How Best to Employ Your Inner Voice in the Job Search - Respect Your Gut

You just finished three job interviews in a week and are still Monday quarterbacking about how well you did or did not.  You are analyzing every question and answer to grade your performance with the hope that you got a touchdown and will soon be on your second interview cycle with the offer letter close behind.  Then reality sets in and you hear nothing for the next several weeks except the sound of your own criticism and an occasional heartbeat.  What to do?  Did you answer all the questions well?  "Was it something I said?"  "Did I say enough?"  The pain and uncertainty are killing you. 

Take a deep breath!  One, two, three, etc.....  Ok relax. Compose yourself as well as a thoughtful note of gratitude for having been given the opportunity to present your case for the job.  Use your interview notes, analysis and intuition to present three essential points for why you are right person for the job.  Then get on with it. Put it past you.  Get beyond the distraction.  If you used well your inner voice to communicate your value proposition, the hiring manager or HR person may take note and likely include you in the consideration set for the next round of interviews (or not.) If not, kiss that position goodbye, learn from it and move on.  Here are a few other thoughts about employing your inner voice to de-stress about your interview. 

1. Remember the law of averages.  The more you interview the higher the probability you will connect with the right opportunity that will feel right and be the right fit.  Trust your gut. The sober thought is that it is going to take time to find the right fit.  But it will happen.  A good friend of mine just landed after three years on the hunt -- a bear of an adventure he dares and hopes not to reprise.

2. Keep your expectations in check.  If the job does not feel right, do the interview anyway for the experience.  You may learn something about yourself and what makes you tick. Remember, the higher the expectations the greater the disappointment.

3. Maintain perspective.  It is only one job. In your heart and mind you know there are others.  Deep down you sensed that the job was just ok.  Your heart did not race at the prospect of working for Mr. or Mrs. Big and your inner voice could care less.  No big deal.

4. Recognize the chemistry.  When you do get the interview for the job that is meant for you, there will be a ping of adrenalin that gets your mind racing and hopefully your imagimnation soaring.  In this case, give it all you've got.  Picture yourself in the role and let your inner voice speak about what you can accomplish and why the glove fit.  Follow up with the authentic you and not some prepackaged response you got out of an outplacement manual.  When the call comes, go for it. Otherwise move to Step 5

5. Go to step and repeat.   When all else fails, respect your gut.       

                                             

The Three Legged Stool of Career Management

Effectively managing your career in the economy of 2011 is a vastly different world than it was just a few short years ago. No longer does it suffice to have just a resume of qualifications and access to job boards and a few connections to executive search firms. Managing a career in the public relations and communications industry can often be a full time job akin to managing the communications strategy for a Fortune 1000 firm or being a product promotion specialist in the world of technology.

Successfully moving up the ladder of career accomplishment or searching for your next gig is a three legged stool, whereby the absence of just one strut can leave you without a competent platform to seek, secure and settle into an engaging role in public relations. Let me explain.



The resume is the first leg. While some may argue that the resume is an anachronism in today’s social media soaked society, the resume is perhaps the first piece of documentation that introduces you to hiring managers and other critical people in the supply chain of human capital formation. The big change though is how the resume has evolved, what it conveys and how it is now used.



Resumes are no longer just a recitation of the jobs you have held in your career. It is a window on your accomplishments and a critical piece of evidence that conveys how you have performed for prior and current employers. Done well, the resume can make all the difference in whether you end up in the select in pile or the circular file. The resume can contain many things about you. But given the fact that the hiring manager or HR person spends from 30 seconds to a minute and a half on the resume , you need to make it easy to read and a compelling sell.

Rules of thumb: The resume launches with a Summary, which is your thirty second elevator speech about you and your value. Next is the Experience section which succinctly details in reverse chronology your accomplishments in bulleted form surrounded by a tight row of white space that allows the achievement to pop. The current job should show three to five accomplishments and prior jobs no more than three. Professional Affiliations should be detailed to add weight to your career accomplishments and be relevant to the job you are seeking. Bringing up the rear are Honors and Awards. That is it. Forget computer skills, hobbies and the name of your pet.



The Network is Part Deux. It is said that 80 percent of people landing jobs today are doing it through their network. So do not over do it on job boards, search firms, classified ads or mass mailings. The network is where it is at. If you have one, expand it. If you do not, start building it. Here is how.

Pick your social platform of choice like Linkedin, Facebook, Plaxo, Ning, Viadeo, Unthink, Foundation3, etc. Take your existing Rolodex (if you are old enough to remember) or Contact list and begin inviting friends, acquaintances and colleagues to become part of your network. Institutionalizing your network on a social platform frees you from ever needing to update addresses or hiring a private eye to find your long lost friend. Most social networks are self sufficient.



And please do not limit yourself to the virtual world. Networking requires “pressing the flesh.” Get out there and meet people. Help them to know you well enough to enables them to render an opinion of your value and worth. It only takes one solid connection to get the gig you want. So do everything in your power to shine a light on your ability. And by the way, networking is a two way street. Remember the old adage, “It is better to give than receive.” There is much wisdom behind those words. If you can help someone, it will likely come back to you four fold. At least that is what the nuns told us in grade school. It works.



The last leg, “Virtual Me” – Can you be found is the essential question in the second decade of the 21st Century. The first destination of most hiring managers , human resource executives and search firm personnel is Google, followed closely behind by Bing and platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook. If you do not show up on the radar, you may just as well look for an island beach in the Pacific.


There are ways, though, to raise your profile in cyberspace that are not taxing and require no investment other than your public relations skills. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Get engaged with your communities! Do you belong to industry or professional groups? If you do and are not engaged, consider getting involved. Join a committee, run for an office or board position, volunteer for an event. Often times being a part of a group that is doing worthwhile work can attract attention.

 2. If you have a passion, blog!!! If you want to be recognized for something and develop a following, blogging can be a useful device. In fact, if you have a passion, blogging is a natural. But the key word is “passion.” If you are a thought leader or expert on something let people know and become recognized for your knowledge and enthusiasm. http://wordpress.com, http://blogspot.com and http://www.posterous.com are useful and free platforms to express yourself.


3. Join in social media platforms like Facebook, Linkedin, Plaxo, Ning, Foundation3, etc. Employing platforms like these enable you to craft the type of profile that spotlights your professional career and equally important your professional and personal accomplishments. Be sure to target those platforms that fit with your profession and your personal brand.


4. Take control of third party web-based databases. These would include but are not limited to www.zoominfo.com, www.spoke.com, www.jigsaw.com, www.spokeo.com, etc. Many of these sites allow you to take ownership of your profile and manage the content. Make sure to delete errors or mistakes that could derail your consideration.


5. Establish a showcase on www.slideshare.com. Slideshare is a fabulous and rich content site on which you can upload presentations. In this case, what you will do is produce a PowerPoint presentation about you not unlike a C.V. You can include your resume, links and URLs to your web content, expanded accomplishments, academic credentials, professional photos and video, publications and other career information that help you tell a compelling story about you as a brand and as a professional.


6. Highlight your career on www.visualCV.com. VisualCV portrays itself as “Your resume, only better.” VisualCV is customizable and can serve as a resume, online professional profile, business development tool or mini website. And to top it off, just like Slideshare, it is included in Google search engine results.


7. Don’t forget about Google and Google plus. Build a Google profile. Yes Google gives you the ability to have a profile. If you already have a Google or Gmail account, a Google profile is the next step. Just go to www.google.com/profiles. Google provides the ability to include basic information about who, what, why, where and when. You can also include information on where you live or have lived, your web links, personal and professional interests, education, employers and aliases. Best of all, the profile is included in search.


8. Become an active Twitterer! Yes I realize this seems strange because you really care not to daily Tweet your food choices. Well don’t. Instead, employ Twitter as a strategic tool to add value to the knowledge stream on the web. If you are an expert or thought leader on a particular topic or topics then provide a steady stream of pithy and helpful commentary that enlightens and entertains.

Using Passion to Help Your Search

Passion is a term defined as strong emotion. The term is hardly synonymous with job search. But in these days when job seekers outnumber jobs by six to one, passion is precisely the emotion that bears harnessing if you want to distinguish yourself in the job market.


So what does it take to harness passion. Words like enthusiasm, energy, engagement, excitement, eagerness, elation, exhilaration, esprit, and élan are apt terms to describe the characteristics hiring managers are likely to look for when narrowing down the list of best candidates. Passion is the essence of your persona and your organs are the tools required to effectively demonstrate the essence of whom and what you are. Your passion should be evident and abundant in all that you do in your job campaign. Let me elaborate.

• Brain - The chief operating organ or COO. The brain is the central source of your knowledge, intuition, intellect and memory. Use it well and use it often. It is a requirement when you are writing your resume, cover letters and thank you notes. It perhaps is most useful in interviews and should be employed liberally to demonstrate knowledge, wisdom and common sense. Warning: do not use it to overwhelm, intimidate or obfuscate.


• Mouth, Vocal Chords and Larynx - You talk with them and produce a voice. Your voice should emanate authority, authenticity and enthusiasm. If your voice is clear, strong and decisive, you will likely capture the undivided attention of your interviewer. Attenuating your voice to emphasize facts, figures and feelings can amplify your energy and heighten interest in what you are saying particularly if the interview is by phone. If the interview is in person, the quality and tone that you employ, combined with good eye contact, can communicate the energy of your personality. Note well: active voice trumps passive voice.

• Eyes - Keep them open and use them. Eyes are the windows on the mind and communicate a lot about a person. If you are in an interview use your eyes to look into those with whom you are speaking. If your eyes wander, gaze and generally avoid contact, those with whom you are speaking certainly will wonder why the lack of connection. Game over.

• Ears - There is a reason you have two. Listen and hear. The words may seem like synonyms but have subtle differences that matter. Use your ears to hear so the brain can listen and absorb what is being said or asked of you or about you. Refrain from using your voice until you have comprehended the words you hear. The brain is required here and should be consulted often in the process.

• Heart - Speak from it! The heart is an essential partner of the brain, mouth and voice. And speaking from the heart can be a confirmation of your sincerity and integrity. Speaking from the heart can also add just the right amount of emotion that validates your authenticity. I cannot emphasize too much that the brain also plays a critical role here. The knowledge from the brain gives the heart the intellectual ammunition for authenticity. So, be real!

• Torso & Limbs - The torso contains all the body parts and connects the limbs. The torso is an important vessel for it houses all of the essential organs required for a successful job search. It also connects the limbs you need for self mobility. And when used together as a unified body in harmony and synchronicity, they can telegraph a great deal about attitude, personality and transparency. It is called body language and must be used in concert with the heart and brain.


Torsos and limbs vary greatly from person to person. So take that into account. How they are wrapped is a critical element to successful job campaigns. The material employed to cover the torso and limbs should be attractive to the interviewer and or hiring manager for maximum effect. If the job interviews are in person, the torso and limbs should be appropriately dressed in garb that reflects your professionalism, style and passion and complement the culture of the organization for which you wish to work. If you are a public relations professional, a bit of flair in your garments could be an important ingredient in communicating your passion and creativity. If you are an accountant, perhaps a blue suit or skirt with a white shirt or blouse is adequate. You be the judge. If the interview is by phone, PJs will suffice.


• Constitution - It better be strong and enduring. I know that the "constitution" is not an organ. But you have one. We all do. And you need it to be courageous, fearless and enduring. During the job search you will encounter people that are inspiring, encouraging and supportive. Hopefully they will offset those who are not. You will also surely face rejection, ignorance, complacence and arrogance. The constitution is wonderful in that it will help you get past the morass and give you the passion and fortitude to drive forward.

Pay it Back, Pay it Forward – A Moral Imperative - The Do's of Career Search Help

This is a guest blog that I penned for http://lindsayolson.com, the blog site for search executive Lindsay Olson of Paradigm Staffing http://www.paradigmstaffing.com.

The blog is repeated here to convey the urgency of helping reduce unemployment by raising awareness of those who are gainfully employed to the plight of those who are not.

Paying it Back/Paying it Forward - Do's for Helping a Job Search

More than 100 people have sought advice from me in just the last six months on topics ranging from cold calling, search techniques, bad bosses, jumping ship, jumping fences, compelling resumes, coaching references, and building networks. I have seen or heard the good bad and the downright ugly. Consistently what strikes me as I look back is the lack of knowing or understanding “the art of doing well by doing good.” I am talking about paying it back and paying it forward.

While it may be a generalization, so many of the “gainfully employed” are woefully ignorant of the nature of the job search and the incredible frustration endured by job seekers as they pursue the hunt. Sometimes it bears remembering that the shoe can be on the other foot. With this in mind, here are a few do’s for those working stiffs who may be contacted by people looking to get out of the unemployment queue.

1.Respond to your friends’ requests for advice, connections or referrals! Sure you are busy. But take some time to consider helping a friend and even someone who could be a potential friend or colleague.

2.Remember and heed the past! Consider those times when you were in the job hunt. Do you recall how disappointing it was to get no response from anyone? Why not shave 15 minutes off your lunch hour to make a couple of calls or emails to help folks connect.

3.Return the favor! Are there folks who have helped you in your job or during your career that are facing bleak career prospects? How about the supplier who saved your skin at the last minute or the client that kept you in business with more business? Reciprocity is a two way street. Get busy helping!

4.Be proactive! In the course of your day, have you received a call from a recruiter looking for referrals? How much time could it take to provide names of friends and/or colleagues that might fit the job description? Are there jobs going begging in your own company? Why not reach out to friends that could be a good fit and get them into your firm for interviews?

5.Say a good word! If you have friends, colleagues or acquaintances looking for new opportunities, consider endorsing their capabilities. Web sites such as LinkedIn are a great platform to sing the praises of folks that have done a particularly spectacular job for you either as boss, employee, supplier, mentor or even nemesis.

6.Students are people too! Get involved in helping young people. Did you ever have a mentor that showed you the ropes or gave you disaster-avoiding advice? Sure you did. Take some time and be a mentor. Help others avoid pitfalls that may have challenged you. Spread your wings and take a couple people under them.

Paying it back and paying it forward is just the moral thing to do. In this economy, or any economy, helping people always pays dividends.

Gerard “Gerry” F. Corbett is the PR Job Coach and Founder and Consultant of Redphlag LLC, a marketing consulting firm. He has served four decades in technology PR most recently as vice president of branding of Hitachi for more than 12 years. You can contact Gerry at coach at http://www.prjobcoach.com/ or follow him on Twitter @prjobcoach.