Career Hub

The Sprout

Early last Saturday morning in The Windy City, we were walking along the beautiful shoreline of Lake Michigan, hoping to catch a glimpse of sunrise. The day was overcast and cool, though, and you could feel a hint of Fall in the air. As we sauntered along looking for a park bench, there it was, in the middle of nowhere, one little green sprout -- no bigger than a button and no taller than one inch (as shown here in the photo). The sprout had taken root in the most unlikely of places -- the sandy shores of Lake Michigan where humans and their canines gather together for outdoor enjoyment and entertainment.

The lone sprout. Unexpected. A surprise. Out of place. Most unusual, yet there it was. One small sprout amidst thousands and thousands of grains of sand. One tiny seed that had somehow made its way to life and sunshine and survival in an environment that changes daily when man and machine arrive to smooth, tend and maintain the sandy shoreline.

The entire scenario reminded me of my clients and their search for new employment, fresh starts and new beginnings in today's tumultuous, competitive and ever-changing times. No matter how challenging you may find your search for a new opportunity, stay positive and focused and undeterred by negativity, naysayers, and the plethora of no's you may hear. No matter how many times you're told we're not hiring or business is bad or we're cutting staff - again, keep knocking on doors, keep connecting with people; keep on it;  keep at it. No matter how many times someone tells you what you can't do, don't give up on the possibilities and goals and dreams of the things you can do! No matter what the forecast for the future, be it glorious or gloomy, go ahead and plant a seed anyway! Who knows what may surface in the most unlikely, uncommon, unusual, unanticipated, and unexpected of places.

cross-posted at billiesucherblog

Be Average And Have Lots Of Goes

One of my hobbies is comedy improvisation - i.e performing short sketches on stage without a script.

When people come and see me perform in improv shows they often say "Wow, I can't believe you get on stage and perform without a script - that looks so scary!"

Yes it's scary, but it's also exciting. And once you've had lots of goes, there is less fear and more excitement. It's like anything in life, the more you do it, the easier it gets and the faster you improve.

Which is why "Being average and having lots of goes..." is one of the basic rules new improvisers are taught.

Why? Because anything we learn and master is achieved by:

i) Having lots of goes
ii) Falling over and screwing up several times
iii) Then getting back up and implementing some of what you learned from screwing up. And following these three steps over and over again

Think about it - isn't that exactly how you learned to walk? How you learned to cook? Ski? Use email and the internet? Manage people and lead teams?

The learning, improvement and mastery in anything we do comes from having plenty of practice. By focussing on being just average (rather than great or perfect), it encourages you to have more goes than you would normally and so you can speed up your progress exponentially.

I believe the principle of "having lots of goes and being average" applies just as much to careers as it does on an improv stage.

Here are 3 key points to remember to help you embrace this rule in and out of your career:

1. Let go of perfection

If you're job hunting, remember that you're not trying to win a prize for the best resume/CV in the land - you're just trying to secure some interviews. So focus your energy on getting your resume/CV "out there" rather than spending hours tinkering and perfecting it. The improvements will happen as you get out there getting feedback.

This same principle applies to anything else relating to your career - whether it's your marketing pitch, application forms, presentation and public speaking, LinkedIn profile, interview technique, managing upwards, selling yourself etc. Let go of trying to be perfect and you'll make progress far quicker.

2. Celebrate your screw ups

During an improv workshop when someone screws up, we're all encouraged to cheer, celebrate and do some over the top high fives (...no joke).

Why? Because the best learning takes place when you screw up. So when someone screws up during a scene - it's actually a big step forward, not backwards. And so it needs to be encouraged and kind of celebrated (whilst also learning the lesson).

Also, if someone has screwed up, it usually means they've taken a risk and pushed themselves outside their comfort zone (which is where success is usually found) or pushed the boundaries of creativity (which is where innovation comes from).

The same applies to you and your career. By avoiding screw ups and 'playing safe' you deny yourself critical learning opportunities and the scope to move on to bigger and better things.

So as crazy as it sounds, get into the habit of celebrating your set backs and rejections in your career because it means your making progress.

3. Think less, act more

Improvisers are encouraged to do less planning and less thinking. Instead, they are told to "jump and justifty" - that is - do something that feels right in the moment and course correct and justify later. When you focus on taking forward steps instead of overthinking, opportunities to take the scene in any different direction start showing up.

With their careers and work, many people overplan and overthink things - which does nothing but paralyse them into taking no action and so cause frustration. When what they should be doing is taking some actions now - just some next steps. It's those next steps that actually shine the light to future steps and new opportunities.

So don't worry about having the perfect plan and don't be too concerned about screwing up - just take some next steps and you'll find that you open the door to opportunities that you'd never even knew existed. 

Your Field Work

1. Pick ONE specific area that you need to focus on and "have lots of goes at" to improve (e.g. networking, job applications, managing, public speaking and presentations etc).

2. Set yourself some mini targets for the next couple of weeks (eg "I will contact 3 people a week to network with").

3. Find someone to hold you accountable. We all make promises to ourseleves and then don't keep them - so find a colleague, friend, manager, coach or mentor who you can make yourself accountable to so that you definitely push through the perfectionism and fear and just have lots of goes.

If you need to improve one aspect of your performance to progress your career, then forget about trying to look good or wait until things are just right. Instead just be average and have lots of goes. You'll find yourself improving much faster than you ever thought possible.

Will it be scary? Sure it will. But just like performing on stage without a script, once you've had a few goes, it will also be very exciting!

By Sital Ruparelia

7 Career Lessons From Ellen Degeneres

I recently came across a fun and inspiring talk given by the TV talk-show host and stand-up comedienne Ellen Degeneres. Ellen was speaking to the so-called 'Catrina Class' of graduates' at Tulane University in New Orleans earlier this summer.

 

The 10-minute talk was peppered with Ellen's trademark humour coupled with some sage advice for the new graduates. Below are 7 career lessons I picked out from the speech along with how they apply to you and your career:

 

1. "Stop trying to please everyone else"  

One of the biggest reasons people don't pursue work and careers they are passionate about is because they're overly concerned about what everyone else thinks. In trying to please their parents, partner, friends, boss, colleagues and the next-door neighbour's dog, they succeed in pleasing everyone but themselves. Trying to please everyone else is the fast track way to failure and frustration. So quit trying to please everyone and instead focus on what's most important to you. You'll find that the people that really care about you will support you through thick and thin.

 

2. "The most important thing is to be yourself"   
When you stop trying please everyone and take off the 'mask,' life and work become far easier and less stressful. When you focus on being the best version of you instead of trying to be an imitation of someone else, some people (including some employers) won't appreciate you. But in time, the right people and the right opportunities will be drawn to you effortlessly.

 

3. "Follow your own path, not someone else's"   
At the age of 14 I decided I was going to be a pharmacist. Or rather, my family decided I would be a pharmacist (after all, it's a good Indian profession - lots of status and pretty lucrative). Whilst I had little interest in pharmacy or studying sciences, I didn't really know what I wanted to do, so I settled on the pharmacy career path. But then at the age of 16, I failed all my science exams whilst passing everything else. I realised then that trying to do what everyone else wanted me to do would never work. And it will never work for you either. Take advice yes, but listen to yourself, follow your passions and the things you're instinctively motivated to do. You'll be far happier and far more successful.

 

4. "The most devastating things that happen to you, will teach you the biggest lessons"   
Many people who have been laid off in the current economy are learning the importance of having a strong network well before they need one. Some people are realising that they need to take much more responsibility for their careers by thinking and acting like freelancers instead of being wholly reliant on one employer. Most people are learning that it's not sufficient to just 'do a good job' - to succeed, you need to be able to market yourself and develop a distinct personal brand. Whilst sometimes painful, learning these lessons now and implementing the learning in the coming months and years will in fact make you far more successful in the future.

 

So remember - everything is a stepping stone to somewhere else. The thing that may seem like a disaster right now, could be the very thing that teaches you the lessons you need to really thrive in the future.

 

5. "Your definition of success will change over time" 
We often find ourselves climbing the ladder of success only to find some years later that the ladder is, in fact, leaning against the wrong wall. What you were striving for 3 or 5 years ago is very likely different from what you want now. So ask yourself: what's your current definition of career success? Are your actions and behaviours focused on achieving what you want today or what you wanted in the past?  

 

6. "Contribute in some way"   
You can focus on accumulating 'stuff' - money, fancy job titles, cars, houses - but ultimately your success, your reputation and your legacy will be measured not by what you accumulate, but by what you contribute. In the modern world we live in, there are more ways to contribute than ever before: mentoring, volunteering, blogging, campaigning, fund raising, doing charity runs, lending money to the poor via micro finance schemes. Whilst these are not all directly related to your career, your job makes many of these possible and so, by contributing, you can make your career that much more meaningful.  

 

7. "You're gonna be ok......so just dance!" 
No matter how bad things may seem today, you will be ok. If you're out of work - you will find a job. It may take longer than you would like, but you'll get there. If you're stuck in a career you hate - things will change. Maybe the job, the organisation or you. It won't happen overnight - but things will work out and you'll be ok. So instead of stressing too much about what may happen tomorrow, enjoy today and just dance....

To see the 10-minute clip of Ellen talking through these lessons with far more humour than my commentary, click here.

By Sital Ruparelia 

 

You Can Lead A Horse to Water...

The other day, I asked my client to describe one of the earliest projects she could recall -- take, for instance, middle school I offered. She laughed and said she couldn't think back that far. I remained quiet as she recalled an earlier time in her life. Within a minute or so, she began recounting with fondness a specific project, how she went about it, and its eventual successful outcome.

We then turned our conversation to the career transition project she found herself in the midst of now, and how she could apply the skills she already possesses to make this project as successful as any other she'd done previously at work, at home, or in the community. She seemed surprised -- she'd not thought of it that way...a project is a project, after all.

Have you considered managing your career transition project as yet another important project to plan, organize, and execute? As with any project that you've embarked upon, what is the way you go about it? What's your style? What works for you? What is your specific goal -- have you written it down somewhere, or is it rumbling around in your head? What resources in the way of people, data and things do you need to assemble to support project success? What's the first action step, next step and the one after that? What gets top priority? What's your time line? How will you measure progress? What's your definition of project success? What's your strategy when things go awry? What's your backup plan - JIC -- just in case?

While it is of immense value to tap into all of the career resources available to you -- free and/or not-so-free, it is equally important to tap into what you already know to be true about yourself and how you go about doing things in management of life's projects, including career-related ones -- just because you're you and you know you, hopefully better than anyone else. As a good friend in HR once said, you can lead a horse to water...

cross-posted billiesucherblog

Hire Me (Yeah, Yeah): A Twist on Cover Letters

I am fascinated by “hire me” campaigns run by self motivated job seekers who seek to write their own rules. Over the past year, I’ve written about several of these initiatives—from David Heiser’s adventures in social media and Jamie Varon’s Twitter Should Hire Me experiment to Robert Hoppey’s VisualCV and Kelly Giles’ strategic use of LinkedIn.

Today, I’m critiquing two of the latest campaigns—both take a fresh approach to the cover letter. (I’m assigning a pseudonym to the first author and fictionalizing the copy slightly to preserve his anonymity.)

Max, a marketing professional, starts his cover letter for a corporate communications position with a non-profit this way,

I’ve been in this industry long enough to know that I don’t have a decent chance in hell of becoming your next communications director; yet I am applying anyway. I’m confident in my ability to change the rules of the game, or skirt them completely.  Which rules? The rules that say that I have to have direct experience with your constituent population, a wall full of awards, and a master's degree.

Let’s talk about what I do offer…

If I were Max's potential employer, I’d have already stopped reading. This is a shame. Especially since Max goes on to present a first-rate 10,000 foot overview of his work and skills. He talks about turn-around efforts he's lead for high profile public relations clients in the past, and engages me in his work. I find myself nodding in appreciation of his knowledge.

But then I shake my head. From the employer's perspective, I ruled him out as soon as I read his opening sentence: "I don’t have a chance in hell of becoming your next communications director.” I heard cynicism. While his credentials are impressive, sarcasm doesn’t sell. Ditto for comments about the ability to change the rules or skirt them completely. I know of very few jobs or positions where not following guidelines or basic directions are actively encouraged. I want to ask him gently: Would you be willing to reconsider your tone?

The second campaign comes to us from Alec Biedrzycki, who fired up the Internet several weeks ago with his musical cover letter on You Tube. After four marketing internships (mostly unpaid), and graduating Summa Cum Laude from Bentley College, Alec is in the market for his first full-time job. Alec conceived of the idea for the video, shot it (with a little help from his friends) over the course of a few days, and within the week—he was being interviewed by CNN. He reports several interviews and job leads from the exposure, but is still in the market for a full-time job.

Alec and “Max” have a great deal in common. They are both in marketing, and their cover letters demonstrate creativity, and a willingness to take risks. Each takes the “road less traveled” in terms of how they apply for positions.

But the comparison stops there: Max chooses the approach of a brash counter-culture comedian, whereas Alec goes for the memorable “pop refrain.” Three weeks, later and I still find myself humming, “So hire me, yeah, yeah…” It's clear which approach wins me over, does either cover letter work for you?

3 Benefits Of Working For Free

When I was a kid, my dad owned a corner shop in Birmingham (the UK's second city). Well actually, it wasn't exactly on a corner as such, but saying it was an Indian corner shop makes the story sound so much better!

Now, if you were an Indian whose dad owned a shop in the 1970s and 80s, it meant two things: firstly, you were guaranteed to have bad teeth because you had access to a whole range of the best sweets, chocolates and fizzy drinks. And secondly, it meant that you also had to work in the shop at weekends/holidays and help with everything from mopping floors, lifting and carrying stock, right the way through to serving customers, buying stock and helping with some basic accounting.

 

And like all good Indian kids, I did it for F.R.E.E. That's right, without pay (well apart from all the snacks and fizzy drinks I could consume).

This was something my English friends could never understand. After all, they got paid to clean the family car or do some gardening (which I found very strange).

At times, I'd wonder why I wasn't paid - and thought it was just part of being the son of a frugal shop keeper. But looking back, working for free was one of the best things I ever did and would encourage anyone to do it at some point. 

And if you're out of work in the current job market, it's definitely something you should be considering for a number of reasons:

 

1. You gain a wider range of experience
When you work for free, you often get exposed to wider responsibilities. Working with my dad, I got exposure to so many different areas from buying, accounting, shop keeping, negotiating, dealing with staff etc. OK, part of this came with being the boss's son - but a large part of it was also because I was a free resource.

 

That applies to you too. If you offer your skills and services for nothing, you'll often find yourself getting new experiences that you normally wouldn't get in a paid role with a tight job description. So if you're out of work or looking for a career change, there's a great advantage in working for nothing in a new environment.

 

2. It gives you a great selling point at interviews
When I graduated, most of my work experience was with the family business rather than in proper paid work. I thought this would go against me. But actually, when I got to interview stage, I totally sold myself on the work ethic I built up at a young age from working for free.

 

Whilst many of my peers had more corporate experience, working for nothing showed my hunger, commitment and character - which gave me an edge. You can similarly give yourself an edge in the ultra competetive job market we're in right now by working for free.

 

3. It builds humility
When I entered the corporate world, I was fortunate enough to join two top 100-listed firms with a track record of training and investment in their people - British Airways and Marks & Spencer were my first two employers. But both firms required trainees to be flexible in the early years and do work that many others wouldn't. Whilst some of my peers turned their noses up at some of the mundane activities, I was always happy to roll my sleeves up, work longer hours and do what was required to get things done and am sure this helped me settle into new roles and build credibility much faster. But I truly believe that this open-mindedness came from the humility I developed whilst working for free for my dad (there's nothing like sweeping floors on a Saturday evening without pay to build some humility!).

Having interviewed thousands of people throughout my recruitment career, I can tell you that humility is a wonderful quality in a candidate. Finding talented people with relevant skills who are confident in their abilities yet still humble - is like gold dust.

There may be lots of talk about economic recovery, but the job market has some way to fall before a sustained bounce back. So if you're out of work, you need to be looking for every opportunity to develop your skills and be actively working - even if it's for free. In the short term it will stop you going nuts whilst helping you build new skills and relationships. But as you can see from the above, working without pay can also yield many other benefits that will help you secure your next role and indeed enhance your career over the longer term. (And like me, you're bound to get some sweets and treats for working for free!).

 

 

By Sital Ruparelia

Proactive Recession-Proof Your Job Tips

Being proactive about keeping your job, even when your company shows signs that it is losing money and struggling, can be difficult. The May 2009 issue of Consumer Reports’ Rebuild Your Finances (Special Edition) featured a real person (Shirley) who found herself looking possible unemployment in the eye, and who took some proactive job-insurance measures despite her uncertainty and fear.

Let’s face it: the stress alone of contemplating being let go can make logical thinking go out the window. That’s why getting started with some proven steps can be invaluable. Here are the 12 rules as outlined in the Consumer Reports article Recession-proof your job:

1. Add Value
2. Volunteer for special projects and committees
3. Market your personal brand
4. Take credit for your accomplishments
5. Make an emotional connection with key decision-makers
6. Behave more like an owner than an employee
7. Wear the cloak of confidence
8. Network your network
9. Keep your skills fresh
10. Stay visible
11. Rack up the IOUs
12. De-stress

Try to incorporate one or more of these action items into your work day, even if you think your job is rock-solid. It can only make you a more valuable asset to the company, your team, and your boss and enhance your career karma.

Cross-posted at Career Goddess Blog

Facebook Users-Maybe You Should Care About What I Ate for Lunch

I've noticed that several people are talking about a recent CNN article called The 12 Most Annoying Facebookers that profiles what they consider annoying Facebook behavior...everything from posting about nothing to sending too many invites to writing posts just to get everyone's sympathy. And while I think there is some truth in the article...Facebook can sometimes make you want to scream "too much information" I have to disagree that these interactions are meaningless and should stop. Sometimes a conversation about nothing is something.

In the non-virtual world (remember that one...the one where people are having face to face conversations) people don't talk about weighty subject matter 24/7. Many relationships start by talking about non-threatening topics like the weather. And even as relationships progress, a good percentage of what people talk about on a regular basis is...well...about nothing. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.

I have a friend who is a real foodie. He loves ethnic specialties and good wine and beer. I don't think I've ever had a conversation with him where he hasn't told me about something he had to eat recently or a restaurant he enjoyed. It's part of who he is...it is what he is passionate about...it is one of his most endearing qualities...so what's the problem? Is it so terrible for someone to post what they ate online?

I have friends who send me cause invitations all the time...I don't respond to all of them, but it keeps me in the know about what is important to them. If we were having a face to face conversation, I'm sure I would hear about the same cause. So why is it less acceptable in the online world?

The article also talks about the sympathy baiters...those just looking for attention. Again I disagree. I think these posts reveal something about what is going on in that person's life on a particular day. If I was talking with them on the phone, they would probably want to talk about the same issue. So why is it not ok to have it as a status update?

Obviously every message doesn't have relevance to every one of your friends. I think that would be impossible to achieve. I post different messages aimed at the different audiences I have on Facebook knowing that some people will be interested and others will ignore it. The point is that your message makes a connection with someone. And that is a good networking strategy.

Online networking tools have pushed the envelope of social interactions and made it easier for people to reconnect and have conversations with large groups of people. To assume that every conversation has to be serious in order to be valuable is missing the point. The point of the whole process is to reach out with messaging that has value to someone...even if it is just one person...that should be enough.

Posted by Barbara Safani

Why Should I Hire You?

Looking for a job in today's competitive market? Then you won't be surprised when the employer's representative pops the question, Why Should I Hire You?

Are you surprised when a hiring manager asks you that question? Are you fully prepared to answer such a question in ways valuable to the employer? Does your response keep you in contention for the job, or does it close the door to further conversation and consideration?

Routinely, when I am helping clients prepare for an interview, I hear the usual, customary responses to this question..."Well, as you can see, I am very experienced in this field and that experience well qualifies me for this job...along with my education, of course."

While that is an okay, lukewarm, mediocre response, it simply isn't helpful, valuable, and in no way, does it make you rock, shine, stand out, or memorable. If you are an Idol fan, you know that Simon doesn't hesitate to tell Idol wanna-a-be's that they are "memorable" or "forgettable." And if you're a job contestant in today's highly competitive market, employers don't have the time to figure you out, distill your assets, and / or your value on their time, their dime. You either make yourself memorable from the get-go, or you don't.

That said, consider responding to this Why Should I Hire You FAQ in a way that suggests to the employer that you have done some solid research on the organization's mission, values, products, services, markets, key competitors, changes, trends, shifts, acquisitions, people, philanthropies. In essence, you know what makes them run; you know what matters to them; you know what they care about. And let's just suppose for a moment that you find it absolutely impossible to discover information -- maybe they're a new start-up and not much data is available, yet. In that case, ask around -- find someone who knows someone who knows someone at the organization you're interested in. Does that take time, energy, commitment, resourcefulness, tenacity, frustration, ingenuity, perseverance, among other ingredients? Clearly, it does -- it may also yield you a hefty ROI in the form of a job offer -- music to your ears.

So, the next time you are asked Why Should I Hire You, drive in a home run by speaking the employer's language -- music to their ears -- by how you will contribute to their profits, revenues, efficiencies, growth, employee retention, customer retention, margins, market share, cost controls, expense reductions, image, competitive market position, productivity, compliance, etc...words that will make you memorable...words that say I get it...words that will hopefully get you hired...words that communicate I know what matters to you and here's how my product can help you achieve just that.

cross-posted at billiesucherblog

Career Readiness: How to Prepare Your Job for a Hurricane

"Sun shines on Biloxi,
Air is filled with vapors from the sea
Boy will dig a pool beside the the ocean
He sees creatures from his dream underwater
And the sun will set from off towards New Orleans."

  - Jimmy Buffett, "Biloxi"
Lyrics by Jesse Winchester

I've always equated summer with fun at the beach: water sports, barbecues, body surfing and sand dollars. I still do, but after spending two weeks in Biloxi post Hurricane Katrina, I've also learned to keep a close eye on the weather channel... After witnessing what a storm can do first hand (see bridge after storm surge on right), I will never forget that hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.

Before I went to Biloxi, the idea of hurricane preparation generated a to-do list "as seen on tv":

1. Buy plywood and board up windows.
   
2. Stock up on clean water and flashlights.
   
3. Have an emergency contact plan to meet your family.
   
4. Evacuate.

My time in Biloxi taught me that this list was not enough. I went to the Gulf Coast two months post-Katrina, and I partnered with a group of students (at the time I worked at Dartmouth College), colleagues and other volunteers to create a temporary "job search" assistance center at a community relief facility. We advertised our programs on the radio, called over 200 people, and put up flyers everywhere--but we had very few takers.

We discovered that a majority of hurricane survivors had concerns that dwarfed their employment needs: housing, insurance claims, and a looming question of whether to rebuild or relocate. In a city where volunteers were putting up handmade street signs to "retag" neighborhoods two months after the storm, job recovery also took time.

Hundreds of homes and businesses were destroyed by the storm. I'll never forget seeing the wreckage of Biloxi's casinos in particular: Many of them were built on barges that traveled over the street lights of Highway 90 and deposited on the other side of the Gulf Coast highway. They weren't let down gently.

Many businesses closed for months, others have never reopened. Some reopened in different locations, but not all employees chose to relocate. Bottom line: A hurricane can wreak havoc on your work life, even if your housing remains stable and intact.

So with that in mind, here is my annual "how to prepare your career for a hurricane" post.

Maintain contact with others through an e-mail address/phone number that is portable. Store electronic lists of contacts in e-mail accounts that have regular back-up. (E-mail accounts from local internet providers may not be as accessible as those provided by Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo!, etc.)

Store copies of your resume and other important documents electronically (Google Documents and Microsoft Office Live Workspace are two options), and

Ensure that you have enough identification to complete an I-9.

Evacuate with one clean set of "interview" clothes that fits you well, and will help you get through gatekeepers in any official lines. 

Maintain solid contact information for your references. (Phone number alone is not enough; bonus points for having recommendations and information on sites such as LinkedIn.)

Know your employer's back-up plan, and have cell phone numbers for company "emergency line" and at least three colleagues.

Fortunately, it's a rare summer storm that results in loss of contact with employers or employment altogether. But, just because it's rare doesn't mean that it won't happen to you. If you feel that there is only a remote possibility that you or someone you know will be personally affected by a hurricane--think again. 

• Storms in the 2009 season may develop faster than usual. See this recent report from ABC News.
  
• Many of us live close to the edge.  According to the Census, 1 in 2 Americans lives in a coastal county within 50 miles of the sea.

By taking these simple steps, you can make a jump start on "hurricane proofing your career." Are there any additional strategies you recommend?

If yes, share!

To your success,

Chandlee

P.S. If you want a "to-go" version of this information, click here for PDF (no sign-in required).