Career Talk JDR

Posts Tagged ‘Jill Herrin’

There are tons of self-help books and tests to determine which career you are most suited for.  Personally, I still like “What Color Is Your Parachute,” which has been a New York Times bestseller each time it has been updated and revised.  There is also a pretty cool quiz you can take:  http://quiz.ivillage.co.uk/uk_work/tests/career.htm

A well written thank you note is a common courtesy and an appropriate follow-up to every interview.  Consider this step to be an important contact with your prospective employer, as well as, an additional presentation of your skills.  If your interview was set up through a recruiter, ask that person for the email information of all of the interviewers you spoke with.  If you are on a direct interview, it is a good practice to get business cards before you leave so that you will have sufficient follow-up information.  Content is crucial beyond the standard “thank you for your time”.  Each note should be uniquely written for each interviewer, referencing something that transpired in the interview.  Reiterate why you are uniquely qualified for their opportunity. 

May1st is May Day!  This is always great fun if you are in the UK.  Aside from a day off and the beginning of the Summer Holidays, it’s a traditional day of festivities including swinging on Maypoles, dancing and jigs in the parks and the crowning of the Queen of the May.  Many homes decorate with flowers and everything looks so pretty; you are supposed to kiss anyone who has great flowers.  Schools put on plays and display artwork with tons of flowers and pretty Summer scenes.  Since being in Tennessee, May Day seems to go by completely unnoticed, so I thought I would let you know what you could be missing!  The US does honor May 1 as Law Day to reflect on the role of law in the foundation of the country and to recognize its importance for society; all important stuff, but doesn’t seem to conjure up quite the fun we had in England!!!

Many truly great Technology Leaders and Executives find themselves in the job market unexpectedly and sometimes, have not actively sought a position in a long time.  However, getting interviewed and hired is all about distinguishing oneself and engaging the audience.  If you become downsized and unexpectedly find yourself “in transition” and looking for a new opportunity, it is time to reverse the interview process and become an interviewee!

Most interviewers hiring for permanent positions have a series of questions designed to hear how you present yourself and how you would be perceived by executives and peers in their organization.  Here are some of the basic questions we see most often:

Give me a brief overview of yourself and why we should hire you and/or tell me about yourself:

Being “downsized” and facing the prospect of unemployment can be both a personal and a professional strain. It is important to stay positive and focused.  Keep 9am-4pm hours on weekdays, working on structured tasks that are aimed toward getting a job.  Then, relax and have fun in the evenings and on weekends!

Do’s and Don’ts to finding a technical job:

Don’t spend time on job sites; it will only lead to frustration.  Today it’s highly unlikely that an employer will hire someone they don’t already know, or someone that is not represented by a reputable recruiting firm with existing relationships and success within their organization.

Top 10 Technical Resume Mistakes

This is a short post just to highlight the Top 10 on JDR’s list of resume mistakes.  The resume will not get you a job…however, it is a powerful tool that should be carefully put together

Top 10 Technical Resume mistakes:

1.     lacks clearly demonstrated experience with required skills

2.     objective does not match the position you apply for- better to leave it off if it doesn’t match

3.     complete dates and type of experience per position are not clearly defined- chronological is usually best & clearly show what you’ve done, where & when

Is there a silver lining after being laid off?  Well, not that you can usually see when it is happening to you!

Remember from Part 1, that an ideal job- IJ, is a position working for a company that you believe in.  In order to really believe in a company, you must believe in their products, the people they employ and also, their ethics…among other things.

If you show up each day and do just enough to get a paycheck you will ultimately lose that job. If you complain how hard everything is or how wrong things are, you not only bring yourself down but you will also be let go.  If you love your job and feel you are in an IJ now but need to make more money, do not ask for a raise.  Instead do the following:

Companies run on people; people create processes to make work efficient and profitable.  Put yourself in a position to help your company make money (sell more product or service); or reduce cost (lower expense equals higher net profit).  All companies expect you to bring in 5x your salary – make sure you far exceed that to keep employed. 

Work only for a company that you believe in.  Their products, the people they choose to employ and their ethics must all align with your beliefs.  We will call this your IJ-ideal job.

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