My offer still stands for networking today, 1 October, at 10am at the Caribou on Ingersoll - hope to see you there!
Also, bring a sack lunch to Net2Work on Monday, 5 October at Connxions, so we can continue our networking session from 12-1pm
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Brent Peterson, PMP, MS, MBA, is the founder of Interview Angel Inc, a company that offers a comprehensive guide and toolkit to executing near flawless job interviews. Interview Angel is also organizing GetConnected!Virginia, one of the largest professional networking events in the country. Discover customer testimonials, blog posts, upcoming events, and media interviews at http://www.interviewangel.com/.
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We’ll connect with friends from elementary school in Facebook. We’ll reciprocate a Follow in Twitter (unless you are a teeth whitening spammer). But when it comes to LinkedIn, everybody has their own rules.
Admit it. You’ve received this generic LinkedIn invitation from somebody you don’t know:
I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.
- Bob
What do you do?
So I went searching for the answer…I contacted a LION (LinkedIn Open Networker) in DC, a Marketing Executive in California, and a Product Manager at LinkedIn directly.
Let’s start with the official recommendation from LinkedIn:
Whom should I invite to connect? which highlights the following..."If you know little about the connection you weaken the integrity of the recommendation and your network."
The Product Manager at LinkedIn also recommended:
A Guide to Building the Right Connections
3 Ways to Make Networking Work
At the other end of the decision tree from the official LinkedIn recommendation are LION's.
Here is the official statement from LinkedIn..."L.I.O.N is an organization that is not affiliated or endorsed by LinkedIn. There are several user created groups with this name that can be found, each with their own group's summary and meaning."
It appears LinkedIn is not a big fan of open networkers (commonplace for professional third party recruiters).
For example, LinkedIn limits a user's displayed connection to "500+ Connections", and it limits the number of invitations a user can send out to 3000 (which is why most LIONs need for you to send them an invitation to connect).
For more information on LIONs on LinkedIn, please reference Neal Schaffer's blog post.
Meet Brett Brody.
Brett is a LION and is LinkedIn to over 6,200 professionals. Brett and I had the opportunity to talk on the phone for an hour before we LinkedIn (see my criteria below). Brett is not a recruiter. He owns his own company and is passionate about connecting people. If you'd like to connect with Brett, simply send him an invitation.
Meet Tim Tyrell-Smith Tim is a marketing executive in the consumer goods industry. Tim is also the Founder of Spin Strategy, an outstanding source for career advice and resources. Tim's general rule for becoming LinkedIn to someone new is to speak first with that person over the phone.
So whatever your rule for building connections in LinkedIn, I recommend some Tips for LinkedIn Professional Etiquette:
1. Never Go Generic
When sending invitations, always include a personal note in the invitation. Answer the question: What is your connection to this person? Go beyond something system-generated like "Bob Smith has indicated you are a classmate at James Madison University" (when you know, if you did a little research, the person graduated 8 years before you). For example, if you read an article the person posted on the alumni news section, be sure to mention that. I also make a point to send a personal note back when I accept an invitation. Never forget LinkedIn is about building professional relationships so start it off with professional courtesy.
2. Be Timely
When you meet other professionals in person (clearly the most valuable way to connect) and exchange business cards, get LinkedIn within 24 hours. The other person will remember your conversation and appreciate your timeliness. For professionals in Virginia, be ready to work overtime on this opportunity at the upcoming statewide networking event that will introduce a unique way to initiate professional relationships. Your LinkedIn connections will increase exponentially if you follow through after the event. As a side note, our intention is to replicate this networking model in other cities because we are faithful it works unlike job fairs and work the room events.
3. Have a Goal in Mind
When you send a LinkedIn invitation to someone, what is your goal? I find it refreshing when someone clearly states why she reached out. I always try to follow this rule when I send invitations. Is this someone I feel I can help his business or career through some form of collaboration? Is this someone I just met and would like to get to know better?
4. Stick to Your Rules
Be consistent with your personal rules for sending and accepting invitations. Don't forget the other person has his own rules too. Unless you are connecting to a LION, never assume. Nobody wants to have his invitation rejected or ignored (archived).
So what are my 5 rules for getting LinkedIn?
1. I accept / send LinkedIn invitations if I have had the opportunity to work with you
2. I accept / send LinkedIn invitations if we have met in person
3. I accept / send LinkedIn invitations if we have spoken on the phone (and an in person meeting is not feasible)
4. I accept / send LinkedIn invitations to initiate a professional relationship where phone and/or in-person collaboration is expected
5. My goal in every LinkedIn relationship is to be able to recommend your services to other professionals who trust my opinion That’s it. Pretty simple. I believe in quality of relationships, not quantity. I believe in focusing on your needs, not mine. I believe in communication the old fashioned way.
Am I LinkedIn to people I could not recommend at this time? The answer is yes (see criteria 1 through 4), but my goal is still to be able to recommend your services to someone else. I hope the people who are LinkedIn to me have the same goal for me.
Success in your career is about your reputation to help others. Period.
Final tip: Do not ever assume a person’s LinkedIn list is the body of his or her connections. It’s not even close. For example, LinkedIn actually erased my identity earlier this year so I’m still rebuilding. Until you build an actual trusted relationship with someone will you ever be introduced to the politician the person knows at church, the executive who lives down his street, or the person he plays golf with.
To borrow a quote from Jim Roman who I heard speak this past week at a Chamber of Commerce meeting, “It’s not who you know. It’s how well you know them.” I’m not a LION, but I believe in relationships (see criteria above).
My LinkedIn address is http://www.linkedin.com/in/brentpeterson. Please help me understand how I can help you. I welcome the invitation.Please share your rules for getting LinkedIn as well as other tips you may have for others. Thanks!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Just Tell Me I Didn't Get the Job
Please join me and your fellow unemployed at Caribou on Ingersoll at 10am this Thursday, 1 October for informal networking...
I would really like some answers on this one:
We apply for jobs. This can take the form of attaching resume/cover letter/references to an email and sending it to an email address; completing an online application through the company's website and attaching resume/cover letter/references; even sketchier is a 3-click system such as Careerbuilder's where we attached our resume/cover letter and have no idea who we are sending it to. In all three of these scenarios, we may or may not receive an e-response indicating that our application was received...From speaking with a lot of unemployed, this is a huge concern, but I'm slowly coming to terms with the "Lost In Space" reality of this process...
So, we get called in for an interview. We're on Cloud 9! We ask the correct questions at the end of the interview so we understand their timeline for making their decision and what the next steps are; basically, who is to follow-up with whom, how and when.
How many times have you had an interview and you do everything you're told to do, in terms of follow-up, and you never hear anything from them? I've interviewed twice sometimes and I never hear back as to whether I'm still in the running or if they've moved forward with another candidate. I've followed-up as they requested and now I'm left here waiting. When should I move on and stop hoping? Their timeline for making their decision has come and gone and I haven't heard a thing. I'm having a challenging time achieving closure with many the jobs I've interviewed for because of this.
I would really like some answers on this one. Whether you're in Human Resources or if you've gleaned some information as an unemployed person going through this process, please share your knowledge...
I would really like some answers on this one:
We apply for jobs. This can take the form of attaching resume/cover letter/references to an email and sending it to an email address; completing an online application through the company's website and attaching resume/cover letter/references; even sketchier is a 3-click system such as Careerbuilder's where we attached our resume/cover letter and have no idea who we are sending it to. In all three of these scenarios, we may or may not receive an e-response indicating that our application was received...From speaking with a lot of unemployed, this is a huge concern, but I'm slowly coming to terms with the "Lost In Space" reality of this process...
So, we get called in for an interview. We're on Cloud 9! We ask the correct questions at the end of the interview so we understand their timeline for making their decision and what the next steps are; basically, who is to follow-up with whom, how and when.
How many times have you had an interview and you do everything you're told to do, in terms of follow-up, and you never hear anything from them? I've interviewed twice sometimes and I never hear back as to whether I'm still in the running or if they've moved forward with another candidate. I've followed-up as they requested and now I'm left here waiting. When should I move on and stop hoping? Their timeline for making their decision has come and gone and I haven't heard a thing. I'm having a challenging time achieving closure with many the jobs I've interviewed for because of this.
I would really like some answers on this one. Whether you're in Human Resources or if you've gleaned some information as an unemployed person going through this process, please share your knowledge...
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Establish Your Personal Brand through Consistent Color
My offer still stands for networking this Thursday, 1 October at 10am at the Caribou on Ingersoll - hope to see you there!
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Marsha Hallet has more than 30 years experience in the fashion industry, the last 26 with her own company Hallet Handknits and this year with her new business Hallet Sweater Art. Her educational background is a BA from Stanford and an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA, and she also currently studies figure drawing and Spanish.
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Branding is really about business, how to package yourself in such a way so you are literally "picked" from the shelf. In today's competitive job market, you will need to rely on more than your skills to get a position and establishing a personal brand will set you apart.
1. From your resume through to your interview outfit, pick a color that defines you and use it as part of your brand. The idea is to use a power color, for example red, and apply it to all your dealing with a prospective employer. How you apply depends on the industry. For example you would be more subtle in applying for a job with a law firm that an ad agency.
2. Pick a symbol in your color that you can use on your correspondence. A red dot, a red square, etc next to your contact details is sufficient. You don't need to hire a branding firm, any geometric recognizable symbol will do. The simpler the better. All follow up or confirming e-mails prior to your actual interview should carry through with this symbol or brand. Use it as part of your signature.
3. When you arrive at the interview, make this color part of your interview outfit. If you think a red power suit is appropriate then wear it. Or it can be a red career bag, red glasses, red scarf, red shoes, etc. But remember that research with the company HR on appropriate dress or visiting the company sub rosa before your interview, will both stand you in good stead. Even with red you can be relatively conservative.
4. Follow through with your business cards. If red is your brand color, then your business cards need to show that. If you are seeking a position with an ad agency, maybe your entire card can be red. If it's the law firm job you are after, possibly just your name would be red and you would choose a dark red, not a screaming red.
5. A personal color will brand you if you use the color consistently. Make sure that you wear the color at all subsquent interviews with the prospective employer and if you get the job continue using the color with your clothing an accessories.
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Marsha Hallet has more than 30 years experience in the fashion industry, the last 26 with her own company Hallet Handknits and this year with her new business Hallet Sweater Art. Her educational background is a BA from Stanford and an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA, and she also currently studies figure drawing and Spanish.
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Branding is really about business, how to package yourself in such a way so you are literally "picked" from the shelf. In today's competitive job market, you will need to rely on more than your skills to get a position and establishing a personal brand will set you apart.
1. From your resume through to your interview outfit, pick a color that defines you and use it as part of your brand. The idea is to use a power color, for example red, and apply it to all your dealing with a prospective employer. How you apply depends on the industry. For example you would be more subtle in applying for a job with a law firm that an ad agency.
2. Pick a symbol in your color that you can use on your correspondence. A red dot, a red square, etc next to your contact details is sufficient. You don't need to hire a branding firm, any geometric recognizable symbol will do. The simpler the better. All follow up or confirming e-mails prior to your actual interview should carry through with this symbol or brand. Use it as part of your signature.
3. When you arrive at the interview, make this color part of your interview outfit. If you think a red power suit is appropriate then wear it. Or it can be a red career bag, red glasses, red scarf, red shoes, etc. But remember that research with the company HR on appropriate dress or visiting the company sub rosa before your interview, will both stand you in good stead. Even with red you can be relatively conservative.
4. Follow through with your business cards. If red is your brand color, then your business cards need to show that. If you are seeking a position with an ad agency, maybe your entire card can be red. If it's the law firm job you are after, possibly just your name would be red and you would choose a dark red, not a screaming red.
5. A personal color will brand you if you use the color consistently. Make sure that you wear the color at all subsquent interviews with the prospective employer and if you get the job continue using the color with your clothing an accessories.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Two-Time Victim of the Economy
I've got a confession to make. I got a job...and then was laid off two months after I started...to the day.
After the 4th of July, I was hired through a recruiter to do some sales and marketing support for a prominent, well-established company in Des Moines. (The challenge of working with this recruiter may be its own blog post at a later date :P)
I took the job because it was sort of in line with what I had done before and incorporated some of the social media skills I've acquired over the past several months. AND because my husband and I decided I'd been laid off long enough...mostly my husband...
I'll admit, it was a HUGE challenge having a structured day, sitting in an open cubicle (I previously had an office) and thinking about all the other projects I had going on that I had to put on hold.
After about a week, I realized that this job wasn't for me and began my job search with earnest. Let's just say that the "prominent, well-established" company in Des Moines was being sucked dry financially by a start-up company they began three years ago. I bought my own office supplies and had to bring my own cleaning supplies from home to clean my cube on Day 2. This was all a little strange to me. Why did they hire a support person if they can't buy legal pads or pencils?
After the two months I worked there, of the job duties I was hired to do, I would say that I devoted about 5% of my time to them. The other 95% of my time was devoted to cold calling in order to drum up business for the start-up side of the company. This was a responsibility that wasn't made known to me by the recruiter or my supervisor before I was hired. There are a lot of things I'll do, but cold calling isn't one of them. Let's just say that I'm not that good at it...Had I known this before I was hired, I wouldn't have taken the job.
So, 2 months after I was hired, the day after we returned from our Labor Day vacation in Northern Wisconsin, my supervisor called me into his office at the end of the day and told me that they were going to have to let me go:
"You've been sitting in on all of our meetings; you know what the state of the company is. We just don't have any money. We'd hoped that there would have been an improvement in the last 30 days."
I asked him 2 questions before I packed my things and left. "Was it something I've done?" This determines whether or not they'd contest my claim for unemployment. He confirmed that it was through no fault of my own. "When is this layoff effective?" He said immediately. That's all I needed to hear.
Now I'm back to being Unemployed in Des Moines and loving it. I am working part-time for the Iowa United Nations Association planning events for the Des Moines/Ames Chapters, but I am still looking for a full-time gig or freelance opportunities. If you'd like to connect, please let me know.
I've noticed that there aren't that many networking opportunities this week. Wondered if any of you would like to meet up for coffee - the more the merrier. Just let me know and we can make a big group of it. I'm thinking Thursday at 10:00am at the Caribou on Ingersoll downtown...send me an email suzanne_hull@hotmail.com or make a comment below this post. Have a great week!
After the 4th of July, I was hired through a recruiter to do some sales and marketing support for a prominent, well-established company in Des Moines. (The challenge of working with this recruiter may be its own blog post at a later date :P)
I took the job because it was sort of in line with what I had done before and incorporated some of the social media skills I've acquired over the past several months. AND because my husband and I decided I'd been laid off long enough...mostly my husband...
I'll admit, it was a HUGE challenge having a structured day, sitting in an open cubicle (I previously had an office) and thinking about all the other projects I had going on that I had to put on hold.
After about a week, I realized that this job wasn't for me and began my job search with earnest. Let's just say that the "prominent, well-established" company in Des Moines was being sucked dry financially by a start-up company they began three years ago. I bought my own office supplies and had to bring my own cleaning supplies from home to clean my cube on Day 2. This was all a little strange to me. Why did they hire a support person if they can't buy legal pads or pencils?
After the two months I worked there, of the job duties I was hired to do, I would say that I devoted about 5% of my time to them. The other 95% of my time was devoted to cold calling in order to drum up business for the start-up side of the company. This was a responsibility that wasn't made known to me by the recruiter or my supervisor before I was hired. There are a lot of things I'll do, but cold calling isn't one of them. Let's just say that I'm not that good at it...Had I known this before I was hired, I wouldn't have taken the job.
So, 2 months after I was hired, the day after we returned from our Labor Day vacation in Northern Wisconsin, my supervisor called me into his office at the end of the day and told me that they were going to have to let me go:
"You've been sitting in on all of our meetings; you know what the state of the company is. We just don't have any money. We'd hoped that there would have been an improvement in the last 30 days."
I asked him 2 questions before I packed my things and left. "Was it something I've done?" This determines whether or not they'd contest my claim for unemployment. He confirmed that it was through no fault of my own. "When is this layoff effective?" He said immediately. That's all I needed to hear.
Now I'm back to being Unemployed in Des Moines and loving it. I am working part-time for the Iowa United Nations Association planning events for the Des Moines/Ames Chapters, but I am still looking for a full-time gig or freelance opportunities. If you'd like to connect, please let me know.
I've noticed that there aren't that many networking opportunities this week. Wondered if any of you would like to meet up for coffee - the more the merrier. Just let me know and we can make a big group of it. I'm thinking Thursday at 10:00am at the Caribou on Ingersoll downtown...send me an email suzanne_hull@hotmail.com or make a comment below this post. Have a great week!
Friday, September 25, 2009
The One Best Thing You Can Do For Your Job Search!
Harry Urschel has over 20 years of highly successful professional placement experience across Technical, Functional, and Senior Executive roles. He is Executive Recruiter and Owner at e-Executives
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One challenge in a job search is that it seems there are a hundred things to do and you have to do all of them, all the time. That’s mostly true. The more avenues you can pursue, and the better job you can do pursuing them, the higher the likelihood you will find a new position sooner. However, if there were one thing you could give the greatest focus to that might have the greatest impact… what would that be?
Attitude!
Maintaining a positive attitude is one of the most difficult yet most important things you can do for a successful job search. It affects every other aspect of your search and will have a dramatic impact on how your are perceived by potential employers.
A positive attitude makes you more effective in networking calls, meetings, interviews, and every form of contact with other people. People with a positive attitude are more pleasant to talk to, more engaging, and more appealing in many ways.
A positive attitude makes it easier to do the things that you otherwise don’t care to do. Having to contact people that you don’t know may be as appealing to you as a root canal. However, approaching it with a positive attitude will make it much more palatable. Approaching it with a defeatist attitude or sense of dread will cause you to procrastinate, feel miserable, and probably make a poor impression with whoever you may be calling. The same is true at meetings and interviews.
A positive attitude makes you a much more attractive candidate to a potential employer. Someone that comes across as ‘down’, discouraged, bitter, or fearful does not inspire an employer to think “Here’s someone I would love to work with every day!” Someone that is optimistic, upbeat, cheerful, and looking forward to a new opportunity is much more interesting to a hiring manager. It is often the primary reason why one person gets hired over another with similar skills.
So how do you maintain a positive attitude in a tough job market? That will vary from person to person. What works for one may not help another, but here are some suggestions…
Turn off the TV! It is extremely rare to find anything on TV that encourages you, inspires you, or cheers you up in any way. News broadcasts focus on bad news and trumpet the latest ‘crisis’ 24-7. Sitcoms, reality shows, and dramas don’t tend to highlight the best in people, but rather thrive on stories of people at their worst. Think of how often you walk away from watching TV and feel more motivated to get some work done. Probably not often. Your attitude is likely to be much better without much TV.
Be careful of who you talk to. Others around you can be a huge influence on your attitude. They can either encourage you or bring you down. Make it clear to your family and friends that you are working hard at keeping a positive attitude and ask them to help you do that. When you network with others, don’t stick around if they are dwelling on doom and gloom. It’s difficult to keep your own attitude up when you’re listening to someone else complaining about how bad things are. Guard your attitude and don’t let others bring it down.
Exercise! It’s hard to maintain a great attitude when you’re sitting on the couch and eating everything in sight. Your body can have a great affect on how you feel. Better yet, when you exercise your brain emits endorphins that give you sense of well being. Almost invariably, people that exercise regularly have a more positive attitude. Do it. It works!
Feed your mind with good stuff! The old computer cliché’ is true for our minds as well… GIGO… Garbage In, Garbage Out. The converse holds true too… Good stuff in, Good stuff out. Reading things that are encouraging, inspiring, and uplifting can do wonders for your attitude. For some it may be scripture, for others it may be biographies of great leaders, or poetry. It may be listening to uplifting music or something else that has a positive impact for you.
Do what you should be doing. One of the best ways to keep a positive attitude is to feel good about what you’re doing. If you are spending your days pursuing your job search as you planned, you will likely feel good about yourself. If your day is more characterized by procrastination and distractions and feeling like you haven’t accomplished much you will likely feel down. Do what you’re supposed to do! You’ll accomplish more and build your attitude every step of the way.
Nothing works for everyone, but pick the things that work for you and do them. A positive attitude will be the most valuable asset for your job search!
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One challenge in a job search is that it seems there are a hundred things to do and you have to do all of them, all the time. That’s mostly true. The more avenues you can pursue, and the better job you can do pursuing them, the higher the likelihood you will find a new position sooner. However, if there were one thing you could give the greatest focus to that might have the greatest impact… what would that be?
Attitude!
Maintaining a positive attitude is one of the most difficult yet most important things you can do for a successful job search. It affects every other aspect of your search and will have a dramatic impact on how your are perceived by potential employers.
A positive attitude makes you more effective in networking calls, meetings, interviews, and every form of contact with other people. People with a positive attitude are more pleasant to talk to, more engaging, and more appealing in many ways.
A positive attitude makes it easier to do the things that you otherwise don’t care to do. Having to contact people that you don’t know may be as appealing to you as a root canal. However, approaching it with a positive attitude will make it much more palatable. Approaching it with a defeatist attitude or sense of dread will cause you to procrastinate, feel miserable, and probably make a poor impression with whoever you may be calling. The same is true at meetings and interviews.
A positive attitude makes you a much more attractive candidate to a potential employer. Someone that comes across as ‘down’, discouraged, bitter, or fearful does not inspire an employer to think “Here’s someone I would love to work with every day!” Someone that is optimistic, upbeat, cheerful, and looking forward to a new opportunity is much more interesting to a hiring manager. It is often the primary reason why one person gets hired over another with similar skills.
So how do you maintain a positive attitude in a tough job market? That will vary from person to person. What works for one may not help another, but here are some suggestions…
Turn off the TV! It is extremely rare to find anything on TV that encourages you, inspires you, or cheers you up in any way. News broadcasts focus on bad news and trumpet the latest ‘crisis’ 24-7. Sitcoms, reality shows, and dramas don’t tend to highlight the best in people, but rather thrive on stories of people at their worst. Think of how often you walk away from watching TV and feel more motivated to get some work done. Probably not often. Your attitude is likely to be much better without much TV.
Be careful of who you talk to. Others around you can be a huge influence on your attitude. They can either encourage you or bring you down. Make it clear to your family and friends that you are working hard at keeping a positive attitude and ask them to help you do that. When you network with others, don’t stick around if they are dwelling on doom and gloom. It’s difficult to keep your own attitude up when you’re listening to someone else complaining about how bad things are. Guard your attitude and don’t let others bring it down.
Exercise! It’s hard to maintain a great attitude when you’re sitting on the couch and eating everything in sight. Your body can have a great affect on how you feel. Better yet, when you exercise your brain emits endorphins that give you sense of well being. Almost invariably, people that exercise regularly have a more positive attitude. Do it. It works!
Feed your mind with good stuff! The old computer cliché’ is true for our minds as well… GIGO… Garbage In, Garbage Out. The converse holds true too… Good stuff in, Good stuff out. Reading things that are encouraging, inspiring, and uplifting can do wonders for your attitude. For some it may be scripture, for others it may be biographies of great leaders, or poetry. It may be listening to uplifting music or something else that has a positive impact for you.
Do what you should be doing. One of the best ways to keep a positive attitude is to feel good about what you’re doing. If you are spending your days pursuing your job search as you planned, you will likely feel good about yourself. If your day is more characterized by procrastination and distractions and feeling like you haven’t accomplished much you will likely feel down. Do what you’re supposed to do! You’ll accomplish more and build your attitude every step of the way.
Nothing works for everyone, but pick the things that work for you and do them. A positive attitude will be the most valuable asset for your job search!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Project Lemon-Aid
I attended my first Project Lemon-Aid event this week and boy, was it refreshing! I really don't understand why everyone who is unemployed in Des Moines weren't there on Tuesday. There's really no excuse :)
The event took place from 8am-noon at Connxions in Urbandale. It was my first time at Connxions and it has great meeting space in addition to its bookstore and coffee/munchies cafe. Pumpkin chocolate muffins - never seen those before - they smelled delicious!
The event started off with a four-person panel representing RDG Planning and Design, Deerfield Retirement Community, Home Depot and Doll Distributing. It was refreshing to hear the perspectives of representatives from smaller companies.
From 10am-noon, participants had the opportunity to attend, one-hour breakout sessions on topics such as "Plan B", Social Media, Networking and Resume Writing led by experts in the respective field.
What did I glean from attending this event:
Tim Bianci is an amazing facilitator - wait, I knew that already :)
If you're applying for jobs and you don't have directly applicable work experience, have a brainstorming session and add items to your resume that are applicable, but that you don't get paid for.
I like to follow-up with companies I've sent resumes to, but I haven't figured out a way to make it look like I'm not stalking them...until now...keep abreast of what the company is doing in the media. When they are mentioned, send the company a note mentioning the article and your congratulations...this gets your name in front of them again.
Check out Elevate America; Governor Chet Culver announced a major public-private partnership between Microsoft and the State of Iowa to provide free technology training for up to 5,700 unemployed Iowans, starting July 15, 2009. If you aren't taking advantage of this yet, you'd better get signed up fast!
The event took place from 8am-noon at Connxions in Urbandale. It was my first time at Connxions and it has great meeting space in addition to its bookstore and coffee/munchies cafe. Pumpkin chocolate muffins - never seen those before - they smelled delicious!
The event started off with a four-person panel representing RDG Planning and Design, Deerfield Retirement Community, Home Depot and Doll Distributing. It was refreshing to hear the perspectives of representatives from smaller companies.
From 10am-noon, participants had the opportunity to attend, one-hour breakout sessions on topics such as "Plan B", Social Media, Networking and Resume Writing led by experts in the respective field.
What did I glean from attending this event:
Tim Bianci is an amazing facilitator - wait, I knew that already :)
If you're applying for jobs and you don't have directly applicable work experience, have a brainstorming session and add items to your resume that are applicable, but that you don't get paid for.
I like to follow-up with companies I've sent resumes to, but I haven't figured out a way to make it look like I'm not stalking them...until now...keep abreast of what the company is doing in the media. When they are mentioned, send the company a note mentioning the article and your congratulations...this gets your name in front of them again.
Check out Elevate America; Governor Chet Culver announced a major public-private partnership between Microsoft and the State of Iowa to provide free technology training for up to 5,700 unemployed Iowans, starting July 15, 2009. If you aren't taking advantage of this yet, you'd better get signed up fast!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Net2Work
If you weren't at the Net2Work on Monday at the Botanical Center, here's what I got out of the event:
From 8:30-9:45am there was an informal networking session with over a dozen business professionals with expertise in the career search process including employer representatives, recruiters and career counselors. I wasn't able to make it to this session. Did any of you find it useful? I talked to a gentleman today at Project Lemon-aid who said he went to the morning session and he said he was able to speak with a representative from Marsh. He had applied for a job there and said it was extremely beneficial to meet the hiring manager in an informal setting.
Then came the traditional 30-second introductions at our table from 10:00-10:15am. I always try to sit at a table where I don't know anyone so I can meet as many new people as possible...tough to do when I've been going to these events for a while :) 3 of the 7 others at my table I knew already, but made great connections with the rest of the group.
From 10:15-11:00am, the below panel spoke about interviewing expectations. They answered 3 prepared questions they had received before the event: how to prepare for the interview; how to shine during the interview; and how to follow up after the interview. The panel included:
Kaci Rother, Des Moines University
Kris Benge, Nationwide
Joey Leonhardt, Marsh
Sue Cheek, Mid American Energy
Kerry Funke, Nationwide
Kendra Sones, Wells Fargo
After the panelists answered the prepared questions, they opened it up to Q&A which could have gone on all morning and part of me wish it had...What if the event started an hour earlier and we had more time to engage with the panelists? Or what if the "facilitated table discussion" from 11am-noon was shortened up a bit to allow more time for the "meat & potatoes" of the presentation? After the panel, there was facilitated table discussion during which career search professionals at each table continued the discussion and provided expertise and advice. This doesn't need to be an hour long in my opinion.
What did I take away from Net2Work? Even though I've been to quite a few of these events, I still manage to take away some great information.
When you're "reinventing" yourself, i.e. applying/interviewing for jobs that aren't necessarily anything you've ever done before, be passionate about the company and bring that passion to your resume, cover letter and interview. Be clear that this is an area that you would like to transition into and make sure they understand what skills you bring to the table...
This is something that I'm experiencing firsthand: During the past 8 months, the jobs I'm applying for have changed a bit. At first, I was straight international sales/marketing support and now with my experience using social media and managing online communities, I've started applying for jobs that require this skill set. Do I have much experience doing this sort of thing? NO, but I've gotten interviews because I can demonstrate that I'm learning and growing as much as I can in this field and I'm passionate about making this transition.
When I do interview for jobs with this "new, self-taught" experience, I am very well prepared to answer questions regarding my ability to do the job. Always anticipate questions and have answers prepared.
One of the panelists mentioned that we should give ourselves a pat on the back for just making it to the interview phase. I wholeheartedly believe this. Give yourself a break sometimes! You may be one of 300 applicants for a position. If you get an interview, give yourself a pat on the back. This is an extremely competitive environment right now. Don't beat yourself up so much; celebrate and recognize the successes.
The panelists addressed how we should follow-up after an interview. They said that when we walk away from an interview, both parties should have a clear understanding of what the timeline is for the decision and how we should follow-up with them. I have no problem with this. What I do have a problem with is when they NEVER follow-up with candidates when they say they will. I've had first and second interviews with organizations and I have NEVER heard anything back from them. And I'm talking after 2-3 months...I followed their process of how to follow-up and I hear nothing back. This is what I have a problem with. If I didn't get the job, just tell me...
Something dawned on me a couple weeks ago. Another person in transition and I wanted to go to go to Net2Work and then grab lunch afterwards; we're actually encouraged to do so by the facilitators of Net2Work in order to continue the networking process. I don't know about you, but I'd rather save my money instead of going out to lunch...so my friend and I decided to pack a lunch and ended up driving down to the Chinese monument/display on the river and having a great picnic. Honestly, the only reason I leave Net2Work when I do is because I'm starving. Who would be interested in packing a lunch and picnicking after the next Net2Work? I'm game. If the weather's bad, we might be able to just stay in the room and have an indoor picnic!
From 8:30-9:45am there was an informal networking session with over a dozen business professionals with expertise in the career search process including employer representatives, recruiters and career counselors. I wasn't able to make it to this session. Did any of you find it useful? I talked to a gentleman today at Project Lemon-aid who said he went to the morning session and he said he was able to speak with a representative from Marsh. He had applied for a job there and said it was extremely beneficial to meet the hiring manager in an informal setting.
Then came the traditional 30-second introductions at our table from 10:00-10:15am. I always try to sit at a table where I don't know anyone so I can meet as many new people as possible...tough to do when I've been going to these events for a while :) 3 of the 7 others at my table I knew already, but made great connections with the rest of the group.
From 10:15-11:00am, the below panel spoke about interviewing expectations. They answered 3 prepared questions they had received before the event: how to prepare for the interview; how to shine during the interview; and how to follow up after the interview. The panel included:
Kaci Rother, Des Moines University
Kris Benge, Nationwide
Joey Leonhardt, Marsh
Sue Cheek, Mid American Energy
Kerry Funke, Nationwide
Kendra Sones, Wells Fargo
After the panelists answered the prepared questions, they opened it up to Q&A which could have gone on all morning and part of me wish it had...What if the event started an hour earlier and we had more time to engage with the panelists? Or what if the "facilitated table discussion" from 11am-noon was shortened up a bit to allow more time for the "meat & potatoes" of the presentation? After the panel, there was facilitated table discussion during which career search professionals at each table continued the discussion and provided expertise and advice. This doesn't need to be an hour long in my opinion.
What did I take away from Net2Work? Even though I've been to quite a few of these events, I still manage to take away some great information.
When you're "reinventing" yourself, i.e. applying/interviewing for jobs that aren't necessarily anything you've ever done before, be passionate about the company and bring that passion to your resume, cover letter and interview. Be clear that this is an area that you would like to transition into and make sure they understand what skills you bring to the table...
This is something that I'm experiencing firsthand: During the past 8 months, the jobs I'm applying for have changed a bit. At first, I was straight international sales/marketing support and now with my experience using social media and managing online communities, I've started applying for jobs that require this skill set. Do I have much experience doing this sort of thing? NO, but I've gotten interviews because I can demonstrate that I'm learning and growing as much as I can in this field and I'm passionate about making this transition.
When I do interview for jobs with this "new, self-taught" experience, I am very well prepared to answer questions regarding my ability to do the job. Always anticipate questions and have answers prepared.
One of the panelists mentioned that we should give ourselves a pat on the back for just making it to the interview phase. I wholeheartedly believe this. Give yourself a break sometimes! You may be one of 300 applicants for a position. If you get an interview, give yourself a pat on the back. This is an extremely competitive environment right now. Don't beat yourself up so much; celebrate and recognize the successes.
The panelists addressed how we should follow-up after an interview. They said that when we walk away from an interview, both parties should have a clear understanding of what the timeline is for the decision and how we should follow-up with them. I have no problem with this. What I do have a problem with is when they NEVER follow-up with candidates when they say they will. I've had first and second interviews with organizations and I have NEVER heard anything back from them. And I'm talking after 2-3 months...I followed their process of how to follow-up and I hear nothing back. This is what I have a problem with. If I didn't get the job, just tell me...
Something dawned on me a couple weeks ago. Another person in transition and I wanted to go to go to Net2Work and then grab lunch afterwards; we're actually encouraged to do so by the facilitators of Net2Work in order to continue the networking process. I don't know about you, but I'd rather save my money instead of going out to lunch...so my friend and I decided to pack a lunch and ended up driving down to the Chinese monument/display on the river and having a great picnic. Honestly, the only reason I leave Net2Work when I do is because I'm starving. Who would be interested in packing a lunch and picnicking after the next Net2Work? I'm game. If the weather's bad, we might be able to just stay in the room and have an indoor picnic!
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