Plug & Play

Part of an easy job search is to develop a document to use with your resume. This “plug and play list” will have all your accomplishments and all of your skill sets. You list all of them out separately. When you are applying for a job and re-writing your resume you can “plug and play” what is appropriate to the job.

Keep in mind, this is a working document, not one you will share when taking in your resume. If you have a web site you formalize the list and post it. Mostly, this document is strictly for convenience when you are styling your resume for your next job.

A few rules:

• No stodgy boiler plate phrases.

• No exaggerating the truth. If it was a team effort that is OK. You were part of a successful team.

• Write in your own voice. Writing like you are someone else shows up in the interview. When we drill you down and get the – who, what, where, why and when (5W’s) we can pick out all the truths and falsehoods.

• Be prepared to go into detail about all your accomplishments. Again the 5W’s.

• We like numbers -- Increased sales by 200%. Saved $71 million. Reduced over due balances by 25%.

So, get going on your plug and play and make it easy to change up your resume as needed.

The Droid

"One pound of learning requires ten pounds of common sense to apply it." - Persian Proverb.

I’m taking that proverb to heart and have read my instruction book on my new cell phone. Now I need some common sense!

I am having the hardest time getting used to my Droid’s touch screen. I feel like a child having to learn how to tie their shoes and I’m getting really frustrated. I got the Droid because I was told that in about 2 years we won’t be able to get key pads anymore. Cell phones are going completely over to touch pads. So, I embrace the change.

Well, yippee on the totally cool technology but my fingers don’t want to do it. So, for the next week if you text me or email me, you just might be getting some very interesting messages back. Be patient with me as I attempt to learn how to use my phone! This is so ridiculously my life.

Dinosaur

I did not call Dave a dinosaur last week. He’s been on the phone all day Tuesday and now Wednesday, today, insisting I said he’s a dinosaur. Dinosaurs are the creatures my son is fascinated with - they are cold blooded, larger than life, ancient and quite interesting. 

OK, maybe I should be calling Dave a dino...

Dave can be cold blooded, especially when he turns the air conditioner down so low my feet go numb, he is always larger than life and lets us know that! Dave, by some standards, could be considered ancient in the recruiting industry. However, in our family, where people live into their late 90’s, he’s still considered young and quite, of course, interesting – it’s never a dull moment around here.

Way to go, “Dave the Dino” you got yourself written into my blog – again.

Think 3

Think 3.

My three year old doesn’t know he can’t do stuff; he doesn’t know he’s too young, inexperienced or small to try. He rips it up on his razor every morning going to school chasing after my 6 year old and our 7 year old neighbor. He can jump the curb, do “babies” which is sitting on the razor while flying down the sidewalk and then hopping back up again; he can balance on one foot. It’s amazing and we get stopped daily about his skills. So, why am I talking about this?
Think like 3. 

Quit telling yourself you’re too old, too tired, too slow, and too embarrassed to try. Go for it – act like my three year old and just go for it. Attack that project you think you can’t do, jump in with enthusiasm and go for it, quit holding back and just try it. As any kid will tell you, sometimes you fall down, sometimes you skin your knee, but eventually you do get up and do it again and do it right.

Be 3.

How to Interview a Candidate for your Job Opening

1. Remember this is not a social event. This person is not your friend.

2. Remove your ego from the equation. Be genuine.

3. Especially in this economy, do not assume the unemployed person you are interviewing is second class. In fact, don’t treat anyone like they are second class.

4. Start with a plan. Write down the important questions you need answered and ask them. If you need to make a check list of your questions do it and then check them off as they are answered.

5. If they don’t answer directly ask the question again in a different way. Candidates are trying to avoid difficult questions as much as possible. They like to talk around things. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get a real answer out of them. Yes, this speaks to their character.
6. Take notes – write all over their resume.

7. Be real about your needs and wants. Understand the job you are hiring for.

8. Listen. Quit talking so much. Ask your questions and wait for an answer. Stop the chatter.

9. If you don’t like the person at all be gracious and kind when you exit the interview. That person could know the perfect person for your job and will refer them – if you are cordial to them.

10. If you think the person is fantastic don’t over sell the job or the company – again, be real.

No one will call me back!

I am hearing a lot these days, “No one will call me back.” The internet has become the go-to place for recruiting and hiring. The net is great, it makes things easy, but the “people" part sometimes gets forgotten. It’s easy to avoid people with email. So while you are searching for a job – pick up the phone and follow up. Yes, email is great but we are finding that those who spend more time on the phone creating relationships with people are finding jobs faster. 

Pick up the phone and use those great communication skills you've developed over the years.

Friends who need help.

Juggling time is such the dilemma these days at work. What to do? We have recruiting work we need to get done but we also have friends of the firm who need help. These friends have given us business in the past but are out of work now. So, I've been doing a lot of career/life counseling which I enjoy, but we have clients who need our help and I hate to say it but, our clients pay the bills. So my dilemma is how do I split my time?

I think managing my time has always been a problem –well, it has been for me, but when people need assistance with their lives it truly is a dilemma. We have people in crisis. How do you say, “I can’t talk to you now" to people in crisis? You don’t. So I guess why I’m writing this is if you friends of the firm call us for help, we’ll help but just remember, we also have work to do so - be patient – we might not be able to call you right back but we will call you back. We do remember the people who help us out, we do remember who is loyal to us – just be patient.