Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
College Grads, Take Heart: A New Press-Release
4June 2011
It’s that time of the year again, when colleges let an infusion of fresh young blood into the nation’s workforce – an estimated 1.5 million graduates this year. College is hard – only about half the people who go to college actually graduate. Those who saw it through and just received their diplomas certainly have a reason to be proud, but this is just the preparation, not even the first step of a career. Now they have to find a job that would let them apply all that knowledge and carry their life into the bright future. The collective “graduation present” they are getting this year is, alas, far from inspiring – May’s rising unemployment figures can be a wet blanket for young aspirations. Still, there is a lot of hope for those who can set their priorities, seize the day, and use every opportunity to take a step, however small, towards their goal. This recent press release contains my recommendations on how to make sure your college years bear fruit as soon as possible.
Hope Exists for Grads Despite Unemployment Spike,
Says Workplace Expert, Author
SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — With degrees in hand, college grads are launching their post-graduate job hunt during a time of protracted national unemployment, which has risen to 9.1 percent for May 2011. So how do freshly minted grads find a job to love and stand out above the competition? One workplace expert says that graduates can be proactive and take steps to counter high unemployment.
“This summer is not the time to kick back and think for weeks about your career aspirations. While it’s wise to be strategic and take a short break, use this time to advance your career and build invaluable references,” says workplace expert Lynn Taylor, author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant (John Wiley).
“Employers want to know that you’ll be dedicated on the job, and will ask you in so many words, ‘what you did over your summer vacation.’ Remember that it’s not uncommon to parlay a summer job — including a part-time one, into a long-term, satisfying position once fall arrives,” she says.
Taylor, CEO of Lynn Taylor Consulting, adds that too often, not enough effort is put forth towards researching the prospective employer. “You can also spend some time on LinkedIn and industry websites finding out about the hiring manager. “That may create some common bonds and further demonstrate your interest in working at the company,” Taylor says.
“During the interview, make sure you spend ample time interviewing directly with the person to whom you’ll be reporting — to avoid working for what I call “terrible office tyrants, or TOTs. Assuming the job will advance your career ‘on paper,’ chemistry is critical, and so are your instincts about the cultural fit,” says Taylor.
TIMELY TIPS
Get Out and About – “Use social media and trade groups to connect with those in your field,” Taylor says. “But don’t overlook face-to-face networking opportunities, community groups and organizations. “Write down every friend, relative, social contact you know,” Taylor says, “and ask them to spread the word — but always remember to also offer reciprocity — and help them in meaningful ways.” Also make a list of references you can produce at an interview.
Volunteer – at hospitals, charitable groups, or ideally, at a job in your field. “If you can afford to volunteer without pay in your field,” Taylor says, “that will appear as preferable to waiting tables because of the head start you’ll get in your career expertise, as well as references from people who are ‘connected.’” It is better to be working because you are demonstrating initiative. There are many general job skills that have cross-over skills, regardless of the field, including: learning how to be a team player, meet a boss’s objectives, gaining positive references, showing that you have strong character, are reliable and dedicated.
Be Poised and Polished – “Learning how to interact with people will give you an edge when interviewing, as people skills are critical in today’s techno-centric workplace. So consider joining Toastmasters, take communications classes and consider making presentations at local professional societies. And you don’t have to spend a lot of money to be well groomed and appear neat. Leave the Lady Gaga tee shirt for the company picnic,” says Taylor.
Be Confident, But Don’t Brag – “There’s a fine line between being self-assured and sounding conceited in your zeal to sell yourself. Hiring managers want to know that you can handle the job through facts and poise, not through hyperbole,” Taylor says. “At the other end of the extreme, don’t harp on any weak areas or be too humble. This is a chance to talk about your successes and how your past can contribute to their enhanced future.”
Be Open to Jobs Outside Your Field – Contact all relevant temporary agencies, even if the jobs aren’t exactly in your domain. If you’re seeking a corporate job, even getting exposure in an administrative position can be of value. Use job sites such as Monster, Craigslist and online industry job listings. Consider working through high-level, industry-specific temporary and consulting firms. And consider becoming a Tempreneur – combining temporary work with some entrepreneurial consulting, or parlaying project work into a full-time job. Finally, don’t feel stuck in your hometown. Move to where jobs are, if necessary.
Beware of the Overnight Sensation Temptation – “Creating your own business can be a challenge having just graduated, unless you’ve been developing a proven product or service as a student for some time. So be patient about creating ‘the next best thing,’ despite the overnight 20-something sensations of the past 12 years. And while you put in your proverbial time, just remember not to settle for the world’s worst job in the meantime,” Taylor says.
Job Interview a Key Window – She explains, “The job interview offers a critical window through which to judge the job and your own future work life. Companies may have ‘TOT zones’ that you can spot at the interview stage. When you know what to look for, then you can save months and even years of time that could be put to a more fulfilling, positive career path.”
Gauge Your Follow Up – “When you do land an interview, always send a thank you e-mail. If you get positive feedback or encouragement that you’re a finalist, then check in every couple weeks with such approaches as helpful industry article links, local seminar alerts or updates on your skill set. Gauge your follow up frequency according to the feedback you get.”
The Art Of Quitting (Or Staying)
3May 2011
Jenna Goudreau, who runs a diverse and informative women-oriented column on Forbes.com touches upon a very important subject in her recent article, The Dos And Don’ts Before Leaving Your Job. A study by insurance provider MetLife shows that 36% of workers are planning a fresh start in 2011. If you are one of them, there is a warning for you from career experts, including yours truly: when heading for the exit, “watch your step” and don’t make mistakes that may trip you up in the future.
For example, you should make sure your bosses and co-workers don’t see your departure as a let-down for the company and make the transition as smooth as possible.
“Workplace expert Lynn Taylor, author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant, suggests employees consider their response to a counter offer before they resign,”– the article says. But don’t be lured by money if there are deeper problems with the business or its management.
Whatever the situation might be, I advise against letting negative emotions fly – biting your tongue will increase your chances of a positive recommendation.
Another vital issue is prepping your replacement and following up after you leave. This responsibility, while important, should certainly be limited, and the article quotes my recommendations in this regard.
As the final step, I recommend spending some extra time to look around and tie up loose ends, making sure your “clean break” is literally clean.
The article – that you should read in its entirety – will help you if you are leaving your job, but have you given enough thought to this important step? Is it absolutely the only thing to do? In my recent article for Psychology Today I advise to “look before you leap.” Do this before making your current job a “thing of the past”:
Examine practical risks associated with leaving.
Create a “Solutions” document, to examine what can be done to improve your situation.
Make your “Skills Inventory” and see what additional skills you can offer in your current position.
Revert negative thinking and examine what’s right with your current job, instead of focusing on “wrongs.”
For more, read the complete article here.
Of course, sometimes moving on is the only way to move ahead. That’s why my next blog will be on When It’s Time to Leave Your Job. But for now, let’s have another look at our “bird in the hand” that for some reason we don’t like anymore.
How Many Thank-You E-mails Land the Job?
9April 2011
After a job interview, you need to follow up to stay visible – without becoming a pest. I discuss this issue in my new Business Week article and offer my perspective on how to find a perfect balance based on a number of factors.
I start with an example from my personal experience – of two excellent and equally qualified candidates competing for the same job. One was virtually silent after the interview and thank-you e-mail. The other one sent the thank-you and also checked in about every 10 days with interesting links and industry information. Eventually I had to go with my gut: Since Candidate B went out of his way to demonstrate his interest for the job, I selected him. He remained part of my team for years until he had to relocate for personal reasons.
So Candidate A lost out in large part because he failed to follow up with enthusiasm. But over the course of my career, I’ve also had to exclude candidates from the running because they made pests of themselves after the interview.
It is obvious that candidates who can manage just the right amount of contact are the ones most likely to succeed. So how do you know what the right amount of follow-up is? Every other week is a good general rule, especially if you’re getting a positive response from the interviewer. But every situation is different, and there is a number of things to be factored in. For the complete picture, read more on BusinessWeek.com.
How to Tame Difficult, Childish Coworkers
6April 2011
In my recent article for Psychology Today I address the issue of difficult co-workers. Climbing the corporate ladder can be a challenge when one or more of your office folk act as if your success will thwart their own advancement. Some believe that knocking you out of the way or climbing over you is the only route to the top. These terrible office tyrants (a.k.a. TOTs, who can act like children in their Terrible Twos) can sometimes wreak havoc with your career as much – or more than – a bad boss.
Classic Red Flags
TOT coworkers who refuse to “play nice” in the office sandbox may:
Try bossing you around
Undermine your project behind your back
Take credit for your idea
Make themselves look good at your expense
Some bad behavior is expected in any workplace; but constantly conniving cohorts are not. Unless you stop them in their tracks, they can create an unexpected detour in your career. Not surprisingly, good old fashioned parenting techniques work like a charm with TOT coworkers of all kinds. Should you leave pacifiers on their desks as a hint? Probably not. Find out what to do by reading the complete article on PsychologyToday.com.
Winning the “Blame Game”
15March 2011
Have you ever been blamed for something that’s not your fault? An excellent article in The New York Times addresses the perils of the Blame Game in the workplace.
Mistakes and failures happen, says the article, and finger pointing in the workplace is a pretty common occurrence. Unfair and unpleasant as a wrong accusation may feel, “avoid a knee-jerk response and take a step back instead, says Lynn Taylor, chief executive of Lynn Taylor Consulting, a workplace productivity firm in Santa Monica, Calif., and author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant.” I advise you to try to understand why the person is blaming you by putting yourself in their shoes.
Collaboration will be the best line of “defense.” Show understanding and empathy and indicate willingness to work together and sort things out. Keep your tone professional, and stick to the facts. Acknowledge that while you weren’t involved with the problem, you will be happy to help resolve it.
For more tips on how to prevent the Blame Game from aggravating your workplace situation, read this interview in The New York Times: The Problem With Pointing Fingers.
