The Job Hunting Toolbox

Getting a job or new job is on the minds of many. It’s important to have tools so you are not just throwing slop to the wall. So here are my tool recommendations for getting and keeping the job you really want.

Plan it:
1. Begin by architecting the position you want and why. Visualize it. How big is the company? What are your responsibilities? What are your authority boundaries? How much money do you make? Who do you work for? How do they coach you? Why did they choose you? Visualize and believe it. Be specific. Not just once, every day, multiple times. Start your morning with a quiet moment. Consider starting the day with a meditation. I’m talking about just 5 minutes of uninterrupted quiet time. Relax, focus and believe.
Now for the easy part:
• Identify what companies are good matches for your skill sets. Why?
• I know you want to apply for everything and if you must, do it. But don’t spend a lot of time on it.
~Focus your search on companies and opportunities you are really interested and qualified for.
• How? If you are responding to an ad, so are 150 other people. Let’s start with the fact that companies have often identified who they want to hire before they run an ad. So responding to an ad is plan “B”. Knowing this, you’ve got to make every effort to have your resume be reviewed by a person.
~Do this by closely reading the ad. Pull out key words and concepts. Make sure these words are in your resume and the concepts are clearly defined. It may mean you need to rewrite your resume. Remember, you're going for quality, not the throw it to the wall and see if it sticks.
~If the ad asks for salary information, please provide it. Sometimes your resume will be passed over for not providing what they want. If you’re uncomfortable providing money, quote a range of what you’ve earned the past few years. When you’re uncomfortable taking money, it can make others feel that you don’t believe you are worth what you have been paid. Would you look at a house that is a bit out of your desired price range? Maybe. It’s a good way to see what your money can buy. So be able to articulate your value proposition.

Hammer it: Companies will often post ads on their website and not run ads. Watch the websites of those companies that are great matches for you. Find advocates within your target companies that keep an eye out for you, make introductions, etc.

Level it: Let’s face it, looking for a job is a lot of work and stress. Take care of yourself to stay healthy; walk, workout, bike, etc. Exercise will stimulate your mind and create more energy. Keep your energy and attention level high all the time. It’s not about short bursts of focused job hunting. It’s about consistently doing the work.

Measure it: What are you doing that is working? Do more of it. Focus on the position you will get. Our daughter is 5’4” and passionate about playing basketball. I tried to tell her that she may be done growing. Her response, “Mom, always be optimistic!” She’s right. My job is to feed her passion. Be your own best friend. Support your efforts and recognize the success you have.

Good luck in your search. Always be optimistic!

Yellow Jersey Leadership

Did you realize that only 14 min. 25 sec. separated 1st and 10th place in last month’s Tour de France? That’s a percentage difference of .0028 after more than 85 hours of cycling. I find that amazing. Can you image the thrill of being part of a team that performs at this level all the time? Whether you are wearing the Yellow Jersey or not, this has got to be fun.

Most of us have been fortunate to have at least one really great time in our career. It usually consists of great people, performing at high levels, producing tremendous results. It’s like a fly-wheel that just keeps going. That “moment” becomes the bench-mark for the rest of our careers. How to we recreate and achieve the “fun” we had. Most of the time, we are hired into a team. So we depend on the leadership or lack of to propel things forward.

We are all leaders in many ways. Within our family, community and workplace. We make choices to lead and choices to follow. We can be the Yellow Jersey or we can hover behind the Yellow Jersey. We can break wind for the Yellow Jersey doing everything possible to ensure the Yellow Jersey wins. It’s all about being part of a strong family, strong community, strong team. We become passionate, focused, and committed to the stamina it takes to make it happen. What a great way to work. What a great way to live!

I don’t look great in yellow but know that I’m thinking Yellow Jersey Leadership.

The Most Important Question to Prepare for When Interviewing

Whether interviewers or interviewees know it or not, there is only one interview question in the top 10 questions asked most often that really demonstrates anything. Know it and be prepared for it.

One area that has been carefully studied by psychologists is job interviews. Dr. Allen Huffcutt of Bradley University has been studying job interviews for two decades. His list of the top ten most common interview questions is below:

1. Why should I hire you?
2. What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
3. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
4. How would you describe yourself?
5. What college subjects did you like the best and least?
6. What do you know about our company?
7. Why did you decide to seek a job with our company?
8. Why did you leave your last job?
9. What do you want to earn five years from now?
10. What do you really want to do in life?

Only one of these questions have any real power at all according to Dr. Huffcuff (http://www.themunrofund.com/Documents/Mind_Matters.pdf). Question 6 can help reveal the level of background research that a candidate has actually done. Still, not a great question but an important one to be prepared for. The rest of the questions generally allow candidates to shine rather than demonstrate anything of real use.

As a side note: Using structured interviews are six times more effective than unstructured interviews at predicting a candidate’s job performance.

Know the company you are interviewing with. Do your research. Know: the history, the direction, key players, key player’s backgrounds, competitors, industry, industry trends, key initiatives, core values, financial trends, why the position is open, what happens if they don’t fill the position, etc. This is not the time to throw slop up against the wall to see what sticks. Aim, prepare and focus.

Gook luck!

Taking a “Step-Down Job”

There are times in our lives that we do different things for different reasons: in parenting, relationships and in our work-lives. When you need a job; well, you need a job. Ironically, being overqualified for a position often makes it harder, not easier, to get hired. Employers worry over-qualified candidates will leave as soon as something better comes their way. True? Maybe, who knows? So what do you say? How do you respond when the job you want is slipping through your fingers?

The position you want may be a step-down from what you’ve done before and/or it pays substantially less than you’ve earned in the past. Be prepared with winning responses to the questions any employer will have. Keep in mind that if they don’t ask you the questions, they will be thinking them.

5 Winning Strategies for Getting the Job “They” Say You’re Overqualified for:

1. Life Style Shift – Life ebbs and flows. There are times in our lives when we want less responsibility. Not everyone desires to be the top dog. Thank goodness!
2. Get back to the basics and hands-on work – there may be skill gaps in our background that this position fills. What a great opportunity to go deeper.
3. Hmmmm, let’s see . . . a really qualified, competent employee verses someone without the experience? Stress that you are not title-driven but driven by delivering quality results that benefit your manager, team and company.
4. Consulting – Try before you buy means less risk for the employer. It gives the manager the opportunity to see your work. In sales, they call this the puppy dog sale. Who wants to give back a puppy – unless it’s just not a good match. (Be careful on this one. You should really go through a third party to cover your taxes and liability insurance. Many companies and consultants unfortunately take this lightly. Getting hurt on the job can cause grave issues. Partner with a third party who has your best interest at heart.)
5. Job fulfillment vs. Money/Title – There is a strong sense of accomplishment associated with doing and seeing a project/task through completion. Money is not the ONLY motivating factor.

BEWARE: Your Reasons Should not be Related to the Recession

Go out and convince that employer that you want the job, you’ll be great at it and you’ll stay? Don’t expect them to ask the tough questions. Be proactive and address them upfront. By saying, “If I were in your shoes I would be wondering why this person would be interested in this job. So allow me to share with you the challenges I understand this position to have, how I would address them, and how it will insert your strategy here . . . This combined with my experience and your guidance seems like a great match. What are your thoughts?”

When your new employer sees the great job you’re doing, I’m sure the next opportunity for more responsibility will be coming your way.

Good luck!

I want to thank those of you who have said that my blog has helped you. I really appreciate the feedback. It’s hard to know when you put something out there with the intent of helping if it really does. So keep the feedback coming. Also, if you’re on Twitter, check me out. http://twitter.com/KarenFrey. I try to pass along current helpful information that you may not come across.

If there are specific topics or questions regarding job search, interviewing, etc. please let me know and I’ll give it a shot. Please send an email through my website. I am just trying to slow the spam by not posting my email.

Thanks for coming back to my blog.

When Hiring Feels Wrong

Today I had coffee with a wonderful woman whom I've known for years. We passionately agreed on the fact that a recruiter should not be the first pass, interviewer/screener for the head of Talent Management or Senior HR positions. It's just not fair for either.

When you want a strategic, operations-focused executive, you don't have a line worker decide if someone is a candidate or not - no matter how competent they are. Unless that line-worker has met with the CEO and understands the needs, direction and breathe of the organization. And if they do, then please get them out of a line position.

How uncomfortable is it to be asked by someone who will report to you what are your money expectations?! That just feels wrong.

I don't want to offend my recruiter and HR friends. You have difficult jobs and this puts way too much pressure on an awkward situation.

In recruiting and HR, we have access to a lot of sensitive data including money. We learn what is appropriate to discuss and with whom. So speak up recruiters and HR. It's time to step up to the plate if you want what is in the best interest of the organization.

Next they'll have sales hiring the VP of Sales. . . because they are good at prospecting . . . .

The Truth about Talking Money

So why does everyone want to know how much money you make? Have you ever heard, "what's the least amount you will consider?". LEAST?! Shouldn't they just pay market value? I hear your frustration.
Let me share the Headhunter's perspective.

Personally, I always want to know how much candidates made broken down by salary, bonus, etc. I also want to know when bonuses are paid out and what they expect to receive. What this tells me is the perceived value of the candidate/role within that organization.

Feel like you were underpaid in your last job? Than get certified, take classes, increase your skills. It is not the next employers’ responsibility to help you make huge leaps in your salary. The assumption is that there are skill gaps. Any gaps should be worked through at your current employer.

Feel like you were overpaid or just paid well? It's nice to be rewarded and recognized for our contributions. Don't be shy. It's about how that organization perceived and valued you and your role. There is a lot to be proud but don’t let it get in your way. Recognizing that sometimes high compensation can put you out of the range; be flexible and know your threshold. Understanding that you would be open to hearing about opportunities that paid less is definitely worth sharing.

Companies are living organisms and are constantly evolving. Depending on the industry, philosophy and developmental stage . . . let’s face it – some companies pay better than others. Some have better benefits. Some give us the feeling of making an important contribution to the world. There are lots of variables.

Guess what? I too want to know your minimum. If the job is right, would you take it for $$$$? I need to know when not share an opportunity. It's a delicate line. I don't want to insult someone yet I don't want them to miss out on an opportunity. That's why I ask. It’s not like shopping. The headhunter chooses what opportunities to share with you.

I know that most information will tell you to avoid giving money information. I disagree with that and here's why. Expect that you are talking to a reputable company that appreciates what you bring to the table. If not, are you really interested in working for them? When you are asked the question directly and avoid answering it, it creates an awkwardness that you both feel. Relationships are built on trust. If you're holding back, there is no trust. What people take away from meetings is not the remembrance of what was said but how that person made them feel. You decide if you want awkward or trust. I always chose trust.

As a headhunter, keep in mind that I want to get the most for you that I can. Let's be real . . . it needs to be within market rate based on your skills. And we need to have a relationship built on trust.

Relationships Matter - LinkedIn

LinkedIn has over 39 million members in over 200 countries and territories around the world. Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn members. I’m guessing that neither Facebook nor Twitter can boast those stats. So if you are looking to increase your professional contacts, invest some time filling in your profile and learning your way around LinkedIn.

First, decide how you will use LinkedIn. I use it to instantly find out more about people whether they are prospects, clients, candidates or people I just come in contact with. I’m curious, it’s just my nature. I will not connect with just anyone. My rule is that I need to have met them or been introduced in some way. Others will be “open” networkers whose goal is to collect as many names as possible. You need to decide what’s best for you. If you want to connect with everyone, include your email address after your name and in your contact information so it is visible to all. When people do this, the assumption is that you are an open networker.

10 Quick Steps for getting the most out of LinkedIn

1. Fill in all or most of your previous jobs – this allows you to easily connect with anyone that worked/works for those companies.
2. Write a great summary. When doing keyword searches this is where many words will be picked from. Be sure and include all words that you want to be identified with.
3. When you are in “Edit My Profile”, set your public profile so you are easily found. Mine is www.linkedin.com/in/karenfrey.
4. References – There is an easy tool to ask for references within LinkedIn. References add credibility especially if someone is looking for your expertise and knows the reference.
5. Be an Expert – There are questions and answers about every subject you can think of. LinkedIn users post and answer questions. The user that posts the question determines the best answer. That person is deemed an Expert. Answer multiple questions and become an expert in specific categories.
6. Introductions – Whenever you are sending an invitation to connect, I highly recommend that you include a personal note. If the person refuses your invitation and notes that they don’t know you, you may be blocked from sending some invites. Usually a short reminder of how you know the person will do the job.
7. Boolean logic – Boolean logic has to do with logical operations for conducing searches. Looking for the top HR person with an organization? Use advanced search - in the title type: VP OR Vice President OR Chief AND Human Resources. It’s important the OR and AND are capitalized. Try different combinations, titles, etc. You’ll probably come up with several names, one of which is the person you’re looking for. This is a great sorting tool.
8. Join Groups – This allows you to reach more people and for more people to reach you. There is a limit as to how many groups you can join. I think it’s 50. My suggested is to stick to groups that pertain to what you are trying to accomplish. You can adjust the frequency of the updates that you receive.
9. Create a group – You can be the one who decides who joins and who doesn’t. Just follow the directions on LinkedIn.
10. Signature link for emails – By adding a line on your email signature, you’ll be amazed at the number of people that follow the click to your LinkedIn profile. It just another way to brand and reinforce what you do.

So there are your 10 quick steps for getting started on LinkedIn. Good luck and happy networking.

Resume Writing Tips for Writing a Killer Resume

I just got a resume without an email address on it. The person had some great experience. Good companies, progressive career growth. What are they thinking?! I get this more often than you would think. Sometimes I receive resumes without telephone numbers. Yikes!

People seem to think that if I sent you the resume, you have my email. That’s putting way too much effort and responsibility on the other end to get it right. Don’t leave it to chance. 99.5% of recruiters (corporate and third-party) use ATS’s (Applicant Tracking Systems). We live and die by our ATS. That’s our bread and butter. The ATS will search for specific words or key phrases. It’s important you understand how this works if you want your resume to be seen by a real person.


The first thing you want to do when writing a good resume is to reflect. Don't rush to your computer. Answer these few basic questions:

Why do I want this job?
What are my strengths?
How do my qualifications match what the employer is looking for?
How can I best meet the employer's needs?
How can I distinguish myself from other applicants?
How can I convey to the employer that I am the best candidate for the job?

Below are important tips for making sure your resume can attract the attention it deserves.

1. Use a font size of 12 to 14 points.
2. Use standard typefaces like Helvetica, Geneva or Arial.
3. Avoid fancy typefaces, vertical/horizontal lines, boxes and graphics.
4. Don't use multiple column formats
5. Make sure your name, address, phone numbers and email are at the top within the margins.
6. Use a Word document for your resume. Don’t be tempted to send a PDF file. I don’t know why, but sometimes PDF’s don’t covert well in ATS’s.
7. Avoid the first person pronoun. The pronoun “I” has no place in a resume — and for a logical reason: Who else would you be talking about if not yourself?
8. Resumes call for short, crisp statements. These statements do not necessarily have to be complete sentences; you can frequently leave out the articles a, an, and the.
9. Make sure you list and use your key skills. Remember, searches are conducted using key word searches.
10. Since you also don't know the exact keyword that will used for search criteria, it makes sense to also use synonyms, various forms of your keywords. Use spelled-out and acronym versions of common terms. For example, use both "manager" and "management;" try both CRM and Customer Relationship Management.
11. If you are responding to an ad, adjust your resume to match the description more closely.
12. List your qualifications in order of relevance, from most to least.
13. Quantify your experience wherever possible. Use numerical figures, such as monetary budgets, funds saved, time periods, efficiency improved, lines of code written, debugged, numbers of machines administered, fixed, etc. which demonstrates progress or accomplishments due directly to your work.
14. Proofread, proofread, and proofread. Be sure to catch all spelling errors, grammatical weaknesses, unusual punctuation, and inconsistent capitalizations. Proofread it numerous times over at least two days to allow a fresh eye to catch any hidden mistakes.


GOOD LUCK!

Twitter 101

Let me start with - I'm not an expert at Twitter. My analytical nature; however, forces me to figure out avenues to help me use technology better.

If you are new at Tweeting or just want to dip your toe, here are a couple of tools to help you navigate your way a litte easier. If you are an old pro, please share great links and/or tools with me.

http://www.twazzup.com/ - Easy & fast search engine for Twitter
http://www.tweetmyjob.com/ - job search
http://www.search.twitter.com/ - job search
http://www.twitterjobsearch.com - job search
http://www.twooting.com/ podcasts and info
http://www.twellow.com/ directory
http://www.tweetdeck.com/ -organizes your Tweets (and can add Facebook to the same page.)
http://www.tweetizen.com/ - filters groups and what’s relevant to you for better time management
http://www.tweetbeep.com/ – tracks conversations with your name/company in them.
http://www.wefollow.com/ – a self adding/selecting directory

I love the Tweetdeck. I can filter, have favorites, groups, etc. Its a great time manager.

Why Network - The First Step

Most people don't bother to network until they need help, until they need a job. The word network means an interconnected system of things or people. It doesn't mean save me. It's a give and take system.


The best networkers are givers. They freely make introductions of colleagues because they believe their colleagues may benefit from each other. They have nothing to gain from the connection. It's about giving without expectations. We all know people like this. They are smart, strong, and are of solid character. The type of people you want to have as a friend and colleague. Be one. Be a giver.

Make it personal. Reciprocate – good networkers are helping out people with referrals, leads, introductions, etc. There is a lot to be said for good karma. Be the one to take the initiative.

Be a Giver!

Why or Why . . .

I have given into blogging and embraced the world of Web 2.0. My intent is to use this platform to share and answer some of the questions I often receive.