Keeping Control When Using the Phone

When communicating via phone, don't leave a message on your first, second or even third attempt to reach your party.  Try a minimum of three times to get a person on the line before you leave a message.  This way you can still call back rather than getting caught up in the waiting game and you keep some semblance of control in a process that often feels pretty one sided. 

If you don't catch someone during regular work hours, try before 9 or after 5 and be prepared for the person to answer.  I've often dialed fully expecting the answering machine stumbling when a real live person answers the phone.

If you try three times and still can't get through the voicemail response, leave a carefully crafted, short message.  Write it out before you call so you are focused and don't ramble.

I know all of this and yet when I made a call recently I went into message mode the minute I heard that voicemail beep.  It was like Pavlov and his dogs. 

You Can't Personalize This Process

I recently sent out some 'staying in touch e-mails' to people who have been firmly in my network.  I didn't get responses from three people who I counted as 'in my corner' -  not even an 'I'm busy and will get back to you as soon as I can.'  I felt really lousy about that.  I know I should 't personalize these things, but this is a very personal process.

It is critical to have a thick skin while engaged in a job search.  You have to remember that your network contacts are generally working and may not respond to a request or just a hello because they're busy.  If you let this lack of responsiveness get to you, it can really rob you of the confidence you need to stick with this process. 

Supporting a Family Member Through Job Search

My husband is engaged in job search and career transition.  After 22 years at the same company, he is on the outside trying to determine what he wants to do. What comes next?

Supporting him through this process is a lot more difficult than conducting my own search.  I was in control of my search.  The only person to be angry at when I wasn't active was me.  He owns this search and, even though I know just how difficult this process can be, I still find myself thinking of all the things he 'should' be doing.

He knows that networking is critical to the success of his search and I fully understand his resistance to doing it.  Knowing you should network and why is very different than actually doing it.  I recently sent out some staying in touch e-mails to people who have been firmly in my network.  I didn't get responses from three people who I count as 'in my corner'.  Not even an 'I'm busy and will get back to you as soon as I can.'  It was very discouraging.  So, how can I be frustrated by the networking he's not doing when I know how hard this is?  And yet, there's that voice in me that knows what he 'should' be doing.

What to do?

One of the first things I have to remember is that I'm the supportive partner, not the career counselor.  I recommended that he work with a colleague on his search which he thankfully agreed to, and the mere fact that he's following through in that process let's me relax a bit. 

I need to remember that we are all different, and just because I network doesn't mean he will, or perhaps just not in the same way I do.  So, I need to allow for difference and let him do this in his way versus mine.

One of the things I've always told clients is to keep their family in the loop.  This applies to the whole family.  Teens often worry about their parents job loss but don't say anything.  Let your family know what you're doing.  Tell them when you apply for positions on line.  Tell them when you go out to network with people.  You may not want to report in on a daily basis, so maybe you sit down once a week to talk about your progress.  There may be weeks you don't have much to report, but you can let them know you're doing what you can. 

You should also tell family what they are doing that helps you and what they're doing that may be getting in the way.  For example, if asking you what you're doing on a daily basis is making this tougher for you, tell them and assure them you'll keep them in the loop perhaps by setting up that weekly round up.  

As referenced in prior posts, join some networking groups.  This will insure that you have something to do and it's critical for you to be with others who don't have a vested interest in what you're doing and who can more closely identify with what you're feeling.

The key here is to keep the lines of communication open.  Let your family know what you are doing about your job search and, just as important, let them know how they can best support you.

There's No Such Thing as "Just"

When talking to clients, be they students of individuals in corporate America, I often hear "I'm just and admin" or "I'm just a waiter".  

What's with the just? 

My question - what skills does it take to be a great admin or waiter?  
     Strong organizational, communications and interpersonal skills.  
     The ability to think on your feet and deal with difficult people and situations.  

What are some of the most difficult things you had to do to be a great admin or waiter?  
     Juggle multiple tasks, client needs at the same time.
     Prioritize.
     Deal with people who are angry or totally unreasonable yet bring the situation to a happy end.

So there is no such thing as just!  Every job requires skills and you need to own them and be proud of yourself in order to present with confidence!

You Can't Just 'Wing It' - Interviewing Takes Practice

You've worked hard to make sure your resume reflects your background and accomplishments, is well written and free from typos or grammatical errors.  You have mastered the art of writing a cover letter.  You've networked to get your resume out there and have applied to every job you can find.  Now you've got the call and have an interview lined up.  Now it's time to put as much energy into winning the job as you did in getting the interview!

Too many people spend too little time on preparing for an interview.  Aside from researching the industry, company and position, you have to have great answers to the following:

Tell me something about yourself.
What are your strengths?
What's a weakness?
What are your short and long term goals?
Why should I hire you?

Write out your answers to each of these, word for word.  The basic answer should be the same or similar for each position.  AND then you tailor or fine tune each answer to showcase how you meet the requirements outlined in the job description.  Read your answers out loud, to a friend, a colleague, and, if you have one, to your career counselor to make sure you are presenting the best you.

How to Kill a Network Opportunity

This is an actual example of a lost networking opportunity.    

The Scenario

• You have recently been laid off and are just starting to network.  

• You connect with a former colleague who has been working in a company you'd love to work for and he agrees to meet with you. 

• You meet for lunch, catch up on old times and he gives you the lowdown on the company.  He also mentions that there are no current openings. 

• He walks you around the office and introduces you to his boss, who would be a likely hiring manager should an opening arise. 

• You follow-up with a thank you note to your colleague.

• You send a note to his boss along with your resume and portfolio letting her know you are open to either full-time or freelance work.

• She writes back and tells you that your resume and portfolio are impressive, but unfortunately there are no job openings at the current time.  

NOW WHAT?

What Went Wrong?  You were fine until you sent off the e-mail with your resume and portfolio attached.  By sending the resume and portfolio up front before booking a face-to-face meeting, you turned this into an outreach for a job versus creating the opportunity to expand your network. You  made it too easy for the boss to say there's no reason to meet as there are no jobs. 

REMEMBER people love to give guidance and advice but do not like being put on the spot for a job. 

So what should you have done?  The idea to outreach to the boss was right on track.  The focus, however, should have been to get in front of her to gather ideas, obtain feedback and walk away with the names of other potential connections.  You want to get in front of someone so you can engage them in your job search.  You want to put them squarely in your job cheering section and the best way to do that is in a face-to-face meeting where you become a person, not just another resume.

What can you do now?  Send her an e-mail acknowledging that you are aware there are no open positions and stating why a meeting with her would be helpful nonetheless.  Ask for a meeting so you can expand upon your background, share your thoughts on potential next steps and get advice about your search. 

REMEMBER the fastest way to short circuit your network is to ask for the job versus asking for advice.
 

Is Networking Real or Fake?

One of the many reasons people give for not networking is that it's fake. When I suggest that you simply go in to gather information, expand your network, be seen and remembered, but NOT to pitch for or dig for a job, most people state that everyone knows you're really looking for a job and therefore believe that the whole network process is fake. 

Well yes, when you're out there networking you are ultimately looking for a job.  And on the rare occasion when someone uncovers a live one through networking, that's great.  But the immediate goals of networking are to...

• gather information 
• expand your network
• get to know more people and 
• enroll them as part of your search network - your cheering squad

You are out there to be seen, and assuming you make a good impression and nurture your network (meaning stay in touch) you will also hopefully be remembered.

AGAIN, the job I now sit in came through a network contact who sent me an e-mail to let me know about a  a new job posting in the field (in other words, not at her company).  When I me this new network contact  three months prior to receiving that e-mail, I knew there were no open positions in her department.  I went in just to meet someone new and expand my network.  I had no clue that this would be the network contact that would lead me to my new job.

The key to networking is to remember that it is an informational interview - NOT a job interview.  The fastest way to kill your networking is to ask contacts if they have any jobs.  If the answer is no you've just stopped the conversation cold. Even if the answer is yes, if you're not the right match it may be hard to transition over to a pure networking conversation.

If I've written it one time, I've written it 500 times - PEOPLE HATE TO BE PUT ON THE HOOK FOR A JOB.  PEOPLE LOVE TO GIVE GUIDANCE AND ADVICE.

So get out there and mingle with purpose.  Go in prepared to talk about who you are, what you're targeting and have a list of questions in hand...questions about the field, the industry, how the person you're meeting with got their job or the skills that are critical for success in that arena.  Your goal should be to leave with new information - the names of one or two new people for you to contact, perhaps some information about a new company or position to consider, and maybe some feedback on your resume.

We all know that the ultimate success at the end of this process is a new job.  Success along the way comes with every new network contact you meet.