Your Network — Candidate's Chair

Polish Still Matters

August 12, 2011 By Mark

I recently met with two professionals; both are incredibly competent in their fields and offered excellent advice.

The first professional has truly worked on their delivery – sitting up straight, punctuation, self-confidence and keep remarks to the point. As you might expect, the second professional was less so.

Here’s why it matters.

ONE: Effectiveness – The meeting subject was similar in complexity, yet the second meeting took nearly twice as long and only completed 50% of what we set out to complete. I found myself pulling the meeting back on course or clarifying points because of meandering answers.

TWO: My focus – I was so distracted by their behavior, that I found myself thinking of the next meeting, even thought I needed to complete this topic.

THREE: Time – Had it not been mandatory, I would have moved on.

In job search, we focus a good deal of time on the message and content. So simply make sure you are matching that content with delivery.

Delivery is more than words, but the entire package of how you present yourself. This is why I pointed out the different elements above; because each has an effect on the person you meet.

Working on your delivery is where a good friend will come in handy. Just go to coffee, don’t tell them the intent, after a half-hour ask them how you are doing.

Sure, chances are you’ll be on best behavior, but consider it practice. Trust me; having done this exercise, you’ll get some good feedback.

Good luck today!

Mark Richards

www.candidateschair.com

Job Search from a Candidate’s Perspective – Advice and tools for search organization and networking

Candidates Chair LinkedIn Group:http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=2328268

Filed Under: First Impressions, Networking

Keeping Your Back Away from the Wall

August 21, 2010 By Mark

One of my practices for effective networking: Keep your back away from the wall.

Why? It’s one of the best methods to minimize your distractions.

There are two reasons why I’m writing on a topic that most people would think is pretty obvious: minimize distractions. The first reason is important. The second reason is just killer.

FIRST: Because distractions can repeatedly sneak up on you during a meeting, it’s not always obvious for the candidate.

Most of us out networking spend a fair amount of time in coffee shops. It’s a natural part of the experience to take in your surroundings, watch interesting people, etc.

It happens almost every time I meet a fellow candidate, they don’t even realize their gaze has wandered. I’m talking about total professionals with impeccable resumes, references, etc. – yet several times during our meeting their gaze is elsewhere.

SECOND: When speaking, the candidate’s eyes are fixed on me, because they are focused on their pitch. Their gaze wanders when I’m speaking. Ouch.

After awhile, it becomes difficult to tell if I’m a total bore or are they oblivious to their level of distraction. I have to admit I’m relieved to hear the candidate mention what they are looking at so intently. At least it makes me feel less of a bore.

In my view, each meeting represents your one and only chance to make a sale. Don’t let some odd looking fellow get the way.

The ability to make the sale is most often judged by your ability to show that the meeting is truly a ‘networking’ meeting. If can achieve that, it sets you apart from the other people who have networked with the same contact.

You just cannot get there if you are not focused on the person – especially when they are sharing their insights with you.

Face the wall. Take notes. Keep eye contact at all times (though don’t make it a staring contest). Do whatever it takes to keep your focus.

Next time you go to coffee with a friend, face the wall. See how much more you focus on them and count how often they look elsewhere and when.

This is a lesson from the networking trail, where the obvious is not always so.

Good luck today.

Mark

Filed Under: Networking, Networking efficiency

Never Justify “Just” Networking

June 27, 2010 By Mark

Before my networking meetings, my wife usually asks me “Why are you meeting them?” You should be asking yourself that same question. In fact, you should have a three part answer.

ONE: How can you build a relationship with the person

TWO: How do they move you closer to a hiring manager or help you prep for an interview

THREE: What commitment(s) are you seeking from them (contact names, an introduction, advice, insight into a company, etc.)

If you don’t’ have a compelling answer, then seriously reconsider rescheduling the meeting until you can. My advice is to never justify networking for networking’s sake. Justify it because of what you can achieve from the meeting.

Why? Here are three reasons to reschedule if you are not ready.

ONE: The person did not agree to meet you, they agree to help you.

TWO: You are one of many people this person is meeting, so you only get one chance to impress

THREE: The best time ask for help is during the meeting, not in a follow-up e-mail.

In the midst of networking, especially after several months, it is easy to fall into a routine and treat each meeting the same. I can vouch for this with personal experience from both sides of the table.

So always remember to ask and answer “Why are you meeting them?” – it’s a great start to make sure you have a great meeting.

Good luck today!

Mark Richards

Filed Under: Featured Article, Networking, Networking Preparation

Using Twitter to Promote Yourself during a Job Search

June 10, 2010 By Mark

Twitter is another great tool in the toolbox to promote your qualifications during a job search. The intent is to have potential employers and networking contacts read your tweets.

A couple of thoughts to help get you started

1. Keep it professional and positive

2. Focus on your profession only – especially where you can give advice from personal experience

3. If you have skills that cannot be easily trained, put those in your tweets, as employers will need to hire someone with them

4. Tweet on issues/experiences that will likely be raised in an interview/networking

5. Before starting to Tweet. Write your first 50 tweets. People will go to your profile and review your tweets – so best to have them organized versus random thoughts. So tweet with purpose (I’d wager no one has ever told you that before).

6. Retweet other good thoughts from people you follow – recognizing good content is as valuable as giving it

7. Manage who you follow and who follows you (e.g. Blocking anyone who has ‘Check out my hot profile’ is a good tip)

Put your Twitter ID on your business cards (along the URLs for personal blogs, LinkedIn profile, etc.) – so people know you’re tweeting.

Good luck today!

Mark Richards

Filed Under: Twitter

Moving to a smaller firm – getting ready for success

May 17, 2010 By Mark

A frequent conversation I have with fellow candidates is the desire to seek employment in a smaller firm due to expected greater, ability to influence the outcome and generally less office politics. (Bonus: If you are in a start-up, you can add the expectations to wear jeans and use an Mac vs. a pc).

Having myself both worked in a 60,000 employee firm and a 4 person firm, there is truth in that you have more influence on the outcome.
To help you get prepared for possible networking/interviews, here’s a few of my lessons.

One: You have to be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. My colleagues learned what I was good at and what I was not in quick fashion, and I did the same with them. The sign of a good team is that you figure out how to compensate for one another.

Two: You do not have a big team to back you up. As CFO, I have gone from designing our chart of accounts to pitching for $2 million of investment in the same afternoon. I’ve also designed pages on our website and developed our initial social media strategy. You just need to be ready to work above, at, below and alongside your title.

Three: You need to think like an owner. In a small firm, business gets down to the bare essentials: Client needs, sales levels, spending and available cash/capital. You have to watch each like a hawk and understand what drives each one.

Four: The good news: A small team that talks often. The bad news: You talk often. You need to keep up your outside network to make sure you get an unbiased opinion of your strategy, etc.

Like all my posts, consider my ideas as a place to start. If you start looking at a smaller firm, sit down with a few colleagues who have made the transition to help you prepare.

Good luck this week.

Mark Richards

www.candidateschair.com – Tools and Advice from a Candidate’s viewpoint to help get past job search roadblocks and keep your spirit strong. Please take a visit.

Filed Under: Interview Prep, Moving to smaller firm, Networking efficiency

The Art of Managing Downtime

March 9, 2010 By Mark

A last minute call cancels a networking meeting. You have an extra hour on your hand. Now what?

When we are employed, there is generally a well-stocked backlog for any extra time. When unemployed, we can adopt a less urgent focus on time, as we seem to have all day.

A colleague of mine, Tom Kulikowski, once remarked “He stayed ruthlessly organized” during his search.

The ruthless organization was as much for eliminating unnecessary work as it was for keeping your weekly search time under 40 hours a week. It is easy to occupy 60+ hours a week, but after 40 hours, both your productivity and effectiveness drop off like a rock (trust me, I know).

These extra hours happen. In fact, they happen more than you like. So use them to your advantage. Time is your most precious resource in search.

Here were my most effective ways to use that extra hour. My primary tools were my calendar for the last month and upcoming two weeks and my Targeted Company list – which I always carried with me.

One: Upcoming meetings – Have you determined what you want from the meeting and how you can offer your contact something to make you memorable? Try this networking meeting checklist: http://candidateschair.com/?attachment_id=604

Two: Empty Spots in Your Calendar – Using my Targeted Company list, I would figure out who I needed to meet either within the company or to get me in the company – then started to get out invites to meet. Here is an example of a Targeted Company list if you don’t have one: http://candidateschair.com/?attachment_id=402

Three: Follow-up to past networking meetings – Follow-up is what takes networking meetings from interesting to relevant. Your follow-up on commitments and reminders of theirs is critical – especially demonstrating action on your part.

These three were generally enough to fill an hour. On that occasion you are caught up, then I recommend enjoying a large coffee and get ready for your next meeting.

Good luck today!

Mark Richards

Please feel free to visit my site – www.candidateschair.com – built on my own experiences from being in transition. It’s job search, from a candidate’s viewpoint.

Candidates Chair LinkedIn Group:

http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=2328268

Filed Under: Networking efficiency

Using Twitter to Promote Yourself during a Job Search

March 3, 2010 By Mark

Twitter is another great tool in the toolbox to promote your qualifications during a job search. The intent is to have potential employers and networking contacts read your tweets.

A couple of thoughts to help get you started

1. Keep it professional and positive

2. Focus on your profession only – especially where you can give advice from personal experience

3. If you have skills that cannot be easily trained, put those in your tweets, as employers will need to hire someone with them

4. Tweet on issues/experiences that will likely be raised in an interview/networking

6. Retweet other good thoughts from people you follow – recognizing good content is as valuable as giving it

7. Manage who you follow and who follows you (e.g. Blocking anyone who has ‘Check out my hot profile’ is a good tip)

Put your Twitter ID on your business cards (along the URLs for personal blogs, LinkedIn profile, etc.) – so people know you’re tweeting.

Good luck today!

Mark Richards

Filed Under: Promoting Yourself, Twitter

It Does Not Cost Anything to be Polite

February 18, 2010 By Mark

I heard Tubby Smith, the University of Minnesota’s head basketball coach, tell a story about his upbringing which included his parents’ advice: “It does not cost anything to be polite”.

That’s a saying you should take to heart when networking for a new job.

Here’s my rule: Besides feeling good about yourself – in networking you never know who knows who – so just be polite to everyone.

This is not to say you’ll be tempted. I experienced people who were pretty rude, to which I simply closed down the meeting quickly and moved on. For the really bad ones, I cursed when I got into the car (windows rolled up, of course).

I know this seems like a basic topic and most people take their behavior for granted. However, I hear a ‘horror story’ every week about how bad a candidate was in their networking: showing up late, cutting answers short, being quick as a whip to dismiss ideas, etc.

Many times the behavior can be chalked up to cramming too much in a day and being eager to get their story out.

But I still hear the stories and if I hear about it – assume that dozens other have heard it as well.

The punchline: Do yourself a favor and just pay attention at a few meetings to make sure you are good to go.

Good luck today!

Mark Richards

www.candidateschair.com
Job Search from a Candidate’s Perspective – Advice and tools for search organization and networking

Candidates Chair LinkedIn Group:
http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=2328268

Filed Under: Being Polite, Networking

How Many Social Networking Sites Should I Belong To?

February 18, 2010 By Mark

There are a number of excellent social networking sites. Not having been in every industry or country, I cannot comment which sites are best for a particular industry or profession (but feel free to post a comment here to share you insights with others).

Here’s my advice: Start with one network, figure out how it works, and use its potential. It’s how you use the site that matters.

How many tweets, followers, fans, friends, connections, posts, etc. that you have is interesting. What you inspire those people to do on your behalf is relevant.

Time is your most precious commodity in search – so figure out how a particular social network will help you move closer to finding a new role.

When I first joined LinkedIn, I built a profile and got connected to people. Then that was it. Can’t say I did much more. That’s been a common theme in my discussions with other candidates “I’m on LinkedIn. Now what?”

I was missing two elements: A plan of what I wanted to inspire people to do for me. Dedicated time to work.

After dedicating more time to work with different functions, (see the Toolkit on Candidates Chair for the “Using LinkedIn for Networking” or do a Google Search), I now run four groups, and have really made LinkedIn one of the primary networking tools for myself. (p.s. I still have loads to learn.)

If you start with the notion that social networking is a means to an end, not an end to itself – then you are one the right track. Now ask yourself what you want and what you need to do to accomplish it through others in the social network.

A quick aside: I wanted to congratulate Jason and the TwitJob team for an amazing run of making TwitJobs so widespread and useful for so many people. There’s not been a time when so many people could use a bit of a help – so my hat’s off to the team for doing so day in and day out.

Good luck today!

Mark Richards

www.candidateschair.com
Job Search from a Candidate’s Perspective – Advice and tools for search organization and networking

Candidates Chair LinkedIn Group:
http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=2328268

Filed Under: LinkedIn, Social Media, Social Networking

LinkedIn versus Twitter for Job Search

February 18, 2010 By Mark

I gave a presentation last week on using Twitter for Job Search.

I’ve used both Twitter and LinkedIn to help people find my Candidates Chair site and job search networking. When it comes to allocating your time for job search – I’d go with LinkedIn before Twitter.

Here’s how I think of the two: Twitter is a raging river that’s wide, fast and crowded. LinkedIn is also crowded, but it’s a slower river with lots of small ponds to pull off along the way.

While I’ve made a number of good connections via Twitter, it is much more work than LinkedIn. More work because it’s tougher to stand out (unless you are a celebrity) simply due to the pace of Twitter and fewer ways to stand out.

LinkedIn on the other hand has so many ways to stand out. Putting aside the most obvious of a mutual connection. My favorite are answering questions and participating in groups.

If you look at a typical question on LinkedIn – if it has more than a dozen answers, that’s quite a few.

Yet these questions get lots of people looking at them – with 70 million people on LinkedIn, here’s a perfect opportunity to show off your skill when you are only one of a dozen people answering a question. Careful thought in a brief answer can go a long way.

The same issue holds true for group discussions.

Over 40% of the traffic to my Candidates Chair came from answering questions or group discussions on LinkedIn. 5% via Twitter.

LinkedIn truly rules the roost when it comes to making connections and getting exposure of your ‘brand’.

Twitter is no slacker when it comes to content – which is one of my favorite aspects of Twitter. The amount of articles, advice, etc. on job search is stunning. Anything from resume writing, interviewing, on-line applications, career coaching, etc.

Networking will always be king and LinkedIn will give you more opportunities to both find people, but also inspire them to help you out.

Cheers,

Mark

www.candidateschair.com
Job Search from a Candidate’s Perspective – Advice and tools for search organization and networking

Candidates Chair LinkedIn Group:
http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=2328268

Filed Under: LinkedIn, Twitter

Polish Still Matters

February 18, 2010 By Mark

I recently met with two professionals; both are incredibly competent in their fields and offered excellent advice.

Here’s why it matters.

TWO: My focus – I was so distracted by their behavior, that I found myself thinking of the next meeting, even thought I needed to complete this topic.

THREE: Time – Had it not been mandatory, I would have moved on.

In job search, we focus a good deal of time on the message and content. So simply make sure you are matching that content with delivery.

Delivery is more than words, but the entire package of how you present yourself. This is why I pointed out the different elements above; because each has an effect on the person you meet.

Working on your delivery is where a good friend will come in handy. Just go to coffee, don’t tell them the intent, after a half-hour ask them how you are doing.

Sure, chances are you’ll be on best behavior, but consider it practice. Trust me; having done this exercise, you’ll get some good feedback.

Good luck today!

Mark Richards

www.candidateschair.com
Job Search from a Candidate’s Perspective – Advice and tools for search organization and networking

Candidates Chair LinkedIn Group:http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=2328268

Filed Under: First Impressions, Networking

Polish Still Matters

Keeping Your Back Away from the Wall

Never Justify “Just” Networking

Using Twitter to Promote Yourself during a Job Search

Moving to a smaller firm – getting ready for success

The Art of Managing Downtime

Using Twitter to Promote Yourself during a Job Search

It Does Not Cost Anything to be Polite

LinkedIn versus Twitter for Job Search

Polish Still Matters

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