Resumes Done Write

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Perception, Relationships and a Productive Career

Is it any wonder that the better you feel about yourself the more fulfilling your relationships are and the more empowered you feel in your work? It shouldn’t be! If you think about it, your own self-perception is the biggest driver of how others perceive you. It makes perfect sense that if you feel good, you project a positive and upbeat manner – other people area drawn to that. Human nature indicates that people like to be around those that make them feel happy, successful and good. If you feel good you give off vibes that attract others – smile and the whole world smiles with you - frown and everyone around you frowns. Here are my top tips to ‘feeling good and spreading the love’ to facilitate strong relationships that translate directly to positive career choices:

Give a little, get a little: One of the single biggest ways to improve your job prospects is to network with other people. How you network is a critical component to success. Interested in getting help from someone influential? You need to give that person something first. And no, I don’t mean give them 50 bucks – I mean something that they need. Look for ways that you can add value for that person; you will then be in a much better position to solicit help – or, even better – they might offer. One of the best ways to increase your circle of influence is by providing something yourself first. I am not usually big on quoting scripture but “give and ye shall receive” has always worked for me.

Dress for success: It should come as no surprise that others like to be around good-looking people. I am not making this up – studies show that those who present better get offered positions more often. They way you carry yourself and how you dress is directly correlated to how you feel about yourself. If you look put together, you will feel better about yourself; the chances that your positive impression will come across to those around you will vastly improve. As a result your self-perception will improve. I think you get the idea. The point is that when looking for work you need to put your best foot forward in all areas to drive your success.

A stranger is a friend you haven’t met yet: I know it’s difficult to just start a conversation with someone you don’t know. How many times have you been in an elevator and said hello to someone? How many times has that led to a full-blown conversation? You didn’t know that person before stepping into the elevator. BUT, you could very well end up developing a valuable friendship from a short exchange. I even have an example! Many years ago my husband’s ex-wife was in a post office in New York. She gave some assistance to a man who was visiting from Holland. Their brief conversation turned into a 20+-year friendship. When he and his family come to the States they visit with her and vice versa. Is this an extreme example? Maybe. You never know though where or when you will encounter someone that you are in a position to help – or who is in a position to help you.

Establishing your personal brand: Your personal brand and perception in the market is critical to facilitate your success. You want to create a demand for YOU. The idea is to generate recognition so that others perceive you as valuable, in the know, a resource. You need to present yourself in a way that engages others so they are interested in pursuing you. Establish your presence as someone who can deliver – consistently. Demonstrating that you are a valued resource will go a long, long way in establishing your personal brand. This in turn will generate interest in you. Deliver what you say you are going to deliver. Follow-up with people. This will lead to ensuring that when your name is mentioned that only positive things are shared and spread.

The bottom line – Look your best, act your best, feel your best and you will be your best; and those around you will be their best too. You will end with a spiral of goodness that makes everyone perform at the top of his or her game.

Smile and see what happens – my bet, is you will be surprised at the impact - for the better.

Comments and feedback are requested and desired; and you are welcome and encouraged to submit questions to thecareerdoctor.

Debra Wheatman, CPRW, CPCC is the founder and Chief Career Strategist of ResumesDoneWrite, a premier career services provider focused on developing highly personalized career roadmaps for senior leaders and executives across all verticals and industries.

Debra can be reached at -
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Sunday, June 14, 2009

A guide to FMLA

You might currently be in a situation where you are caring for an elderly or sick parent; or you might have this situation in the future. There are some things that you need to know regarding leaves of absence in the workplace. For those of you who need to take a planned or unplanned absence from the workplace in the United States, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is the law that governs time off.

For most of us, we know FMLA as the law that comes into effect when you are out to care for a newborn. Many people do not realize that the law also covers recovering from serious illness or to care for seriously ill children, spouses, and parents.

FMLA is a US federal law that became effective in August of 1993 and provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid job-protected leave yearly, and requires health benefits to be upheld during the time of the leave. Employers with 50 or more employees must adhere to FMLA guidelines. Employees have to have been employed for at least 12 months and completed 1,250 work hours.
The provisions for the leave cover the following:

New birth, adoption, or care of a foster child
Handling care of a seriously ill family member or care for the employee’s own serious condition.

FMLA is particularly effective in helping employees meet the demands of work and family issues by granting unpaid leave for specific family and medical reasons.

It is always a good idea to maintain awareness of the policies that have the potential to impact your life. Knowledge is power. Make sure you read a little bit about FMLA and understand how it works. In the event that you need to take a leave, you will be glad to have this information. Additionally, your human resource representative should be very familiar with FMLA and his company’s policy. There are some employers that offer more than what FMLA mandates; but an employer is not permitted to offer less than what is federally mandated.

For additional information, including downloadable PDF materials, please check out the following websites: Here or here

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Providing Good Customer Service May Just Save Your Job

I am sure you are looking at the title of this post and wondering why a career expert is writing about customer service. Well, there are two reasons; the first is that I think customer service is prevalent in all areas of business. Providing strong customer service can be the difference in getting repeat clients and referrals - and not getting them at all. The second reason is that I recently wrote to a company that sponsors outdoor street fairs. I was interested in obtaining information regarding an upcoming fair. There, displayed on their website was an email address indicating that they would be more than happy to answer any questions to help the public. What did I do? I wrote to them; I was interested in simply obtaining the location of the fair so I could take my daughter over the weekend. What did I receive? An email from Darryl (the customer service rep) with a street name. Not very helpful; that street name would not really give me enough information to get to the fair; I wrote again and asked for some specific directions. Not being familiar with the town, I needed a bit more to avoid getting completely lost. What did he send me? A Google map of the entire United States. Thanks Darryl! You officially win an award for complete rudeness and utterly poor customer service.

I am not one who believes the customer is always right; however, I do believe that you should always try to provide good customer service in a friendly and helpful manner. They don’t say that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar for nothing.

Here are some good tips to follow to ensure your customer service skills shine:

Communication: One of the hallmarks of success in providing customer service is to communicate clearly and effectively with your customers. Answer questions in an easy to understand manner, be thoughtful in approach, and don’t rush. You don’t want to make people think that you have something better to do, like washing your hair. Part of being customer focused is being attentive and making the person or people feel special. This will go a long way in establishing trusting relationships, which will lead to continued business.

Set Expectations: Don’t make it up as you go along. If you know that you cannot deliver something, don’t simply agree to it to make the sale. This will come back to bite you. All parties need to be on the same page with clear expectations outlined from the beginning. This will serve to avoid confusion later and a he said, she said situation. When people understand the situation from the outset, they are more likely to remain happy.

Keep Written Notes: This will allow you to remain organized and also serve as a point of reference if questions about initial agreements arise later on. You cannot remember everything that was said; nor should you try. Writing things down will help keep everyone on the same page, no pun intended.

Walk A Mile in Their Shoes: Be empathetic to the position of others. You cannot provide good customer service if you fail to see or recognize that there is another side to the coin. Your genuineness will likely foster longer-term relationships that will be highly beneficial for business.

You can really add tremendous value and generate clients for life by simply providing strong customer service. The point is that no matter what you do, customer service is important in all aspects of business.

Want to develop stronger customer service skills? Here are some resources for you: Learningtree; theelearningcenter.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Crash Course in Finding a Job

From the time we are young people ask us “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a common question. Our parents, grandparents, teachers, and friends all influence our decisions. Sometimes circumstances force us to choose a particular path. How may times have you heard someone say: “Well I wanted to be an astronaut, a dancer, an actor, or a sportscaster,” or something else? But they didn’t due to personal or other obstacles that prevented their entry into a desired area.

The questions then become: are you happy in your chosen field? Do you enjoy your work? Is there something else that you would really rather be doing? If you are happy and have other pursuits that fulfill different needs, then perhaps your path is strong enough to prevent the feeling that you were meant for something else. Your profession might provide you with new skills and security; you therefore do not dedicate a lot of time to seeking other things outside your chosen field. Otherwise you might consider engaging in a search for a role that you find more fulfilling – a role closer to what you truly want to be ‘when you grow up’.

Many people begin to stress and panic when they feel the pressure of having to FIND A NEW JOB. Searching for a new job is a full-time job. Job seekers do not know that they should be keeping a journal of accomplishments, an updated résumé, and list of personal and professional attributes that make them unique. Why are these things important? You never know when someone will ask for your résumé. How are you to remember all of the things you have done in various roles that set you apart unless you write them down? Will you be able to do that kind of recall to create a really compelling story on paper when the time comes? The bottom line is this: you never know when a situation might present itself. You might happen upon a great opportunity, network and identify a position that is perfect for you, or be in search mode due to a layoff. Whatever the reason, being prepared is more than half of the battle.

Values and career goals change over time, which is why it is important to track progress and maintain an awareness of the market. As search strategies change, so too does the efforts of a job seeker.

Most people do not know what they need to do to launch an effective search. Many people are still under the misconception that the résumé will get them the job. The résumé is only a tool to land the interview. You still need to get the job. This requires many more skills, including strong interpersonal communication abilities and the ability to present achievements in a compelling way – aligned of course with the prospective company’s goals.

Here are some quick notes to help:

Résumés do not need to be limited to one page. Present a compelling story. That might mean that your résumé is two pages. This is ok.
Do not add things like age, marital status or other personal hobbies unless they are really unique. Your age and other personal details have nothing to do with your ability to perform the essential functions of the job.
Cover letters are important. It is part of the résumé package, and you should definitely have one when applying. It is also an opportunity to highlight relevant things that might not be included in the résumé.
You cannot just post your résumé on job boards and expect the calls to come in. Looking for a position requires planning and careful networking. You must be a proactive job seeker. Speak to friends and friends of friends. Make use of social networking sites. Join traditional networking groups.
Follow up with a note after an in person or phone interview. With the extensive use of the Internet, people no longer take the time to draft a handwritten note. This can go a long way in making a memorable impression in the mind of a hiring manager.

Looking for a new role? Plan accordingly; keep your notes; develop a strategy; do the research; and use the tools necessary to drive career success.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Should you hire a career coach?

Have you thought about engaging a career or professional coach?

How do you know when you need one?

How do you go about finding one?

What can a career coach do for you?

These are all good questions.

If you have found yourself looking for the next step in your career but are not sure how to get there, or you are interested in pursuing a new career path a career coach might be just what you need. These are only two reasons to engage a coach – there are many others, not the least of which is to help motivate and inspire you, seek personal growth, develop self confidence, or launch a job search.

There are different types of coaches. Some help with career planning and management; some help with executive branding; some help with public presenting, and others help with attainment of personal goals or managing difficult issues. No matter what type of coach you need or think you need, due diligence must be conducted prior to engaging a coach. Below are some tips that will help you identify and select the appropriate resource to meet your needs:

Do some research online. There are many coaches available. Google career coaches and you will find a plethora of information, including websites of various types of coaches. Make a list of a few and place some calls. Coaching certifications are too numerous to list - they should not necessarily be a deal-breaker - however a certification demonstrates that the coach has gone through the process of choosing a particular approach, mastering it and receiving official validation from a group of experts in that particular style of coaching.
Ask Questions. When you speak to a coach, ask him about his style, how he works with clients. Get an understanding of the coach’s discipline and how she comes to understand and apply her knowledge to help her clients.
Get References. Ask the coach if there is anyone that she has worked with in the recent past that would be willing to share information about the experience. Ask for testimonials. Check out the coach’s website and LinkedIn page. Try to learn as much as you can about the person before signing up for the services.
Understand how it Works. Don’t just sign up for something without fully understanding how the program works. Many coaches have packages of sessions. Gain a full understanding of what is offered and the timeline in which services will be delivered.
Ask for an Outline. Based on a preliminary fact finding discussion, ask the coach to provide you with a quick outline of what you can expect to gain from the sessions. Many coaches have their clients do ‘homework’; much of the work will need to be completed by you to ensure success. It is important to understand how much time you will be investing in the homework you will need to complete for the sessions to yield results.
Get Pricing. Don’t sign up for any services before you fully understand how the process works. Ask how long each coaching session will be. Is it via phone or in person? Does the coach work via single sessions, or only through a package deal? Are finances a big consideration? If so, ask the coach if group coaching is available at a discounted rate.
Additional Support. Does the coaching include any additional support mechanisms like teleseminars or webinars? This is an added bonus that should be taken into consideration. Also ask the coach if he provides any written materials for you to use or reference as part of the program.

Going through these steps and conducting the appropriate level of due diligence will ensure that you not only choose the right coach for your individual needs, but will also facilitate the establishment of a productive relationship that will help you reach your goals.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Getting the name of the hiring manager

How does one go about getting the name of someone in human resources or the name of a hiring manager? Job listings posted all over the place simply read: No phone calls and direct résumé to BD or some other letter combination at some post office box or no-reply email address. Getting a name is like pulling a needle from a haystack. A good read might be something from Sherlock Holmes or a day with reruns of Get Smart to help solve the dilemma.

I won’t lie; getting a name can be tough, very tough. It can be done though! It takes work and a bit of sleuthing. Anything that is worth something is worth working for - right? So, here are some ways to win the holiday turkey - THE NAME.

Try calling the receptionist at the company where you are applying. You can ask the receptionist for the name of a person in human resources. If you are nice and engage the person on the phone, you will likely come away with a name.
When calling a company, ask to be directed to the human resource department; you will likely get the voice mail of a person within the department. Even if he or she is not the right guy or gal, when your résumé shows up, he or she will pass it along to the appropriate counterpart in the department.

Looking for the name of a hiring manager? This takes more digging.

Use LinkedIn and Facebook to find people. If you are on LinkedIn will need to do a lot of looking to identify people that are associated with the company you are targeting. Join affiliated groups so that you can write to those people directly without an introduction. Is that sneaky? No. LinkedIn is a tool like any other. You need to know how to use it. From there, you can introduce yourself to a person at your targeted company, network with them and obtain a name. Facebook takes a little more work, because you need to introduce yourself and be added as a friend.
Traditional research also works. When doing research on a company, oftentimes the company will have a listing of senior management. You can start there. Send a letter or email to one of those people. You never know, you might get a response asking you to send your résumé to them directly, or they might even give you the name of someone to reach out to within the company.
Network with everyone you know. The rule of six degrees of separation is what LinkedIn is all about. You can get names from friends, friends of friends, acquaintances, and many, many others.
Have access to a powerful tool like Hoovers? If you do, you are in luck. Hoovers has the names of people in virtually every company you can think of, as well as those companies you have never heard of.
Get a trade publication. Why you ask? I will tell you why. The trades publish newsworthy information about what is going on in a specific industry and continuously publish the names of people and companies. It is a great way to maintain abreast of industry happenings too. When people are promoted or move to a different company, a name is often published.

The Internet is a wonderful tool. Immediate access to information is only a click away. Properly using the Internet to your advantage takes some practice. There is definitely the ‘art of the search’. While you can spin your wheels a bit, the extra time doing so can prove very fruitful. Leave no stone unturned, I say. There is no such thing as anonymity anymore – if you want to find someone, you most certainly can!

Happy hunting.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Are you changing careers? Then you need a hybrid resume!

Looking to make a career change? Well, you are going to need a résumé that will help you focus on the things that are relevant for a new industry. In this situation, what should your résumé look like? A straight chronological résumé is probably not the answer here.

I recommend a hybrid set up. What’s this you ask? A hybrid résumé will allow you to highlight key achievements at the top of the document, and tie back to the reverse chronological information that follows. After creating a compelling summary at the top and related core competency section, which will consist of your key words, you can create a Select Accomplishments heading. Under this umbrella heading you should draft compelling, results-oriented bullets that will enable the reader to understand what you can contribute in a new role.

For example, if you are presently in technology and looking to transition to more of a customer-facing sales role, highlight interactions with internal clients and any external relationships with vendors where you were involved in developing relationships and conducting negotiations on contracts or project delivery terms. You should also consider referencing your ability to see a process through from inception through completion, which is often part of the sales function. If you work with other departments or part of a cross-functional team, provide that information in this section. Be sure to reference the role where you did the work so the reader isn’t left wondering at which company you achieved the results. You can then reference professional experience under this area where you would then revert with a traditional reverse chronological format. The illustration below reveals what I am talking about and will help you understand why this format works, particularly for career changers.

This résumé, (which can be downloaded here) clearly illustrates what skills this person brings to a new position. With a compelling summary, key words and succinct bullets that deliver results, the reader is already engaged before realizing the applicant is making a switch. With the relevant transferrable skills, the change can be made swiftly.