Networking Strategies – What is an Informational Interview?

If you haven’t read my previous posts about Networking, click on NETWORKING in the Categories section to your right! 

One of the best networking strategies is to conduct many informational interviews. 

What is an informational interview?
This is just is a fancy way of saying a meeting with someone who may be able to share insights or information with you that could help in your job search.

• You seek out the contact and issue an invitation to meet.
• You conduct the interview.  You ask the questions to help you learn about your potential career or organization.
• You decide what you need to know and tap the hidden job market.
• You draw conclusions.
• This is NOT a job interview. 

Why do informational interviews?
Informational interviews are the best ways for you to learn about an organization and/or gain insight and expertise from a professional whose opinion you value.  Other benefits include:

• Everyone you meet becomes a  member of your network.
• Your job prospects multiply exponentially!
• You may discover jobs that are not publicly advertised.
• If you endear yourself to someone, they are likely to think of you if a job becomes available.  People like to help others, especially if they had a good connection.  The more strong connections you make, the more friends you have in your field.

Stay tuned for more about informational interviews!

www.keppiecareers.com
We advise, encourage, enlighten!

Soft Skills for Your Job Search

Today’s post is from keppiecareers.com. Visit our Free Resume and Career Advice page for more useful information….

What are “Soft” Skills?

“Soft” skills, otherwise known as emotional intelligence, may make a difference between an employee who can do the job and one who does it well. Soft skills include: leadership, written and verbal communication, problem solving, motivation, interpersonal skills and creativity. Soft skills are transferable to any position; they do not rely on technical abilities. They are not skills typically taught in classrooms. (Although some business school programs are incorporating training in emotional intelligence to give their students a competitive edge.)

Take a look at this soft skills (emotional IQ) test that you can take on line to get a sense of how your skills rate.

Some recruiters believe that soft skills make the difference between the candidate who is hired and the second choice applicant. Employers today seek flexibility, teamwork and integrity. They realize that someone who communicates well and has a strong work ethic makes a good employee. As a result, incorporating these skills on your resume may make the difference between getting an interview and getting passed over.

The key is to incorporate soft skills with specifics that SHOW your abilities. For example:

Before:
Excellent oral and written communication skills.

After:
Wrote and presented successful training sessions to 200 telephone operators, resulting in measurable gains in company’s ordering efficiency.

The first bullet begs the question: Prove it! The “after” bullet leaves no room for doubt: This applicant can communicate verbally (in front of a group) and in writing.

Selected Soft Skills List

approachable
business acumen
charisma
communication
composure
conflict management
creativity
crisis management
critical thinking
decision making
dedication
empathy
energetic
ethical
flexibility
hard working
honesty
humor
ideas
initiative
inspire others
instincts
integrity
interpersonal skills
leadership
listening
management
morale building
motivational
multicultural sensitivity
multi-task
organizational
passionate
personality
planning
poise
problem solving
professional
public speaking
reasoning
research
respect for others
self confident
self-motivated
sensitivity
supervisory
take constructive criticism
team building
team leadership
team player
time management
verbal
visionary
work well under pressure
writing

Keppie Careers suggests incorporating specific soft skills in your resume. Think about the attributes that make you a strong employee, person and friend. Plan to be able to elaborate and describe these skills in an interview.

If you want to receive free up-to-date tips to help with your job hunt, Click here to subscribe to receive future blogs sent directly to you!

Keppie Careers will help you identify your skills and get you on the way to job search success.  From a great resume to step-by-step job hunting assistance – Keppie Careers is here for you! www.keppiecareers.com.

Networking “HOWs” – Virtual Networking

If you haven’t read my previous blogs about networking, look at the “Categories” section to your right and click on “Networking.”

Practical Tips to Help Optimize Your Online Network 

The possibilities to connect are endless:  Blogs, networking sites such as linkedin.com and large and small social networks provide opportunities to “meet” professionals from every industry.  How should you take advantage of the possibilities?

Blogs
Identify the key bloggers in your industry.  Who has their finger on the pulse of your working world?  Read their blogs and, whenever possible, make intelligent comments and suggestions.  Simply agreeing or saying “nice post” doesn’t count!  Take some time to try to add to the conversation.  When you become a regular contributor, you will begin to form a community of people who recognize you and value your opinions.

Consider authoring your own blog!  The Wall Street Journal article, How Blogs are Changing the Recruiting Landscape, reports that one recruitment manager spends one to two hours a week searching blogs for potential hires.  In three years, blogs helped him fill 125 corporate jobs. Only take this on if you are willing to work at putting together something professional.  If your blog is sloppily done, it could hurt you.  Blogging about your industry can be a great way to gain a positive reputation.

Organize a Social Network 
If you have the time, consider organizing a social networking site online.  It could be an offshoot of another site or in response to your in-person networking.  If you see a need or a niche, taking the time and effort to fill it may get you noticed!

Linkedin
This site is a goldmine of information, networking resources and potential job opportunities.

Industry Specific Groups
Consider joining several industry specific networking groups.   This association  directory can help get you thinking about organizations in your arena.

Etiquette 
As you join social networks, chat rooms and groups, be sure to observe (lurk) before you chime in with your 2 cents worth.  You will come across more professionally if you understand the etiquette of a site before you inject your opinions.

Don’t forget that networking isn’t only about what you can get from others.  What goes around comes around – be sure that you make the effort to extend yourself in your networks.  Help someone else!  Provide a suggestion, a resource or an answer to a question.  If nothing else, it is good karma! 

Your Reputation
As you put your name out there, be sure to keep track of how you are being indexed in search engines.  Google your name.  If anything negative comes up,  Lindsey Pollak’s  blog suggests checking out  reputationdefender.com.  This company promises to get rid of unflattering online content.  Since many employers are supplementing reference checks with online searches, this may be a valuable tool. 

Another great idea from Lindsey’s blog is to sign up for Google Alerts on your name. Google will e-mail you every time you are  indexed, and you can keep track of your virtual reputation.

Consider the following tips that apply both to on- and off-line networking: 

• Don’t wait until you are looking for a job to begin networking.
• All leads are worth pursuing.
• Set networking goals.  Prioritize and focus. 
• Stay organized. Keep track of contacts, what you have learned and who referred you where.  (This can be especially important in the online world, where networks will intertwine.) 
• Research and be prepared.
• Always send a thank you note to everyone who helps you.  Cyberspace contacts appreciate knowing they had a positive impact, even if their comments or suggestions were not targeted to you.  If someone’s blog or suggestion helps you, let them know!
• Write professionally.  Spell check and use proper grammar.
• Be genuine, enthusiastic and confident in all networking communications.
• Keep adding to your contact list and continue networking, even when you have a job.

Stay tuned for how to optimize your in-person career networking! 

keppiecareers.com…We advise, encourage, enlighten!

Networking: Obstacles and Shy Networkers

If you missed the post Networking: Who, What, When, Where and Why?, you may want to read it first!  In summary, networking is your best tool to find a job and to find information that you’ll need to land a job.  Even if you realize that networking is important, it can still be intimidating…

Obstacles to Networking 

I don’t like to ask for help…

Many ask me, “Isn’t this about “using” people?” 
Networking is not about using people; it’s about plugging into the job market.  When you network, you are looking for information and advice from those who know it best. Most people can and will provide helpful answers to your questions and guidance, and are only too glad to do so if asked the right way.

I’m just not an outgoing person…
That’s okay! You don’t have to change your personality type to be successful at networking. The goal is to project a confident, articulate and professional demeanor. If you prepare yourself to be confident about your goals and skills, you should be able to better project confidence and professionalism in your own way.

Some Suggestions:
· Role play – Practice “working a room” and chit-chatting
· Prepare things to talk about in advance in social situations
· Have a list of questions or topics to discuss
· RESEARCH - What you need to know and who knows it?
 
What’s the worst thing that can happen?
Maybe you’ll encounter someone who won’t want to help you. That’s okay.  Ideally, you’ll ask them if they can suggest someone else who may be able to answer some questions for you.  Most of the time, you will at least be able to get a referral from someone who isn’t interested in  helping! Don’t let fear or shyness get in the way of your job search.

Shy or Introverted Networkers
There are some terrific points for shy or introverted networkers on Lindsey Pollak’s blog.  Lindsey is the author of Getting from College to Career.  Her ideas apply to all potential networkers.  The advice (above) about networking encourages shy people to act outgoing.  Lindsey’s article,  Why Shy People Make Great Networkers reminds these networkers of their great innate traits.

In summary, shy and introverted people ask for personal referrals, tend to be polite, are good listeners, bring a friend to networking events and leverage their on-line contacts – all great indicators of a successful networker! (Thanks, Lindsey for those timely points!)

Cultural Factors
In the U.S, contacting people you may not know for information is acceptable and expected. However, in other cultures, even the most polite networking may be considered rude and disrespectful. If your cultural assumptions prohibit networking, and you are looking for a job in the U.S., you may want to work with a trusted friend or adviser to strategize about how you can take advantage of networking. For those networking with people of various cultures, remember how cultural differences influence communication.

Stay tuned for specific, practical networking strategies in the next installment in the Networking series

Need help with your job search?  Keppie Careers will write your resume, teach you how to network and guide you every step of the way.  Let us know how we can help:  results@keppiecareers.com.

More on Networking: Who, What, When, Where and Why!

Finding a job may seem overwhelming.

You need to:

• Know what you want to do. 
• Create a great resume that shows how you can do it. 
• Find opportunities that may not be advertised.
• Generate opportunities for yourself that may not exist otherwise!

That is where networking comes in.  Networking recognizes that relationships are the crux of the job search.  Employers prefer to hire people whom they like, or people their friends or colleagues admire.   Job searchers need to put themselves in the position of being that person!

Don’t forget – approximately 80% of jobs are NOT filled through job postings.  They are filled via networking.  Google it.  Convinced?
 
How do you get started?

First of all, please start networking before you are looking for a job!  Don’t wait another minute!

Many think of networking as something that happens on-line.  I’ve been amazed at the connections available on LinkedIn, and other social networking sites like facebook or myspace, used correctly, may open doors.  Take advantage of all of your virtual resources.  Keep in mind that networking happens in person, too!  Don’t forget:

• Relatives
• Friends (especially those in the workplace)
• Friends of friends
• Professors and Deans
• Former employers and co-workers
• Neighbors and acquaintances
• Alumni (of undergraduate and graduate schools)

 Where/When should I network?

• Professional associations/conferences
• Work events and meetings, social and professional
• Classes
• Alumni events
• Social events
• Community events
• Elevators — collect business cards
• Airplanes
• Anywhere, all of the time!

Stay tuned for Networking:  Obstacles and Shy Networkers and Networking Strategies.

 keppiecareers.com…We advise, encourage, enlighten!

Are you a workaholic?

In Five Signals that You May Be a Workaholic, an article by Dana Mattioli for Career Journal.com,, she outlines several criteria to help determine if you are, indeed, a workaholic, or if you are just doing your job.  The criteria: 

1. You are preoccupied with work.  You are always dwelling on your job and can’t “turn it off” in social situations.
2. You don’t like to delegate.  This is a control issue.  You’re afraid that letting someone else take responsibility would indicate that other people can actually get the job done.
3. You neglect other parts of your life.  Family and social relationships suffer because you are so immersed with work.
4. You try to combine work into other parts of your life.  For example, you hire friends or relatives to work for you or use vacations as opportunities to pursue work activities.
5. You sneak work! (Like one might sneak chocolate to avoid sharing it with one’s children…Not that I would know anything about that personally.)

The New York Times weighs in as well.  Their column, When Hard Work Becomes Overwork,by Phyllis Korkki, touches on the similarities between workaholics and alcoholics.  She describes stress and mental and physical damage (to workaholics and their employees).  Workaholics aren’t even necessarily more productive than other workers.  In fact, they may  inadvertantly be creating the problems they thought they were solving “to provide the endless thrill of more work.”

So,  here you are, giving your lifeblood to your career, sacrificing everything – relationships, hobbies, free time – and your organization may actually think that you are the problem!  Sad, but true.

It may be time to reevaluate.  Look at yourself and your work objectively.  If you are a workaholic, it may be time to step back and make some changes  You may need some professional help to overcome a work addiction..  Is a new career in order?  Maybe.  Evaluating your options and reviewing your resume can’t hurt.  A transfer or new assignment may be in order.  If this sounds like you, the new year is a perfect time to think about making a change. 

keppiecareers.com…We advise, encourage, enlighten!

To thine own self be true…

It’s more than just a line from Shakespeare!  Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone who worked had the luxury of spending their work hours doing something that they enjoyed and was true to their values and skills?   If you are considering a new career, have you done any thinking about how that career intersects with who you are (or want to be)?

Focusing your your values is one way to help direct your search.  Check out the University of Minnesota’s Values Inventory to get you thinking about your values and what you really want in terms of work.

Another strategy is to focus on skills.  So many job seekers can’t really identify what they have to offer in the way of skills.  This is a real problem when it comes to the self-marketing, self-selling and interviewing aspects of the job search.  I’ve said it before:  If you don’t know what you have to offer, who does? 

There are many ways to approach figuring out your skills.  There is a basic one that I advise my clients to consider:  look at a skills list.  Highlight all of the skills you’ve EVER used or could remotely be related to you.  Then, go back and check off the skills that really resonate and feel like “you.”  This is a basic, not time consuming and free way to get you thinking about  your skills.

Another suggestion is to use an on-line skills profiler tool.  This instrument  allows you to identify and match skills used in a variety of different jobs with specific occupations.  You can search by skills or start with occupations.  This tool may give you some new ways of thinking about how you can use your transferable skills.

Personality and occupational tests are tools to help focus your plans.  John Holland’s Occupational Test functions on the belief that people who have similar interests may prefer the same types of work environments.  It aims to categorize your interests, abilities and personality into themes that may then be grouped to target careers.  This is one of many personality driven assessments available that may help focus your goals.

Don’t just sit and watch the calendar fly by this year!  Take the time to consider what you really want in a career and then take the steps to get there! 

keppiecareers.com…We advise, encourage, enlighten!

Transferable Skills

It is so important for you to know what you have to offer when you are looking for a job!  Transferable skills are a great avenue for marketing yourself into a new job or career.  These skills, when used to your advantage, can open doors and present opportunities that may have seemed unattainable.

Keppie Careers’ “Free Career Advice” has an article that describes transferable skills and offers a link to an assessment to help you figure out what you have to offer.  I hope you’ll take a look!  You may be surprised to realize all that you have to offer.

keppiecareers.com…We advise, encourage, enlighten!

Best Careers and Unemployment

It’s not great news for the US economy…Numbers show that unemployment is at a 2-year high.  In December, the economy only added 18,000 jobs instead of the 70,000 predicted.  These are the worst numbers reported since August 2003.

If you are in the construction, manufacturing and retail sectors, these are not good times for your industry.   Health care and professional services did much better, gaining jobs.

As you think about “A New Career for a New Year,” consider reviewing US News & World Report’s “Best Careers for 2008.”  Some of their selections may surprise you.  Consider if angling toward a career predicted to have a rosier future might be right for you.   (Keeping in mind that not all predictions actually come true!)   What are your transferable skills?  Could you use them to market yourself into a whole new career? 

This is a great time for some self-searching and research.  Maybe it is time for a whole new direction!

keppiecareers.com…We advise, encourage, enlighten!

What are you offering?

It may be tough to think about yourself as a commodity – something to sell, like you might sell a car or a television.  Let’s face it, though, it is a tough job market, and if you can create a pitch for yourself, you will have a leg up on the competition.

A simple task for today – ask yourself:  Why hire me?

A more difficult task – ANSWER!

If you don’t know, who does?

Stay tuned for more on marketing yourself into a new career….

 keppiecareers.com…We advise, encourage, enlighten!