Support is the Key to Success!

I'm training for my first half-marathon right now. Our coach had us form success groups: 4 to 6 people in each group, to encourage each other through the week, run together on our training days, and be there for each other. A support group. My group is the "Back of the Packers". We walk more than we run, but we still compete and we finish races!

Having a support group is critical in a lot of areas of life, especially in a job search. There are lots of ways to find or get support, and it doesn't matter what kind of support group you join or form. But it is important to have.

At the networking mixers that I have attended, I have met a lot of people who participate in job clubs. A Job Club is rather structured in that you are given certain tasks to complete and must report back at the next meeting. They usually meet weekly.

I wasn't interested in that much support. I am highly motivated on my own. I'm a social media guru. I'm outgoing. But I still need support because even I can't be on task 24/7! Instead, I have formed a loose-knit support network with a few friends who are in the same boat. Let's face it, in this economy, everyone has at least one friend who is also a job seeker.

One of my friends was a former co-worker. We lost our jobs at the same company about 2 months apart. We also live near each other and were quite social outside of work so we naturally spend a lot of time together. We decided to work out together three days a week during the day. During our workouts, we would share job leads, bounce ideas off each other, practice answers to interview questions, etc. Oddly enough, we have both accepted long-term temporary assignments recently and we begin our new jobs on the same day!

Another friend I know through volunteering. We discovered that we were both unemployed via Facebook. We decided to attend a mixer together to catch up and network at the same time. Since then, we have formed an informal club. I showed her my blog, my Twitter account and how I use both. She shared tips she gleaned from webinars. The next mixer we attended together, she was doing the presentation on how to use Social Media! We stay in touch mostly by email, but sometimes by phone and in person. She's a great sounding board for me and I love being one of the folks she chooses to proofread her blog posts. I feel like I'm getting the inside scoop!

Lastly, I have another friend and former co-worker who just lost her job. I am probably more support to her than she is to me at this point, but I love the insight that I am gaining from talking to her. Her approach is fresh, and the questions she is asking me are inspiring me with new ideas. I hope that we continue to meet for lunch or via email even as my new assignment begins.

So I encourage you to find or form a support network of your own. We all need a little help from our friends!

Job Shower? Maybe...Maybe not...

I just read an interesting blog post on how to throw yourself a job shower.

Throw Yourself A Job Shower

The author has some good points that reflect back on my earlier post on tips for making the most of a networking mixer. If people attend networking mixers with the intention of only what's in it for them, then nobody gets anything out of it, and the whole event is a drain.

But if people attend thinking about how they can help others, then everyone gets something out of it.

The last mixer that I attended, I met several people who I could really help with job leads. Not all of them had cards, but I gave all of them my card and told them to contact me after the mixer so that I could give them more details about leads that I have, contacts that I have, etc. The surprising thing is that none of these people contacted me afterward to follow through.

So my last additional tip for successful networking is just that - follow through on your leads. If you find that you can't remember who the people were, make notes on the back of their cards while you're talking to them. And if someone tells you that they have leads for you, don't blow them off.

Unless, of course, you have your ideal job all picked out. In that case, by all means, throw yourself a Job Shower.

Networking Mixers - Here's How Do It Right

I have attended several different kinds of networking mixers lately from PinkSlipMixers.com events to LinkedIn events to alumni events. I've made a lot of good connections and I've had a chance to observe lots of different kinds of people and it occurred to me that networking at a mixer is a lot like the bar scene for dating. A lot of the same rules apply. So here are my tips for successful networking at mixers.

Dress appropriately. Not all of these events will be attended by recruiters or hiring managers, but some of them might and you should always make a good impression. Business Casual should be the minimum. No Jeans, No Crocs, No Flip Flops, No logo T-shirts. You don't want to look like you were just gardening or washing the car and then turned up at the mixer.

Arrive early. This is especially important if you are somewhat introverted. It will be an instant icebreaker that you were one of the first to arrive. You can greet the host and warm up your small talk before the room is packed and more intimidating.

Have good body language. Even if chairs are provided, it's better to remain standing. You will seem more approachable. If you are holding a drink, set it down once in a while and talk with your hands. You will appear interesting. If you are standing alone, don't cross your arms in front of your body or put your hands on your hips. Keep your head up and look around the room and try to make eye contact with someone that you would like to come over to you. Raising your eyebrows or tilting your head signals that you are approachable. The hardest thing to do is to walk up to a group of people already engaged in conversation. So look for a smaller group of two or three people, hover nearby and at a lull in their conversation, introduce yourself.

Be a giver, not a taker. Networking is not just about what's in it for you. It's about sharing your contacts and job leads with others. So be a giver. Listen to what the people you meet are saying and think about how you can help them. Give them a reason to want to help you. This also goes for your contacts who are employed. Don't just ask them for help when you are unemployed. Keep in touch throughout the year, even if it's just for coffee or a quick email. They'll be much more likely to help you if you aren't a drain.

Learn to take suggestions. People will offer you all kinds of advice if they are in the "giving" mood. Some of it will be good, some of it won't, but learn how to take all of their suggestions gracefully. Even if some of what they suggest isn't really for you, it might spark a thought that hadn't occurred to you before. It also may be good advice that you can pass on to someone else.

Make sure you circle the room at least twice. This will give you the opportunity to see if anyone new has come in or if someone who was busy in a large group is now available to chat. You can also walk up to groups that include people you met earlier and meet the new people they are chatting with.

After the event, make sure to keep in touch with the people that you met that are quality contacts. Add them to your LinkedIn network and follow them on Twitter.

As you grow your network, you will make new friends, find mentors and support, and maybe, just maybe, find that dream job you've been looking for.

Bon chance!

One is All You Need

A friend of mine was laid off in February when her company went through a major downsizing/restructuring. Her department was decimated but several of her co-workers were picked up by a competitor company within a few weeks. After about a month or so, another position came open at that company. My friend interviewed for it but was disappointed to learn that, between the time she applied and the time she interviewed, the position had been moved to another plant quite distant from where she is living. She told them that she hadn't planned on relocating. They later told her that they went with another candidate.

In most instances, that would have been the end of the story. It would serve as a cautionary tale to be open to relocation or another position when you go in to interview. But that's not what happened here.

Instead, many weeks later, the recruiter called and offered my friend a contract position at the plant close to her home. She offered a very competitive salary and the possibility that the position could be contract-to-hire if they could find a way to keep it at that location. My friend took the job! Of course, she did. Who wouldn't?

Instead of being a cautionary tale, instead I think this story serves to illustrate something entirely different: One job offer is really all you need - if it's the right one.

I'm inspired.

Can you really find a job using Social Media?

Today a friend & I met to network/support each other in the job hunt.

We reviewed each other's resumes and shared some job hunting stories.

One question arose from that: Has anyone out there actually found a job using social media? Both of us have heard conflicting things about the use of blogs or Twitter or LinkedIn to find a job as opposed to traditional forms of job hunting or networking.

So I pose this question: How did you get your last job? Were you recruited from the job before that? Was it a personal "live" connection? Or did you find your job in the virtual world of social media?

We want to hear your stories! Please comment on this blog or DM me on Twitter.

A Writing Sample? Certainly!

I applied for a job today and in the advertisement, I was instructed to send a writing sample of about half a page on any subject.

I thought for a moment and then realized that I have a writing sample. It's right here. It's my blog. So instead of writing something new, I included the URL for this blog in my cover email and invited them to read it.

I began blogging a couple of years ago when two writer friends suggested it as a way to keep my creative juices going after moving away from the more creative side of the entertainment industry into finance. I started this blog just to focus on my job search stories. I do have to say that they were absolutely right about blogging. I love having a place to write about whatever I want. I do feel that it gives me the chance to be creative whenever I choose.

Blogging has also helped me feel more comfortable about using social media like Facebook and Twitter. Twitter is nothing if not microblogging. The challenge with Twitter is being able to say something in 140 characters. Sometimes, I have to run over into a second tweet, but I am improving.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my friends (they know who they are) for encouraging me to begin blogging. Without them, I wouldn't have had so much writing to sample!

Professionalism is a Two Way Street

I'm always reading tips online and in the paper for people who are looking for a job. What to wear, what to say, how early to arrive, how to follow up. All of these topics are readily available to the job seeker who wants to improve their interviewing style. The bottom line from all the tipsters is that the job seeker must show courtesy and respect to the interviewer who has given his or her time to meet with you. In other words, be professional.

I think professionalism is a two-way street. I think the interviewer also must show courtesy and respect to the interviewee. After all, the impression I get of a company and its culture is largely due to my interaction with the staff I meet on interview day.

In this current job search, I have been on four interviews. Four very different companies, three of whom were the hallmark of professionalism and one which was not.

Here's what the three did right:
One was a small not-for-profit, one was a large international entertainment firm, and one was a large national staffing firm. Despite the differences in size, all three made sure that we were making good use of our time. They had clear job descriptions in their advertisements. One did a lengthy phone interview first but all had a basic pre-interview. All needed me to meet with multiple people and arranged the interviews so that I would only need to come once and I could meet with everyone. Though I arrived a bit early for each interview (to show respect for their time, I am always 10 minutes early), they had someone to greet me, ask if I wanted a glass of water, etc. Each meeting was kept to 30ish minutes which also showed respect for my time.

I have not heard a final decision from all of these companies, but I have heard from one in the negative. That is fine. The interview process is about seeing if you are a good fit for them and I wasn't. But I would encourage friends to apply to any of these companies whether or not they hire me. That's because my sense is that each of them values their employees and my friends who may end up working there will be treated with respect.

Now for company number 4, a small hospitality company, and what it could have done better:
First, the advertisement simply said "Accountant wanted". That's all. No job duties or degrees or certifications that would be required. I found this odd, but I applied for the job anyway. I figured that my resume would speak for itself and if I wasn't what they were looking for, that would be that. As it turns out, I wasn't what they were looking for and I would have known that if they had written a clear job description in the posting. Unprofessional.

Next, they sent me a letter asking me to come in to interview. After reading my resume, they should have known that I wasn't what they were looking for, but they asked me to come in all the same. I phoned them upon receipt of the letter and reached voicemail so I left a message with my number and the days and times I was available in the coming week. This was Saturday. On Wednesday, they phoned me just before noon and said they had an appointment available that afternoon. I'm sorry, but unless you are a temp agency, you shouldn't expect people to be available to interview within two hours of your phone call, especially when that wasn't one of the days they told you they were available. Unprofessional.

They were able to offer me an appointment two weeks in the future. I found this odd, but I took it and figured if I found something else first, I could always phone and cancel. Fast forward to interview day. I arrived at the appointed address 10 minutes early and the office was locked! No one was there. I'm sorry, but if you have someone coming to interview, you should be present. Unprofessional.

I phoned the woman who made the appointment and she said she would have to call me back. While I was waiting, a gentleman showed up. He was also there to interview at the EXACT same time as I was. This is the most unprofessional thing of all. No employer should ever schedule two interviews at the same time.

Eventually, someone showed up. We were ushered into the small waiting room and handed accounting tests to take before we met with the interviewer. It wasn't a temp agency or a staffing firm so why were they handing us accounting tests? The gentleman left. I sat there in the waiting room doing the test while they listened to loud music and spoke in a language not English. This is also unprofessional. It is rude in the workplace to listen to music at a volume that others can hear. While people often speak other languages in the workplace, when someone is waiting to interview and within earshot, it gives the impression that you are discussing that person or else you would be speaking in English.

After my test was scored, I was ushered in to meet with the interviewer. She looked at my test results, asked me my salary range and then said that I wasn't what they were looking for. Well, good, because they weren't what I was looking for. I want to work for a company that treats its employees with courtesy.

I don't know if the gentleman will go back or if he will be hired. I kind of hope that he won't be hired there because he was a nice man and I think he deserves to work at a nice company. Like Numbers 1-3.