Hiring Perspectives: Jamar Cobb-Dennard, ReachMore
My interview with Jamar was GREAT! He offered some great insight for jobseekers as he shared stories of his own job search and past hiring experiences.
Jamar is VP of Business Development for reachmore, a leadership training and management consulting firm that has a proven track record of inspiring business owners and management teams, to change their behavior and reach their goals.
You can find him on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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5 Ways to Make Networking Work for YOU!
Everyone has been telling you that you should network in your job search, right? What exactly does that mean, though? How does talking to people about the fact that you don’t have a job get you a job?
Here are five ways to make networking work for you:
1. Mix It Up.
Don’t, I repeat, don’t go to the same places with the same people over and over again. It is very easy to seek a pattern or habit when you are in a new and potentially uncomfortable place. Few people like going into a room of strangers and walking up to someone and telling him you are out of work. It sucks enough to know it – you don’t like having to say it. But… get over the fear! Expand your list of contacts. Grow your circle. Increase your influence.
- Network in groups of people who are looking for work.
- Network with people who are active in your industry.
- Network with people who already know you.
- Network with professionals who have companies in the same city you want to work.
2. Know Your Message.
You are the President, CEO, and Sales Manager for You, Inc. What are you selling? Who are you selling it to?
Let me fill you in a little secret… The answers are not that you are selling your resume (or a verbal version of it) to anyone who’s buying. I promise you that the overly general, include everything you’ve ever done, just in case someone might want you to do the job you did 17 years ago approach doesn’t work in a networking context.
Be specific. You should be able to tell anyone who asks, without hesitation, what your strengths are, a few job titles that would be a good fit, and what value you bring to an organization. Also, you should be able to tell anyone who asks 5 – 10 organizations and/or people you would like to meet or get to know better.
3. Do What You Say You’ll Do.
Everyone knows that actions speak louder than words; when you are networking for a job, this is more important than ever. You are sending micro-messages to your network with each and every commitment you make and keep (or don’t). Tell them how great you are!
- If you offer to make a connection for someone, do it. And do it in a timely manner.
- Planning to meet someone for a quick cup of coffee before your job club? Be on time!
- Has someone offered to introduce to you to their boss/friend/colleague as soon as you send your resume over? Take the time to tweak the resume for the job and get it over FAST!
4. Stay Top of Mind.
Do you have a strategy for helping your network remember what you are looking for? This is your job while you are searching. Don’t assume they will remember exactly which friend is looking for a network administrator job and who is looking for an IT support position. Use tools like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and email to remind your network of your search.
NOTE: There is a really fine line here that you must learn to walk. Don’t be “that guy” and send 14 messages a week to your full list of contacts. Its important to be aggressive, but not so much that people stop reading your messages or taking your calls because they are tired of your constant requests for help. Find a comfortable pace at which you will run the race.
5. Be Real.
Networking is work, don’t get me wrong. However, most networking meetings – whether one to one or in a group – are designed for people to connect. So put enough of yourself out there so others can connect to you. Smile. Laugh. Enjoy the opportunity to make some new contacts and potential friends. In sales, there is a saying that people do business with those they know, like and trust. Be someone who others will seek to know and like. The trust will follow when you are authentic in your relationships.
ANOTHER NOTE: As with #4, there is a line here. Use discretion when meeting new people and do not tell everyone everything about your personal and private life. Being real and authentic does not equate with telling your deepest darkest secrets. Its about finding a point of connection.
Hiring Perspectives: Robby Slaughter, Slaughter Development
Robby Slaughter, of Slaughter Development, sat down with me to talk about hiring, interviewing, candidate searching, and the importance of thinking and writing in a professional environment.
Check out Robby’s resume by clicking here. He has created a document that won’t match any you’ve ever seen!
You can connect with Robby on Twitter, on his blog, or through LinkedIn. Also, you can find him ranting (and raving) on Smaller Indiana.
“Finding a Job” Should Not Be Your Goal!
As a professional, middle class worker, you likely grew up with the understanding that goals are a key part of achieving success. Set goals. Focus on goals. Create action steps to get you to your goals. Blah, blah, blah. This mindset is one that has served me well, don’t get me wrong. Sometimes, though, I forgot the goal of goals: to move me forward in my career / education / purpose in life. I focused on achievement, not progress.
Recently, I read a post from Brass Tack Thinking that presented a good argument for the progress goal within the framework of the achievement goal. I passed it on to my friend Robby Slaughter and he blogged about it yesterday.
I contend that much of the frustration job seekers face in their search is found in this idea – that everything you do is framed by the single goal of finding a job. What would happen if you shifted your mindset and began focusing on goals like…
- increasing your network; specifically, expanding the positive impact you can have on your network
- enhancing your professional brand; specifically, educating yourself on a topic that interests you that you are not currently studying
- impacting your community; specifically, plugging into a local charity, non-profit, school organization, or church and offering your talents to better their cause and give back
- creating or improving a digital portfolio; specifically, creating slides of work that interests you, writing a blog post on an opinion you refute, finding a way to put your skills and strengths into the world for others to find
When your goals get smaller, your success gets bigger. You will get an interview. You will get a job. In the meantime, experience some success, manage your career path, and make an impact.
Hiring Perspectives: Nick Carter, AddressTwo
Check out Nick Carter, President of AddressTwo, talking about how and why he makes hiring decisions.
You can learn more about Address Two by visiting www.addresstwo.com and see how small businesses are managing their contacts and leads and creating more business through a simple, yet effective small business CRM.
Also, you can follow Nick on Twitter at @addresstwo or find him on LinkedIn by clicking here.
careerealism.com
I am thrilled, just thrilled, to announce that I am a part of the PHENOMENAL career advice site CAREEREALISM.com. You will find this site to be full of amazing, insightful, up to date and relevant information pertaining to all aspects of career management.
You can check out my bio and begin to explore the site by clicking here.
Hiring Perspectives
One key to successful job seeking is to embrace the art of it. It’s not a science. You cannot check off a list of 10 things and believe you have done what it takes to get the offer. You must understand the market and the audience to which you are applying.
However, understanding the market can be confusing, at best. If you are in a job search, you have learned very quickly that everyone has an opinion about the best way to find a job, write a resume, use (or don’t use) social media, etc. Career management has become a hot topic for everyone: we all know someone looking for a job, unhappy in her current position, or have read the stats and have strong opinions.
The challenge with all of this input is that it is all different:
- How do you know who to believe?
- Which advice to take?
- Where to go to find “the secret” to finding a job?
So… In an effort to show the importance of knowing the market and understanding your audience, I am beginning a series of interviews with folks that hire. Some are business owners with 5 employees, some are executives with 50 employees, some are HR folks who have hired for years, and others are recruiters. This series is not a way to advertise jobs or offer up people to coach you on resume writing or interviewing tips. Rather, it is my effort to demonstrate these things:
- People hire you, not robots.
- These people may have been trained how to conduct a “perfect interview”, they may not have been. Either way, they have opinions about what they want and look for in future employees.
- Everyone is different.
- Finding a job is about finding a fit – not just a paycheck. You need to know what you want so you can determine whether you are a good fit.
I will ask these hiring people a series of questions:
- Where do you go to find qualified candidates?
- What is the most important thing you consider when you select a candidate to interview?
- Describe some deal breakers for you and your organization, regardless of the position.
- How do you compare the required skills to the cultural fit? Which ranks higher?
- What is the one thing you wish all job seekers knew?
The interviews will be recorded and available on my blog by the end of September.
please read…
I am NOT a cynic. If you know me for even a minute, you will find that I am an optimist, an encourager, an overall positive girl. However, you will also find that I am direct, honest, and opinionated. When it comes to the career/workplace space, I have *some* thoughts… Based on experiences, research, logic and common sense – but strong thoughts, nonetheless.
The Onion is not normally my style of blog, as it is REALLY sarcastic. However, today, they hit the nail on the head! Wow! PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE! PLEASE!
Seeking With Desperation
I ran into a business acquaintance yesterday. We did the thing you do when you don’t see someone for a while:
“How are you?” (knowing she was going through some personal *stuff*)
“How’s the kiddo?” (knowing the kiddo is going through some *stuff* because Mom is going through some *stuff*)
“How’s the job?” (expecting the same information I’ve heard for the past year)
I was taken aback when she started to verbally TRASH her employer. Not the company; the person she works for. Describing a disaster of a manager – negative, high-pressure, negative, micro-managing, negative, unbearable. While it is not uncommon for me to talk to people who are unhappy with their current job, it was surprising to hear that this employee was desperately seeking new employment despite her HUGE success in her current position, simply because her employer’s attitude sucked!
The company is an easily recognized name in Indianapolis. The employer is a face many in “the industry” would recognize and respect. Sure, there have been some changes in the business – but everyone has faced that lately. But she – 110% – is willing to walk away from a solid paycheck, a reputable company, a recognizable brand. All because her employer is rude and negative and pushy and just not a nice person.
Lesson Learned: Personality matters; disposition matters; treating people the way you want to be treated matters; you (I’m talking to managers, business owners, and employers) will not keep an employee no matter her performance and paycheck if you are a butthead. Be nice. If you don’t want someone to work for you – find a legitimate reason to fire her (note: I said legitimate). Don’t push her out the door with your crabby attitude. Why? She will tell people why she’s leaving.