Hank London's Blog

Last time out I wrote about the importance of clarity in work communication and its effects on job survival.  While at the gigantic Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas earlier this month, I was continuously reminded of the importance of clarity in brevity, particularly when it comes to what we often refer to as the “elevator speech” – succinctly conveying your target message in a few seconds.  At a trade show with over 150 thousand attendees from all over the world, those little spiels were frequent, and I was impressed by how well they were delivered by the broadest spectrum of workers you could imagine. Some better than others, but the best networkers get their message across in the opening seconds of each interaction.

Whether speaking with company owners, engineers, sales or marketing personnel, or the freelance temporary tradeshow workers, everyone had plenty of opportunity to perfect the delivery of their particular message.  The commonality and frequency of questions like: “What do you do?”; “Tell me about your product?” and “What does this thing do?”, necessitated that those working the event had the ability to clearly provide answers and information that would either entice further, deeper queries, or filter out those who were merely curious so attention could be given to those most important to their mission for being at the show.

When you are looking for work, and networking, you will often be asked, “What do you do?”, or some other job related inquiry that could determine if you’ll have further contact with this person.  Your ability to briefly yet clearly inform others of your target goals and provide details about your skills and experiences, will frequently impact the interest others take in seeking more details about you and employment goals.

Here are some guidelines for mastering the art of the job search elevator speech.

Focus on finding succinct verbiage that is specific to your line of work or job goal.

Use everyday language rather than industry specific jargon, as you never know how much your listener knows about your industry and line of work.

When possible, say something about the circumstances under which you perform your duties, i.e. “…my experience involves working with small teams to develop applications for ….”   Or, “I am a high level administrator who complements and supports the efforts of senior executives and managers.”

Keep your pitch relevant to the kind of work you seek.

Don’t limit or pigeon-hole your objectives into too narrow a target.  Frequently our skills are applicable in broader terms than we actually get to use them.

If your past experience includes something quantifiable such as sales figures or other measurable metrics or monetary gains, try to include them.  Not to brag, but to emphasize the tangible contributions you’re capable of making.

Know how to express your most important assets in more than one way so you are best prepared for any situation .

Add a tight accomplishment statement to provide support examples of what you do and how well you do it!  (Check out the post Accomplishment Clarity for more info.)

Your objective is to get comfortable giving strangers information about your skills or goals to encourage more contact.  But it takes practice.  Develop a couple of clear and concise observations that cover your strongest attributes most relevant to your reason for making contact with the other person.  Ask a friend or family member to listen to your statements to help you better prepare your pitch.  Get the input of more than one person and practice until your comfort level increases.

But the best way to strengthen this all important skill, is to get out there and network! Go to events and locations where you’re likely to meet other professionals, introduce yourself to strangers, ask about what they do, and surely they will ask about your interests.  The right message in the right time can make a real difference in the way others understand your goals and the contributions you can make.  And when a decision maker thinks you can make a difference, your chances of advancing your career improve dramatically.   The Right Message In The Right Time does make a difference!

For more tips on clear communication and improving your chances for job search and career success, please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

Regardless of the kind of work you do, or where ever you are located, if you have or want a job, you will interact with other people! (Well “Duh!” That’s obvious!) Bear with me! The basic give-and-take of what is sometimes simple communication, is how we get through our day. Sometimes the information being passed along seems insignificant, and other times it could be life altering. But being able to tell one from the other, and acting accordingly, can be the difference between job survival and the unemployment line.

In business, whether via oral or written communication, recognizing the importance of what is being communicated is paramount. No matter your position or achievement level, being able to follow instructions is an important business skill. Equally important is the ability to accurately convey and relay instructions or other details to others in a manner that is comprehendible to the listener. And sometimes, this isn’t easy!

Learning styles, listening skills and attention spans are among the contributing factors to the way people understand and respond to written and oral communication. And because of these differences in human information processing it becomes all the more important for people to take extra steps to ensure their information has been received and appropriately comprehended.

In casual conversation we frequently imply certain details rather than get overly specific because of our familiarity with the listener, awareness of their foreknowledge, experiences, etc. But in business you can’t take the chance that your intended meaning will get misconstrued because of assumptions. It is better to overstate something – provide extra details – for the sake of clarity, than it is to assume the other party knows and understands what you are referring to.

And in fact, let’s take that one step further. In business it is usually a good idea when giving instructions or passing along important information to ask the other party if they fully understand your meaning. There’s nothing wrong with requesting that your listener or the party receiving your written communications, verify their understanding, maybe even asking them to repeat your instructions to ensure comprehension. In doing so, you not only get confirmation that the other party fully understands you, but can also help them prioritize necessary actions based on the confirmation of the information’s importance.

You may be saying to yourself that you have no trouble understanding instructions or getting accurate details on your job. Excellent! Good for you! But not everyone is so lucky. In many situations understanding information may also be impeded by language. Whether we use local or common vernacular in our communications or use slang or buzz words related to your industry, we must also remember that not everyone uses language the same way. In our multicultural society it is quite possible that information can be misunderstood because one party or other is not a native speaker of the English language. And because of the increasing volume of immigrants to our domestic workforce, someone may be using the same language, but with a thick accent or inflection that can influence understanding in spoken communication. Subtleties of language that we take for granted or assume are a part of another’s understanding can get lost, further complicating one’s ability to fully understand what is being said.

Another part of this equation in the accurate sharing of detailed information is providing the follow-up, when requested, in a timely manner. If someone tells you they require additional details or more information in order to perform tasks related to the discussion, get that information to them as soon as possible. Don’t procrastinate! In doing so, you make it more difficult, and possibly uncomfortable, for the other party to have the full picture of the information they need for full comprehension and action. Quickly providing the adjunct details, whether the required information is as simple as a web link or phone number, or more complex details like procedural instructions, allows the other person to get on with their responsibilities and strengthens their ability to complete work on time. And it can also increase one’s confidence that the work will be done correctly because you have provided all necessary information.

Whether the majority of your communication is verbal or written, your ability to clearly convey thoughts and information to others is what makes the world go ‘round. But don’t assume others understand your directions! Check in with them periodically to ensure that your meaning has not been misconstrued. If others do not consistently understand the details you provide them, the tenure of your job will be shorter than you’d like. Your job survival does depend on your clarity!

For more tips about job search, and how to survive the world of employment, please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

Ah yes, the end of the year.  Now is the time year when almost anyone with an audience looks back on the past twelve months to reflect on the best of this, and most important of that.  Brief perspectives such as the “top ten list” can be very handy in providing a close-up view of a particular subject.  But this time, rather than look back, I think we should all look forward with hopeful optimism, and make plans to move positively into the new year of 2012.

Here are my suggestions for the top ten things serious job seekers should vow to do in the coming year.

Drum roll please!

Number 10:

Rewrite your cover letter and update your resume. (I’m counting them as one because the work together!) It is time to craft communication that is tight and succinct, that clearly conveys your strengths and their relevant applicability to the jobs you are applying for.  If you’re applying for different types of work, make sure that each version you write of your cover letter and resume is relevant to the jobs and companies where you want to work.  Remember to take out all the irrelevant and old info that no longer pertains to your current strengths and experiences.

Number 9:

Refine on your elevator speech.  Memorize some brief statements that clearly and concisely express your specialties, what you’re interested in doing with those skills, and the successes you’ve experienced utilizing your best attributes. You never know who you’ll run into and what you’ll need to tell them!

Number 8:

Update your profiles on the social networking sites.  Make sure that your LinkedIn presence is completely focused on the professional you.  And make sure your YouTube and Facebook ages don’t convey anything you wouldn’t want your employer to see.  Keep your professional image as clean as possible.

Number 7:

Identify blogs and other sites relevant to your profession and start making regular contributions to their forums and discussions.  Keep your content focused and on-topic and try to show that you are a leader and a professional, that your experience is up-to-date and that your contributions to your industry are making a positive impact.

Number 6:

Vow to make a regular contribution to the betterment of others’ lives.  Commit yourself to volunteering for a local nonprofit, reading to children, feeding the homeless, mentoring a student, or performing other acts and deeds that improve the lives of others in your community.  No matter how bad you think your life is, remember that there are always those who suffer far more than you do!

Number 5:

Update your references. Make sure anyone whose name you will use as a reference can comfortably and knowledgably talk about your strengths and integrity, and that they are aware that you are looking for work, and the kind of work you seek and the strengths you’d like them to highlight on your behalf. Never use anyone for a reference who is unaware that you are passing around their name and contact information.

Number 4:

Identify and research companies where you’d like to work.  Dig deep into their background, history, staff, products and services to uncover names and ideas so that you can make contact with the company and show how you can make an impact on their bottom line.

Number 3:

Schedule informational interviews at companies where you’d like to work.  The research you just did for Number 4 will reveal names of people to contact providing you the chance to be the one conducting the interview, and learning all you can about the positions, the corporate culture, and what they and what it takes to get your foot in the door.

Number 2:

Network, network, network!  Social networking online is fine, but it doesn’t build the same kind of strong relationships of confidence and camaraderie that can be nurtured face-to-face.  Get out there, meet new people, use that elevator speech and get to know other professionals in a real personal manner that can move your career forward.

And the Number 1 Job Seeker Resolution for the New Year:

Get Hired!!!

Wishing you all the Best Holidays, and a Very Happy, Healthy, Safe and Prosperous New Year.

And, as always, for more tips about job search, and how to improve your odds of getting hired, please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

Recently, I was reviewing resumes, cover letters and doing some interview preparation for job seekers at a job fair.  Although the age of the participants skewed a bit older than most of these events, the employment hopefuls were as diversified in their skills, experience and positions of interest, as would be expected. But one of the things that many of them had in common was the inability to convey their strengths and experience without saturating their documents with the words “I” and “My”.  And too many “I” and “My” statements cause I Fatigue!

Keep in mind that all of job search – resumes, cover letters, interviewing and networking – is really all about how your skills and experience meet the needs of the employer!  Or, to paraphrase JFK’s inaugural speech, “Ask not what the employer can do for you. Ask what you can do for the employer.”  All your documents and responses must be focused on how you can fulfill the employer’s needs!

Certainly, your first instinct is to provide answers and information that begin with, or include statements such as: “I did such and such.”  “I’m good at …”  “My experience has taught me …”  “While I was at Company X, I generated …” But when you do use these phrases the reader of your resumes and cover letters (the employer!) sees that your focus is only on you and not what benefit you can provide the prospective employer.

These types of statements don’t always communicate how you use your particular skills and knowledge and their relevant benefits to the employer’s needs. Therefore they make it harder for the reader to extract pertinent information about your experience and its applicability to the job being offered.

Here are some examples excerpted from actual resumes and cover letters of too many “I” and “My” statements, and suggestions on to rephrase them to keep the emphasis on the job and employer.

Example 1:    (cover letter)

Instead of this: I will bring my qualifications and professional knowledge to your organization, including my expertise in product production and marketing.

Try this:  The qualifications and professional knowledge gained over 10 years at Company X, can be integrated into your organization’s culture, and will include expertise in product production and marketing that will support your initiatives.

Example 1 isn’t too bad.  But one “I” and two “My” in two lines of text is a bit much. The second version is certainly more assertive, albeit wordier.

Example 2:    (resume)

Instead of this: I worked closely with the development departments and I helped ensure that our plans and tactical calendars were synergistic.  I wanted to avoid personnel and budgetary conflicts or compromise of messages.

Try this:  Worked closely with the development departments to ensure that our plans and tactical calendars were synergistic, avoiding personnel and budgetary conflicts, or compromises to the important messages of our campaigns.

Example 2 has too many sentences beginning with “I”, with the suggested version brings those multiple thoughts into one cohesive and connected thought.

Example 3:    (cover letter)

Instead of this:  I was responsible for the expansion of a start-up support services firm.  I grew the company from 10 to 200 + workstations.  I was then able to provide multilingual services to Fortune 500 companies.

Try this:  Being responsible for the expansion of a start-up support services firm empowered me to grow the company from 10 to over 200 workstations, including providing multilingual services to Fortune 500 companies.

In example 3, again there were too many “I”, and the stated actions come across dryly.  But since the accomplishments were interrelated, the second version conveys more strength and conviction in what the applicant can do.

In each example the emphasis is on the accomplishment, not the candidate!  Remember that you’re not trying to dissociate yourself from the work, but you are trying to tone down the ego part of selling yourself.

It may be possible to write a letter about yourself without using “I” or “My”, but you don’t have to!  Don’t eliminate “I” and “My” entirely, just reduce their usage from dominant to occasional, and try to avoid using them at the beginning of too many sentences.  It will cut down on the I Fatigue suffered by hiring managers and improve your chances of being considered a serious candidate.

For more tips about job search, and how to improve the readability of your documents, please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

Now that you’ve made it through the Thanksgiving Weekend with or without a tryptophan induced hangover, and with or without bruises from the Black Friday melee, maybe you’re at work not quite feeling the gratitude the holiday name suggests. Understandable!  Due to our sustained economic doldrums, many employers are cutting down on office celebrations, bonuses, gifts, benefit contributions and raises.  Sure, you’re very thankful that you have a job, but don’t you wish there was a stronger air of appreciation and thanks for your efforts all year long?

If you are employed at one of the many businesses that have made the afore mentioned cutbacks, “holiday cheer” seems like an oxymoron.  Maybe your employer will forgo the whole-office holiday party.  Yes, those events present opportunities to meet, network and chat with coworkers whom you may not see frequently, if at all, during the course of the regular work day. But for some, being around so many strangers can be a bit daunting.  And office parties also tend to break down into cliques of workers who do see each other regularly, and with whom they are comfortable.

So instead, take it upon yourselves to create some spirit.  Do something nice for yourselves. Invite your closest work buddies to plan a group activity. There are so many things you can do among your coworkers and office pals to infuse a little thankfulness and appreciation, as well as holiday cheer that is sure to improve workplace morale. You don’t have to think expensive and complex; simple and sincere are good!  A little effort, planning and cooperation will go a long way!  Here are just a few suggestions:

Pick a date and plan to meet at a comedy or jazz club.  Everyone will be responsible for their own ticket, drink and food tabs.  Contact the venue and ask if they’ll give you a group discount if you bring a certain number of people.  Clubs want butts in seats, so it’s not unlikely they’ll be willing to accommodate this kind of request.

If you live near a body of water, a dinner cruise may be an option (as is any group dining option) for getting together with your closest workmates to share an evening of camaraderie, food and spirit.  As these can be popular options, particularly on weekends, you might want to book your gathering on a weeknight to increase your chances of getting seats.

Have brunch brought in to the office.  It’s amazing how many smiles and how much good will can be generated over fresh bagels, cream cheese and smoked salmon.

Invest in a couple of pounds of really good coffee, and swap out the mediocre blend consumed daily.

Find out if any of your coworkers play musical instruments in their spare time. A few may play in garage bands.  If they don’t, assemble an office band, and find a place to play for your associates.  If no one plays, maybe a night of karaoke is in order!

Go bowling!

Is your office involved with any charitable events or endeavors?  Get a few people together and help prepare a meal at a shelter or collect food donations for your local food bank.  Or, visit with, and read to seniors at a nursing home. How about putting on a skit or little play for children stuck in the hospital?  You will feel a lot better about yourself and your own situation when you help those less fortunate.  And that’s a good idea all year long!

And don’t forget to actually say “Thanks” to the coworkers who make each day bearable.  Everyone needs to be appreciated, and a simple expression of your gratitude for others’ daily contributions can do wonders for boosting morale and wellbeing.

So now that the holiday season is officially here, take a few minutes to express your appreciation and gratitude in simple and meaningful ways.  When it comes to letting others know they are appreciated, a little does go a long way.

For more tips about job search, workplace morale and other ideas, please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

There was a time not too long ago when job seekers routinely sent out their job search documents to unknown recipients. More times than not job announcements instructed job seekers to send their resumes and cover letters to blind addresses – Post Office boxes or routing numbers in care of the newspaper that ran the recruitment ad – or fax numbers, all with no real indication of the name of the hiring company.  Blind recruitment ads are still common today; job seekers now send their documents to blind email addresses. But it has become more necessary than ever for the motivated job prospector to dig out as much information as possible when they are looking for a job.  Identifying the right person to send your resumes and cover letters can mean the difference between getting an interview and wasting your time.

Job search is a bit like mining for precious metals, gems or stones.  Prospectors have an inkling of where to stake their claim, either through geologic reports or other research, before they start to break ground.  Similarly, a job seeker must have an idea of where and whom to send their documents in order have the best opportunity for job search success.

Whereas in days gone by the job seeker would use old newspaper clipping and magazine articles, either in hard copy or stored on microfilm, to research companies of interest, today through the internet and social networking, information about prospective employers is much closer at hand.

These days, almost every employer, and many small firms too, have a presence on LinkedIn, Facebook and/or other social networking site, in addition to their own corporate web pages. You might even find YouTube videos featuring department managers or corporate executives.  And although what you see on a company’s social networking pages shouldn’t contradict what’s on their own website, it may very well provide supplemental information and insight about senior and general staff.  Dig for a few names, then research them on those networking sites, and any blogs or trade groups/associations’ sites affiliated with their industry.  And don’t forget to search the company’s annual report, where you will learn more about their financial stability, years in business, key initiatives, products or services, etc.

Don’t forget to read the company’s blog.  It likely has contributions from senior management as well as regular staff that reveals projects that are being pursued, conveys some of the personalities and interests of potential coworkers, indicate the type of environment that surrounds them, facilities, in-house events, charitable endeavors, etc.

Prospecting for employment also means mining other areas that weigh on an individual’s wants and needs from an employer, such as its size, location, accessibility, benefits, professional development, reimbursement programs for transportation or education expenses.  For some perspective on those considerations, check out my post: What Do You Need? What Do You Want?

Now that you have some names of people at your targeted companies, the inevitable question is:  Should you contact them directly?

Yes and No!

If you want to schedule an informational interview, yes, make contact.  But if the people you’ve unearthed aren’t directly related to a position you’re qualified to fill, don’t waste their time or yours.  You can’t really expect a complete stranger will forward your resume to the HR department or hiring manager.  Also understand that when you make contact with a complete stranger, even on a professional basis, your motives might be questioned.

But certainly there’s no harm in trying to establish a professional networking relationship, especially when your interests of employment with their company are not foremost on your agenda (even though it really is, you just can’t show it right away!).  Try to find out where the movers and shakers for these companies hang out.  Is there someplace nearby where they congregate for after work libation and sustenance?  Keep it social and investigative at the earliest stages.  You can ask about openings known to them soon enough.  You are more likely to get an assist in getting your foot in the door with their employer after you’ve established a relationship.

In our gotta-have-it-now information age, your research may produce a lot of names and details you’ll need to sift through before you find the nugget of a contact you’ll need for directly uncovering openings or submitting your resume and cover letters.  But the overall process of mining for leads takes almost as much effort as it ever has. You’ve got to be thorough, and you’ve got to dig deep.  Don’t assume you’ll find the right HR director, or department manager with only a cursory search!  Get out there and do some real prospecting for your next job.

For more tips about mining for job search gold, please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

In the previous blog entry I tried to illustrate the diversity of unseen and unsung talent required to put on a live production.  Many of the people who work in these positions are freelancers and independent contractors, as opposed to regular employees, who know a thing or two about looking for work and self promotion.  If they are part of a regular crew who tour with the performers, they could be working steadily for a long stretch. But when that tour ends, it could be a while before a behind-the-scenes specialist finds another gig!  You’ve got to be hearty to lead a deliberately insecure existence!

As in many professions, those who are considered the best at what they do, have less trouble finding work.  They are “in demand”. And the rest, the majority, all very worthy and qualified, compete like crazy for the limited work that is out there.  This is especially true for the thousands of technical professionals who don’t want to tour; who choose to work with local production companies. And in many cases, they may not be working full time!

The reasons people choose these careers are as diversified as the people themselves.  A love for music, art and performance, their own creative expression, wanting to work in a creative, fast paced environment, thriving on pressure, tight schedules and precise timing, and more.

But how do people get into these careers?

The simple answer, like it is for many careers, is that some pursue their backstage path through formal education, and others must learn on the job by doing.

All around the globe, there are universities and colleges with coursework in fields associated directly with the performing arts, as well as other areas of study that can be applied to supporting that art.  There are also many respected private schools that provide specialized training in these careers.  Some pursue these avenues of study with the specific goal of working in the entertainment arts, and others discover the applicability of their interests to the arts later on.  Here are just a few of the courses of study that can be applied to the performance arts:

• Recording Engineering and Sound Reinforcement, Sound Production and Design programs for learning how to capture the action to a recording medium, or amplify what’s on the stage for all to hear properly.
• Acoustical Engineering, for the design of speakers, amplifiers, and acoustical environments.
• Electrical Engineering for designing circuits to control lights, mixing consoles, amplifiers
• Fashion design and Art History are frequently studied by costumers, set designers, and prop procurers, so they know where to look for period related references and create accurate staging and attire.
• Literature and Writing courses always come in handy, whether your interest is developing screen plays, developing narratives or generating business proposals and marketing materials. Learning how to write well will serve you in any professional endeavor!
• Architectural Design, Drafting and Structural Engineering can all inspire creativity in set design, staging and rigging, to understand how pieces of the sets can work together, last through the setups and tear downs of touring, to support appropriate weight loads, etc.
• Those interested in the business side of the performance arts will always benefit from business courses, including Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Management, Finance, Advertising, Marketing and Promotions.
• Law courses can help creatives understand the management of intellectual property, copyrights and trademarks; all necessary for protecting their work.
• Lighting Design, Broadcast Engineering, Television Production, Photography, Videography and Editing, all support both the presentation, projection and capturing of a performance for larger audiences and (physical and transmitted) product distribution.

But what about those folks who are already out of school, or who don’t want to take college courses in these areas?

Many back stage artists went to the school of hard knocks by helping other professionals. They learned their craft by doing!  Some got their start by making contact with those who perform these backstage tasks, offering to assist them in any way possible, just to get their foot in the door, then watching the pros and learning the tricks of their trade.  Developing a relationship with someone who can mentor you, who has been around the block a few times, can be a great starting point for an internship.  Don’t make a pest of yourself, but respectfully convey that you want to learn, and you want to be hands-on.  Getting the opportunity to be hands-on may take some time, but one’s willingness to work hard, listen carefully, and learn from others can go a long way to getting a backstage career off the ground.

Sure the potential irregularity of these jobs and employment choices can be deliberately insecure, but it can also be rewarding and personally satisfying, something that not every employee can claim, but something that every worker aspires to.

For more tips about job search – back stage or front of the house, please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

Like many people, I enjoy going to theater performances, concerts, festivals, and other live-entertainment events, and I’m lucky enough to attend a variety of shows throughout the year.  There’s a tremendous amount of work that goes into the production and presentation of every performance, from some very talented behind-the-scenes, unsung and unseen heroes, who rarely get the public acknowledgement they rightfully deserve.

When we buy tickets to a concert or attend a show, we may know the names of the performers, musicians, or composers, but it is unlikely we’ll know the names of any of the people in the background who are needed to make that event happen.  Yet, it is because of the dedicated and coordinated efforts of those talented and skilled people whom we don’t see, that we (hopefully) get to enjoy those who do appear on stage.  And when these hidden folks do their jobs well, their contributions become seamless and integral to your enjoyment of the performance you want to see.

Putting on a live performance takes teamwork.  The people on stage – actors, singers or musicians – must work together to create a presentation that appears cohesive and polished. And there are people in the background whose coordinated efforts with both the talent and other technicians make the artists and performers look and sound their best.

Let’s now give proper respect to all those it takes to put on a show, including:

• Sound and lighting professionals who don’t get enough credit for setting the right mood and tone for a performance! If something goes wrong on their end, it will likely be what you remember most (negatively) about the performance.  Not much worse than going to a show where you can’t see one of the performers, or can’t hear another.
• The electrician who’s there to ensure that anything and everything that lights or moves or otherwise gets plugged in, gets the juice it needs without blowing a fuse.
• The carpenters and designers who create, build and paint sets and backgrounds, and those who procure and manage stage props to create the appropriate ambiance of location, time and space.  Stage scenery today is very intricate, and frequently individual pieces are rotated, turned and manipulated to be used differently in multiple scenes in the course of a production.
• And let’s not forget the stage riggers who build the structural support for the production.
• There are the costume designers who create what is worn on stage, and the dressers who assist talent getting into and out of their attire in a short amount of time, frequently multiple times throughout a performance.
• Much respect to the roadies who haul tons of heavy equipment in and out of venues before and after gigs.
• We can’t forget those involved with the booking of performances, who work long and hard to ensure productions happen on schedule.
• Although a lot of tickets are procured online these days, box office personnel are also an integral part of the operations.  As are the finance managers who make certain that budgets are kept and met, and people get paid on time.
• Ushers and security staffs also must be acknowledged for getting us to our seats, removing the rowdies and making way for emergency personnel if they are needed.  And a tip of the hat to the maintenance, sanitation and cleanup crews who get venues presentable for each show.
• And of course, no disrespect intended to anyone omitted.

Whether these hard working, talented professionals live and work locally, or travel on tour with the performers doesn’t matter, they work invisibly so you can enjoy the production to the fullest.

So, why am I going on about all these behind the scenes people?  Like I said at the outset, I see a lot of performances each year, and have much respect for those who make them happen.  The San Francisco area is blessed to have a wealth of entertainment options year round, and the great climate allows for many outdoor festivals and concerts.

Every fall, one of my favorite events is the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, which just celebrated its 11th year.  The diversity and wealth of talent presented at this annual event is staggering, but so is the insane volume of work it takes to put all that talent on six stages simultaneously for three solid days.  Those behind the scenes who make this event happen may be unseen and unsung but they truly deserve serious acknowledgement for the gargantuan undertaking that draws over a half million people into Golden Gate Park to enjoy the fruits of their extensive labors! It’s an enormous amount of collaborative work for all those involved, and I’d like to extend my sincerest thanks, respect and appreciation to everyone for yet another fabulous event.

For more tips about teamwork, collaboration and  job search, please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

Unless you’re devoid of any feelings, one of the toughest things to hear from someone is that they lost their job.  This is a hard thing to hear from anyone, particularly if you know the person well, and know that they have committed themselves for a long time to that gig.  And even if you aren’t closely acquainted, it’s hard to not feel sympathetic toward someone who has lost their income, and frequently their purpose, through job loss.

Being let go from a job is not uncommon.  It’s probably happened to most adults at least once in their working lives, and usually through no fault of their own.  In the last few years, the most frequent stories of job loss have come through company-wide layoffs, where you’re not alone in losing your job.  And while some employers are quick to provide or arrange for job seeking services to those being let go, there are too many people who get terminated with little or no assistance from their (now former) employer.

Larger employers have more choices for assisting those being terminated. They can contract with private service providers to conduct workshops and meet one-on-one with those being let go to help them move forward toward a new job.  Larger employers can also arrange assistance from the local employment development department.

But our nation’s work force is not primarily those employed by large corporations. In fact, most workers are employed by small businesses.  And without the support and guidance of trained professionals to provide job search training and assistance, those who lose their jobs can flounder unproductively for too long.

Regardless the size of the business, when an employer decides to cut your job it can be quite painful.  And if you don’t see the cut coming, it can be even worse.  It’s probably hardest for those who get terminated right after returning to work from vacations, honeymoons or sick leaves. I have heard too many horror stories recently from people removed from their jobs upon returning with renewed energies and dedication after time away; time off that was calendared and approved.  I personally think that employers who fire workers without due cause right after they have returned from a vacation or honeymoon are the lowest of the low!  And those who terminate their workers just before the holidays don’t win any points either.

OK, sometimes these cuts are necessities to save a business, but if you’re the one being cut, all the rationalizations in the world mean diddely.  And the excuses employers provide when they cut staff are frequently fabricated to cover their assets, with little bearing on the reality of the worker’s productivity or performance.

So, what do you do if you’re the one cut?

• First of all, don’t waste time feeling sorry for yourself.  In this economy, you have little time for a pity party.  And unless you’re one of the few to get a generous severance package, start living as frugally as possible right away.  Get your act together because you will have competition from others looking for the same or similar type jobs.
• Get as much information about the reasons for your dismissal as possible.  And if you can, get something in writing that explains why you were let go.
• File for unemployment insurance as soon as possible.
• Get the names and full contact information for supervisors, management and coworkers, and ask for written references right away while the quality of your contributions and performance can be easily recalled.
• Get permission from these people to use them as references for your upcoming job applications.  It’s ok to use others who have been terminated as references; don’t let that they too were fired keep you from asking for their support, and provide the same for them too.
• Update your resume and cover letters right away.  Make sure to describe the contributions you made on the job clearly and concisely.
• Let everyone in your network know that you are looking for a new job, and be concise in the way you describe what kind of job you are looking for.  Provide those in your network copies of your resume, and encourage them to pass it around.   Post your resume on social and professional networking websites, as well as job search boards.

While there’s no justice in the way many people are laid off, there’s no shame in being fired; it happens to millions of people all the time.  Just don’t let the experience affect your ability to move forward.  Talk with your family and friends about your feelings and your need to find work.  And if anger and resentment are affecting your ability to focus on your job search, seek professional help.  Don’t “stuff your feelings”, as it won’t serve your productivity and could be a detriment to your getting your next job.

Good luck!  I’m rooting for you!

For more tips about  job search, surviving layoffs and maximizing your networking, please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

Over the last 10-15 years there have been a lot of changes in the way we look for work.  Some of these changes have been subtle, while others have been more dramatic.  But at the core of a search job seekers must still get their work histories and skills in front of decision makers.  And while it might help if you have a few of those decision makers as close personal friends, if not, then you’ve got to start making their acquaintance.

The old adage: “It’s not what you know, but who you know!” has never been truer!  Yes, what you know is still important but establishing and maintaining ties with professionals who are interested in what you know and what you do is truly more important than at any time in the past.

And therein lies the difficulty for many job seekers: How to meet the right people?  Identifying certain decision makers may have gotten somewhat easier, but meeting them and having a positive, memorable personal exchange of ideas, remains allusive for many.

Thankfully in this era of online social networking, it is getting a bit easier to connect and build relationships with decision makers and like-minded professionals. Yes, it remains valid and important for you to investigate industry specific and specialized trade groups and attend their events, read name tags and introduce yourself!  Active participation in such events can get you noticed.  Seeing up close and personal how professionals from particular groups interact can go a long way to understanding their work cultures, but getting to these events is sometimes difficult and costly.

But online social networking has evolved substantially beyond the broad generalist scope of sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, or more recently, Google+.  As useful as these sites are, there are an ever increasing number of specialized social networking sites aimed at professionals in particular industries.  And the number of industry specific sites is growing rapidly. There are social networking sites for a wide variety of professionals and those seeking to become professionals in fields such as law, engineering, architecture, teaching, nursing, and members of many other professions.

By sheer coincidence while putting this piece together, I received a link from the very generous, and astute, Melanie Slaugh, that includes a number of social networking sites for a diverse array of professions. Check out: http://www.myispfinder.org/ispblog/2011/10-career-enhancing-social-networking-sites

And thanks to my old friend, Joanne Green, I can also share one of several sites for legal pros:  https://www.mycourthouse.com

If you’re looking for a social networking site for a specialty that’s not listed here, don’t hesitate to do a search for the areas that interest you the most.

Use these sites as a foray for establishing and building relationships with like-minded professionals. Certainly you will be able to exchange and share information and ideas online. But most importantly, use these tools to create opportunities for meeting face-to-face, if not in the same room, then via Skype or Net Meeting. And maybe you can encourage the managers of these sites to sponsor local or regional events for more one-on-one in person networking.

No matter how you make contact with new members of your network, online or a live social event, the same rules of etiquette and respect apply.  Keep your topics relevant and appropriate, be respectful of other’s time, ask them about their preferences for connecting, and don’t monopolize anyone at a public gathering – get their contact info and set up another time to meet for a more lengthy discussion.  Networking is a skill that gets stronger the more you use it.  So go online, do some research for social networking groups that match your interests, and get plugged in.  Your network will grow, and so will your opportunities for personal and professional growth.

For more about  job search, career development issues and networking ideas,  please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

Happy Labor Day to all!  Here it is September again, the year is ¾’s over and students are returning to their classrooms.  While colleges and universities struggle to maintain standards because of their rising costs, curricula continue to evolve.  Instruction of business and entrepreneurial coursework is on the rise, and many programs are focusing on areas such as marketing, promotions, idea development and business operations.  This is all good!

But while enrollment in business programs is filling up classrooms, scientific, engineering and technological studies are on the decline in the US.  Have we reached a point where college students think it is more important to know how to sell than to develop the skills necessary to explore new technologies and create new products?  Could this explain why top jobs in these fields are being filled with graduates from universities in India and China?

To a large degree, the answer is, Yes.  Right now there are many areas of scientific study that are not being pursued in the numbers that will sustain existing industries.   How can we promote the development of new industries in this country when it’s getting harder for employers to find the talent they need here at home?  This necessitates either outsourcing the work to other countries, or importing the talent from outside our borders!

There’s no denying that part of this situation is the high cost of education for students and the universities.  Students are fearful of loan programs that will indenture them for decades after they get their degrees, and the schools are having a tough time keeping quality educators and maintaining facilities as their costs continue to rise.  Funding for many educational programs is drying up, leaving a quality education available to far fewer students.

Are there any easy solutions?  Not really.  But here are some thoughts for consideration:

Maybe it’s time for more employers to provide directly relevant education and training in their own facilities for the most motivated and interested in their particular fields.  I believe we would we see an increase in productivity and idea / product development if students were given the tools and encouragement to develop their talents and interests while applying them directly on the job, at companies where their interests can be more fully explored and nurtured.

Institutions of higher learning should be establishing long-term relationships with large and small science, technology and research companies to provide more students access to on-the-job training (OJT) programs that would contribute to their motivation and skills development in addition to helping them acquire their degrees and certifications.

Don’t mistake this rant to suggest we should do away with degree and certificate programs!  On the contrary!  Plenty of professions and specialties warrant advanced degrees and learning, as well as achievement of an approved level of competency!  And I’m sure there are more professions that should require a focused degree program that as yet do not!  That measured level of accomplishment then encourages employers to look more deeply at an applicant’s potential to make important contributions, then give them the tools they need to succeed.

But there should also be more programs for intense on the job learning that provide accelerated opportunities for career development, mentoring and growth.  This would put the onus for finding appropriately trained professionals on the corporations, who would then see to it that their staffs had the tools to learn and produce, to think and create.  Engineering, science and technology businesses would then be more inclined to source their workers domestically, because they would be directly overseeing the development, growth and execution of the particular skill-sets they need, and reaping the rewards of loyalty and commitment from providing that encouraging environment!

On-the-job training programs have been around for many years, but unfortunately they have too frequently been relegated to mechanical and manual jobs rather than for the acquisition of high-end skills.  It is time we rethink the OJT paradigm to include more technical specialties.  Could corporate sponsored OJT programs improve the quality of work and products being developed?  I certainly believe OJT’s can have a positive impact on the quality of our workforce, as well as bringing ideas to fruition and products to market.    That’s a win-win for students and business!

For more about  job search and career development issues,  please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

The guy next to me during a recent flight didn’t seem much like talking so we never introduced ourselves, but we’ll call him Bob.  After the in-flight crew made the announcement that it was “ok to use your electronic devices,” Bob pulled out his laptop. Whether he was going to be productive or merely pass the time on a long flight, Bob’s computer usage was none of my concern.  And though I was trying hard not to pay attention to what Bob was doing or what was on his screen, the proximity between airline seats makes that almost impossible.  But it became readily apparent that Bob didn’t care that anyone else knew what he was doing.

The screen on Bob’s laptop was about 17 inches; hard to completely ignore in adjacent coach seats.  So, unless my eyes were closed his computer usage was unavoidable.  Even more interesting, it didn’t seem to bother Bob that every key stroke he made was recited by his computer.  Apparently one of the features of his laptop was activated and announcing every key he hit, so when Bob accessed the internet via the plane’s onboard wi-fi connection and ordered something online, every entered element and number of his order, credit card, email, home address and other details was easily heard by the people around him, in spite of the airplane’s interior din.  Were one so inclined, they could have easily noted Bob’s personal information and used it in a number of inappropriate ways.

Now, it is possible that Bob really needed this audio feature of his computer to be turned on because of a disability, but maybe not.  If he deliberately engaged this feature, you’d think he would wear headphones or use ear buds to prevent others from hearing what he typed.  But such was not the case, and he appeared unfazed by his computer’s recitations.  And even if the audio feature had not been activated, Bob still “shared” his screen with others because everything he wrote was easily visible to all his seatmates, and the people across from him or moving through the aisle.

You should always exercise a modicum of caution and awareness of your surroundings when conducting business online or by phone, particularly in close quarters to strangers.  These days, there are too many ways for your privacy to be invaded. Whether by hacker, scam artist, snooping, mail theft, or myriad other methods, there are people out there – professionals and amateurs – who are anxious to take advantage of you and your personal information, for their own fun and profit.  These criminals can derail your life, your credit, your relationships, and your productivity, affecting you for years!  So when I encounter someone like Bob, who is so open and unconcerned about others seeing (hearing?) what’s on his computer screen in public spaces, I’m inclined to encourage some prudence.

Would it have been as important for Bob (or anyone else!) to protect his privacy if he was “merely” working on a resume or a spreadsheet? Yes!  If unscrupulous eyes catch your return address on your screen, too much of your information would suddenly be in the wrong hands, and usable for unfavorable behaviors.

Not just on planes, but using a computer or phone in any public space, someone could be watching for you to enter personal and private information and use if for their own gains.  If your back is to a clear window, someone could be outside looking in from the parking lot with a pair of binoculars.  Identity thieves also frequently stalk public phones watching for people to use their credit cards.

You may not be able to avoid every attempt to gain your personal information.  Conducting business online or making telephone transactions, we are at risk of identity theft too frequently.  But there are steps we can take to protect ourselves more diligently.

• Check your surroundings to minimize the chance of prying eyes!
• Make sure the online sites you order from are using secure servers (you’ll see https at the beginning of the web address instead of just http).
• Get a privacy mesh that slips over your computer’s monitor to impede viewing from all side angles, while remaining legible from straight ahead.
• Keep your anti-virus tools, spam filters and your operating system up to date.  Frequent updates are provided to minimize online threats from malicious software and attachments.
• Avoid using wireless phones when conducting transactions at home.  The frequencies used between handset and base can be monitored from outside your home.

Protecting yourself from prying eyes is not rocket science.  A little caution and awareness can go a long way to preventing identity theft, and keeping your personal information private.  For more information on ID Theft, Privacy, & Security go to:  http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/data.shtm

For more about  job search, your privacy, career development, and balancing work/life issues,  please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

“Jack” and  “Jill” (I don’t want to know their real names, but we’ll call them J&J!) were sitting across the isle from each other, one row behind me, on a full cross-country flight.  It seemed they both wanted aisle seats!  They were apparently well acquainted, though their exact relationship isn’t important.  But what is important are the behaviors they demonstrated while in flight.  With little regard for those around them, they were both rude and obnoxious.

It became apparent to the nearly a dozen people within earshot that Jill was unhappy with the way she was treated by a customer service agent. Obviously, I don’t know all the details of her experience, nor can I judge if her frustration was warranted.  The exchange between them was heated, and verbally graphic, perhaps even a bit vulgar.  Making matters worse, Jack wasn’t making any effort to calm Jill down.  In fact, it sounded like he was trying to rile her up even more.

Both while still on the ground, and once in flight, unless the crew believed Jack and Jill posed a danger to themselves or other passengers, there was little chance anyone from the crew would say anything or try to intervene, especially since no one else on the flight complained about the unruly pair.

Certainly these are not the first, nor the last people to have a customer service experience that didn’t go as they had hoped.  I’d guess that each of us has wanted to rip a CSR a new one at least once.  But you’ve got to wonder whether J&J’s exchange needed to be aired out so loudly in such a public space with such a captive audience.  Surely they could have discussed the situation more calmly and at a lower volume that wouldn’t have disturbed a bunch of other folks on their flight.

Once upon a time going to an airport and taking a flight somewhere was an experience to be savored.  But the commoditization of air travel has become a string of compromises that frequently make the entire process of getting to and from the airport, waiting for the flight, and the flight itself, an uncomfortable nuisance.  Between TSA baggage and personal screenings, the airlines’ encouragement to be at the airport one and half to two hours before a domestic flight, or two to three hours before an international departure; shrinking passenger space; fewer restrooms; less beverage and food service; and add-on fees for pillows, blankets, earphones, and checked baggage, flying is no longer fun!  Add to that irate passengers like J&J and screaming babies, and you have a recipe for discomfort that requires major endurance and patience on the part of fellow passengers and the flight crew.   And unhappy campers like J&J don’t make a flight crew’s job any easier!

Unfortunately, we don’t usually give much positive thought to all the people involved with getting us to our destinations.  Although a few of these jobs were once thought of as glamorous, none of them are perceived as such today.  After our reservations have been made and tickets purchased online, we then start to see only a fraction of the folks whose jobs intersect with our travel plans.  Airport operations personnel, TSA agents, and other non-airline specific workers are the first we encounter.  Pilots and cockpit crews do most of the heavy lifting, along with those in air traffic control centers and towers, though we rarely see them. Most of our interaction is with the flight crews on the ground and on board the aircraft. And we can’t forget the ground crews who guide the planes in and out of the gates, and the baggage handlers who we hope are motivated to get our bags to the proper destination.  The airlines may include fewer perks with the purchase of our tickets, but the jobs surrounding those flights haven’t gotten any easier.

Sure, we all get frustrated when circumstances out of our control cause delays.  Screaming infants and their befuddled parents in the seats behind you aren’t helping ease your nerves.  And passengers like J&J further add to travel stress.  Even if your preflight prep goes smoothly, and your post flight arrangements are without concern, things happen before and during the flight that can try even the calmest traveler.

When it comes to air travel, we must accept that we have little control over what happens after we leave our homes.  Yes, we choose the airline, the time we want to fly and our seats, but after that, we must hope for the best.  Those in control of the aircraft, the flight control tower, the attendant crew, and the rest, are all doing their jobs (hopefully, their best!) to get us to our destinations safely and on time.  Patience with the whole process, though not always easy to muster, is a necessity.  Take a deep breath, you’ll be at your destination before you know it, and hopefully never have to deal with J&J again!  (And if they are on your flight, a good pair of earplugs can do wonders!)

For more about  jobs, job search,  career development, and balancing work/life issues,  please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

Do you crave a long-term change of scenery?  Do you need to be where work and play are close by?  In some places, this concept is taken more seriously than others.  For example, I just got back from a brief trip to the town of Whistler, British Columbia, north of Vancouver.  Not having been there before I was very surprised by the number of people working in the hotels, bars, restaurants and shops who were not native to the area.  In fact, most weren’t even Canadian!  Gauging from the many accents I heard talking with those I met, I’d guestimate that three quarters of the service personnel were from somewhere else, and probably half of them weren’t even from North America.  Considering the number of Aussies I encountered, there may be a mass exodus from Perth, Melbourne and Sydney!

Sure, Whistler is a vacation destination, primarily attracting skiers and snowboarders – even in summer there’s still plenty of snow at the higher elevations.  But as resort locations go, it’s a small town with little to offer residents beyond basic services, familiar franchise and chain stores, a movie theater, and a couple of casinos a short drive away.  So what was the attraction to all the foreigners who were living and working there?

Certainly the 2010 Winter Olympics attracted a large number of people to the beautiful surroundings to work and play.  Jobs in the service and recreational industries were plentiful; hotels, lodging, entertainment and leisure facilities were expanded; all commercial areas were beautified; roads were widened and trails were repaired; new attractions were built; and the regional economy was bolstered by the influx of athletes, their families and their fans, not to mention the hoards of press sent there to cover the events.

But other reasons non-natives continue to be attracted to the area now that the Olympics are long over include the availability of relatively inexpensive housing and extensive recreational opportunities for weekend warriors and professional athletes alike.  Those who are less interested in the major winter sports can find ample opportunities for mountain and trail bicycle riding (heck, the highways have bike lanes), golf, rock climbing, hiking, rafting, wine tasting, and more, and they all require service personnel to keep customers satisfied and coming back.

I also found out that in Canada non-residents have little trouble obtaining work permits, much less so than in the U.S.  And for a lot of those I met, access to the wealth of available outdoor activities was a prime motivator for them relocating to the region.  So while for many there is an interest in building a career in the hospitality industry, the chance to play hard in the same vicinity as they work – regardless of their profession – is a major draw.

Of course there’s more to the region beyond outdoor sports!  For example, the nearby Vancouver, BC area has a thriving high tech community, including fuel cell and software development.  Forestry, shipping, and an active film production community, are also among the many industries supporting the northern economy.   So there are a lot of reasons beyond tourism that people from such diverse backgrounds and interests have chosen this part of the planet to work, live and play.

Look, I’m not suggesting that you need to move to the great white north (or anyplace else for that matter) to find work!  Regardless of where your professional interests lie, whether in the hotel, food and beverage trades, or any other industry, if you seek a physically active lifestyle, working close to where you can play will help you fulfill those off-hours interests.  It can also make a profound difference in the way you balance your work and the rest of your life.  Work to play?  Not a bad way to pull it all together!

For more tips about  job search,  career development, and balancing work/life issues,  please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

In my last entry, we talked about Marilyn and how her efforts to find a new job were thwarted when she turned the focus of her interviews to her needs rather than those of the job and the employer.  This time out I want to reiterate and expound further that you should not ignore your own needs in your job search.  When you’re looking for work, you must ask yourself: What are your personal needs and considerations for acceptable employment?

Certainly there are many people searching for work who will probably take the next job offered to them. Others job seekers believe they can be choosier and are very deliberate in their searches.  But for a large number of job seekers, there are an extensive number of considerations beyond just bringing home a paycheck that must be part of the decision making process.  The acceptance of an offer of employment from a particular employer is a choice made by you, the job seeker, based on your individual needs.

While some of these personal considerations should not be brought up during interviews, a job seeker would be well served to think about all the factors that are important to them.  And although you may not get everything or exactly what you want, the right combination of concessions and compromises will have a direct impact on your comfort level with your new employer, as well as your productivity.

Among others, here are some questions that job seekers should be asking themselves: 

What do you want from your employer?

• What are your salary expectations?
• Do you prefer management and leadership to be hands-on or do you prefer to work autonomously?
• Do you want to work for a large or small company?
• Does the company have the tools, software, or hardware that you are most comfortable with?
• Do you prefer to work from a cubicle, on an open floor, or do you require your own office?
• Do you want to work for a start-up or well-established business?
• Do you prefer the employer to be located in an urban highrise or suburban office park?
• How far and long are you willing to commute?
• Will you be able to telecommute to do your job?
• Are the hours flexible enough for your daily personal needs and routines?
• Do you need company-paid, partially subsidized or a customized cafeteria-health benefits plan?  What other benefits are a deal breaker for you?
• Will you need tuition reimbursement?

I must again stress that a job candidate should not instigate discussion of these issues, particularly not during a first interview situation.

But here are some other considerations that could affect your decision to work for a particular company, or not:

• Is there an on-premises cafeteria or decent local eateries and coffee vendors to satisfy your tastes for food and beverage?
• Is parking readily available?  Is it employee paid or will the company provide a space for your vehicle, motorcycle, or bicycle?
• Is the parking area safe and well lit?
• How close is the job to banking, shopping, schools for your kids, and other services that you need?

And what about the myriad other extras?

• Are gym or health club memberships offered?
• Can you get vouchers or discounts for taxicabs or public transportation?
• Will the employer provide you with a vehicle?
• Does the company provide monetary and/or logistical assistance for moving and relocation?
• Will the employer set up mortgage or rental assistance?
• Will the employer provide assistance finding employment for your spouse?

Admittedly, some of these considerations may not (should not?) be deal breakers for some job seekers, but for others, such perks may be negotiable.  Much will depend on the level of the position, the candidate’s years of experience, and their comfort discussing these matters.

Keep in mind that in the current state of our economy, it is an employer’s market where many employers have a lot of candidates from which to choose, and you may not be successful in negotiating all the perks you want.  The ideal situation may not be as readily available as you would like.

But before you say yes to an offer of employment, make sure you think about all the little things that are affected by that decision.  Understanding what you want and what you need before saying yes, could save you a lot of headaches down the road.

For more tips about  successful interviewing,  job search and career development issues,  please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

Did you ever go on a first date with a too chatty gal or guy who told you far too much about themselves? Was he or she too self-absorbed?  Too much superfluous information provided too soon can ruin your chances of getting to know another person.  In job search, just like in dating, or other attempt to establish an important relationship, you must be careful what you say and when!

An HR manager from a chip manufacturing company told me about a recent applicant for a position in their legal department.  Here’s the story:

Marilyn is a confident, experienced professional paralegal with over 20 years experience, the last 15 years at one law firm in their intellectual property department.  Being in the workforce for a long time, her level of responsibilities – to her employer, and to her family – have matured.  She knows what she needs, what she wants, and what she can do.  But after so long with a single employer, Marilyn wanted to take her skills to a more creative environment, and was looking for a position at a hi-tech start-up.  She applied at the chip manufacturer and was invited to interview for an opening.

Marilyn was aware she was facing a day-long series of first-round interviews and knew she would be meeting with at least 4 different people, including representatives from the HR department, and the legal team.  She felt prepared to answer any questions they might ask.  She was also eager to discuss her own needs, many unrelated to the scope of the position.  And that’s where Marilyn got herself in over her head.   When comparing notes about Marilyn, all of the interviewers said they felt she was too focused on herself.

With a long employment history, the job seeker develops a growing and evolving list of their own needs, many that have little or nothing to do with their ability to do what the employer needs done.  The interview is supposed to allow the employer to ascertain if the applicant can do the job and is a good fit for their company or department.  This is very hard to do if the applicant is spending too much time telling interviewers about her needs and problems.  The candidate needs to convey that she can do what is needed, and convince the employer she has the skills and experience to back up those claims.  An interview, therefore, needs to remain focused on the job!  If the candidate wants all the attention on her needs, information can be revealed that can kill the applicant’s chances of getting hired.  And that was the case with Marilyn.

The day of her interview, during meetings and inquiries from several members of the human resources department and legal team, Marilyn turned the focus to her needs and wants, and ultimately provided too much information about herself with no focus on the job.  What she said wasn’t inappropriate, just inappropriate for an interview.

I’m not suggesting that applicants ignore their own needs. But it is important to know what to say, and when.  An interviewee – certainly not in the first round of interviews – must learn not to discuss things unrelated to the job.  To do so takes the focus away from learning if the applicant can fill the employer’s needs.

Examples of what not to discuss:

Avoid telling your interviewers about your young kids.  It makes the employer question how much you’ll need to deal with childcare, childhood illness, school issues, and other legitimate parental concerns that could be a potential distraction to your work.

Don’t reveal your preference to telecommute without being certain the position requires and benefits from your doing so.  The interviewer will question: your comfort level working with others, transportation concerns, tardiness, time management issues, among other concerns that could lead to a negative determination of your application.

Don’t attempt to – intentionally or unintentionally – elicit the sympathies of your interviewer by discussing recent deaths of loved ones or diagnoses of serious medical issues, housing, mortgage, rent, or financial problems.  Marital and relationship issues should also go unmentioned.

The bottom line is:  Any personal issue requiring an accommodation impacting your ability to do the job or get to the job, either as work necessity, ADA requirement, or courtesy, should be discussed only after an offer of employment has been made at the earliest, but usually not until after you get hired, but definitely not in your interviews!  If it’s not related to the job, or your ability to do the job, keep it to yourself.  If an anecdote about a personal triumph is required to convey a skill, strength or experience, be highly selective about what you reveal.  Don’t ignore your own needs, but don’t put more questions into the mind of your interviewers by saying too much too soon.

For more tips about  interviewing,  job search and career development issues,  please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

This is a question every job seeker eventually needs to ask her/himself.  “How far am I willing to go for my job?” Certainly most folks want to go as far in their careers as they possibly can, but this is more a question of physical and geographic distance than of accomplishment.  How far are you willing to travel for your job?

In certain jobs, being on the road, literally behind the wheel and driving long distances, or flying or taking trains, is part of the job.  All kinds of positions require regular and often distant travel.  If you don’t mind living out of a suitcase, and being away from home, family and friends for long stretches, being a road warrior may be your calling.

For others, driving is their job. Whether it’s in a taxicab, bus or limousine moving people, in a light truck providing small package delivery or other services, or long-distance freight hauling in a semi trailer, millions of workers make their living driving, frequently logging hundreds of miles, eight or more hours a day behind the wheel.  And that doesn’t include the distance and time they travel to get to their jobs!

But, regardless of the type of job you have or are looking for, on a daily basis, how far are you willing to commute to and from work?  If you live anywhere near a major metropolitan area, you are undoubtedly familiar with the traffic patterns and congestion that eat into people’s time and lives during their commute.  We all know at least one person whose commute takes longer than an hour long in each direction, whether they are driving their own vehicles or taking public transportation.

Your commute eats into your lives and personal time.  Yes, we have become a mobile society in so many ways.  And there’s a certain level of productivity than can be achieved while commuting.  Surely this idea is being promoted by the electronics manufacturers; particularly those in the telecommunications industry who keep pumping out gadgets that supposedly make our lives easier.  Have you seen how many folks are walking down the street talking or texting over their cell phones, watching movies or downloading music to portable devices?  It’s one thing to use these devices if you commute on public transit.  But if you’re behind the wheel the use of any of these devices is a major distraction, extremely dangerous, and in many states illegal!  You don’t gain any productivity or personal time if you’re dead!

The overcrowding of many urban areas, and the movement of many jobs away from the cities has had a major impact on where people choose to live, and ultimately affects the amount of time they spent commuting.  The flow of our population moving in and out of the cities to and from their jobs continues to strain the existing roadway infrastructure.  The more vehicles on the street, the slower they all move.  It doesn’t really matter if you’re commuting across town or across two counties, if your commute takes an hour or more.  If you’re working anyplace but your own home, commuting is both a necessity and unavoidable.  Folks chose to live in both the cities and ‘burbs for all kinds of reasons, though one of them is usually not to spend more time commuting to work!

If you are looking for a job, have you thoroughly considered all that it will take to get to work, and arrive on time?  Have you done a “dry run” to key locations under similar traveling conditions to what you would encounter on your work days to know how long your trip might take, the best way to get there, and explored at least one alternative route, just in case?

Might your next job require relocation?  If your next employer needs you to move from one geographic area to another, don’t forget to research traffic conditions and public transportation options, as well as the usual considerations of proximity to services, shopping, schools, etc.  Keep in mind that in many locations, public transportation is not an option; many municipalities do not have good local or regional transit systems to shuttle you to and from work.  But car share and ride share programs are increasingly available around the country, so you may more options than you realize or are obvious.

Unfortunately, telecommuting has yet to reach critical mass.  So until it does become a more widely spread work option, you’ve got to ask yourself:  “How far will you go?”  Of course I hope that all attain a high level of success and growth in their careers.  But it’s your personal circumstances that will dictate how much time you spend in your daily commute.

For more tips and ideas about  interviewing,  job search and career development issues,  please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

“Location, location, location!” usually refers to the three most important things to consider before buying or opening a retail business.  But have you given much thought to the location of your interviews?  Interviews today won’t always take place in an office.  Your next interview might be in a conference room, in a lunchroom, at a restaurant, in a hotel lobby, over the phone, or even held remotely over an Internet connection.

The questions asked and the answers you provide may be similar from one interview to the next, regardless of where they take place. But each particular location in which you interview will influence your behaviors and perspectives.  The differences are subtle, but real.  Here are some factors you’ll need to think about.

Employers and interviewers are in control, and usually choose an interview location that is comfortable and convenient for them.  This isn’t to suggest that they don’t take you, the interviewee, into consideration, but more frequently than not, their needs come before yours.  As such, you must always remember to be respectful of their space and environment. This includes not touching anything; and not bringing beverages (even if offered) into your interview.

Regardless of the location, you must quickly become aware of your physical surroundings. You don’t want to trip over a chair or table leg or other obstacle, or walk into a protruding corner of a desk, table or bookshelf.  You’re assessing your new surroundings in the blink of an eye, and want to move comfortably and safely through their spaces.

In a private office, you will usually see clues that provide insight into your interviewer and the company.  Items like photographs of family or corporate activities; sports memorabilia (professional or amateur), can show you interactions between staff, the personality of the individual, etc.  The display of degree certificates, awards, plaques and other credentials can reveal even more about your interviewer.  What else does their office reveal?  Is it neat or cluttered?  Well decorated or utilitarian?  What conclusions can/will you draw from their space?

When you’re in a private office, guest chairs will usually be relatively stationary, comfy and cushiony.  Cushy chairs do not encourage good posture, so be careful not to slouch. Be aware of the positive attitude good posture conveys. Put your butt as far back into the chair as possible to help you sit up straight, and look as attentive as you can.  Try to keep both your feet flat on the floor.  Crossing your legs can appear too casual, and will readily reveal if your shoes are clean and polished.

In a conference room, the chairs frequently swivel and tilt, but because of their proximity to the table, it’s easier to sit up straight with your hands on the table, and your feet underneath.  With your hands on the table, any fidgeting will seem more obvious.  And loose watches or bracelets could prove distracting if they‘re rattling on the tabletop.

If your interview takes place in a hotel lobby, you and your interviewer will likely both be leaning forward and leaning over your knees.  Just keep your attention on your interviewer and try not to be distracted by your surroundings.

Any personal items you bring with you to an office, like a purse, briefcase or portfolio, should be placed on the floor to your left side, leaving your right hand free to shake hands. Never place anything on the desk of your interviewer, to ensure you wont accidentally disrupt something or cover things up on their desk.  If you need to take notes while in an office, keep your pad in your lap.  If you have papers you need to show your interviewer, have them readily available, so you’re not fumbling to retrieve them when the appropriate time comes.

Being interviewed in a conference room allows a bit more flexibility than if your interview were to take place in a small office.  In a conference room, you can place any necessary items on the table – as long as they are not distracting – so you can access them for presentation.  Anything you want to present to your interviewer would be placed directly into their hands, and allowing them to place your items where they deem appropriate.  For note taking, your pad can be set in front of you on the tabletop, rather than in your lap.

And if you are interviewing remotely via teleconferencing software, make sure you are sitting up straight with your computer’s camera capturing you from mid chest up to the top of your head.  You want the interviewer on the other end to see you looking attentive, in frame, and without distractions.

So, there are many considerations for each interviewing location.  Your awareness of your surroundings, the business’s space, and your own behaviors, will influence the confidence you display, and make a difference in how your interviewer sees you.   Paying attention to your location will help you optimize your presentation!

Want more tips about  interviewing,  job search and career development issues?  Please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

Questions about the best way to submit your resume and application documents are as common today as they have always been.  Despite all the ways technology has provided for submitting these necessary documents, is there a single best way to make sure the right person sees and considers your materials?  The answer is, “It depends!” And the reasons a bit more complex than a simple answer will allow.  But let’s see if this helps.

“It depends” on a variety of factors; some easier to attain than others.  The very best way to submit your resume is to put it into the hands of the person making the hiring decision!  That is the only way to guarantee that your documents wind up in the right hands.  This does not guarantee that your documents will be read, however!  But through devoted networking and research, making direct contact with the hiring authority truly gives you an advantage over others seeking the same position.   But the reality is that most job seekers don’t get the opportunity to go this route.  For a wide variety of reason, most documents are submitted blindly, without knowledge of to whom their materials should be directed.

Many employers go out of their way to conceal who the hiring authority is.  “Do not contact the employer directly.”  “Do not call about this job.”  Statements like these are too frequently inserted into job announcements to discourage you from finding out the name of the decision maker.  And, frequently the individuals named in recruitment ads are not decision makers, but departmental assistants whose job it is to screen submissions.   And even when the company name appears in the job posting, calling that employer and asking the receptionist for the name of the human resources manager or department head wont necessarily get you the results you want because the gate keeper (departmental or company) has been instructed not to provide that information.  All the more reason why networking is so important!

Identifying a company where you want to work, and networking with those who already work there can prove fruitful if you are able to establish a rapport of camaraderie and trust.  Through this direct interpersonal contact you may be able to find out the name of the person making hiring decisions.  Barring direct contact with a hiring authority, this isn’t a bad way to proceed!

Sometimes, but not always, researching the company on the Internet, may help you uncover the name of the right person to submit your resume.  The company’s own website is the best place to start, followed by any other means of directly researching the company of interest.  LinkedIn has proven to be a valuable tool for researching decision makers, or at the very least, finding the names of relevant people from particular departments or management teams which could lead to further discovery of the “right” name.  Sifting through articles in trade publications, annual reports and news stories, or finding other references to a particular company by putting its name into a search engine can be quite time consuming, but worth the effort if you find what you’re looking for.

Each job announcement you consider worth responding to will also contain hints as to the preferred method of application submission.  If the job ad says: “Email your resume to jobs@xyzcompay.com”, then that’s the way the company wants to receive resume submissions.  If it says, “Apply online by going to our website,” then that’s their preference.   And many companies will offer multiple ways of submitting your cover letter, resume and applications, but typically, the first method named is the way you should submit your materials.  This also includes references to the format of your documents.  If the job ad says “Submit your resume in Text Only format, “ and you send a .doc, .docx, or .pdf, you increase the chances your documents will be ignored because you will have demonstrated you don’t follow instructions.   Ditto if you send attachments and the announcement says, “Do not send attachments.”

And, my friends, therein lies the core of the submission process.  Can you follow instructions!  Your ability, or lack thereof, to submit your resume according to the company’s preferences and instructions is an early determinate of whether you will be considered as a candidate for that position.  No matter the level of the position, employers want to hire people who pay attention to what is asked of them, and an applicant who ignores the submission directions is far less likely to receive due consideration, no matter their qualifications.

So, what’s the best way to submit your resume?  It depends:  Hand it to the hiring authority, or follow directions.   It’s really that simple!

Want more tips about  resumes, cover letters,  job search and career development issues?  Please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com

Among the complaints I hear frequently from employees are comments like:  “I’ve been busting my butt for this company for years, and not once has anyone actually said, ‘thanks for your efforts’.”  And almost as frequently I hear employers say things like: “Why should I say ‘thank you’?  It’s their job!  What the heck am I paying them for?”  I have even heard complaints voiced from company owners that no one on their staff ever says “thank you” to them for the trust or confidence, support, perks, etc. shown to the staff.  As long as there have been employee/employer relationships, there have been workers who feel underappreciated, and employers who feel that the salaries they pay are thanks enough.

There’s no question that employees feel frustrated when they don’t feel appreciated; and that the effort required on the part of an employer to express their gratitude is minimal.  Yet surprisingly both sides too frequently echo the same lament.  What’s up with that?

Civility and etiquette can go a long way in (and out of) the workplace.  But in the rush to complete reports, research and other tasks, make sales, return calls, answer email, respond to texts, it seems these traits are all but forgotten, not just between bosses and their minions, but between coworkers as well.

I’m not suggesting that extending appreciation necessitates “employee of the month” programs, or other formal/public acknowledgment.   These are frequently very motivating tactics, and they have their place and effectiveness!  But do not negate the importance of going up to someone – face-to-face – and saying, “Thank you!” Or, “I appreciate the effort you showed today (on this project, whatever).”  And it’s more than about a polite and simple “Thanks” when tasks get done.  But an amazing amount of good will, confidence, job satisfaction and performance improvements can all be attributed to the straightforward, heartfelt act of acknowledging people’s efforts.  And it is especially rewording when it comes completely unexpected.

Here are some ideas of how to demonstrate an Attitude of Gratitude.

In your next staff or department meeting, no matter what your position in the company or its hierarchy, take a moment to express your appreciation to a coworker or subordinate for something they did that week.  “Before I read my report, I just want to say thanks to Karen and Ben for their research.”  Or, “Thanks to Bill for doing all the copying the other day.  It made my life easier.”   Or, “Thanks, boss, for taking us all bowling.”  The public acknowledgment will have a positive effect on all those present.

When you get to work some morning, unexpectedly bring a cup of coffee to someone who assisted you on a task or project.  Or call someone into your office at the start of the day, and just say, “Your contributions have not gone unnoticed. I really am glad you’re here and the work you do here is as important as anyone else’s.”

Apply the same concepts to people outside of work by expressing your appreciation where you shop and compliment someone who has provided good customer service, for the cleanliness of the store, or to someone who went above and beyond to provide you a qualitative experience.  Talk to a school crossing guard and say thanks for keeping the neighborhood kids safe (even if you don’t have kids).  Saying hello and expressing your appreciation to a member of your local police or fire department, when there is no emergency, helps to build community, and makes them feel more satisfied for doing a really tough job.  Maybe even tell a family member or friend you are glad they are in your life.  A warm, sincere comment like that can improve anyone’s day!

You probably have more opportunities to convey an attitude of gratitude than you realize, but the important thing is that you do it.  Accomplishment may be its own reward, but whichever side of the equation you’re on – employer or employee – customer or service provider – having someone acknowledge your efforts goes a long way to keeping morale, spirit and productivity high.   A winning combination to be grateful for!

And Thank You, dear reader!

Want more tips about  job search and career development issues?  Please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com