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Re: T.A.P. Q#346 – Said I’d Show Her Resume to HR, But Can’t – What Should I Do?

melissamartin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:15:58 -0000

T.A.P. Q#347 – Best Way to Introduce Myself to Company I Want to Work For?

Dear Experts,

I found a company I think is amazing. I’m about to graduate and want to apply to work there. I looked online and there aren’t any jobs posted. What’s the best way to contact them to learn when they might be hiring recent grads?

Dear Graduate to be:

Good for you that you are doing your homework even going into graduation!

1. Establish your personal brand before starting your job search. Competition is fierce.

2 Impress the company by doing competitive intelligence on their company. (Research their competitor and send the company you want to work for the information you got from the competition). Companies are always looking to solve problems). You can even send them a free press release to impress the company that you are conversant with the latest trends in their industry. Check out www. pressrelease365.com

Research what you think what might be their greatest challenge or problem. Use this as a basis for writing a sales letter (see # 3d).

3. Create a digital identity:
a. linkedin.com account-Gather testimonials from former professors, colleagues and supervisors in the last 3 years. Post them on your linkedin.com account (many recruiters use linkedin.com as a primary source for hiring talent). Post testimonials on your facebook account along with your resume.
b. Create a visual resume ex: visualCV.com
c. Create a biography of yourself. Go to google.com/profiles. It's free. Include links in your resume and cover letter.
d. Write a sales letter (Google: Jimmy Sweeney's world's greatest cover letter).
Example: "Three reasons why you should hire___(yourself). Offer ROI (return on investment) for hiring you. For example: you have new qualifications as a college grad to be; you are presumably young and can be crafted into a desirable employee with the latest product knowledge or industry knowledge.

e. Go to interviewbest.com annd search the free sample presentations. Prepare a short slide presentation (ex: Slideshare is available on linkedin.com) and "tease" the company in your sales letter about what you would do in the first 90 days at the company. Use a PS for this. (Jimmy Sweeney's brilliant idea).
Instead of going from the approach of when they "might" be hiring, make yourself irresistable to employers by following these strategies.

Remember, a recent study said that a company's #1 priority is improving efficiency.

Go boldly!
Melissa Martin
bilingual career coach
careercoachingbyphone.com

Re: T.A.P. Q#344 – Does Work Really Monitor My E-mails?

melissamartin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:09:50 -0000

RT@CAREEREALISM: TAP Q#344 monitoring emails at work

Unequivocally, companies DO monitor emails. Just yesterday, theglobeandmail.com (A leading national newspaper in Canada published a story about this topic). Companies are growing irritated by so much activity. I have watched a few segments on NBC's Today show confirming this.

Additionally, companies are increasingly checking social media sites to screen candidates for any reason to not hire and to check online identities of people.

If you want to check your identity and make sure that its is "safe," go to onlineIDcalculator.com.
It's free.

Never give any reason for a company to justify administrative discipliinary action. And yes, people have been fired because of unsavory digital identities.

Protect yourself!
Melissa Martin
bilingual career coach
careercoachingbyphone.com

Re: T.A.P. Q#345 – Made My Boss Look Bad – How Do I Recover?

melissamartin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:03:41 -0000

Twitter question on careerealism Q# 345
TAP Q# 345 Made my boss look bad . How do I recover?

Dear troubled employee:

Sorry to hear that kind of trouble at work is permeating your thoughts.

Congratulations on getting the project on time.

Without knowing all of the facts, I would be suspicious about the manager not behaving the "same."
That in itself seems unprofessional and unfair, at best.

Is there any delicate way that you could approach the boss and remind him of the following:
-you met the deadline ahead of time
-your intentions were genuine to assist with the project
- your successes in the last year. Put them on paper and present them. Save for posterity.
(Especially in your field, the priorities are to save money, make money, increase efficiency and improve something. Those are good guidelines).

Did you know that companies' # 1 priority is to improve efficiency?

-reassure your boss that your role at the company aligns with its mission statement, goals and values
-affirm that you are dedicated to bringing the company 100% value and that you will continue to deliver it

Never give a company reason for questioning your role at a company. Some would say don't show a sign of weakness.

Wait patiently for the next assigment.
Best wishes
Melissa Martin
careercoachingbyphone.com

Re: T.A.P. Q#339 – Unethical or Illegal for Hiring Manager to Give Certain Tests?

melissamartin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:40:22 -0000

TAP Q#339: Myers-Briggs

I took an abbreviated version of MB last year and was impressed overall with the content.

And yes, it was reasonably accurate about my 4 letter characteristics.

A few things to keep in mind:

1. Certain companies and industries (insurance, financial firms, etc) are apt to give these tests for the sake of finding a desirable fit between the job candidate and the company, and to identify a certain personality type or character that may align with the company's values or mission statement. For example, a company may choose to conduct a quiz, test or assessment for a hgh level security job, as in police foundations or an executive sales job that necessitates morals, standards and ethics.

(I wonder if any of the Ponzi fraudsters took Myers-Briggs?) I noticed a new Halloween costume on TV today....hit the Ponzi! But seriously.....

2. Just as in some interviews, sometimes these quizzes and assessments often have the same question framed several times to find a pattern. Here's a potential bone of contention:

While some assessments, quizzes, etc may show that you manifest certain behaviours, for example, DISC looks at group behaviours, that does not mean unequivocally that you are _______

For example, I am an extrovert in many situations, but in others, I am not or choose not to be. I can think of past employers`staff meetings when I became an introvert in that instance.

Or by the same token, you could demonstrate certain characteristics or exemplify a certain style at work and not in your home life.

On the whole, I recommend taking an array of assessments, and if you must take this one, it may be an unprecedented opportunity to self-evaluate, which is the first step of a job search.

Best wishes,
Melissa Martin

bilingual career coach
careercoachingbyphone.com

Re: T.A.P. Q#338 – What’s the Deal With Objective Statements on Resumes?

melissamartin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:25:45 -0000

Hello Erica,
Q#338 Twitter Project

You are likely to receive a myriad of answers to this question, regarding objective statements.

They have pro's and con's.

Cons: Most job seekers insert an OS that focuses on them, rather than the employer. We need to realize, as crass as it sounds, that employers don't care about us, they care about what we can do for them. The three crucial needs of employers: can you make me money/save me money? Improve something? Or increase efficiency.

Incidentally, I read a survey on linkedin.com by Beth C. today that said companies' number ONE priority is (especially in recruiting) is efficiency improvement.

Another con is that if you make your OS too vague, it may allow the reader (a recruiter or HR Mgr who scans the resume for 10 seconds) to pass over you. Usually the lame (sorry), unimaginative OS"s have no gusto or zest in them.

If you must include an OS, quantify with numbers, dollars and percentages.
Or include the OS and your qualifications, capitalizing on (________) one of the three employer wishes I spoke about.

Companies hire based on 3 R's: referrals, recommendations and reputation. They don't hire generic employees, so don't make your OS lifeless on the page.

Another strategy, put a testimonial near your OS. Testimonials cannot be manipulated, if done the right way.

The pro's of using objective statements?

The more specific you can convince the employer that you're a good ROI (return on investment) and that it would be wise to hire you, the better. Use a maximum of 3 sentences with competencies, talents and strengths.

Remember, the top half of a resume is critical as far as content.

Don't allow your OS to have a mortality factor, but one that is on the critical list of employers' desired criteria.

Best wishes.

Melissa Martin
bilingual career coach
www.careercoachingbyphone.com

Re: T.A.P. Q#336 – Best Way to Decline a Job Offer?

melissamartin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:38:10 -0000

Magnify your first sentence. That's where the dilemma is. "Something doesn't feel right about it."

That is your emotional intelligence (body-oriented) speaking and not your academic intelligence (head-oriented). The reason why "something doesn't feel right," in this case, is that your intuition is telling you to avoid danger signs from this company.

Two other danger signs that you should reconsider:" the people who work there almost look scared."Again, the old adage that "you only have only have one chance to make a first impression" truly applies here.

You made an observation about the company culture. It doesn't appear to be healthy.

The third danger sign when the manager remarked that the former employee didn't have a "strong enough personality." Examine that hidden agenda or message.

What is your work personality? This is one thing that a career professional tries to identify with you, before you embark on a job search or to accept a job offer. Will your job personality align with the company?

Unless you have a binding, legal job offer, think twice about accepting this job offer.

I believe that this is situation-specific.

If you are uneasy now and don't pay attention to the danger signs, you could be deadlocked with this company, which may wreak havoc for you professionally.

Go with your heart and use emotional intelligence (an extra energy source that we all all to some extent).
Some of the best career decisions involve more risks, but often they pay off handsomely.

We as humans just have to step out of our comfort zone and embrace risk, from time to time.
Wishing you the best in your career.

Melissa Martin
bilingual career coach
careercoachingbyphone.com

Re: T.A.P. Q#337 – Need to Announce Promotion Via E-mail, But How?

melissamartin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:21:00 -0000

TAP Q#337

This sounds like a potentially thorny situation and one that can impede internal communication and ultimately, company morale.

Analyze and think first.

Try to persuade the person who requested that you write the "congratulatory email" to arrange a quick meeting with other staff first. This will soften the blow, rather than co-workers discovering through an email (a very impersonal way to deliver this impending message).

Since the message is one that is congratulatory in nature, it should be communicated through human contact and human relations, not be relying on a passive and damaging communication vehicle, such as email, in this context.

If the other person does not agree, send a brief, positive email and invite the staff to congregate and announce the news in an uplifting setting-perhaps during a coffee break or a means to break up the daily routine and connect with co-workers.

Back to analyzing first and thinking.

Emails have consequences and you do want your career or your current rapport with co-workers to be compromised by delivering news inappopriately.

This is an occasion to recognize the pending manager's successes, with the other co-workers in a more active role, rather than passively receiving the message.

Some co-workers may not appreciate the "surprise" element of the announcement but email, so caution is the best part of valour. So is diplomacy and grace in this situation.

Before even hitting the "send" button, ask yourself two questions:
What would happen if you sent the email and the ultimate impact at your workplace.
What would happen if you didn't?

Best of luck.

Melissa Martin
bilingual career coach
careercoachingyphone.com

Re: T.A.P. Q#335 – What Do I Do If I Can’t Trust My Colleagues?

melissamartin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:41:07 -0000

A tough, but universal situation, to say the least. I have lived it in the past.

1. Rally around the allies you already have, but do so discreetly, You do not want to be in the A camp or B camp.

2. Focus on what is going right with your job, mark your milestones (what you have achieved in the past year), document them. Employers have a one track money: can you make or save them money or improve something. Get your "value" in writing and document them.

3 Look to others beyond your organization who can serve as a testimonial for you and ask them for a recommendation,.Social media tools such as linkedin.com recommendations are powerful because they can neither be manipulated, nor falsified. Other ideas: create a profile on google.com/profiles and businesscard2.com for free.

4. Do a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, as in uncontrollables) about whether to stay for a while longer (you mentioned that you love what you do), or change jobs.
5. Plans B and C should be in place. This web site stresses that jobs are only temporary. No truer words were spoken!
6. Stay positive and be seen as that. Gossip and office politics are poisonous and cancerous..

7. Inevitably, some element of politics will remain in your job, as long as you are there. So focus on what is called "interest-based communication." This means that you have some interests in common. You both/all work there for a reason.

Best wishes!
Melissa Martin
bilingual career coach
careercoachingbyphone.com

Re: What the Heck is RSS?! (Actually, It’s the Ultimate Career Tool)

melissamartin — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:34:17 -0000

J.T.

Thanks ever so much for simplifying RSS feeds. I am still digesting the concept.

For Twitter users wishing to use RSS feeds, I received some wonderful information from
www.getsatisfaction.com/twi....

Cheers,

Melissa Martin
careercoachingbyphone.com

Re: Your Personal Brand: What You Need To Build Personal Brand

melissamartin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:30:53 -0000

I will be mentioning personal branding on careersuccessradio.com tonight 7pm EST with career coach Keith Keller.

Melissa Martin
bilingual career coach
careercoachingbyphone.com

Re: Your Personal Brand: What You Need To Build Personal Brand

melissamartin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:32:01 -0000

This is a wonderful resource! I have been using personal branding and USP (unique selling points) for clients in the last 6 months and they have seen a difference!
Thank you.

Melissa Martin
bilingual career coach
careercoachingbyphone.com

Re: The Rule of Three (a.k.a. How to Be Unforgettable to Employers)

melissamartin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:04:54 -0000

There's no denying that 3 has a powerful connotation.

Think of the infomercials and testimonials (which job seekers can use in their linkedin.com account and resumes and cover letters). The magic # is 3.

Even the Pizza Pizza commercials are immemorable: 96-11-11 Phone pizza pizza, hey hey!

Yesterday I walked by a sign:"Forget school. Come in and have a gin. Sin, sin, sin!"
But seriously......if we want to be remembered, the law of 3's would definitely be advantageous in our self-marketing tools like the resume and build our personal brand.

I know this intimately because I was a radio broadcaster. (No surprise that phone numbers are repeated in 30 second commercials in.....you guessed it- 3 times!)

Jimmy Sweeney of the greatestcoverletter.com also starts his sales letters with 3's.

For example: 3 reasons why you should hire me at XYX company.

Melissa Martin
bilingual career coach
careercoachingbyphone.com
webinarcareercoach.blogspot...

Re: Career Change? Forget Resume…Focus on Re-writing YOU!

melissamartin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:58:22 -0000

Right on JT!
Two and a half years ago, I stopped looking at resumes during my first client appointment.

How was that received? As a certified educator, you must tell adults why you are doing something, so I justify using the self-assessment and sell the benefits to clients. 97% of the time they are receptive because I use 2 secret ingedients that one should use to convince employers during an interview: persuasion and influence (PI).

After doing the assessment, clients' confidence levels are boosted and turbo charged.
Their self-esteem rises exponentially.

The resume is one of the last pieces to start a job search indeed.

Melissa Martin
bilingual career coach
webinarcareercoach.blogspot...
careercoachingbyphone.com
877-621-3141