If you were the hiring manager, would you hire yourself?

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I have to thank a colleague for getting me to think about this subject, because sometimes we are so focused on doing our tasks that we are oblivious to those around us at our workplace as potential employers of the future.

You may often physically sit and work beside teams that do not directly link to what you do, so why would you think that some day you might find yourself applying for a role with them? But it does happen; and you may find out that you are not considered for a role because of the perception this team/manager has of you.

What you need to understand is that –

Every interaction directly or indirectly with other team members can impact their decision to employ you or not in the future.

So be yourself, but if you may want to make a career move into a particular team in the future,  prepare the way a little time ahead so that you create the best ‘second’ impression you can.  Good luck!

* Free image from @stockfreeimages.com  

The 70 Hot Job Tips to secure your next career move

I’ve been generally putting up Job Tips on both Twitter and LinkedIn for the last few months as a way to help job seekers with some practical and real advice.  I’ve updated my blog to reflect on the Top 70 tips to help you secure your next career move.

So what makes me the expert on job tips? Well I do have many years experience (we won’t mention how many) being an agency recruiter as well as a in-house recruiter and careers counsellor so I can’t help wanting to help those who want to help themselves.  But I still don’t regard myself as an expert.  I am still learning myself and as a job seeker we continue to learn throughout our working life.

You may not agree with my top job tips and that’s fine too as I don’t know everything and I welcome other’s suggestions!  Here are MY top 70:

1. Don’t wait until the closing date to apply for a job as many hiring managers review & interview as applications come in.
2. Don’t send a generic CV for a role. Make sure you target it to the specific role you are after so you stand out.
3. Read the advert & the job description before you apply for a role to make sure that you do have the skills & it’s the right level.
4. Don’t lie or exaggerate in your CV. You will be found out either in the interview as people know other people and it’s a small world.
5. No way can u show the extent & depth of your exp. in a 2 page CV. You won’t get to the interview to explain it in detail.
6. Leverage your network. People know people and people hire people. Reach out to those you know to get help with your next career move.
7. Photos on CVs or not? Remember this is very subjective. From a HR standpoint usually it’s a NO unless it is for a frontline role.
8. Don’t use acronyms in CVs or interviews. Your success will be due to clear communication about who you are and what you have to offer.
9. Be proactive about your career. Attend Meetups, Professional Association get togethers, & LinkedIn Group member nights to expand your network.
10. Make sure you have a professional email address when you apply for a role. Everything counts in making your best first impression. Why? Feel free to check out my blog on this. http://thoughtsandbabblings.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/does-an-email-address-make-the-man-or-woman/
11. Dress appropriately for an interview. Research the current culture, brand  + look of the company employees and dress to impress. This also applies to an internal candidate!
12. Hope for, but don’t expect to be contacted by a recruiter or employer before a job advert closes.
13. Don’t rely on the on-line spell checker. Use a reliable human one as they tend to pick up the sense of what you are saying too!
14. Don’t sabotage your career by not adequately promoting your relevant achievements or experience in your CV.
15. Don’t go after jobs you are not really interested in. No matter how you try, your lack of genuine enthusiasm will come through.
16. Be self aware – know and own your strengths and weaknesses. Accept the former and change the latter.
17. Believe you can, and you are half way there. ~ Theodore Roosevelt.
18. No one ever gets a job all by their own efforts.  A little thanks to those who helped you will go a long way.
19. The happy secret to better work – A TED talk by Shawn Achor at  http://bit.ly/zJp7qZ  Don’t worry, be happy! Might need to practice that 🙂
20. As a job seeker, remember: You only lack experience if they want it done the same old way ~Robert Brault, http://www.robertbrault.com
21. Make sure that you have a professional photo on your LinkedIn profile. People like connecting with people, not strangers.
22. If you feel that you are indispensable, put your finger in a glass of water, withdraw it, and see the hole you have left ~Anon
23. If you are going to list your achievements in your CV, make sure they are with the job they relate to, so they have context.
24. Any comms with an in-house recruiter or agent should be professional. BTW I M still looking, BR, Name, just doesn’t do it! #NoTexttalk
25. Beware of informal style interviews. It’s easy to relax too much and be a little too open. Remember it is still an interview.
26. Don’t keep ringing or contacting a recruiter before the timeframe they have given you for a decision. It’s not showing enthusiasm.
27. Thank interviewers for their time at the time of the interview and after too. Good manners are never out of fashion.
28. On assessment days u get a lot of info, but listen carefully as no interviewer likes to be asked a question they just answered.
29. Have questions to ask at the interview as this shows genuine interest in the role/org. but don’t ask them for the sake of asking them.
30. Even if you think that because you are an internal candidate that the job is yours – prepare as if you were going for an external role. When you think the job is assured is when that ‘external’ candidate will blow you out of the water. Nothing is guaranteed.
31. Let’s be Awesome, signed the Voice in your Head! @MakeWordsHappy  Now that’s what I call positive self talk.
32. Change your career vocabulary from ‘Can’t’ to ‘Do’. Negative self talk holds you back from doing what you are capable of.
33. Do your job well and don’t undermine others or take credit for their work. That’s how you will be an exceptional employee.
34. No great job has ever been secured without some hard work. There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.
35. Nerves can make us do some strange things in interviews. Be aware of any leg shaking, hand twisting, lack of eye contact habits you may have.  Like talking too much you can control it and that control believe it or not can help you focus.
36. Don’t overshare in an interview.  An interview is not the place to talk about private complaints against girl/boy friends.
37. In your personal CV or résumé talk about yourself in the first person not the third. Why distance yourself?
38. If a recruiter calls u for an unscheduled phone interview don’t be afraid to ask them to call back so u can be prepared.
39. Redundancy can sap your #confidence but get into the right positive mindset because it will show through in your interviews.
40. Prepare for a video/Skype interview as you would for a face to face one. Remember it does have sight and sound! #beprofessional.
41. In an #interview, make sure that you talk to all the panel members. If people don’t feel interacted with, their minds tend to drift and it’s hard to recall those ‘high points’ made by the interviewer.
42.  If you find that an interviewer is not looking at you during the interview, look at them when you answer anyway as they’ll quickly realise that they are being looked at and respond.  I actually had this happen to me and I still don’t know if it was a stress test or they were just plain rude. #interviewertechniques
43. If an internal or external recruiter calls and let’s you know that you were unsuccessful, take the feedback offered. Ask questions? How else can you improve?
44. Do not overdo the perfume or aftershave in an interview. Just a very slight spray is all that is needed. (via Ruth Vitek on LinkedIn).
45. Flip side of Job Tip 44. Do use a deodorant before an interview particularly if in a hot climate or in a nervous state. Wet underarms is not a good look.
46. Do become an active member of relevant groups on LinkedIn – Great to build your network (Inmails are free!), get info + research.
47. If you’re not sure how to pronounce your interviewer’s name ask the recruiter or the receptionist when you arrive. #jobtip
48. LinkedIn is a professional network so don’t message people you do or don’t know with a spam email. Always personalise messages. #LinkedIn #Connections
49. ****Follow the company you are interested in on LinkedIn as this shows on your profile. It shows real interest in an organisation so make sure that you put your LinkedIn profile address on your CV too. These things get noticed. ****  #followus
50. Every job has its frustrations, so don’t make a rash decision to resign. The grass is not always greener on the other side. You may just need to persevere. #job
51. In each new job there is always a “What have I done?” or “Can I do this job?”  Don’t get bogged down. Use your experience and intelligence. We all know that this is a short term doubt.  You will succeed.  You have in the past haven’t you?
52. Don’t follow where a path may lead. Instead, make your own way and leave a path. — Anon. #jobtip #betruetoyourself
53. Principal means ‘primary’ or ‘chief’ – like the principal of a school, while Principle generally refers to a rule, law or general truth. Principle is always used as a noun; principal is usually used as an adjective but can also be a noun. http://www.diffen.com/difference/Principal_vs_Principle
54. Set goals. Goals are new, forward-moving objectives. They magnetize you towards them ~Mark Victor Hansen via@AlisonDoyle #jobtip
55.  “Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Opportunity. Don’t be silly – opportunity doesn’t knock twice!” ~Anon. Funny, but true too!  #jobtip
56. Before u go to the interview prepare thoughtful questions. Great article on what not to ask: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-questions-never-ask-job-interview-144550110.html
57. Information is power. Research the company u want to work for, connect with their employees on LinkedIn & ask for advice.  As an internal you still need to research the division you want to work for. Don’t assume that you know them and what they do!!! #infoIV
58. Success in life is a choice that requires effort at times and job success does too. You have to work for it! #beproactive
59. Don’t call out publicly/privately & ask why people have not connected with you on LinkedIn. It is their choice and what does it say about you embarrassing them in this way? #LinkedInEtiquette
60. Clean up your social profiles before applying for a job. Many employers look at LinkedIn and a quick Google search at a minimum.
61. Companies will often share different info on their LinkedIn Company page than what is on their website via @SimplyHired http://blog.simplyhired.com/2013/06/creative-ways-to-use-linkedin-in-your-job-search.html
62. Don’t contact a organisation to see if they received your application, particularly when they send out an automated email saying they have. #annoying #wasteofeveryonestime
63. ..
64. Link your LinkedIn profile to your personal emails to make it easy for people to connect with you via @undercoverrec http://bit.ly/JYZDxy
65. Relentless, repetitive self talk is what changes our self-image. ~ Denis Waitley.   Make sure it’s positive self talk!
66. Hug a Colleague Day! Make a difference to someone’s life and help them feel better. #feelgood (I did this and it made everyone including myself feel good! That’s a winning strategy in my mind!)
67. “The making of a person is the manner of their leaving. It’s as simple as that. The way you leave something, whether a relationship or a job, is going to be the most powerful thing you are remembered for. I know that might seem unfair, but it’s the reality.” Courtesy of Chris Savage via @FirebrandTalent. To read the rest of his insightful article go to: http://ow.ly/mVkPe
68. Don’t add an emotional appeal about losing loved ones or home in your cover letter. It just makes us all feel bad. #skillscount
69. This is a repeated Tip but I keep seeing this. PLEASE check and correct your spelling on your LinkedIn profile. #firstimpressions
70. If your career involves visual content then send both a paper and a Visual CV to showcase your work to a potential employer. Here’s an example. http://ow.ly/mWqyh

Please feel free to comment here or on LinkedIn with any tips that you swear by for job seeking success. I deliberately missed out one of the job tips – which one? well you’ll have to read through to discover that!  🙂   Thanks for reading.

To lie or not to lie in an interview?

I’ve seen many articles that say “Of course everyone exaggerates in an interview situation.” The trouble with this is – there is a fine line between a slight exaggeration and a lie that makes you look better than you should.

I have seen some people offered a role that they were not qualified or experienced for because they successfully lied at the interview.  Luckily many of these people have not made it to the workplace as any robust recruitment process undertakes reference checks and any experienced recruiter will pick up discrepancies and delve deeper.  This is not fool-proof though particularly if your current employer also lies because they can’t wait for you to go to your next ‘opportunity’ or don’t want to have a confronting conversation with you about not being your referee, so they agree.

Note for potential referees –  I suggest you have a read of this article – Giving a reference could get you sued which talks about providing both unfavourable or favourable references that may or may not be true. Both may have legal ramifications.  One of the hardest things for a manager or colleague can be being asked to be a referee for someone who don’t rate highly.  This can lead to a potential confrontation if you choose not to but it will better for your conscience and reputation and potentially your wallet.

Note for potential liars – So you think it’s easy to ‘outsmart’ those silly interviewers – how long do you think you will last in a role you can’t do? how will you feel when you don’t pass your probation or when your contract is not extended?  and when you brag about it (and you will) do you think you’ll get a reference? explain the point of getting the job based on a bunch of lies.  You have to pretend to be someone you’re not, so you have to be on your guard all the time in case you tell the truth.  Surely, the ongoing stress of being found out must affect your performance and just wear you out from maintaining a facade.

You may also like to consider –

• You have no idea where the HR person or the hiring manager worked before.  They may have worked at the same company and in fact on the same project but not in your immediate team so they know the truth.
• People know people so it’s easy to ask your connections on LinkedIn or friends or colleagues who may have worked at the same employer if they know you.  You have don’t have to ask them what they think about you because good or bad, people will tend to give you their opinion.
• That a strong reference checking process will eek out the truth.
• If you’re on social media, it’s a bit hard to remember all your lies so inconsistencies in details on different sites will stand out.
• You will be interviewed by people who know what they are doing at some point, and they will unravel your lies.
• Companies keep records – so if you’re caught out once, don’t think you can go back again because ‘it’s in a totally different section’.
• That you will be found out, so don’t be naive.

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs and tweets – make sure that when you apply for a role that you meet at least 70%-80% of the selection criteria in the position description.  If you do, then do the hard yards by researching the company and similar roles.  Prepare yourself by thinking of relevant and specific examples that match what is needed.  Think about your unique personality and abilities that you can bring that match the culture and values of the organisation and you can bring to your team.

“Be hired for the person you are, rather trying to be a second-rate someone else.”