The Daily Machete
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INTERVIEWING: Top 10 Things Hiring Managers Are Really Thinking During Job Interviews
10) "I don't know why we have so many interviews lined up. We already know who we're hiring."
9) "I wish I could hire him/her."
8) "If one more person says being a perfectionist is his biggest weakness, I'm going to kill someone."
7) "S/he's not wearing a ring."
6) "S/he could do my job better and cheaper than me. No way I'm going to hire him/her!"
5) "Seriously?!? S/he's wearing THAT to a job interview?!?"
4) "I'll hire the next kid with brain waves and a pulse that comes in WITHOUT a visible tattoo or piercing."
3) "What did my wife want me to bring home for dinner?"
2) "Ooooh! Great answer! I am SO going to use that when I interview for a promotion!"
1) "Wow! We'd be lucky to have him/her! Just have to close the deal before someone else gets him/her. And before we scare him/her off."
NETWORKING: Is Pruning Your Network a Good Idea?
Not all plants survive. In fact, keeping under-performing plants can stunt your other plants.
Yeah. The same goes for your network. Not all networking contacts are created equal, and sometimes it's a good idea to drop the dead weight from your network.
Pareto Principle. The Daily Machete devotes an entire category to the Pareto Principle. Part of the principle, when applied to networking, would read: "20% of your contacts provide 80% of your networking benefits. The remaining 80% of your contacts, then, are dead weight."
Is it them or you? Before you prune anyone from your network, consider who might be to blame for an under-performing networking relationship. It's either them...or you. Be honest with yourself when examining the relationship to determine where the fault lies. If it's them, prune them. If it's you, then decide whether or not more effort on your part would make the connection stronger. If not, prune them.
Stealth vs. overt pruning. When a romantic relationship ends, it's usually pretty straight forward. Ditto with your garden. But pruning your professional network may require a more delicate touch. Should you "officially" sever ties, or...? It's a difficult decision to make. Many professional relationships wither and die on their own accord from neglect.
RESUMES: How to Write a Reference Letter
We continue our look at reference letters today with how to actually write a letter of reference in the first place. And for that, there are three things to keep in mind when writing a reference letter for someone else (or for yourself for your reference to sign):
Short, sweet and complete. Reference letters are as good as gold, but nobody wants to read a really long one. I recommend a three paragraph model for reference letters: P1) An introduction to who you are and for whom you're providing a professional reference; P2) Five sentences maximum detailing one or two anecdotes about the subject's professional accomplishments; and P3) Mention that you would be happy to further discuss your reference.
Company letterhead. Professional references aren't professional unless they're on company letterhead. Be sure that your reference letters are either printed - or copied - on company letterhead. This provides a certain level of authority that letters on plain paper can't offer.
Right voice. Write reference letters in your own voice when writing them for others. If you're writing one for yourself that someone else will sign (which often happens), then be sure to write it in his or her voice - as they would say it.
INTERVIEWING: What's Your 5 Year Goal?
Almost every job seeker will be asked "What's your 5 year goal?" during the course of a job interview.
Winning answers to this question contain four main elements:
Related to job. I interviewed for a sales rep job about 15 years ago with a family owned specialty publisher. Given this, I wanted my answer to be sales related - but also entrepreneurial.
Using additional skills. Since I have a journalism degree, a lot of sales experience and a solid management foundation, I wanted to highlight these skills in my answer, too.
Ambitious. Goals should be ambitious and should show employers that you want to excel.
Flexible. It's impossible to foretell the future. Given this, it's not a bad idea to bypass answering the 5 year goal question and instead give an answer to your 10 or 15 year goal.
Tying these four elements together, I answered:
"In 5 years? I'd like to help the company grow, in part, from me landing a lot of sales. I tend to have longer-range goals, however. I'd like to combine my natural sales ability with my journalism degree and management background to own and operate several websites that generate income from advertising alone."
Yeah. I landed that job. I wasn't lying about my ambitions, and tying those four elements together provided the "WOW" that I think may have been lacking from my competitors. And, if you tie these four elements together in answering this job interview question, you'll "WOW" hiring managers, too.
(Epilogue: I loved working there. In fact, I'd probably still be working there if I hadn't discovered my passion for helping others find work. And blogging.)
PARETO: The Power of Random Research
I really don't want to sound boastful. Really. I don't.
My co-workers wonder how I know as much job search related stuff as I do. The also wonder how I have access to the job search related amount of information I do. Further, they're puzzled by the job search related info I give to my customers.
The answer is actually pretty simple. I conduct random research. "Random," that is, in regards to job search. I spend a half hour per day searching the web for job search advice (I come to work a half hour early each day to do this). By doing so, I'm able to stay up to date with the latest and greatest minds in job search (checkout the blog roll on the lower left). You can - and should - conduct focused random research in your field of choice as well, because you can:
Acquire varied knowledge. Whether I'm reading the JibberJober Blog, something by Penelope Trunk, or some other site, I follow the links. Invariably, I'll come upon a website or blog that I haven't previously. That means I get to discover a lot more information. How cool is THAT?!? The same can hold true for job seekers in searching for industry or company knowledge.
Acquire varied resources. While I've been called a job search guru, I know that there are a lot of resources I haven't yet tapped. By focusing my random search, I'm able to connect with other job search gurus and networking contacts. The people I meet online almost always turn out to be great resources. The same can hold true for job seekers in searching for resources in their line of work.
Acquire varied skills. I have a degree in communications, yet I'm the back up guy in the office when it comes to tech support. That's because I've gained a lot of skills by focusing my daily random search. Lifehacker.com and other sites have provided me with links to TONS - and I do mean TONS - of links that have built my technical (and other) skills immeasurably.
NETWORKING: Nurturing Your Networking Garden
You could have a huge garden, but if you don't water or fertilize it, then it won't be very fruitful.
Same goes with networking. Yes, you need to have a good sized network, but you also need to nurture it with as much care as you would a garden.
Call. Pick up the phone and make a "touching base" call. This is perhaps the easiest, quickest and least invasive approach. Spend 10 minutes maximum speaking to your contact. This will allow you to deepen your connection without taking too much of your time...or your contact's.
Do lunch. Schedule lunch - even a brown bag lunch will do - with a contact. Food is an excellent social lubricant. I like to set an hour maximum for lunches, and often, I'll schedule half-hour lunches. The object isn't necessarily to conduct business so much as to nurture the connection.
Plan activity. You know why so many movers and shakers play golf? It's a great way to spend four hours connecting with others. Whether it's golf, a group run, charity event or something else, participating in an activity with a networking contact is a good way to know each other better as people.
Have something to offer. I often shoot information and ideas relating to my networking contacts' line of work on an individual basis. This lets them know that I'm thinking about them (which flatters them), while providing information (which helps them make more money). It's a great way to nourish your network.
RESUMES: How to Get References and Recommendations
We continue our look at professional references today by taking a look at how to actually get professional references in the first place.
Ask. This is the best, yet most overlooked way to get someone to write a reference letter. Asking for a reference letter is perfectly acceptable. It's also a much more effective way to get a reference letter, too. After all, most people won't write an unsolicited letter of reference.
During v. after. It's always, Always, ALWAYS easier and more effective to get reference letters while you're still employed than when you're between jobs because you have immediate access to those who will write your reference letters. If you wait until after you're no longer at the company, then your references don't have an incentive to make it a priority.
North, south, east, west. Many job seekers falsely believe that you can only get reference letters from your supervisors and managers. I recommend getting letters of references from above, latteral and below. Getting reference letters from above shows what kind of employee you are. Getting letters of reference from those lateral to you shows what kind of team mate you are. And getting reference letters from those below you shows what kind of leader you are.
Write one first. Even though most people won't write an unsolicited letter of reference, I'm going to encourage you not to be "most people." Karma is a beautiful thing. If you write a reference letter for someone first, they will be more apt to return the favor and write a letter of reference for you, too. It's a win/win situation.
INTERVIEWING: Breaking Confrontational Interview Rhythm
Confrontational interviews can be nerve wracking because job seekers almost never see them coming until they're ambushed.
Confrontational interviews are used typically to gauge how job seekers perform under pressure and to test their patience. The questions are borderline abusive and usually accusatory. They're designed to make people sweat.
In confrontational interviews, only the strong survive. Strong, self-assured personalities, that is. And, while there is a lot of advice out there regarding hostile interviews, I recommend breaking the confrontational interview rhythm. That's mainly because most who endure confrontational interviews act like they're guarding their faces while their backs are up against the ropes.
Not surprising, breaking the rhythm of a confrontational interview isn't hard. Once you realize you're actually in a hostile interview, try:
"It seems you're trying to test me." This is a gentle notification to the hiring manager that you know it's a hostile interview. This also shows that you're confident enough to call a spade a spade.
"Give me the answer." Use this response if it seems the hiring manager, during the confrontational interview, is trying to trap you with questions in which there are no good answers. "Give me the answer" stops short of cockiness and shows you recognize what s/he is doing.
"We're both busy. Let's get to the point." This has a "been there, done that" tone. These two sentences also carry the weight of authority. While a potential turn off, keep in mind that it's not so much what you say as how you say it. Pause, sigh, lean forward, hold their eyes and deliver the sentences with a low pitched monotone.
Respond to silence with comfort. On subset of confrontational interviews is the silent interview. Here, the interviewers bore holes in job seekers by staring while remaining silent. This can be unnerving. If you encounter this interview method, remain calm and return the stare. Just remember it's as hard for the interviewer to be silent as it might be for you. Recognize it and relax. The first one to speak loses.
PARETO: How to Have All the Time You Want to Do Everything You Want
At the risk of sounding immodest, I have a full time job (helping people find jobs) and run several micro-enterprises. I'm also active in several community and civic groups, I spend quite a bit of time with The Lady of the House, work out on a regular basis, watch far too much television and still get enough sleep.
Some ask me how the heck I do this, since President Obama still has not lifted the ban on cloning. After all, they say, I seem to have all of the time to do everything I want to do - and they wonder how they can do the same. I tell them it comes down to a six-step process:
List it. I'm a notorious lister. I keep my lists on my iPod Touch, but you can keep track of your lists however you want. List everything that you need to do: civic club meetings, scouring for jobs, writing cover letters, the kids' softball games, working out, etc. List everything. Take 15-30 minutes every Sunday evening and 5-10 minutes every night (in case things come up) to do this.
Prioritize by day. Now that you've got your list, break it down by day. Keep in mind that you have a finite amount of time in the day - give yourself enough time to do your tasks, and do them well. Now prioritize them. Your priorities may be situational. A job interview, for instance, would be at a certain place on a certain day at a certain time. That's a priority. Other days, your daughter's softball game will be the most important thing on your list.
Procrastinate. The Lady of the House laughs when I tell her how important procrastinating is. If something has to be done by a certain time and only takes a certain amount of time to do, then why do it before it absolutely, positively has to be done? If it's not a priority, it can be delayed.
Crowdsource. Crowdsourcing is a great way to get things done. Crowdsourcing, in short, is a way to focus many brains (and minds and hands) on a particular task. I've been known to crowdsource by using specific email lists, Facebook and LinkedIn to generate ideas for a project, find jobs for clients, and speak to groups to ask for help in getting tasks completed.
Hard start and stop. I set aside an hour every morning after my workout and an hour every evening (yes, after my second workout) to write posts for my blogs. I start at a specific time, set the timer, and finish on time. There's a hard start and a hard stop. And, being realistic, I know there are some things (like my daughter's softball games) that I don't have control over a hard stop. Most tasks, however, can be - and are - completed in a specific amount of time.
Ignore it. It's surprising how many things can be totally ignored. I hardly ever check my voicemail, for instance (though job seekers obviously SHOULD!). In fact, I've trained my customers and my colleagues to NOT call me on the phone because I won't ever - and I mean EVER - return a call. Instead, I check my email and call them. Likewise, if there's a webinar that's on my to-do list that I absolutely know will be a waste of time, I'll blow it off. If you're between jobs, then trust me when I say the dirty dishes or the laundry can be ignored. At least, for a little while.
NETWORKING: Planting Your Networking Seeds
Gardens don't magically appear with fruits and veggies fully formed and ready to pick.
Ditto with networking.
It's a process. And if you want to grow a fruitful plant, then you have to plant the seed first.
Ditto with networking.
Research who you want to contact. You may not know what type of tomato you'd like to plant, but you can research the varieties to find the right kind. The same holds true with networking. Conduct a little research to find valuable potential networking contacts. LinkedIn and even your local business section can be good sources of information.
Plan who you want to contact. An unplanned garden will not be as fruitful as one that is. Now that you've conducted research on potential networking contacts, it's time to determine who might be the most beneficial to your professional aspirations AND who you could provide the most benefit TO.
Get referred. It's always easier to meet someone if you're introduced by someone who knows you both. Prior to making first contact, ask your contact in common to speak to the potential contact on your behalf. This will provide the lube you'll need.
Make contact. Once you've been referred, it's time to make contact. A proven way to start the conversation is to mention your associate in common, then talk about why you wanted to meet him/her and what you have to offer.
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.