It's a JUNGLE out there...whether you are hiring or looking for a job.
Come and share your positive ideas about job change, employment trends, workplace issues and more. You'll find it all in the Job Search Jungle!
Like JobSearchJungle on Facebook!
I remember my first jungle visit very well. I was reminded of my experience for weeks with the thousands of bug bites that overran my entire body. Little did I know that my lightly scented daily moisturizing lotion was an immediate attraction for every type of biting fly, mosquito, spider, and gnat in the entire continent of Australia. But, I learned from that experience. The next opportunity I had for a jungle visit, this time in Puerto Rico, I skipped the lotion and had a great visit to the rainforest canopy and floor that didn’t leave me itching for weeks.
First impressions count.
The last couple of weeks have been incredibly busy in our office. Lots of new jobs coming in and MANY people who have been looking for the past few months called to tell me they had gotten offers and were moving on to new positions.
As the job market begins to pick up, it’s increasingly important to mind your p’s and q’s with regards to making first impressions. You don’t EVER get a chance to take back that first meeting. A friend of mine, Therese Baker from Abbtech, said to me the other day: you’ll never have the same conversation with the same person twice. It got me thinking about first impressions, so next week, I’m presenting a webinar on the subject of making a great first impression; I hope you’ll join in on the discussion register here.
In the meantime, keep these points in mind today as you meet someone new. Whether it’s a meeting at work, an interview, or a charity event you’re attending. You never know who you are going to meet and where that meeting might lead, so make every first impression count:
· Be yourself, at ease, and appropriately dressed.
· Be on time and smile.
· Have good posture, grooming and be confident without being cocky.
· Make meaningful small talk-find something in common with everyone.
· Have a confident handshake
· Use the person’s name when you can.
One of my close personal friends today is someone that I met randomly in the hallway at work ten years ago. Had he never stopped me to ask directions, we never would have had the exchange that we had the second time we crossed paths again later that day. Make each conversation you have meaningful and positive. You never know where it will lead!
For a Webinar on how to make a GREAT first impression visit: http://www.carolynthompson.net/makingagreatfirstimpressionwebinar.htm
Carolyn Thompson
Author of TEN EASY STEPS TO A PERFECT RESUME…available on Amazon.com!
and TEN STEPS TO FINDING THE PERFECT JOB…available on Amazon.com!
Tags: advice, experience, first impressions, interview, jobs, webinars
CAROLYN THOMPSON, Author of TEN EASY STEPS TO A PERFECT RESUME is a leading FREE TO THE PUBLIC resume workshop Thursday, APRIL 23rd in MD.
The job market is very competitive right now, so it’s important to have an informative and complete resume. It’s often difficult for people to narrow down what’s important and what’s not on their resume. TEN EASY STEPS TO A PERFECT RESUME gives a solid roadmap to anyone looking to create a well organized, content driven, resume. Please bring your current resume to work from, and a friend! Whether you are looking for a job now, just need to update your resume, or have no idea where to start, this FREE WORKSHOP is for you!
Location:THURSDAY, APRIL 23rd, 2009 at 3pm.
MARRIOTT BWI
1743 West Nursery Road, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090
After Carolyn’s Presentation at the Baltimore Metro Area American Payroll Association Luncheon.
We’ll go through the Ten Steps, discuss them in detail, and answer individual questions as time permits. Copies of the book are available on Amazon and in select bookstores and libraries. Post workshop individual resume critiques are also offered.
Carolyn’s second book in her series is now available at Amazon; TEN STEPS TO FINDING THE PERFECT JOB.
See you there!
Tags: community, economy, resume, resume workshop
Posted by Carolyn Thompson on Apr 1, 2009 in
Executive Coaching,
Job Search,
Thinking Positive Last week, I attended a Hay Group presentation in Tysons Corner, VA where I was able to speak one-on-one with a variety of DC area Human Resources professionals. While we all came to the event from different companies and backgrounds, we had one major commonality last week: companies are struggling with decision making in the quicksand of our current economy.
Hiring authorities in many fields feel they are dangling by a vine in the quicksand. Many are scared to make too quick a decision, which may cause the sand to collapse around them, eventually smothering their career and/or the company. Others have jobs that they just can’t locate qualified people for (like nursing and engineering) and are grasping at any and all available vines hoping candidates they find hanging there will ultimately pull them out of their understaffed situation.
The general consensus was that this analysis paralysis is the direct result of executives now being forced to bear an unlikely double burden. Leading an organization in an uncertain economy forces them to make the best choices they can with the information they have available. But that information is changing at the speed of light. One day the stock market is up, one day it’s down. One day their best client is signing a new contract, the next day the best client is being bought out.
These leaders are struggling just like everyone else is with loss of retirement savings coupled with concerns about job security. Yet, for the good of the company, they are forced to put up a good front for the employees that report to them, making them feel safe, secure and ensuring productivity increases with fewer resources. It’s a tough position to be in; hanging on a vine, hoping the quicksand will fill in beneath their feet, eventually buoying them above the danger back into business as usual.
According to a study published in the current issue of the journal Nature, it is impossible for a person immersed in quicksand to be drawn completely under. The fact is, quicksand is heavier than water so humans float in it. At rest, quicksand thickens with time, but it remains very sensitive to small variations in stress. At higher stresses, quicksand liquefies very quickly. The higher the stress the more fluid it becomes. This causes a trapped body to sink when it starts to move.
The problem is that we panic. We’re fearful of drowning and we do anything we can to prevent it, when, if we trusted general physics (and mother nature), we’d ultimately rise above the danger.
At the Hay Group event, I discovered most companies are still hiring, but they are inundated with applications, thus making them feel they have plenty of choices so they don’t need to be in a rush to hire someone. Digging a little further, though, I found that the truth is that companies really are still seeing very few exceptionally qualified people in those piles of resumes. Essentially, the inbox is full, but not with a high quality workforce, so they are unwilling to move forward until the perfect candidate surfaces.
As a job seeker, how can you rise above the quicksand to meet the executives on the vines? For one, make sure you are only applying to positions you are qualified for. My recent book TEN STEPS TO FINDING THE PERFECT JOB discusses creative, unique strategies for navigating the new economy and conducting a well planned job search. You can locate those executives, just above the quicksand, that need your help. Get your resume right in front of them before they get sucked under by the pressure around them and convince them YOU are the person they should hire.
Carolyn Thompson
Author of TEN EASY STEPS TO A PERFECT RESUME…available on Amazon.com!
and TEN STEPS TO FINDING THE PERFECT JOB…available on Amazon.com!
Tags: economy, fear, hiring, Job Search, jobs, resume
Posted by Carolyn Thompson on Nov 5, 2008 in
Executive Coaching,
Self Improvement Lions are known as the King of the Jungle because they are at the top of the food chain. Few animals will challenge a lion, except for maybe hyenas.
How do you become the lion at work? One sure fire way is to consistently exceed expectations. If you output excellent results time after time, it will become rare that your work will be under a microscope. You can exceed expectations by putting forth initiative, being creative, and learning to anticipate needs. How many times has your boss asked for something and you already have it prepared? That type of proactive work will set you apart from your reactive peers. Also remember that an outstanding employee doesn’t just do their job, they go above and beyond. Anticipating needs before they happen is just one step to take. You also have to take that extra step or two and deliver the quality of work that won’t be expected, which involves thoroughness and creativity. Soon you will be the “go-to” person.
Follow your instincts and outperform all the other animals in the kingdom. You could be sitting in the lion’s den! Just remember to watch out for the hyenas….
Mimi Kim
Partner, CMCS
Tags: advice, initiative, job security
Posted by Carolyn Thompson on Nov 5, 2008 in
Executive Coaching 
The most important thing you can do at the beginning of a new job is observe. Think of the Alligator as it floats on the lake with just its eyes and ears above the water. Alligators and their cousins, crocodiles, have been around for millions of years while other groups like the dinosaurs became extinct. What is the secret to their success? Perhaps, it’s because they know when to lay low and watch, and when to spring into action.
Lay low in the beginning. Recently, when a panel of HR professionals were polled, here were some of the areas that they suggested a new employee should pay attention to….
- -Watch your coworkers. See how they do things. This will help you to assimilate into the corporate culture seamlessly.
- -Be observant about what people wear to work and dress accordingly.
- -See when people come and go. Try to plan your work schedule that way. You don’t want to be the only person with a different schedule. It will draw unnecessary attention to you.
- -Watch who seems to be on top of things before deciding whom to associate with most closely at work. Usually the person who comes up to ask you about your life story the first day is the office gossip and should be avoided at all cost.
- -See how others interact with your boss. Try to emulate the person or people who seem to communicate best with him or her.
- -Watch to see how other people conduct personal business at work so that you can see how personal breaks, doctor’s appointments, e-mails and personal phone calls are handled.
Although many companies are the same, cultures vary dramatically from company to company. Maybe at your old job, friendly teasing was acceptable and even encouraged but that may not be the case at your new company. Developing a good understanding of your new company’s culture is essential. It will help you to make a solid contribution and rise within the organization while avoiding some of the common pitfalls associated with a new job at a new company.
Jake Hanson
Senior Associate, CMCS
Tags: advice, co-worker interaction, company culture, new job, observe
Posted by Carolyn Thompson on Nov 5, 2008 in
Executive Coaching,
Lessons Learned
When given the task to pick an animal for my “job search jungle” blog, I was immediately drawn to the commanding and charismatic tiger. After beginning my research, I learned that the tiger was the national animal for several Asian nations, including Korea. And as a Korean-American, I found this information quite fascinating. Was this a coincidence, that I picked an animal that represented my heritage??? Well, that’s a topic for another blog…
Tigers are powerful, highly adaptable, and one of the post popular and recognizable animals in the world. Whether in the board room or in the playing field, we grew up hearing the phrase, “get ’em tiger”. This has been a part of the American vernacular throughout generations. Tigers are also known to be fiercely territorial and this trait can be extremely damaging in the workplace. In Corporate America, you’ll find many “tiger managers” with this destructive trait. Throughout my 15 years of human resources and recruiting experience, I have encountered tiger managers who enjoy being the best, the brightest, the fastest, and who are very territorial. Even when given the opportunity to strengthen their team and hire a new staff, the tiger managers’ natural territorial defenses kick in and they employ someone who’s less threatening. Whether consciously or subconsciously, they hire candidates who may not be as bright or talented, for fear of being outshined. Hiring the weaker candidate will often leave tiger managers with incompetent staff and higher turnover. Thus, in the end, wasting time, energy, and money.
Moving up in the ranks of Corporate HR, I was fortunate to have managers and mentors who did not possess destructive tiger traits and they taught me the value of building and developing the best team. As a Partner and Recruiting Manager for CMCS, an (8a), women and minority owned company, I make it my mission to hire people who I think are smarter and better than me. So to all those tiger mangers out there…it should be obvious, but hiring the best talent is what’s best for you and your business, even if that means paying a bit more. Surrounding yourself with competent staff will free yourself to start tackling those business development projects that have been pushed aside for way too long.
Courtnie Cho
Partner, CMCS
Tags: adapt, experience, fear, hiring, managers, recruiting
Posted by Carolyn Thompson on Nov 5, 2008 in
Executive Coaching
No one seems to want to train anyone anymore. Time, resources, and often patience, are scarce with managers in any type of job. Turnover ends up costing even more in lost time and knowledge transfer of intellectual property.
When hiring new people, managers should think of the giraffe. The giraffe moves gracefully through the jungle, observing their surroundings, often stopping to snack on tree leaves around them, only running when in the face of danger.
Like the giraffe, a good manager will think strategically about their team so they won’t have to rush to find people in crisis mode. They will stick their neck out looking for candidates that have 75-80% of the skill sets they seek. People who have the ability to pick up the remaining 20-25% as they grow and evolve in the job are more likely to stay longer, ultimately leading to a higher sense of job satisfaction and overall increased performance.
Looking for and hiring people that have the exact job title, skill set, and experience you want can lead to boredom sooner rather than later. Try to select employees that you have something to offer. They will want to stick around and nibble on the leaves with you for awhile. You just might build a better team getting to know them along the way as well as being able to build upon their interests and skills.
Carolyn Thompson
Author of TEN EASY STEPS TO A PERFECT RESUME…now available on Amazon.com!
Tags: employers, hiring, jobs, managers, training
