GET READY FOR THE NEW DECADE WITH INTERVIEW TRAINING

FOR THE NEW YEAR—GET A BLOCK OF INTERVIEW TRAINING
COURSES TO SHARPEN YOUR JOB SEARCH PROCESS

GET A COACH—AND--

BE SURE TO SET YOUR EXPECTATIONS CORRECTLY


Nothing can set you on the right path for 2010 better than getting your Interviewing Skills polished and ready to go—and go—for the rest of a career path.

Interviewing is an emotionally charged event, every time it happens. It almost feels like life is really on the line when one interviews, and it well may be.

The following five points need to be considered:

1. You can’t do it all by yourself
2. Choose a Coach
3. Look at it as an investment in the rest of your career life
4. What you can—and cannot expect from a Coach
5. Evaluating your investment

One can read every book ever written about interviewing, go to seminars, get advice from friends, pray, practice, and explore all theories.

It still comes down to creating boundless enthusiasm, looking and acting the part, creation of massive amounts of self confidence, doing your homework and knowing everything possible not only about the company, but about the person who is interviewing you. A Coach can help you get all this straight and in order, but the questions keep coming.

And even then, how do you know if your listening skills are okay? Do you understand that the purpose of the first interview is definitely not to get a job—it is to get the next interview? Is your eye contact appropriate? What do you do and not do when being interviewed by more than one person?

Have you put together your list of questions for the interviewers? Do you know how many people the company is interviewing for this same position? How do you find out what next steps will occur? How do you stack up with other candidates?

What is that totally unique thing about you that makes you the very best possible candidate for the job? When will they make a decision? What career advancement is possible for you in the company?

The questions can go on and on. A really good Interview Coach will have been through this many times, and will have a close understanding of your particular situation.

Recently, I had the mother of a perspective client ask me if I would guarantee that the daughter get a certain job. Certainly not! Too many extraneous things can influence this happening or not. A good Coach will guarantee to expose the client to knowledge about how to maximize any interview, not just now but in the future. Good Coaches can and do create excellent interview skills for clients. Fortunately, these skills really stick and last and last—getting better over time.

A Coach will be able to increase confidence by getting a client ready for all those questions you are afraid they will ask—and yes, they will. Confidence in addressing these issues will last a lifetime. One learns it once, and it sticks.

A Coach will work with a client on everything from how to dress for an interview to what to say, and not say, about compensation issues. Expecting to be fully prepared for anything is part of the protocol, and cannot be overlooked.

A client has the right to expect to be as fully prepared for interview situations as possible. Practice may not make one perfect, but it surely makes all things better. The more one practices, the better one gets at the whole game. The process takes time. That’s why signing up for a block of 5 sessions is recommended.

When choosing a coach, pick someone who has experience in interviewing and teaching the art. Be sure that their background includes knowledge of your particular area of interest. Perfection will not occur in one session, although there are people who will try this. It just can’t happen. Sessions are intense, and need to be digested between sessions. Often clients sign up just as a big interview is about to happen. This can really create performance stress.

A good Coach will assist clients in putting together an effective, short “pitch” about who they are and what they can do—particularly as it relates to this special position.

Evaluation of a Coach cannot be done on whether the client gets a specific job—or not. The skills taught are lifetime adjuncts to an individual’s personality. Evaluation mainly concerns behavioral changes in the person being coached, increase in self-confidence, and a relaxed and enthusiastic attitude toward the whole interview process.

One client said: “I’m discovering that this is actually ‘fun’. It’s a game I love to play—and you can win or lose for the most incredible reasons”. And that about sums it up.

Get ready for the next decade. Become an accomplished interview person. In the next ten years, you will interview more than ever before as we are all absorbed in all the change that will occur. The people who are ready will be the winners. Don’t let yourself be left behind in the race for interview readiness.

COULD THIS BE THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE A CAREER CHANGE?

COULD THIS BE THE RIGHT TIME TO CHANGE CAREERS?


Yes, it could be—IF----------

• You are able to determine that it is the right time for YOU
• And this means:
o You have to make a PLAN
o You are ready to deal with INSECURITY
o You are ready to put in the TIME
o You are able to FOCUS on what gives you JOY
o You are capable of concentrating not only on your skills, but on your sincere INTERESTS
o You learn to take advantage of NETWORKING possibilities
o You are ready, willing, and eager to become a LIFETIME LEARNER
o You are ready to develop skills that make you an INSIDER in a new field
o You are ready to get expert CAREER CHANGE ADVICE

Notice that all nine of the above points start with “you”. You, yourself, are at the helm. Nobody or no situation can make this happen to and for you. You have to make it want to happen.

When you point in that direction, all the other things start to fall in place.

Timing is everything. During this economic downturn of the last year, many of my clients have been looking seriously at a career change—and they have done it.

This takes careful thought and planning, particularly as it relates to what one might be interested in doing for the next segment of life. It is not always easy to examine interests carefully. For instance, it is sometimes said that hobbies cannot become lucrative occupations. There is a long list of people who have successfully turned something they loved into an occupation—a fruitful business.

It isn’t as easy as going to a career counselor and asking that person to “discover” what you can do. The discovery is all in the lap of the participant. No “occupational test” is going to tell you what to do.

Often people try to select a new career direction from a list—with little luck. If one is bored by what one does not, the chances are good that the career mistake will be repeated.

Look instead at what you like.

Focus on those things that give you joy. What lights you from within? If we know that, then getting a proper job search direction will be easy.

Be ready to invest the time. Nothing just comes out of the blue.

You aren’t going to be stuck in any career forever. The world just doesn’t allow that anymore. You will have more than one career in your professional lifetime—sometimes having more than one at the same time.

Believe it or not, money may not be your main motivator, particularly when you do a career change.

The only way to survive and thrive in the New World of Work, is to be an avid lifetime learner. Always strive to be on the cutting edge of technology and the world of tomorrow. Learn and grow.

And doing it alone is not the best way to go. Investment in a Career Coach partner for your career transition/change, is one of the very best investments you can make.

Many career coaches have clients come to them after the client has tried, and tried, to do it alone. Lots of time and energy gets absorbed before a well formulated plan comes into being. Partnering with an expert will teaching you about networking, crafting an ideal Resume and Cover Letter, becoming an ace at Interviewing, and learning the core basics of Salary Negotiation.

Coaches are different, and approaches are varied. Interview several coaches. Find out who you like. See if you respect their backgrounds. Ask yourself how it will feel to work with that person, for you will be entering into a long relationship.

It isn’t unusual at all for a coaching relationship[ to move right into the client’s new job, as Leadership Development becomes the new focus.

So many positive scenarios can be envisioned here. Talk to coaches about how they handle career transitions, then make a good decision.

Look to the future, and don’t be afraid of transition and change. It can be the way to stay alive, prosperous, and successful.

'TIS THE SEASON TO LOOK FOR A JOB

‘TIS THE SEASON TO FIND A JOB—ANY JOB


Everybody loves an excuse—to do nothing.

Someone said to me today: “…well, nothing really happens between Thanksgiving and New Year…”

And this is pretty unbelievable.

EVERYTHING happens during this time.

The first reason is: there is more time.

In New York, it is dark and 4:30. People stay in their offices until 7:30, at least. So you have three whole hours for—Interviewing.

Companies are beginning to think of “next year”, and those slots they have to fill—because—they’ve been sitting on their money for the better part of 2009. Now—it’s time to get something done.

And you can’t do it without people—employees. And those employees need to be the best of the best. Right now, some firms are limping along on “also- rans”.

They need you—that potential employee with a specific niche skill that will successfully add to their bottom line. Remember always: they need you more than you need them.

Maybe you will be lucky, and not only identify your dream job, but get it. Chances are, though, this won’t happen.

If you really want to get back to work—perhaps after interviewing for months without any hits—you may end up taking something we call a “bridge job”.

Think of it this way: a bridge job is something to tide you over until things really get better. Funny thing is: some people are actually falling in love with their bridge jobs and are doing an unplanned career transition It’s all for the good. There is absolutely nothing wrong with loving what you do.

Just don’t wait until January 1 to start looking. By then, many slots will be filled.

This deep winter time is when decision makers have time on their hands, and they will say yes to a request for an informational interview. This is when you get to interview the company, instead of them interviewing you. Find out what they need. Find out where, if at all, you and your skills might fit in. Find out when they want to tie up hiring decisions.

Exhibit boundless enthusiasm for everything the company is doing. You can position yourself as an insider.

Let them know you are ready to start right now. Exhibit flexibility about work hours. Let them know that sort of a permanent-part-time arrangement is okay to start.

So if you get a bit of a non-traditional working situation, this is ideal for showing your skills, work ethic, and team spirit. It also gives you an important option: if you just can’t stand this thing—you can quit without much guilt/

Do everything, though, to keep this from happening. A job is a job, and having one is better than not.

But remember: it is indeed the season to keep on looking—while everyone else may want to just sleep through. Show your devotion to the task and go for a new beginning.

Whatever you do, get things in line now. Don’t wait for January.

December 2009

Beth Ross, Ph.D.
212-876-1759
www.bethross.com
bross2734@aol.com

RESUME MYTHS

RESUME MYTHS THAT NEED TO GO AWAY


To the astonishment of the young man from Atlanta, I told him that his Resume is headed straight for the trash can—fast.

Somehow, with astute and brilliant attention to detail, he had crammed everything about his incredible background in languages and journalism—into one page.

The Font was way too small.

The margins hardly existed at all

He had created so many “months” here and there that the chronological events ran together without meaning.

His Professional Summary was not bad, but it was made terrible by the constant use of the word “I”. The presentation was self absorbed and boring.

To top it off, he announced that he is going back to school to learn to become a dentist. When I asked him if he really wanted to be a dentist, he said definitely—no. I don’t think I would want him as my dentist.

Now this individual is totally misguided, but not a bad fellow. He is simply following some outdated conventional wisdom that will not serve him or anybody he knows.

When I quoted him a reasonable price for re-doing the Resume, he was shocked. One can only wonder. Think what dental school is costing in comparison to having his resume fixed. He loves languages, journalism, and creativity.

In truth, it would wonderful to be able to help him, but that’s not what he wants. One wonders, though, because he did post his “need” for help on an alumni job board.

So many are in this predicament of having a resume that shuts doors, rather than opening them.

Know that:

• The demand for a one-page resume went out the door with the horse and buggy. A resume simply has to be as long as it has to be—depending on what you have done. The most likely and okay place for a one-pager is for somebody just out of college. Period.

• Stuffing it all on one page just creates clutter. Nobody wants to read it.

• Sticking in all the words you think will be “scanned” is a myth not worth following. The words just get lost if they don’t have meaning.

• Dates need to be by the year, not the month. Let them ask in the interview, if they are interested, about the months.

• The Professional Summary may turn out to be the only thing read. Therefore it must be crafted with skill and thought and must be a summation of all the incredible things that are relevant to the position you are applying for.


• It is wise to have someone whose editing skills you trust, read the resume and give you an honest critique.

A constant complaint is that resumes are sent to job boards—and there is not a reply. Try not to take it personally. It is totally possible that the document ended up in the trash.

Reports come forth that temps are brought in to collect the resumes from a job board—and told to throw away all the ones that occur after 60 have been put in a pile.

This is why getting in front of a decision maker to ask just for advice—not a job—is such a good idea. They give you good ideas and names of other people to talk to.

To get in to see a decision maker, one needs a super cover letter. And, it’s not hard to do this. Cover letters are always one page, and consist of four paragraphs. A good career coach can help you with this.

Professional resume writers are all over the place. Choose wisely, and don’t necessarily go for the cheapest. Check out experience, and references. Get referrals from friends you respect, who have resumes whose content and appearance you can respect.

Remember that computers are really our friends, in that resumes can be changed, ever so slightly, to fit all appropriate situations.

For life—always have a great resume ready. You never know when it will be needed.

Beth Ross Ph.D.
212-876-1759
www.bethross.com
bross2734@aol.com

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE NEVER LOOKED FOR A JOB

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE NEVER LOOKED FOR A JOB


First of all, pick some sort of career direction, knowing that it may well change as you progress. Ideally, pick something you like—and go for it. Direction helps. 2010 may be worse than 2009 for getting jobs, so be prepared for a ride. Persistence pays off. You will get a job, but it may be something totally different from what you expect or really want.

The job you get will most definitely not be one “for life”. We are talking about you finding that thing we call a “bridge job”, kind of something to tide you over until we see what the new world of work is going to look like.

So be sure you have targeted a career before you go forth looking. Too much mental scatter can be a disaster.

Where do you find openings? Start with AOL. Around the first of every week, they print a list of where the jobs are. If that doesn’t work, try your local business newspaper. And always, there are the Internet job postings for your area.

Be sure, though, to do your homework. Sort of interview the company before they interview you. This means finding out everything you can about the company, what they do, and what problems they might have that you can help solve.

If you can get an internship, by all means do that. An internship is kind of like having a job, without having one. There is usually no money involved, but it is a great learning experience.

Internships look great, too, on a resume. When you finally do get a chance for an interview, take it—no matter what. Practice makes each interview get better. Practice doing mock interviews with a coach, if you can. Interviews are very competitive now, and you have a much better chance of maxing an interview if you have practiced and practiced.

Potential employers are very interested in how you can help impact their basic bottom line in a positive way. Create a “niche” that makes you unique for the advertised job.


Remember: your resume is your calling card. It needs to be clear, crisp, concise, and formatted correctly. Here again, get some professional help in creating your presentation. They don’t want to read a rendition of War and Peace. What you did in high school is usually not of any interest. Stick to facts that are relevant to the job description that you are attempting to fill.

Have a list of your very own career success points ready. Put together, too, a list of questions to ask the interviewer. This shows intelligence and sincere interest in the hiring company. It also shows that you can think.

And: it is not just the resume that is important. Your cover letter is crucial to getting positive attention. A cover letter is never more than a page long, and it summarizes your qualifications and your knowledge of the company, and your sincere interest in the company.

Pay attention to things like eye contact and your listening skills. Look and act the part.

Enthusiasm goes a long way. Show your enthusiasm and spirit in every way. People are ultimately, almost always, hired because somebody really likes them.

Always follow up after an interview. Thank them for their attention to your candidacy. Be sure to ask them what next steps will be, and get ready to say yes, when an offer comes.

Remember: care, but don’t care too much. No job is the only one in the world. Keep the momentum going. You will get better and better at interviewing. Keep at it. Affirm daily that you will get a good job.

Best of luck--