Reconnecting with...

When you’re out of work, doing a job search is a full-time job, no doubt about it. It’s also time for something else: reconnecting. Reconnecting with your loved ones, your hobbies, your self.  

Take the time to reconnect with you. It will open the shades of your mind to reveal the splendid sunrise that is within you… And it will make the job search all that more tolerable, because you'll see the person you're doing the job search for is really quite special & deserving.
To your success, 
Rita 

Should You Stay or Should You GO?

The decision to change jobs is not an easy one. Why would a person even consider leaving  a job in this economy? I mean, a paycheck is a paycheck, right? Well, maybe the paycheck is not a suitable payoff and that certainly is extremely important. Anyway, maybe the paycheck is just too little.

Besides “insufficient funds” from an employer, a person may consider leaving because that jerky boss won’t stop being a jerk! It could be that the hours don’t work or the commute is too long. Or maybe said employee is simply not happy with the position; it’s too boring, it’s too hard, it’s just plain too. There are loads of reasons why a person decides to start a job search.

One of my favorite methods to decide whether or not to do something major is to use the ole Benjamin Franklin approach: An old fashion pros & cons list. I take a piece of paper and divide it into two columns, with the pros on one side and the cons on the other. The clear visual I get from looking at the list usually guides me to the right decision, the decision I want to move forward with full throttle. And on those rare occasions when it doesn’t work, it at least gives me the opportunity to consider all sides of the situation.   

Look, everything starts with a decision.  Just make sure you’re the one that decides  what will be in your career, not the employer.
To your success,
Rita

Attitude!

In speaking with a woman looking for a job the other day, I found I  really had to tip my hat to her. You see, she’s been looking for a job for several months now. She gets her foot in the door, interviews, but then it never goes any further. No second interview, no requests for references, nothing. She told me she figures she’s been on at least thirty interviews! We worked together on all the various elements of the interviewing process and I do think we were able to come up with a few improvements for her, but that’s not why I’m telling you about her. I’m telling you about her because she’s got such a great attitude!  She said she knows if she hangs in there and keeps on trying, she’ll find a great job. She just wanted to work with me so that she’d find that great job that much sooner.  I'm honored. She’s one very cool woman!
To your and her success!
Rita
It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up.

The Elements of the Interview

Doing well on an interview depends on nailing various aspects during the course of an interview.  Like the resume, you want to make a positive impression ASAP; there’s no “waiting to warm up” or “saving the best for last” options in this scenario. If you break down the ingredients that make for a great interview, you’d have the following elements: 

APPEARANCE:  How do you look? Are you neat, presentable, dressed properly for the interview? All phases of your appearance are important here, including parts of your appearance that you don’t see, like the perfume, cologne, deodorant, or any odor you may wear (hint: wear NO odor).  Dress for the position you’d be reporting to. Never, ever dress down. Eye contact is so important and part of the appearance package, too, as is body language. Don’t fidget, never have your arms crossed, and sit like a well-groomed adult. 

PERSONALITY: The inner-vibrancy that makes you unique and special! In my professional experience, I see it as the tipping point between one candidate being selected vs. another. And you absolutely can’t fake it, either; you’ve got to be you; just be the professional you.

SKILLS: Make it succinct and to the point, but make the skills that you have memorable to the interviewer.  Saying your “great” at something is nice, but giving an example of how you use your skill in a great way is powerful. Use measurements to highlight your abilities. In other words, instead of saying, “I’m wonderful at sales,” say “I was able to increase sales in my region by 24% in six months.”

SPEECH: There are some places that accept and are cool, with laid-back speech, man, but, you know, hey, speak professional-like when you at the ole intervieworino, got me?

INTELLIGENCE: If you nail all of the above, your intelligence will shine.    

Now go conquer the world! Or at least nail The Interview.

To your success!

Rita

Oh, the excitement! Your just found out you’ve got a juicy interview on Thursday! Everything about it is great. You don’t know the company that well, but you’ll get by.

Boys and Girls, now is the time to bear arms.

No, I’m not talking hunters, warriors, grizzlies, or any combo thereof.  I’m talking pick up your laptop and brain and go do some serious research!  Why is that company going to interview you? What can you do for them? What’s the potential here? You’ll never know unless you do your research. Between now and Thursday, you need to do as much homework as possible to find out as much as possible about: the company, the position, the people in the company, and how you genuinely fit in the equation.  This could be the position of a lifetime or it could be the pits, but you won’t know unless you do your research.

So where do you go to do your research. There are tons of great sites, but at the moment I just love ceoexpress.com. They give you as much or as little as you want. It’s a brilliant site. If there’s another you think is better, email it to me and I’ll give it a check & you and the site a mention.

Wherever you go, do your research before you go to the interview.

To your success,

Rita
And remember: if at first you don't succeed, do it like your mother told you.

Outlook for the week ahead

New wonderful opportunities ahead. We need only keep our eyes open to the doors about to open.

With gratitude,

Rita
To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. 
~ George Santayana

The Art of the Interview, Part One

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
~ Abraham Lincoln

Well, maybe not silent, but there are many a folk out there that talk too much during the job interview and by doing so shoot themselves in the foot. Unless it’s the applicant’s personality trait, talking too much is largely an applicant’s nervousness and need to prove him/herself.

So what can be done about it??? PRACTICE! The more you practice interviewing and answering basic interview questions, the less nervous you’ll be when actually interviewing for the job. And the less nervous you are, the more the specialness that is you will radiate out for the employer to connect to. And we know what that could mean: You being hired!

To your success,
Rita

Integrity

Who you are speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you're saying.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

In the job search game, there’s a word that’s overlooked much too often: Integrity.

Integrity is your badge of honor and it’s clearly visible on you with all that you do, or don’t do. It’s your word, your bond. So if you agree to a 2PM interview, you’ll be there ready to roll at 2PM. Not 2:05 or 2:15, but 2PM. If something comes up that prevents you from being there on time, you call, text, or email the other party. BTW: That’s also being considerate, but that’s another subject. Your calling lets the other party know that it was absolutely your intention to be there, that you are a person of your word.

Bottom-line, integrity speaks volumes as to the kind of person you are. I’d rather see integrity in action than hear someone claim it as his trait. Who knows? Maybe if we start talking about it more, we’ll start living it more and we’ll all have more integrity.

To your success!