Job Search

Oscar®-Winning Networking

Wendy Terwelp Leave a comment

Academy Awards Oscar®

Jeff Bridges did it. Sandra Bullock did it. Mo’Nique did it. And you can too.

In fact, all the Oscar®-winners did it so much, there’s a special link on Oscar.com about it. Here it is: http://bit.ly/b6t8Dj

What am I talking about? Why the easiest way to start a conversation. The easiest way to network. The easiest way to get enough courage to pick up the phone.

And the winner is…. THANK YOU.

You are not alone. No matter how crappy you’re feeling about the downsizing, the firing, the economy. You have people in your life you’ve helped in some way and they want to help you now.

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “Outliers,” he says no one is a self-made man. You’ve got a community, a neighbor, a family, a time period when you were born…

And, when you listen to the Oscar®-winners’ speeches, they get it. They thank everyone. And I mean everyone. From fellow actors, to camera crews, to directors, to family members, to teachers, to past Oscar-winners who inspired them, and more.

You can too, because you do have people in your life who’ve inspired you in some way at some point in time.

One client recently said to me, “I hate small talk.” Well, thanking a person isn’t ever small. Another, “I don’t even know where to start.” How about “Thanks!”?

Coaching Challenge: Go ahead. Be an Oscar®-winner. Pretend you are one of the nominees. Make a list of all the people you would like to thank who have helped you along the way. Start with at least 10. Yes, your family members count! (Heck, Jeff Bridges thanked his mom, dad, three kids, wife…)

Next to each person’s name, jot down something you’d like to thank them for. Here’s one of mine:

Dad – Thanks for telling me to not complain to my boss unless I have a solution. Now, I’m the boss and this is advice I’ve passed on to my clients. This has helped my clients feel more confident, think about solutions (rather than problems), and even get promoted.

Now pick up the phone, and make the call. You can do it!

Thanking a person is the easiest way to start a conversation. And definitely an Oscar®-winning tip you can use in your job search – and beyond – to make your network thrive.

Want even more tips to make your network thrive? Check out, “Rock Your Network® for Job Seekers.”

Conan vs. Leno – which team are you on?

Wendy Terwelp Leave a comment

OK, I was trying to avoid even getting into this topic, however I had to see what all the fuss was about.

I saw Conan with Ricky Gervais (love Ricky) and they were both talking negatively about NBC. This was before Gervais hosted the upcoming awards show. Then I saw another episode, and there was Conan opening the stage drapes and showing off his “car mouse” made using the “most expensive car in the world.” He said he could do it because it was “in his contract.”

Conan O’Brien Goes on A Wild Spending Spree on NBC’s Dime

Leno instead, talked about how he had Late Night first and his boss, NBC made a change. He then calmly explained how he went with the decision, despite earning top ratings during his run. Now he gets his old job back. Very classy. No bad-mouthing his employer. No bad-mouthing Conan.

Here’s the CNN version.

What are your thoughts?

Mine are:
1. Don’t bad-mouth your employer, no matter what. I know it’s tough. Refrain yourself!
2. Television is a business. Crappy ratings can get you fired.
3. Don’t run up the bill before you leave — even if it is in your contract. Leaves a bad taste in your employer’s mouth and can hurt your chances of getting hired in the future. Think about it, who wants to hire an adult who has multimillion dollar temper tantrums? (Besides reality TV.)
4. Be professional. You are the brand. Own it.
5. Exit with class. You’ll still have a bridge, if you need it later. Look, they gave Leno his old job back. Oftentimes a person is downsized and later rehired. Classy exits give you a better shot.

Who would you rehire and why? Share your thoughts!

Top 10 Secrets No One Ever Told You About Getting the Most Out of Your Resume

Wendy Terwelp 5 Comments

1. Clearly define your career focus. “Candidates have to be focused,” said Laurie Driesen, Executive Recruiter. “The biggest complaint from employers over the years has been ‘We didn’t hire so-and-so because she or he didn’t know what they wanted.’”

2. Be specific when recounting your achievements. Qualify, quantify or “dollarize” them in some manner that demonstrates what you offer a prospective employer. Use the CAR method to help you recall your achievements: Challenge, Action, Result. Achievements are the most important part of the resume say recruiters and human resource professionals. “Past performance predicts future productivity,” said Lynn Kaup, Talent Acquisition Specialist.

3. Use action words and statements. “Responsible for”… is out, “Developed; Directed; Achieved; Coordinated, etc.” is in.

4. For people with 20 or more years of experience: “Do NOT write that into your resume,” said Carol Schneider, Founder/CEO of SEEK Careers / Staffing. “Put a BENEFIT STATEMENT into your resume – something that speaks of how you 1) made the company money, 2) saved the company money, or 3) streamlined procedures. Years of experience are immaterial and may indicate that you are just ‘old.’ Companies want to know what kind of a contribution you can make to their success – not how many years you’ve been working.

5. Differentiate yourself. When you review your current resume, can you simply put someone else’s name on it? Or does it clearly differentiate you from your competition and brand you as “the one” for the job?

6. Communicate your value and put key points “above the fold.” One recruiter on LinkedIn told me he reads 200 to 300 resumes a DAY, seven days a week. You have GOT to stand out! Address the unspoken question early on: “Why should I hire you?”

7. When responding to job postings, be sure you clearly read the requirements and assess your qualifications and experience. Is there a close match between the requirements they’re seeking and your qualifications? Companies don’t have time to meet with unqualified applicants. According to one finance recruiter, “Candidates must be an exact match before a company looks at them.”

8. Create a short value statement about yourself in nine words or less. This can become your brand statement to use on social media sites, when networking, and during interviews. Here’s mine: “I help professionals be rock stars at work.” This gets people to say, “Tell me more!” That’s your goal.

9. If you know someone at a company, give them a call. Networking is the No. 1 method used by candidates to get jobs. In Indeed’s Source of Hire Study, employee referrals (past and present were a key source for external hires at companies.

10. Think creatively about how you distribute your resume. Networking online (via social media) and offline (in-person) are still the key ways people land new gigs. Want more networking tips to help you feel confident and comfortable networking anytime, anywhere online or off? Get “Rock Your Network® for Job Seekers.”

© 2003 – 2024 • Wendy J. Terwelp • Opportunity Knocks™ • All Rights Reserved.

Wendy Terwelp has helped thousands of clients get hired faster and be rock stars at work since 1989. A recognized expert on networking, both online and off, Wendy has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Fast Company, The Business Journal, Careerbuilders.com, Monster.com, ABC, NBC, and Fox. She has published hundreds of articles on the web and in print. She literally wrote the book on networking, “Rock Your Network® for Job Seekers.” Get tips, tricks, and strategies to rock your career at www.knocks.com.

Update skills for your new career

Wendy Terwelp Leave a comment

Time to update those skills for your next career move – and the government will help you fund it. Here’s the latest courtesy of Joel Dresang of JSOnline.com:

College Notebook: Education money for dislocated worker

By Joel Dresang of the Journal Sentinel

While workforce development agencies are trying to rustle up more retraining assistance for increased numbers of dislocated workers, the U.S. Department of Education has announced $11.25 million in grants to community colleges for unemployed workers and working adults.

Three Wisconsin technical colleges are among the participants:

  • Milwaukee Area Technical College is awarded $350,001.
  • Gateway Technical College, in Kenosha, receives $497,938.
  • Madison Area Technical College gets $453,509.

The grants to 29 projects in 20 states are meant to support innovations in postsecondary education that can be national models.

“These grants give community colleges an opportunity to tailor their activities and instruction to meet the unique needs of adult learners, many of whom must retrain to re-enter the 21st century workforce with newly honed skills,” Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in announcing the awards.

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More tips from Wendy Terwelp:

It’s mission critical to have updated skills when job hunting. Not knowing how to use email or basic word processing tools like Word can hinder your search, especially when recruiters and employers alike demand the basics – and often require resumes to be emailed rather than “snail mailed.” (Meaning sending a hard copy.) Tech schools like those listed above have solid programs in these areas and they are practical. Other tech school courses are often taught by practicing professionals who have day jobs in their areas of expertise. A great way to make new connections for your next gig – through the instructor. Of course, your fellow classmates can be great networking resources as well.

Job Seekers: Time for a Tweet

Wendy Terwelp 3 Comments

Job Seekers, are you on Twitter yet? If not, check out these current stats:

  • 73% of Executives find jobs through Social Networks.
  • Twitter was rated the No. 3 Social Networking site by Bloomberg.
  • Twitter has grown from 500,000 to over 19 million users in the last 9 months.

WOW.

With this in mind, have you explored Twitter for your career search? If not, do so now.

Keep in mind some basics when you sign up:

1. Keep your posts short – 140 characters.

2. Be relevant. Do not tweet about how you are still looking for a job, but rather what you can do for an employer; demonstrate your thought leadership.

3. Be current. This does not mean you have to tweet 20 times a day, it does mean to tweet with regularity.

4. Be on brand. What’s your career target? What is relevant to this target? Which companies do you wish to work for? What will they find interesting about you?

5. Be personal – but not TOO personal. I do not care that you are in the bathroom tweeting, drinking coffee, opening a door or other mundane activities. I also don’t want to know about your extreme political views, religion or super negative attitude. Think about it like this, are these statements relevant to your career, job search or current employment? Would your mom like to hear about these things? How about your boss? If you think they’d be in shock, don’t tweet the info. Do tweet: relevant info from a conference, an opinion on a hot topic, interesting RELEVANT hobbies, and so on.

Go ahead! Move forward and try it out. For more ideas on what to tweet, follow people you want to know more about. You can check out my tweets at: http://twitter.com/wendyterwelp.

UPDATE: New Book – Twitter Job Search Guide! Came out 3/2010

Source for more Twitter Stats: Twitjobsearch.com