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The bottom line on networking

When it comes to networking, think of an onion.  Like the aromatic onion, your networking strategy works best when you peel back a layer at a time.  When you network effectively, you ‘peel back’ layers and layers of people to get to the heart of what you’re looking for – if you stop at the first layer, you may not get what you need.

 

With that brilliant analogy, I will assume that you’ve already peeled back the first layer of your job search onion and that your friends and family already know what kind of job you are looking for because you’ve told them.  However, unless one of them has pulled a nifty job out of a hat for you, it’s time to move on to the next layer.  In other words, think of layers of circles of people with whom you’d like to connect. Your layer system might look like this:

 

Layer 1: Contact friends, family.(and their friends)

Layer 2: Reach out to alumni from undergraduate, MBA programs. (and their friends)

Layer 3: Contact referrals from professors on campus.(and their friends)

And so on…

 

Words to live by: You may spend several days, weeks, even months ‘working the layers.’  The fact is, people are busy, and we simply aren’t their first priority. Don’t take this personally or feel bad when your calls don’t get returned or people don’t get back to you. It happens to the best of us! 

 

But don’t wait around for people to call you back.  Remember, most of us have to pull back multiple layers in order to land opportunities – you may have to peel back more layers than you think, since onions tend to be big in tough economies.  By working from a ‘layer’ system, you’ll (hopefully) be in the position of never having to make a cold call. Some of your calls may be lukewarm, but you’ll always have a connection between you and the person you’re reaching out

Posted in Career Development, Career Purpose, Career Success, Job Search, Job Search in a Tough Economy, Jobs after Graduation, Networking. Tagged with , .

By Elizabeth Freedman
Wednesday, February 24, 2010

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You’re not an employee, you’re a guest

Here’s something that has been forgotten, overlooked – or just simply unrealized in the workplace: You’re a guest.  Think about it:  You’re an intern, employee, freelancer or anything else at the invitation of your employer.  And, if you can be invited, you can be uninvited, too. 

 

Our goal?  To be great guests, naturally.  After all, if you’re at a dinner party and dazzle your companions with your witty banter and funny jokes, you know it’s only a matter of time before you’re swamped with invitations – because we all want to have people we know, like, and trust at our gatherings.  The same rule applies in the workplace – because people do business with people they know, like, and trust.

 

So, are you a great guest on the job?  Are you known?  (How is your networking going these days?)  Are you liked?  (How are you building relationships with clients over the long-term?)  Are you trusted?  (What would your boss, your clients, your coworkers say about you?)

 

Chances are good that most of us already think that we are fine guests.  We assume that if we weren’t, someone would tell us.  Careful, there – after all, if one of your dinner guests got mud all of your white carpet, are you really going to call him up the next day to tell him how annoyed you are?  Don’t assume that anyone will tell you that your guest skills aren’t up to snuff – it’s up to you to ask (delicately), get feedback (graciously), and make improvements (consistently).  Great guests are made, not born – it’s up to us to become them.

Posted in Career Development, Career Purpose, Dumb Career Mistakes, Job Search, Jobs after Graduation. Tagged with , , , .

By Elizabeth Freedman
Wednesday, February 24, 2010

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More job search advice for non-native English speakers

One issue that often comes up with international students and professionals who are in the midst of a job search is leaving a voice mail.  How do you leave a voice mail that really gets your message across? What should you say when you leave a voice mail?  The truth is, as long as you are polite, brief, and professional, you should be fine. For non-native English speakers, it is highly recommended that you practice leaving your voice mail before you actually do it! In fact, if you can leave a voice mail on a friend’s machine (preferably a native English-speaking friend) and ask him to evaluate it, even better.  Or, why don’t you ask someone within your career services office to evaluate your voice mail? (Remember – they are here to help you!)

 

This may seem like a lot of extra work over nothing, but for international students who are not always comfortable speaking over the phone, leaving a bad voice mail after a good email is so very unfortunate.  In doing so, you’ve wasted all that precious time and effort you’ve put into gathering names and sending out emails. Take the time to leave a professional voice mail, I beg of you!

Posted in Career Development, Career Purpose, Career Success, Dumb Career Mistakes, International Professionals, Interns and Interships, Jobs after Graduation.

By Elizabeth Freedman
Wednesday, February 24, 2010

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Job search advice to non-native English speakers

Fair or not, it’s going to be tougher for you to get a job than your American counterparts. There are several reasons why, including the tighter restrictions on H1-B visas, and the fact that American recruiters may not feel entirely confident in your English skills, your ability to adjust to American culture, and so on.  This doesn’t mean that finding a job is impossible for you (or easy for your American peers), but just be prepared for a few extra hills in that marathon of yours.

Your Solution: Know More Than They Do

 

What is the best thing you can do to fight back in a tough job search world?  Become an expert!  Despite the incredible effort and energy international students and professionals have devoted to getting into business school and coming to the United States to study or work, some know little to nothing about what is involved in obtaining an H1-B visa, which is what a company will need to obtain if you’re going to become their full-time, long-term employee in the United States.

 

Instead, students and professionals expect or assume that their schools and future employers will deal with the paperwork, lawyers, and other immigration issues that typically come up when an American company wants to hire a non-U.S. citizen.  This is a no-no, mon ami.

 

Many employers are under the impression that it’s really difficult to “sponsor” an employee. This is really tragic, because it is one of the primary reasons why companies won’t even consider interviewing international students, and consequently, you will get overlooked for jobs that you’d otherwise be qualified for. The truth is that it is far less difficult and less expensive to hire an international student than they think. The very large, global employers are educated about this process – but many of the medium-sized or smaller companies may not understand what is involved in hiring a non-U.S. citizen. (By the way, these are the companies I recommend you go after – because there is less competition and greater flexibility inside the organization. In particular, seek out employers who have hired other people from your country of origin so there is already a process in place.) 

 

 By becoming an expert in everything H1-B, you will be smooth as silk when the whole ‘sponsorship’ issue comes us.  Rather than avoid the question, “Are you authorized to work in the United States?”  you’ll answer confidently knowing that you’ve got plenty of information and solutions to help any potential employer deal with the paperwork and perceive obstacle of hiring

Posted in Career Development, Career Purpose, Career Success, International Professionals, Interns and Interships, Job Search, Job Search in a Tough Economy, Unemployment. Tagged with , .

By Elizabeth Freedman
Wednesday, February 24, 2010

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Getting other people to see what you’re capable of

You’ve heard the expression, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.  Here’s a new expression to consider:  It’s not what you know, it’s who you know, and who knows you and what you’re capable of.  So, who knows you and what you’re capable of?  If you’re not being used to your fullest potential at work or by your clients, it’s because other people don’t know what you’re really capable of.

 

 Don’t think that telling your clients what else you can do for them is necessarily enough– you need a new way of reaching out to your existing network, establishing new networks, and approaching the ‘capabilities equation,’ so that you are doing (and getting paid for) what you truly want.

 

Here’s the bottom line: Most people operate under the ‘I’ll believe it when I see it,” mindset.  You can tell a recruiter you’re God’s gift to writing brochures until you’re blue in the face.  But it isn’t until you wave your brilliant brochure in front of them that they start to see the light.

 

Think about ways that you can create ‘output’ – tangible, real, demonstrable ways of showing others what you’re capable of.  If output for a chef is a soufflé, what would output be for you?  Start to think about how you can create some now (by the way, output for me might be a book, my blog, a new speech) – so that you show and tell people what your talents are.

Posted in Career Development, Career Purpose, Career Success, Job Search, Job Search in a Tough Economy, Life on the Job, Networking, Self-assessment, Unemployment, Women's Career Success. Tagged with , , .

By Elizabeth Freedman
Wednesday, February 24, 2010

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Smart tips for completing your own self-assessment at work

It’s review time at the office and your boss has asked you to complete a self-assessment – those forms that ask you to rate yourself on your own work performance.  Here’s where you’re going to have to walk the gauntlet like never before. After all, you’re being asked to step back and consider how your work on the product launch, or office reorg,  “exceeded” or “met” expectations (or, God forbid, only met the “minimum” requirement) – no easy task.  Here’s how to cope:

Who thinks up these forms, anyway? Is it me – or is there really anyone out there who is willing to admit on paper, in writing, for the world and your boss to see, that he or she performed at a “minimal” level?  Let’s get real – when you know that this self-assessment stuff is going to be read by the boss, and may even help determine what kind of raise you’re going to get, most of us tend to be very generous with ourselves.  Was I an outstanding team player?  Why yes, I was.  Did I embody the core values of my company?  Absolutely!  In fact, I’m a huge asset to this organization, which is why I’ll be checking off “exceeds expectations” across the board, thank you very much.  I may sound pompous, but I’m not a complete idiot. 

Remember, you’re being assessed on how you fill out your self-assessment, and no matter how great you are, it’s probably safe to assume that you’re stronger in some areas than others.  The last thing you want to do is send the message to your boss that you lack, shall we say, a certain self-awareness, so eat a little humble pie.  Even if you ‘tried really hard’ and put forth tons of effort, you’re being evaluated on performance, not personality, so look at where you really did deliver the goods.  Use hard data, if you can, to back up your assessment, so that you have numbers and quantifiable information to point to if needed. 

 

Understand what the ratings mean.  Some of us assume that “exceeds expectations” (or whatever equivalent your company uses) is like getting an A in school, and that any other rating we give ourselves represents a B, C or worse.  But in most cases, the fact that you were able to meet expectations is an A, and exceeding them might be considered an A+.  For instance, if you hold a senior level role in your company, the bar is already set very high for you – so the fact that you were able to meet the goals and objectives that were laid out for you (particularly in a tough economy) is no small thing.  And, know that many companies consider the “exceeds expectations” rating for rare instances of brilliance that only a small percentage of employees will actually meet. 

 

The bottom line: Give yourself lower marks than you really deserve, and you’re shooting yourself in the foot.  Rate yourself as God’s greatest employee ever, and you look like a pompous jerk.  Try this instead – take an honest shot at filling out your assessment.  Try to be objective, and let the facts determine how you rate. Once you’ve finished filling it out, take a second look at what you’ve written and wait a day or two before handing it in. Ask yourself how this form might look different if your manager had to fill it out, or if your customers or coworkers had to rate you. Make adjustments if needed, take a deep breath, and let it go.  If nothing else, you’ve taken your best shot at evaluating yourself – which deserves an A+ in my book.

Posted in Annual Review, Career Development, Career Purpose, Career Success, Dumb Career Mistakes, Life on the Job, Self-assessment, Women's Career Success, Working with the Boss. Tagged with , , .

By Elizabeth Freedman
Thursday, January 21, 2010

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Stop bad career habits

If 2010 is going to be your year, then get serious about fixing bad career and workplace habits that are dragging you down.  Here are a few to think about:

 

Bad Career Habit #1:  Not Networking

 

Let’s agree on one point – most of us would rather pull out our eyelashes than network.  If you’re a networking champ, then skip this paragraph.  Otherwise, consider the fact that one of the reasons you may avoid networking is simply because you’re not good at it.  You’re not comfortable with it.  You don’t enjoy it.  Makes sense – after all, if you only went to the gym once or twice a year, that would hurt too, wouldn’t it?  The only way to be a better networker is to do it more often.  Practice.  Make networking a habit – which means doing it when you don’t feel like it (kind of like the gym, right?).  Make the commitment to have lunch with someone once a week, or attend an event once a month.  Whatever the number, pick it and stick to it.

 

Bad Career Habit #2:  Ignoring Social Media

 

If you’re not blogging, tweeting, or otherwise getting your ideas and expertise out there using social media tools, you’re missing a golden career opportunity.  Most of us have no problem sharing the latest on Facebook, but are you using social media tools strategically?  For instance, a job seeker looking for networking contacts could use her blog (which she’s already created and updates regularly as a way to showcase her expertise) to reach out to people to interview for an entry she’s working on.  And, if you are using tools, how often are you blogging/tweeting?  My personal resolution is to get more focused and disciplined about doing this, too – so I’m not blogging periodically, but on a regular basis.  Here’s a habit I’m working on:  Blogging three times/week.  Readers, hold me to this! 

 

Bad Career Habit #3:  Mistaking Effort for Output

 

You and I know people that work their butts off – you may be one of them, in fact.  There’s nothing wrong with hard work, but if you’re putting in lots of time and not getting the payoff (in promotions, raises, recognition, or whatever it is you’re hoping the hard work will do for your career), make sure you’re delivering value and real results that will matter to your personal bottom line.  And, while you’re at it, avoid this bad habit’s evil stepsister – thinking that being busy is the same thing as being productive.  We’re all busy – but how many of us are really getting everything done that we need to?  A simple, but effective way to stay on track:  Spend five minutes each morning (before you turn on your laptop or Blackberry) to make a list of three priorities for the day.  Keep your list short, sweet, and targeted, so that if nothing else happens, you’ve been productive where it matters most.

Posted in Career Purpose, Career Success, Dumb Career Mistakes, Job Search, Job Search in a Tough Economy, Life on the Job, Networking, Starting a New Job. Tagged with , , .

By Elizabeth Freedman
Tuesday, January 12, 2010

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What nobody at work will tell you

Here’s a workplace rule we all know, but sometimes forget: Don’t Assume They’ll Just Tell You That There’s a Problem.

Whenever I deliver any kind of seminar, whether it’s about communication, business etiquette, or anything else for that matter, there are always a couple of cranky folks in the audience who provide the same feedback: “I don’t need this! I’m fine! I would never show up to work wearing or doing anything unprofessional.” And then, they add the punch line: “And, if there ever was a problem with any of this stuff, I’m sure my boss would just tell me.”

Think again, my friend. If you think it’s hard to get feedback, just try giving some. Personally, I think it would be easier to do calculus all day than have to tell someone at lunch that they’ve got spinach caught between their teeth. As great as your boss might be, don’t assume that you’re getting all of the feedback that you need to get ahead on the job.

What does this mean for you? Unless some kind soul is willing to enlighten you, you often don’t really know if there is an issue with your dress, manner, communication style – or anything else, for that matter. And as a result, you don’t even know that you’re making mistakes in the first place.

Plus, we never imagine that we could be the ones with the problem. We never think that we’re the cocky ones, the annoying ones, the ones who are anything less than fabulous. Whether it’s talking too loudly on your cell phone or hogging up the left lane on the highway, the reality is that we’re clueless about our own deficiencies.

What’s the moral of the story?  If you want some feedback, you’ve got to ask for it.

Even if you’re convinced you’re sheer perfection on the job, do yourself a favor and check in from time to time. For instance, if you’ve got a client meeting coming up, there is nothing wrong with touching base with your boss about a couple of the details: “Jane, I’m thinking of wearing this to our client meeting next week. Is this OK?” When it comes to important emails, ask a trusted colleague to take a look before you hit the send button. Not only will they catch mistakes that you may have missed, but they’ll also be able to judge the message for content and ideas, and give it a general thumbs-up – or not.

The key here is to seek out feedback and ask for it – don’t assume that it will come to you. Warning: Don’t go overboard here. Periodic feedback is great. Asking for your boss’s opinion on every email you write will only drive the both of you crazy.

Posted in Career Purpose, Career Success, Dumb Career Mistakes, Generation Y, Life on the Job, Relationships at Work, Starting a New Job, Women's Career Success, Working with the Boss. Tagged with , .

By Elizabeth Freedman
Sunday, November 1, 2009

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Getting Rehired by the Company that Laid You Off

As the economy starts to slowly get back on its feet, companies are also slowly starting to rehire.  You loved your old job and would like nothing more than to be rehired by your former employer.  How to get back on the short list when your company starts hiring again?  Here are a few ideas to consider:

 

Here’s the good news:  You’re well-positioned to be a top contender for a shot back in the door at your former employer. After all, you’ve already got a good track record at your former employer (right??), you know the business inside and out, and, best of all, you’ve got people on the inside who can attest to your abilities. 

Even so, don’t assume that your company will come calling – they may not realize that you’re still on the market and interested, so keep in regular contact with recruiters, hiring managers, and former managers to let them know you’d love to rejoin the organization through periodic emails and calls.  Let them know how you’ve continued to stay sharp and savvy (“I recently contributed to salesforce.com on current sales technologies…”  “I’ve been consulting with several small companies on a part-time basis to help them increase sales and market share…”) during your time off in ways that continue to highlight your skills and expertise.

As you continue to reach out to your company, stay on top of what’s been happening at your former employer, and share your thoughts about how you’d handle a particular issue or business opportunity upon your return.  Show them that you’ve been working for them all along, even if you’re not on the payroll at the moment.

When interviewing and negotiating at your former employer, don’t assume that the old rules – including salary and bonus packages – still apply.  Be flexible, and know that you may not be interviewing for your former job and the salary that went along with it.  Consider opportunities that give you a foot back in the door, even if you have to take a hit in salary or job title to do so, but negotiate to return to your former salary or job title in six months (for example) if you hit certain benchmarks along the way.

With all this, is pursuing opportunities with your former employer the right move?  If you have anything less than a great track record at this company, you may be barking up the wrong tree if you’re looking for a second chance.  Even in a tough market, it’s easier to create a first impression with a new employer than to try to change your existing reputation at your former one. Also, consider the state of the company today – after all, they conducted layoffs for a reason, and the employer you used to know and love may bear little resemblance to the one you’re looking at today.  Ask yourself if you’ll have the same kinds of opportunities if you return, and who you’d be working with on a daily basis.  If this is still a team worth fighting for, throw your hat in the ring.  If not, move on and find a company that’s worth your talents.

Posted in Career Development, Career Purpose, Career Success, Generation Y, Job Search, Job Search in a Tough Economy, Jobs after Graduation, Layoffs, Networking, Relationships at Work, Unemployment. Tagged with , , , .

By Elizabeth Freedman
Wednesday, October 21, 2009

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Career coach yourself with Broadway techniques

When I work with my individual coaching clients, I like to bring a little bit of Broadway into the mix.  Partially this is because I know the words to way too many showtunes, but mainly it’s because I believe in the concept - and action - of rehearsal.  After all, practice - especially when it’s focused and targeted - makes perfect.

When it comes to your career, whether you’re looking for work or want to  make more out of the job you’ve got, add a few Broadway elements:

Create a script. Stop trying to ‘wing it’ or play it by ear, whether you’re preparing for a job interview, a networking event, or a sales call.  Instead, get very serious about practicing things ahead of time.  For job seekers, you’ll start by creating your script - if you’re prepping for a job interview, anticipate the questions you’ll be asked (start with common ones, like, “Take me through your resume,”) and write out what you’ll say.  That’s right - write it all out, not just jotting down notes or ideas.This isn’t so that you’ll sound like a robot or unnatural once you sit down to interview.  Instead, this process allows you to create a script of sharp, concise talking points - and cuts down significantly on rambling or getting off topic.  You may not be able to anticipate every question that might get thrown your way, but if you’ve got a script with some good stories and tight responses, you’ll be able to use this in a variety of ways once you’re sititng down for an interview.

 

 

 

Even better, you’ll ensure that you say what you need to say - a key point, especially if you’re someone who tends to leave the interview or the meeting, and say to yourself, “I can’t believe I forgot to mention ____!” 

Run lines and get feedback.  Once you’ve got your talking points established, run lines and rehearse.  Say out loud, word for word, exactly what you’d plan to say in an interview, for instance.  Then, do this again.  This is a good start, but it isn’t enough, because we all know that we can sound amazing talking to the mirror - and fall apart when we’re actually speaking with someone sitting across from us.

To take your practice to the next level, videotape yourself answering these questions.  With inexpesive flip cameras, or even your iPhone, it’s easy to videotape yourself, so there’s no excuse for not getting this done.  Once you’ve accomplished that, videotape yourself again, but wear what you’d wear during the interview.  Even better, hire an actor or get a professional (not a friend or someone you’re already very comfortable with) to sit down and actually run through the interview with you. 

Finally, take that video footage, and send it to a career coach or other expert and get professional feedback.  By the end of this video process, you’ll be the next Scorsese.  Even better, you’ll have improved by leaps and bounds.

Posted in Career Development, Career Success, Interns and Interships, Job Search, Job Search in a Tough Economy, Jobs after Graduation, Unemployment, Women's Career Success.

By Elizabeth Freedman
Thursday, October 8, 2009

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