We understand the importance of a thank you letter, email or note immediately following the interview. But, there is another more critical use of the "thank you". It is more than a post interview staple. In fact, this idea came from a cherished colleague with many years experience in higher education. This is someone with honors, awards and recognitions that I can't even fathom at this stage in my career. Did I peak your curiosity? Did I build the level of tension required for you to read on?
How about when you leave a job? This is when the thank you note, email or letter is most important. It is your notification that you are moving on, that a door or window has opened; you are taking the fork in the road. What better way to show appreciation for the relationship and keep the connection open for the future. It is your opportunity to let that person know that you may reach back for a reference, expert advice or mentoring.
I would imagine the next question might be, "who do I thank?" That is a great question and I might have to ask my cherished colleague the protocol and get back to you on a later post. But, I chose to thank those individuals that were directly responsible for the success of my team. I wanted to thank those day to day contacts that I relied on to get my work completed on time and on budget. I wanted to thank those individuals that gave me other opportunities to improve and grow professionally. I wanted to thank those individuals that made my workspace clean and safe and comfortable. I know that might sound weird but think about the person that empties the trash, shampoos the carpet, gave you a lift to the conference or in my case, when I broke my ankle made special accommodations to get me and my wheelchair to my desk each day on time and back out again at the end of my work day. I wanted to thank that person too.
Can you be too thankful? I doubt it. Can you ever be too rich? Never! If you have many, many people to thank when you transition from one position to another; you are rich in relationships, rich in connections, rich in opportunity and rich in the knowledge that the "thank you" is a powerful career tool. Never discount the thank you.
FireBreathingDragon
The World of Work is Changing. Are You Ready?
This is an UM! Free Zone-Toastmasters
This week I took the plunge and joined Toastmasters International. I have been thinking about it for years and never understood what was holding me back. It wasn't until I was teaching a class and caught myself saying UM, that I was horrified and emailed the director immediately. My husband completed the program about ten years ago and said it was a great help, especially when he was promoted to a leadership position. He told me that the first assignment is to get up and talk about something off the top of your head. Now, that would scare most people, but,I am a fiction writer (albeit a novice) and I have many stories spinning in my head. The hard part will be to select something appropriate. That will be VERY HARD.
Toastmaster's was started in 1924 by Ralph C. Smedley in a basement at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California. Smedley wanted to teach young men how to become leaders through effective public speaking. He took the name "toastmaster" since that was the term used in the early 1900's to identify the person that proposed a toast at a social event. Hence, Smedley chose to name his invention, The Toastmasters Club. The social club feel, he surmised would appeal to young men, and he was right!
I recently put in a suggestion at my job to bring Toastmasters to the college. We have a student leadership program that is well attended. The Toastmaster's at work would be open to everyone. The residual effect of Toastmaster's is the leadership component, it is the value added. Leadership is often about communication and body language. What better way to develop professionally than to have a command of public speaking. Having the knowledge on how to work a room and moderate your voice and movements to have impact, exude confidence and communicate a message that is compelling.
As a fan and supporter of public television, I marvel at people like Suze Orman, she captivates her audience with her public speaking ability. She is direct, animated and compassionate all at the same time. I aspire to become a public speaker that has half her charisma and talent. Suze Orman, fulfils motivational tips that are available on the Toastmaster website. Did I mention that they have a digital magazine? (FREE)
I wonder if Ms. Orman is a graduate? Here is what you need to know.
Be enthusiastic. Enthusiasm is contagious! Before you present your ideas, think about the aspects of the subject that you find most interesting, and don’t be afraid to let that interest come through in your voice.
Use quotes, stories and anecdotes. Along with their obvious entertainment value, quotes and stories can lend authority to your topic and provide concrete examples that people can relate to.
Speak with confidence. Deliver your message loud and clear. Maintain eye contact with your listeners. Don’t mumble or slouch.
Say you and we, not I and me. Instead of telling people what you want them to do, present ways for them to work together to achieve their goals. Involve listeners in the success of the group.
Keep it simple. People aren’t motivated by what you say; they’re motivated by what they understand. The best way to ensure audience understanding is to break down complex ideas into simple components.
I can't wait to get started. My first meeting if on Tuesday, August 7, 2012. I will share my experience on this blog, and hope that my curiosity will inspire others to UM! Join Toastmaster's too. Make your public speaking an UM! free zone.
LINK
Rusty is No Excuse for Careless
I recently interviewed for a position in management and happily I was offered the job. It had been more than 3 years since I interviewed. As a GCDF, I did my homework. I researched the organization, visited their website, set up a Google alert for the organization to keep abreast of current news and organizational changes. I ran a ticker tape in my head of how I would answer the age old questions, “tell me a little about yourself?” What is your greatest strength? Weakness? I carefully planned my wardrobe down to whether or not I would bring a purse or carry a bottle of water into the office( it was a very hot day in the city of Philadelphia) I toned down the makeup, jewelry and nail polish, chose close toed shoes and stockings. I didn’t want to miss a step. Rusty is no excuse for careless when you interview for a job.
However, what I did not expect but was prepared to answer were questions like, “What will you accomplish on your first day?” “How will you motivate your staff to achieve their goals?” “What do you see as the major challenges that our organization faces?” “How would someone that knows you, answer the question, what your greatest strength and what is your greatest challenge?” I must say, I stumbled on the last question; it made me aware that as a leader; I need to know what my team thinks of me. The fact that a critical level of self-awareness had eluded me was uncomfortable. It became apparent at a very inopportune time (A JOB INTERVIEW) that I need to fix this immediately. Ultimately, for personal and professional growth I need to know how I am perceived by the people that are in the position to make me look good or not.
The interview journey began with a telephone screening, a meeting with two stakeholders within the organization and finally the President. At the last interview, I made it a point to notify my references that they may get a call and to alert me if they do receive a call or email. One reference was a good friend by calling me prior to returning the reference checker’s call to ask me what she should say, I told the person to be honest and reflect on our working relationship. I was confident that the four people (yes four) were those that could best articulate my abilities as a manager and leader.
Receiving the job offer was validation that all my preparation was the edge. At no time did I think that there were not several candidates that were more qualified and better prepared during the interview. Eventually, I found out that there were 21 applicants for the job. The pool was narrowed to 7 then 3. If I had to reflect back on what was the one item that placed me in the serious contender position, I would have to say that I made it a point to express my desire to tackle the challenges that keep the key stakeholders up at night. I was direct in my appeal and I never minced words. I looked the President in the eye and said, I am your woman! I can do this job! My experience and education has prepared me for this job at this time. What did I have to lose? I only had something to gain by putting it all on the table. Clearly, it worked; I start my new job on Monday.
Complacency is your Enemy and Awareness your Agency
I encourage my readers to think about what networking is for them. For a baby boomer like me, networking is getting out and meeting people. Attending alumni events (free), attending conferences (discounted for students), joining professional associations (just became a toastmaster member) Of course, I am on LinkedIn, Facebook, Yammer and Twitter. But, it is the face to face networking that has the most impact with the best return for the job seeker or career climber.
In fact, the Gen X and Y job seekers suffer from a networking deficit that gives the older job seeker or career climber a distinct advantage. It takes eight interactions with an individual to render trust and establish a benchmark of personal and professional integrity. Once established, this is an opportunity to connect with a professional networking contact for personal gain. In fact, the first engagement must be in person and the subsequent interactions can be online or through some social media outlet. Remember the golden rule of networking, "you have to give something to get something." Giving something is open to interpretation, what I can offer is that the "giving" needs to occur during face to face contact.
Now, let's discuss how social media factors into your networking plan. First and foremost, participating in social media means that you live in a glass house. In other words, with an online presence you are giving a potential employer the opportunity to preclude you from an interview or job offer because of the social media imprint that you are perpetuating each and every day. Consequently, it is important to keep tabs on what is out there that is potentially harmful and searchable information. Every savvy job seeker or career climber must set up a GOOGLE Alert using their name (including middle name and initial).
My recommendation is to keep tabs on your reputation because it is your personal and professional branding tool. If you are unsure of how your actions are impacting your online aura, take a course or attend a workshop, podcast, webinar or read a book on social media etiquette. Keep in mind that if you are a job seeker or a career climber that complacency is your enemy and awareness is your agency.
Post College Requires a Carefully Crafted Plan
Working in higher education, students share their career ambitions in conversation and are absolutely confident that their college degree will provide opportunity beyond their wildest dreams. And, it will if they work hard, and never give in to the naysayers that counter their ambition with comments that are merely excuses for doing nothing. Doing nothing is easy, if requires minimum effort. The best part of doing nothing is that your expectations are low. Career development, post college requires a carefully crafted plan. The first question you need to ask is; "What can I do, right now, to put me in touch with those individuals that do the work that I want to do?" Actually, if you think about it, the answer is pretty obvious, and it is a little bit social media driven, but not entirely. Here is a tentative plan:
1. Start networking in your industry at the beginning of your college career. Befriend your instructors, read their bio's, ask questions. Your instructors are your first source for informational interviews. Your instructors will be flattered, believe me. As a part time adjunct instructor, I feel flattered when students ask for information or help in getting to their career goals.
2. Join a professional association immediately! As a student you get the student discount rate. Attending conferences may be prohibitively expensive, but if you get financial aid refund money that is discretionary, use it for association fees, it is well worth it.
3. Create a LinkedIn profile and get connected. Begin to brand yourself with a professional profile. Keep it professional. Many recruiters will search for you on Linkedin when you apply for a position with their organization. It is an extension of your professional persona, don't give a recruiter or hiring manager a reason to preclude you from an interview because of your Linkein profile.
4. Set up a Google Alert for your name, this will send out an email alert everytime your name shows up on social media. This will keep your reputation in tact. You will get the occasional obituary, but don't fret, it is part of life.
5. Use your career services department to prep you for your job search and interview. Career services departments are usually overwhelmed with appointments requests. Be specific as to your needs and if you are asking for a resume review; send it to the counselor before your appointment. If you need an assessment test request the link be sent to your email account and ask if there is a counselor available to help you interpret the results. You don't want to change majors or careers based on an assessment test based on results you may not understand.
Finally, keep records of the plan you have crafted and document your results. If you are not getting the results you expect, you may need to hire a private practitioner career counselor for assistance. This can be expensive and not an option at this stage in your career. However, it is fast becoming an option in the competitive job market. Take advantage of all the free help you can receive through your college career services department and begin to build a sustainable, professional image for yourself. In mainstream terms you are building a brand. Never leave your career or education to chance. Chances are you will get to where you want to be professionally, but you will get there sooner and go farther with a carefully crafted plan.
1. Start networking in your industry at the beginning of your college career. Befriend your instructors, read their bio's, ask questions. Your instructors are your first source for informational interviews. Your instructors will be flattered, believe me. As a part time adjunct instructor, I feel flattered when students ask for information or help in getting to their career goals.
2. Join a professional association immediately! As a student you get the student discount rate. Attending conferences may be prohibitively expensive, but if you get financial aid refund money that is discretionary, use it for association fees, it is well worth it.
3. Create a LinkedIn profile and get connected. Begin to brand yourself with a professional profile. Keep it professional. Many recruiters will search for you on Linkedin when you apply for a position with their organization. It is an extension of your professional persona, don't give a recruiter or hiring manager a reason to preclude you from an interview because of your Linkein profile.
4. Set up a Google Alert for your name, this will send out an email alert everytime your name shows up on social media. This will keep your reputation in tact. You will get the occasional obituary, but don't fret, it is part of life.
5. Use your career services department to prep you for your job search and interview. Career services departments are usually overwhelmed with appointments requests. Be specific as to your needs and if you are asking for a resume review; send it to the counselor before your appointment. If you need an assessment test request the link be sent to your email account and ask if there is a counselor available to help you interpret the results. You don't want to change majors or careers based on an assessment test based on results you may not understand.
Finally, keep records of the plan you have crafted and document your results. If you are not getting the results you expect, you may need to hire a private practitioner career counselor for assistance. This can be expensive and not an option at this stage in your career. However, it is fast becoming an option in the competitive job market. Take advantage of all the free help you can receive through your college career services department and begin to build a sustainable, professional image for yourself. In mainstream terms you are building a brand. Never leave your career or education to chance. Chances are you will get to where you want to be professionally, but you will get there sooner and go farther with a carefully crafted plan.
Career Advice for Newly Minted Graduates
Spring is the season when newly minted college graduates begin to plan for the next segment of their career life; if only the economy would cooperate. This week I attended a paralegal symposium at Burlington County Community College, to recruit new grads into our BS programs at Peirce College. However, too often the conversation would turn to job opportunities within the legal field. Many new grads are midlife career transitioners that are out of work and looking for work in the legal field, some have experience but many do not; and, there is a great deal of angst in their voices. The questions are; will I find a job? will the degree open doors? do I need more education? did I choose the right major? Will my age be a factor?
It is a litney of questions that I too asked myself when I left college in 1989. The difference is that the jobs lost in the last economic recession are not coming back. The truth is that only the most tenacious and resourceful will prevail. And, it means getting up from the computer and meeting people in your industry. It means maximizing your interactions, and planning a networking strategy that will open doors, get your resume on the top of the pile, and provide an opportunity to put your education to work.
It can seem like a daunting task, and all the rules have changed. But, people are getting jobs in this economy. How is it happening? How can it happen for you? Well, consider what I am about to say as tough love. If you are over 40 or over 50, you need to concentrate on your looks. If you are wearing the same old hairstyle from the 1990's and you need to dye your hair, do it! Freshen up your wardrobe with a few stylish pieces, like a new belt or scarf to accent your suit. The key here is not to look like your 25, but to exude a level of energy that makes others feel your competence, and not notice your age. Their perception of you will be ageless, it won't become an issue.
Secondly, attitude is everything. Smile, be friendly, be complementary and courteous, take time to engage in polite conversation and ask people about the work they do and not talk about yourself and the work you do or would like to do. It is charming and endearing and people will begin to trust you. All of this is a great deal of work, it requires focus and strategy. You need to be on all the time, aware of your surroundings and know what is going on in your environment.
At the end of the day, this is something you don't learn in school. With that said you need to seek out and develop opportunities to acquire the tactics and techniques that will work for you. Learn the basics and don't forget that you need to talk about yourself in terms that weave a story. In fact, there is a great book I would recommend by Peggy Klaus called "Toot Your Own Horn, Without Blowing It' A great read for the job seeker, job transitioner, corporate climber, or newly minted college grad.
Remember life is a journey and education is one way in which you will elevate the world.
It is a litney of questions that I too asked myself when I left college in 1989. The difference is that the jobs lost in the last economic recession are not coming back. The truth is that only the most tenacious and resourceful will prevail. And, it means getting up from the computer and meeting people in your industry. It means maximizing your interactions, and planning a networking strategy that will open doors, get your resume on the top of the pile, and provide an opportunity to put your education to work.
It can seem like a daunting task, and all the rules have changed. But, people are getting jobs in this economy. How is it happening? How can it happen for you? Well, consider what I am about to say as tough love. If you are over 40 or over 50, you need to concentrate on your looks. If you are wearing the same old hairstyle from the 1990's and you need to dye your hair, do it! Freshen up your wardrobe with a few stylish pieces, like a new belt or scarf to accent your suit. The key here is not to look like your 25, but to exude a level of energy that makes others feel your competence, and not notice your age. Their perception of you will be ageless, it won't become an issue.
Secondly, attitude is everything. Smile, be friendly, be complementary and courteous, take time to engage in polite conversation and ask people about the work they do and not talk about yourself and the work you do or would like to do. It is charming and endearing and people will begin to trust you. All of this is a great deal of work, it requires focus and strategy. You need to be on all the time, aware of your surroundings and know what is going on in your environment.
At the end of the day, this is something you don't learn in school. With that said you need to seek out and develop opportunities to acquire the tactics and techniques that will work for you. Learn the basics and don't forget that you need to talk about yourself in terms that weave a story. In fact, there is a great book I would recommend by Peggy Klaus called "Toot Your Own Horn, Without Blowing It' A great read for the job seeker, job transitioner, corporate climber, or newly minted college grad.
Remember life is a journey and education is one way in which you will elevate the world.
Have You Blogged Today?
Earlier this year while recuperating with a broken ankle, I began to council my niece on devising an action plan that would take her from a career in healthcare to one that would provide her with a creative outlet for her artistic talents. What are her talents you ask? Well, she is a thrifter; she scans various local thrift stores for vintage, designer merchandise. She told me it has been years since she purchased clothing from department stores. I was well aware that her dream was to have her own store, stocked with goodies, not just vintage clothing, but shoes, handbags and jewelry. However, the money and the educational ambitions of her husband made it impossible, and the whole idea of becoming an entrepreneur was put on the back burner. It was a dream delayed, but not denied; at least I was hopeful that she would have her store one day.
Since, I was out of work for three months; I began to develop my own blog on career development. My active enrollment in the CDF program was a springboard for starting a blog about something that became my passion; career development. Personally, I believe that doing what you love is essential, and that it is never too late to make a plan and pursue it. I also believe that there is more than one way to find fulfillment, you just need to be creative. Clearly, my niece wanted to share her talent, but having a store was not the only medium to create interest and build a business.
One day, I suggested she start a blog, she was fascinated by how easy it was to create a space to showcase all her thrifted items. I took the liberty of setting up a generic space on blogspot.com by creating the URL, http://www.thriftreveal.blogspot.com; while labeling her with the sultry name of Velvet Dawn. I showed her how to put her creativity to work. I mentioned that she needs to recruit followers to her blog and everyone would become a potential customer for her store, which I assured her would one day become a reality.
Within the week, she had designed a blog that was fun and appealing; she added short commentary on daily events and created staples such as Pink Monday, Thrift Thursday and Sassy Saturday. She turned a spare room into a studio and began to stage and photograph items to be posted to her blog. Now, its many months later and she has nearly 70 followers and she is recruiting more every day. Most importantly she began to collaborate with other bloggers by posting their blog on her site and inviting each to follow. She told me that she discovered talents that she never realized before such as, writing, photography, relationship building, and the entrepreneurial spirit to make her own store a reality.
Last week her husband graduated from school and passed his boards; it’s all on her blog! Now, she is at a crossroads, how to convert her followers into customers and turn her blog into a retail revenue stream? Well, this week will be out scouting locations for her store and the business plan is in the works. The friendships with other bloggers have been a great resource for my niece; some are business savvy and successful enough as bloggers to attract advertising and each has become a mentor willing to share their business acumen.
Blogging in this instance was a way to make connections and explore opportunities in a growing market of life styling and vintage merchandising. In the end, a simple suggestion lead to an action that is only the beginning of a journey of self discovery and career fulfillment.
Have you blogged today?
Since, I was out of work for three months; I began to develop my own blog on career development. My active enrollment in the CDF program was a springboard for starting a blog about something that became my passion; career development. Personally, I believe that doing what you love is essential, and that it is never too late to make a plan and pursue it. I also believe that there is more than one way to find fulfillment, you just need to be creative. Clearly, my niece wanted to share her talent, but having a store was not the only medium to create interest and build a business.
One day, I suggested she start a blog, she was fascinated by how easy it was to create a space to showcase all her thrifted items. I took the liberty of setting up a generic space on blogspot.com by creating the URL, http://www.thriftreveal.blogspot.com; while labeling her with the sultry name of Velvet Dawn. I showed her how to put her creativity to work. I mentioned that she needs to recruit followers to her blog and everyone would become a potential customer for her store, which I assured her would one day become a reality.
Within the week, she had designed a blog that was fun and appealing; she added short commentary on daily events and created staples such as Pink Monday, Thrift Thursday and Sassy Saturday. She turned a spare room into a studio and began to stage and photograph items to be posted to her blog. Now, its many months later and she has nearly 70 followers and she is recruiting more every day. Most importantly she began to collaborate with other bloggers by posting their blog on her site and inviting each to follow. She told me that she discovered talents that she never realized before such as, writing, photography, relationship building, and the entrepreneurial spirit to make her own store a reality.
Last week her husband graduated from school and passed his boards; it’s all on her blog! Now, she is at a crossroads, how to convert her followers into customers and turn her blog into a retail revenue stream? Well, this week will be out scouting locations for her store and the business plan is in the works. The friendships with other bloggers have been a great resource for my niece; some are business savvy and successful enough as bloggers to attract advertising and each has become a mentor willing to share their business acumen.
Blogging in this instance was a way to make connections and explore opportunities in a growing market of life styling and vintage merchandising. In the end, a simple suggestion lead to an action that is only the beginning of a journey of self discovery and career fulfillment.
Have you blogged today?
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