Billie Sucher Blog

Mom, Stop It! Really!

Recently, my client and I were discussing the highs and lows of job search. He was sharing with me how he has been told multiple theories (often contradictory) on how to find a job or the best way to write a résumé or how to interview for a job when there are no jobs.

He asked me: “Who do you believe when many people say so many different things?”

He asked me: “So who do you trust to tell you the right information?”

He asked me: “Who are the experts, anyway?”

And then he said something I have heard many times before, regardless of the age of the person saying it:

I just wish my Mom would get off my case.

My Mom means well, but she is always coming up with ideas I don’t want to do.

I just really want to scream at her:  Mom, STOP IT already! Chill!

I made a mental note of his story….the next time I have an unsolicited piece of advice (wisdom?) for our three adult GenY children, (like this afternoon or so), I am going to do my best to remember his counsel:

Mom, chill!

And keep my thoughts to myself.

Or, maybe I will just write another blog post.

Another Blog Post About Presenting Naked

I love learning and I love going to different presentations to learn. I am always fascinated by the presenter’s style and how he or she goes about imparting information. More often than not, it is a PowerPoint presentation. Do you use PowerPoint in your presentations? And if you do, what would a person in the audience think about your particular style of sharing, teaching or training?

In October of this year, I came upon a blog post written by an HR professional named Ben Eubanks. It was an intriguing post titled Presenting Naked. What a catchy title! The highlight of the post:

“Next time you have a presentation to make that doesn’t involve high pressure and a lot of data, why not try to present naked? Drop the slides and just talk to the people who need to hear your message. When you have slides up behind you as you speak, they are partially distracted anyway, so it might actually help them to get more out of the discussion, not less.”

That blog post really helped me and it got me to thinking. It helped me decide with certainty NOT to use PowerPoint as I delivered a training session last week on professional résumé writing / personal branding / competitive job interviewing. Instead, I just talked. It was such fun and I so enjoyed sharing without the accompaniment of PowerPoint. 

Did the audience mind? Not one bit, it seems. In yesterday’s mail, I received such a thoughtful note from the seminar’s director. “There were fantastic comments about your program and more notes taken by this group than I can ever remember them taking.”

The next time you are invited to present to a group – be it five people, 500 or 5,000, how about it? Maybe you could “just talk to the people who need to hear your message.”

Thanks, Ben, for your “Presenting Naked” post. 

Skinny Ties and Job Picks

Until recently, I had not heard of a skinny tie. A skinny tie? What on earth is a skinny tie? Clearly, I have been spending way too much time coaching clients and writing resumes and not enough time keeping up with what’s hot and what’s not in the fashion world. For our son’s birthday, I wanted to buy him a new tie and I thought we would pop into some store, buy a tie and be on our way. Nope, not so fast.

We went to store after store looking for something called a “skinny tie.” After five stores, we arrived at one that carried a fine selection of skinny ties. Many, many choices from which to choose. Many, many options and opportunities for acquisition.

When buying a skinny tie, there’s so much to think about before making your pick.

Do you wish to have a look that is fresh and fearless and ultra-modern?

Or, do you want more of a finishing touch to update your office style?

Or, what about a super skinny tie that looks seriously slick. Hook it up with an Extra Slim Fit dress shirt for the freshest, most confident look out there?

Or, maybe you want that ultra-modern professional look in a skinny-width tie that teams up dots and diamonds and shows you know the style score, and the benefits of working together?

Or, perhaps a healthy-sized pattern and unique depth of color are what make this skinny tie an eye-catching addition to your office look?

Approximately two hours later, the skinny tie was in the shopping bag.

Yesterday, a client asked me if I thought that most people found it easy to pick a new job. My mind immediately went to skinny tie shopping.  

If you find yourself in need of shopping for a new job, here are a few tips for you to consider:

1. Pick three to five jobs of interest.
2. Research information about them online.
3. Talk with people who have mastery of the job you are interested in learning more about.
4. Shop at enough different stores until you find the job that is best suited for you, your style, your preferences and your personality type.
5. Make your selection based upon what you think, want and need versus what someone else likes.

Whether it is the skinny tie you pick or the job you choose, you are the one who gets to wear it. And I hope you wear it well.

Writing -- It's Worth It!

Over the weekend, I attended a Writers Forum as a part of the 2012 Wonder of Words Festival. Four featured authors read from some of their original works, followed by a brief question and answer period from audience members. While I enjoyed listening to all of the speakers, I was particularly drawn to the work of Venise Berry, an associate professor in African American Studies and Journalism at the University of Iowa. Not only was her writing superb and witty, her presentation style was warm and engaging. I could have listened to her for hours.

Writers. Writing. Featured authors. Authors. Wanna-be authors. Thinkers who think about being writers and authors. Writer’s block. Writer’s cramp. Are you a writer?

As long as I have been writing, contributing to books, writing my own books or writing blog posts, I have not once considered myself a writer. As much as I love words and as much as I love putting words together to create something, when I hear the word “writer” my mind immediately shifts to great writers such as Shakespeare, Dickens, C.S. Lewis, Poe, Homer, Mark Twain, Victor Hugo, George Eliot, Thoreau, Johann Wolfgang VonGoethe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Edgar Guest, Kahlil Gibran, Og Madino, and Robert Frost.

I looked up the definition of writer and here’s what I found at the Oxford Dictionaries:

Writer: a person who writes books, stories, or articles as a job or regular occupation.

As a career management professional, I work with clients who would like to write. Maybe they want to write a resume, a cover letter or start a blog. Some clients want to hop on Twitter and make tweets. Some clients have thought for years about writing a book. I have repeatedly heard these three things from those who would like to write:

1. I don’t know what to write.
2. I am afraid to write.
3. Who would read it if I wrote it?  

You do not have to be famous or distinguished or globally recognized to write. Writing is something that comes from your head and your heart. Writing is something you can do starting now. Writing begins with one word, one topic or one idea. Writing is about sharing your story because you matter and your words matter. Writing is about dumping your thoughts onto a piece of paper or a computer screen and putting it out there. You can stuff your thoughts and ideas or you can share them. You can find your voice or you can go through life wishing you had found it. My hope for you is that you will find the courage, hopefully sooner than later, to write your very first word. Then add another. And yet another. Do not be afraid of messing up or being perfect with your words. Be patient.  Keep at it. And someone, somewhere will read it if you write it. Writing – it’s worth it!

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”― Benjamin Franklin

Topgrading and Your Job Search -- Are You an 'A' Player?

A few weeks ago, an executive-level client advised me that while she had been selected as one of the top candidates out of several hundred résumés, the next phase of the screening process included a Topgrading Career History Form. She wanted to know about Topgrading, what it was, and why she “got the boot” when she thought her credentials were a perfect fit for the senior-level job. Here are some questions for you to ponder as you explore new career opportunities:

Is your résumé complete to the nth degree with every job you ever held, even while in college?

Are you driven to succeed?

Are you a high performer?

Have you been deceptive, lied or fabricated anything on your professional résumé or LinkedIn profile?

Will your references advocate for you in supporting your candidacy for a position and do you have them lined up to do so?

Are you in the top 10% in your industry?

Is your integrity “iron-clad”?

Is your energy level extremely high?

Do you have a proven strategy for managing barriers and obstacles?

Do you have an ability to inspire the organization?

Do you build results-driven teams who are focused and collaborative?

Do you excel at leading and managing change?

Do you routinely work 55+ hours or more per week?

Do you effectively coach team members to “turbo-boost” performance?

Is your track record one of stellar outcomes?

Do you possess outstanding communication skills?

Are you willing to arrange personal reference calls with former bosses?

Are you an ‘A’ player?

As a jobseeker, are you familiar with Topgrading?

Deception in a Job Search

 

Guest Post:

With my sincere appreciation to Joey F. George, Professor & the John D. DeVries Endowed Chair in Business, Iowa State University for today's guest post contribution: 

Research shows that deception is a common part of everyday communication.  In fact, up to one-third of our daily communication may be dishonest.  This dishonesty is also a standard part of looking for a job.  Anywhere from 40% to 70% of résumés contain untrue information.  While being dishonest may actually help people find jobs, the results are predictable when these dishonest people are caught.  Many are publicly exposed and then fired, or they resign after the resulting scandal.  Some of the best known cases include George O’Leary, who was fired in 2001 after one week as the football coach at Notre Dame, once his deceptive résumé came to light.  In 2007, Marilee Jones, the Dean of Admissions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, resigned when fictitious degrees on her résumé were revealed.  More recently, in 2011, Tom Williams, the football coach at Yale, was fired for an inaccurate résumé. 

Aside from getting caught, and the moral and religious issues that come with deception, there are other reasons for keeping a job search honest.  In our research, we are searching for ways to improve our ability to detect deception.  Using a training program based on educating people about cues to deception, we have increased their ability to detect dishonesty.  We have learned that certain combinations of communication media and interview tactics can lead to improved deception detection.  We have also discovered that, in interviews of dishonest people that were conducted online, interviewers using email noticed things that telephone interviewers did not.  These things the email interviewers noticed led them to believe the people they interviewed were not very credible.  Our research, and that of other prominent scholars, has shown it is easier to detect deception in people who lack credence than in people who seem credible.  

The bottom line is that dishonesty in a job search is risky.  If caught, the consequences can be severe, both during the search process and after starting the job.  Researchers are continually trying to find ways to better detect deception, especially in the search process.   Both employees and employers want to avoid the embarrassment and costs associated with hiring a dishonest person.

 

The End of the Road

The last few years, I have worked with more and more business owners who have found themselves confronted with a career transition, voluntarily or involuntarily. Maybe the business sold. Maybe the business owner got bored and restless. Maybe the owner grew tired and weary. Maybe the business went bankrupt.

What then, do you do when you have owned a business for 20+ years, or 12 years, or seven years and you realize it is the end of the road for that enterprise? What do you do next? What do you do after owning your own thing and calling your own shots, day after day for years?

Here are five ideas to ponder:

1. Begin with the ending.  And the ending to reckon with is the ending of your business, whether it ended due to a decision you made, or a decision that someone made for you. Begin the transition process with the ending. What did you lose? What’s changing? What do you need to let go of? How will the change impact you and others? And along with that, what do you get to keep? What, if anything, out of all that you have done in the past in your business, do you wish to carry forward to your new future?

2. Before you get “out there” and “start looking for a j-o-b” take some time to focus on what’s “in here” (within you) with respect to your knowledge, skills, abilities, values, preferences, goals, interests, likes, and dislikes before you dive in to the next big thing.

3. Rediscover you, who you are, what you want, what’s important, what’s not, and what matters most now before you start putting that piece of paper (your résumé) together.  In Stephen R. Covey language, “first things first”. Figure out where you want to go – next –before you invest in writing that new résumé. Build a firm foundation from which to launch – it will serve you well as you move forward to your new future.

4. Practice talking about yourself before you go to networking events or job interviews. Master your script about the product You and the knowledge, skills, abilities, passion and value you offer. Know your product offering inside and out before you go to market.

5. Connect with others. Build a transition team. Reach out. Ask for help. Asking for help is hard to do, especially when you as a business owner have been the one doing the helping. Teamwork works. Going solo in looking for a new opportunity is lonely and limiting. Surround yourself with a team of people who care about you and who are genuinely interested and invested in your sustained career success.

Career transition is a process – a process that takes time, commitment, ingenuity, and tenacity to see it through from start to finish, inception to completion – much like building a business.

photo by billiesucher

 

As A Job Seeker, Are You Nasty or Nice?

According to the dictionary, “nice” is an adjective that means: pleasant; agreeable; delightful; satisfactory.

A few synonyms include:  fine, good, lovely, kind, amiable.

As a job seeker, are you nice…

• to the HR Manager who asks you the toughest questions you’ve ever been asked?

 

• to the corporate recruiter who coordinates your travel schedule and unintentionally books your hotel at the wrong place?

 

• to the airline ticket agent who matter-of-factly states that your plane has been delayed for at least four hours?

 

• to the security guard who denies you entrance to the building because you forgot your photo ID as a part of the interview process?

 

• to the executive recruiter who suggests you are not a good fit with their existing clientele?

 

• to the career management professional your former employer hired to help with your career transition?

 

• to the department manager who claims she has never received your phone calls and emails, even though you have called her and emailed her multiple times?

 

• to your friends and family during your “between jobs” status?

 

• to the cheerful receptionist who inquires “What is the nature of your business with Mr. Jones?”

 

• to the decision-maker who leads off with “So what are you looking for and what’s your price?”

 

• to the hiring manager who voices her “definite concerns” about your candidacy for the job?

As a job seeker, are you nice?

“Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.” ~~ Bill Gates

About The Boss

When you hear the words “The Boss”, perhaps your thoughts turn to Bruce Springsteen. For the sake of this post, I would invite you instead to consider your current (or most recent) “boss” in the workplace. What words immediately come to mind when you think of him or her? Just for fun, make a list as quickly as you can of five positive words and five negative words that describe your boss:

Five Positive Words That Best Describe My Current (Most Recent) Boss:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Five Negative Words That Best Describe My Current (Most Recent) Boss:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

One of the many enjoyable things I get to do in my practice is to listen to clients. I love their stories. And in listening to their stories, I hear them describe their boss, especially when we are practicing for a job interview. I have heard many words that I cannot post here due to their PG-less rating. I have also listened to a myriad of negative boss descriptors (some examples below) when practicing this fill-in-the-blank question:

My boss is:

……rude, disrespectful, arrogant, disengaged, pushy, jerk, self-absorbed, absurd, incompetent, ineffective, disorganized, clueless, lame, inconsistent, unfriendly, has issues, condescending, insensitive, unavailable, unapproachable, doesn’t care, wishy-washy, hostile, doesn’t have my back, won’t listen….

If you are going to a job interview, be it today or in the near future, do you very best to speak well of your present (or most recent) boss. One of the ways to do this is to review the list of positive words you shared about your boss at the beginning of this post. Do your best to practice the positive words before going to your job interview so you will not be stumped by this question.

In my first “real” job after college, I worked for the president of a company. Here are my five-plus positive words for him:

1. Intelligent brilliant
2. Advertising genius
3. Super-strategist
4. Good instincts
5. Quick wit
6. Incredible vision
7. Organized
8. Immaculately dressed

Here are my five-plus negative words for him:

1. Feared by vendors, employees and board members
2. Dictatorial style
3. Demanding, unreasonably so
4. Mean
5. Frugal to a fault
6. Ruthless
7. Impatient

When you interview for your next job, be fully prepared for a question such as:

“What words describe your boss, why did you choose them, and please share with us an example for each word you selected.”

Do your best to answer the above question (or some derivative thereof) with confidence and without hesitation. Select only positive descriptors and set aside the negative ones. Whatever you say can and will be used against you when you are in the interview hot seat. Do not let your non-verbals reveal your displeasure for your current or most recent boss. You know that saying: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” – it still has relevance in the job market of 2012.

What Is Your Success Rate?

If you are a career management professional and happen to offer professional résumé-writing services, perhaps you have heard this question before. And no, I am not talking about the standard FAQ “how much do you charge?" I am referring to this one:

“What is your success rate?”

As a job seeker looking for résumé-writing assistance, have you asked the above question of a résumé writer?

Here is a response I conjured up in my head that I have not (and would not) share with a prospect:

“My success rate is 99.9%.” 

In a private conversation with self, I then speculated that I would further be asked:

So what about the remaining .1% ?

To which I replied (imaginarily, of course):

“Oh, yes, that – that .1% represents an infinitesimal variable that exists in measuring success rate relevance, applicability and significance in a volatile, changeable, turbulent market.  It’s a new prototype for quality and excellence in the industry, you know – best practices and all.”

What a bunch of gobbledygook. The next time you think about asking a résumé writer about his or her success rate, perhaps you will receive more accurate (and verifiable) information if you ask a few of the questions shared below that may lead you to a résumé writer who is just right for you! Perhaps before you ask the standard questions about how much do you charge and what is your success rate, how about asking:

 ~ Tell me about your credentials.

 ~ What qualifies you to write a résumé?

 ~ What is it like to work with you on a résumé-writing project?

~ Please share with me some compelling reasons I should hire you to write my résumé versus Résumé X, Y or Z Writer.

~ Help me understand your approach to the résumé-writing process?

~ What will you need from me (client) to build a top-notch, knock ‘em dead résumé?

~ How long have you been writing résumés – days? months? years?

~ Are your résumés published and if so, where might I view your work?

~ What are your expectations of me with respect to the résumé-writing process?

~ Describe the types of clients who have used your résumé-writing services?

~ If I Google you, will your company name (or your name) show up on a Rip-off report?

~ What certifications, if any, do you hold?  

~ What type of product will you deliver?

~ Where can I find recommendations from people who have used your services who will attest to your work quality?  

~ How will we work together -- phone? face-to-face? private office? Skype? coffee house? – please clarify.

~ Will I complete forms and questionnaires or is that something you will do for me?

~ What is your turnaround time from start to finish?

~ What are your expectations of me with regard to fees and payment?

~ What might I expect from you?

~ What other questions should I be asking you?

Now, back to the “success rate” question. The success of your résumé – regardless of who writes it, or how talented they are, or how educated they are, or how credentialed they are, or what their fee is, or how published they are, or how famous they are online or off – ultimately rests with you and you alone – as the sole owner of it.

Your job search success lies in what you do with the résumé resource regardless of who crafts it for you. And it lies in what you choose to do to look for work. And it lies in what you do to start over. And what strategies you use to move forward with confidence and commitment. And what you do to build a strong and vibrant network that will sustain you through the highs and lows of today’s chaotic workplace. And what you are willing to sacrifice to get on down the road of life. And how much you are willing to learn and articulate about the product you and your value. The best résumé in the world will do nothing for you if you do nothing for it.  No action; no outcome, regardless of cost, regardless of success rate.

I remember when I first started in business and was advised that I needed to hire a firm to write a “little brochure” if I wanted to be “successful.” I was so naïve at the time that I paid close to $2,000.00 for a little brochure that did not bring me one piece of business. Imagine my surprise (and disappointment). So, I paid the bill and shelved the brochure when someone else advised me that I would need to spend more time on relationship-building than reviewing my four-figure brochure. Ouch! Turns out, that person was a wise one indeed, even though his words were not what I wanted to hear at the time. And to this day, I am grateful for his counsel in offering me one of the single best pieces of advice I have ever received.

The most successful clients I have ever met have not always been the most educated, or experienced, or gifted, or talented, or best-dressed or well-known, or best-looking or most beautiful, or most charismatic, or have the best résumé or the best business brochure. They have, though, consistently embodied many of the following traits and characteristics:  

1. inspired
2. passionate
3. energetic
4. resilient
5. resolute
6. motivated
7. determined
8. persistent
9. consistent
10. driven
11. tireless
12. relationship-builder
13. unflappable
14. unstoppable
15. tenacious
16. focused
17. committed
18. disciplined
19. ambitious
20. flexible
21. adaptable
22. rejection-proof

Your professional résumé is a tool, and a resource that is waiting for you to take action to drive (and deliver) your very own remarkable career success rate. I wish you the very best of luck in doing so.

“The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price.” ~ Vince Lombardi