Friday, April 21, 2006
What Happens in Vegas...
What do the Blackjack table at Bally's hotel casino and the pool at Mandalay Bay have in common? Last week three recent college graduates, through networking with once-a-year high rollers and sun worshippers, secured solid employment leads with companies such as Eastman Kodak; Wyeth Laboratories; Smith, Kline, Beecham and Genentech.
Now before you dismiss this as a rich kids' vacation, please understand that a where hiring authorities and decision-makers happened to be convening (along with your career coach) required less money than other traditional Spring Break destinations. These kids spent $550 each for airfare and hotel for 6 nights. They ate cheap but well. Best of all they came face-to-face with opportunity. Here's what happened:
Rachael, an Atlanta-based Marketing Manager and Tim, a Rochester-based Global Marketing Director, were playing Blackjack after a long day of Eastman Kodak presentations, when Tim and Aubrey joined us . I happened to be there to introduce them immediately after learning that they were Marketing majors just 60 days from their Ohio State University graduations. Ida, the wealthy tycoon from Asia, patiently continued with my Blackjack lessons.
I wasn't at the Mandalay Bay pool but Angela was and suddenly there he stood… an executive recruiter with Medpro. Like many others, Angela had been pursuing healthcare sales and learned much that afternoon. Back in their respective cities, she and her new mentor email everyday discussing the best markets for immediate relocation when accepting a job. He has her resume, and phone interviews should be coming within the next several weeks.
I am not promoting trips to Las Vegas. You don't have to go that far! What I am suggesting is that job seekers get away from the computer screen, meet real human beings and schmoose. If you're an outgoing female, you will meet folks at the gym, beauty shop and grocery store. Men tend to converse on airplanes, their kids' soccer fields and golf courses. And don't forget churches and other houses or worship... Be a greeter... Work in the nursery! I have decades of case studies of what happens to folks who appropriately chat with strangers. My first trip to Cancun put me in the midst of female GE executives in a sauna. But I also found myself surrounded by two Human Resource Directors from Nationwide at my local beauty salon. "He who gets out of the house gets hired!"...
Now before you dismiss this as a rich kids' vacation, please understand that a where hiring authorities and decision-makers happened to be convening (along with your career coach) required less money than other traditional Spring Break destinations. These kids spent $550 each for airfare and hotel for 6 nights. They ate cheap but well. Best of all they came face-to-face with opportunity. Here's what happened:
Rachael, an Atlanta-based Marketing Manager and Tim, a Rochester-based Global Marketing Director, were playing Blackjack after a long day of Eastman Kodak presentations, when Tim and Aubrey joined us . I happened to be there to introduce them immediately after learning that they were Marketing majors just 60 days from their Ohio State University graduations. Ida, the wealthy tycoon from Asia, patiently continued with my Blackjack lessons.
I wasn't at the Mandalay Bay pool but Angela was and suddenly there he stood… an executive recruiter with Medpro. Like many others, Angela had been pursuing healthcare sales and learned much that afternoon. Back in their respective cities, she and her new mentor email everyday discussing the best markets for immediate relocation when accepting a job. He has her resume, and phone interviews should be coming within the next several weeks.
I am not promoting trips to Las Vegas. You don't have to go that far! What I am suggesting is that job seekers get away from the computer screen, meet real human beings and schmoose. If you're an outgoing female, you will meet folks at the gym, beauty shop and grocery store. Men tend to converse on airplanes, their kids' soccer fields and golf courses. And don't forget churches and other houses or worship... Be a greeter... Work in the nursery! I have decades of case studies of what happens to folks who appropriately chat with strangers. My first trip to Cancun put me in the midst of female GE executives in a sauna. But I also found myself surrounded by two Human Resource Directors from Nationwide at my local beauty salon. "He who gets out of the house gets hired!"...
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Are You a Deer in the Headlights?
I felt badly for the engineering manager who got a call from NASA in Houston. Following a recommendation from an internal source they offered to fly her down within 48 hours for an interview. What an opportunity!
Frantic, she called and begged us to prepare her resume. She had a stellar background with 15 years' experience but we couldn't help her. Nor could any of our colleagues. She had waited too long. I don't know what became of her. My instincts tell me that she was forced to resort to the "Bill Gates" Windows resume template. An enviable career on a form-type resume. Not a good thing! Could this issue kill the deal? You bet!
Can you imagine an athlete beginning his first training session the night before the big game? Executives and professionals do it all the time! Job seekers who believe they are good communicators call me for "quick tips" the night before their interviews! Everyone wants quick tips so here goes!
Recently I ran into Pat Tiberi, my U.S. Congressman. Knowing elections are coming this November I asked him if he was running. "Janice," he said with sincere intensity, "I'm always running!"
Frantic, she called and begged us to prepare her resume. She had a stellar background with 15 years' experience but we couldn't help her. Nor could any of our colleagues. She had waited too long. I don't know what became of her. My instincts tell me that she was forced to resort to the "Bill Gates" Windows resume template. An enviable career on a form-type resume. Not a good thing! Could this issue kill the deal? You bet!
Can you imagine an athlete beginning his first training session the night before the big game? Executives and professionals do it all the time! Job seekers who believe they are good communicators call me for "quick tips" the night before their interviews! Everyone wants quick tips so here goes!
- As the job market improves so do unexpected opportunities. You never know when a recruiter will call.
- You have more competition than ever. Baby boomers, the largest single generation since the Depression raised and educated Generation X and now are competing with them! There's talent everywhere! How are your presentation skills?
- There is no such thing as a quick resume. If you're expecting to show your level of professionalism with a one-page list of where you work containing little bullet phrases with five words you will be defeated by someone more prepared. Count on it!
- Your communication skills will be nothing on an interview without strong, compelling content. Our clients begin interview training months before they go out into the jungle! You can't finesse, wing it or charm someone into hiring you. Leave your ego home!
Recently I ran into Pat Tiberi, my U.S. Congressman. Knowing elections are coming this November I asked him if he was running. "Janice," he said with sincere intensity, "I'm always running!"
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Back to the Drawing Board with Dwayne
Dwayne... Dwane... Dwayne... I shudder when I speak your name!
So much for my poetry but Dwayne and I have a long way to go to get him hired! Oh he's a very accomplished middle manager; he changes jobs every three to four years which isn't all bad. He does a great job; he looks great; he sounds great and he just got his almighty MBA.
He also just killed one of the best career opportunities he's ever going to see. He attempted to negotiate $6,000 more than his current employer is now him paying to go to a new employer. His rationale? That darned MBA! So back to the beginning we go!
What was Dwayne thinking? Speaking out as employers seldom do, this employer asked him why, when it took his current employer 4 years to pay him $65k a year, did he feel entitled to $71k to walk in the new door? He had no answer except some graduate classes, term papers and passing grades on his exams. MBA's aren't entitled to more!
Dwayne learned his lesson when he received his rejection letter. Here's the real deal... Jobs have pre-determined compensation ranges and job seekers have blue-book values just like cars. Judging value to determine your paycheck is performance and achievement-based! What have you done for your employers to justify the compensation you're demanding from the next one? What's the going rate for you, anyway?
To arrogantly demand with no substantiation defies logic and turns off employers. I'm a big believer in negotiating compensation but with justification! My favorite book that we use in my coaching practice is How to Negotiate $1000 a Minute by Jack Chapman. Dwayne is currently reading his...
So much for my poetry but Dwayne and I have a long way to go to get him hired! Oh he's a very accomplished middle manager; he changes jobs every three to four years which isn't all bad. He does a great job; he looks great; he sounds great and he just got his almighty MBA.
He also just killed one of the best career opportunities he's ever going to see. He attempted to negotiate $6,000 more than his current employer is now him paying to go to a new employer. His rationale? That darned MBA! So back to the beginning we go!
What was Dwayne thinking? Speaking out as employers seldom do, this employer asked him why, when it took his current employer 4 years to pay him $65k a year, did he feel entitled to $71k to walk in the new door? He had no answer except some graduate classes, term papers and passing grades on his exams. MBA's aren't entitled to more!
Dwayne learned his lesson when he received his rejection letter. Here's the real deal... Jobs have pre-determined compensation ranges and job seekers have blue-book values just like cars. Judging value to determine your paycheck is performance and achievement-based! What have you done for your employers to justify the compensation you're demanding from the next one? What's the going rate for you, anyway?
To arrogantly demand with no substantiation defies logic and turns off employers. I'm a big believer in negotiating compensation but with justification! My favorite book that we use in my coaching practice is How to Negotiate $1000 a Minute by Jack Chapman. Dwayne is currently reading his...
