Act II

Is There a Pink Slip in Your Future?

Professionals and managers who were laid off tell me, "My biggest fear is not knowing if I can find another employer who will value my skills". Understandable. But what's incomprehensible is that they aren't aware of what skills they possess.

Even in today's quivering corporate landscape a surprise layoff is jolting. But being clueless about your marketable skills will freeze you in your tracks and keep you from moving forward with a successful game plan.

Unfortunately, many professionals and executives are unaware of their unique gifts that enabled them to create innovative strategies, motivate teams, get results and endear themselves to their leaders. They're blind to - or lost sight of - how or why they did all those things right.

How can you sell yourself to a new employer if you don't know what you bring to the table?

Effective career management is self marketing. How could an ad agency successfully market its client's product without knowing what promise of value it offers to their market? They must first engage in meticulous examination of their client's product and target market wants. You need to do the same.

I'm not suggesting focus groups or polls (althought a 360 Reach survey is possible). What I am proposing is taking an inventory of what it took for you to effect those successful projects, motivate your teams, get results and anything else that made your  bosses love you. What were the major ingredients you possessed that produced those home runs? What was your role in the victory? How did you make it happen? What was your thumbprint? What made you unique?

Write three sentences using words that describe your unique promise of value. Use words that include your:

• credentials
• strengths
• values
• passions
• quirks

What differentiates you from your peers?

Do this and you will identify your marketable skills, discover your unique powerful self and create your special brand. What's left is to research where you can place them for fun and profit. Your network and the Internet will be your best friends in your search.

But if you first have to clear up a bad case of the pink-slip blues, check out: http://www.fastcompany.com/articles/2001/06/luban.html

Contact me if you need help identifying your unique marketable strengths, finding companies that need them, or would like to know more about 360 Reach..

What is a job interview?

“A date is a job interview that lasts all night. The only difference between a date and a job interview is that there are not many job interviews where there's a chance you'll end up naked at the end of it.”                                                -Jerry Seinfeld

A job interview is a sweaty palms event where you will be asked questions by your potential employer to determine if you are a fit. There are really only four questions you will be asked:

1. Can you do the job?
2. Who are you?
3. Will you fit in my company?
4. How much will you cost me?

Simple, huh? Well not exactly. What you should expect are about 20 tricky questions to get the answers to only those 4.

For example, you might be asked, “Tell me about yourself”. A maddening question after all the work you’ve done on your resume and cover letter. Or, “What makes you angry?” Or, “What are your weak points and limitations?” Or, “What is your biggest failure?” Another heart-stopper is, “How do you react when you realize you made a mistake?” How about, “At your age, why don’t you earn a higher salary?”

The good news is that there are many ways you can respond correctly to sticky questions – including silence.

More good news is that you get to ask your 20 questions about whether they are a fit for you. Before making the biggest investment you’ll ever make (yourself), you need to make sure you will get a healthy return instead of a devastating loss. Some questions you can ask (some are classic down-the-line career busters people hire me as a life coach to fix):

·         Why is this position open?

·         How often has it been filled in the past 2 to 5 years?

·         What have been the primary reasons for persons leaving?

·         Why did the person who held this position most recently leave?

·         What would you like done differently by the next person who fills this job?

·         What are some of the objectives that you would like accomplished in this job?

·         What is the most pressing? What would you like to have done within the next 2 or 3 months?

·         What do you consider to be the ideal background for the position?

·         What are some of the longer-term objectives that you would like completed?

·         What freedom would I have in determining my work objectives, and the methods of measurement?

·         What kind of support does this position receive in terms of people, finances, etc.?

·         What are some of the more difficult problems facing someone in this position? How do you think these could best be handled?

·         What significant changes do you foresee in the near future?

·         How is one judged? What accounts for success?

·         What are the most critical factors for success in your business?

·         What are the most important traits you look for in a subordinate or team member?

·         How do you like your people to communicate with you? Orally, in writing, email, informally, in meetings, only when necessary?

·         Do you have any concerns that I need to clear up in order to be the top candidate?

(Thank you, Daniel Porot and Frances Bolles Haynes, you’re the best!)

Contact me if you need help with your job interview answers or want to learn how to be better at the interview than your interviewer.

You Can't Make Progress Facing Both Ways

When potential clients call me for a resume, my first question is always, "What is the field or job you’re targeting?"

People at career crossroads often believe that a great professionally-written resume will land them that right job. But because career professionals view unfocused resumes as "job obituaries" -- recounting in grim and boring detail everything you've ever done - we don't write them. At least I don't.

Unfocused resumes ask the reader to make sense of the applicant's life - please. It's like inviting an honored guest for dinner without knowing what they like to eat.

Just as importantly, every time a job seeker sends out their resume, a big chunk of their ego goes with it. If nothing happens as a result, their self esteem tumbles. The act of changing jobs alone puts enough strain one's ego without firing blanks and wondering why nothing is happening.

Twenty-minute counseling sessions often identify correctly targeted fields or jobs. Occasionally, I send callers away with homework. Sometimes they come back; sometimes they don't. I worry about the ones that don't.

In Alice in Wonderland, Alice asked the Cheshire Cat, "Which way should I go from here?" When the Cat asked Alice where she wanted to go, Alice replied, "It doesn't matter." The Cat responded, "Well if you just keep walking long enough you're sure to get somewhere."

Please don’t try to go forward when you’re facing in two directions. You will most likely walk a long time and get nowhere.

Contact me if feel you are facing in two different directions. Or, if you believe a new resume will solve your career choice problems.