What to do while you wait for your dream job

You wrote an awesome resume, performed well in the job interview and now you are waiting to get the job offer from your dream company.  As you wait, check out these three tips from the Salary Reporter about how to stay professional while you wait:

1. Say thank you through a thank-you letter.  The last statistic I read said that only 15% of job seekers do this.
2. Don't stalk the company.  The last thing you want to do is irritate the recruiter and HR staff.
3. Don't put all your eggs in one employer. Be thinking about alternatives.

Two other tips:

1. Connect with anyone you know who might be connected to the company.  You might be able to network your way to an offer.  Tread carefully though, here.  Recruiters don't want to feel pushed.
2. Think about their competitors in the same industry.  Explore employment opportunities there as well.

Read the full article from The Salary Reporter

Why do Bright Employees Get Fired?

I first shared this list about 3 years ago when a colleague told me the story of a bright mid-career professional who was terminated for saying too much to a client.

No one, including her immediate supervisor, stood up for her. Why? They all felt she had it coming. Everyone felt it was just a matter of time before this bright employee imploded her own career.  It turns out the fired employee had told a client about some of the logistics issues her company was having delivering services. She actually encouraged the client to find a different provider, since her own company "couldn't seem to get anything done". The client called the CEO and the employee was fired.  This really bright employee had crossed the line and jeopardized her own career.

It turns out that bright employees get fired all the time.  Sometimes for making dumb mistakes.  Here is my list of why bright employees get fired. After 13 years in the career management field, I think I might have seen all these before.

1. Someone else who is better connected wants their job.
2. They don't know when to stop talking and say the wrong thing to the wrong person.
3. They are too cocky to learn anything new. They have all the answers.
4. They are in the wrong job and under performing.
5. They refuse certain assignments they think are beneath them.
6. They show no respect for the corporate culture or chain of responsibility.
7. They mix work and play and have Facebook running on their desktop all the time.
8. They whine about everything from salary, to assignments, to co-workers
9. They have offended so many people, no one is looking out for them.
10. They wait too long to get a mentor.

Bad Hires Can Harm More than the Bottom Line

Making a bad hiring decision can really harm a company bottom line when you think about the costs associated with training, recruiting and maybe even lost customers.

Bad hires can also help you lose two other important things:
1. Employee morale
2. Your good name or professional reputation

Three basic tips to help you avoid bad hires:
1. Bring other people in on the hiring decision
2. Go with your gut instincts
3. Use interview questions that focus on past actual behavior


Read the full article here.

My old boss keeps calling me..

The JobDoc at Boston.com answers questions from readers about the world of work. 

I wanted to share one of the questions I read recently.  A former employee asked, "How long do I help my former boss?"  I thought I would share the response because it is actually a question I am hearing more and more from dislocated workers. 

It turns out that four months after leaving a job, this former employee was still being contacted by her old boss or his secretary with questions about day to day operations.  Not only was the former employee a little upset that she was still being called months after leaving, she was feeling a little bit harassed when her former boss called her on a Saturday evening asking for a report.   The bottom line question - How long should I wait before I can tell my former boss not to call me anymore?

The abbreviated version of the JobDoc's answer was that a former manager should no longer have expectations that former employees need to help them find things, or support their efforts. However, a former employee may find that being supportive of the company's efforts could earn them long term rewards, such as a professional reference or a potential re-hire opportunity later. 

JobDoc also gave advice on how to transition from a company so that there is no reason for these kinds of follow up calls.

Of course we don't want to burn our bridges, but former bosses need to be mindful as well when employees have moved on.

You can read the full response here.

Usain Bolt's Chest Thump Heard Around the World

Can you remember a time in your career when you defied the odds, stayed calm under pressure and performed like you planned or dreamed? Even if most of us can think about a time when we were at our best, we probably didn't do it under the watchful, hopeful eyes of millions of people worldwide in the Beijing Olympics.

My regular blog readers know that I was born and raised in Jamaica and have lived in the United States for the last 22 years. Even though my husband, and I love dearly our adopted homeland, the United States, we can't help but feel a tremendous amount of pride in the way the sprinters from the land of our birth, Jamaica, have performed so far in the Beijing Olympics.

As I watch Usain Bolt, winner of the Men's 100M final sprint in Beijing, "thump his chest" before he even crosses the finish line in world record time of 9.69 seconds, I think I know exactly what he is saying to himself. He is saying, "Is me dat!"

Translated for my American friends, that chest thump and outspread arms, meant, "I did that".

Some of the announcers called it bragging. Those of us who know the history of Jamaica and the spirit of the Jamaican people, know that it is not about bragging. It's about reinforcing to one's self that barriers exist only where one sees them. It is about acknowledging his own accomplishment, whether the rest of the world notices it or not. It's a kind of self assuredness that says, "I am in control of my destiny and I can do this, whether or not the world thinks it possible." It's what I call a personal high five.

Of course as a career development professional, I can't help but be inspired by the way athletes like Bolt, perform under tremendous pressure. I wonder what kind of career advice we can glean from such a performance. We get nervous in http://bullseyeresumes.blogspot.com/search/label/Job%20Interview, when we have to do presentations at work or when we get assigned the important accounts or projects at the office. I don't think we ever get over the initial jitters. Here, on the other hand, are professional athletes at the top of their game who are performing with the whole world watching. It certainly gives us pause to check ourselves as we put the pressures of our own jobs and our workplace stress in perspective.

The key point to remember is that when we see Jamaican sprinters, like Usain Bolt, perform well on the world's stage, we are actually witnessing the end result of hours of preparation and practice. What we see in a few seconds of brilliance takes place years after Bolt made the decision to put himself, his body and his credibility on the line to achieve a personal best and execute this amazing feat.

Bolt's body, by the way, is 6 feet 5 inches tall; well outside of what tradition has deemed good for sprinting. If that doesn't deserve a personal high five, I don't know what does.

Looking at Usain Bolt doing what he does, makes me think that career nirvana is indeed possible for all of us who are willing to do the hard work to prepare for our own big show.

It may not be the Beijing Olympics of 2008, but we owe it to ourselves to do what it takes to be ready!

How do you get ready? When was the last time you gave yourself a personal high five?

Additional Resources:

- Jamaican Athletics: A Model For the World - Written by Jamaican, Judge Patrick Robinson of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

- Jamaican athletes: Why do they run so fast?
Written by Jamaican attorney and former senator, Delano Franklyn

Into the Environment? 3 Green Blogs

The discussion about careers, workplace and going green is taking center stage again in light of rising gas prices. College students and grads are certainly entering the workforce at a time when this is becoming a major concern again.

It's no surprise that college students are blogging about this. Here is one great post at an Experience blog that address the latest on some of the alternative work arrangements that companies are making.

Here are three other Experience blogs you might want to bookmark.

I discovered these at 3Gen one of my new favorite blogs for college students:

Green 101
Green Your Future
To Green or not to Green

Don't Vacation Without These Two Pieces of Technology

I am actually on vacation and have time to myself since the hubby and kids are off on some excursion.

This entry will be short as I just want to tell you about my two new favorite pieces of technology:
- My ATT air card
- My Garmin

We are in Southern California where we lived for about 12 years. However, detours and fading memory make it hard to remember the best way to get to everything. In addition, we now have two teenagers who want to visit every out-of-the-way indie music store in the greater Los Angeles area.

A trip to Silver Lake earlier today, to pay homage to the Silversun Pick-Ups, a new favorite band, was a breeze with our new handy, dandy Garmin, the children have named "Lola". Can't make it to the right lane fast enough and forced to take a new exit? No problem for "Lola", our new companion reassuringly "recalculates" our next move.

It came in really handy when we had to find medical center last night for a mini healthcare emergency.

My ATT air card, helped tremendously to locate healthcare providers who would take our insurance at 3am.

I can't imagine how we travelled before.

Ways to Keep Learning as Your Company Falls Apart

-Bank of America and Countrywide announced a merger and 7,500 jobs will be lost!
-United and Continental airlines cutting routes and personnel due to rising fuel costs!
-UBS, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs distribute pink slips on Wall Street only months after meltdown of Bear Stearns.

When we speak at the organizational level like this, we sometimes forget that there are people working with these companies whose lives and careers are changing in ways they might not have foreseen. New college graduates, especially the Class of 2008 might feel particularly vulnerable, worried about being last in and first out. Many even had their Wall Street offers rescinded from the likes of Bear Stearns.

A recent college graduate with a MS in Human Resources, (Class of 2003) shared that the call center where she is now the HR Director, was experiencing financial challenges due to the economic downturn. The future with the company where she has built a career doesn't look promising. She was considering making a move quickly to something more stable.

Many employees facing similar career decisions consider job hunting for more secure jobs. Once we dispelled the myth of "secure" jobs in today's business environment we started to see some of the benefits that she, as an HR Director, could get from staying with an organization in crisis. We realized quickly that the opportunity that was unfolding offered several advantages to learn new job skills and develop new competencies.

Having maneuvered through industry downturns before, I shared some career advice about some of the Human Resource management skills she could develop through this shaky transition. Some include:

- Managing internal communications by staying on top of the rumor mill. Sharing relevant information with staff as needed in a positive way.
- Helping workers transition out of the organization by working with headhunters and out placement firms.
- If the company does not close but retools, she would learn a lot about how to to lead an organization through change.

It is hard to see the bright side of being downsized, furloughed or laid off, but it is possible. Think the situation through carefully and look for opportunities to learn even as the company struggles through difficult times. Before making life changing career decisions, ask for career advice from someone who could help and offer some perspective.

Read - Five Reasons It's a Good Idea to Stay on a Sinking Ship

Scaring Employers With Personal Technology

We discuss the use of technology in the job search on this blog all the time. Some of the blog entries written include:

-Tips for Job Search Email Success
-Blogging Your Way to Career Change
-Register with Employment Websites
-Online Writing Lab Now Open
-Cell Phone Etiquette for College Students

Yesterday, I found another resource for you - an article by Roxanne Ravenel, The www.UrbanCareerCoach.com - Three Sure-Fire Methods of Scaring Off Potential Employers.

Ravenel offers great career advice and tips for effective use of personal technology in a job search.

-Using emails that are not strictly business. Emails with references to body parts, religious or political affiliations or Obscenities are a no-no.

-Hitting a sour note with ring backs on your phone - Ravenel urges to avoid "cutesy or edgy ring-backs and stick to the traditional ring, at least during an active job search".

-De-valuing voicemail - Use voicemail during the job search and check it frequently. Missed messages equal missed opportunities.

If the job search is stalled, check to see if technology is the culprit.

Capella University Opens Online Writing Lab to the Public

Capella University, a fully accredited online university established in 1993 has opened the online writing lab for public use.

Now the uiversity's 23,000+ students in doctoral, masters, bachelors and certificate programs will share the resource with any and all needing writing help.

"We decided to make this writing resource available to the general public, first, it's the nature of writing centers to share resources, and second, we have some unique resources to share because of collaboration among faculty, staff and our incredible web and instructional designers," said Leslie Olsen, coordinator of the writing center.

The Capella online writing lab categorizes information in five easy to navigate sections:

1. Writing Resources
2. Writing Handbook
3. Academic Publishing
4. Academic Integrity
5. Special Interest section which includes motivational quotes to move writers beyond writers block through inspiration.

New college graduates should bookmark this new writing resource as they embark on new careers.

Writing resources for new college graduates:

Walking off Stress at Work

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) focused recently on sports and exercise statistics of Americans.

BLS reported that approximately 16% of people aged 15 years and older participate in sports and exercise activities daily. The most common activity on the list is walking.

Everyone knows that workplace stress is a career buster and affects productivity and creativity at work. Consider walking at work as a way to handle workplace stress.

PBS.org offers tips for employers and career advice to encourage walking at work:
1. Offer a break on healthcare premium
2. Schedule working into the work day
3. Provide place to walk at work
4. Create friendly competition between employees and offer incentives

Strange Job Interview Questions

I listened to a favorite radio talk show host, Michael Smerconish, this morning on The Big Talker 1210 in Philadelphia.

The conversation turned to strange job interview questions and what interview answers say about a job seeker. The conversation turned to why man hole covers are round.

Smerconish's genius callers, shared:
- square man hole covers can fall into the hole
- man hole covers are heavy and round - easy for rolling
- if not round, it would be hard to climb in and out

The jury was still out on whether or not, a triangular man hole cover falls through or not. I think so - if NOT an equilateral triangle. (:>

A subsequent caller, a software developer, shared the following strange question his company asks job seekers: What is the number of barbers are in the US?

Having worked in career development in Southern California, this was a typical dot.com job interview queston used to hire fast and beat the competition to the next best idea.

Listeners thought wierd job interview questions give insight into how people approach and solve problems. I think it could be a good indicator, but most job seekers figured out how to spot and master that type of job interview question quickly.

Another caller was asked in a job interview: "What is the name of the shape of the Washington DC monument?" Answer? Obelisk.

Smerconish thought questions are asked to screen out job seekers.

My point? None of these questions are objective measures of how job seekers will perform on the job or career. Job interviewing is by no means an exact science as HR managers discover what works for the company. However, some ways are better than others at uncovering whether or not someone will be a good fit for a company or a career.

My question? How would an interviewer judge someone who answers these questions in the following possible ways?

Q. Why are man hole covers round?
Possible answers:
A. I am not sure. Will I be working in one?
A. This is a good time for a work site tour.
A. Which specific man hole are you asking about?

Q Name the shape of the Washington Monument?
Possible answers:
A. The pointy thing in DC.
A. Is there a point to this question?
A. Am I interviewing for the DC tour guide's job?
A. Don't we just call it the Washington Monument?

Number of barbers in the US?
A. Geez...I don't use a barber. I use a stylist. Is that the same thing?
A. Is something wrong with my hair?
A. Do you need one? I was wondering...what's up with that hair!

What's the weirdest job interview question you have been asked?

Top 10 Secrets of Interns Who Get Full Time Jobs

Did you know that most companies with an internship programs really wants to convert the college students in the internship program into full time permanent career hires? Well they do.

Organizations like INROADS prepare college students to participate in prestigeous internship programs with that goal in mind.

As you complete your paid internship or unpaid internship this summer, think about these "must haves" from INROADS to help you convert your summer internship to a full time job offer.

-Good college resume(College Sample Resumes)
-Excellent communication skills
-Team skills
-Strategic outlook
-Training as it relates to performance
-Problem solving and critical thinking skills
-Community service experience
-Self confidence
-Corporate etiquette is crucial
-Networking makes you more attractive

Read the full article at IMDiversity here: Top 10 Secrets of Interns Who Get Full Time Jobs.

Dealing with a Boss Who Drives you Nuts

I wrote yesterday about an Anita Bruzzese blog post titled, "Seven Ways to Deal With the Co-Worker Driving You Nuts". After thinking more about it, I thought some of these tips could apply for working with a boss that may be driving you nuts.

1. Write things down.
Develop a succint list of things to discuss with your manager. Prioritize the list. Not everything is urgent and important and meetings are more valuable with documentation and preparation.

2. Speak to your boss directly
Speaking badly about the boss to everyone else but the manager is not smart. Bend the ear of a mentor inside or outside the office for career advice. Do not make the situation worse by feeding the office rumor mill or adding to water cooler conversations.

3. Ask for change
Some people think it is not possible to ask a boss who is driving them nuts to make changes. It is possible, but the manager is not the only person who has to make changes. One-on-one, career planning meetings or staff evaluations with a boss or manager is a good time to address concerns - not in an accusatory way, but in a professional manner with the department outcomes being the focus.

4. Be honest with your boss
Honesty does not mean putting everything on the table. It means, deciding on the important things that will impact long term career plans. Unfortunately, less than honest communication fosters bad feelings and resentment.

5. Cut to the bottom line
Of course. The goal is to improve your career satisfaction and to create a situation that supports and improves workplace productivity.

6. Fess up
What's your role in this situation? Is there something you are doing that is aggravating this "bad boss behavior"? Honest self evaluation is a requirement for career growth and job satisfaction.

7. Look for solutions
This has to be the ultimate goal. Some workers enjoy complaining about bad bosses and bad companies, but are not serious about finding positive solutions.

Read this post I wrote - "Is Your Boss a Jerk or Just Misunderstood". Sometimes honest discussion can clarify motive.

Seven Ways to Deal with the Co-Worker Who is Driving You Nuts

Today a great guest post from Anita Bruzzese's blog.
************

OK, time to fess up. I don't care how nice you are, there's someone at work who is driving you nuts. It's either the guy who clips his fingernails while on the phone and leaves the droppings all over the floor, or the woman who complains nonstop about her worthless, freeloading kids. It could be the person who constantly interrupts, butting into your conversations or the guy who has to always trumpet his every success, no matter how small. ("I just reloaded my stapler!")

It’s not enough that you put in long hours on the job, sit in boring meetings and put up with irate customers. No, on top of the bad coffee and the elevator that always gets stuck between floors, you’ve got to put up with the aggravation in the next cubicle, also known as a co-worker.

You’re ready to crack. You like your job, but you can't stand another day with one or more of your co-workers. You don't want to complain to the boss -- how to explain that someone's nasal voice makes you want to shove your favorite snow globe up his nose?

Don’t despair. There is a way to handle a bothersome co-worker without screaming, quitting or running to the boss:

* Write down the things that really bug you. Separate personal issues (she laughs like a hyena) from the professional ones (she interrupts when you’re talking). It’s not your place to comment on personal pet peeves, but rather on the professional issues that prevent you from doing your job as efficiently and productively as possible. And remember: Only address issues that directly impact you.

* Speak to the person directly. Schedule some time with her, in a private area where you won’t be interrupted and she won’t feel compelled to lash out because she’s embarrassed in front of others. Be specific about your complaints. "You’re always interrupting,” isn’t helpful. Say, “I believe you interrupt me when I’m trying to make a point in team meetings.” Try to provide an example.

* Ask for change. Once you’ve outlined the problem, then be specific about what you want to happen. “When I’m speaking, I’d like to finish my sentence so that I can make sure all members of the team understand and then I’ll answer questions or listen to other opinions.”

* Be honest. If the co-worker’s actions are really ticking you off, then say so. Describe how frustrated you feel when she pops above the cubicle partition to offer her unsolicited advice. Remain calm while describing how you feel – it will have much more impact than pitching a fit.

* Cut to the bottom line. Make it clear that you’re not bringing up these issues because you’re a whiny sourpuss. State why the issue is important in a calm, serious way.

* Fess up. You need to be honest that you’ve let the issue go on too long without speaking up, or you should have communicated more strongly your beliefs. Make sure she understands that it stops now.

* Look for solutions. Let the other person save face by helping you come up with ways to stop the problem.

So, what's the thing that drives you crazy about your co-workers?

Post by Anita Bruzzese at 45Things.com.

Preparing Young Workers for Career Success

A recent post at HR Daily Advisor offered suggestions for employers on how to engage young workers and prepare 20-something employees for success.

The basic list of suggestions in the HR Daily Advisor included:

1. Teaching them the role of mature professionals
2. Helping them to establish profitable relationships
3. Encouraging them to show controlled initiative
4. Help them master skills that will take them anywhere
5. Showing them how to be proactive their own career growth

There are not many opportunities in college for students to really develop these behaviors. Employers who are looking to keep new college grads engaged realize there is more to learn than just the technical pieces of their new jobs.

A few other tips for graduates to focus on career success:

1. Bookmark a few writing resources that are easily accessible
2. Join a professional association. Many employers will actually pay for this
3. Take advantage of all the training your company has to offer
4. Pay attention to the politics in the office, while you stay out of it
5. Ask for feedback on your work and be open to new ideas
6. Exercise your people skills and find a coach you trust who can help you. Your coach does not have to be someone inside the company.
7. Understand different management styles and know how to work well with different groups.

Tips for Teens to Succeed on the Summer Job

Teenage workers are an important part of the labor force and have a lot to offer. In 2006 the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that more than 8 million working teens were added to the payroll. Although teenagers are valuable in the workplace, many employers experience a difficulty getting them to be productive.

Working teens can succeed on their summer jobs or part time jobs and make a positive impression if they pay attention to these work behaviors.

Be a Team Player. Get Along With Other People
The National Association of Colleges and Employers surveys employers annually to find which job skills employers want from new hires. Teamwork and the ability to work well with others consistently show up on that list. It is a job skill employers expect teen job seekers to demonstrate on their resumes, in the interview and while in their summer job.

Be Respectful
Showing respect for supervisors, co-workers and customers is a good workplace habit that working teenagers should develop early.

Manage Time
The workplace is far more time sensitive than high school. Unlike high school, there are not many opportunities to turn in late work or show up late at work. Working teens may not get a second chance to make a first impression on the job.

Be Dependable; Show up as Scheduled
Employers rely on teen workers to show up for work as scheduled.

Be Willing to Go Above and Beyond Without Compromising Safety
To succeed on the summer job, teenagers should demonstrate a willingness to go above and beyond expectations. Teens and their supervisors should always consider safety first.

Be an Effective Communicator
Teens should develop and use strong interpersonal and communication skills on the job. Although teens exist in a “sound-bite” and text messaging world, a different type of communication etiquette is required at work.

Be Visible
Hiding from work is not an option on the job. Supervisors do not want to search for teen workers who are avoiding assignments or hanging out with friends.


Be Willing to Learn; Be Open to Criticism
Teen workers should keep their supervisors informed of their work and ask for feedback. Ask for clarification of instructions and ask for help. Employers prefer working with teens who ask for clarification rather than make costly product mistakes or, even worse, jeopardize their personal safety or the safety of other workers.

Be Confident; Ask for Additional Assignments or Training.
As new skills are mastered, employers are very open to changing the roles of their teenage workers if it will enhance overall business productivity. Teens should also be confident enough to ask for reference letters and recommendation letters at the end of a job if they have done well.

Do College Graduates Need More Training

In an article published in the Deseret Morning News, Wendy Leonard says, "Colleges and universities dump a lot of new college graduates into the work force, and yet some in the work force still need additional, specialized training to perform well in the jobs they choose."

Whether the college grads come from vocational training, career education programs or 4-Year college or university programs, employers often speak about the need for additional training.

Although qualified in the requisite technical skills on paper, some new grads need extra training on the soft skills required to be effective in their new jobs. Employers and colleges are finding ways to collaborate on custom training to meet the need for this additional post graduation training.

Salt Lake Community College and Utah College of Applied Technology offer programs to help employers tailor training courses to meet their business needs.

One such employer, Stampin Up!, a supplier of craft products for the scrap booking marketplace, operates two state-of-the-art facilities in Utah. In partnership with Salt Lake Community College, they applied for grant money to facilitate a series of communication training seminars for their new college hires.

New college grads should consider availability of additional training as they evaluate the companies where they want to begin their careers. Ask about the availability of training in the following areas:

-Team building
-Leadership or supervisory training
-Customer service and client relations
-Interpersonal skills
-Project management

New employees should also consider working on professional certifications to enhance their professional development. Research professional associations in the career areas of interest and explore the certifications that these professional career organizations support.

New college graduates should consider companies that will pay for membership in professional associations and cover the cost of certification or additional training as needed.

Feeling Pain at Work?

A lot of workers, unfortunately, experience pain on the job.

The pain can obviously be linked to physical activity at work involving lifting, climbing and bending or be the result of accidents or compromised safety.

Killer Jobs: 10 Painful Professionas, looks at the top 10 jobs with the potential for the most pain for workers. Careers like Police Officers and Fire Fighters are listed as expected. Others, probably less expected, include musicians, bloggers and dancers.

Mitchell Freedman, director of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia says, "the instance of chronic pain goes up with job dissatisfaction - a feeling of helplessness about your job."

How painful is your job? Is the pain at work from physical activity, physical space or co-workers?

Writing Help for New College Grads

College Boards' National Commission on Writing says that American corporations spend approximately $3.1 billion annually to remedy their employees' deficiencies in writing.

As you embark on your new career it is important that you are honest with yourself about both your verbal and written communication skills.

Here are 5 online writing resources to help new college grads master writing skills:
-The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
-Merriam Webster
-Daily Grammar
-Business Writers Free Library
-PowerHome Biz