Thursday, May 29, 2008
Resumes & Money Don't Mix
How often have you responded to an advertisement that asked for your salary history (what you've made in the past) or salary requirements (current salary expectations?) Most likely, quite often. Always remember that your resume is NOT the appropriate place in which to discuss salary.
If you must say something, save this discussion for the cover letter. Tell the employer that your requirements are flexible (I don't like the word "negotiable") and that you prefer to discuss the specifics in privacy. Then find out what the job pays, go impress and then listen! The next thing you hear just might be your job offer and you could just have put yourself in an attractive negotiating posture!
If you must say something, save this discussion for the cover letter. Tell the employer that your requirements are flexible (I don't like the word "negotiable") and that you prefer to discuss the specifics in privacy. Then find out what the job pays, go impress and then listen! The next thing you hear just might be your job offer and you could just have put yourself in an attractive negotiating posture!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Don't Rely on Hearsay!
In a recession, your career decisions will directly impact your opportunities in a tight job market. Therefore you cannot rely on unsubstantiated information. The best way to make sure you make informed decisions.
One common mistake among job seekers is not using free or low-cost information available from credentialed, experienced career service professionals. Instead, they listen to co-workers, spouses, or their retired uncles who teach college English. While these folks all have valuable input and good intentions, not everything they offer falls under the category of good advice.
Visit your local bookstore and locate good career books. If you can't afford to buy the books frequent the library. Use this Internet to find free information. We bloggers are here for you! However be sure to examine the credentials of any book and website authors to verify that they are qualified to offer advice.
In short, don't believe everything you hearyes. Everyone has changed jobs and many have hired staff. Believe me that doesn't make them experts. Seek help from those who spend their days in the trenches.
One common mistake among job seekers is not using free or low-cost information available from credentialed, experienced career service professionals. Instead, they listen to co-workers, spouses, or their retired uncles who teach college English. While these folks all have valuable input and good intentions, not everything they offer falls under the category of good advice.
Visit your local bookstore and locate good career books. If you can't afford to buy the books frequent the library. Use this Internet to find free information. We bloggers are here for you! However be sure to examine the credentials of any book and website authors to verify that they are qualified to offer advice.
In short, don't believe everything you hearyes. Everyone has changed jobs and many have hired staff. Believe me that doesn't make them experts. Seek help from those who spend their days in the trenches.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Why Tough Guys Finish First
Everybody likes tough guys. From Vito Corleone to Tony Soprano these personas continue to be phenomenally popular. Tough guys are also good guys such as John Wayne, Harrison Ford and Sean Connery. Their movies are some of the entertainment industry's most popular. We feel good watching tough guys and amazingly some of us even emulate them, forgetting they are merely figments of screen writers.
We also hunger to study and observe corporate tough guys as illustrated by the popularity of Donald Trump, Jack Welch and even the quiet but mighty Bill Gates. What's the appeal of these tough guys? We admire their power and their successes. Most important, they win our confidence, a fact that deserves close examination by any job seeker.
Following my survey of Human Resource Directors last year, I sought to survey and study several more-accessible corporate leaders looking to see if they too were tough guys. Predictably all the business leaders I questioned (there were seven nationwide) had some combined characteristics of tough guys though not bad guys. While differing in age, diversity, economic background, industry, and even management styles, they all had certain qualities in common, and when conducting hiring campaigns, they required and sought other tough guys! Here are the qualities they preferred!
Opinionated and passionate but never arrogant... No rear view mirrors and no excuses for past failures... Insatiable hunger to be proactive... Extremely likeable... Never Greedy
We also hunger to study and observe corporate tough guys as illustrated by the popularity of Donald Trump, Jack Welch and even the quiet but mighty Bill Gates. What's the appeal of these tough guys? We admire their power and their successes. Most important, they win our confidence, a fact that deserves close examination by any job seeker.
Following my survey of Human Resource Directors last year, I sought to survey and study several more-accessible corporate leaders looking to see if they too were tough guys. Predictably all the business leaders I questioned (there were seven nationwide) had some combined characteristics of tough guys though not bad guys. While differing in age, diversity, economic background, industry, and even management styles, they all had certain qualities in common, and when conducting hiring campaigns, they required and sought other tough guys! Here are the qualities they preferred!
Opinionated and passionate but never arrogant... No rear view mirrors and no excuses for past failures... Insatiable hunger to be proactive... Extremely likeable... Never Greedy
Monday, May 05, 2008
Savvy Strategies from FlowWork
I found these strategies from an organization that specializes in the concept of Social Networking. These are not normal strategies that we've heard for decades!
What Have You Got To Lose? Call 5 organizations that won't hire you. This may seem like a waste of time, but the point of the activity is to provide you with the opportunity to practice your cold calling. Thinking that you don't have an opportunity to get a job will lower the anxiety you may have about making contact with the employer. Give it a try. It's a great way of practicing your approach without affecting your chances for getting an interview at an employer you really want to work for.
Goal: Work on your approach to contacting employers.
Employer Risk - Something We Never Consider! Before you go on your next interview, ask yourself 'why might I not get the job?' Try and think about the risk the employer might face in hiring you. Are you new to the job of interest? Do you lack some of the skills required for the position? Do you live far from the place of work? Does your experience match what they are looking for? You can think of other questions to ask yourself. By focusing on the risk factors, you can proactively develop a plan on how to deal with any 'hidden objections' the employer may have and deal with them straight on.
Goal: Assess the employers risk on hiring you.
What Have You Got To Lose? Call 5 organizations that won't hire you. This may seem like a waste of time, but the point of the activity is to provide you with the opportunity to practice your cold calling. Thinking that you don't have an opportunity to get a job will lower the anxiety you may have about making contact with the employer. Give it a try. It's a great way of practicing your approach without affecting your chances for getting an interview at an employer you really want to work for.
Goal: Work on your approach to contacting employers.
Employer Risk - Something We Never Consider! Before you go on your next interview, ask yourself 'why might I not get the job?' Try and think about the risk the employer might face in hiring you. Are you new to the job of interest? Do you lack some of the skills required for the position? Do you live far from the place of work? Does your experience match what they are looking for? You can think of other questions to ask yourself. By focusing on the risk factors, you can proactively develop a plan on how to deal with any 'hidden objections' the employer may have and deal with them straight on.
Goal: Assess the employers risk on hiring you.
