Keppie Careers by Miriam Salpeter

What you don’t know about the job hunt will hurt you

Miriam Salpeter — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:44:41 +0000

As you might imagine, I receive a lot of inquiries from blog readers about my services for job seekers. Sometimes, the communication between us reminds me of just how much help some job seekers need.

Recently, a very savvy, high-level professional with a stellar work history contacted me asking for help with her resume and with moving to a digital format. I replied, delighted to hear from someone who was asking me about a digital, or social, resume before I mentioned it first!

I explained that I am partnering now with an expert web developer to offer online resumes and described my services, which include a free coaching session “to discuss how to look for a job.”

The prospective client replied that she did not need to be told what to wear or how to interview, and assured me she was very capable, thank you very much. She also asked how much a social resume with fewer pages would cost, as she does not have enough to fill more than just an “about me” and resume page.

“Hmmm,” I thought, “This bright, talented and accomplished job seeker has no idea that there is so much she does NOT know about getting a job.” The fact that she thought my offer to help her learn “how to look for a job” would be about how to dress for an interview, yet she cannot envision what information she might use to fill her online profile seemed a bit ironic to me. However, how can you fault someone for not knowing what they need to know to succeed?

This was my reply:

Thanks for your note. I think that the key thing with a social resume is that you create the content to fill the tabs. Maybe it is links to the various news stories you generated, events you impacted, data or stories about previous companies (how they did while you were there), etc. The sky is really the limit – you have lots of room to share your “story,” and readers have the option to explore more or not! (Which is the major advantage of having a social resume that supplements the paper resume.)

I don’t usually focus on how to dress for an interview with my clients. Like you, they know about that, but are less well schooled on how to leverage social media. Why are you not on Twitter? It’s my absolute favorite social network for job seekers. Do you really optimize LinkedIn? There is a lot that most job seekers don’t have the time (or the inclination) to feel their way through. I spend all of my time in that “space,” so I can help you get where you need to go faster. Especially in your line of work, I would imagine the return would be significant.

So, when I offer a free coaching session to discuss how to find a job, I am not talking about “your father’s job search” – what to say in an interview, how to stand up straight – I am offering insight and ideas for job search that you probably have not considered.

Think about it – do YOU know what you DON’T know that may be preventing you from moving forward with your career plans?

photo by flowerbeauty

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Altruistic Tuesdays – Should you consider working for a charity?

Miriam Salpeter — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:30:21 +0000

Have you considered making a change for a career in the non-profit sector? Now might be a good time to start thinking about it.

Dan Macsai for Fast Company reports that The Chronicle of Philanthropy found:

Despite tough times for charities, a trio of new surveys of nonprofit organizations in New York, New Jersey, and Washington [DC] shows that most plan to hire in the year ahead—and that the overwhelming majority plan to raise staff salaries in 2010 or at least hold them steady.

The survey, which studied 1,200 organizations from October to December of 2009 (700 of those located in New York) points to higher salaries for fund-raising jobs, which were up by 10%. Senior-level finance jobs paid 7% more.

Gayle Brandel, president of Professional for Nonprofits, said, “Even in tough times…nonprofit clients…have a hard time filling those roles, “so they’re willing to pay a little more.”

Fast Company offers some advice:

“Safe bets include educational groups, hospitals, and charities that work with homeless people or AIDS patients–program areas that received increased government funding. However, it’d be best to avoid small social-services or arts groups, both of which “seem to have the toughest time,” says Gayle Brandel, president of Professional for Nonprofits.”

Professionals for Nonprofits 2009 salary surveys are available free on the company’s Web site. Go to: http://www.nonprofitstaffing.com.

If you are in the Atlanta area, Opportunity Knocks and the Georgia Center for Nonprofits are presenting a day of workshops and consultative sessions to help you improve your job and nonprofit career development strategies and job-seeking skills. This is how they describe the event:

Led by experienced and qualified career consultants, nonprofit leaders and subject matter experts you will learn how to become more competitive in the nonprofit job marketplace.

Who Should Attend? Nonprofit professionals seeking to advance their career and for-profit/corporate professionals looking to switch careers to the nonprofit sector.

PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE!

March 23, 2010
The Lodge at Simpsonwood
Rollins Center Building
4511 Jones Bridge Circle, NW
Norcross, GA 30092
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Click here for information.

(I will be volunteering for part of the day at this event. Hope to see you there!)

photo by olib

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Spring forward – The Progress Challenge

Miriam Salpeter — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:39:50 +0000

It seems appropriate, on the day that we “spring forward” on our clocks, to share some things that I enjoyed about another book by Dean Lindsay, The Progress Challenge. (Read my review of his book, Cracking the Networking Code HERE.)

Lindsay notes,

“Change is inevitable, progress is a choice.”

In his trademark, high-energy style, Lindsay explains how to BE progress – to choose progress. He explains the connections between how we think about what we do and doing it, and provides a blueprint for meeting this challenge. He begins the book by asking a question that I believe is relevant for job seekers – What is motivational, and are you it?

Have you thought about it? He suggests that “each of us has the need and the opportunity to be motivated every day of our lives” (p 29). He points out, “Why else would others listen to us, utilize our services, hire us, be led by us?” Right from the start, a key career message. How do you motivate others? What impact do you (or might you) have that will appeal to someone?

Lindsay explains how to think about how to move forward and offers many suggestions to help even the most unmotivated candidate shake off the stress, anxiety and general malaise that may be preventing him or her from springing forward.

One coping mechanism that I like? “#5 Find and Create Humor (p. 138). How many times have you stopped to try to find a single iota of irony or laughter in a situation. If even things are so bad, laughing at it (or thinking of crazy ways that it could be EVEN WORSE) can sometimes provide a little relief. Can you laugh at yourself? Is there any humor there? If not, maybe creating some would help?

The author reminds his readers: “Progress does not demand perfection, only persistence” (p. 198). How perfectly true! I often remind myself that the “Perfect is the enemy of the good” – if you stay paralyzed, waiting for perfection, it’s unlikely you will ever move ahead with your plans. Similarly, progress does not need to be perfect, it just needs to be moving, which requires consistent and frequent effort on your part.

I enjoyed The Progress Challenge and am sure anyone (job seeker, salesperson, manager, leader, anyone with an eye on the future) will get a lot out of the, yes – motivational book, quotes and action plans.

Want to receive a free copy? Leave a comment about what motivates you, what is keeping you stuck – what you think about any of this! I will choose a winner at random and Dean will send you a copy of his book! (He may even send out several!)

Learn more about Dean Lindsay at his website: www.DeanLindsay.com or follow him on Twitter @DeanLindsay.

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What pretzels have to do with your job search (or) why job seekers should focus on helping others

Miriam Salpeter — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:54:21 +0000

Today, I was at Target. This is nothing all that unusual, to tell the truth. This morning, I was looking for individually wrapped snack packages. Perusing the aisle, I stopped in front of a man and his boxes. It seemed that they were right where my targeted snacks would be. He was stocking the shelves and quickly moved his boxes so I could find what I wanted.

No, it wasn’t there. So, I asked him if he knew where to find them. He explained that he was the “Frito-Lay guy,” and gestured to his array of chips and snacks on the shelf on the opposite side. “Hmmm…,” I said, looking at the chips – none individually wrapped. “Thanks, but I was really looking for something in small packages.” He stopped what he was doing, stood up and walked down the lane, noting that what I wanted was probably there. I was impressed that he was being so helpful, especially since I wasn’t looking for “his” stuff.

I thanked him, picked out some snacks, and then remembered that I needed pretzels! Usually, I find what is on sale. Today, there was no question that I was going to choose Frito-Lay snacks. (Sometimes, there is more to your choice than price!) Laughing, I told the man that he had sold three bags of his pretzels by helping me find his competitors’ treats! I have a feeling that I’ll remember my little encounter with the Frito-Lay man whenever I am looking for snacks. Will I always choose that brand? Maybe not, but this story will most likely cross my mind every time.

Turning back down the lane, I said to myself, “I guess I know what I am blogging about today!”

If you are a regular reader, you already know the career connection…If you are looking for a job, have you considered focusing more on how you can help other people? Small acts of kindness not only help you engage and connect with your community (whether it is online or in person), they also may remind you of your valuable skills that you can use to impact others.

I’ve written about the value of volunteering during a job search, but just reaching out to your immediate community and making an effort to extend yourself and help people who ask (or even those who do not ask) can have a real impact. You never know what might result from focusing part of your job-search strategy on helping other people.

What do you think? Has helping other people helped you in your job search? Do you think making an effort to think more of others has the potential to improve your mood – and maybe your prospects? Share your ideas in the comments!

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Rules for the job hunt

Miriam Salpeter — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:34:01 +0000

Do you ever stop and think that it would be nice if there were rules for the job hunt? You could just read the free online manual, do exactly what it says and land the job of your dreams?

The problem, of course, is that everyone would be reading the same exact manual (since it would be free!) Think about how competitive it would be. There was a comment on my post about job seeking and the Olympics this week from Michael Glenn that said “If job seekers trained like Olympic athletes for a job interview, they can reach Gold medal status.” If everyone had “the rules,” that would be true – it would be necessary to train as an Olympian to even get your foot in the door!

The fact is, no one can tell you the “right” way to land a job. There are as many opinions about resumes, networking, using social media and cover letters as there are hiring managers, recruiters and career coaches!

Just a minor example, some people will never read your cover letter, others won’t consider your application without a cover letter that impresses.

To further complicate the situation, everyone is different! What is right for you is not right for your neighbor, and your colleague needs something else altogether. As a result, I think the best approach is to EMBRACE the system instead of rage against it. Is it fair? No, no question that job seeking is not listed under “fair” in Webster’s…In fact, the job hunt process is anything but fair! The nature of selecting candidates is discriminatory: the organization has a set of criteria, combined with personal biases, personality considerations and individual impressions. Hiring someone with the “right fit” for the job is as nuanced as it gets.

On the other hand, Mark Jaffe notes on the Personal Success blog:

“We have a pretty terrific system in America: Careers are open to talent. I’m not saying it’s a pure meritocracy, but compared to other countries and cultures, we completely rock. Who your parents were, how you grew up, even where you went to school — all these factors are secondary to whether or not you can deliver the goods.” (Hat tip @danschawbel for tweeting this post.)

Good point! Reading on, he suggests this approach for job seekers (instead of trying out for the job):

“Imagine instead that you’re a consultant, and that you’ve already been paid a non-refundable $20,000 consulting fee to attend this meeting. How does that change things?”

Possibly very good advice for many people. Certainly, a positive way to think about job search – as if you already have the job and need to begin solving the client’s problems. I don’t think you can go too wrong presenting yourself as the solution to a prospective employer’s “pain points.” HOW you do it, however, and how you can be most successful MUST vary based on your level of experience, the employer and both of your personalities.

So, the takeaway here – educate yourself. Don’t make errors that can be “no brainers” for some positions (e.g., missing deadlines, typos, not knowing how your skills directly pertain to the job). But, be wary of anyone who writes a book or a blog and tells you that they have the holy grail of job search. All we can do is offer general advice and the onus is on you – the job seeker – to evaluate it and either incorporate it or not into your plans.

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Why it’s a good thing that job seeking is not an Olympic sport and some inspiring stories

Miriam Salpeter — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:36:47 +0000

It’s tough not to be inspired by the Olympic athletes. I have been keeping a running list of topics that seem like perfect “career” messages for job seekers. Without fail, they are the type of messages that have to do with “keeping your head in the game,” “persevering despite all obstacles,” “overcoming significant challenges” and “fortitude, endurance and courage.”

Have you considered how many athletes are at the Olympics who don’t have much of a chance of distinguishing themselves in their sport? With over 5000 athletes and only several hundred medals to be awarded, the chances of winning are pretty slim for the majority of the participants. However, they come and try their hardest to make themselves and their countries proud of their efforts.

Lucky for job seekers, your chances are much better! I don’t mean the ratio of jobs to applicants (as that really depends on your situation), or the statistical chances of landing a job. I’m thinking of the percentage of your job search that is in your hands.

To consider in the category of “be glad job search is not an Olympic sport”

Think about the partner sports…It’s you and one other person. You need to rely on your partner to keep up his or her end. An injury, a mistake on that person’s part, and the pair’s Olympic dreams can go up in smoke. Wouldn’t you hate it if you had to job search in pairs?

How about if a bad interview meant you needed to wait 4 years for another try? How many stories are out there of Olympians who had an injury or a bad run in Torino. Think about Hannah Kearney, who won a gold medal in women’s moguls last week after failing to qualify four years ago, even though she was the defending world champion.

What about the margin of victories? A tweet from @resumestrategy noted: Difference between 1st and 13th in the men’s giant slolom: 9/10th of a second -> talk about difficult performance metrics. It seems almost cruel that people work their whole lives and their dream can be lost in such a small margin. Granted, they chose a sport and know the stakes. But, so many sports involve outside influences beyond the athlete’s control, it is amazing that so many people devote themselves to it.

I know that many job seekers will read these thoughts and think – this is JUST like job search – things turn on a dime, control lies elsewhere and all you can do is hold your breath and hope. I take a different approach. I really believe job seekers CAN and DO control their own destinies, and that there is much about the search that is in the job seekers’ hands. Yes, there are “judges” (interviewers) and there are sometimes small margins of difference between you and the next candidate, but comparatively speaking, I believe your hard work and dedication to your career and job search is much more in your control than you may think!

In the category of – “this may inspire you”

Did you hear the story of Chinese figure skaters, Shen Xue and Zhao Honbo? They came out of retirement to win the gold medal in pairs figure skating that eluded them. Married, they have been living dormatory style and training, putting “real life” on hold At 31 and 36, they are ancient by skating standards. They remind us that “what you do in-between” is important. So true – job search, similarly, is not really something that you should be doing only when you are looking for a job. It is equally important to manage your career and your time “in between.”

Who did not hear the heartbreaking story of Joannie Rochette, the figure skater from Canada? Her mother died of a heart attack on the day she and Joannie’s father arrived at the Olympics. Joannie skated beautiful programs in spite of her grief and won a bronze medal. Grace under pressure seems an understatement – an athlete favored to possibly win the gold, with the hopes of her country riding on her shoulders…She still managed to skate well and make the most of her Olympic experience.

Don’t forget about the men’s figure skater gold medalist, Evan Lysacek. When asked in an interview what he had given up to achieve his gold medal dream, he paused, took a breath and replied, “Everything.” Wow…The commitment and endurance it took for Evan to put his life on hold to pursue a dream…A slippery one (no pun intended), that relies on talent, effort, and – let’s be honest – a little luck.

Keep some of these stories in mind the next time you get discouraged about your job search…I hope they will inspire you to keep going with gusto!

photo by selihpxe8

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What to do when you are discouraged about your job search

Miriam Salpeter — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:06:38 +0000

Today’s post is one of many from members of the Career Collective community I co-coordinate with my colleague Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter. I encourage you to visit other members’ responses, which are linked at the end of my post! Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective. This month’s question?

What do you do when you’re really, really, really discouraged about your unsuccessful job search?
How do you overcome the negative aspects of job search?

It breaks my heart when I hear from a job seeker who reaches out to me after hunting unsuccessfully for a job for months – even a year or more. More often than not, it is clear to me why the person’s job hunt has gone on for so long. Either the resume and job search materials are not up to par, the job seeker’s strategies are dated and not optimized and/or the person has simply been paralyzed by uncertainty and unable to present him or herself confidently and competently.

If you have been searching unsuccessfully, it is tough not to be discouraged and give up. It takes a lot to avoid approaching with a bad attitude or a defeated outlook. However, take heart, as there are probably a lot of things that will help your prospects that you have NOT done yet!

Talk to people you DON’T think can help you with your search.

Expand your net of networking contacts. You never know when a connector is in your midst – someone who takes pride in knowing a lot of people and introducing them to each other.

In a recession, it is even more important to expand our circles when job seeking.

Never underestimate the possibility for really interesting common ground. Some of the meetings I’ve least felt like getting up at 6 a.m. to attend have been the most productive in terms of what I’ve learned.

Open your eyes to the opportunities! Seek out places to meet new people. Join an organization, a new health club or take a class. Google “networking opportunities, (your city)” and see what comes up! Then, don’t just attend, be an active participant.

Just because someone isn’t in your field doesn’t mean they don’t have useful information for you. (Or you for them.) Our lives intersect in so many points. Think of someone you consider least likely to be able to share good information with you for your search. Meet for coffee. You may be surprised!

I challenge you to engage – ask questions…be able to explain who you are and what you do. Don’t underestimate the value of every connection. Everyone knows someone who knows someone who knows something. Inserting yourself as part of the chain is a great step in the right direction!

Search for Companies Instead of Jobs

This is crucial advice that many overlook. Instead of searching online for job descriptions of interest, start to target organizations of interest. Research them and the people who work there. Recognize that the majority of jobs are never posted – they are filled via networking. So, network! Figure out who works in the places where you want to work. Infiltrate via LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and via connecting in person at events, including professional meetings and organizations. You may be surprised how easy it is to connect online and befriend people who are impressed by your interest and enthusiasm.

Target Your Materials and Your Approach

Have you been giving the kiss of death answer to people asking what you would like to do? “I can do anything.” “I am flexible.” “I can’t afford to be picky.” Stop and TARGET your search. Focus your resume, your pitch and your goals and engage with people by demonstrating that you know what you offer and that you are a strong match for what the targeted job needs.

If you haven’t started, dive into social media and Web 2.0 applications!

Yes, this can take some time if you are going to do it full force. But, you have time, so go for it! Start searching for blogs in your niche. Guy Kawasaki’s Alltop list is a perfect place to find blogs in an array of topics, but you can certainly use Google to find current information in your field of interest. Spend some time researching and exploring. See if you can identify the stars in your field. Use online mechanisms to connect to them!

How? Post smart comments on their blogs. See if they use Twitter and follow them. (Read more of my suggestions about using Twitter for the job hunt HERE.) Make sure that you are using LinkedIn effectively. You may be amazed at how quickly you can connect and “befriend” people online.

Consider authoring a blog. If you are a strong writer, there isn’t a better way to influence your Google rankings and demonstrate authority in your subject matter. If you have the time, why not try? You have nothing to lose. Ideally, you will start a blog at www.yourname.com, but if you just want to dip your toe in the waters, consider writing for Examiner.com. I am the National Career Coach Examiner and would be happy to help you get started if you are a strong writer with a niche topic in mind. (For example, maybe you want to be the “Seattle PR Examiner” or the “Miami Accounting Examiner.” Contact me if you are interested in learning more!

Stop and think about what you really want to do

Use your time to assess yourself, your goals and plans for the future. How often are we forced to take a moment to really think about the future. This is your chance. Do you like the way your life is going? Are you happy with your path? If not, consider a coach to help you figure out a new direction.

Learn a new skill

Have you been thinking about taking a class in something that will help you with your job? Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to knit? This is a good time. Doing something new and learning a new skill is good for your attitude and will help you in multiple ways. If you can be excited about something that you can obviously control (since your job search SEEMS less control-able), it should help your outlook.

There is so much information and opportunities to learn new things online for free. High-profile and talented people are offering free teleclasses, webinars and seminars all of the time. If you plug in, you’ll learn about these opportunities and benefit from them. Take advantage of your public library as a resource for information. Check in with the librarian for information you might be missing!

Don’t be afraid to pay for some great content as well! Once you know and trust a source for information, invest in yourself and your plans and learn something new.

Expand Your Reading List

Have you considered reading books written for the HIRING side of the desk? It could help you to know what hiring managers are thinking. Also, be sure to spend time expanding your interests and expertise. Read things that have NOTHING to do with your job hunt. Keep up to date on current events, sports, cultural arts, entertainment…

Volunteer

Of course, no list of things to do would be complete with suggesting volunteering with an organization you support. I’ve already shared great reasons to volunteer if you have some free time. You never know when you might meet someone influential for your career and/or learn and use new skills. Volunteering is an amazing opportunity to do some good while helping yourself as well!

What ideas do you have?

Need some help getting started with any of these ideas? Learn more about how I can help you get a job.

How did members of the Career Collective respond? Follow us on Twitter with our hashtag #careercollective and read these posts:

@MartinBuckland, Job Search Made Positive

@GayleHoward, Job Search: When It All Turns Sour

@chandlee, Strategy for Getting “Unstuck” and Feeling Better: Watch Lemonade

@heathermundell, Help for the Job Search Blues

@heatherhuhman, 10 Ways to Turn You Job Search Frown Upside-Down

@KCCareerCoach, You Can Beat the Job Search Blues: 5 + 3 Tips to Get Re-Energized

@WalterAkana, Light at the End of the Tunnel

@resumeservice, Don’t Sweat the Job Search

@careersherpa, Mind Over Matter: Moving Your Stalled Search Forward

@WorkWithIllness, Finding Opportunity in Quicksand

@KatCareerGal, Job-Hunting in a Weak Job Market: 5 Strategies for Staying Upbeat (and Improving Your Chances of Success)

@ErinKennedyCPRW, Dancing in the Rain–Kicking the Job Search Blues

@DawnBugni, It’s the little things

@ValueIntoWords, Restoring Your Joy in Job Search

@jobhuntorg, Just SO VERY Discouraged

@barbarasafani, Making Job Search Fun (Yeah, That’s Right!)

@GLHoffman, How to Overcome the Job Search Negativity

@ExpatCoachMegan, Dealing With Job Search Stress: Getting to the Source of the Problem

photo by fiveforfun

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“Be brilliant in the basics” and other career advice from the Olympics

Miriam Salpeter — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:14:10 +0000

I am not even going to pretend to be a hockey fan. It is not a sport that interests me in the least. In fact, when I saw a tweet about the game between the U.S. and Canada, I thought, “Okay – I can take a night off from watching the Olympics.”

However, I was interested to learn that Team USA defeated the Canadians in their showdown earlier today. This is how Yahoo! reported it:

“The Americans didn’t believe in miracles. They just believed.

And they pulled off the biggest Olympic hockey upset since the Miracle on Ice, stunning Canada 5-3 on Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals of an already mixed-up tournament.

Brian Rafalski scored two goals, Ryan Miller held off a flurry of shots and the Americans quieted a raucous, pro-Canada crowd that came to cheer its dream team, only to see it upstaged by a bunch of unproven kids.

One day short of the 30th anniversary of the country’s greatest hockey victory—the unfathomable win over the Soviet Union in Lake Placid—these underrated Americans were faster, more disciplined and more determined than Canada’s collection of all-stars.”

With a historical (30-year old!) “Dream Team” on their minds, an exceptionally young team, wearing uniforms almost identical to that storied, gold-medal winning team, beat the Canadian gold-medal favorites.

How did that happen?

Yahoo! reports:

“U.S. team officials ringed the team’s dressing room with motivational messages, like “Be Brilliant in the Basics” as a reminder that Olympic games are won with team play, good goaltending and attention to detail, not necessarily by the team with the biggest names. They got all the above.”

See your career message? “Be brilliant in the basics.” How great is that? You don’t need to be the one with the biggest reputation, or have the most experience to land the job. You need to pay attention to the details, to work hard, and to go for your dream in a way that only someone who tastes the victory can do.

You don’t need to be the biggest to be the best. You need to work the hardest. That means preparing – doing research, creating amazing materials (resume, letter, online profiles, etc.), interviewing with heart and passion AND being prepared to explain how and why you are the only one who can solve the organization’s problems.

If you have been looking for a job for an extended time, you may be getting discouraged. Don’t let it happen to you. You can only imagine the downward spiral a negative attitude will have on your job search. Think like a winner. BELIEVE that you CAN do it, but also know that you need to MAKE IT HAPPEN. Just as the underrated Team USA was ”faster, more disciplined and more determined” than their opponents, as a job seeker, what can you do to get the advantage you need?

“The Americans didn’t believe in miracles. They just believed.”

What do you believe?

photo by crackerbunny

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How to win the job – interviewing with passion

Miriam Salpeter — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:05:35 +0000

Earlier this week, I shared my tips on how to make your interviewer a fan…It’s very important to approach an interview with the right attitude. After all, it is exactly what all of your hard work has been leading up to!

An often overlooked topic in hiring is that “fit” – a nuanced, maybe even “unfair” assessment of the interviewee is most likely the most important aspect of the hiring process. This is frustrating (for job seekers who KNOW they have the skills to do the job) and for the hiring managers (who need to somehow justify hiring one person over another because of what might be ambigous or nuanced reasons).

Nevertheless, recognizing (and maybe even embracing?) the fact that hiring (and being hired) is as much an art as it is a science and that making a real, solid connection at an interview is as important as the portfolio of skills, experiences and accomplishments you bring can be empowering.

One of my favorite authors for career and relationship building advice is Keith Ferrazzi. (Read my review of his most recent, Who’s Got Your Back – I also really enjoyed Never Eat Alone. Both are great choices to help job seekers and careerists with their networking and relationship building.) So, it is no surprise that his advice about interviewing resonates!

This is Keith’s advice on interviewing:

Make them like you. My number one advice: Make sure that by the time you leave the room, you’ve found a way to make the person like you. That’s it: MAKE THEM LIKE YOU. Two arms, two legs and an MBA, being all fancy and important, are not going to get you there. Make that personal connection. Build instant intimacy.
Find a reason to care about the person. Do your homework in advance, understand their passions, and draw out the stories of their life that make them human. When you connect with them, and start to like them, they’ll start to like you, and care about you.
Show them your passion! Specifically, your passion for the job you’re interviewing for. Passion and charisma go a long way.
Tell stories. Don’t rely on stats and figures to make your case. Tell stories of how you’ve changed lives for former bosses and companies. This is what my friend Peter Guber calls “emotional transportation” and it works. Take them on your journey! (Note from Miriam: Katharine Hansen’s book Tell Me About Yourself is a great resource to help you.)

If you have prepared for your interview, the preparation was probably more focused on YOU. What YOU should say. How to emphasize YOUR skills. Your accomplishments. This is fine – I am not going to knock going in prepared to talk about yourself. But, be sure you spend some time thinking of connecting. What research can you do to really help you “hook” the interviewer’s interest? How can you connect on an emotional level?

photo by woodythrower

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Thinking about making a change for a career in teaching?

Miriam Salpeter — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:53:05 +0000

As part of my new “Altruistic Tuesdays” series, today, I am pleased to highlight a story from Encore.org:

John Kostibas saw the problem in the educational pipeline. As a major player in the telecommunications revolution and an engineer himself, Kostibas noticed “a huge decline in American engineering students, all stemming from a math phobia they had in middle and high school.”

He was 54. “My thought was that if I can help them get over this phobia, I can direct more students into engineering and technology careers.” After years of start-ups and high stress business deals, Kostibas decided the time was right. “I was ready to do what I always wanted to do, which was teach math in high school.”

Even though he was an engineer, John still needed to pursue his certification in teaching. He was lucky to be able to find a program that was geared to career changers and fast-tracked his plans. Today, as a math teacher at a high school in Louisville, Texas, he is able to show students that math is relevant and useful as a result of his real-world work experiences.

Encore.org offers resources to help you learn about opportunities to volunteer in a classroom before you make the change, alternative certification programs for qualified applicants and subsidies from companies and government programs to help cover the costs associated with preparing to teach. Follow this link to connect to Encore.org’s suggestions for people thinking of making a change to a career in the classroom.

Stay tuned tomorrow for more resources and things to consider if you are thinking about teaching!

photo by Miranda310

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