You live what you believe!

A principle that's true in every area of your life is:

You live what you believe!

The reality is, most everyone says they believe certain things, however, their lives demonstrate something else. They may say they believe it's best to live a life with no debt, and maybe think they really mean that. However their credit cards have high balances from month-to-month with no sign of changing. They may say they believe in monogamous marriage relationships, however, allow themselves to become involved with someone other than their spouse. They may say they believe in living a life of integrity. However, their actions point to something else.

Similarly, someone may say they believe networking is a critical piece of an effective job search. However, they make little or no effort to do it. Why is that?

The evidence is readily available… each year studies are done by CareerXRoads, and others that show that, by far the number one source of hires is Referrals and other forms of Networking! Yet the evidence doesn't convince a majority of job seekers to spend time networking instead of sitting in front of a computer perusing postings online.

In so many instances, they actually believe that… "it might work for others, but my situation is different"… and so they don't do it. People live what they actually believe. In my 25 years of recruiting, and nearly 10 years of job search coaching, I have yet to see a single case where networking is not likely to be beneficial in someone's job search.

Reaching out, connecting, asking for referrals, and following the trail of one connection to another, to another always add great value to the job search process. Even when it doesn't produce the job, the process increases your knowledge of the market and other opportunities, it improves your communication and interview skills for when you are in front of a real hiring manager, and has many additional benefits as well.

When someone finally really believes that networking will be the difference maker in their search, they determine to over come their fears and objections and get to it. I've seen it over and over again.

So what do you really believe? Do you see the value in your own circumstances and believe it will make a difference? If so, get to it! Live what you believe!

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How Employers Hear Your "True Stories"

Most people have some point in their career where they have legitimate grievances about a previous company, boss, co-worker, or corporate culture. Every company, even the best ones, are imperfect and can’t be ideal for every personality or work style. Every company and every boss has ‘wronged’ certain employees at times. Sometimes it happens out of bad faith from an individual, or often it happens because of other factors or circumstances but without ill intent.

How you relate your bad experience to a potential employer in an interview, however, can have a great impact on your chances of being chosen to move forward in the hiring process.

Whether you like it or not, or think it’s fair or not, an interviewer generally will naturally take your employers side in the stories you relate. Anyone who has been in a supervisory or managerial role for any length of time, comes to realize that there are always two sides to every story. And while they certainly realize that an employee may have legitimate complaints, the tendency is to wonder what the other side of the story might be.

That’s why job search coaches will consistently tell you to never bash or criticize previous employers. It almost never results in a good outcome for you. Yet… it’s one of the most common mistakes people make in job interviews.

The ‘wound’ is usually ingrained in them, and given the least bit of opportunity, it will open up. Regardless of how well the story is spun, though, it will likely raise concerns or questions about the other side.

Describing how a project failed because…

“objectives and milestones weren’t well defined for me”

or how your previous manager and you had…

“differing opinions about how to deal with customers”,

may be true stories, but may be interpreted in potentially negative ways. It would be natural for the interviewer to muse…

“I wonder how their previous boss views what happened.”

Furthermore, it can be viewed as if you are trying to avoid any personal responsibility and pointing the finger elsewhere. Candidates that take personal responsibility are always refreshing… because they are relatively rare! You could frame those same stories as…

“The project failed because I didn’t make sure I had objectives and milestones clearly defined for me. It was a great lesson to learn and a mistake I certainly won’t let happen again.”

Or…

“My manager and I had differing views on how to deal with customers, and I didn’t creatively come up with a resolution that would satisfy us both. The experience has taught me how to be more solution oriented.”

The resulting response from an interviewer is likely to be much more positive. They don’t expect to hire someone that has never made mistakes. They would like to find someone that takes responsibility, learns from their mistakes, and can progress.

As you describe your background and experience to potential employers, be sure to consider how it may sound to their ears. Show that you are someone that takes responsibility and learns from your mistakes. It will reflect on you much more positively and your results are likely to improve.

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Dealing with Under-Employment

I received an email from someone struggling to find the kind of job they want. It's a struggle that's all too common these days. Under-employment is working in a position below one's qualifications. Not at all an unusual circumstance in today's job market.

The email, edited to preserve their anonymity…

I am certified in Early Childhood Education but have not ever been able to get a job in the public school system. Somewhere I think I lost my window of opportunity. I worked in several private schools and have subbed in public schools but have never been able to get a full-time job. The economy has had a major impact on education. I (am working in an unrelated position) and am grateful that I currently have a job; however, I am not happy. It is so hard to work at a job where you feel like you don’t belong or you are not happy.

I feel like I am wasting my college degree. I do love working with children and I miss their little faces. I am simply at a loss for what to do.

It certainly can be frustrating not to be able to find a position relevant to your training and interests. However, with a good job search plan, there can certainly be hope of landing in a more satisfying role. Consider some challenges and some suggestions…

Time is precious. Searching for a new job is usually a time-consuming process. It can be a challenge to find enough time to get everything done even when you're unemployed. It's a far greater challenge when you're currently in a job. In addition to your normal workday, you have to find time to do networking, make phone calls, search for opportunities, meet with new contacts, go to interviews, and follow up. While time management is important when you're unemployed, it's even more critical when you're trying to find a new job while you're employed.

Plan your work and work your plan. In order to make the most of the time you do have available, it's crucial that you create a plan for your days and weeks and follow through on your plan. Use Calendars, Task Lists, and Reminders to make sure you accomplish all that you need to.

Refine your focus and your story. People can help you best when they can easily understand what you're target is, and how you're qualified for it. When you network with people, it's important that you can easily articulate those things to them. Are you seeking a public school position, or private school opportunity? Do you specialize in Elementary or Secondary education levels? What education, training, and experience have you had that qualifies you for those roles? What skills have you developed in your other work experience that better prepare you for the positions you seek? Dwelling on the unrelated experience you've had creates doubt in your qualifications. Be clear and polish your "Elevator Pitch" for your networking conversations.

Connect, don't simply apply. While most teaching opportunities will certainly require that you apply through their standard process, it's critical to also reach out and talk to as many people as you can. Compared to other applicants whose resumes and applications may seem more directly qualified based on prior teaching job history, you will likely come up short by simply applying and hoping for a call. By finding and talking to as many people within the schools or administration as you can, whether they are directly related to the hiring process or not, will set you apart from the majority of other candidates who don't. Call and meet with people, presenting yourself professionally and asking questions about the culture, the opportunities, advice on how to set yourself apart, how they arrived in their own positions, and who else would be worthwhile for you to talk to. Never apply, and wait. Be proactive, and connect with people!

Connect the dots. Whether it's in your resume, in your networking conversations, in your applications, or in any other aspect of your search, it's crucial that your audience can easily understand how your education and experience fills the need in the position you are pursuing. As you refine your focus and your story, think with the perspective of the employer rather than your own. They are far more interested in finding someone that can succeed in the role they have open than in fulfilling your hopes or desires. Too often candidates articulate more about what they want rather than how they fulfill the employers' requirements. Focus on connecting the dots between your qualifications and their requirements and you'll stand out.

Be patient. When you have less time in the day available for your job search, and when your work history is not an obvious fit for the job you want, it will very likely take more time to land in the role you'd like. Allowing yourself to get frustrated and depressed will only be destructive to your search. Giving yourself grace, plugging on, and managing your emotions in this roller-coaster process is key. Being patient, and continuing to work at it diligently will ultimately pay off.

While being under-employed can certainly be a challenge… it's not a terminal condition. Taking deliberate action and being patient can get you to your goal!

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Good Company - Bad Company

As I talk to countless job seekers as a recruiter, and through the job networking groups I lead, it's common to hear people say something like…

I wouldn't want to pursue a job at that company, I hear it's a terrible place to work!

…and they exclude opportunities from that organization because of their preconceptions.

I'm disappointed when I hear that kind of thing, because I think that very often people miss out on what could be a tremendous opportunity for themselves.

As I've talked to people that work at many different organizations over the years, I've learned that very often, what is one person's Hell is another person's Heaven!

Here are some observations, and ways to figure out if a company may be right for you, or not:

Don't believe everything your hear! Very often people will form an opinion about a company after hearing one person complain about their experience there. As with a lot of things in life… there are two sides to every story. It's very possible that any one individual may have a bad experience, however, they may be largely culpable for that as well. Furthermore, the larger the company, the higher likelihood of hearing more negative stories, yet they may still be tiny minority compared to the vast majority of happy employees. It's also not uncommon to hear a negative story after a bad day… yet they are generally happy with their employer. Be careful about making sweeping generalizations about a company based on a few anecdotes.

Don't judge the macro based on the micro! The larger the organization, the more people's impression of the company varies based on where they sit. A company's culture can vary dramatically between facilities, divisions, lines of business, department, or even individual managers. A person reporting to a poor manager in one location might have a very different view of the company than someone reporting to a great manager in a different location. Resist making broad judgments on one set of circumstances.

Consider the nature of the complaint! Organizational cultures are as different as individual peoples' personalities. Not every employee is motivated, inspired, driven, challenged, or responsive in the same way. Some prefer independence and freedom to do their jobs as they see fit. Others prefer structure and clear expectations laid out to be sure they are doing the right thing. Neither is inherently better than the other, just different. Someone that works best with structure, will often feel stressed and as if they are floundering when they are in an environment that expects employees to figure things out for themselves. Conversely, someone that prefers freedom will feel micro-managed when tasks are spelled out to them in detail and constant reporting is expected of them. Someone working in a mis-matched culture is likely to view the company negatively compared to someone whose own preferences match the organizational style.

My observation over the years has been that even companies with widely negative reputations, have employees that absolutely love working there. And conversely, even companies with excellent reputations have very disgruntled employees. (by the way… I've always wondered what a "gruntled" employee is… but that's off point)

So… how do you figure out if it's right for you?

Know yourself! Before you can judge whether a corporate culture is a good match for you or not, you have to know what kind of culture you work in best. Evaluate your own personality traits, strengths and weaknesses. Think about the kinds of managers you've had where you've performed at your best… and the kinds of managers that brought out your worst. Do you prefer to be an individual producer, or part of a team? Do you like structure, or freedom? Do you consider yourself a hard-charger, or steady producer? The more you understand about your own characteristics, the easier it is to identify a fit.

Interview the company! Too often, job candidates view the interview process only as a means for the company to determine if they are a good fit for the job or not. The best interviews, however, are a two-way street. The more questions and dialog you engage in the process, the better the impression you make. They see the sincere curiosity from you and view that as a greater interest in the job. However, it's also the primary way you can judge whether that organization is the place you would like to work and where you can be successful. Ask multiple people their opinions about culture, management styles, team make-up, work expectation, and anything else relevant to your decision making process. Never allow an interview to only be a one way question and answer process.

Check online! These days, there are tremendous resources available to easily gather information than there has ever been. Online sites like Glassdoor.com can provide a wealth of information and see what other people think. Google-ing the company can turn up a great deal of information as well. Be very discerning about what your read though. Realize that people are always more likely to post negative information online than they are to post something positive. Generally, when people are happy, they don't write about it. It's much more likely for someone that's miserable to post a rant. Reading as much as you can find though, looking for consistent themes, can give you a more reliable impression. Keeping in mind, that a negative complaint from one personality type can still be a positive attribute for another personality type.

Never be too quick to decide a particular company is not for you. Do your own homework, and you may find that what was someone else's purgatory, may just be your paradise!

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Task Lists and Calendars

A job search can, at times, become overwhelming with all the things that need to get done! That point had become very real to me the last couple of weeks as my schedule has become crazy with my business, in addition to outside and family obligations. Unfortunately things fall behind and fall through the cracks… like writing my weekly posts!

The same is true when you're searching for a job. Applications, customizing your resume, networking, informational meetings, job interviews, follow up thank you notes and so many other things seem like they all need to get done right now, and there's not enough hours in the day to do them. Opportunities can be lost if the appropriate things don't get done on time.

So how do you manage them? And how can you become more productive?

Everyone has to find what works best for them, however, for me… it's a matter of becoming more disciplined with my Task Lists and Calendars!

There are countless tools available online, on your desktop computer, for your wall, or on paper. Everyone has preferences as to what works best for them… however, my tools of choice have simply been Microsoft Outlook, and printed lists. 

One at a time! The most successful process for me to get the most done, is to focus on one task at a time until it's completed. As much as possible, I resist the urge to jump to something else… like following up on email, checking news online, or switching to another project. I get more tasks completed faster when I take attack them one by one, rather than trying to do several simultaneously. Sometimes circumstances demand multi-tasking, but it typically slows things down, even while it feels more productive while I'm juggling several objectives.

Prioritize! To be most effective in doing one task at a time, it's important to determine which is the most important task. Which one will have the greatest impact? Which has the soonest deadline? Which have I made commitments for? Which can I knock off the quickest? Which will I be happiest to get done and off my list? Figuring out which ones to focus on first, second, and third makes me much more effective each day.

Set aside the time! In order to get each task accomplished, I have to have the time available to do it. I use my calendar to block out time to get various objectives done. Without intentionally setting the time aside, it's very easy for me to procrastinate and get distracted with other 'busyness'. Using my calendar proactively helps me focus and be more productive.

Evaluate, Execute, Repeat! As your day or week goes on, priorities and circumstances change. New opportunities and tasks arise, and others become less important in comparison. As each task is completed, take a moment to re-evaluate if your list is still in the best order of priority. Make adjustments as necessary and dive into the next task in the #1 spot. Sticking to an list under changing circumstances may result in missed opportunities, be sure to re-evaluate regularly… AFTER completing the task you're working on.

All the tasks that come at you during a job search can certainly become overwhelming. Having a plan and knocking them off one by one can give you confidence and reduce stress. Use your task lists, calendars, or what ever tools work best for you to take control of the challenge!

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