Your First Three Months on the Job
Building a Roadmap for the Future
Congratulations! After all that hard work, focus and dedication, you are starting your new job. A major accomplishment that calls for a celebration, as you enter the professional organization, be sure to put your best foot forward, right from the beginning. Realize that navigating and absorbing the corporate culture will determine your success rate often even more so than the specific skills sets you’re currently employed to demonstrate. You’re on stage, watched and observed by everyone from the administrative assistant all the way to the CEO, so make sure you are truly ready.Learn
According to Sally Babcock, Executive Director of PhotoWorks, an American Greetings company, “First (and foremost), build relationships and get to know the people: who's good, who's not, but, most importantly, who can help you get the job done. Being new in the organization, you have to figure out who the Go To people are and make sure you have access to them.” Acquaint yourself with your immediate and extended team, so, unless handled for you, initiate the conversations yourself: ask people for a morning cup of coffee, a lunch or even, once within a comfort level, a post-work drink and/or activity. Know this is a chess game and, as much as you are learning what the individuals’ positions are (hierarchies are everywhere), they are also sizing you up, determining your strengths and weaknesses.
Leverage
Once you have a good feel for the people and for the projects at hand, determine how you can make an immediate impact in what is, most likely, a very lean structure. Assess the problems at hand, the assets the firm has and your own talents, then, combining optimism and genuine passion, always keeping you boss in the loop, go for it. According to Babcock, “Find incremental improvements that can be made for Quick Wins. Implement those and celebrate with your team.” Not only will you begin to generate a positive buzz within the company, but you can also start tracking your list of accomplishments, which become critical during job review and promotion time. Most importantly, you will indicate your commitment to the firm.
Lead
Regardless of your title, position or job description, everyone has the opportunity to lead. Adds Babcock, “Build a roadmap for the future and include the team in creating that roadmap. You will get lots of feedback this way on what has worked, what hasn't and what people have been dying to do but haven't had the resources to do.” Again, make sure you notify you boss and, before taking time on her already stretched schedule, flush out the big vision and the details, including timing, funds and manpower, as well as desired outcome, such as fiscal growth, process improvement or a fantastic new product idea. Finally, no matter what you do, stand clear of, yet never underestimate, the gossip mill and the negative/toxic “this is how we’ve always done it” employees who may be threatened by your presence and who are well-integrated into the cultural politics.
The best managers lead by positively rallying others around them towards achieving a common and clear goal that benefits the bottom line. Be that leader and watch your career prosper.
Note:The 7-part Cool Cleveland Career ToolBox series that first began in December, 2009 is now complete. The complete series can be read here. However, if there’s a specific topic you would like us to cover in future issues, please submit ideas and/or questions to alex@mbahobo.com.
Your Job Interview
Time To Shine
You’ve just received the most critical and promising news of your job hunt: an invitation to interview with one of the companies where you applied. The first interview, whether by phone or in-person, is like a first date, so impression is everything. Human resource and hiring managers know that you are going to be nervous. But, you can also surprise them by presenting yourself as the confident, knowledgeable and passionate professional that you are. As David Hilgart, a seasoned marketing and product expert and owner of BeaverGolf.com, a golf-themed online retailer, wisely advises, “Relax and be yourself. You are only sitting in front of me because, on paper, you have the skills I am looking for. The interview is our chance to determine if we are appropriately compatible to work together, so show off who you are.” Shining at your interview is all about preparation.Investigate
Research the company and its competition: websites, news stories, retail stores, economic trends, product launches, community work, international presence, etc. See if you have any bridged LinkedIn connections. Talk to people who are familiar with the internal culture. Companies look for fit and that is often what weeds out skilled candidates vs. retained employees. If applicable, check the stock trend and, most of all, understand the industry: markets never rest so is this a market space that will be viable in three years or is it on its way out? Finally, determine if this environment is a place where growth is possible. If the people in charge have been so for twenty years and plan on leading for the next twenty, the ceiling will be tough to break-though. Remember, this is your time and your life.
Invest
Corporate attire has devolved into exaggerated casualness. But interviewing attire has retained a high standard. So, unless you’re applying to a high tech start-up, wear a good suit. Different surroundings drive varying levels of conservatism. Don’t fight the system. Instead, do what you have to do to get the job, and then adjust accordingly. Purchase the best quality clothes your budget affords you. If selecting existing attire, take everything to the dry cleaner. Get your shoes shined. Women, make a hair and manicure appointment and choose complimentary jewelry. Have a professional portfolio that will contain printed copies of your resume. If the interview is long distance, you may be challenged with providing your own transportation. The good news is that most interviewing expenses can be deducted at tax time. (Consult with your accountant.) Think of this as your career wedding day.
Include
Once you know the date, place and time of your interview, if driving, gather directions. You may even want to drive there in prior, to find the building, entrance, etc. Determine the amount of time your trip will take in traffic, to arrive 20 minutes in advance. Waiting in your car is better than being 15 minutes late. Plus, it’s customary to be present 10 minutes prior to the scheduled interview. The day of, eat something mild so that your stomach isn’t growling. Check yourself in the mirror one last time before heading out for the day. Take the suit jacket off and hang it in the car. Bring with you the portfolio with your resume, a notepad, pen and list of prioritized questions. If in summer, turn the air on so that you are not perspiring. Turn off your cell phone and radio and use the drive time to rehearse your opener as well as answers to anticipated inquiries. Have some emergency cash on hand in case you will need to pay for parking. And, give yourself whatever pep talk works for you so that the confidence projects itself.
Intend
As soon as you set foot inside, it’s show time! Your interview may be with one person, or five, individually or in a panel format. Be ready for any situation and stay cool and calm. Maintain eye contact. Shake hands firmly. Don’t sit down until the person conducting the interview suggests so. If asked, accept water. Your voice may need it. Listen carefully. Answer questions directly and keep result-driven stories brief. If you need extra time to reply, ask to have the question repeated and think outside the box. Adds Hilgart, “Remember your whole life is your experience. Don’t limit examples of skills to things you did ‘on the job’ or you could be hiding some of your greatest strengths!” Look for office clues like family pictures or sports memorabilia. You may find a mutual interest that can break the nervousness. When it’s your turn to ask questions, politely ask how much time the manager has so that you can focus on the most important items you need answers to in order to make a decision about your future. Finally, when the interview is wrapping up, inquire regarding next steps and, most importantly, ask for the job!
Invest, Again
Within a few days after the interview, send personalized thank you notes to every individual who was part of your interviewing process, including the administrative assistant that did the scheduling and introductions. He is the executive’s gatekeeper and needs to be respected. Your choice of communication varies and is best determined by the company and by who you are. Options include email, hand-written thank you notes or typed formal thank you letters. Which ever you select, make sure you send one per individual (vs. one card to everyone you met) and make it personal by recalling a detail from that specific meeting. Finally, if hand-written, first type on a computer document and use spell check. Everything is about the impression you make, so show why you truly are the best candidate for the position.
Next CareerTOOLBOX Column: First 3 Months on the Job
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Cover Letters
Attracting Attention
You have a fabulous resume and your list of targeted firms. Your goal now is to reach out to these companies and convince them why you're the best candidate for the position. The process of selecting to whom your letters will go, the letter content and tone and the method itself is not an exact science, but, rather, a reflection of the company's culture and your own personality. Respecting hiring managers' ever eroding time, keep it short and compelling. According to Nonna Kofman, Vice President of Interactive Marketing at Pearson Education, "Make yourself more memorable and avoid the usual opening sentences. Start your letter with something unexpected that communicates your unique value in an interesting way." So before you start drafting your pleas for employment, you may want to consider the following advice.Write Succinctly
As with resumes, people don't have a lot of time to read anything, and, yet, proper protocol must be followed. As a general guideline, have one powerful introductory statement and, if there's a mutual contact or connection, be sure to include that in the very first sentence. Then, write one to two high-impact paragraphs addressing why you are the best candidate for this job, because you understand the company's needs and, based on your record, will succeed in helping the firm achieve its goals. Adds Kofman, "I look at the letter as a teaser - it should come to the point quickly and interest me in reviewing the resume. Unless you're applying for a job that demands professional writing skills, stick to one paragraph." Finish the letter with a thank you and, taking a clue from Alec Baldwin, "Always be closing." State when you will follow up with the firm and be sure to do so.
Write to Your Audience
The best advice a friend once told me when applying to an overseas college program was, "Think about the person who will read your application. Imagine what she looks like, the room she's sitting in, the time of day she will be reading your letter." This wisdom helped me get into a certain state of mind and, while I didn't fly to Paris that summer due to budgetary constraints, the program did accept me. The point being is, if you're applying at Apple, imagine the creative influence and sophisticated minimalism of that corporation. What about you reflects that same kind of progressive attitude? If your goal is work at a law firm, is it in you to retain a level of conservatism that's expected in that industry? And, if working with kids is your goal, do you have the patience and selflessness to succeed in a school, often a very political environment? Regardless of your desired professional goal, make sure your letter reflects the consistency of a similar tone between you and the place you desire to work and provide examples that demonstrates this overlap.
Write to the Job
If you want to differentiate yourself from the hundreds of applicants competing for the same job, do yourself a big favor and read the job description. Then go ahead and lift the most relevant key words and phrases and incorporate them into your letter (being careful with font consistency if you're copying/ pasting). If the job requires certain certification (CPA), a process familiarity (Six Sigma) or foreign language skills (Spanish) and you have any of them, state this! The cover letter is, ultimately a proposal: you are wooing the organization. Take it further and count the number of "I"s you have in your letter. If it's more than five, then you're focusing too much on yourself and not enough on the company.
Write to the Firm's Passions, and to Yours
Has the company recently been in the news? Has it secured a new patent? Did it sponsor a major sporting event? Is it contributing to rebuilding a community? Did it just open a new store within your driving distance? Make sure you study the firm's site, your local publications and, if publically traded, any news from the Street. Gathering information today is simpler than ever and it's your responsibility to know everything you possibly can about the organization, not just for the cover letter, but also for the interview (next month's column). Based on all you discover, marry what's key to the firm to what's key for you. If inspired, take a chance and write to a CEO who you genuinely admire and tell her so and why you want to work for her. The more genuine your story is, the greater the likelihood of you securing your professional position.
Next CareerTOOLBOX Column: Nailing the Interview
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Industry and Company Research
Navigating Your Options
Your resume is fantastic, and now you’re ready to discover your professional home. Finding that place where you can add value from day one and where your skill set will develop over time is a tricky balance, but is a very attainable goal. Laser focus, combined with flexibility, will deliver long-term mutual benefits to you and to your work. According to Derek Darling, a Purdue engineer, RIT MBA and Director of Operations Excellence at AMETEK Power Instruments, “It is a really tight job environment right now. It is important to focus on the value you can bring to the company and then do a good job at connecting with targeted, prospective employers.” Keeping in mind a few details will help you in your journey.Be Organized
Whether you’re a journal keeper, an Excel loyalist or someone in between, index all your research information in one thorough entity. Regardless of your preferred documentation method, include the following list: organization name, address, website, phone number and any social media links; point of contact (at least one); date you reached out, applied for job or submitted resume; next steps; misc – anything else that will help you, such as organization news, product launches, etc. No matter whom you reach out to, make sure this document chronicles your entire process. You will thank yourself later.
Be Open
If you’re an accountant, you can either join an accounting firm or work for any office that requires accounting services. This is the difference between applying into an industry versus into a functional area. Each direction offers its own cost-benefit, and you can draw up your own comparison based on your career goals for the next two to three years. This same trade-off applies for the team size. In a larger organization you will likely have less influence, but will have exposure to numerous resources. In a start-up, you’ll have greater influence, but within a smaller scope. Either way, everyone’s lean these days, so regardless of where you’ll work, you will need to take on more than you’re currently trained to do. Finally, only you can decide on your future geography, but know this: the people who really love you want you to succeed, even if it means that success is in another city, state or even country.
Be Passionate
When deciding where to apply, I challenge you to bypass the common job search engines and, instead, take a look around your home: What car do you drive? Whose coffee do you drink? What magazines do you read? What non-profits receive your hard-earned money? What products or services are parts of your daily rituals? You’re already a brand ambassador, so think how genuine your job interview will be when the hiring manager asks why you’re applying in that specific firm or agency. In this complex market, holding education and skill set constant, your passion is the one thing that may differentiate you from your competition. Oh, and with persistence and passion, you can do what you love.
Be Aggressive
Think of your job search as a hunt, because that is exactly what it is. When six or seven candidates are applying, you need to exceed your own expectation. My advice to clients is as follows: In Week 1, apply to 10 new positions. During Week 2, apply to 10 more and follow up on the first 10. In Week 3, apply to 10 additional opportunities and reach out to the first 20, etc. In your first month, you’ll make progress with 40 applications. By end of Month 2, you would have reached out to 80 distinct leads. Your hunt is a numbers game. And, while you can’t control whose interest you generate, you can move the odds in your favor by carrying out a full-blown campaign. Also, maximize exposure on all the major social networking sites and join any local clubs that attract other accomplished people, regardless of trade. Position yourself as the success you already are, or want to be, and watch how the world responds to you.
Next CareerTOOLBOX Column: Cover Letters
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Resume Building
Rise Above The Rest
You've established your platform and equipped your career toolbox. Now comes one of the most important steps in your professional journey: building your resume. The sheer thought of this document terrifies many as no one knows where to begin. Or, you may have an existing resume, but one that's been around longer than the last presidential administration. Either way, you're looking to position yourself as the success you are and, with very minor exception, resumes are your foot in the door. So take the time to invest in this 4-step exercise to develop the best one to two page representation of your skill set.Success
While it's important to be humble in life, during the job hunt, especially in a competitive marketplace, you need to project confidence, strength and success. When you start making your list of things you've done in your past positions, skip the job descriptions and go right for the achievements. Ask yourself this question: How did I make a difference in this role? Ami Nienus, who holds a master in consumer psychology and a Simon MBA, is President and CEO of Strategic Market Research Group. When she hires subcontractors, she specifically looks for candidates that "differentiate themselves with fresh, high-quality and usable ideas to existing business problems."
Action
Print out your resume and get a highlighter. Play a modern version of the card game Old Maid - start looking for word repetition. You'll be surprised how many of your favorites will appear, multiple times. The general rule of thumb is don't repeat verbs and, if you have to, don't repeat within the same job and definitely never in the same bullet point. Invest in a thesaurus, paper or on-line, and start looking up action verbs that best articulate your responsibilities throughout your professional history. Everyone's managing something or someone. Tell people what you actually do.
Brevity
One of the biggest mistakes people make on their resumes is including their entire life history, thus turning a document what will be skimmed by someone within 30 seconds of time into War and Peace. Think of a film trailer you recently watched in a theater, a trailer that got you so excited that you had to go and spend your hard earned money on a movie ticket. That is exactly what your resume needs to be: a highlight of your best stuff. Then, once it lands in the right hands and people invite you for an interview, that's when you get to share your story.
Perfection
Life is not perfect. But your resume needs to be. This means everything's spelled correctly, formatted consistently and reflected accurately. No typos. No errors. No mistakes. While we are all human creatures, we're also signal readers and a hiring manager, whether an academic director, corporate recruiter or even the start-up owner who makes his own copies and saves every paperclip, will often dismiss candidates whose resumes aren't perfect. Their thought is "If this person doesn't pay attention to detail with their own work, how can I possibly trust them with mine?" First impressions count.
Finally, print out and then take a good look at your resume. And ask yourself this question "Would I hire myself?" Your answer will tell you if you're on track.
Next Column: Company / Industry Research
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Bridging the Gap
Equipping your Career Toolbox
Now that you've developed your Career Baseline, it's time to focus on equipping yourself with the proper ammunition to know as much as possible about your desired industry. Because of the internet, information is readily available, yet puts the responsibility on the reader to decipher between fact and fiction, between quality and crap. And, if your ultimate goal is to become an expert at something, early on determine where to start seeking the right data. If the world is one giant resource, then your job is to hone in on people, places and things that will help you bridge the gap between where you are today and where you want to be. As Rami Katz, a Simon school colleague, military vet, attorney and, currently, Director of Technology Commercialization at High Tech Rochester, once wisely told me, "Envision your goal and work backwards. Effort is over-rated. It's all about results."
Submerging yourself into your desired sector can be accomplished on several levels, including, but not limited to, education, training, reading and interaction - all four bring unique benefits. You'd do yourself a great service by assessing your own barometer with each. You may even want to break these out into a scale, label them 1 - 10 and mark where you are per category as it relates to your career goal. Then, determine your resources - time and money - to prioritize your energy spending: Now, Next and Later. Businesses do this with growth plans because even with deep pockets, not every pursuit is important and the combination of adaptability and discipline is key.
Study
Over the past decade, higher learning has evolved into a very flexible arena. From on-line universities to rapidly expanding jr. colleges and even weekend grad schools, academia has recognized the growing interest of adults pursuing new skills and has responded with an increasing menu of class and program options. It's the basic economic model of supply and demand. Remember, not all schools hold equal footing. With whatever program you choose, weigh in on the network externalities - will the caliber of current students, alumni and the school's reputation open doors for you in the future?
Work
In addition to the classroom, you will need hands-on experience. If you want to own your own flower shop, go work in a flower shop. There's a big difference between thinking you know how a business operates vs. learning from real life mistakes and victories. Whether full-time, part time, apprentice or intern work, any of these will help you assess if you even want to be in that business space. So start pounding the pavement and be grateful to anyone who will take a risk on you. Learn, work hard and spend at least all four seasons in one place to fully understand the life cycle of the organization's productivity model.
Read
To compliment any classes you enroll in, make sure you're at the top of the industry trends by reading reputable publications within your desired arena. If your budget is tight, your librarian can help navigate you towards your specific needs. Regardless of your chosen trade, you will want to invest in an online subscription to the Wall Street Journal. With expanded coverage, it's the go-to source, not just for corporate executives, but also for anyone who wants to be on-pulse with everything from fine wine to political updates and even the arts. Also, make a list of leaders who've inspired you and read their bios, books and interviews. Observe the common patterns of success and see how you can apply them to yourself.
Network
Finally, think of anyone and everyone that's in a related field and call, write and email them and ask them for five minutes of their time, because, chances are, that is all they have. Treat any correspondence with these folks like a real interview. And, no matter what, say "please" and "thank you." In fact, go out and stock up on a box of thank you notes or get in the practice of sending gratitude letters. It's all about the exchange of energy and the last thing you want to signal is an "all-take" user personality. Be grateful, be graceful, be kind. If you feel someone has done something special or a little extra, send them a small present, like a gift card to a favorite coffee shop or quality chocolates. And remember their generosity when you've achieved your professional goal and someone reaches out to you. That is when you know you're really on your way.
Next Column: Resume Building
Have a career question? Write Alex@mbahobo.com
Entering Opportunities
Getting To Your Career Baseline
As this article is being written, according to the United States Department of Labor, national unemployment is at 10%. While this double-digit statistic frightens economists and everyday citizens alike, the present is the most perfect time to take a step back, reflect on your professional aspirations and make decisions that will help you navigate your career into something meaningful and fiscally fruitful. In the words of Leandro Margulis, a second-year Yale MBA, "The opportunity cost of pursuing your dreams right now is very low.” In these chaotic times, since, with some exception, no one is really knocking on anyone's door, there's very little for you to give up in order to follow your true calling.
Determining one's occupational path is never simple. When we are in high school, the parental insistence to attend a quality college and determine an employable major corners us into a pressure cooker, driving decisions that may negate themselves in the future, when we have greater self-reliance.
However, even with a certain freedom, financial obligations, often in the form of debt – school loans, car loans, credit cards – deepen the dependence on chasing jobs-for-money vs. jobs-for-passion. And, the older we get, the growing responsibilities we may bear – mortgages, children, parents or those pesky students loans - create the ball-and-chain effect where work’s become not only the necessary prison to responsibly care for our life’s overhead, but also the access provider to the ever-eroding health care system.
To be clear, I’m not advising anyone to spontaneously quit a job that six other candidates are currently fighting for on this very day. Nor can I, or anyone else, determine your tolerance for risk. However, I am encouraging you to step back and think about what makes your heart happy, how you currently earn your paycheck and determine the gap between the two.
If you are professionally content, you are one of the few. Congratulations. If, looking back fifteen years, you envisioned something completely different, now is your time to take action.
The first thing I ask my clients is “What did you used to lose yourself in when you were four years old?” Because your inner four-year old knew what you wanted to do and what made you curious. The next thing I ask is “Make a list of ten things you love to do, not taking money nor skill set into consideration.” Then, “Make a list of ten things at which you are very good.” Finally, “Take the two lists and create a Venn diagram – see what overlaps.” This is your first indication of what is possible.
You now have your Career Baseline - the starting point of an intricate process that will help guide you to your life’s calling. Take a deep breath and prepare yourself with all the energy-infusing support you know. The path won’t be easy. Nothing worth anything good ever was.
Next Column: Equipping your Career Toolbox
Have a career question? Write alex@mbahobo.com
Alex Sukhoy, a globally-networked creative and business professional with nearly 20 years of corporate management experience, holds a B.A. degree in Communication from DePaul University in Chicago and an M.B.A. in Marketing and Strategy from the University of Rochester, Simon School of Business. Founder and manager of http://MBAhobo.com, a career consulting firm, and Creative Cadence LLC, a content and business development company, Alex has guest-lectured at numerous local organizations, including CSU and John Carroll's Boler School of Business, and also teaches screenwriting and preproduction at Tri-C. In 2006, she was profiled in BusinessWeek.com. Since first moving to Cleveland in 2003, she's made this city her home, and even wrote a song and a screenplay about it.
Have a career question? Write Alex@mbahobo.com