Who are the Villains in your Job Search

Who are the Villains in your Job Search Last week I went to a writing conference to expand my skills as a writer.  The conference was full of aspiring novel authors. I was easily twice the age of everyone else in the room.  The first session (which was fabulous) was all about THE VILLAIN!  What makes a good villain, what kinds of villains are there (there are a bunch!), how do villains act, how does the author resolve the villain, what is the purpose of the villain, etc. As the instructor was talking about villains I began to wonder who the villains were in my job search.  Who were the people, and what were the things, that kept me from getting out of my status as unemployed.  I would love to know who YOU think your villains are here were some of mine: Myself.Not going to hide this one. I was not prepared for a real job search. I had been working and preparing to be a professional manager, strategist, technologist, not a networking, interviewing, job seeker.  I treated my job search like a wound that should be healed instead of thinking about career management as a way of life for the future.  I got in my way many times. Job Boards.  They stole time from me.  I felt productive and felt like I was playing the numbers game.  There is no numbers game.  You dont have to get through 1,000 applications to get a yes.  You have to get the right info to the right people to get an interview. Recruiters.  All but one lied to me.  They took my resume, smiled (or replied thank you,) and planned to do NOTHING with the resume.  They didnt tell me I shouldnt even approach recruiters hoping they would find me a job.  Finally, one recruiter said youll find a job for yourself before I find a job for you.  And that helped me understand the role of recruiters in my job search, which was dramatically different than what I thought the role was. HR.  How can you make a list of job search villains without including HR?  I find HR to be distracted, unempowered, unknowledgeable (especially with in-depth job openings, like programmers), and not fun to talk to at all.  They are gatekeepers and their job is to keep you out.  Everyone, including HR professionals, tell you to AVOID HR in your job search. Interviewers. I found interviewers to be highly unsophisticated (read: not trained in interviewing), or apathetic, or rude and pompous.  The worst interview I had was buy an ex-Microsoft guy who was working at a startup who acted like he owned the entire world.  I needed the job, thought it would be great to get mentored under someone of his experience, but he led me on through various lies and finally emailed me that they had hired someone else (which was a lie).  This guy was a creep and I was too wounded to know that I should have run away.  Instead, I let it hurt me more and I went to a dark place for a while after that experience. Alright, enough about my problems WHO or WHAT are the villains in your job search today?  And how will you resolve them? Who are the Villains in your Job Search Last week I went to a writing conference to expand my skills as a writer.  The conference was full of aspiring novel authors. I was easily twice the age of everyone else in the room.  The first session (which was fabulous) was all about THE VILLAIN!  What makes a good villain, what kinds of villains are there (there are a bunch!), how do villains act, how does the author resolve the villain, what is the purpose of the villain, etc. As the instructor was talking about villains I began to wonder who the villains were in my job search.  Who were the people, and what were the things, that kept me from getting out of my status as unemployed.  I would love to know who YOU think your villains are here were some of mine: Myself.Not going to hide this one. I was not prepared for a real job search. I had been working and preparing to be a professional manager, strategist, technologist, not a networking, interviewing, job seeker.  I treated my job search like a wound that should be healed instead of thinking about career management as a way of life for the future.  I got in my way many times. Job Boards.  They stole time from me.  I felt productive and felt like I was playing the numbers game.  There is no numbers game.  You dont have to get through 1,000 applications to get a yes.  You have to get the right info to the right people to get an interview. Recruiters.  All but one lied to me.  They took my resume, smiled (or replied thank you,) and planned to do NOTHING with the resume.  They didnt tell me I shouldnt even approach recruiters hoping they would find me a job.  Finally, one recruiter said youll find a job for yourself before I find a job for you.  And that helped me understand the role of recruiters in my job search, which was dramatically different than what I thought the role was. HR.  How can you make a list of job search villains without including HR?  I find HR to be distracted, unempowered, unknowledgeable (especially with in-depth job openings, like programmers), and not fun to talk to at all.  They are gatekeepers and their job is to keep you out.  Everyone, including HR professionals, tell you to AVOID HR in your job search. Interviewers. I found interviewers to be highly unsophisticated (read: not trained in interviewing), or apathetic, or rude and pompous.  The worst interview I had was buy an ex-Microsoft guy who was working at a startup who acted like he owned the entire world.  I needed the job, thought it would be great to get mentored under someone of his experience, but he led me on through various lies and finally emailed me that they had hired someone else (which was a lie).  This guy was a creep and I was too wounded to know that I should have run away.  Instead, I let it hurt me more and I went to a dark place for a while after that experience. Alright, enough about my problems WHO or WHAT are the villains in your job search today?  And how will you resolve them?

Imposter Syndrome - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Imposter Syndrome - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career The other day I was speaking with a colleague about  Impostor Syndrome. In short, Impostor Syndrome is a psychological phenomenal where individuals cannot internalize their accomplishments.  We shared stories of clients who were very successful but lacked confidence in their abilities to be successful. The clients could not credit their success to their talents and/or ability, rather they see their successes as being lucky or working harder than others. The difficultly lies in the person assuming that at any moment, others will see through the facade and know they are not as talented and successful as others believe.  And while affecting many successful women, this phenomenon also afflicts men as well. The danger in this syndrome is that one will unknowingly hurt their career progression. When an executive praises your accomplishment, you may find yourself saying, It was a team effort, I cant take the credit or I was lucky that XYZ happened or Hey, even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while (laugh).  While you may see your response as being humble and sharing the credit (and humble is good in many cases), if this is your typical response to praise you are inadvertently sending the message that you are not as talented as the other person believes you to be. A few years back, the VP of my department paid me a compliment.  I responded sheepishly by saying, It is no big deal, just doing my job.  He stopped me and gave me some great advice when someone compliments you, thank them and accept the compliment.  Besides showing good manners to the person extending the compliment, you also dont want to undercut your professional image with the other person. In a previous post, I championed  trumpeting ones accomplishments  in order to ensure being noticed in the workplace.  If one believes he is an impostor, this effort is difficult to do.  If you find that you are afflicted with impostor syndrome, take steps to deal with the condition before you unknowingly stall your career progression.  Recognize when you are experiencing negative thoughts about your ability.   Know that you are not alone in experiencing these thoughts, you have been successful in the past, and you have every right to expect to be successful in the future.   Develop coping mechanisms in order to avoid letting the negative thoughts overtake your success an easy one is to keep a file of emails or notes of appreciation that you have received from your past successes. Finally, accept accolades and acknowledge there is truth behind what others are saying about your work. A professor at a top university shared with me his philosophy about his year-end course evaluations. He would stack the ratings from best to worst.   He paid little attention to reviews that were in the top and bottom 10% of his ratings because he believes he is not as good as the top 10% gave him credit for, nor as bad as the bottom 10% accused him of being the truth lies in the middle.  If you find yourself focusing on the negative and not believing the good comments, remember the truth is in the middle somewhere and probably higher than you give yourself credit for. Author: Kevin Monahan  is the Associate Director of the Notre Dame Career Center.  In this role, he leads the center’s  employer relations efforts in addition to coaching  young professionals in career management and career change capacities. He combines career consulting services with employer outreach to help find opportunities for both constituencies.  He is the author of the  Career Seeker’s Guide  blog.

CCG Roundup Traveling and Twitter - Classy Career Girl

CCG Roundup Traveling and Twitter Happy weekend! Time to get caught up on what you missed for the week and do a little learning to get one step closer to making your dream life  happen this weekend!  From traveling abroad to finding a job on Twitter, weve got lots for you to check out this weekend. Heres What You Missed This  Week at CCG: 4 Critical Questions to Ensure a New Job in 2016:  The vast majority of people will stay stuck in the same job next year. Here are 4 questions to help you move past your fear and into a new job this year. I Need Alone Time at Work:  Here is how to handle the day when you are an introvert working with extroverts. How to Start a Mastermind Group:  Here are 6 steps to take to start a mastermind group this year. 21 Business Books You Should Read in 2016:  If there is one thing that will move your business forward in 2016, it’s getting the right education and investing in yourself. The good news is that the investment doesn’t have to be huge because these 21 business books are all you need. Best Websites to Job Search Online:  There are thousands of job sites on the web right now and most people waste a ton of time doing a job search online. Our goal is to make the most of what little time you have. The more jobs you apply to, the better your chances! So here are our top five websites to help you job search online. 7 Ways to Land a Job With Twitter:  Think LinkedIn is the only social media platform for job searchers? Think again. Twitter is becoming one of the best social media sites to land a job. 4 Benefits of Getting a Business Coach:  My business coach made me dream bigger and really made me see all that I was capable of. Sometime you just need someone who believes in you to push you on to bigger and better things. That is why I highly recommend that you also get the support you need to help you become the woman that you are capable of.   The Beginners Guide to Getting Booked at Speaking Events:  Speaking is an excellent way to spread your message to multiple people at once. If you are a business owner, it’s also a great way to sell your programs and services. Instead of speaking to each person individually, you can speak to multiple people at once and actually save time and make more money helping people and making a difference. When you start speaking, word starts spreading and people refer you to other people to speak.  You just have to get the ball rolling and the rest is easy. 5-Step Email Help Guide:  So, your inbox is overflowing. It’s stressing you out. You have pages of unreturned emails and you don’t think you will ever keep up.  You also have a bad habit of constantly checking your email and you know it’s not helping your productivity at work. So, how can you be more productive and smarter about managing your email inbox throughout the day? Why Every Successful Woman Should Live Abroad:  Here’s the thing about going global: It’s about BECOMING cut out for it. If you’re looking to thrive in your career or change it up, then living aboard is the exact thing you need. Things to Learn This Week: Free 7-Day Challenge: New Year, New Career, No FEAR! This free challenge by our friend, Christie Mims, is the one BIG thing you need to do if you want to get a new job in 2016.   Thousands have signed up already â€" make sure you don’t miss out! Free Webinar: How to Start a Freedom Business: Classy Career Girl  CEO and Founder, Anna Runyan, will teach you the 5 steps to ditch your day job and transition into a profitable, freedom-based business. Guide: The Corporate Rescue Plan Business Plan Template.  A quick start plan with everything you ever need to learn about when building a new business including the 5 P’s to your ideal business including your Purpose Plan, Promotion Plan, People Plan, Profit Plan and Product Plan. Online Course: Love Your Career Formula Prep School.  Prep School is designed to get you ready for your career change. Whether you want to change industries, companies or start a business, Prep School is designed perfectly to get you ready. This previous live event is now recorded for you so you can get started on the entire course immediately.

What are the Signs That Youve Found a Great Recruitment Agency

What are the Signs That You’ve Found a Great Recruitment Agency Whether you’re a job seeker looking for a great agency or you have a job vacancy you’re trying to fill, you have a lot of options when it comes to agency representation. Maybe you’re after a niche agency or you just want to get the most bang for your buck. Just like any other type of business, there are bad apples, there are the cream of the crop, and there’s a whole lot of room in the middle for “meh” agencies. How can you find the right match for you? First, you have to realize there’s no one “best” agency for every single employer and job seeker. What you’re looking for must be well matched to the agency. This requires extensive homework on your behalf, but there are also some major red flags to watch out for. For example, a lot of bad reviews, failure to respond in a timely manner, or replies that are clearly cut and pasted or don’t answer your queries mean it’s time to move on. On the plus side, there are also many signs that you have a great agency in your sights. Here are some of the good things to seek out: 1) They have stellar testimonials and reviews How trustworthy review sites are might be up for debate, but it’s usually pretty easy to tell if a review (especially positive ones) are fake or not. Look at a few review sites, but also don’t forget to check the testimonial sites on the actual agency page. You can also take a look at their LinkedIn page for endorsements  or other social media pages for compliments. Basically, if there are a lot of good reviews from genuine people, you’re on the right path. It’s even better if you can connect with someone who used to be in your shoes and who can attest to the prowess of the agency. 2) It just feels right Trusting your gut can go a long way, and going against that inner voice  almost never works out in your favor. When talking with a potential agency, follow your heart and if it feels right, there’s probably a reason for it. However, it can be tough to trust your gut when you go buy emails or online chats alone. Whenever possible, meet in person or at least have a phone conversation. There are many red flags that can be missed because you’re relying too much on technology. 3) They specialise in your industry This is particularly important if you’re in a very niche industry, but even if you consider your industry pretty mainstream, the agency should have placed candidates with similar skill sets and title numerous times. You don’t want to be the first Social Media Manager they place, and as an employer you don’t want an agency taking a stab at finding the perfect SEO copywriter for you. Experience matters. 4) They have a flawless BBB rating This kind of aligns with reviews, but always check the BBB for a business’ rating. If they’ve been reported, that means someone was upset enough to do something drastic about it beyond writing up a poor review. Just because someone’s on the BBB naughty list doesn’t necessarily mean they were in the wrong, but do you really want to take that chance? Any more than one bad BBB reviews, and you need to definitely look elsewhere. 5) Theyre transparent More important than how long a business has been in operation is just how transparent they are in the process. You should know exactly what they’re doing for you with no “secret sauce” in the mix. This isn’t a magic show, it’s your business or career, and you deserve to be in the know. 6) They dont act like they need you A good agency doesn’t need any more employers or recruiters, but they’re happy to bring newbies on board and are always accommodating. However, if it feels like you’ve been shoved into a high pressure environment, ask yourself why. True, maybe they’re brand new (in which case, are they inexperienced?) but otherwise there’s a reason they’re hurting for business. If an agency wants you but doesn’t need you, that’s a sign of a successful venture you should want to be a part of. 7)  You have your own, responsive agent You should have a point of contact whether you’re offering a job or looking for one. In fact, you should only have to work with one person at the agency who knows what you want, always has time for you and has a penchant for returning your calls or emails quickly. This is a very intimate and personal journey that you shouldn’t have to share with new agents every day. You’ll know when you find the right fit by how it feels in your gut. Trust yourself. Author: Larry Alton is an independent business consultant specializing in social media trends, business, and entrepreneurship. Follow him on  Twitter.

What Is Resume Writing Called In The UC Application?

What Is Resume Writing Called In The UC Application?What is resume writing called in the U.C.? application? Many students do not know what a resume is and the main reason for this ignorance is that it was introduced as a secret of the game. While there is some truth to this statement, those who use resumes as tools in their game are few and far between.Resume writing can be a skill or a talent. It can also be a natural talent since it is one of the most used tools in today's competitive job market. It is important to remember that you cannot judge your resume's importance by the length of time that it has been used. Also, the quality of the resume that you make is more important than its length of time used.There are some purposes that you may have for using a resume. The most common reason why a resume is used is to provide reference and contacts for the job you are applying for. Another purpose for using a resume is to provide details about your skills. A third purpose is to demons trate your character and ethics. The fourth purpose is to present a statement about why you are the best candidate for the job.Resumes are a very effective way to prove to an employer that you are indeed the best candidate for the job. It is also a way to prove that you can handle the job that you are applying for. Moreover, it is the only thing that will be read by the employer so it must be effective. So, it should be unique, very easy to understand and present and written with clarity.Using a resume is not all that easy. There are some things that you need to consider. First, the resume must be unique in content and should be clear, concise and to the point. It must also give the information on why you are the best candidate for the job and why the employer should hire you.Since your resume is your advertisement, you will want to put yourself in the best light possible. In addition, the resume must be brief but also to the point. You should put yourself in the position of the emp loyer, how you can make the employer's job easier, why you deserve the job and how you can improve it. After all, this is how your employer will judge you and your qualifications.In applying for the resume, there are some guidelines that you need to follow. The most important thing is to put yourself in the position of the employer. This means that you must be honest with the employer because there is nothing worse than a dishonest applicant. Also, your resume must be direct but not too direct.The last thing to consider in applying for a resume is to be prepared. This means that you should be very aware of the requirements that are expected from you and the resume should be up to date. There are some things that the employer would expect you to present so do not be surprised when they ask you for a certain document. Also, you should always be prepared because the employer may not want to wait for you to get done writing the resume before asking you for the job.

Interviews Are Not a One-Way Street

Interviews Are Not a One-Way Street Remember, interviews are not a one-way street.   Though the employer has the job, it may not be the one you want, nor are you sure you want to work thereyet! In order to shift your job interview into a dialog, keep in mind the purpose of the interview: To learn and assess if this is the right place and the right job for you! You must take the initiative to ask questions around the areas you want to learn more about. Not just on the surface, but a deep understanding! This might get you started: Do you like your future job requirements Do you like your future boss? Do you like your future co-workers? Interviews are not a one-way street. The interviewer expects you to ask questions. It shows your interest in the role and company. Do you like your future job requirements? Chances are this new job wont be like your old job or any job youve heard about before due to the unique mixture of people and the company culture. Dont assume you know what they have in mind. Be sure you have specific questions written out and ready to ask. And yes, you can have questions written out and yes, you can reference them. The interviewer references a list of questions to ensure they cover everythingâ€" you should too. Check out these questions you can ask. Another way you can a better understanding of the job is to observe someone who works in the position already. While this isnt always possible, its worth asking if you can shadow someone currently in the role. But wait until the end of the interview process before making this request. Asking too early would be like ordering dessert before your meal. Do you like your future boss? Pay close attention to how your future boss interacts with you during the interview. But also keep in mind, many managers do not like the interview process either. They may not have any training on how to conduct interviews, so this is stressful for them as well. During job interviews, you want to understand how your future boss will manage and lead you, how they communicate, and what their priorities are. Does your future boss talk about him or herself during most of the interview or do they talk about the success of the team? Dig deeper and ask questions about people they managed and what their employees moved on to. You could also ask them to describe their star employee to understand valued skills and traits. Do you like your future co-workers? Team-based work is the norm today. If possible, be sure you have the opportunity to spend time with your future colleagues. Always have questions to ask in this situation too. You want to understand each individuals role on the team and how they interact with each other. What are their backgrounds? What do they like most about working at the company? Additionally, dont be afraid to take notes. Theyre most likely taking notes too. Taking notes serves a couple of purposes, it shows youre listening and interested, as well as provides you with details to reference when you write them individual thank-you notes after the interview. There isnt always enough time during the interview to get to know them well, but you can ask to contact them outside of the interview process. If youve been offered a job and still dont feel like you know your future teammates well enough, consider asking if you can come back in to meet with them again. Make the Right Decision As you can tell, interviews are not a one-way street. You have a lot of questions you need answered before you accept the job. The best job interviews allow for an exchange of information. There’s a saying among those who assess turnover or retention rates in companies. They often say employees don’t leave companies, they leave managers. You can prevent your premature departure from your next job by making sure you know as much as possible about the new opportunity and people you’ll be working with. The interview process is the time to get all your questions answered (check out these questions you can ask). Don’t wait to find out until you are on the job. Portions of this post originally appeared on US News World Report On Careers

Become the Leader Youve Always Dreamt of Being

Become the Leader Youve Always Dreamt of Being There are a lot of things that you need to keep in mind if you want to be a great leader. Running a business is so much more than simply coming up with a name and an idea; you have to ensure that you set a great example and that you are focused on making the best possible decisions for the company. A startup business needs care, nurture, and attention, and it is important to ensure that you focus on yourself as well. As the leader and head of the company, it is imperative that you look at what you can do to improve the way you run the business. This could be in the decisions you make, the way you treat your staff, and many other things as well. So, you need to make sure you work on becoming the leader you’ve always wanted to be. There are a lot of things that will help you achieve this, and these are some of the best ideas to keep in mind moving forward. Leadership Training Leadership training might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there is no denying its importance when it comes to improving the way you lead in the business world. Leadership development activities can make all the difference when showing you the best ways of dealing with people, as well as helping people to view your leadership in the right way. This is most definitely something you have to keep in mind moving forward, and it can make a lot of difference in the future. Set an Example It is important to set an example to your employees and others in the business. As the leader, people will look to you to make a good impression and to set the standard they need to follow. Leading by example is the true essence of leadership, and this is something you need to get right as soon as you can when it comes to looking at the different ways of leading your team effectively. Encourage Creativity Creativity and originality play such an important role in the world of business as a whole, and this is something you need to make sure you get right. There are a lot of things that play a part in this, and it is essential that you encourage your staff to be as creative as possible. One of the best ways of leading is to make sure you encourage your staff to embrace their ideas and to get creative with their thinking. Communication is Key Communication is the true essence of business as a whole, and there are a lot of things that play a role in this. There are also lots of business communication pitfalls you need to avoid if you want to achieve the right amount of success. Think about the way you communicate with your employees, and how you can improve this as a business leader. There are a lot of things that have to play a part in this, and it is important to get it right as soon as you can. You have a lot to think about when you want to run a business well, and to make yourself a better leader. It is important that you get this right moving forward, and there are so many things that you need to understand about leadership. If you can get these right, you should have no problem with improving your company long-term as well.