My first news appearance…about the job search!

The career center director at my school called me last week to tell me a reporter was coming to interview him. The topic was how social media has affected the job search. This is basically what my thesis is centered on, so he wanted me to pop in and give my two cents on the job search. So I did! The reporter, Consumer Bob, interviewed me for a while, but only a couple blips made it to the final cut. Still counts as a first news appearance, I guess. 😉 Here’s a link to it (might take a bit to download):

http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~cba/streaming/video/5-24-11KNSD.mp4

Twitter chats rule!

Twitter chats are a valuable job search resource that few people take advantage of. They’re a place to get feedback on your job search from career experts, recruiters and other job seekers. Twitter chats are when a group of people virtually meet for a certain time period (usually an hour) to discuss a specific topic. It’s a great place to learn and find key people to follow. I think few people know they exist, and those that do don’t know exactly how to join them. Lemme give you a run down of some popular ones and then some instructions on how to join them.

• #HFchat      Fridays 9 am PST     A chat by the same creator of #HireFriday that answers 4-5 pressing questions to advance your job search.
• #jobhuntchat      Mondays at 7 pm PST      Career advice based on four questions a week.
• #careerchat     Tuesdays at 10 am PST    Hosted by Manpower, the leaders will answer a wide range of career-related questions.
• #u30pro     Thursdays 5 pm PST    Chat for all ages and professionals that focuses on issues surrounding professionals under 30.

There is also an upcoming “Dr. Woody” chat this Wednesday, May 18th, at 8pm EST. Dr. Woody is my mentor and a well-respected career consultant. This week he’ll center on interview tips. Dr. Woody and other participants will share ideas in regards to the following questions:

• What’s the wackiest, most bizarre interview question you’ve heard?
• How do you deal with tough or off-the-wall questions?
• How do you dress for the interview?
• Do you prep different for phone vs. Skype interviews?

Here are four easy steps that’ll get you involved in a Twitter chat in no time:

1. In advance of the chat, take a few minutes to sign up for a Twitter account if you don’t have one already.
2. Right before the chat, go to TweetChat and sign up in the first box by linking to your Twitter account.
3. Now, enter the hashtag for the chat (e.g., #drwoodychat) at the top of the TweetChat screen and click “Go.”
4. Start chatting!

Hope to see you in a Twitter chat soon!

Think Human Nature When on the Hunt

Does it all go back to the instinctual hunt?

I met my long-time friend (whom I consider to be very business savvy) for a pedicure the other day, and she said she was waiting a few hours to email a company back about setting up a Skype interview for the following day, because she “wanted to play a lil hard to get.” I was floored. Although this concept was far from new to me in the dating world, I had never really thought of doing that in the job search process. I’ve always heard business people stand behind the whole first come, first served perspective on things. (Isn’t that the kind of promptness a company would want out of an employee?) But she explained that she didn’t want to come off as desperate. She wanted to come off as a desirable candidate who has “options.”

I set out to do a little research and found this BNET article. In it, CC Holland agrees that “playing hard-to-get is still the right approach. If you don’t respect yourself, how can you expect a potential employer to respect you?” This is true. They had already been beating around the bush with my friend, and she was annoyed by it. She was sick of the ways companies were treating her in the job search.

This aspect of human nature does seem to carry over from dating into the workplace. We want what we can’t have or what seems more desired—like the hot playerish guy that all the girls swoon over, even though he’s an a-hole.

I’ve written posts in which I’ve compared a job interview to a first date, but my friend’s perspective was a new concept to me. In this economy, it seems backwards to play hard to get when there are dozens of other people vying for the position. But maybe she is right. As of today, she did make it past the first round of interviews and into the final pool of applicants.

What do you think? Have you played hard to get with an employer?

Are you ‘bot or not?

I was recently getting some work done at a Starbucks (my second home lately!), and I overheard someone talking to a recruiter on the phone. The guy was distressed about a recent interview he had for an IT position. The employer had said that, although he gave a great interview, he didn’t have the exact experience required for the position. He seemed very frustrated.

He then when on to ask the recruiter in a flustered tone, “Do they want a problem solver or a robot? Just because I haven’t done that job before, doesn’t mean I can’t learn it. I have the proper education that proves I’m capable of it.”

He brings up a great question. Is it right, or even ethical, that employers seem to prefer a robot-like employee who has done a job a million times and can do it blindfolded? Or should they simply target candidates who are great problem solvers, eager to learn and adapt to new tasks?

This is an excellent question. What do you think? As the Svedka Vodka marketing team would ask, “Are you ’bot or not?”

Hungry? Side Jobs to Put Food on the Table

Find yourself turning to top ramen and PB&Js way too much lately? Unfortunately, unemployment checks aren’t up to par with the budget you were used to when you had a full-time job. And even if you have a full-time job, the salary might not be what you expected, especially if you’re a recent grad. But there are lots of great ways to make extra cash under the table. And they don’t even require a degree or experience. Two that I personally turn to when times are tough are tutoring and babysitting.

• Tutoring: The great thing about this is that people will pay a lot for it and everyone has something they excel in! You can do anything from teaching someone the guitar to helping a middle schooler with math (if you’re like me, you don’t know anything past geometry). You can probably find work through word of mouth. But I really like Wyzant. You set the rate, and they take a portion of it (a pretty big chunk if ya ask me). But I’ve charged as high as $50/hour. People will pay for it if it means good grades or a new talent they can show off.

• Babysitting: You may not have time to take on a full-time nanny job (which pays very well btw), but you can pick up a few weekend shifts here and there. If you can’t hang with babies like me, try an elementary school kid. And don’t be embarrassed. Nannying is a real job!

Of course, my main side job is resume writing, but don’t do that! I don’t need anymore competition. =)

My first video! “If you hate your job…”

Brazen Careerist (like LinkedIn but better!) asked everyone to make a 30-second video about their one career tip! Here is mine. Although, I must admit, it ended up closer to one minute!

Make Your Edumacation Stand Out

One of the early decisions I make when I edit someone’s resume is whether their work experience or education should go first. For recent grads, putting education first will typically make for a stronger resume. However, a recent grad with a strong work history (e.g., internships) and/or a degree that doesn’t match their career objective should put experience first.

Another concern I’ve heard from clients is that they have a weak education section. Either they don’t have the required degree for the job they want or their degree doesn’t match their career goals. To help with this, consider adding a subsection titled “related coursework.”

Under the heading, list actual course names related to the job you’re applying to, especially electives. For instance, maybe you want to apply to a sales position, but you majored in Biology. Did you take any business, communication, writing, or speech classes? The skills you learned in these courses would definitely make you a better salesperson, but the hiring manager reviewing your resume wouldn’t know this if you only list “B.S. Biology.”

Lastly, for you college students and recent grads—take high school education off your resume! If you are still in college, list the degree you’re working on and your expected graduation date. Listing your high school information makes you look young and inexperienced—no reason to drive that fact home. Plus, if you went to college, you obviously have a high school diploma.

Will you have a second date with this company?

I was once told by a hiring manager that when he interviews people, he always asks himself, “Would I want to eat lunch with this person everyday?” Essentially, you do end up forming close bonds with your co-workers…eating lunch with them, attending conferences together, working just a few feet from them 40 hours a week. You have to like their personality!

This reminded me of the awkwardness of a first date. You probably already know what this person looks like, but personality can make or break the love connection. It’s the same in a job interview. In fact, there are many aspects of the awkwardness of a first date that remind me of the awkwardness of a job interview.

1. Do your research. Just as it is important to research a company before going to the job interview, you should Google your date! You may find out information that turns you off completely.
2. Deciding what to wear. Not only is it hard to pick out what you’ll wear to either of these events, but what you wear may be a deal breaker. For me, if the guy’s shirt is wrinkled or he has junky shoes on, his chances just hit the floor. I’m just sayin’…
3. Nerves. I don’t know about you, but before I walk into an interview, I’m sweating and shaking. I’m a confident interviewer and dater, but meeting with a stranger about something that could lead to something life changing is never easy.
4. Etiquette. There are certain manners expected on a date and in an interview. Be an active listener, ask questions, don’t slouch, etc. etc.
5. Chemistry. As in love, you have to have employer-employee chemistry. (Obviously a different kind from the dating one.) Know if the company is a good fit for you, because the interviewer is definitely considering if you’re a good fit for the company.

The best part about this analogy is that the more I put myself in these awkward situations, the better I get. The better I get at picking the right outfit, saying the right things, doing the right research, and picking the right guy/company. Just thought this similarity was worth reflecting on!

Who are your Life Savers?

Whether you’re in college, you just graduated, or you’re having your mid-life crisis, everyone has a mentor (or two or three) who has kept them afloat during life’s obstacles. Sometimes we forget about this crucial factor in our success. Take a few seconds to think about who those people are in your life…  1…2…3…

For me, there are three that really stick out in my mind:

• Professor Hanson. He was my business writing professor when I was a anxious senior in college. What set him apart from the dozens of good teachers I had had before him was that he treated his students like colleagues. On the last day of class, he spent the whole hour talking about the importance of finding happiness in life and shook each of our hands as we exited his door and essentially entered into the real world. He allowed me to find my writing niche and now I have made a career out of it.
• Araceli. I volunteered for an organization in college that paired college students up with disadvantaged families in the community that couldn’t afford tutors for their children. I was sent to Araceli’s house—a single mother of a boy and girl. She was mentally disabled but didn’t let that stop her from working two jobs and supporting her kids—no matter what the social workers told her. Although on the surface we had virtually nothing in common, we developed a unique bond. Without knowing it, she taught me I could overcome anything I put my mind to. My problems became minuscule in the face of hers.
• Aunt Karen. Although sometimes a little too feminist, my aunt has been a big influence in my life and has taught me a few things about self-respect. She has always taught me to stand up for myself, not only when it comes to romantic relationships but professional ones too. She was the driving force in my decision to go back to school to get my Master’s. She said to do it before I became financially dependent on the corporate 9-5. When I found out I got in, she was more excited than I was.

I know there will be more mentors in my life throughout the years. The important thing is that I don’t forget that I didn’t complete this journey alone; there have been influential people along the way that have pushed me in the right direction. I still keep in touch with Professor Hanson to this day.

So my advice to you is to remember your mentors. More importantly, keep the karma going by becoming someone else’s mentor when the opportunity arises.

Don’t Take the Job…Unless You’ll Get Doughnuts

Doughnut Fridays could make or break the experience.

Let’s assume you’re not super desperate for a job. You’ve been searching for a few months, but you still have money in the bank and aren’t completely burnt out on the job search. You just got offered a fairly good position or maybe even two (in a perfect world) and can’t decide which to take. You haven’t been offered your dream job yet, but you also are realistic in knowing that it’ll probably take a hefty chunk of your 20s before you reach it.

Here are 8 factors you should consider before taking the job:

1. The interview. First off, the interview itself can be a great way to decide if the company/job is for you. When you interviewed, did they take the time to really describe the company and what your job duties would be? Or were they vague and/or acted rushed? You want to work at a company with managers who will take the time to train you and make you feel welcome and appreciated. At my first job out of college, no one took the time to show me around (not even to the bathroom). Not a good way to welcome a newbie.
2. Reputation. Thoroughly research the company. How long have they been around? Does their site look up-to-date? How are their ratings on Yelp? Are they on the Better Business Bureau? Think ahead. After you leave this position, you want to have a respectable company listed on your resume (not a gap in employment).
3. Benefits. Even if the salary is less than your last position or less than the standard salary for that position, consider the benefits—they have a monetary value. This includes medical insurance, paid time off, 401k, etc. Do they match your retirement contribution? If so, this is a great sign. These types of benefits costs hundreds of dollars if you have to pay for them on the side.
4. Added perks. When I worked for a global book publisher, a corporation spread out over multiple countries and headquartered in Amsterdam, the perks were amazing. We were given a generous tuition reimbursement, fairly flexible scheduling, an annual stipend for a gym membership, two paid volunteer days a year, continuing education, bagels and doughnuts on Fridays (can’t forget that), and the list goes on. These types of extras do exist, so seek them out.
5. Managing style. There are Type A (micro) and Type B (macro) managers. Some people prefer the former, while most prefer the latter. Know which you like and learn to identify them before you take the job. A micro manager might tell you to take your break at exactly 12:10 or ask you to do something and then stand over your shoulder while you do it. If you can’t stand a perfectionist, find a position in which you’ll be managed by someone more laid back. It really can make or break the work experience.
6. Environment. When you went in for your interview, did the employees seem happy or grumpy? Is everyone in a cramped cube except the CEO? Is there a clean breakroom with a water cooler, fridge, utensils, etc? How was parking? Contemplating these details will give you a glimpse into how much the company values its employees.
7. Office culture. Are you a social person? Some offices are all work, no play, while others are pretty social. Do they plan regular social events after hours or even during work hours? Do they take the time to celebrate, or at least acknowledge, people’s birthdays, engagements, etc.?
8. Upward mobility. This one may be the most important. If you have no room to grow and have nothing to look forward to, what’s the point really? It is really easy to lose motivation if you don’t continually have a concrete goal you are working toward. Ask about the potential for growth during your interview or early on in your early weeks. Plus, this shows initiative and your eagerness to work hard.

Seriously consider these factors before signing your life away.  =)