Recruiting, retained or contingency, involves (or should, anyway) directly approaching individuals who, based on their title or position, might well have the experience to handle the job description and position for which the client is seeking someone. The individuals who are approached, of course, are usually currently employed at one of the client’s competitors.
If that individual is you, what would you do? What would you do when a recruiter calls and briefly outlines an opportunity with an unnamed company? Obviously if you’re unhappy where you are and the opportunity sounds interesting, you’re going to bite.
But I’m not talking about that scenario. I’m talking about the response when you ARE happy where you are. Because there’s a smart way to respond and a not-so-smart way to respond. And either choice impacts your career far more than you’d think it does!
So there you are, sitting at your desk working on an important project, when the phone rings. And you pick it up. It’s a recruiter, who introduces himself, his firm, and asks if you have a minute. What do you say? “Thanks for calling, but I’m happy where I am.” And hang up the phone? WRONG ANSWER!!!!
Why? Because you just cut yourself off from knowing what’s moving and shaking in your industry, which means you just cut yourself off from hearing about unadvertised opportunities that could potentially leverage your career.
You’ve just made the decision to limit your options. And if you don’t have access to information, you can’t make an informed decision, can you?
What should you do instead? No matter how happy you are with your current company, listen to what the recruiter has to say. You have a far better chance of leveraging your career when a recruiter calls you rather than when (and if) you contact a recruiter.
There are people who are truly happy with their current position and not interested in currently making a change, regardless of the opportunity presented to them at that moment. But you listen anyway, not to change, but to develop a relationship and keep yourself informed and in control for you when you do need to change.
A friend of mine went with a company that had statewide offices. She began in their corporate office right out of college. Over the years, she obtained her MBA and continued to rise through the ranks. For TWENTY-FIVE years she was with this company…..until she was laid off a few months ago. She hadn’t seen it coming. And she freaked out.
If YOU aren’t in control of your career, then your company IS. Corporate restructuring, layoffs and downsizing are taking place with alarming frequency as companies tighten their belts and look hard at who is contributing and who isn’t.
Sometimes it isn’t even a matter of contribution. In those plushy carpeted, window offices, the top executives and board members comfortably decide whose heads will roll and for what reason. Sometimes it’s simply eliminating an entire department - and it has nothing to do with YOU, individually, at all. For instance, it’s not uncommon for a new manager or president to come in and bring his own people with him.
But it can happen that quickly, and it can happen to you.
Will you have a network to fall back on if it does? Will you have relationships developed with recruiters that you can tap into on a moment’s notice? Develop it before you need it. The time to take control of your career is exactly when you think it isn’t necessary: when you are happy and successful where you are.
Tags: Better Chance, career, Contact, Contingency, Current Company, Current Position, Desk, Job Description, Opportunity, People, Phone Rings, Recruiter, Recruiting, Sounds, Unnamed Company, Wrong Answer
So, you’ve submitted a killer Curriculum Vitae and supporting documents. You’re ahead of the pack and have just received a call for an interview. What do you do next?
The interview is the most stressful and important part of job hunting. This is where the employers make a decision based on his or her impression of whether to hire you for their job. You will want to do your best in this part because here lays the culmination of all your job hunting efforts. Flub it here and all your efforts from application to examinations will go down the drain.
1. Make a Great Impression
Always dress in your best attire for the interview. Your attire should be appropriate. No matter what the company may require for their employees, the first impression for applicants should be conservative business attire.
2. Do a Little Research
One of the best ways to make a good impression on your interviewer is to do a little research on the company you are applying for. This will equip you with material to answer many of the questions the interviewer will ask. One of the main points of the questions you will be asked is how your skills can benefit the company. If you know a thing or two about the company, you will find it a lot easier to answer this question. Plus, dropping a few meaty tidbits about how much you know about the company will go a long way in impressing the interviewer.
3. Watch Your Body Language
Many of the interviewers are well versed in body language, and you will find that, throughout the interview, they will be looking for hints about your personality from the way you act, talk, and move. It would be abnormal to assume a different set of body language during the interview. What you should do is to take note of your body language so that at least it communicates openness and honesty.
Avoid telling lies or embellishing your answers. Experienced interviewers will notice this in an instant. Always keep your palms open and avoid crossing your legs or your arms together. Do not be afraid to make eye contact while speaking; just make sure that you do not come across as intimidating.
4. Confidence
Walk in with a purpose. Answer with a purpose. Try not to be too self-conscious. Make sure you are confident in what you say. If you hit a snag and find yourself in a compromising situation, make sure you handle the situation confidently – even when saying that you do not know an answer to a question.
Confidence reflects competence. Employers always look for competent people to fill their ranks.
Tags: Act, Ahead, Answer Questions, Body Language, Business Attire, Conservative Business, Culmination, Curriculum Vitae, First Impression, honesty, Interviewer, Interviewers, Job Hunting, job interview, Legs, Openness, Opportunity, Palms, Personality
You’ve landed what you thought was the job of your dreams. Each stage of the interview went smoothly - you sold them on your skills and expertise, and your prospective boss sold you on the position and benefits of joining the company. He/she seemed excited about extending an offer. And then, with offer in hand, it was thrilling to give your notice (or tell your friends you’re finally employed after a long stint of unemployment!). All seemed right with the world.
You’ve now been on board a few days… a week… perhaps even a month. Suddenly you’re not so sure you’ve made the right decision. The job that seemed like a dream is starting to feel like a nightmare. Perhaps the position isn’t what you thought it would be; it’s either too narrow, too broad, not challenging enough, or more of a stretch than you imagined. Maybe the company isn’t measuring up. Or, perhaps your boss isn’t the caring, supportive mentor you thought he/she would be.
In a state of confusion, you wonder what you should do. Stick it out? For how long? Leave? Then what? The decision to stay or leave a new job is a personal one, with no right or wrong answer, as everyone’s situation is unique. And most people, at one time or another, have been faced with this dilemma. To help you think through your next move and determine what’s right for you, here are some questions you may want to ask yourself:
Is it just the newness of the job? Changing jobs can be an unsettling experience. In your previous job, you knew your way around - you knew what was expected of you; you knew your job; you knew the players; you felt like you belonged. In a new job, however, it takes time to learn the ropes and feel like you’re truly adding value. Sometimes it’s best to give yourself time to get over the “newness” and then decide if the job is right for you.
Can you live with your boss? Hiring managers sometimes put their best foot forward in an interview, then do an about-face when a new employee arrives. Even though your boss isn’t the supportive manager you thought he/she would be, can you live with the change? If so, it may be worth staying. If, however, you experience a nauseous stomach on Monday mornings or a rise in blood pressure every time he/she walks into your office, it may be wise to consider leaving.
Can you navigate the politics? Office politics can be the bane of many employees’ existence. If you’ve been hired into a political crossfire, it will be important to assess your political skills to determine if you can make it work. If politics aren’t your strength, you may want to leave before you find yourself failing without even knowing why. If you’re good at developing relationships and working with differing styles, as well as “managing up”, you may want to consider staying and seeing if you can make a tough situation work.
What will you learn if you stay in this job? Sometimes a seemingly wrong job can turn out to be a terrific opportunity to learn new skills, become exposed to new technologies, and gain valuable experience. Is it possible this job could be a stepping-stone to a better, more satisfying job down the road? Could it ultimately propel your career forward? If so, and you can tolerate everything else, it may be worth staying.
If the scope of the job has changed, can it be renegotiated? If the actual work turns out to be far different from what you thought it would be, you may want to speak with your manager to see if aspects of the job can be changed. If the scope is too narrow, can more responsibilities be added? If the workload is too great, can you get some assistance? If the job ultimately represents a step backwards and/or you’re doing work you didn’t feel like you signed up for, it may be worth looking elsewhere.
Can you afford to leave without another job to go to? If your boss, or the job, or the politics are so bad it’s beginning to affect your health and personal life, then leaving sooner rather than later may be the best move. But can you afford it? Carefully evaluating your financial situation prior to jumping ship will help alleviate regrets later on. Consider also the momentum you had in your job search prior to starting your job. Can it be easily resurrected so your time of unemployment is minimized?
The decision to stay or leave an intolerable new job is a tough one. How long to stay is also a dilemma. Many have left after two weeks, never to look back. Others have stayed, only to regret staying too long. And still others have stayed and managed to make everything work out. Only you can decide what’s best for you and your situation.
If you answer the above questions honestly, you will surely make the right decision for you. Pay attention to how you’re feeling and what the job is doing to your health and self-esteem. Recognize that the longer you stay, the greater the requirement to add the job to your resume. Know that it’s always an option to stay and look for employment on the side. If you do that, it may be valuable to evaluate your job, boss, team, and culture requirements so you can develop some insightful interview questions to ask the next time around.
Talking with a trusted friend or colleague can be helpful during this challenging time. Whether you choose to stick it out and hope for the best, or leave right away and cut your losses, trust that you’ve made the right decision. And know that regardless of the outcome, the experience has presented an excellent opportunity for learning and personal growth that will be invaluable in helping you manage the rest of your career.
Tags: Best Foot, career, career transitions, Changing Jobs, coach, Dilemma, Dreams, Employe, Face, Few Days, Hiring Managers, Mentor, new boss, new job, Newness, Nightmare, office politics, Opportunity, Personal, personal growth, Prospective Boss, Resume, Right Decision, Ropes, State Of Confusion, Stint, Unemployment, Wrong Answer
If you are able to follow these guidelines, you will surely get the response that you deserve out of your job application.
Definitely, cover letters should not be taken for granted - and not let your resume do all the talking for you. If you can make use of two venues to sell yourself, wouldn’t it be practical and logical to use both?
Make use of your resumes and cover letters effectively. Both can work together to promote and market you well.
While resumes may have the necessary content and details that are relevant to your job applications, the reader will still have to do some thinking and some more analysis of your qualifications and their needs. But with well-written cover letters that go along with these resumes, you make it easier for the prospective employers to choose you because of your effective sales pitch on what you can offer to their organization.
These sales pitches are but only necessary - and anyway, these are not manipulative efforts since what you are saying here are the truth - you are just making it easy for them to realize that you are fit for the job and you have lots to offer. In the sales pitch, you are merely highlighting your strengths and expertise that matches what they need.
Never give the reader who is screening your cover letters to doubt if you are truly qualified for the position – don’t let him or her entertain that thought, not even for a second.
Let the guidelines stated above be your reference so that you will get the right impression from the prospective employers though your persuasive cover letters.
So the next time you make your cover letters, don’t miss on the opportunity to make cover letters with taste. It should always be professionally written – brief, well organized and truthful. With cover letters written appropriately, you already have the edge and interviews are surely forthcoming.
Tags: Application Letters, Cover Letter, Cover Letters, covering letter, Effective Sales, Fit, Interviews, job application, Job Applications, Job Letters, Opportunity, persuasive, Prospective Employers, Resume, Resumes, Sales Pitch, Sales Pitches, Truth
And when you are finally in the organization, all you have to do is be yourself and make true your claims of who you are and what type of employee you are. This is the opportunity you have been waiting for, and you now have the chance to shine – and prove them right.
Never be complacent and always strive to offer your best work to the company. You have been trusted and given the chance to prove your worth. Remember that you longed for this job for quite some time; you have it in you to make it work and not blow it up.
Study well their business processes and internal systems, and suggest for improvements for efficiency reasons. Do well your job and increase your knowledge to be more effective. Always believe that there is always a better way to do things – and you will find out that you can actually do more and give out high quality work.
Never cease to learn more about the job at hand – in so doing, you will continue to become a valuable asset to the company.
Tags: Blow, Business Processes, Business Systems, company, Efficiency Reasons, employee, hard working, High Quality, Improvements, job, job interview, Opportunity, Organization, Quality Work, Quite Some Time, walk the talk
