Kinetix

Perspectives from the Kinetix team on HR, Talent Acquisition & Management, life lessons and whatever else we want.

Energizing the Workplace

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." -Mark Twain

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What’s in your “personal” brand bank account?

This weekend I was reading an article by DMS of a similar name “What’s in your Brand Bank Account?” – and he got me thinking again how closely aligned proper PR and marketing focus is to job search today. In his post, he writes:

“Brands add to their accounts by creating things of value and giving them to people. For example, Apple has the genius bar and their free seminars. Corporate social responsibility is another form of giving (adding to your brand bank account).

Brands withdraw from their accounts through the attention that they demand from consumers in the form of television commercials, print ads and the like.” [Excerpt From Blog post by David Meerman Scott - Feb 16, 2010]

This is exactly the right advice for job seekers or anyone looking to “grow” their personal brand. The difference is in the execution and of course the cost. For corporate brands the focus is in giving it away, and that is also the essence of what works for a personal brand. In the case of job search the additions to your “account” could in the form of:

Referrals (other candidates or business connections)
Introductions
Sharing of information
Lunch or coffee as I noted in my last post
Forwarding articles or other items of interest to the recipient(s)

I hope you can see that any of these items could be adding to your brand account with a two-fold benefit (similar to what I mentioned in my last): the recipient will remember you, and you will have undoubtedly improved your brand with them – and potentially others that they tell.

So, as of this morning – what is in your personal brand bank account…and what are you doing to add to it? I am also interested in ideas to share about unique ways to add or build brand this way?

I’ll leave you with our music biz to showcase both a pretty strong view of how you can hurt your personal brand (Kanye) and help it (Beyonce) all in a few minutes. Way to go Beyonce!

Tags: behavioral interview, bio, career, career search, changing industry, job search, Job Seeker, job seekers, life lessons, LinkedIn network, Social Media, truth

03 Mar 10 | Employment, Get a Job, Talent Acquisition, job search | Read on | Comments (0)

Do I remember you?

The challenge that job seekers face in today’s world is very similar to that of most sales/marketing types, namely:

It can be very difficult for you to differentiate yourself
You often have 30 seconds or less to make that first impression
Invariably these and other reasons make it relatively difficult for the person you meet to truly remember you

Now if you meet someone in an interview process, that percentage should go up – but if you are not successful for that specific job…..regardless of the reason……..your impression is not likely to stick. That is unfortunate, given that most companies end up hiring similar or the same positions regularly or with some regularity and that everyone knows someone……

Most job search advice includes some component related to dealing with this: the need to STAND OUT

What’s a person to do?

4 things you can do to make yourself more “rememberable”. Ironically, the good news is this is really not hard…principally due to the incredibly low levels of consistent delivery on the following items.

“Flawless execution” => sweat the small stuff, no typos, be on time, bring a copy of your resume with you, etc. All the stuff you have heard a million times….with good reason! Fail on these and you may not have to worry about being remembered. I would call this the entry ticket. If I had a dollar every time candidates at every level were unsuccessful at achieving this….I would be long retired.
“Remember the ***** people” => in this process, there are countless numbers of people that will touch you and perhaps help you: from the receptionist, to the recruiter (internal or external or both) to the managers assistant, et cetera. Sad that I need to say this – pay attention…..your interaction with them could spell the difference between your getting any job or not…..act accordingly and treat any and all of them with the appreciation and respect you would expect if you are helping someone — because in a variety of ways that is what they are doing for you, and they are not “little”.
Follow through. Notice that I did not say follow up. While follow up is critical and should be done with what we like to call polite persistence. Begin by doing your research/homework: on the company, your interviewers, the industry; be prepared. And keep the energy afterwards — what I mean here is: if you offered/discussed anything during your interactions that you can send along to one of the players, do so. Even better if there is something interesting or helpful that you can email/send that was discussed or interesting to your interviewer.
The Biggie – to put you over the Top: Give them a reason to “talk about you”….in a good way. In a way this is an extension of the point above but take it a step further. Put your thinking cap on here – it does not have to cost money or if it does, very much but the key is in context and..you..got..it……memorable.

An example is in the picture here: from a candidate that got networked to me…for no particular job. She actually hit a double header in my book – a cute, memorable comment on the gift card (although the card not needed) and a hand written note – mailed to me. Because of the ease and ubiquity of email, the handwritten anything is memorable. Also, the relevant note, in context (since we did not discuss any specific jobs) and cute correlation to the gift card. I kept it, showed it to my colleagues…and am talking about it again, here. You don’t think out of the scores of people I meet with – you can see I remember her?

So, think about what you feel comfortable doing, get out your pen and make it happen. You can relate your effort to the person you are sending to, but doing anything like this – including sending an article or making an unsolicited introduction based on your conversations – will serve to differentiate you. Good luck.

Tags: career, career search, interview, interviewing, job hunt, job search, Job Seeker, job seekers, thank you note, unemployed

25 Feb 10 | Employment, Get a Job, job search | Read on | Comments (0)

Here’s to 2010 and Beyond!

Thanks to Bill Boorman for sponsoring the HRCarnival video blog asking for quick comments on ourthoughts for the coming year. Bill is a great guy with a passion for the HR/recruiting world and seems to never sleep even with the time zone differences (he is in the UK). I also wanted to thank Bill because this forced me to do my first ever video blog post….from my home office mess in my weekend attire complete with baseball hat. Well – here’s to embracing all that is and moving forward even with things that terrify you….i am sharing my first with you.

Thanks for indulging me – and let me know if you think this is a decent way to deliver messages (snickering aside) and for which kinds of stories.

Shannon

Tags: career, career search, changing industry, HR, HR consulting, human resources, job search, LinkedIn, LinkedIn network, Social Media, Twitter

14 Jan 10 | Employment, Get a Job, HR, Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Uncategorized, job search | Read on | Comments (0)

Talent Acquisition Triple Play

Congratulations to Sodexo on winning the 2009 Workforce Optimas Award for Vision

The company was able to improve hiring speed and quality even as it cut its annual recruiting advertising budget in North America by $300,000. The effort also has corresponded with better business outcomes. Customer satisfaction ratings have risen 0.3 points to 4.5 on a five-point scale since the strategy’s inception. The firm’s global revenue rose 7.9 percent for the year ended in August, and its net income increased 4.5 percent.

I am a fan of Sodexo’s talent acquisition approach from afar and I am excited to see their social media “investments” paying off so quickly. I also love the better business outcome proof. By thinking more broadly they are spending less on recruitment advertising, but gaining a broader reach while hiring apparently better candidates. Talk about a triple play! And I am impressed because they really seem to walk the talk (from what I can see). I truly believe that they are improving their company brand by the clearly improved employer brand they are building. To me they are proof of the shift happening away from traditional job boards and advertising as how the majority of companies find talent…..–toward social media as how smart companies will find their preferred talent pools. Now, you should know - I am biased as the hair on my neck is always raised when I hear the “post & wait” mantra of some of our clients – it makes me crazy!

Companies are missing the boat by not using their website to attract the best and brightest for their needs now and in the future. Sodexo is ahead of the curve regarding a focus on driving traffic to their website vs paying to improve the latest job board’s site . What doesn’t anyone get about the fact that at its best talent acquisition is a sales function? Meaning you want to pull in those that are a fit for your company: while (in the perfect world) helping those that are not a fit, see that early.

Just wondering if I am alone in being so passionate about focusing social media efforts on capturing passive job seekers - the future of our talent pipelines. Some cool : MLB triple plays

Tags: career, career search, FaceBook, HR, human resources, LinkedIn, LinkedIn network, Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Social Media, Twitter

23 Dec 09 | HR, Talent Acquisition, Uncategorized, job search | Read on | Comment (1)

Be Thankful for your Problems

In my “book” the holidays (and not simply the one we most recently celebrated) are a time for reflection and giving thanks in more ways than one. I try every year to take time alone and with my family (especially with my children) to reflect on how blessed we are. This can be challenging during the rush of the season and the many “priorities” imposed as a result of expectations we generally put on ourselves. Add to that my children, who essentially live in a lake wobegon world, and invariably we have conversations about why they cannot have everything they want, and why we are giving things to other children (‘why don’t their parents just get it for them….?”) etc.

As well its is time for my favorite Kinetix holiday tradition of sharing a special book that inspires us as a team of people to feel better and do better. The cornerstone of this tradition is the participation of our clients and friends in making suggestions for each year’s book. Today, I wanted to share it with you as well. After carefully considering a large number of special and intriguing books, we selected “Embrace the Struggle” as one most fitting in relationship to the challenging year that has been 2009 for so many. The Author and I are convinced that in the last year the overwhelming majority of people have struggled with some kind of concern – personal, family, business, health, job, relationships – you name it.

In “Embrace the Struggle, Living Life on Life’s Terms”by Zig Ziglar and Julie Ziglar Norman, Zig posits that “it seems that struggles just happen over the course of time…the [key] question is how do you handle them?” In it, Zig is moving in his willingness to be transparent and open about how he is embracing his struggles with a brain injury and positional vertigo, the results of a fall down the stairs in his home. The remainder is a collection of inspiring stories of others who faced struggles and not only survived, but amazingly live lives more fulfilling than they experienced before their struggles began. The book will challenge those who might be tempted to hide behind the frailties of their health or challenges of their circumstances to take positive steps toward living life fully and gracefully.

There are many good stories and messages, but my favorite was Fred Smith, for his attitude on life and this life view: “A problem is something you can do something about. If you can’t do anything about it, it’s a fact of life, and so we accept facts: we solve problems.” For me, this encapsulates the challenges and opportunities with living life on life’s terms: understanding what you cannot change and endeavouring to take something good out of every bad experience. If you are currently struggling, I hope you can take some solace and direction by accepting the “facts” of your circumstance, and focus instead on solving the problems. As hard as this may be, it will help you to move forward positively.

As hard as 2009 has been, I know that I have much to be thankful for: family and friends, including many new ones thanks to social media; the growth of our firm in such a difficult time, our clients and partners; my wonderful team and their daily contributions to name a few. I am grateful for the ability to help others and for the many people who help and support me. As we go into the holidays, this is a gentle reminder to accept the facts, solve the problems and live life with an expecation of what is to come. As Zig says: “where there is a struggle, there is life. For that we can be grateful!”

Tags: career, career search, Embrace the Struggle, HR, Inspiration, life lessons, Live life to the fullest, truth, Zig Ziglar

29 Nov 09 | Uncategorized | Read on | Comments (4)

Make the most of your new Full time Job (getting a job)

This week I was talking with some of our Jumpstart my job search participants, and realized that there are some themes to the challenges and opportunities that they found, which are consistent whether they were just beginning their job search or had been at it for quite a while. So I decided to summarize 5 keys they found most impactful in getting their job search off the ground.

Treat it like a full time job
Organize yourself
Be Accountable
Network every day
Pay it forward

If you have been at your job search for a little while, or longer than you would like – revisit these 5 key aspects and ask yourself if you are working hard on each – if you are not, take the Thanksgiving holiday to rest up and hit the ground running next week. I can assure you, not focusing on these is part of what is slowing you down.

This is a full time job – In today’s environment, looking for a new opportunity takes a full 40-50 hours per week. Less than this will only extend your search. Look at this as a job, in as much as you know that it generally takes more work than the next guy to get ahead understand that this is no different and there are plenty of others competing with you right now. We even recommend getting up an hour earlier every day.
Organize yourself – As with any project, it is key to be organized and have your work segmented to maximize efficiency. Take a certain amount of time each day for your research, working on your resume or networking plan, going to networking meetings or coffee and doing the significant amount of follow up required to keep yourself top of mind with the network you are building.
Accountability – This is likely to be the most significant aspect between successfully shortening your job search and fumbling along thinking you are doing things right and not seeing progress. They say that what you want to monitor must be measured, the same could not be more true in job search. Everyone in career transition should have a job search accountability buddy or buddies that they meet with each week to review metrics related to successful job search: the number of calls, meetings and the like. In addition you should discuss what you are struggling with and what new goals you have set. By far this is the most critical requirement of a successful job search – if you are not doing this, change today!
Network – This should become part of your daily routine, and should not change even when you land. Besides meeting with new and current contacts in the networking sense, make sure you are open to new connections wherever they may be. After all, everyone is somebody’s somebody – so bring your cards with you everywhere and remember that the person serving you your latte, may have a contact that is important to you, get to know them.
Pay it forward – This can take many forms, but all have the same result – you will feel better about your self. Whether you contribute to a local food-bank, build a house with Habitat, or just share some of your newly discovered job search tips – this activity is important for a number of reasons. First, it takes the focus off you in this “all about me” time. Second, it helps you reaffirm your value and also helps you see in many cases how lucky you are. This is especially important in networking – I recommend that you attempt to give back to your community (networks) in equal or better proportion to what you get. So if you get 2 new contacts this week from your networking – make at least 2-3 introductions to those in your network in return.

For some these may seem basic, and they are, however – I have seen time and time again where job seekers only go part way, and fail to do all the work required to be successful. So be honest as you review these and make whatever small or large changes you need to get on track. Best of Luck & Happy Thanksgiving!

Tags: career, career search, FaceBook, HR, HR consulting, human resources, interview, job hunt, job search, Job Seeker, job seekers, Jumpstart, LinkedIn, LinkedIn network, Outplacement, Resume, Social Media, Twitter, unemployed

22 Nov 09 | Employment, Get a Job, HR, job search | Read on | Comments (0)

Welcome to the REAL World

Those of you in the biz – don’t laugh: I received this response to a LinkedIn referral request for a specific type of position that this gentleman would know (I had also attached the link to our RPO client’s career site listing) :

Thanks for reaching out to me. Don’t take this personally, but I generally do not work with recruiters because 95% of them do not deliver. I really have no respect for any organization/business who cannot come directly to me.

There is no need for a third party to get involved with Linked In now days. Besides, you guys are not interested in my best interests. . . You are only interested in your company’s best interest. I don’t see the point in getting all excited over absolutely nothing. Its generally a waste of my cell phone minutes and a waste of your time as well as my own. Best wishes to you and your organization.

Ok, after I stopped alternating being pissed off or snickering, I felt sorry for the guy. He clearly had both misunderstandings about how the recruiting world works, and may have been mislead as well. So for his sake I thought I would share some real world basics.

NEWS FLASH: 3rd party recruiters work for COMPANIES!!!!!! If this is confusing to you, note that in every business I know, generally the “customer” is the one who pays the bill. If this is not you, then clearly you are not the CLIENT, act accordingly. The only person the recruiter is delivering for is their client.
Also – smart companies today are outsourcing all their talent acquisition to RPO companies like us – so in that case, we are the company (2nd News flash!).
Key: recruiters work to place the best, qualified and cultural fit candidates for positions their CLIENT has. If they do not pick you, it is likely because you either were not the most qualified, or the best fit.
Also – you may be chosen by the recruiter as a viable candidate - but not by the client…..for no apparent reason – I cannot tell you why, sorry. [But the high quality firms will be honest with you even if this is the answer in this case or the prior]
Finally – as in any business, there are good and ethical people and there are bad ones. Only work with businesses that deal with integrity and ask around to confirm. However, don’t generalize an entire industry for your bad choices in relationships, grow up people…..we could tell stories about bad, unethical candidates and clients.
One more reminder that “she who pays the bill” is the client so if you are a candidate (and presumably not paying a bill) - realize your role and opportunity and the potentially important role the recruiter plays – treat them with the respect you would the hiring manager (this is a big mistake by many job seekers). Understand that the ONLY person whose job it is to find you that next great job….IS YOU.
Finally – if you are a job seeker and you want to build a relationship with a few quality recruiting firms, a great way to do so is to send them your best referral candidates – you will be seen as a giver and one who is well connected. It will also keep you top of mind for them when that perfect fit opportunity opens up.

Welcome to the real world, sorry if I burst your bubble.

Tags: career search, employment verification, job search, Job Seeker, Recruitment Process Outsourcing, truth

08 Nov 09 | Employment, Get a Job, Talent Acquisition, job search | Read on | Comments (3)

To Tweet or Not to Tweet?

If you’re like many, you’re standing by observing this social networking frenzy – nothing short of a blitz – and wondering, what IS this stuff?? And why would I want to “follow” my local TV station anyway? It’s a big waste of time, right? Not so fast…

The simple fact is, there may soon come a time when having a Twitter account will be as critical to a business person as having a Blackberry. No longer an option, but a necessity. So get past your disdain for that which you’re not informed about and just dig in! After all, there’s reason so many people are using it. Here’s the real bottom line: if you have anything to sell and you resist having a presence on Twitter, you’re missing a valuable opportunity to generate interest in your product or service. And if that “product” is YOU?….hello? Well, let’s just say if you’re looking for work today you need all the help you can get. This is about building your personal brand so others know who you are and what you do.

So just what is it, anyway? Twitter is a social networking and microblogging service that allows you answer the question, “What are you doing?” by sending short text messages 140 characters in length, called “tweets”, to your friends, or “followers.”

Think of twitter as a river of commentary that you can dip into as needed to either get or share information or thoughts. The unbounded nature of Twitter offers a myriad of opportunities and resources that can be effective if leveraged properly.

How do I get started? Answer: in 3 easy steps – plus a bonus

ONE: Begin by watching 2 videos here by Michael Long (also known as @theredrecruiter) these videos do an awesome job of patiently walking you thru getting your account and settings – in the first video, together with tips on how to use it and what the main aspects of getting around on twitter and tweeting in the second video.

TWO: Sign up. It’s free. Go to http://twitter.com. Choose a username. USE YOUR REAL NAME. It will lead to better connections with people and will keep you from any temptation you may have to use something “cute” or otherwise not appropriate for your job search. And this is part of your overall personal branding, so who do you want them to see?

THREE: Next, start following relevant people. Use search.twitter.com either to find people, recruiters and other career professionals, people who work in and around your industry or people who work at the companies you’re targeting. You can use this site to search by “hashtag” (you’ll learn more about that after you sign up!), any kind of terminology, or user name if you know it. If you are looking for a job opportunity, follow and connect with these people to learn what it’s like to work at your target companies and whether they may be hiring.

FOUR: Download Tweetdeck as well – to receive your tweets – it’s an invaluable tool to help you organize them and also to search for relevant people. Most important, it allows you to see when you are mentioned or someone is talking to you (easy to miss in the stream of Twitter). In addition it allows you to also filter the people you follow into “groups” – important if you follow those in divergent areas or for different needs. For example, you could have a group for your work/job interests, one for your hobby (scuba perhaps?) and one for your kids’ schools and extracurricular interests.

Twitter is just like anything else; you get back what you put into it…and maybe a little more! If you’re looking for a quick fix, Twitter isn’t it. If you truly embrace it, your Twitter community can introduce you to a whole new world of connections and opportunities. Build relationships. Add value. Be open to the possibilities…You just might be amazed by what happens.

PS – you can start by following @kinetixhr

Tags: career search, job hunt, job search, Job Seeker, Twitter, unemployed

24 Oct 09 | Employment, Get a Job, Uncategorized, job search | Read on | Comments (0)

Reflect, rethink, and then revitalize your job search!

Wondering why you haven’t gotten a single call back after scouring the job boards and applying to all those positions? It’s likely due to several reasons. First, understand that when a company posts a position Monster, CareerBuilder, or any other big job board, they do so expecting an onslaught of applicants – and today that’s what they inevitably get. There often is just one recruiter pouring through the responses, and that person’s objective is to make it as easy as possible to identify the people best-qualified for the job, and therefore, is looking for reasons to disqualify candidates quickly. At best, he or she is scanning each resume for key competencies which, if not immediately apparent, lands it in the ‘disqualified’ pile. It should go without saying that if your resume contains grammatical errors or typos, it will be discarded immediately. But most important, if you’re sitting back and waiting for the phone to ring, you’re operating in a reactive mode to begin with.

Applying on-line may be one strategy to employ in your job search, but today it can’t be the only one. If current statistics are correct, since you have a less than 10% chance of getting your job from applying to a posting, you should spend a commensurate amount of time using this avenue. If you’re counting on getting the interview using this approach, you’re expecting a recruiter to find that proverbial needle in the haystack. Studies show networking is still the best route to a job; uncovering the “hidden” job market occurs most often by talking to people…and talking…and talking! Step back and reflect on what you’re proactively doing to advance your search. Ask yourself:

Am I networking effectively, letting everyone I know what I’m looking to do next?
Have I contacted former colleagues who may be in a position to provide me with job leads in my area of expertise?
Have I asked an expert to critique my resume or for other help? Do I customize it for each opening that I am going for?

Rethink your goals and how best to achieve them. Be clear about what you want and then make good use of technology available to help you get it!

Now’s the time to take stock of what you’re really good at. Make sure the job you’re going after is a good fit for your skills and interests. Take advantage of free online career assessments at www.livecareer.com or www.rocketcareer.com
Is there a gap between your abilities and the type of work you’re seeking that may be holding you back? Is your best next step to enroll in an on-line class to strengthen your marketability?
Utilize social media to the fullest to market yourself. Create profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and any others relevant to your field. If you have an affinity for writing, consider blogging about important information you know in a certain field. The key is to enhance your visibility.

Now that you’ve reflected on what’s not working, thought through your goals and what tools are available to help you to reach them, outline a new marketing plan to revitalize your job search. Remember to lean on your family and friends for support, seek advice from a professional if needed, and network, network, network!

Tags: career search, FaceBook, job hunt, job search, Job Seeker, LinkedIn network, Social Media, Twitter

06 Oct 09 | Employment, Get a Job, Uncategorized, job search | Read on | Comment (1)

Unemployment’s No Fun, but You Will Get Through It

Being laid off is a blow to the ego, no doubt. The good news for today’s victims is that they’re in good company. Economic declines are always accompanied by job loss, but in this unprecedented downturn, it’s rare to find someone unscathed. Still, like losing a loved one or going through a divorce, job loss brings with it a grieving process. It’s important to recognize everyone must move through the stages of grief and that they’re not linear; that is, you’ll move between the various stages throughout the grieving process.

Here’s what you can expect if you find yourself in this situation.

Denial- It’s not uncommon to be shell-shocked when you get the news of your release. Like a spouse who won’t sign divorce papers, you may be inclined to protect yourself from the pain by resisting it. The sooner you can come to terms with the situation the sooner you’ll begin the recovery process. For job seekers we often see that they will not change their LinkedIn profile or send out updates to say they are looking.

Anger – Playing the blame game is typical, and while it’s not productive, it’s important to let yourself move through this stage rather than pretend all is well. It’s okay to feel angry and perhaps betrayed; just don’t let it control you.

Bargaining- In an effort to retain your position, you may be tempted to offer to reduce your compensation, go part-time, or become a contractor for your current employer. While these may be viable options, it’s likely your employer considered them before moving to a layoff. It doesn’t hurt to ask, but don’t be surprised if the response is no. And ultimately, would you really be happy under these new terms? If you’re honest with yourself, probably not.

Depression- Feeling blue is to be expected in this situation. The important thing is that it not become debilitating. If you find depression persists, seek professional help. A key to this aspect for job seekers is to get out often and surround yourself with positive people – not get together with those that sit around to cry the blues.

Acceptance- Eventually, you’ll make peace with the change and embrace the future. It’s in the Acceptance stage that you’re confidence will return and you’re most likely to land your next opportunity. Remember that when one door closes, often it is another, perhaps better one that opens – albeit not always apparent at first.

Remember, being laid off isn’t the end of the world. In fact, people typically report being in a better place as a direct result of their job loss down the road. You could be offered a much better job or follow your passion and start the business you’ve always dreamed of that you’d never have had the nerve to pursue had you not lost your job! Finally, understand that being released from a job isn’t about you, it’s about your employer’s financial condition. It can happen to anyone, and like hundreds of thousands before you who’ve experienced it, you too will get through it. Good luck!

Tags: career, career search, changing industry, job search, Job Seeker, unemployed

01 Oct 09 | Employment, Get a Job, Uncategorized, job search | Read on | Comments (0)

Kinetix

Energizing the Workplace

Do I remember you?

Be Thankful for your Problems

Welcome to the REAL World

To Tweet or Not to Tweet?

Unemployment’s No Fun, but You Will Get Through It

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