When I am hired to do Change Management for an IT Project, clients ask me to create a Communications Plan.  That plan includes key stakeholders and the message or key points we want to communicate to each person or group.

What both of these scenarios show is that we are seeking to “talk” to “transmit” a message, but not to receive.  Where is the listening?

When I teach communications, whether asked to or not, I use a Listening Styles instrument and focus on teaching IT staff to listen.  As a rule of thumb we are supposed to listen twice as much as we speak.  I know of no one (including myself) who reaches this goal on a regular basis.

And in Change Management listening to stakeholders’ concerns, requirements and fears is equally as important as telling them what is coming.

Although listening is a “soft skill,” it can at least be measured, i.e.  you can test someone to see if they heard key information, if they noticed the mood the speaker was in (calm, agitated), if they saw a message in the speaker’s body language (nervous, worried, confident.)  The information they retain and the non-verbal messages they pick up tell you how well they were listening.

But in addition to listening, IT executives need to develop their ability to empathize.  And when I say empathize, I mean the ability to put one’s self in someone else’s place and relate to the way he or she feels.  For example, when IT is bringing massive change to an organization by implementing an ERP, how do the people whose work processes and daily life this will change feel about it?  Put yourself in their place and you may be asking – Will I be able to do my job?  Can I learn the new software?  Will I be able to compete with younger workers?  Will my business skills become obsolete?

Unfortunately, there is no way that I know of to measure empathy.  Either you are empathetic, or you are not.

But why does a discussion of “soft skills” like listening and empathy belong in a Career blog?  Aren’t these entries supposed to be focused on helping you find your next job?  Or at least focused on building your professional credentials?  What do listening and empathy have to do with this?

Actually, they may have a great deal to do with both finding your next job and building your credentials.  In a job interview most candidates are focused on talking about themselves and impressing the potential employer with their knowledge and experience.  Maybe instead you should focus on listening.  What is the employer really looking for?  If you listen, instead of talking, they will usually tell you exactly what they want and need from you.  And if you go one step further and empathize – what is this poor, bedeviled person interviewing you  feeling?  How is he/she coping without a <fill in the open job title.>  Whether the open position is a CIO or a Director of Application Development, they are probably feeling pain because this position is open.  There is work and leadership that are not happening because they are without a key person.

The truly excellent job candidate hears what the potential employer needs and empathizes with what they feel.   The exemplary CIO listens to his staff, to his stakeholders and to his service providers and uses his understanding of what each is looking for to run a better IT organization.

So focus, at least a little bit, on your listening skills and your ability and willingness to empathize.  You may find it makes you not only a better IT executive and job candidate, but a better person.

And most IT people will say, “So?  What we are supposed to do is technical stuff, relationships shouldn’t matter.”

Maybe relationships shouldn’t matter, but they do.  Unfortunately, I have seen superb technical organizations which are perceived by their internal customers as incompetent.  They are doing all of the right “technical stuff” — they have 99.99% system availability, clean databases, virus-free LANs, capable help-desks and a responsive network — but they are still perceived as incompetent because they have failed to build and maintain good relationships.

Some IT execs have also noticed this and as a result there is a great deal of IT executive coaching focused on improving relationship skills.  Many executive search consultants and their clients have also started evaluating an IT exec’s “soft skills” and fit with the corporate culture during the selection process.

But having a relationship-savvy exec heading IT is not enough to change the perception of IT as an un-caring bunch of propeller-heads.  To change the entire IT organization requires three things:

1. One person in the organization accountable for IT’s relationships, both internal and external, reporting directly to the CIO
2. Measurement and reward focused on relationship building and maintenance
3. Training, coaching and mentoring focused on building “soft skills” across the entire IT organization so that every IT person is doing “relationship management” as part of his/her job

Being an IT leader has become more complex.  Not only do you need to know technology and stay on top of trends and advances, you also need to know the industry your IT organization is part of and how you can best align IT with  business needs.  Now some consultant is telling you that you also need to have relationship building and management skills.  And not only do you need to have these skills, but everyone in your organization needs them and you need a direct report to manage all of your organization’s relationships.

It would be human nature to shrug this off.  It is just too much to cope with and you need to stay focused on technology and business.  But the truth is if you want to take your organization to that next level of achievement, if you want them to be viewed as intelligent, capable, business-savvy and focused on customer-service, then relationships have to matter. You and your entire organization have to build and maintain good relationships with your counterparts in the business and contacts at the vendors.  All great IT organizations have figured this out.  It is what distinguishes them from the merely good IT organizations.

Yes, I understand, relationships shouldn’t matter, but they do.

The problem does not only affect companies, however.  For instance, it is estimated that millions of computers were recently infected by the “Downadup worm,” which has effectively spread due to a flaw in Microsoft Windows.  These threats can not only affect business PCs, but can also attack those using the internet from home.  Over the past few years, there have been more and more issues with personal information being obtained by hackers who have gained access to personal PCs.  Social Security numbers, tax information and any other info stored on the PC can be at risk, and many non-technical users are still unaware of the threat. 

July 4^th, 2009, a series of cyberattacks began, which were aimed at the United States and South Korea.  Investigators have been ‘all around the world’ attempting to track down the hackers who put these attacks into motion.  And these types of attacks are only more likely to occur in the future.

There are many programs being developed with an aim at nurturing students in high school and college to develop cybersecurity skills.  Mischel Kwon, Director of the Homeland Security Department’s U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, herself graduated from a Scholarship for Service program which was aimed at providing the best security training on scholarship, in exchange for a period of government service.

For those already out of school looking to add security skills to their resume, there are many other options for obtaining these sought after skills.  There are numerous courses and certifications offered which will help increase your marketability in the world of cybersecurity.  For further information, there are also many organizations dedicated to the pursuit of researching and understanding the skills needed to prevent cyberattacks.  One excellent source of detailed information, the Information Technology (IT) Security Essential Body of Knowledge (EBK), is published by the Homeland Security Department and can be found at http://www.us-cert.gov/ITSecurityEBK/EBK2008.pdf.

Filetype-  Microsoft Word is probably the most universal.  Make sure the version that you are using is recent enough to be compatible with the newest versions.

Fonts-  Keep it simple.  Most fonts are not compatible in all file types.  Stick with Arial or Times New Roman to ensure your resume is always easy to read.

Borders-  It is best to stay away from using borders on your resume; however, if you must, stick with a single line border.  If a border is used, it is best to create it with the table feature, and not using frames or columns.

Tables-  Use tables instead of frames or columns in your resume.  Microsoft Word’s table feature is easy to use and more compatible than tabs or columns.

Tabs-  Using tabs or spaces in your resume can cause the formatting to jumble on the page when converted to other files.  The end effect is a disorganized listing of the neat columns you spent your time perfecting.  Use one of these other features in Word:  alignment features, indention features or tables.

Breaks-  If your document needs a break, use the line or page break features provided in Word.

Images-  If you choose to use any images, or even bullets, remember that it is possible that many sites and files will not support them.  Keep the use of these extras to a minimum to help ensure your resume displays as you want it to when it reaches the hiring official.

These are just a few things to keep in mind when building the most effective resume.  Remember, it doesn’t do any good to have the best looking resume out there if it doesn’t stay formatted or is not legible once you send it out!

After performing a simple Google search for employment, I kept noticing the names of major companies in the mix.  Just to mention a few companies that I found with a large number of openings:

·         Boeing- 94 jobs across the US in Software Engineering, Systems Engineering and Information Technology

·         IBM- 118 jobs across the US in Engineering (hardware), IT & Telecommunications (Nonconsulting) and Software Development

·         JP Morgan Chase- 125 jobs across the US in Technology

So, how do you go about finding a job with one of these growing companies?  First, remember be realistic about the positions which you qualify for, and don’t hold out for your dream job that you aren’t quite experienced enough for.  Also, keep relocation in mind if a good opportunity presents itself.

Most job openings aren’t advertised on the well known “job boards;” however, the corporate career sites will list many positions which might not be found elsewhere.  Make a list of companies that you would like to go to work for, or target organizations within industries that you have experience in.  Visit the website for these companies and search openings until you find positions of interest.  Once you have identified the roles that you might fit for, network with all recruiters you are working with, as well as, your peer network to determine if anyone can get you an inside track on the position.  You are more likely to get hired if you are presented by someone who already has a relationship built with the company or hiring official.  If you determine that you do not have any existing ties to the organization or manager, get your best resume tailored for the position and apply online.  If you get an interview, remember to do your research so that you are well prepared for the interview.

Remember, there are a lot of companies who are hiring, even in 2009.  Get aggressive with your job search and focus on finding these companies!  This tactic will help your odds of landing a new position with a great, growing company!

Many hiring officials will be more understanding about out-of-work gaps during economic times like we are currently experiencing.  But, if you fail to address on your resume what you have been doing during your time off, you will likely be quickly discarded.  Therefore, it is very important to stay active during this time and try to focus not only on finding a new job, but also on other activities which will increase your marketability.  This means undertaking such activities as volunteer work (in your field, if possible), project work, taking classes or certification training.  Instead of empty space on your resume, start your chronological resume with a brief statement or two which explains how you have kept your skills current and your mind sharp.   Coupled with having great references ready to go and continued networking, your probability for success will increase.

Here are some resources and ideas that might be helpful in finding volunteer opportunities:

·         Many newspapers have classified ads for volunteers needed

·         Contact your nearest volunteer center (where available) and ask for a list of volunteer opportunities

·         Utilize Twitter to network and find out about volunteer needs – e.g. #volunteer

·         Check out these great links to other resources for volunteer and Non-profit information

http://www.serve.gov/

http://www.volunteermatch.org/

http://www.unv.org/

http://www.getinvolved.gov/

www.1-800-volunteer.org/

http://www.christianvolunteering.org/

http://volunteer.united-e-way.org/

http://www.idealist.org/if/as/vol

http://www.voa.org/

http://ofcn.org/

http://www.seniornet.org/jsnet/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=42

http://www.councilofnonprofits.org/

http://www.melissadata.com/lookups/np.asp

http://www2.guidestar.org/

First off, if you can, take a little time off before starting the new job to relax, breath deeply and prepare.

When that first day arrives, you should have already done research to learn everything you can about your new environment.  The more familiar you are with your new company, the more confident you will feel walking in the door.  Also, talk to your friends and family to see if anyone you know is acquainted with someone already working there.  It could be very helpful to have a mutual acquaintance to meet you on your first day and help to show you the ropes.

Be sure you pick out your first clothing choices ahead of time.  Make sure you are comfortable; but remember to be careful in your choices at first, as you do not yet know what is acceptable.  Have everything cleaned and ironed ahead of time, which will give you one less thing to worry about your first week.

Before the first morning, plan and drive your route to work.  Time it, taking traffic differences into consideration, so that you can leave in plenty of time to be early for your first day.

Your first day is just as important as the interview.  Arrive with a smile, be polite to everyone (you could turn out to need their help) and introduce yourself to others.

Also, remember that your actions outside of work can also affect you.  If you are at the gas station down the street from work or in the parking lot…it is always possible to run into or be seen by a coworker.  Be mindful of your actions so that you don’t start off on the wrong foot before walking in the door.  In other words, don’t yell at the guy in front of you in line or show road rage on your way in, only to find out that it was your new boss you were yelling at or making lewd gestures to!

It is always a good idea to take a pen and pad on the first day.  You generally receive a lot of information in the first couple of weeks, so taking notes will help you to remember it all.  Take time to learn how your new company does things, and don’t argue how you could do it better…this will only cause negative attitudes toward you from the beginning.

Finally, make sure you ask plenty of questions.  The only stupid questions are the ones you don’t ask.  Trying to act like you know everything at a new job will only lead to mistakes and poor future performance.

Have fun and enjoy your exciting new career adventure!

When I tell the candidate her resume looks fine, she invariably asks, “Then why am I not getting any responses?” I soon find out her job leads consist solely of want ads and online job postings. Therein lies the problem.  

Too many job seekers rely on job boards and want ads as their only source of job leads. Since these leads are public knowledge, job seekers are competing with what feels like the entire human race, or at least the part that has an internet connection. No matter how well you’ve written your resume, you’re going against tough odds. You could be getting lost in the numbers.

Tip: Advertised jobs make up only 20% – 30% of all the open jobs, yet they attract over 90% of the job seeking population. Your odds of landing a good position drastically improve when you use other resources as well to find out about possible openings.  Some examples of other ways you might find out about available positions include networking using social media networks, mingling with other professionals at user groups and other professional gatherings, as well as, utilizing recruiters to find out about positions they have available with their clients.

Tip: If you truly want the lower level position, downplay the upper level responsibilities and emphasize the lower level tasks and accomplishments required at that level.