Eugenia's Journal

Never give up on what you really want to do.

The person with big dreams is more powerful

than one with all the facts.

                                                                          ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

As my Mother used to say, “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.”  If you’re looking for a new career or job and aren’t making any progress, is it because you’re wishing, instead of dreaming?  You throw a penny in the fountain and wish Prince Charming will offer you the job of Princess.  You wish upon a shooting star that someone will call you tomorrow with the perfect job.  Notice that whether or not a wish comes true has nothing to do with what you do.  It’s up to an outside force, like a fairy godmother or the luck of being in the right place at the right time.

Job Tip #1. Unless you still believe in the tooth fairy, jumpstart your job search by dreaming instead of wishing.  Step 1.  Create a Dream Board.  Dreams are achievable.  They drive you in a direction, determine an appropriate path.   Step 2.  Attach some dates to your dreams, and now you have a Goal Board.  You’ve moved from passive to active, from Fantasy land to the Promised land. You’ve changed your mindset from Thinker to Doer.  To achieve anything– to get results, it’s not enough to have vision.  You have to take action.

Job Tip #2. If you’re not living by the Ten Daily Commandments for Job Seekers on our home page, you’re not doing everything you could to get a job.  Remember, the Job Santa knows who’s been naughty and who’s been nice.  It’s up to you whether or not you get a job this year, next year, or not at all.

                                                                     Eugenia

The world cannot resist a man with passion.

Last night I was watching an old James Bond movie and at one point the Commodore was being ridiculed by the “bad guy” for his loyalty to England and his dedication to his job.  There was scorn, sarcasm, and a great deal of anger in his words.  As a career counselor, I recognized at once, that here was the victim of a poorly planned career path.  Bond had passion for his job, and the “bad guy” was insanely jealous of him for that reason.

In another scene, Bond’s passion for his beliefs is brought up by his leading lady.  Of course, most people attribute Bond’s success with the opposite sex to his great looks and charm.  As a job search counselor, however, I saw immediately that the woman was attracted to Bond because of his passion for his job (not that his looks didn’t help).

In the movies, of course, Bond never preaches about God and country.  He simply demonstrates his beliefs with a willingness to die for them.  Action speaks louder than words.  Bond exudes self-confidence because he lives his beliefs–brand consistency (a topic for another post).   Some of us may admire physical strength, but all of us admire strength of character—even the bad guys.

Job Tip #1: If you have passion, let it shine through.  Sometimes, people strive too hard to be ‘professional.’  They don’t want to appear too eager for a job.  Perhaps they fear being too enthusiastic would risk exposing an unshared belief.  Then, when someone else gets the job, they blame it on a lack of chemistry.

Job Tip #2: If you don’t have a passion for what you do, you will be at a disadvantage in the job search.  Passion is difficult to fake—unless you’re Sean Connery.  And in today’s market, the ‘Other Guy’ is going to get the job.  I believe that what makes a man or a woman ‘sexy’ is the kind of passion that is appropriate in a board room as well as a bedroom.  The world cannot resist a person with this kind of passion.

Eugenia

Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others,

without getting a few drops on yourself.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Simple yet powerful, a thank you may be the most important gift you give this year.” So reads today’s Groupon ad for $50 worth of stationery or Holiday cards for $25.

It’s Thanksgiving week, and some of us are being extra thankful.  Others, jobless and financially strapped, may not be feeling particularly thankful, but expressing appreciation and gratitude is not optional in a job search—it is imperative.  A thank-you note is not an expense—it’s an investment.  Email is good.  Handwritten notes are twice as good; they are so rare that people save them.  Send a thank-you on these occasions:

One: Someone introduces you to someone else, e.g., through LinkedIn.  A connection is a valuable resource that someone is sharing with you.

Two: Someone serves as a reference.  These calls can run as long as 30-40 minutes. You don’t want them to say, “great manager,” but think “a real ingrate.”

Three: Someone gives you their time, e.g., an informational meeting.  If a recruiter takes the time to speak with you, you have a choice—become an anonymous name in his database, or become part of the select group of people he keeps in mind when a position comes up that might be appropriate for you.  It may be a job the company is not willing to pay a recruiter to fill, but he knows about it before it even goes public.  Impress him enough, and he may tip you off, knowing you may some day be in a position to use his company’s services.

Four: Someone gives you information, e.g., the name of a company that is hiring, the name of a networking group you should belong to, the name of an association that is giving a seminar that would be helpful to you.  A thank-you note is encouragement to keep the information and help flowing your way.

Five: Someone gives you free advice.  As executive recruiters, we sometimes tell people about the typos in their resumes, and a few of them become indignant. They never hear all the other free tips we give people.  There are many Job Hunters groups in Charlotte, staffed by volunteers.  It is shocking how few people say thank you to those who are donating their time.  Those who get pleasure out of helping people will go out of their way to help those who appreciate it. 

Six: Someone gives you great service, e.g., a gatekeeper tells you that her boss will be in the office tomorrow morning, and she sets up a 5-min. phone call for you. Write a letter to her boss saying what a wonderful telephone manner she has and how helpful she was (copy her, of course).  Do the same for any service provider.  You never know when they will be privy to some information that they can pass on to you, or not.

Seven: Don’t let those who assisted you in your job search find out about your new job through a third party.  You may be looking for another job sooner than you think, and someone’s willingness to help you the next time will depend on how much you appreciated their help the last time.

Send a thank-you note. Anyone can do it, yet so few do.  Your goal in networking is to make yourself unforgettable.  What a simple way to do that!  Besides, what goes around, comes around.  It’s good karma.

Eugenia

A person who works with his hands is a Laborer;

a person who works with his hands and head, a Craftsman;

but a person who works with his hands, head and heart is an Artist.

Job Tip: The above quote is a beautiful metaphor for the difference between just doing a job, doing a job well, and doing a job one has a passion for.  Each of us has a unique combination of skills, talents, and experience that we bring to a job.  Some of us choose to do the minimum, using only those abilities that are required.  Others bring everything we have to everything we do.  When we work with our hands, heads, and hearts, we become Artists in every sense of the word.  In the corporate world, it’s called being an A player.  In today’s high unemployment environment, it’s called job security.

There is an Artist in each of us.  Be all that you can be.

Eugenia

Be a first rate version of yourself,

not a second rate version of someone else.

~ Judy Garland

Job Tip: When giving your elevator pitches, don’t copy anyone else’s style—even if they are great speakers, and you would love to be them.  Just be honest, direct, and authentic.

Money Saving Tip: For opportunities to save money, go to www.groupon.com and subscribe to their free daily coupon service.  Every day, there is a Deal of the Day.  Today’s offer is $35 worth of salon services for $15.  The former New York salon owner promises big city style at a small town price—Gastonia, Huntersville, and Charlotte.  The offer must be purchased today, but you have up to one year to exercise this particular deal.

Eugenia

A wise man speaks because he has something to say,

A fool because he has to say something.

~ Plato

A frequently asked question is: “What percentage of the time should I be speaking in an interview?”

Job Tip: Looking for a job is a sales job.  Sales trainers say that the number one mistake sales people make is talking too much.  You have two ears and one mouth; they advise using them in the same proportions.   Studies have indicated, however, that in a good interview, each person speaks about 50% of the time.

Sometimes, a candidate will establish a very good rapport with the interviewer and will drop her guard, believing that this person is now her “new best friend.”  Skilled interviewers are expert at getting a person to open up and say things they should not.  The important points that you want to get across at an interview should be scripted and practiced.  Keep the improvisation down to a minimum, or you could wind up with hoof in mouth disease.

Eugenia

One hundred percent of the shots I don’t make, don’t go in.

~ Wayne Gretzky

Job Tip: When it comes to job hunting, it’s important to get the right message from a quote.  If you believe that the message in the above quote is to go for every job you might have an outside chance to be considered for, think about the difference between hockey and job hunting.  In hockey, you have a limited number of opportunities to swing.

In job hunting there are millions of so-called “opportunities” out there—on job boards, etc.  Blasting your resume or “casting a wide net” and applying for every job you could remotely be qualified for (spraying and praying in job search jargon) is not an optimal strategy.  If you are doing a mailing, there is the cost of postage and stationery.  More important, however, is the time you spend writing the resume and the cover letter and doing the research to create your mailing list.

Early in his sales career, Frank Bettger, author of the book “How I Raised Myself From Failure to Success in Selling” analyzed his own sales effectiveness.  What he discovered was that 70% of his sales were made on the first call, 23% on the second, and only 7% on his third, but 50% of his time was spent going after the third call.  By eliminating them, he doubled his sales effectiveness.

For maximum effectiveness in any type of sales job, and that is what job search is, it is important to analyze your results.  What is the highest and best use of your time?  Where is your greatest opportunity for success?  Target, focus, and be seen as an expert or thought leader in your particular niche.

The real takeaway in Gretzky’s observation is that you can’t wait for the “perfect shot.”  You have transferable skills.  You have life experience and work experience that is of value to more than one employer.  You just have to learn how to create a desire in an employer for your unique selling proposition.  You have to make that employer believe that You’re the One—the only one.

Eugenia

To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure

an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness.

~ John Dewey

Dewey (1859-1952) was an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer, whose ideas continue to be influential.

Job Tip #1: The first step in any job search should be determining what it is you really want to be and do–not just right here and right now, but in the long term as well.

Another Dewey quote:

Education, therefore, is a process of living and not a preparation for future living.

Job Tip #2: In other words, education is an end in itself.  This may not have been your philosophy up to this point, but futurists predict that those who are just entering the work force today can expect to have 14-17 careers (that’s not a typo) in their lifetimes.  Even if the actual number turns out to be 50% lower than forecasted, it is obvious that one cannot change careers without learning new skills.  To be competitive in today’s job market, it is essential to be constantly educating and re-educating yourself.

A third and final quote:

Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks, learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes.

Job Tip #3: As executive recruiters, we would send in three qualified candidates for a position.  Each one would say that the interview went well, but only one of them would get the job.  In post-interview coaching, people would often become upset or brush off your remarks if you brought up something that perhaps should have been phrased differently or omitted.  “Don’t rain on my parade” is what they were trying to say.  I can’t emphasize enough how dangerous this is for your ultimate job search success.  If you made some sort of faux pas, it may or may not have been the reason for your not getting the job, but do you really want to test the waters on your next interview as well?  In the current job market, that would be like shooting yourself in the foot.  Whether it’s your recruiter, your job search coach, a networking buddy, or a close friend, get some objective input, and practice active listening.

My wish for you today is that you learn some great tip or technique that will be a game changer for you.

Eugenia

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”

Job Search Tip:   If you have done a thorough self-assessment of all your skills, talents, and experience, and figured out what it is you really want to do, you may have come to the realization that you have a few competency gaps.  Don’t despair.  Remember, it’s never too late to reinvent yourself, and a recession is actually a great time to take a step back in order to acquire whatever experience, education, or certification you may need to realize your long-term career goals.  Valerie Young’s tag line says it well:  “Live life on purpose.  Work at what you love.  Follow your own road.” 

                                                                              Eugenia

Do, or do not. There is no ‘try.’

~ Yoda  The Empire Strikes Back

Most moviegoers probably do not perceive Yoda’s role this way, but we see Yoda as Luke Skywalker’s job coach.  Luke had a job to do, and Yoda was his taskmaster.  The first and most important ingredient of success is the right mental attitude, and Yoda was changing Luke’s mindset—from “I’ll give it the old college try” to simply–“I will.”

A study by Lee Hecht Harrison estimated that coaching could reduce the length of the job search by 15% to 46%. We believe that one of the primary differences between those on one end of the spectrum and those on the other is that some people will “try” to do what they don’t like to do, while others just go out and do it.  Which part of the job search is hardest for you?

Job Tip: Always move towards what is most uncomfortable.  You’ll get better and better at it; it will get easier and easier, and one day you may even enjoy it.

Four weeks ago, I told readers about sales trainer Tim Connor’s sales skill exercise—get five referrals every day for 4 weeks.  Write me if you took up his challenge and tell us what happened.

Eugenia