Career Management Alliance Blog

I attended a teleseminar this week on a new book, 30 Day Job Promotion, that is a must-read for any career-minded professional. Authored by Career Coach Susan Whitcomb, the book provides key tips, strategies and tactics on getting ahead in your career.

One key section presents the 10 common characteristics of highly promotable people. A few examples from the list include:

• “Character: Promotable people are credible and have earned a reputation as trustworthy, impeccably ethical, conscientious and open-minded.”
• “Confidence: Promotable people take calculated risks, trust their instincts, are optimistic and courageous, and drive past any fears that might hold them back.”
• “Connection: Promotable people have a charismatic ability to connect with others beyond the superficial level and create rapport with managers, internal constituencies, and customers.”
• “Contributions: Promotable people are results-oriented and make continual contributions that improve the company’s bottom line.”

You will also find in the book a “dozen dumb moves to avoid when going for a promotion.” The book is available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Posted by Louise Garver

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Remember the time you forgot to hit “save” when you were drafting that perfect resume and cover letter? Poof! Gone forever. All those wonderful thoughts of genius evaporated in seconds due to one little indiscretion - your failure to choose save!

I was reminded of the save option earlier today when a client from 15 (or more) years ago called and wondered if I “still had his resume on file” because he had moved, had kids, got a dog, computer crashed, finished his MBA, etc…and he’d looked and looked and still couldn’t find the resume I’d done for him a number of years ago.

His phone call to me was a good reminder of how important it is to save at least one copy of your professional resume somewhere in a place of permanent safekeeping, whether your need is immediate, or in the next decade.

posted by: billie sucher

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Sorry for the inflammatory headline! It was inspired by a job ad I read this morning for a Boston-based HR Director position, which specified, “Sox knowledge required.” As a loyal member of the Red Sox Nation, I thought for a moment that this employer was giving preferential consideration to my fellow Red Sox fans. Alas, the requirement refers to Sarbanes-Oxley knowledge - familiarity with the US federal law that tightened auditing and reporting requirements following recent corporate scandals.

Still, I got to thinking about the quirkiness of the employment process and the extent to which individual preferences and sometimes oddball requirements factor into it. A friend who lives in Massachusetts was interviewed at a company in Columbus, OH, home of Ohio State University and the Buckeyes football team. My friend was asked if he was a Buckeyes fan, but before he could even answer, was told, “Well, never mind, if you work here, you will be.” He was told in an interview at another company that anyone they hired would pretty much have to be a sports fan.

Someone else I know, a hiring manager, shared with me her pet peeve when it comes to resumes. None of the professional resume writers I know factor this pet peeve into their decision making, and it’s not covered in any resume certification test that I’m familiar with. In fact, it’s so outlandish that I won’t even mention it for fear people will read it and take it seriously. (It’s roughly equivalent to whether you write the letter M with pointed or curved strokes - in other words, who cares?!) Nevertheless, that pet peeve is the filter through which this manager screens job applicants.

Many years ago I was part of a hiring team that interviewed several candidates for a coordinator position. We selected a man who had all of the qualifications - but first we had to overcome the objections of one team member who faulted the man for wearing polished brown (not black!) shoes with his nicely pressed navy suit.

It helps to remember that we’re dealing with human beings in the hiring process, and these kinds of eccentricities will present themselves from time to time. While it’s possible to navigate the quirky employment waters so that you increase the odds of getting a favorable response from most employers, the reality is that some employers will behave in unexpected ways.

In fact, I’d say, if you’re waiting for employers to behave completely predictably and logically, well, keep your Sox on!

Submitted by Wendy Gelberg

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I’ve had two clients find jobs this week and both were examples of major job search turnarounds. One situation in particular was the perfect example of what makes my job so rewarding. Kathy had been struggling for several months with staying positive in her job search. Although she had been on several job interviews and felt she had done well, she had not received any offers. As her coach, I reassured her by telling her that she was in a very competitive situation, looking for an entry-level pharmaceutical sales position, one of the most popular jobs for young people today. Also, like many job seekers, she didn’t understand that it is not uncommon to have to go through several interviews before getting an offer. In addition to her frustrating job search, she was also struggling with other transition issues related to recently relocating to a new city due to her husband’s promotion. She wasn’t happy with the section of town they were living in, nor was she happy with the apartment they had chosen. To make matters worse, her husband was let go from his new position after only a few months and was also feeling disillusioned with his job search campaign.

The bottom line was my client couldn’t shake her negativity and it was affecting her job search. As her coach, I recognized this and asked her what she could do to turn around her situation and get herself into a better place with a more positive mindset. After conferring with her husband, they decided to move to new apartment in a more dynamic part of the city.

Shortly after they had moved, Kathy called me and I could tell immediately that her voice was much lighter and more upbeat. She said both she and her husband were really excited about their new place and loved the area. I assured her that her new positive outlook would have an equally positive effect on her job search efforts. And sure enough, within a week I had a voice mail message from her stating that she had received a great offer for a new position.

So, if you are feeling discouraged with the results of your job search, take time out to evaluate your situation. Is there something in your life that is not right that you could change? It so, don’t put off making the change until you find a job. Do it now. As a result, you will likely see your job search turn around as well.

If any of you reading this have a similar experience to share, please submit a comment. It could be very encouraging and helpful to others in the same situation.

Posted by Julianne Franke

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Looking for a new job isn’t easy. Keeping your spirits high while you’re doing so takes a tremendous amount of effort and energy. And some days, you may have to work extra hard to look, sound, and feel positive about anything, much less a job search.

Whether it’s going on the 15th interview, or making the 39th phone call, or writing the 23rd cover letter, or revamping your resume for the 18th time, it’s all a part of the process — one that requires an unwavering commitment to positive thoughts, actions, and deeds.

In a recent session with a client, he indicated that he was having a hard time staying up in what he perceives as a down market. So, what are some things that you can do to stay positive when you are feeling disillusioned and discouraged with your job search? Here are some things we thought of:

• Filter information that isn’t useful or helpful, such as “If I were you, I would (or wouldn’t)” sorts of messages that upset you or make you feel like a loser. Don’t buy-in to negative feedback such as “the economy is terrible and you better take whatever you can get.”
• Eliminate negative-sounding words/phrases such as “I would like to but; the problem is; I can’t ” by intentionally focusing on your word choice.
• Surround yourself with upbeat, positive-thinking people; maybe that means you’ll have to distance yourself from the negative ones.
• Write positive thoughts on sticky-notes; put them in places where you can see them and say them. If you can’t think of any positives, then write down your negative thoughts and see if you can turn them into positives. It’s worth a try.
• Laugh about something. Smile at somebody.
• Make a list of 25 things you like about yourself (or some good things others have told you about yourself).
• Develop a support group of raving fans — people who really like you, support you, and want to see you succeed. Stay in touch.
• Read. Whether it’s online or in a book, try to learn something new each day.
• Track your performance on a daily basis. Evaluate yourself at week’s end, identifying the positive steps you achieved with an eye for the things you need to work on.
• Ask for help. Invite others to be a part of your job search success.

List or no list, there’s no better time than now to get a good attitude to help you land a great job!

posted by: billie sucher

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Remember those words from your school days? Whether you liked doing your homework or not, you probably learned that success in school usually depended on the degree to which you followed that all-too-familiar advice (or maybe it was more of a command). A story in the Boston Globe this week illustrates that success in job search also depends on following that advice.

According to the article, a five-member search committee recently appointed Lynn B. Nicholas as chief executive of the Massachusetts Hospital Association after being impressed by her extensive preparation for her interview. Nicholas said, “I Googled them all, and I searched for photos of them online. I read about their institutions, their towns, and I spoke to people who knew them. It’s called preparation. I like to be prepared. I’m known for that.”

When she met the committee members, she was able to recognize and greet each person by name, and she knew about matters of importance to them. As the chair of the committee observed, “It showed she really wanted the job.”

There’s a lesson here for anyone conducting a job search: The more you can learn about the company you apply to and the individual people involved in the hiring process, the stronger the impression you’re likely to make. Information you can search for includes:

• company’s financial well-being
• company mission
• company culture
• company news: e.g., product launches, mergers/acquisitions, new hires/layoffs
• competitors and competitor news
• background information about interviewers: e.g., career history, philosophy/management style, special interests

With this kind of information, you’re sure to make a good impression. So be prepared - and do your homework!

Submitted by Wendy Gelberg

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What a crazy month it has been! The stock market ups and downs,
severe weather. and world affairs - one can only dream of security. If
you have a job, consider yourself lucky; although you can never assume
that you are secure, not in this day and age.

Even if you are happily and gainfully employed, you should always be prepared to conduct a job search. Take the advice of a
seasoned resume writer and always have your resume updated and ready to
submit. You never know when you might get a call from a recruiter or
hear of an opportunity. And above all, make sure you are being proactive in your current position to sell yourself and communicate your value.

To assess your job security in your current company, I recommend my clients take an assessment called “Ten Keys to becoming a Career
Conqueror.” The brief questionnaire, developed by Career Coach
Academy, http://www.careercoachacademy.com/about_CCA.html diagnoses your job security by evaluating you in terms of:

• Future focus: goals, brand identity, how connected or networked you are,
• Employer focused: ROI proposition, skill development, interpersonal relations.
• Proactive: self-accountable, inspiration and attitude, self-initiated training, time management, support.

The self-scoring assessment will give you an indication of the health of your career. If you want to take the complete questionnaire, send me an email at jfranke1@bellsouth.net.

Take time out to get a “career checkup” today!

Posted by Julianne Franke

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Do your annual performance reviews come and go with no particular recognition of your contributions to your organization? Is your raise less than you expected? Are you passed over for promotion because your manager doesn’t realize your worth?

In getting raises and promotions, nothing is more important than identifying ways in which you have saved an organization money and time.

If you are you not keeping track and effectively communicating your business value, you will likely shortchange your professional growth and success. An effective tool is a career journal to track your success stories, results and performance contributions to your organization. On a regular basis, document your contributions to productivity, efficiency, cost-cutting, problem solving, etc. Make sure to quantify your accomplishments.

It’s helpful not only to keep notes on what you have done, but also samples of your work such as reports, presentations, white papers, and so forth. This serves as valuable material for performance evaluations and for resume development, without having to spend time recalling and collecting it when you need it. Make sure to keep your data at home in hard copy and on your computer.

Be proactive about managing your own career and communicating your value on the job. No one else will likely do it for you. It can make a difference in your career development.

Posted by Louise Garver

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Six doors serve as entry points for patrons of this suburban-Chicago cinema. After some trial-and-error, we discovered the only unlocked door was the one to the far right. Shortly after 9:30 a.m. last Saturday, I sat waiting, across the street from the cinema, with a clear view of the doors, while my companion waited in line, indoors. We’d stopped by early to buy tickets for The Bourne Ultimatum later that day.

As I grew tired of waiting 5, 10, then 15 minutes, I decided to entertain myself with a silly little game. This game was called “let’s see how many people will walk up to the doors, only to find them locked, and leave.” People streamed by, some trying one door, and the next, and the next, and even the next, to no avail. One by one, people tried and left without entering the building. Pretty soon, a woman with a little puppy in tow, stopped by, started the drill, and entered. A few minutes later, an inquisitive little boy, probably 7 or 8, tugged on all of the doors until he gleefully found the open one. He, and the adult accompanying him, disappeared into the cinema.

My trivial little game reminded me, in a way, of how some job hunters go about looking for new opportunities:

• Sometimes, what you think is going to be easy, isn’t, and then, you have to try just a little bit harder or dig a little bit deeper to get what you want, or need.
• Sometimes, you have to integrate many different job search strategies, concepts, and approaches and maybe, just maybe, one of them will work.
• Sometimes, a little curiosity, inquisitiveness and tenacity will generate positive results.
• Sometimes, all of the doors are locked. Then the question becomes “do I really care to pursue that door, or am I better off if I just keep moving?” If you are serious about pursuing the locked door, is there anyone you can call upon to help you open it?
• And sometimes, it’s as simple as trying each door until you discover the one that’s already unlocked for you, before you give up, stop trying, and walk away.

What door would you like to open today?

posted by: billie sucher

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According to the Compensation Force Blog, 2008
salary increases are expected to average 4%. With that in mind, job
seekers should consider strategies for negotiating their total
compensation packages that go past the base salary. By negotiating a
signing bonus or pro-rated bonus based on individual or company
performance, job seekers may be able to barter for a more generous
total rewards package. Stock options and company perks like cell phones
and laptops when appropriate may also be requested to help “sweeten the
pot”. Companies will only budge so far when negotiating a performance
increase. Try to negotiate more of the “extras” before you take the job
to help compensate for some of the “average” salary increases you may
be offered along the way.

Posted by Barbara Safani

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