April 14, 2010
I know several people who will be starting new jobs this month. As the economy improves, I’m hoping the same good fortune awaits a couple dozen of my other professional contacts who are currently between jobs.
Starting off on the right foot is essential for ongoing career success. When I began my current job in 2006, I bought and read an invaluable book called The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins. Anyone making a fresh start would be well-advised to buy his or her own copy of the book and study it.
The book lists 10 things you should accomplish during the first three months in your new job. Within the book each step is discussed in detail, but for your convenience I’ve summarized those steps here:
- Promote yourself. Mentally break away from the mindset of your old job and think of your new one as a promotion that will require new ways of achieving success.
- Accelerate your learning. The learning curve may be steep. There will be so much to learn in your new environment, so do everything you can to quickly absorb what you need to know.
- Match strategy to the situation. Diagnose the business situation accurately and then quickly develop a customized plan of action.
- Secure early wins. You need a few early successes to build credibility and to create momentum. Early on, identify ways to create value. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by Duane Hallock
April 7, 2010
Last week I was invited by a colleague to participate in the final round of interviews for a key position on her team. As I talked with the five finalists, I observed certain characteristics among those who interviewed exceptionally well. Afterward I jotted down a few notes that might be helpful to others who are preparing for a job interview.
First, be aware that by the time you are scheduled for an interview you have already cleared several hurdles. Apparently you said something in your cover letter to differentiate yourself from the herd of other applicants. The content of your resume indicates that you’ve met the essential criteria listed in the job description. Without question, the person interviewing you has already Googled your name to find any additional information contained in your digital footprint.
Congratulations! You’re on base and in scoring position. You haven’t yet crossed home plate, though, so here are my coaching tips. To emerge the winner, here are several items to remember:
- Be yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable “in your own skin” during the interview, that might be an indication that you won’t be comfortable in the job itself.
- Exchange enough information so both parties can make a rational decision about whether this will be a good match. Don’t think of the interview as “selling” yourself. Think of it as a first date where you’re just talking to see if there’s potential for a long-term relationship.
- Tell stories. Make them interesting. Make them brief. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Marketing Oneself | Tagged: cover letter, differentiation, job interview, Job Search, personal branding, resume | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
March 31, 2010
This week a headline on CNN grabbed my attention. It read, “Young job-seekers hiding their Facebook pages.”
My first thought was, “That’s pretty stupid!”
My second thought was, “If it’s not stupid, it’s at least naive.”
If you are looking for a job, you already have strong competition from other job seekers. Therefore, you need every available tool to differentiate yourself in a crowded job market. Facebook can be a very effective tool for branding yourself.
The CNN article began with the story of a college student who wanted “to keep his personal life (hidden) from potential employers while applying for summer internships.” I’d like to remind that young person that there is no shortage of people applying for those same internships. So, what sets him apart from all the others? How is he special? How is he differentiated?
The 2.0 world we live in requires authenticity and transparency. Those who are inexperienced in branding themselves naively believe they can present themselves in a one-dimensional way. Read the rest of this entry »
8 Comments | Marketing Oneself | Tagged: differentiation, Facebook, Job Search, personal branding, transparency | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
February 3, 2010
A friend of mine, Mark Whitaker, is an experienced market research professional. His official title is Strategic Research Consultant at The Kansas City Star.
That’s an impressive title, but what does it mean? What does he really do? What impact does he actually make?
In seven words on LinkedIn, Mark summarizes his job as “helping you find the information you need.”
I really like that “job description” for three reasons:
- It’s simple. I can understand it without having to translate industry jargon.
- It’s differentiating. It really describes what he does, not what his company or co-workers do.
- It’s outwardly focused. He describes what he does for others. He focuses on the benefits he provides, not the process involved. Read the rest of this entry »
6 Comments | Marketing Oneself | Tagged: communications, differentiation, fundraising, LinkedIn, marketing, nonprofit, personal branding | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
December 15, 2009
Good sales people know the difference between features and benefits. Often that makes the difference between making a sale or conceding defeat to a competitor.
Likewise, effective job seekers must also know the difference. That knowledge often determines who gets an interview and ultimately who snags the job offer.
Sadly, most job seekers focus only on features when they should be talking about benefits. So what’s the crucial difference?
Features Tell. Features are facts, the list of items on your resume that describe you. They provide basic information — Who you are. Where you’ve worked. Dates you were there. Job titles. Accomplishments. Education. Community involvement.
Benefits Sell. Benefits convert features into relevant information. Benefits describe the value that a potential employer might find in one of your features. A hiring manager is always asking questions such as — So what? How is this relevant? Why should I care? What can you do for me?
Features and benefits are both important. To be effective, though, you must lead with benefits and then follow up with features. Read the rest of this entry »
4 Comments | Marketing Oneself | Tagged: benefits, career transition, cover letter, features, Job Search, LinkedIn, marketing, personal branding, resume, sales | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
December 10, 2009
It’s tough looking for a job in December. I’ve been there, and I know it’s not fun being in a job search during the holidays.
Right now, I personally know at least three dozen people who are between jobs. Though they’ve remained positive during these stressful times, it’s very easy to become overwhelmed with fear and negativity. Few employers are hiring in December. The economy is still bad and who knows what the future holds. On top of that, personal finances are likely strained during this season of materialism and consumerism.
On the other side of the coin, though, the holiday season can actually be a deeply meaningful time for job hunting. Done rightly, December can be a time of renewal and rejuvenation as you anticipate all the good things awaiting you in the coming new year.
Here’s my advice to anyone feeling trapped in a holiday job search:
- Spend quality time with family and friends. A stressful career transition can refocus you on life’s true priorities—family and friends. Surround yourself with people who truly care about you and your well-being. Let them know how important they are to you.
- Reconnect with your existing network. Update your professional contacts on the progress (or lack of) you are making. Remind them what you’re looking for. Suggest simple ways they can help. Look for ways to express gratitude for things they have already done.
- Make new friends. The holidays are a good time to network and meet new people at parties, religious services or other social events.
- Rethink your strategy. From time to time, we all need to think about what we’re doing and why. For me, nothing works quite like sitting alone in a coffee shop. I can clear the clutter in my mind, filter out distractions and experience a surge of creativity. The change of venue gives me a fresh perspective. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Life in General, Marketing Oneself | Tagged: cover letter, Facebook, Google, holidays, Job Search, LinkedIn, networking, personal branding, resume, strategy | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
November 3, 2009
In these strange economic times, too many good people are unemployed. I’m grateful for my job, yet I know there’s no such thing as complete job security. This is a scary time, yet I fear something more frightful than unemployment.
I’m afraid of obsolescence—becoming obsolete, irrelevant and dispensable.
Every employee, every worker and every professional has an expiration date (and I don’t mean a date with death). Like milk in the grocery store, everyone has a “Best If Used By…” label. Everyone has a skill set, a knowledge base or a network of contacts that will be outdated very quickly in today’s fast-paced world. No one buys sours milk, no matter how fresh it once tasted. Neither do employers hire or retain obsolete workers, no matter how productive they once were.
Read the rest of this entry »
2 Comments | Life in General, Life's Transitions, Marketing Oneself | Tagged: blogs, Chris Brogan, Job Search, job security, mentors, new media, podcasts, Seth Godin, social media, strategy, Susan Bratton, traditional media, unemployment | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
October 29, 2009
When you’re looking for a job, everyone tells you to network.
Network! Network! Network!
That’s great advice, but it can be quite overwhelming and even intimidating.
A while back I was meeting with a young woman looking for her first job out of college. When I emphasized the importance of networking she said, “Everyone tells me to do that, but when I’m meeting with someone I don’t know what to say.”
I appreciated her candor, so I spent extra time helping her develop a networking agenda. After filtering out the noise and distractions, we realized there were only three things she needed to say in a face-to-face networking meeting. Likewise, your networking agenda can be as simple as these three items:
- Here’s who I am. Briefly describe yourself professionally.
- Here’s where I’m going. Describe your ideal job so the other person can visualize you being successful in the next phase of your career.
- Here’s how you can help. People want to help but usually they don’t know how. Give them a few simple things to do.
Organizing a networking meeting around these three points will give you the confidence you need to succeed.
As you move forward in your job search , you’ll also be making new friends and expanding your network of professional contacts.
1 Comment | Life in General, Marketing Oneself | Tagged: Job Search, networking | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
October 27, 2009
When looking for a job, you’ll find that most people want to help you. They just don’t know how. It’s your job to tell them what you need.
In planning for an upcoming networking meeting, here’s an idea: Have objectives! In other words, go into the meeting knowing what you want to get out of it. It’s not very difficult if you hang your requests on these three pegs:
- Feedback. Get the other person’s input on your resume, cover letter and job search strategies. Seek feedback on market conditions and other areas where the person has expertise or knowledge.
- Names. Ask for names of other individuals who might be helpful in your job search. Perhaps the other person will offer to introduce you to the new contact. Such introductions are especially beneficial. If you are going to contact the person directly, make sure you have permission prior to using someone’s names as a door-opener when introducing yourself.
- Follow-up. Ask the person if you can stay in touch. Who could deny such a request? Then, by all means, find ways to follow up. I’m dumbfounded by the number of people who look at a networking meeting as a one-time interaction rather than the beginning of professional relationship. You can stay connected via LinkedIn, e-mail, a handwritten thank you note, an in-person follow-up meeting or some other method of keeping the person updated on your status.
Look for ways to give something back. Any good relationship is always interactive and ongoing. Those who only take and never give back will never be successful networkers.
Those who view networking as a short-term means for getting a job will find the experience shallow and burdensome. However, those who see networking as a way of life—a way of staying connected with the world—will be rewarded in unexpected and inmeasurable ways.
Leave a Comment » | Life in General, Marketing Oneself | Tagged: cover letter, Job Search, networking, resume | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
Duane Hallock is a marketing guy who focuses on strategy before tactics, loves the social media revolution and believes our best days are yet to come.
