Holiday tips for your job search

It seems like this time of year everyone has a few tricks or ideas to get through the holidays.  Either to enhance the joy of the season or is some cases flat out survival.  From gift ideas to travel tips to party planning to baking and cooking gems there is an expert willing to dispense their knowledge at a high level.  So I thought I would throw my hat in the ring to provide some holiday thoughts related to your job search.

1)  Seek balance.  With party after party after party with sweets, drinks, and extra meals, have you ever craved a good salad over the holidays to put an end to the seemingly endless stomachaches?  In the same way, take some time off of your search to spend with loved ones or flat out "me" time.  Catch a few movies, sleep in, and enjoy some down time.  It is still okay to stay active during the holidays, but with many hiring managers away from the office the response rate may be delayed.  So don't feel guilty if you're not online ten hours a day looking for that "perfect" opening.

2)  Set goals now.  Have you ever noticed how many people use New Year's Resolutions as a crutch to do whatever they want to do over the holidays?  Go ahead and put on fifteen pounds because you are going to vow to lose twenty by January 1, right?  Why not set a reasonable goal to lose ten pounds in the new year and gain no more than five over the holidays?  In the same way, think of where you hope to be with any pending career moves NOW and then generate activity in the coming days and weeks that move you closer to those goals.  No sense in waiting.

3)  Be thankful for what you have.  Instead of asking our kids what they want for Christmas each year we like to remind them what they already have.  It makes the idea of asking for everything in the Toys R Us catalog seem a little more ridiculous because they are already reflective on how blessed they truly are.  In your job search the first question you should always ask yourself is why am I not happy now?  Or better yet, am I happy and I don't even see it since a few things here and there don't go my way.  News flash - there is no such thing as the "perfect" job or "perfect" employer.  Maybe, just maybe, you should be more focused on how you can make your current situation better before you jump the fence to see if the grass is any greener on the other side.

4)  Take time to reflect.  I have seen a lot of commercials recently for shows coming up in the next few weeks that are reviewing the year of 2014.  If pop culture, music, TV, celebrity news, and world events are all worth reflecting on, isn't your current working situation a good one to think about too?  Try to be objective and view things from a 30,000-foot perspective.  We always live in the now and sometimes forget to look back to see what has shaped us and led us to where we are now.  This is particularly poignant for a job search.  Why are you even looking in the first place?  How many moves have you made in the past five years?  How many of your career goals have you achieved?  If you even set goals in the first place.

5)  Find a mentor or thank the one you have.  I am fortunate to have several people in my life that I can always count on if I am facing a difficult or important decision.  Career moves definitely fit into that category.  If you don't have this voice of reason to rely on during a job search you might make a move that goes bad and could have been prevented.  As a third party recruitment consultant I like to think I fit into that category for my clients and candidates alike.  But if you don't have that luxury, lean on the shoulders of those that have gone before you.  People that have made mistakes, recovered from them, and have learned something that could be valuable to you.  Mentors are ALWAYS willing to provide their wisdom and knowledge.

What other tips have gotten you through the holidays that have coincided with a job search?  Have you had something happen recently that would be good for others to know?

Happy holidays to you and yours.  I have enjoyed sharing my thoughts through blog over the past year and really look forward to more topics to explore together next year!

Don't give up, don't ever give up on your job search

For those of you that are not sports' fans and possibly have not heard about Jim Valvano's infamous speech many years ago, you should Google it and watch it.  Even if you don't know the first thing about basketball you will be inspired.

It holds more significance for me as I coach my son's fourth grade basketball team.  My son and I watched it together during Jimmy V week, and he didn't quite understand why I was crying throughout the entire piece.  I even used the inspiration to get the boys fired up over the weekend in a game where we were down 18 points and it looked like it was over mid-way through the second half.  I asked if anyone wanted to give up, and of course none of them did.  We came all the way back to force triple overtime and lost in heart-breaking fashion on a made free throw by the opponent.  We could have all thrown in the towel, had the same outcome (a loss), and on paper we would be in the same place today.  I was thrilled the team didn't want to go down that path.

I can't tell you how many times I have worked with candidates and clients alike that were ready to throw in the proverbial towel.  The candidate(s) couldn't find the right job or get the offer on the job they really wanted.  The client(s) couldn't find the right candidate or get themselves talked into extending an offer on a candidate that really wasn't their first choice.  Here are some thoughts that Jimmy V would probably offer to someone caught in that situation:

1)  Give it your best, even when you don't feel up for it.  The night of his infamous speech Jimmy V needed help getting up and down from the stage.  His body was worn down from tumors, treatments, and general weariness.  He admitted to not wanting to be there to accept the award, but he came despite his exhaustion and pain.  You would never know by watching his speech how awful he must have really felt.  If you are experiencing pain in your life, no matter how significant, show up to an interview or a meeting giving 120% as you don't know if that is your only shot at making an impression.

2)  Don't listen to others telling you to stop.  At one point during his speech Jimmy V mocks the red light that is the sure signal from the producers of the show that your time was up.  He joked that he is about to die from the dreaded cancer taking over his body and they wanted him to wrap up his thoughts in a matter of seconds.  He seized the opportunity and powered through, giving one of the most memorable speeches in recent sports' history.  During you search you might come across people that think you should just stay put and remain miserable because that is just what work life is all about.  Don't listen to those people.  Go blaze your own trail!

3)  Let people know you care.  Some professional business coaches and recruiters say to keep emotion out of the interview process.  I don't necessarily agree with that.  At one point during the speech Jimmy V says, "To me there are three things everyone should do every day.  Number one is laugh.  Number two is think, spend some time in thought.  Number three, you should have your emotions move you to tears.  If you laugh, think, and cry, that is one heck of a day."  Maybe keep most of the crying out of an interview, but you get the point.  Being relate-able is a lost skill in today's world of sterile social media posts for updates on peoples' lives.  Tell some stories, live a little, and show the person on the other side of the desk that you are a real person.

If you really listen to the speech you will notice that Jimmy V doesn't talk much about basketball despite being a coach.  His sage advice can be applied in many aspects of life, and I'm here today to insert it into the conversation regarding your job search.

What inspires you to look for a new job?  Or procure the one you are in final stages with a prospective employer?  The holidays and year-end usually bring up many of these questions.  Happy to hear your stories and thoughts as always as you reflect this time of the year.

How to overcome a mistake during a search

We have all been there at some point in our careers.  Considering a move, talking to another employer or two, and you fear you stumble by making a mistake or misstep in the process.  I would make the case that a mistake is bound to happen at some point.  It is not necessarily about prevention, but rather how you react when it inevitably happens.

I thought this picture was perfect for my blog topic today as it is an everyday item tripping someone up.  The proverbial slip on a banana peel is something you have likely never seen happen in person, but everyone can relate to the story that is being told.  I also think this time of year about slipping on that patch of ice you don't see coming after a winter storm in the Midwest.  After the slip you always find yourself looking around to see who saw that slip.

When a mistake is made during a search you may do the same thing.  Maybe you were a little late to the first interview.  Or you forgot to add an accomplishment to the most recent copy of your resume before the meeting.  Maybe even brought the wrong copy of your resume to the employer.  You can really sit and wonder if you blew it or you can work through the mistake when it happens.

I am all about moving on.  You must not pretend like the mistake never happened, but you have to keep going forward.  Acknowledge that it occurred and then try to overcome any lost momentum.  My son's youth basketball team had a game yesterday and on an out-of-bounds play accidentally scored on the other team's basket.  Two points for them and a lot of confusion for our team.  As the coach I decided to let them play through it and talk about it at the next timeout.  I brought the play up, asked if anyone was still thinking about it, and of course the answer was no.  They had already moved on and we ended up winning a close game.  By that time the mistake was a distant memory.

Now what if the mistake is a big one and can't just be overlooked as easily?  First thing I would suggest is to own it.  Do not act as though it did not happen.  Recently I had a candidate show up over two hours late to a meeting.  Granted traffic was the main cause and out of the candidate's control, but that is a big problem.  The client still met the candidate, had concerns afterward, we all talked about it, and everyone acknowledged it was not a deal killer.  The candidate really took ownership of the issue and apologized for not allowing enough cushion up front.  It is still likely something in the back of my client's mind, but that idea of accountability really seemed to resonate.  Joan Collins once said show me someone who has never made a mistake and I'll show you someone who never achieved much.

Lastly, what about the mistake that you don't even know happened?  This is the hardest one to overcome and requires a little more work.  This is when you can sense some tension during an interview or when receiving some feedback.  You sense some hesitation and wonder if you went wrong somewhere.  I would recommend digging into it a little more.  Without being overwhelming ask the direct and honest question - is something wrong?  I can't tell you how many times candidates and clients alike have admitted to something when I pushed politely for an answer.  Sometimes it is told to me in confidence, but without being able to process bad news occasionally we would all be left wondering.

How about you?  Have you overcome a mistake during a search that turned out well?  Or perhaps even one that did not turn out well but sharing with others could be a learning experience.

Why you should practice your laugh before an interview

I have spoken in the past about the need for preparation ahead of an interview - think of questions that might come up, form some initial answers, and be sure to research the company before going in for the interview.  So you may ask - why in the world should you practice laughing before what could be a very serious and challenging interview?

I can think of plenty of reasons, but there are really a few that are most relevant if you really try to break it down.  This thought for a blog about laughing all came about when my family sat down for our weekly viewing of America's Funniest Videos.  I was upstairs getting the popcorn ready when I heard raucous laughter coming from our basement.  I feared they had started without me and seen a really classic clip already.  I raced downstairs only to see the DVR still paused and nothing happening.  Meanwhile my wife and children are rolling around on the floor in hysterical laughter.  Turns out they were "practicing" their laughter to get warmed up for the show.

They were immediately in a good mood and expecting the show to be hilarious.  Almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Which brings me to my first point about practicing your laugh before an interview.  If you think going in that it is going to be an enjoyable experience, I argue you have already increased your chances of that happening.  Think of the opposite thought - if you are nervous and anxious going into the interview, so much that it impacts your ability to coherently outline your professional experience, do you think there is a chance you might come across as nervous?  Instead why not walk into the room with a smile on your face?

Secondly, a good laugh can always break the ice.  I once had a meeting with a very important client and I was scheduled to sit down with the hiring manager who was known to be incredibly serious and dare I say occasionally grumpy.  It happened to be a Wednesday, so I asked my HR contact before the hiring manager arrived if she had seen the Geico hump day commercial with the camel walking through an office.  Which at the time had recently aired for the first time.  She started laughing and said it was her favorite new commercial.  The hiring manager came in while we were in the midst of our laughter, and we shared the story briefly with him.  He admitted to having just seen in the night before and said it was the funniest commercial he had ever seen.  We jumped right into a very productive meeting with a smile on our face.

Lastly, a good laugh can be memorable.  When interviewing for a position where you might have significant competition, being memorable is necessary.  I am certainly not suggesting an out of control hyena laugh, as that would create a bad memory.  Having a genuine, heartfelt, really solid laugh could be something that could put you over the edge.  Am I stretching things a little here?  Absolutely.  A good laugh alone will not get you hired.

The bottom line is that you need every edge you can get out there in a competitive job market.  If not a laugh it could simply be your smile.  Or your posture.  Or being articulate.  Or prepared.  Or well dressed.  The list could go on and on and on.  So I challenge you to think outside of the box when considering how to prepare for an interview.  And if laughter some day gets you the job, I want to know about it!

When to add an accomplishment to your resume

This morning I was reminded in a powerful way that it is never too early or too late to accomplish something meaningful in your life.  I attended the installation of class officers and representatives for the elementary school my son attends.  They elect individuals from each class in third through fifth grade.  After the election they attend meetings to make the school a better place.

I felt challenged and inspired by these young up and coming leaders.  The mayor of our city also attended to swear them in to their newly elected positions.  She made a few remarks and told the children that it is never too early to begin showing leadership skills and aspiring toward higher offices or greater accomplishments.

It got me thinking about all of the parents sitting in the audience, myself included.  It first led to an even simpler question - what have I accomplished recently at work or at home that I was proud of?  I was able to come up with a few good examples and felt encouraged to add to that list in the coming weeks and months.  I am not a job seeker, but my job is obviously to counsel those that are.  So what have you accomplished recently as a job seeker that may benefit your search?  And how to you properly outline those on a resume?

I have a couple of thoughts.  First of all I think accomplishment or achievement sections on a resume have officially replaced "hobbies and interests".  When I started in the business over a decade ago it was commonplace to see people listing things like fishing, hiking, golfing, etc. at the bottom of their resume.  With social media there are many more opportunities to make that information known without listing it on your resume.  Today what most employers are looking for are prospective employees that have actually done something noteworthy that could impact their performance on the the job.

Secondly, it is important to have current information listed in this section of your resume.  Not to slight anything that might have happened fifteen years ago, but unless it is incredibly significant I want to know what you have done recently.  For instance I went through a powerful leadership course about 12 years ago.  It was an incredible experience that I cherish and still keep in touch with many people that I met.  But if that is the only "recent" accomplishment that I can list I am probably in trouble.

Next, show me the direct correlation that accomplishment has to your professional experience.  If you read my blog from a few weeks ago you would know that one of my partners at Capstone completed her first half marathon.  If her only goal was to lose a few pounds or raise money for a worthy cause that is still great, but doesn't necessarily correlate to making her a better employee for our organization.  I know for a fact, however, that it impacted her work product in a very positive manner.  She set similar goals for herself here at work and it inspired all of us to keep pace with her aggressive goals.  It was related to the achievement and absolutely helped her professionally as well as personally.  

Lastly, I would emphasize that treating accomplishments as more of a verb than a noun will provide exponential benefit going forward.  Keep accomplishing on an ongoing basis and challenge yourself to make a change to that section of your resume every single year.  After nearly twenty years of professional experience I can say I hope my greatest accomplishments are all still ahead of me.  Surround yourself with like-minded individuals, find ways to incorporate this into all of your job search, and absolutely add them to your resume when you can.

What is something you accomplished recently that you were proud of?  Did you add it to your resume if you are in fact in an active job search?

Why you don't need all the answers in an interview

Have you ever had that one tough question you just didn't have the answer to during the course of an interview?  Or walk out of an interview stewing over an answer you thought of to a question that came early in the conversation and you simply didn't give the best possible answer?  It happens all the time from my experience, and I am here to tell you it is okay.

My wife and I went to a movie over the weekend that had a cliffhanger ending.  It really left you wondering with more questions than answers.  It drove both of us crazy for a period of time until I told her that in my opinion that lack of clarity in the ending made it the best possible ending.  The director did their job very well as it is something I will likely talk about for a long time to come.

Don't get me wrong here, I don't want a hiring manager or someone in HR finishing an interview with you simply scratching their head like they don't know what just happened.  Quite the contrary as I am suggesting that the best possible outcome of an interview just might be everyone wondering and talking about you for a long time to come.  And not because you had mustard stains on your shirt or totally blew the interview, but rather a sense of intrigue and numerous directions for the conversation to go well in the near future.

I can give you a real world example from something that happened recently for a candidate of mine.  He went in for an interview for Position A.  That hiring manager was not available and he instead interviewed for Position B and Position C with two other hiring managers.  The candidate was not prepared, but handled it with grace.  The client got back to me that he could possibly be a candidate for those positions, but they wanted to bring him in again for Position A.  He nailed it, the client hired him, and everyone was pleased with how well he handled the situation.  Had he tried too hard to answer all of the questions in the first interview with the positions that weren't as well matched to his background he might have looked like he was just trying to get any job he could other than his current one.

The other thing to keep in mind is that companies don't often have all of the answers regarding a position or role that may open up.  If that is the case, how can they then expect you to have all of the "right" answers as a candidate?  Instead I always encourage productive dialogue that seems like it is progressing in some sort of linear fashion.  As long as that is happening, you are usually heading in a good direction.  If you simply have no answers at all then you have a problem.

Lastly, I like to empower candidates to say "I don't know" in an interview.  I know I have been caught in questions before where I tried to make up an answer on the fly.  It usually hasn't turned out well for me.  Instead try to focus on your ability to learn quickly or relate to something that is along the same lines as the original question.  You don't want to say it too many times as you eventually look incompetent.  Admitting up front you may not know an answer to a question shouldn't disqualify you from the job on the spot.  Maybe the company has interviewed five people before you, and they have all replied "I don't know" as well.

Have you ever had a difficult question you couldn't answer in an interview?  If so, how did things shake out at the conclusion of the interview?

Importance of goal setting in a job search

When is the last time you set out to accomplish something and actually sat down to outline a strategy?  A plan that has achievable goals and steps to consider in some sort of linear progression.  Whatever that goal was, I bet it was something that was satisfying upon completion.  Similarly, you should really sit down and clearly identify your goals when considering a job search or career move.

Yesterday I got up early, went to downtown Des Moines with my family, and watched my brother-in-law and business partner run a marathon and half-marathon respectively.  It was inspiring, especially considering I had my children there who previously had no concept surrounding how difficult it might be to train for such an event.  I am also a realist and looked back to what the past six months must have looked like for them, along with the other 10,000 runners.

First, I am confident they made a conscious decision to push through any pain that might occur in early training or even the day of the race when they hit the proverbial runner's "wall" where you think about quitting.  Similarly you must enter a job search knowing there could be some pain.  It could come when you realize you have to leave an employer that has been pretty good to you for a number of years.  It could be when a current boss finds out in the middle of your search that you are considering leaving.  It could even come when you resign and your boss and colleagues are extremely disappointed that you have left them down in some sense.  Keep in mind that to really achieve your goal you may have to overcome obstacles.

Secondly, I know that more than just going out and running more was part of the preparation for these runners.  They incorporated good nutrition, rest, weather forecasts, and general work/life balance into their training regimen.  It may sound silly, but all of these things matter during the course of a job search as well.  Get good rest the night before an interview.  Plan out your meals the day of an interview, especially if it going to spill over a normal meal time.  Prepare accordingly if you have a before work or after hours interview to accommodate hiring managers.  You will have to do things that take you out of a normal routine during a job search, and it will be important to think of that before, during and after the actual interview process.

Next, you can see from the photo above that we had made some clever signs to wave in the air when the runners we knew went past us.  We were hopeful that would be encouraging and remind them that they have fans that wish them well.  You may want to consider having a cheering section for your job search as well.  Again, don't laugh.  If you don't have some trusted advisers (spouse, parents, friends, former colleagues) that can help you through, you might really be missing out on some key advice.  I actually think having a third party recruiter holds a ton of value here as well.  We can listen to how things are going, help prepare for tough interview questions, and even look over any materials you plan to present during the course of the interview process.

Lastly, remember to not give up at the end.  I have seen countless interviews that were going extremely well turn into a candidate fearful of making a change.  Or an employer just not quite ready to pull the trigger on an offer.  If any of the runners yesterday were hurting toward the end of the race, I am sure they looked back to everything they had done to prepare for this moment and persevered.  You must do the same if you are in an interview process and doubt creeps in.  It is unlikely that the reasons you considered leaving an employer have changed at all.  So if you don't get the exact raise you were looking for or a better title, that doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't cross that finish line.  Always remember to take a look at the bigger picture as the framework for making that final decision.

What goals do you think are important during the course of a job search?