Job seeker explains how networking got her results

After 12 months of determined searching, Lisa P. recently landed a job with a major firm. In her words, she explains how she made her job contacts, the interview process, and responding to other job seekers now that’s she employed. Her story perfectly illustrates how networking can generate results.

“I attended an event at St. Hubert’s jobs ministry and I met a woman in one of my smaller break-out groups. I told her I was applying for a position at the company and she gave me a contact name and information for that company. 

“Her contact was someone who sincerely wanted to help me. She passed my resume along to her Human Resources contact, Jan*. When Jan called me, she said they didn’t have anything at the moment that fit my background, but she was impressed with my experience and would keep her eyes open for me. I didn’t think I’d ever hear from her again, but a month later Jan emailed me to say she submitted me for a position and that I should apply for it on the company web site.

“I was interviewed by HR, the hiring manager and the hiring manager’s manager. To prepare for each interview, I examined the job description and matched up my accomplishments with the job requirements. I studied the results and then talked to each of those points.

“I told the hiring manager that I could see myself in that role and in the company. He seemed impressed with that. Both the hiring manager and his manager said that they were looking at each candidate’s personality as well as experience, so see if that candidate would fit in.

“After the third interview, they told me they knew they wanted to hire me but they had to get the approvals first. Fortunately it was only a month and not six months or more before I got an offer.

“I have tried to thank the woman who shared her contact information with me by taking her to dinner, but I never heard back from her.

“Since starting my new job, I’ve gotten a ton of requests asking for contact information, many from people I don’t know.  I wish I could help everyone because I’ve been in their situation, but it’s company policy that I can’t refer someone until I’ve been here six months, and I don’t want to do anything to rock the boat at my new job.

“I learned a lot through this process. I met some great people who just wanted to help, and the HR manager did what she said she would do. There really are some good people in this world.”

*Not her real name

Serving coffee and a smile goes a long way

I’m unemployed, but I still go out for a cup of coffee now and then.  It helps me feel less isolated from the rest of the working world. I chatted with my waitress and, as usual, I mentioned I was looking for a job. She nodded her grey head knowingly.

“This place should be packed for breakfast this morning, ” she said. “But not anymore. Coffee, maybe a muffin or a bagel. But not the big breakfasts.”

She leaned forward, speaking more softly while pouring my coffee. “We used to charge extra when a couple would order just one meal and split it–a ‘plate charge,’” she said. “We don’t do that anymore. Maybe I shouldn’t say that, but it’s true.  We’re all doing what we can, and we have to eat.”

Then she straightened up and smoothed her smock with one hand while holding the coffee pot in the other. “And so what if you’re just having coffee?  You still deserve service, getting cream or whatever you need.  There’s no need to rush out, so stay as long as you want.”

“The manager says we’re lucky to have customers coming here at all, and that’s true! Once the economy gets better–and it will–the folks who remember that we gave them good service will be back to order meals again.”

Sometimes our situations feel bleak. I know I have felt that way at times since starting my job search (for the third time) 12 months ago. Sure networking is vital, but sometimes a trip to the local library or a stop for an inexpensive cup of coffee gives an essential boost.

I’m going back for more coffee tomorrow–and I’m hoping the same server will be there.  She serves a great cup of cheer.

12 Things HR Pros Want You to Know

A few months ago I attended a job networking event in Chicago.  As the night proceeded and alcohol was consumed, conversations turned from “what are you looking for?” to “&@# Human Resources!” I was amazed at the bitterness directed toward people who are mainly administrators.

Are HR professionals heartless puppetmasters intent on making our unemployed lives miserable?  I talked to several recruiters, and they offered a glimpse into their roles.  No names are mentioned to avoid alarming legal and public relations departments.

1. I probably won’t read your cover letter. I know my company requires you to submit one, but I barely have time to give resumes the attention they deserve (see #2).  
2. I might spend 15 – 60 seconds glancing at a resume. One ad on Monster for a low-level IT position generated a thousand responses in one day. If I don’t have software that can sift through the flood, then I could spend all day reviewing resumes and never see yours.
3. I look for key words. The software used to scan applications is programmed to look for specific words. You must tailor your resume to the ad or the job description for the software to flag the application. You might have to tweak your resume for every application, but it’s worth it.
4. If you want to change industries or move in a significantly different job direction, make that clear from the beginning—such as the objective at the top of the page. Keep in mind that you’re competing with people far more experienced than yourself. What are you doing to give yourself an edge?
5. Percentages tell a better story than numbers.  If you managed a multi-million dollar budget before, companies with smaller budgets might think you’re out of their league. Using percentages, such as “I reduced costs by 40% and increased revenue by 10% year over year,” can come across as less intimidating.
6. Have your mother read your resume, or anyone who isn’t afraid of hurting your feelings. If those who read your resume can’t tell you what kind of job you want, then you need to rewrite it.
7. Spelling errors are a killer. Don’t rely on spell check, either. Go over every sentence.  If you’re sloppy trying to impress me, I hate to think of what you’ll miss on the job. Also, never give an incorrect job title. We’ll catch it when we conduct background checks.
8. ‘Overqualified’ means you’re a hiring risk. I will look stupid to my bosses if you quit or get bored and mentally check out on the job after just a few months. Also, your age doesn’t put me off—it’s your experience and previous salary that go with your age. While you might not be able to overcome my concerns, it wouldn’t hurt to talk about your commitment or your willingness to work for a lower salary range.
9. Some of the rules have changed. Gaps in employment used to raise a red flag. Today I won’t be surprised if you tell me you were laid off last year.  I also expect to hear that you used the time productively. Training, volunteer work and consulting are appropriate answers. Traveling and spending more time with family won’t impress me.
10. I prefer resumes in chronological order rather than skills-based. I want to see if you moved to increasingly more responsible roles and how long you held each position. You don’t need to go back further than 10 – 15 years on your resume unless it’s really pertinent. Also, unless you’re a student or a new graduate, you don’t need to include the year you received your degree.
11. I have less power than you believe. A number of factors determine who gets laid off and who gets hired. My job is to make sure my company follows federal, state and local laws as well as company policies. Other than that, I can make recommendations but management calls the shots.  
12. If I interviewed you and someone else was selected, I can’t tell you why you didn’t get the job. Legal and privacy issues prevent me from discussing such details. If you ask me what you could have done differently, though, I might be willing to make some observations.

Finally, keep in mind that HR people read message boards. If you blast your former company or rip into your former supervisor online, you could be kissing a job opportunity good-bye.

Ruin any good job interviews lately?

I knew I had sabotaged my chances at landing this job as soon as the words came out of my mouth.

At Lawson Products, they needed someone who could be a bridge between the sales force on the road and the business transformation occurring at headquarters. I was the first person who made it past the HR screen to the hiring manager. I felt we were moving along smoothly when the interviewer asked me the question I still hate the most: “What is your greatest weakness?”

I had practiced this answer time and time again. And yet, gremlins seized control of my tongue and I said something along the lines of, “I have never worked with a sales force to this extent before.”

WTH???? Where did that come from? I HAD worked with sales departments before, and I greatly admire the qualities that make a successful salesperson. But I couldn’t talk myself out of the pit I just jumped into. My stupidity would have stumped even Freud.

My lesson? Practice my answers OUT LOUD. Practicing in “my head” hadn’t given me the confidence I needed when the time came.

OK, I’ve come clean. What about you, dear readers? You don’t have to use your name (anonymous is popular these days), but share your regrets, your screw ups, your “OMG” moments.  You might feel better. More importantly, perhaps others will learn from our examples.

‘Over-qualified’ is overdone

Dictionary.com defines over-qualified as having more education, training or experience than is required for a job or position.  With so many professionals over the age of 40 applying for jobs, it’s inevitable that we come across positions for which we might appear over-qualified.

The argument is that the overqualified candidate is a greater risk of becoming bored and uncommitted, and would jump to a better job as soon as it’s available. While that is probably true of some, I bet it’s the exception rather than the rule.

I have talked to hundreds of job seekers. Most of us are aware that big perks and big titles have gone the way of the big bonuses. We just want to have a chance to work hard—hopefully doing something we truly enjoy—and make enough money to pay the bills while the economy searches for equilibrium. Yet we face the stigma of “over-qualified”. 

Award-winning Speaker Sporty King composed this cover letter for a friend who faced this very issue and I had to share it.  I would never use the phrase “working at xxxx would be a good career move for me” because we should argue that we are good for the company, not vice versa. With that said, I think the candor is refreshing. I really wish I was there when someone in Human Resources read it.

                                                        *   *   *   *  *  *   *   *   *  *
 
Attn: Human Resources Department
 
I’m Over-Qualified.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I thank you for your time and consideration in reviewing my background and interest in helping reestablish my most important concern, the ability to live as self-sufficiently as possible. And helping you meet your concern: getting the most productive people at a time where getting individual tasks completed will lead to sustainability.

What I’m most proud of on the enclosed resume is my ability and willingness to take on additional responsibility. I enjoy that my career path shows a constant track of growth. Please consider me a serious candidate for the _________ position at xxx. I saw the ad in the Tribune.
 
It seems you’re looking for someone with diverse computer skills similar to mine. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss those skills as one of the many reasons working at xxxx would be a career move for me.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Please expect my call on __________ [give a date next week and stick to it]. If it is more convenient for you to contact me, please use Phone 1 or Phone 2. I have reliable people who would be happy to take a message if I am out.

Respectfully yours,

Name

In networking, are you a giver or a taker?

While I don’t like to generalize, I have noticed that there are usually two kinds of folks who attend networking events. The first type has come to take, while the second has come to give. Both are memorable, but how do you really want to be remembered?

The Taker asks, “What can you do for me?”

• Shows up as the event begins–or a bit late. Avoids greeting people.
• Might dress loudly or inappropriately (drawing attention)
• Makes no eye contact until it is his/her time to talk
• Ignores others making their 3 minute introductions, pointedly checking a Blackberry, calendar, or even a book (yes, really)
• Interrupts a speaker to ask for information that benefits him/her
• At the meeting’s conclusion, zooms directly to people he/she thinks can help.
• Leaves without thanking the organizers or speakers.

The Giver asks, “What can I do for you?”

• Shows up early if possible. Greets people sincerely.
• Dresses appropriately for a business meeting. Even jeans are fine (think casual day) with nice shirt or top.
• Makes eye contact when possible with each participant speaking. Head is up and body language says “I’m listening.”
• Takes notes about speakers as they talk. Waits until speaker is done to ask questions that are focused on the speaker.  Happy to offer helpful suggestions.
• Chats with people when the meeting is over to share experiences, seek and give feedback, and generally be accessible.
• Thanks the meeting organizer and guest speaker (if any) before leaving. 

An inexperienced networker might think that OF COURSE I’m in this for me. However, when you come to give, you get so much more in return. Ignore others at your own peril. You might want their assistance later–or they might have some valuable feedback that you miss because you’re tuning them out. When networkers notice that you’re happy to help, they’re just as eager to return the favor.

Really, this isn’t a big revelation. What’s true in networking is also true in life.

Networking: How to be real in a virtual world

I’m changing how I talk to my new network contacts in the virtual world.

The challenge of using social networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn is to avoid sounding cold and unfriendly, says Personal Coach Gail Sussman Miller. Miller is the founder and chief obstacle buster of Inspired Choice.

Most of us are more comfortable with networking than we may realize, Miller said. “At a wedding, when you sit down next to a stranger, what is the first thing you ask? ‘Are you here for the bride or the groom?’ You automatically look for common ground. That’s networking,” she explains.

The difference between face-to-face networking and sending emails is that we can forget to add personal warmth to our emails, she said.  For example, the business networking site LinkedIn provides an automatic invite message that states I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.

“When you meet new people, do you just shake their hands and say, ‘Join my network’? No. They’d laugh at you,” she said. “When using online networking sites, it’s important to personalize every message.”

What should you say to someone you might barely know? “The whole purpose of networking is being of service, being other-oriented, and being curious. Finding common ground should be a state of mind,” Miller explained.

The same is true with accepting invitations to join networks or discussion groups. If you just hit the ‘accept’ button, then you’ve missed another opportunity to communicate. Use your personal curiosity to look at their profiles, discover shared interests, and acknowledge them in your responses.

At the very least, you can use what Gail asks everyone she meets: “Is there something I can help you with?”

 

ABOUT MY SOURCE: Gail Sussman Miller is Chief Obstacle Buster at Inspired Choice.  Her firm teaches executives, women solopreneurs, and teams how to turn obstacles into opportunities by boosting their emotional intelligence. Reduce conflict and stress and get more collaboration, cooperation, and success. For more information, go to www.InspiredChoice.com for “How to Love Networking.” Or see her profile at www.linkedin.com/in/gailsussmanmiller.

Thank-you notes STILL the polite thing to do

This might sound crazy coming from a professional writer, but the part of job hunting I struggle with the most is… writing thank you notes. Does anyone pay attention to them? After they meet 15 other candidates, is my effort worth it?

According to a CareerBuilder survey of hiring managers, nearly 15% of said they would not hire someone who failed to send a thank-you letter after the interview; 32 percent said they would still consider the candidate, but would think less of him or her.

I appreciated the advice recently given by recruiting expert Tom Hogan, a Principal at Level 1 Resources.  “Think of thank you notes as part of your ‘campaign’ to get the job,” Tom said. “A failure to send them could actually hurt your chances.”

Following up after an interview with a brief note can

• Set you apart from other candidates.
• Remind the employer of your candidacy.
• Reinforce your interest in that specific job

What is most appropriate for a thank you note—paper or email? Various opinions abound, but either method is fine.
“I happen to think handwritten notes make a great impression, but e-mails are much faster and work especially well for those with poor handwriting,” he said.

Tom also suggests: 

• Send thank you notes as soon as possible.
• Keep it brief. Tell the reader what you gained from the interview and what appeals to you about the position.
• Don’t say you’re a “perfect fit” after a screening interview. You don’t have enough information at this point and you will look foolish or naïve.
• Don’t send the same note to every person. Vary it. Many managers say that they compare notes with their colleagues to see if the candidate wrote the same one to every person. Add a personal touch to each thank you.
• Thank the corporate HR recruiting coordinator, too. A lot of candidates forget this and a good recruiting coordinator can have a lot of power in hiring decisions.  
• Spell check. Spell check. Spell check. If you are handwriting your notes, then you need to be doubly sure that you aren’t misspelling something. Consider typing out what you want to say in Microsoft Word before transcribing to your note. If you don’t pay attention to detail now, how can they be confident in your work quality?

You can follow Level 1 Resources on Twitter at http://twitter.com/level1resources for information on jobs.

Job hunting for long? Time to refresh!

Is your most recent resume visible to recruiters? Or do you have old resumes and cover letters floating somewhere on the Web?

If you’re like me, then you have been looking for a solid job for several months. Over that time I have updated and tweaked my resume 18 times.

Today I visited one of the job sites I visited early in my search. I had posted a resume and a generic cover letter on the site–and I realized it is horribly outdated.

Now I’m visiting multiple job sites to update all my resumes. Not only do I want my wording to be consistent, but I added my blog and VisualCV internet addresses as well.

If you have updated your resume lately, consider checking sites such as monster and careerbuilder to make sure the most recent resume is visible to recruiters.

Pol’s angry words reinforce need for cool communications

I used to work for a boss who asserted that, “Don’t say or write anything that you don’t want to see in the Wall Street Journal tomorrow.”

That lesson came to mind as I read about U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Illinois), who is angry about the health care reform debate. At a recent panel discussion on health care reform, her staff distributed an information sheet that warned President Barack Obama’s insurance bill “might encourage (seniors) to give up when facing a serious illness.”

When asked about the accuracy of that statement, Biggert conceded that the words were inflammatory, adding, “I probably wrote it when I was mad.” (The Daily Herald, August 13)

What annoys me is that she said she didn’t know her staff was going to place the flier on the chairs of those attending the panel discussion.  Essentially, Biggert admitted writing an inflammatory message of questionable accuracy, but said it wasn’t her fault that the public received copies.

As someone who has also pounded out angry words, only to wish she could retract them later, I empathize with the congresswoman. Blaming her staff for releasing the statement, though, is a poor move. 

The only way to recover from poor wording is to apologize and move on. Trying to spread the blame is unnecessary and appears petty. 

Linda Vossen, owner of Vossen Communications, points out two lessons that can be learned from the congresswoman’s error. 

Lesson #1: Never write something when you’re angry, or if you do, walk away from it for awhile before going back to it and releasing it to the masses.

Lesson #2: Never offer excuses — especially by blaming your staff in a public forum.  

“Good luck to her if, going forward, she can get her staff to protect her from herself; she probably has alienated them to some degree and/or lost a level of trust that was there and now is not,” Linda explained.

What it all comes down to is that, when developing talking points about any important subject, two heads are always better than one.