Career Masters Talk

What Are You Thankful For?

In our home, we have a Thanksgiving tradition that was started many years ago when the children were little. Now, the children aren't children, but we still do the tradition. I always look forward to it. Our only "rule" is that each family member puts some serious thought into this question, What Are You Thankful For? beforehand.

After our Thanksgiving meal, we gather together to hear what each person has to say. It's a very special time we all anticipate and treasure. You don't get to "pass" and you don't get a "bye" and a response of "everything" doesn't count. This is serious family business! 

As I was thinking about what I will be sharing this year, my thoughts turned to my professional life and what I'm thankful for...life-work that I love; clients who make what I do so worthwhile; colleagues who have become good friends; professional organizations that offer tremendous value to their membership (whose leadership works tirelessly to make it possible); and the hundreds of career bloggers who so readily share their wisdom, thoughts and ideas for the benefit of all. These are a few of the many things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving, and always. Happy Thanksgiving to you!

posted by: billie sucher

What Recruiters Want

At the Kennedy Recruiting Conference in Orlando, FL earlier this week, I sat in on a Q&A session with four recruiters representing both contingency and retained search firms. All agreed that the most desirable candidates:

1. have a polished elevator pitch and an enthusiastic delivery.
2. discuss what they have done, (accomplishments) not what they do (tasks).
3. use a reverse-chronological format for their resume.

They went on to say that the best interviewees:

1. are completely honest.
2. ask questions throughout the interview to create a dialogue.
3. limit their responses to one or two minutes.
4. never bring up salary in an interview with a hiring manager.
5. let the hiring manager know they are interested in the position.

Barbara Safani

After the Philadelphia CareerBuilder "Job Fair"

This week, I volunteered to meet with job seekers and career changers at the CareerBuilder Job Fair held in Valley Forge, just outside of Philadelphia.  It was sometimes fun and consistently challenging to meet so many people. Within a six-hour period, I must have spoken with 40-50 curious candidates; each one presented a unique story and a somewhat fragile sense of themselves. I ended the day wondering if these brief encounters would have a lasting impact on the job search campaigns of the candidates. Let me share my driving-home thoughts with you:

• If I could have collected $10 from every candidate whose resume included an amorphous "Objective," I would have more than $500! Then add another $10 for repeated use of each of the following:

• small fonts;                                                                 
• densely packed paragraphs of text;
• descriptions of job duties rather than accomplishments; and,
• repeated use of the dreaded phrase, "responsible for..."

• Oh, the places I could go with the funds I could have collected!

A carefully branded and well-written resume serves as a powerful marketing tool that reflects on previous success stories; properly designed, it navigates a path to where you want to be - in the future. The people I spoke with wanted to be doing something else, but their resumes kept them neatly tied-into their past.  Some of Bob Dylan's lyrics played in my head, "no direction home...like a rolling stone..."

Please click here to review an article that appeared in more than 10 Sunday newspapers that subscribe to CareerBuilder  (Download 0405-TRIBUNE_EDITED_E-MAIL.pdf); I posted it here to share some of the tips I offered to "avoid the round file."  My impression is that most of the job fair candidates do not wish to invest in the services of a professional; they want to write their own resumes. To do so, these candidates are advised to consult articles and books written on this topic.  Among many others, they may consider Quintessential Careers and the Riley Guide online; Enelow and Kursmark in-print.  It is important to create and update an effective resume, but remember that resumes are not the only tool you'll need to launch an effective job search campaign and maintain your career health. To accelerate your career, consider the benefits of hiring an expert; click here to find a member of the Career Management Alliance.

Posted by Karen P. Katz

Who will speak for the Millennials? Log-in, please...

Let's see if we can generate a little controversy on the heels of the 60 Minutes segment about Millennials...

It's the same story: over-protected middle class children of Boomers have grown up to become under-worked adults?  You've heard it:  they are can't accept constructive criticism, expect to move to the corner office within months of their arrival, and need to bring their dogs to work so they can leave early to take Rover to obedience school.

So do you buy it?  If you are a Millennial, does this sound like you?  If you are a Boomer, is this an accurate description of your children?      

If you missed the program on Nov. 11th, let's see if this technologically-challenged Boomer can provide you with a link to view the 12.55 minute excerpt: (cut and paste into your Browser, pls.) http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/emailtoafriend/videoplayer_share.html?id=3486473n&section=60%20Minutes&title=The%20Millennials%20Are%20Coming!#

So ya'll come back now and raise a ruckus about this - do it on the boss's time and post it from your Blackberry...

Karen P. Katz

Straight From the Horse's Mouth

Getting an interview is a big deal and for sure, it’s hard work to land one in today’s competitive market. Having said that, when you do get such an opportunity, make sure that what you’ve been told by “insiders” is factual, and not a “rumor.”

My friend submitted a resume for his “dream job.” Prior to doing so, he scouted around for somebody who knew somebody within the organization. Good move, smart move. Internal contact…potential information generator. He was told by his “internal source” that even if he was granted an interview, rumor had it they’d already made their pick…an internal candidate named “Jane Doe.”

A couple of days went by and my friend got a call; he’d been selected for an interview. Courtesy interview or not, my friend went because of the stellar reputation of the employer. When he arrived, he was greeted by none other than Jane Doe, the very person slated to get the job, according to “inside sources.” As it turned out, Jane Doe announced to him that in fact she was relocating to another state and would be “sitting in on the interview.”

Bottom line, the “insider information” was inaccurate. While well-intentioned, the source simply didn’t have all the facts and communicated erroneous information to my friend. Moral of story: get the facts – straight from the horse’s mouth.

Posted by: billie sucher

'Tis the Season to be Job Hunting

At a meeting last week I surprised people with the advice that this is a good time of year to step up your job search. Typically people think of the winter holidays as a time to ease up on job search activities, thinking "not much will be happening" at this time of year. However, an article by Sinara O'Donnell in the Wall Street Journal's Career Journal says otherwise. From the perspective of a recruiter, she debunks 5 job search myths, and she points out the extent to which holiday hiring actually does take place.

The myths, according to O'Donnell:

• nobody hires in December
• you won't find the job you really want in December
• nothing ever happens after December 15, so you might as well leave town
• even if an employer has an opening, the hiring manager won't have time to meet with you
• you'll have a better chance if you wait until the first of the year

The reality:

• this is an excellent time for networking
• there's less competition (thanks to the myth)
• companies sometimes have to spend money in their budgets before the end of the year
• recruiters are motivated to place people so they can maximize their commission by year-end
• many companies want to start the year off strong, with their best team on board

What you can do to jump start your job search around the holidays:

• use holiday gatherings as an opportunity to network
• use holidays (especially Thanksgiving!) as a time to thank those who have been helpful in your search so far
• develop a list of target companies and share that with family and friends, and contact target companies - whether or not they have job openings - many companies are in the planning stages and your letter will arrive just as the need has been identified
• continue to look for job leads and submit your resume in the traditional ways

With a strong job search plan in place, you increase the chances that your season will be jolly.

posted by Wendy Gelberg

Discovering Your Second Act in Helping Others

I recently spoke with a friend who is traveling to Africa and volunteering her photography skills for a fundraising campaign. She recently retired. I am hearing more and more people who, as they approach their retirement years, are thinking about what to do and what's important to them in the second half of life.

Similar to my friend, many find themselves more interested in giving back to the community and figuring out what talents they have and want to use next -- particularly in the fields of education and social services. Others never lost their thirst for adventure.

As a result, a growing number of Americans are joining the Peace Corps later in life. The agency offers a 50 Plus program which puts the skills and life experiences of Americans past 50 to work in countries seeking Peace Corps volunteers.

According the the agency's website, one of every 20 volunteers these days is over 50. Many are retiring, and others sign up to rejuvenate their lives with a mid-career change. If you are fascinated with the idea of learning about other cultures or traveling, this is one way you can experience new adventures while helping the world.

Posted by Louise Garver

A Brand You World...Counting the Minutes to 11/8

Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Personal Branding

To mark the 10th Anniversary of personal branding, on November 8th -- yes, that's tomorrow!, 24 free teleseminars with experts in the field of personal branding will be the HAPPENING EVENT of the day, year, DECADE! Anyone in the world with a telephone can be a part of this amazing day!

Check out the events you wish to attend, choosing from career success, entrepreneurial success and talent management. Pick one or pick many events and spend your day tomorrow immersed in learning from the personal branding masters!

Register now! Until tomorrow, counting down the minutes...

posted by: billie sucher

To mark the 10th Anniversary of personal branding, on November 8th -- yes, that's tomorrow!, 24 free teleseminars with experts in the field of personal branding will be the HAPPENING EVENT of the day, year, DECADE! Anyone in the world with a telephone can be a part of this amazing day!

Check out the events you wish to attend, choosing from career success, entrepreneurial success and talent management. Pick one or pick many events and spend your day tomorrow immersed in learning from the personal branding masters!

Register now! Until tomorrow, counting down the minutes...

posted by: billie sucher

Six Degrees of Separation

It's a small world. It's been said that we're all connected to everyone else by no more than six steps, the Six Degrees of Separation. We're linked to our circle of contacts, and each of those people is linked to his or her circle of contacts, and as you travel through the links, you can connect to just about anyone.

Two recent client stories illustrate how this principle can be useful in your job search.

1. By Design - Michael was invited for an interview at an organization where his friend Pam had once worked, and he contacted Pam to see if she still knew anyone there. Sure enough, she knew someone in a different department at the organization. Through this contact, Michael was able to get useful background information that helped him prepare for the interview.
2. By Chance - Two days after the interview, Michael's wife happened to mention his interview to her long-time friend, Joanne, as they caught up on each other's news. Joanne realized that the husband of her cousin worked for that organization and she mentioned his name - it was [small world!] the very person Michael had interviewed with! Realizing the coincidence, she offered to share the "small world" story with her cousin's husband and to put in a good word for Michael.

Interestingly, both Pam and Joanne knew about Michael's job search, yet neither knew of this specific job lead. When they heard the company's name, however, they knew people who knew people associated with it, and those contacts proved useful.

According to Diane Darling, in The Networking Survival Guide, each of us typically has between 200 and 250 people in our circle of contacts. If you keep your contacts informed about specific job leads as well as target companies, chances are you'll find some overlapping circles, that you're not far removed from someone you need to speak to or know more about. It is, after all, a small world.

posted by Wendy Gelberg

Protect Your Data in Online Applications

Identity theft is a growing and worrisome issue as we hear about theft or loss of sensitive data from government and other offices containing bank account records, social security numbers and other private information.

Although we strive to be more cautious in providing our personal data to protect ourselves, there's a new arena ripe for scammers. Millions of job seekers complete online job applications and enter their private data on federal government and private industry websites. Online applications that require entering your Social Security number may pose a risk. Collecting such data doesn't make sense since most applications will be deemed unqualified.

There's no problem if it's not a required field. However, you don't want to be passed over when completing online applications. Mark Mehler, co-founder of CareerXroads, offers a solution that sounds logical (at least for private industry): make up a number. You can mention in your cover letter that you are concerned about private issues and will provide your correct number during the hiring process.

Posted by Louise Garver