Career Hub

Career/Life Values and The American Dream

Our dreams and aspirations are based on a foundation of our values and priorities. So too is "The American Dream" and depending on who you talk to, the definition of what constitutes that dream will vary widely.

In "The World of Generation Y", a recent article in the Los Angeles Daily News, Penelope Trunk the Brazen Careerist makes the point that Gen X and Gen Y workers center their criteria for the American Dream on time (and quality of life), rather than money.

This insight into the differing values and priorities of Baby Boomers, Gen X and Gen Y workers could prove exceedingly helpful to employers for both recruitment and talent development purposes. Values and priorities are key concepts in what makes for a good career/job fit - and what keeps a worker motivated.

Cross-posted at Career Goddess Blog by Susan Guarneri

What Is A Busker?

Last night I was watching a bit of the All-Stars Baseball game. Somewhere along in the commentary, the announcers had a conversation about the word busker. Having a love for new words (those I'm not familiar with), I paid attention as they went on to explain that a busker is a street performer who earns money by performing a talent. Merriam-Webster defines busker as:

busk·er
Function: noun
Etymology: busk, probably from Italian buscare to procure, gain, from Spanish buscar to look for
chiefly British : a person who entertains in a public place for donations

So why am I writing a post about the word busker? Mostly, because it got me to thinking about how important it is to be open to discovery of new jobs, new titles, new opportunities and to not be stymied by what you already know, or don't. Seek out the unknown. Ask. Listen. Who knows, you just might stumble upon the best job ever!

Posted by billiesucher

Your Worst Job Interview Ever

I read this article today on LAist, written by almost-30 year-old job seeker Simone Snaith, describing, quite hilariously, her "worst job interview ever".

It brought back some not-so-happy memories.

Can't we all conjur up a memory of the most horrible (or at least bizarre) job interview we've been subjected to? Does it make you cringe to think about it, even now?

My worst experience was very similar to Simone's. The interviewer didn't know who I was or what I was interviewing for. He spent a total of 4 1/2 minutes with me and managed in that time to blame me for showing up to a job interview that was way over my head. As if I barged in unannounced, instead of being invited. As if it were my fault that he didn't know what he was doing.

I was all of 23, and he was ancient, at least in his mid-forties.

But all was not lost, because I learned some key things from that interview, and I'm willing to bet that you learned from your "worst job interview ever", too.

What I learned from my worst job interview ever:

• Some people are really bad interviewers. Not my fault.
• Some hiring managers do a really bad job of screening resumes. Again, not my fault.
• Some people believe that trying to intimidate young female professionals is a justifiable response to dealing with their own insecurities. I don't want one of those people as my boss.
• Some places are lousy places to work. Better to find that out before you accept a job offer.
• You never know when you'll need to show grace under pressure. Being able to do so is a sign of maturity at any age.

What was your worst job interview? What did you learn from it?

Posted by Heather Mundell

Employment Background Checks: Think About Your Career Before You Run That Stop Sign

Not a day goes by anymore that I do not see an article about the rising prevalence of “Googling” candidates before they are even considered by a corporate hiring executive or a recruiter. It behooves us all to constantly monitor what is floating around in cyberspace about us, and proactively work to ensure good press.

But let’s not forget that Googling has not replaced traditional background checks, and that those background checks are routinely conducted on a large proportion of hires today. More often than not, candidates are subject to a thorough background check before the offer is made, including review of criminal, social security, and DMV records. This is particularly true for senior managers and executives, but also applies to virtually any job category where the employee’s character and trustworthiness are important, including a minimum wage cashier's job at the local fast food restaurant.

A recent ExecuNet RecruitSmart Today newsletter article brought this to mind again. Stressed in the article was the importance of the Motor Vehicle Record to background checks, summarized in a nutshell by SVP of Kroll Background Screening, Barry Nadell: “I hire character, and the motor vehicle report tells me a lot about character."

A DMV report is not only a key component of most background checks, it is also among the easiest to obtain—almost instantly in most states. On it will be telltale signs regarding the respect or lack of it that you hold for motor vehicle laws. Drug possession, moving violations, parking tickets, DUI arrests, etc. will be revealed (and possibly lead to discovery of more serious charges). The ExecuNet article revealed a statistic that I found astounding: “One of every 32 American adults has served time in prison”! If this is true, it logically follows that a far greater number have been involved in lesser, but character-revealing infractions easily exposed with a DMV check.

Violations of the motor vehicle laws can and will affect more than your car insurance rates. You’ll want to think twice about the potential impact to your career before you decide to speed, run a stop sign, or even crumple and discard that parking ticket!

Posted by Laurie Smith.

Interviewing: Tell Your Story But Don't Bore Them

When you hear "Tell me about yourself" early on in an interview, and later "Tell me more", what do you say? Trying to "win" in a job interview - getting a potential employer excited and eager about the amazing value of your brand - centers around being able to answer these requests in a compelling fashion.

The interesting thing is, the best responses are more about them (employers) than about you. Sound like a contradiction? Not so, says Jill Konrath in "Passing the 'Tell Me More' Test" found in a recent issue of Management Consulting News. Although Ms. Konrath writes the article from the perspective of a business, like a consulting business, the points she makes are absolutely applicable to an employment candidate. After all, you are "The Brand YOU" as Tom Peters has been reminding us for 10 years now - your career and your branding are your business.

For tips on the nine types of stories people like to talk about and hear, check out Guy Kawasaki's article "What People Talk About" on the AlwaysOn Network. He summarizes these story types from Lois Kelly's book Beyond Buzz: The Next Generation of Word-of-Mouth Marketing. Use some of these as you tell your brand story, and you'll capture the employer's attention and interest - and perhaps even a job offer.

Cross-posted at Career Goddess Blog

Rejuvenate Yourself!

I've just returned to my office from a relaxing family vacation on Cape Cod... and reflecting on the incredible value of rejuvenating one's spirit, mindset, and self. I certainly wasn't alone in that effort. Besides family members, virtually everyone I rubbed shoulders with (on the beach, while out walking, at the movies [one rainy day], at mini-golf, or over excellent steamers and lobsters) seemed to be embracing the concept of stepping back for a week or two.

Being in the careers industry, you're never far from your field. Conversations often start with, "So, Jan, what do you do?" Unless the inquiring soul is under 20, the ideas flow, advice is sought, experiences are shared. This year, I made it a point to ask each person with whom I had a conversation for the best advice they'd ever received -- and tested -- about their careers, job searches, advancement. Probably our beach backdrop had something to do with it, but the consensus clearly was: "Take time out to recharge those batteries."

Whether you're engaged in an arduous search, feeling the pangs of longer-than-anticipated unemployment ... or experiencing burn out for giving way too much for way too long at the office ... or trying to position yourself for the next leap in your career: DO take some time this summer to reflect on your short- and long-term career goals, tap some of that creative energy that attracted you to your field in the first place, and step back to savor all that you've achieved over the years. You don't even have to go away to experience the thrilling rush of taking a day or an afternoon off simply to rejuvenate.

P.S. No Blackberries, laptops, or cell phones allowed.

Jan Melnik

Job Searching's Top Ten

1. Leverage your network; distant business contacts often will help by making introductions or pass along contact information. Research shows that more jobs result from distant connections than from direct contacts.

2. Don't put the other person on the spot ( making them feel responsible for your future, finances, health, happiness, etc.) by asking for a job per se Encourage more referrals: don’t restrict the conversation to only official positions or job openings. Lead the dialogue towards thoughts, ideas, guidance, office rumors — and let them volunteer assistance.

3. Network Purposefully! It’s okay to ask your networking contact if they are able to connect you with a specific person. In fact, it may be an easier request to fill than if they have to research the correct contact.

4. Don’t count on recruiters to find your new job for you. Unless you happen to fit their very narrow job spec, you are not what they or their client ( the employer) want.

5. Target companies and contact senior executives directly or via introductions. Direct contact and cold calling is a very effective method for getting initial attention that you can them expand to establish a relationship by building interest and trust.

6. Make doubly sure that your resume communicates a message focused to attract the attention of the employer market you want to reach. Don’t exclude yourself by offering a less than perfect document. Zero errors are tolerated AND your positioning as the first choice candidate, go-to expert for solutions has to be undeniably clear.

7. If you insist on applying online to postings, keep the effort to the barest minimum since the probability of landing relying on this approach is minimal.

8. If there is an Internet posting that is a fit, identify the hiring manager and contact them directly rather than depending on HR or a recruiter to triage you into the short list.

9. Always remember your manners. Say "thank you," be courteous, polite, patient and cooperative.

10. Once you land, give back to others, nurture your newer connections and resolve to strengthen your online identity to promote yourself as a passive candidate. Be “Googled” and recruited in an online search instead of having to look for a new challenge. Posted by Debra Feldman

Telephone Interviews: Surprise Yourself!

Ever wonder why you don't get a call back after your telephone interview, especially when you think it went well?

Before you beat yourself up too much when you discover that you didn't make it to the next round, consider performing an autopsy of your presentation. Analyze things such as:

• How do you sound? Up, energetic, on? Or, do you come across as flat, dull, boring, and barely a pulse?

Are you injecting too many negative-sounding words into the text of your conversation...words such as don't know, no, not, can't, won't, and don't? Or, do you project a can do, will do sort of attitude?

Are you talking too much? Are you listening closely to the question, or are you interrupting before it's even been stated? Do you pause long enough for the listener to absorb your response, or are you on a roll, dominating the dialog?

If you've recently lost your job, do you intentionally divulge your reason for being in transition, or do you hope and pray the interviewer will skip that part? Hint: you bring up the reason you're a free agent, between jobs; do not wait for the interviewer to ask you. You have nothing to hide and everything to gain. (Besides that, you'll feel a whole lot better once you've addressed this piece.)

Are you a polite, courteous, and gracious professional, or do you come off as a know it all, on top of your game?

These are a handful of questions to help you get started in integrating continuous improvement into your interview process. Practice. Plan to succeed. Deliver a stellar performance and produce results that may totally surprise yourself!

posted by billie sucher