. Thankfully I had notes so I didn't ramble, at least not excessively. If you feel you want or need to reach out via phone, try at least a few times before you leave a message, thereby keeping some modicum of control in your hands.
Don't accept or reject a job before it's offered! If I had a dollar for every time I've said this, I'd be rich. Yet from the moment I was asked for salary information I started feeling guilty about telling my boss I was taking another job. I wrote some notes about what I'd say and even held off starting on a small project at work figuring I wouldn't be there to implement it. While all the buy signs were there, in the end they chose another candidate, so all of that angst was totally unnecessary.
The hiring manager asked me for references and salary history. I know you're supposed to KEEP IT SHORT and talk in ranges! I got nervous, like most of us do in that situation, and gave more information than I needed to. When talking about compensation, make sure you are prepared to try a first round where you talk in ranges versus exact numbers. Remember that the first one who puts a solid number on the table typically is the one who loses the negotiation game.
I hadn't heard from the hiring manager and was getting nervous, so I decided to place a call. I know you should avoid leaving a message so you can call back without feeling like you're stalking someone. Yet when I heard her voice on the answering machine, I went right into message mode, kicking myself the whole time. Thankfully I had notes so I didn't ramble, at least not excessively. If you feel you want or need to reach out via phone, try at least a few times before you leave a message, thereby keeping some modicum of control in your hands.
Don't accept or reject a job before it's offered! If I had a dollar for every time I've said this, I'd be rich. Yet from the moment I was asked for salary information I started feeling guilty about telling my boss I was taking another job. I wrote some notes about what I'd say and even held off starting on a small project at work figuring I wouldn't be there to implement it. While all the buy signs were there, in the end they chose another candidate, so all of that angst was totally unnecessary.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
I REPEAT - You Can't Personalize This Process
I had lunch with a former client last week and, although I keep writing about this being a rude job market, was once again shocked by just how rude it is. This top notch, senior level marketing professional had interviewed three times for a position at a major company, each time getting buy signs from both the line manager and HR. After the third interview she clearly fell off their radar.
OK, so they decided to go with another candidate or they had a job freeze or they decided they needed to rethink the focus of the position. Whatever! NOT OK that they they simply stopped returning calls or answering e-mails and didn't have the common courtesy to send a turn down letter.
What gives today? What happened to common courtesy? What happened to the golden rule?
I know it's hard not to personalize this behavior and easy to simply throw in the towel and stop looking for that next chapter. Just take a deep breath and remember that this is a rude job market. When people behave this way it says more about them and their organization than it does about you. Pick yourself up and get back out there AND remember to treat people better than you have been treated next time you are in the position of hiring manager.
OK, so they decided to go with another candidate or they had a job freeze or they decided they needed to rethink the focus of the position. Whatever! NOT OK that they they simply stopped returning calls or answering e-mails and didn't have the common courtesy to send a turn down letter.
What gives today? What happened to common courtesy? What happened to the golden rule?
I know it's hard not to personalize this behavior and easy to simply throw in the towel and stop looking for that next chapter. Just take a deep breath and remember that this is a rude job market. When people behave this way it says more about them and their organization than it does about you. Pick yourself up and get back out there AND remember to treat people better than you have been treated next time you are in the position of hiring manager.
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