Are You in a (Job) Rut?

The other night I was forced to face the facts in my personal life; I was in a rut. I was doing the same thing, day after day, week after week. I was so focused on what I THOUGHT I was getting accomplished that I didn’t notice all the little things that started happening to make me unhappy. I think most people can relate to this; you get into a routine that works so you think its all fine and dandy. Then you realize that routine has caused you to let other parts of your life slip, and you panic.

Not fun.

So what do you do when you want to get out of a rut? You examine the problem, come up with ways to fix it, and then actively pursue that plan. Well, you can take my “ditch the rut” advice if you find yourself in a job rut.

What’s a job rut? It’s when you find yourself hitting the snooze alarm so many times that you finally say, “Yeah, I woke up too late and decided to just take a personal day.” It’s when you’ve “killed off” every relative you have in order to get bereavement days off.

The only way to get out of a job rut is to take action!

• You have to have a positive attitude as well as a can do attitude. Get up every morning saying, “I’m seriously going to try and make this day the best I can.”
• You have to come up with reasons why you loved your company in the first place. Was it their mission statement? Was it your boss? When you’re feeling blue, think about those things that really drew you to the company in the first place.
• You have to look for ways to improve. I hate it when people say, “There’s just NOTHING for me to do.” YES THERE IS. TRUST ME. There are so many webinars on the internet that pertain to your field, whatever it is. Sit in on a couple of those and expand your knowledge base! You may be able to spark a new idea within your company and get some positive recognition, which in turn will make you feel better about your job.
• You have to connect with your co-workers. Don’t sit at your desk all day, eat by yourself, and stare at the computer until your eyes start to burn. Get up and walk around, start up conversations with people. I can guarantee someone in your office watches the same show you do, or enjoys the same restaurants. When you work with people you enjoy, you’re much happier at work.
• Be honest with yourself about why you’re in a job rut. Maybe you REALLY have tried all of these things, and things just aren’t working out. Take control, and start looking for another job. If you’re truly unhappy, it’s not worth it to stay in a position where you’re miserable at work. The people around you don’t appreciate it, and it’s really only a matter of time until your boss starts to notice as well.

iPhone Apps and The Job Search

Today, I was on my phone and successfully checked my mail, watched Ellen do her monologue, ordered movie tickets, and found a recipe for dinner tonight.

The iPhone is the best thing that ever happened to me. For those of you who are wondering if it’s worth it, IT IS. FULLY WORTH IT.

Not only do I use my phone for my own personal enjoyment, but I like to do research on it for you all as well. For instance, I’ve been trying out all sorts of iPhone apps that are for job searching, and I’ve definitely come across some that are my favorite. I thought I’d share with you the ones that are worth checking out, even if they do cost you a couple of bucks.

• Indeed Jobs – Job Search…First, this is powered by Indeed, one of the biggest job search engines out there right now…possibly THE biggest. It’s easy to read, easy to use, and you can pretty much do everything you can do on the actual site on this application. Using Indeed will connect you to SO many job openings, and you can do it all from your couch with this application.
• Interview Pro by Daniel Wong…So you’ve landed the interview, YAY! But now what? Can you get THROUGH the interview? Like anything else, becoming good at something requires practicing it, and this will help you out. This app will ask you questions you might not have thought a hiring manager would ask, and they supply you with the favorable answers as well. It’s only $1.99 and totally worth it when you’re making more than that an hour at your new job.
• LinkUp.com Job Search Engine…This app is free, and one of the best places to look for a job. Why? Because where a website like Indeed.com finds jobs from OTHER job boards, LinkUp.com finds their jobs directly from the company’s/employer’s website. As any job seeker knows, the BEST place to find an open position is on the company’s actual website, so this concept is genius. Some people I know have complained it’s crashed on them, but it hasn’t happened to me so far.
• JobCoach by Buoyant Life LLC…We ALL need someone to keep us encouraged during our job search, and better yet, someone who knows what they’re TALKING about. This app is definitely for the active job seeker. While it is $2.99, it’s totally worth it. It will help you stay focused on what you’re looking for, what areas you need to improve in, and a ton of tips on how to get noticed in your industry. The layout is user friendly and pleasing to the eye, so you’re not confused by what you’re looking at.
• resuMe Editor by TapTapWorks…While I don’t recommend using generic resume layouts, some people just need all the help they can get. If you’re one of those people who just can’t use Microsoft Office to save your life (and if you can’t, I’m not sure how you’re using your iPhone), then this is for you. You can just put in your information and actually send your resume out through the app. It’ll keep track of where it’s sent it for you so you don’t resend to the same company. Plus, it lets you move sections and have a little bit of freedom. If you NEED to have something like this, this is the one to have.

New Years Resolutions for Your Job Search

Happy New Year! It’s been way too long since I blogged last; I apologize! What is it with the end of the year being so crazy busy? The beginning of the year is no better; I’ve spent LOTS of time putting together some data…and then I did some more data…did I mention I put together data?

Putting those things together gave me a great idea, however. Putting together a “roll up” of how things went in 2009 was going to help Brookdale assess what helped and hurt us the past year; why couldn’t I do something similar for myself? So, I started to do a “roll up” of things that happened to me in 2009; what I had learned this year and ways to improve my performance, whether that be in the work place or my life. So, you know how it is, you start thinking about things, your mind wanders…and then you come up with your next blog.

After I rolled up my 2009, I made promises for 2010. And that’s what I’m here to do for you; help guide you to promises you should make to yourself while you continue your job search. Sometimes looking under every rock and cave for a job can get so stressful, you finally decide to lower your standards a little bit. Now, if you have unreasonable expectations in the first place, this may not be the worst idea you’ve ever had. However, if you know what you’re truly worth to an organization, don’t get frustrated. Just remember these New Years Resolutions!

1) I will not settle for a position I don’t really want or am way too overqualified for.

2) I will not send in a resume that is not complete and not tailored to that specific job/company.

3) I will not call back more than two times about a position I have interviewed for but have gotten no response on.

4) I WILL greet interviewers with a solid handshake (HUGE pet peeve, I hate it when people barely touch my hand).

5) I WILL look out of state for a job if I’m not having any luck finding one in my current state.

6) I WILL attend classes or online webinars to help further my knowledge in my field of choice, thus having more things to put on my resume, thus being more educated…THUS, finding a job that I WANT.

7) I WILL network on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media networks with people who are doing what I want to. They could possibly help me learn about what I need to do to get where they are.

8) I will not apply to jobs without reading the job description and requirements; I may find that I’m not qualified.

9) I will not bad mouth my previous employer in an interview, because I know that looks bad.

10) I WILL HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE! I WILL FIND A JOB THIS YEAR!!!

The Culture of Your Company IS Important!

So, after MONTHS and MONTHS of searching for a job, you finally land one. All your hard work and persistence has paid off; you sent out a million resumes, went on more job interviews than you care to admit, considered spending the rest of your life playing the lotto and simply crossing your fingers, but it WORKED!…

…Now, you’ve been at this job for about 2-3 months, and you’re thinking, “Ok…maybe unemployment wasn’t SO bad.”

Sound familiar?

My theory is this; a company’s culture is the deciding factor on whether you want to get up in the morning and go to work. Let’s be honest, unless you get paid to lay in the sun all day or watch television for living, your job is still a job. We may like what we do, but we’d all rather be spending our time with family, friends, or doing things that we WANT to do.

However, if you work for a company who’s culture matches your own, you will get up every morning and not dread going. In fact, I’m willing to bet you will want to go.

Wikipedia defines culture as, “the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group.”  The more I read that, the more it resonates with me how big of a deal it is to be in a culture setting that you FIT in. Think about it in terms of your own family; if your beliefs are drastically different than other members of your clan, I’m willing to be you don’t spend as much time around them, do you? You’ve probably surrounded yourself with people who *gasp* BELIEVE in similar things that you do. This can range from religion to the type of book club you’re in!

A work atmosphere is no different. If you’re not working for a company who embodies the same beliefs as you do, you won’t be at this company for long. My guess is that you’ll either quit, or you’ll do your job so poorly that they’ll fire you.

I believe this because it’s happened to me before. My first job after graduation was working for a music company. After I was hired, I was sent off to Florida to be trained for a whole week with one of the top managers in the company. I learned so much, believed what he told me about how amazing and fair the company was, and how great it was to work for them. I went back to start my job, excited to get going and make a difference in the company…but that didn’t happen.

While I tried hard at first, I just couldn’t get past the fact that what I was told about this company was completely opposite from what the actual truth was. Now, I will say in all fairness that what may have been true at one store wasn’t at another, and so what my trainer told me may have not been a lie in his eyes. But it was clear to me from the beginning that not all the stores or all the people that worked for them were on the same page. My set of beliefs did not match with what I was experiencing at this company, and completely turned me off all together. I HATED going to work, and the hard worker I had been turned into a slacker who simply didn’t care. All I wanted to do was LEAVE, and the sooner the better. I found another job within two months and never looked back.

Now, after another culture clash in between, I’m finally with a company I truly fit into. Our motto is, “Have fun and celebrate life everyday!” And you know what? It’s NOT just something we say but don’t follow through with. Today we just had our Christmas party, and the all day event (close to it) was fantastic. There was plenty of food, friends, and fun! I looked around the room during our lunch, and thought, “Wow. How did I get so lucky?” Because it’s not just the Christmas party that makes me realize how well I fit with this company. It’s all the other ways we strive to better ourselves everyday. I can truly say I LOVE my job, and it’s because of the people I work with and work for.

My advice? Don’t hold yourself back. If you find yourself hating your job but your not sure why, take a look around you and see if you’re just not fitting in with the culture that company has already set for itself. Your relationship with your company is an important one, so if you’re clashing, it may be time to “break up.”

To see my pictures of the company Christmas party, check out this link! Each department had a different Christmas movie to base their theme off of. Recruiting did Christmas Vacation, which explains the “Cousin Eddie” look a like you’ll see lots of! And yes, the can is empty and was a prop! :)  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2375364&id=21706504&l=b28c75746d

You Did WHAT?! In an INTERVIEW?!?!

It truly amazes me what people will say and do during an interview.

It’s almost as if they think they’re just talking to their best friend, and it’s ok to share information that is more suitable for a happy hour rather than an job interview. Or they think they’re at home and kicking off their shoes (literally) won’t bother anyone!

I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to figure this out, but everything you say and do in an interview is being weighed and measured. After all, the hiring manager doesn’t know you; all they’ve got is a resume to go off of. So whatever you say, you better believe that it’s being picked apart and thrown into the “Keep” or “Can” pile. As for your mannerisms, just remember this; actions speak louder than words.

That said, I could be here ALL DAY talking about instances where people have said crazy, inappropriate things during an interview. Instead of me rambling on and giving tips on how to not look like a complete nutcase, I thought I’d share a story that my boss, Ray Swatzell, wrote to summarize some of his craziest recruiting run-ins. Now, this story is not actually true, but it is based off of true events. After you read it, you will realize how absolutely terrifying that is. For you job seekers, if you read this and STILL don’t understand what you might be doing wrong…I’m not sure what to tell you.

Interview Madness

Working in Staffing Services for the last five years has allowed me to hear and read some very strange responses to interview questions.

I can better explain with an interview story.

I am awaiting the arrival of an interview applicant that Jennifer, one of our top recruiters, has set up for me in consideration of a HR position that we currently have open.

I didn’t know it at the time, but this was going to be one of my wildest interviews ever.

Earlier that morning, John, the person I was to interview, was stuck in awful Nashville traffic. In the car with John was his mother, who came along to assist him as a personal reference and interview coach. She is the authority figure, the one who makes the decisions for John.

While in traffic, an incident occurred were John believed that a ridiculously bad driver on his cell phone in a green Honda Accord had just cut in front of him. Outraged, John flipped the driver of the Honda the bird for not signaling or so he thought. The driver of the green Honda was me, John’s interviewer!

It is now I-Day or Interview Day, if you prefer.

I get a call from Jennifer that the interview candidates have arrived and that she will bring them to my office. Thinking to myself, that’s strange why would Jennifer speak in the context of them, since I was expecting only one person.

I was really taken aback when John and his mom and walked into my office, and I then realized that John was the person that had provided me with the hand sign earlier. Also, because he had brought his mother with him to an interview!

John had on at least 5 rings on his fingers, reeked of cologne and was wearing sunglasses. Additionally, I assumed that he must have a cold in view of his coughing and over abundant sweating.

His mom was something else; she would cause you to do a double take if you saw her in a crowd. Let’s put it this way, for some strange reason, dark alley and Sci-Fi came to mind.

I further knew this interview was going to go down hill real fast when John, who was chewing gum loudly, took it out of his mouth and attempted to shake hands with me.

Very quickly, I said please have a seat!

John and his mom set down in front of me, across from my desk.  Right away John began to fidget around and would glance down at his watch, as if the interview were interfering with something far more important.

I introduced myself and made some small talk to break the ice. Then John asked:

“Can I borrow paper & pen, so I can take notes?”

I had to catch my breath hoping that my disbelief didn’t show on my face. Answering with a hesitant yes, I handed him a pen and some paper.

You can only image the conversation that was now going on inside my head. What in the world was happening here…has Jennifer lost her mind…this is so bizarre. 

Jennifer had screened John’s resume and pre-qualified him with a phone interview. She thought that he was qualified for the position even though, there were some gaps in employment and he had not worked anywhere, during the last 10 months.

Regaining my composure…I resumed the interview.

Tell me John, why did you leave your last position?

He responded, “No real reason, I was fired and the boss took out a restraining order against me, but there is no merit to it, he just thinks I’m crazy. I only follow him to obtain the real reason he fired me.

It’s very perplexing, I just can’t figure out why he takes off running when he sees me. It’ ok now, the court has ordered me to seek therapy.”

Wow, uh ok!  “Why should we hire you for this position?”

“You need to hire me because I am allergic to unemployment and more importantly it is now my turn to be hired after applying three times. Just ask my mother, she can tell you how deserving I am for this position.”

Now the voices in my head are really getting loud…I’m certain that my face is more than a little red.

I asked my next question hoping things will get better. “What is your greatest weakness?”

Without hesitation, John replied in a dark tone, “I hate dealing with the public.”

No such luck on getting better, next. “What is your ideal job?”

John smiled at his mom and she smiled back. He looked at me and said: “Lying on the couch and doing nothing all day.”

I am now almost too scared to ask the next question. “Is there any reason way we should not hire you for this position?”

He replied with, “Well….I did get arrested for growing pot in my house but it wasn’t mine. Does that count?”

I didn’t blink, just went on to the next question. “John, can you explain to me the gaps in your employment history and why you have not worked in the last 10 months?”

He replied, “Because I have two people chasing me around and it took me sometime to realize they were imaginary.”

Wishing I had a panic button on my desk, I asked, “Are they with you now?”

John replied, “Yes stranding right beside me!”

The voices in my head were very loudly and in unison saying, “End this interview and end it now!”

“John do you have any questions for me?”

“I have a comment and one question. I am very excited about this position. My parole officer told me about the job and I do need the money to pay off my DWI fines. Does your health insurance cover substance abuse?”

At a rapid pace, I said, “No!” and then thanked him and his mom for coming to the interview.

After they left, I checked with security to make certain that they had left the building!

Wow! Maybe you can help me find the answer to the question now resonating in my head: “What was Jennifer thinking?”

What NOT To Do During Your Job Search

It’s been awhile folks! I’ve been off the radar for awhile, enjoying my family and friends during this great holiday season. But I’m back and ready to blog in full force!

I find it ironic, however, that I’m talking about things NOT to do during a job search when I just did one of the things I shouldn’t have. As you read you will see what I’m referring to, but I’m pretty ashamed of myself right now. I’ll slap my own hand later.

Here’s the thing; some of us think job searching is going to be easy. And for some, it may just be. But those people have worked for 20+ years and have a resume that makes hiring managers do unmentionable things to get their hands on. Most of us don’t have that advantage going for us, so we have to get a little creative and strategic to get our jobs. And because of this fact, we run the risk of falling into a scary trap; we could totally screw up any chances of finding the job of our dreams by one little mistake. That’s where this article comes in. So, without further ado, here’s what NOT to do…I didn’t mean to make that rhyme.

What NOT To Do During Your Job Search

1. Don’t call…and call…and call some more. There is NOTHING worse than a candidate who is so persistent they become a pest. Recruiters and hiring managers have a lot on their plate. Recruiters have anywhere from 10-40 (sometimes more) jobs that they’re trying to fill, and hiring managers still have to do THEIR job plus find the perfect candidate to fill another position. They aren’t ignoring you because they don’t like you; it’s because they may not have even SEEN your resume yet. In my own opinion, if you haven’t heard back from anyone in a week, send an email to the hiring manager. Express your interest, attach your resume, and also make it known that you understand they are incredibly busy, but you look forward to hearing from them if you are qualified for the position. If you still haven’t heard back in 3 weeks, lick your wounds and move on. You may hear back eventually, but chances are they don’t find you qualified or they have someone in mind already. Some companies have a courtesy letter they send, explaining that you aren’t a fit for the position, but if you don’t hear from anyone, just assume you won’t.
2. Don’t send the same resume to every company. I know what you’re thinking; you don’t have TIME to change your resume for every job opportunity you come across. Well, then I guess you don’t have time to really care about getting a job then, do you? Hate to break it to you, but due to the high volume of resumes coming in every day, recruiters and hiring managers are scanning your resume quickly to see if you meet their “must have” qualifications. In other words, your resume BETTER include what they’re asking for. My best advice would be to take note of what they are requiring for the position, and if you meet those qualifications, go back to your resume and HIGHLIGHT them! Include them in a “Skills” section at the top of the page; if they ask for five (5) years of experience, and you have that or more, mention it right away. List your skills in the order that they did; they WILL take notice. You can’t expect to send out a weak resume to everyone and get strong results.
3. Don’t apply to just any old job. When you do this, you’re saying that you don’t really care what job you get. Most of us already have an idea in our head of what we want in our career, and there’s nothing wrong with going after that. I’m not suggesting you be extremely picky, but have an idea of what area of work you’re interested in. For example, when I was job searching I knew I was looking for something in HR.  I applied to positions that were considered in the human resources department, but didn’t necessarily have it in the title. That’s how I came across the “recruiter” job position. Also, applying to numerous jobs at the same company can hurt your chances, too. Some companies have applicant tracking systems, and can see every job you’ve ever submitted a resume to in their company. If you’re applying for jobs that range from cooking to being an IT person, you’re not showing your credibility. If you’re going to apply for just any type of job, make sure you’re doing it at different companies.
4. Don’t keep your job hunting a secret from family and friends. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve called a candidate about their resume when people, other than the candidate, answer the phone and are downright rude to me…until they find out I’m calling about a job opportunity for their loved one. It’s not really the best way to make a first impression, is it? Make sure the people in your life know you’re searching for a job. Not only should they be aware they may be called for a reference at some point, but they might hear about a position somewhere else and tell you about it.
5. Don’t think that Social Media is a joke. Social media is probably your BEST bet while you’re job searching. Who can afford to get into these networking functions when they’re unemployed? Well, you can use LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for FREE and get the same chance to network. Get onto LinkedIn, find someone who is doing what you want to do, and contact them. There’s no one in this world who is going to tell you to buzz off when you tell them they’re doing what your dream job is, and you’d appreciate any advice they could give. Who doesn’t want to hear that their job rocks and they’re lucky to have it? Networking could possibly lead you to other professionals, webinars and classes to expand your knowledge, and even a future position! Take advantage, people!
6. Don’t look for opportunities every few days. You have to stay focused, and focused means searching every day. This is where I slap my own hand, because if I would have been job searching the past week, I would have done a really bad job at it. I’ve been M.I.A the past week, and you can’t do that when you’re looking for new opportunities. Because there’s ALWAYS someone else, lurking in the shadows, waiting to snatch that position from you when you’re not looking. Make sure you’re keeping track of what positions you’ve applied for so you don’t apply for the same one twice. Also keep track of what job boards you’ve been searching on. Be careful with ones such as SimplyHired or Indeed. Those pull jobs off of CareerBuilder, Monster, and other major job boards, so you could be applying to the same job and not even know it.
7. DON’T GIVE UP! Job hunting can be a nightmare. You sit at a computer for hours and submit your resume to any job you’re qualified for, only to be rejected, day after day, week after week. It’s exhausting! But you can’t give up. SOMETHING will come along. I searched for a long time until I finally received a call back about a position. The job for you WILL come along; you just have to be focused. Know what you want, do everything you can to get to where you need to be, and apply with these tips in the back of your mind. You WILL find a job!

Find a Job With Social Media, and NOT Just Job Postings

Social media, to me, is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Who would have thought that in 2004, when I first signed up for Facebook, I’d be addicted beyond comprehension to updating my status, checking what my friends were up to (aka “stalking”), and posting pictures via BlackBerry Facebook app? Don’t even get me started on Twitter. It’s how I find out everything…EVERYTHING. Is that wrong? If it is, I’m glad I’m not right. And lately, I look at my LinkedIn about a million times a day. I don’t know what I think is going to happen, but the thought of missing an email or not reading a discussion annoys me more than probably is normal, healthy even.

The best part about social media is social recruiting. Wow, I love it. It has opened doors in terms of how I find and communicate with candidates. Now it’s not just, “Oh yes, I have this job opening.” It’s more along the lines of, “Really enjoyed that blog you wrote! You sound like a good fit for our company!” It’s fan-tabulous. Yes, I just said that.

If I was job seeking, I would totally take advantage of the fact that not only could I find out who the CEO of some company was, but that I had the actual chance to directly contact them or get them to look at something I’ve done, just by writing a blog or tweeting about an article they may like. It’s mind-boggling! If you are a job seeker and you’re NOT using social media to progress your career, you probably don’t deserve a job in the first place. I’m sure that’s a little harsh, but wake up and smell the revolution, people.

So, I can see it now. People all over are logging onto Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn (my sites of choice, as you’ve probably guessed) and all they’re looking for are job postings. Well, that’s all fine and dandy, but you’re still not being SOCIAL. The key word is SOCIAL. Using LinkedIn to find job postings is like going to a party and not talking to anyone; you’re present, but you’re not active. To be successful using social media to job hunt, you have to put yourself out there and make yourself known by communicating with others. And I’m going to give you some tips on how to do that for each networking site…of my choice, of course.

• LinkedIn: I LOVE THIS SITE. It’s probably my favorite for job seeking out of all three of them. The key here is to connect with people who are doing what you want to and who are working where you want to. This is so simple to find out; all you have to do is use the handy-dandy search function. Once you search for your job/company of choice, you’ll be able to see who works there and how you are linked to them. You could be linked by a connection or you could be part of the same group. Send them a message or ask to be a connection, and in your note specify that you’re extremely interested in what they do and you’d really appreciate the advice of a professional such as themselves. Sucking up never hurts, really it doesn’t. Just don’t be obvious and obnoxious about it. As far as groups go, join any group that applies to what you’re interested, and be INVOLVED. Start discussions, post news stories, and talk with those people. You never know where a conversation can go, and I guarantee, if they know of a position that’s open and they think you could be a good fit, they’ll tell you about it. After all, it is a professional networking site.
• Twitter: To use Twitter effectively, you need to SHARE information first before you ASK for help or advice. This is very simple to do. Say you’re interested in healthcare. Set up a Google Alert for whatever area of healthcare you’re interested in. Then, tweet about the articles that pop up in your inbox everyday. Make sure you add searchable keywords to your post so people who are interested in that topic can find you. Once you start racking up some followers, you can chat with them about their jobs, what they know, etc. Twitter friends are fantastic about giving advice and encouragement, and one of them may hold your next job in the palm of their hand.
• Facebook:  Facebook is a tricky thing. There are so many ways this can get you in trouble instead of doing good for you. My advice is to privatize the HECK out of your personal Facebook page and make a professional one. It may get confusing and friends will try to add you to both, but I would suggest using this one to add only people you’re professionally connected with; whether theirs is personal or not doesn’t matter, just as long as yours isn’t. People think this is the wrong way to go about things sometimes, but I don’t. If you want someone to feel confident in your abilities, the quickest way to ruin that is to have your Spring Break ’07 pictures right next to your business photo. However, I don’t think there is anything wrong with adding a few pictures of you in your personal life that are appropriate to share; it makes you look like an approachable person. Once you’ve set up your professional page, start joining the groups that fit you the best. Be a fan of a company that you admire or would like to work for; I can almost guarantee that they have a fan page. Start engaging in conversation on Facebook; people are drawn to this site and check it quite frequently. Post your resume to the wall on a Facebook group of your choice, maybe someone will see it. Once you’ve started the talk, you’ve begun your networking journey, and since Facebook is so large (if it was a country it’d be the 4th largest in the world) you’re bound to connect with someone who may have your next job waiting for you.
• Blog: Start one. Write about your field, anything and everything you can about it. I can’t tell you what it will do for your career. Don’t be an idiot and write articles that are titled, “Why I Hate Working,” or “Why I Quit All My Jobs.” Write about your job search, or your goals for the future, or about articles you read. Show your involvement in your career path, and it will help tremendously!

My Pet Peeves With Emails

Email is a complex thing…no seriously, it is. It may be the easiest thing in the world to shoot out a quick email to someone, but the rules that we must follow are hard to remember sometimes. I’m guilty of this too. I know that I use more “!!!” marks than necessary. I never want anyone to think I’m not extremely happy to be typing, so I feel the need to throw those in there more than normal. As of right now, I’ve already deleted seven of exclamation marks for this blog.

But for right now we’re going to pretend I never do anything wrong and I’m perfectly fine the way I am. Ha.

And, as most pet peeves go, different people are bothered by different things. This is what bothers me; what I mention may not even be on your top ten list. I do however see these “email traits” as negative when you’re job searching, so if you’re doing that, take notice. This is for your own good. Even if you’re not job searching, you may want to just take notice on how small things that you think are harmless are really driving someone absolutely nuts. Enough so that they blog about it.

So, without further ado…Email Pet Peeves!

• The Email Address: I’m sorry, but who in their right mind would hire someone who’s email address was hotchick4u@hotmail.com? I know this is someone’s email, and I’m willing to bet that this person has listed this email on a resume. Don’t. Just…don’t. Others might include granny99@blahblahblah.com or basketballgirl1991@whatever.com. I’m talking to you too. If you’re applying to a job, here’s what your email should be. firstname.lastname@mailerofchoice.com. PERIOD. Go make one right now…I’ll wait.
• Misspelled Words: I’ll be the first to say, I’m a horrible speller. That’s why there’s this amazing feature called SPELL CHECK, and even some of them are AUTOMATIC. You look like a total idiot if you have misspelled words in your content. How to fix this? Read over what you write. I probably read this blog four or five times before I ever publish, and I’m sure I still miss things. And what’s worse than misspelled words? PURPOSELY misspelled words. So dood, ya gotta cut that owt…I can’t even look at this, it’s so annoying.
• Your Tone: Email is difficult because a lot of times you can’t tell what tone people are taking with you. That’s why I like to add kittens and rainbows to all my emails to make sure people know I’m always smiling. I’m kidding, of course, but it can cause a ruckus if you’re replying in short emails that don’t suggest any sort of tone in them. I suggest that when emailing, consider how someone else would respond to what you’ve said. How would YOU take it if you read that? Put yourself outside of the situation and re-read…over…and over again.  You’ll save headaches for the future.
• Colorful Craziness: Why do people feel the need not only to have backgrounds, but flashing text that’s pink as well? I can’t read this. When I have to copy your entire email and paste it into Word to be able to read it, that’s not a good sign. If this sounds familiar, consider…no, just go ahead and change that, ok?
• Signature: If you’re a professional, you just need to have one. Period. I don’t even know what to say about this other than I hate it when I don’t see signatures on emails from professional people. I can’t take you that seriously when you sign your emails with your initials. So annoying.

Like I said, personal preferences here. I love to hear about other issues people have with this sort of thing, so feel free to share!

So with that, I’m off to write more emails…with less exclamation marks, of course.

Job Seekers, First Ask…Am I Even Qualified?

Last night, after a tiring weekend, I finally had some time to relax and do nothing. Nothing except indulge in my guilty pleasure; this month’s issue of Cosmopolitan. If I had no money in the world, I would still scrounge up some to buy this magazine. I forget about all my problems, even though Cosmo has this ability to discuss things that have been on my mind lately (it’s scary weird), and dive into the world of fashion, girly talk, and advice that I swear I’ll take but never do. It’s a little piece of heaven dropped right into my lap for a whole $4.99.

This month in Cosmo, they did an article on a sure fire way to get a job in today’s economy. I must say, I agreed with most of it. Guys, I know it’s a girly mag, but I’m also pretty sure you secretly read it. So check it out.One thing I think they failed to mention, though, was the fact that maybe you should be…oh, I don’t know…QUALIFIED for the position you’re applying to. All of the other stuff they mention is great (I’m really mad at myself for forgetting my copy this morning so I could reference back), but it won’t help unless you’ve actually got the SKILLS and EXPERIENCE someone is looking for.

 

My job seeking days are a thing of the past *fingers crossed* but they’re still very fresh in my mind. I remember applying for jobs in September, and I wasn’t even going to graduate until December. I like to get things rolling, you see. So at this point in my life, I was applying to anything and everything I thought I was qualified for. I probably applied to about 30 jobs a day…A DAY…until I found a job working as a customer service rep for a music store. Now, I can tell you honestly, this was NOT my idea of where I wanted to go, but I got the job effortlessly. Why? Because I spoke up about my musical abilities (I do have some, honestly) instead of my ability to be a “skilled communicator” and they took notice.

 

Next job I got was through someone I knew; no skills or qualifications yet, but it’s not about what you know sometimes. If it would have been, they’d have seen that I was horrible for the position, and even though I worked hard I just wasn’t making the progress I expected of myself.

 

Finally my dream job came about because of the previous one; I did have some experience in staffing, so that was the first eye catcher. My qualifications matched up with what they needed (I mentioned that I had worked with Microsoft Access and databases), and here I am today!

 

The point is (I swear there is one) when people scan jobs, typically they skip RIGHT over the qualifications. Huge mistake. I know people do this because I used to do this. Those qualifications are your KEY to getting an interview anywhere. Sure I thought it was impressive that I worked at the same gas station for 7 years and was promoted twice, but that doesn’t matter when I’m applying for a job in recruiting or communications or whatever I want to do, does it? I know me, but a hiring manager doesn’t know me from the woman he/she passed on the street to the one who rang him/her up for coffee that morning (and that probably WAS me back in the day).

 

When you’re job searching, first thing you look at should be the qualifications for the job. Then, once you see that you’re qualified, you match your resume up to what they’re looking for. For example, the first thing a company might need you to have is experience in certain databases or tracking systems. If you do, I say don’t put that in your Work Experience section of the resume. I say put it in your skills and qualifications at the TOP of the page. Make it the first thing they see, because if they took the time to mention that it was important, it probably is. However, DON’T LIE! If they’re interested in the fact that you’ve worked with that system before, they will ask you about it. And you will look dumb for lying; no use in sugarcoating that.

 

What about those jobs that you’re ALMOST qualified for? Same thing! I’m going to use an HR example in this case. Let’s say I want to apply for a HR Generalist position. They require a PHR Certification, but I’m only in the midst of getting mine. Do I add that to my resume? HECK YES I DO! Right at the top, put it where a hiring manager is going to see it. Make it known when you’ll be taking the test, what other classes on HR you’ve taken, ANYTHING to convince them that you may not have it now, but you will soon. I’m a big believer in giving people a chance, even if they don’t have EXACTLY what I’m looking for. But first those people have to prove to me they are worth taking a chance on.

 

If you’re saying, “Well, my qualifications are going to get me NO WHERE in the field of my interest,” I have one word for you; Volunteer. I know, who has time to do that between job searching right? Well, it may lead to your next job. I can’t stress this enough for people who just can’t find a way in. I know it sounds bad to suggest you do this to further your career, but we all need to make a living in this world, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with helping people and bettering yourself in the process. For example, I wanted to go into event planning for awhile. Problem was that I had NO experience. I signed up on http://www.volunteermatch.org/ and did a search in my town and what I was interested in. Next thing you know, I’m doing all sorts of event planning for different types of non-profit companies. It was great! Yes, it’s a little more work, but you feel fantastic about life and you help people at the same time. Go for it.

 

With that, just remember to really think if you’re qualified or not before you apply for a job. All those tips aren’t going to get you anywhere unless you “got the goods” to back them up.

Surgery Tomorrow…Should Medical Students Stay Away?

Today’s blog is going to not be as informational as I hope it will be conversational. I had a very interesting chat with my mom last night about this, and would like to throw the thought out there and see what other people think.

Tomorrow I’m having “The Sinus Surgery.” Clearly, this is not the technical term, but I am not doctor or pretending to be one, so I get to call this whatever I want. I’m REALLY excited about this. No, seriously. Pumped is actually a better word, because I can’t WAIT to be able to breathe normally again. It’s something most take for granted, but me? I get pretty dang excited when everything is working from the chin up. So while I AM nervous, I’m WAY more excited.

Now, my mom? She’s scared. And worried. Normal reactions for a mom. So we are chatting about the surgery, when out of no where, she says,

“Oh by the way, I talked to your sister, and she said to make sure, that since you’re going to a teaching hospital, to tell the doctor that you don’t want any students working on your surgery.”

My initial reaction was laughter. I’m notorious for cracking jokes about Grey’s Anatomy (which I LOVE, really) and the fact that I’m glad my doctors aren’t as beautiful as the actors on the show are; this fact ENSURES me a successful surgery. Sure, they make miracles happen at Seattle Grace, but the drama is not necessarily good for me and my approaching surgery, and usually they end up messing up because of their personal issues or stances. Look…nobody’s cutting MY LVAD wire (I don’t even know what that means, but it sounded good).

BUT! As a recruiter who BELIEVES that people should be given chances to learn and grow, this is a hard one to call. How are medical students supposed to grow in their field if they don’t get any practice? If not for surgeries such as this one, how are they supposed to be able to learn how to do this when the ones who have been doing it for 30+ years are no longer working? Then it could be MY kid on the table with someone who doesn’t know what the heck they were doing, all because I wouldn’t let them help out with a little sinus surgery procedure I had done back in the day (which is a Wednesday, by the way. Dane Cook humor, I apologize.)

Furthermore, I don’t want to hire someone who doesn’t have the experience it takes to do their job. I’d feel much better hearing from an applicant that they had actually DONE certain aspects of their future position, rather then, “Well, I remember reading that chapter back in my 3rd semester, I got a B- in the class.” Yeah, that’s reassuring.

So, tell me what you think. If it were you, how would you feel? Medical students, doctors, nurses? Your comments are MORE than welcome. Help me decide what to say to the doc!