May 2009 Archives

It is tough out there.  National unemployment is lingering in the 9-10% range.  But there are jobs.  At a time like this, a job seeker needs to be more diligent and strategic than ever.  But in this blog I am going to tell you what NOT to do.

I urge you... please don't be a needy, clingy job seeker.

We all have, or had, friends and significant others who are needy and clingy.  People who do less and expect more from you.  People who can't be independent.  People who ooze a huge lack of confidence and self-esteem.  Do we find it attractive in our personal relationships?  No!  And companies don't find it attractive, either.

DON'T do the following...

1) Send follow-up notes to recruiters and contacts asking "if there are any openings yet?" 

2) Copy recruiters on mass emails to your friends and colleagues announcing a recent job loss or an update on your job search.

3) Call a recruiter or hiring manager 2-3 times days after you submitted a resume.

Just ask yourself...  would you take any similar actions in your personal life?  Would you mass email everyone you know if you got dumped?

The fundamentals of the job search have not changed, even in this tough market.  There is increased competition in numbers, but not in quality (and by quality, I mean someone who is taking a very strategic job search approach).

The Wall Street Journal has a great blog "Laid Off And Looking" that I suggest you start reading.  Today's entry was titled: Managing the Imperfect Resume.

I decided to post a comment and wanted to share it with you:

"While the resume is a vital part of the job search, I also think it might be one of the most over-rated.  The reason?  It's a piece of personal marketing collateral.  And good marketing collateral is tailored to specific audiences. 

Most job seekers create "one size fits all" resumes.  These are the equivalent of spam email or mass mailings.

I'd recommend that your readers seek informational interviews first (without even sending a resume) and ask questions like:
* What is the profile of someone who has been successful in this department?
* What skill set is necessary to succeed?
* What are your areas of pain?
* What required skills or experiences are specific to this role and are likely not transferable?

Based on answers to these (and similar) questions, job seekers can tailor their resumes to meet the specific gaps and areas of pain to their target organizations.  You want to appear to be as close to "round peg, round hole" as possible."

Photo by: adobemac

Guest blog by Winnie Yang

I've always been mesmerized by the intricacies of Barack Obama's manipulation of words.  They give me the shivers and a little bit of inspiration whenever I'm feeling depleted.  So when Brian asked me to write a reflection on his recent speech, I jumped, leaped and karate-kicked in my head at the opportunity.  The President spoke at Arizona State University's commencement last week moving the graduates to redefine success and to cultivate a deeper, more passionate and more personal body of work. 

In facing this desperate job market, many have used this recession as a cushion to their consciousness - that the economy is the reason for their unemployment.  It's true, finding a job is harder, I would know, but that hasn't stopped me from knocking on people's doors, and it shouldn't stop you either, ever! 

Graduating this past weekend has tugged at me to put everything in perspective and to steady this exploding emotional uneasiness within.  Don't be disillusioned, graduating college is not the end; it's actually just the beginning.  Let's be honest, living away from your parents but still being connected to their credit card is not independence.  Nonetheless, we've succeeded in graduating, and now we will start our own body of work.  College has given us the tools to build our life the way we have envisioned it and an opportunity to change the motion of the world the way we want it to move.  However, to take the stand, to take the bite, and to achieve that success, one has to have a solid footing and the right mindset to begin. 

How do you define success?  During the commencement speech, the President criticized the old formulas of chasing the brass rings tied to the fleeting feeling of 'success' structured around the attainment of money, title, and fame.  In a time of building and rebuilding, he mentioned how this old formula will not lead you to where you want to go, in fact it may stray you further from your life purpose, leaving you with emptiness.  It is only when you find a purpose that is bigger than yourself, for the betterment of your community, your nation and this world, will you be able to truly appreciate and value your own body of work.  The people who have made a difference in this world are those who have devoted themselves to pursue a purpose bigger than themselves - preserving the Union, lifting the country out of depression, creating quality products that have changed how we think and work.  You may snicker at this analogy, and think "who am I to make that kind of mark in my generation?"  Well, if not you, then who?  If not now, then when? 

I believe success comes in phases.  When you graduate, land your first job, get a promotion... These phases should not define your body of work.  The nectars of success are sweet but the process was painful - the soul you poured, the sleep you lost, the hunger for completion.  But what will separates you from the person who is better than you is that extra step they took, the extra practice they did, all of which made them THAT much better.  So never be satisfied.  There's a succession to success, a continuation that delves deeper and will make the nectars sweeter. 

Don't stop.  The President urged graduates to never fall into a state of complacency because that is when a person has fallen into a poverty of ambition.  In today's global economy where the rest of the world is not content with where they are and is determined to strive for more, we can not afford to be satisfied.  Regardless of your title or your past achievements, it does not define the way you lead your life, your compassion for those around you or your humility for what may lay ahead.  Even as President, Barack Obama does not believe he is even close to completing his life work, and so he never stops doing, learning or achieving.  He has spread hope and inspiration across nations and boundaries, and we will soon enough see the legacy of his presidency. 

Graduating at a time like this gives me hope.  It just proves that there is so much in this world that I can help change and move, help rebuild and shape.  You can change the world, you just have to try.  So never loose your curiosity to learn, never stop believing in the depth of your capabilities and the reach of your dreams.  Dream big, class of 2009, and you will succeed. 

Here are two of my favorite quotes from his speech:

In talking about needing young people to regenerate the country:
"I'm talking about an approach to life - a quality of mind and heart.  A willingness to follow your passions, regardless of whether they lead to fortune and fame. A willingness to question conventional wisdom and rethink the old dogmas. A lack of regard for all the traditional markers of status and prestige - and a commitment instead to doing what is meaningful to you, what helps others, what makes a difference in this world."

"That is what building a body of work is all about - it's about the daily labor, the many individual acts, the choices large and small that add up to a lasting legacy. It's about not being satisfied with the latest achievement, the latest gold star - because one thing I know about a body of work is that it's never finished. It's cumulative; it deepens and expands with each day that you give your best, and give back, and contribute to the life of this nation. You may have set-backs, and you may have failures, but you're not done - not by a longshot."

My recruiting buddy, Jessica Lee, wrote an interesting blog post yesterday about a job seeker who was standing on a street corner in downtown Washington D.C. wearing a business suit and an orange sign that read "ENTRY LEVEL JOB SEEKER."  First, kudos to Jessica for getting a blog up about this right away (you should definitely subscribe to her blog and follow her on Twitter).

Second, I definitely applaud the spirit of Michael's "outside the box" approach which must require some real solid inner game to pull off.

The reality is, most of us aren't going to be donning neon orange signs to stand out.  So what can you do?  Here are five tips.  Incorporate them into your job search today:

1)    Write a fantastic LinkedIn profile full of keywords, metrics, awards and accomplishments.  Review attractive job descriptions first and be sure to include the same "buzz words" you see in the responsibilities and qualifications sections.   Include a picture of yourself in business attire.  Set your current status to something specific "Seeking to leverage my five years of agency brand marketing experience in an in-house brand manager role at a leading consumer goods company in Atlanta."  Include your email address and links to your resume, portfolio, Twitter, etc.

2)    Limit your computer time.  I said it.  Perform enough research to enable you to draft an email to a contact seeking an informational conversation.  But remember, the more time you spend on the Internet, the less time you are spending speaking with someone in-person (best) or over the phone.

3)    Be True to your School.  I love the 'Cuse and will always make time to chat with recent grads or fellow alumni.  Find fellow alumni at your target companies, research them (LinkedIn, Twitter, blogs, etc.) and send them an intro note seeking a brief informational chat.  Unless they are a total jerk, they will chat with you and share advice and guidance.  And if they are a jerk, you don't want to know them anyway...

4)    Engage recruiters and professionals via social media.  Twitter and blogs provide you an opportunity to "see" what recruiters and professionals at your target companies are saying... what they care about.  Engage in a conversation with them by "retweeting" and replying to interesting Twitter posts and job opportunities and by commenting on blogs with insightful comments and links to useful resources.

5)    When you feel you've hit a wall, think outside the box like Michael.  I got my first full-time job by cold-emailing the General Manager of the office.  I also urge you to read my recent post about how my colleague turned a chance meeting in an apartment building into a job.

Photo by: edans

Anyone who reads this blog knows I love technology, gadgets and social media.  But I also believe in the importance of building rapport face-to-face and taking an "old school" approach to the job search.

I have noticed a few interesting trends over the past couple years... trends that lead me to believe many of us are becoming "lazy" job seekers (unintentional or not).  Following are some of my key observations:

Online Postings: I urge you to read my previous post on the ROI of online job postings (or lack thereof).  Job seekers continue to spend the majority of their time on an activity with little ROI.  WHY?!  I assume it's because it's easy and job seekers can check off an imaginary item on their "to do" list.  "I applied to 50 job postings today.  Yeah me!"  Well I recently received an email from a job seeker who had applied to 1,200 jobs over the past two years with no luck.  I don't need that much data to detect a trend.

Email: Gone are the days of the hand-written note.  I actually have no problem with an email thank you note, but far too many people copy/paste generic thank you notes, swap out a name and hit send.  The problem with this is you're missing an opportunity to differentiate yourself.  But, to be honest, a lousy hand-written note isn't great, either.  My take?  It's not the medium, it's the message!  Take the time to write a tailored note (or email) that highlights four or five specific items you discussed.  (Related note:  I can't tell you how many one-word and one-sentence emails I get with no salutation or close but with the tag line "Sent from my BlackBerry."  It is so annoying.)

Google: The Big G.  What would I do without Gmail, Gmail chat, Google Reader, Google News, Google Analytics and, oh yeah, the search engine?  You can easily find so much data, blogs or news about a company or someone you are going to interview with.  Do most people spend an hour or two performing in-depth research leading up to an interview?  No!  Why?  I have no idea... Definitely read this blog post about how one job seeker Googled her way to a job!

Social Media: I think social media has completely changed the way we connect professionally and personally.  I couldn't live without LinkedIn.  I am on LinkedIn five days per week, every week.  I have used it to identify contacts in Brazil, Argentina, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong, in addition to North America.  My advice?  Research and follow people on social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter) for a week or two, but you've got to request a face-to-face informational interview. 

So why do so many people cut corners?  Is it technology, the need for instant gratification, a disdain of hard work or something else?  What do you think?  Before Google, would you have gone to the library and gone through phone book-sized directories to find contacts?  Would you have sent them a letter and followed-up via phone? 

Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.

"No one else can take action but me.  Upon that realization, I began to accept responsibility not only for my life to date, but for the process of making it come alive from that point forward." - Jonathan Fields on pg. 268 of "Career Renegade"

I haven't done many book reviews, but a recent title, Career Renegade, caught my eye because it was featured on one of my favorite blogs: ZenHabits.  I believe that birds of a feather flock together, so any book featured on that blog would be worth checking out.

My suspicion was right!  Career Renegade hits on a few key areas that I believe are important in any self-development book: inspiration, tangible action items and resources.  The book begins with a brief look at the author's (Jonathan Fields's) career and the surprising turn he took when his body "shut down" due to his stressful job as a hedge-fund lawyer in New York City. 

After recovering from emergency surgery, he made a list of jobs he would enjoy.  He saved up several months income and left his law gig to explore a career as a personal trainer and later opened a wildly successful yoga studio.

If that story isn't enough inspiration for you, Fields sprinkles in several vignettes of other people who have pursued their passions and become entrepreneurs.  A few of my favorites include a struggling artist who found her niche decorating cupcakes and cakes; a video game addict who launched a popular Web site to provide tips for the John Madden football game; and a Doctor who moved to Hawaii and launched his own coffee business.

Inspiration.  Check.

I am a student of philosophy, but I think today's self-development books need to be less about philosophy and more about doing.  Career Renegade provides countless strategies and tactics on topics including identifying your genuine passion, testing the viability of your idea and acquiring the knowledge and assets you need to act.

Tangible action items.  Check.

Lastly, I am always eager to find new resources, books, blogs and Web sites.  Fields provides dozens of links to his favorite resources with a heavy emphasis on Web sites, blogs and social media.  Following are a couple of my favorite new resources gleaned from the book:

http://addictomatic.com/

http://tools.seobook.com/keyword-tools/seobook/

Resources.  Check.

I think Career Renegade is an excellent book for anyone who has a deep desire to start their own business whether it be a coffee shop, winery, art gallery, etc.  I think creative and idealistic thinkers would really embrace Fields, who has a passion for yoga and life, and doesn't appear to be driven solely by money.  It's definitely a must-read for would-be entrepreneurs who fear the unknown and need a final kick in the butt to make the leap.  I also think there are enough resources, and a great chapter on networking (chapter 19) for it to be valuable for folks who prefer to reside in Corporate America.

The second-half of the book is pretty heavy on Web sites and blogs so readers who are less tech-savvy might need to do some homework first.

On a side note, Fields has created a business for his Career Renegade empire at www.careerrenegade.com.  I have found some really valuable blog posts and fun videos including this one with another favorite blogger of mine, Gary Vaynerchuk.

Fields is all over social media.  Follow him at:

    * Twitter: jonathanfields
    * Facebook: Jonathan Fields
    * LinkedIn: JonathanFields
    * StumbleUpon: jonathanfields
    * Digg: JonathanFields

Photo by: dawgbyte77

I thought I'd share a nice note from a student I met a few weeks ago:

Date: 5/11/2009

Subject: Hey Brian

Brian,

Just wanted to let you know that after taking your advice when you came to JMU, I was able to land an internship at AOL for the summer. Before my first interview I researched the marketing manager like crazy the night before, then found information about her and her team members the night after the interview. I nailed the second interview by doing a couple more hours of research on my next interviewer the following week.

I don't know if I would have won out over the other candidates if it weren't for those couple of hours spent googling AOL marketing managers.

Hope all is well!

Lindsey M

I enjoy notes like this for two reasons: 1) it's great to hear success stories from people who employ the strategies and tactics we discuss on this blog and 2) they provide a little inspiration for those of you who are currently interviewing.

I spent some time on the phone today with a recruiter from one of the ten largest companies in the U.S. and our conversation turned to interviewing.  I told the recruiter that I believe candidates can almost guarantee themselves a second-round interview by doing more prep work and research than the competition.  The recruiter agreed.  That's actually what Lindsey did during her interviews at AOL.  She wanted the job more than any of the other candidates.  She didn't say it, she demonstrated it with her research and the questions she asked as a result.

Remember, actions speak louder than words.

Please share some of your interviewing anecdotes and tips in the comments section!

Collage by: Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten

The New York Times wrote an interesting piece last week "All You Need to Know About Twitter."  It's an interesting article and I suggest you check it out (after you're done reading this blog, of course!)

I thought it would be valuable to write a blog about the top ten ways to get started on Twitter.  So I called up my recruiting buddy Amybeth Hale (@researchgoddess) and we put together a list for you.  I highly recommend you follow her on Twitter and check out her blog.  So here goes:

1) Create your Twitter profile and include links to your blog, LinkedIn profile, etc.

2) Search for thought leaders (recruiters, etc.) in your industry and follow them.

3) Download TweetDeck and add a few keyword searches for very specific phrases: "public relations job" or #Jobs, #JobAdvice, etc.

4) Register and complete a profile on www.twellow.com.

5) Follow @MrTweet and find the influential Twitterers in your space.

6) Contribute to the conversations in which hashtags are used: Amybeth "I always see a huge uptick in followers when I do so (usually 15-20 new users per moderated hashtag discussion)."

7) Be generous: @ respond to people frequently and RT good articles (be sure to read them first!).

8) PARTICIPATE: Amybeth "You cannot expect to glean value from a "social media" tool if you aren't social (that means, if you're only talking AT people) - you must engage in two-way conversations."

9) Use www.tweepler.com to keep your contacts organized.

10) Use bit.ly, ow.ly, bud.url, or cli.gs to shorten and track traffic to your URLs.

We'll throw in one extra!

11) Other interesting Twitter applications include www.twittertise.com and www.tweetlater.com (to post-date tweets) and www.twitterfeed.com to tweet links from your blog or other favorite RSS feed.

What other tips or Twitter applications do you recommend?

Photo by: sffoghorn

Is there a phrase more synonymous with college than "ROADTRIP?"  Maybe "mac & chesese" or "all-nighter."  I'm sure you have a few others.

I took my first college road trip during Halloween weekend of my sophomore year.  A bunch of guys from my dorm packed up a tiny sedan and drove the four hours up Route 81 from Syracuse, NY to beautiful Montreal, Canada.

It was actually quite a historic weekend to be in Montreal because Quebec was voting whether or not to secede from Canada (see 1995 Quebec referendum).  We were fortunate enough to score standing room tickets at the old Montreal Forum for a classic match-up between the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens.  During the Canadian national anthem, half the crowd booed and half cheered.  Not surprising, since the referendum was defeated by the narrowest of margins: 50.58% to 49.42%.

I learned many things on that trip: poutine (French fries + gravy) is absolutely delicious, watching Hockey Night in Canada IN CANADA is so much better than on satellite TV and St. Catherine Street is to Canada what Bourbon Street is to the United States. 

One thing I didn't learn was how to engage in career exploration, but fortunately an entrepreneurial group of college students decided to give new meaning to the term.

Roadtrip Nation is a PBS television series (as well as a Web site, blog, books) that focuses on career exploration.  A few college students drive from city to city in a big green RV interviewing everyone from a lobsterman in Maine to Drummer ?uestlove of The Roots (one of my favorite bands) to Jim Koch, Founder of Boston Beer Company, better known as the brewery that produces Samuel Adams.  The purpose?  To learn about what motivated each of these people to choose their current career.  In most cases, the answer was passion!

Being from Boston, and a huge fan of great beer, I decided to post the interview with Jim Koch.  He poses some really interesting points:

"Getting rich is life's big booby prize."

"In the big scheme of things, what would you rather be, happy or rich?"

"The big risk would have been staying at a job that wasn't fulfilling and wasting my life.  That's a risk."

I strongly recommend you watch this video.  It's only eight minutes. 

Have any of you left a secure job to pursue a passion?