I just read Nick Corcodilos’ new article entitled, “Rude Employers: Yahoo Fires CEO Carol Bartz, phones it in”, from his “Ask the Headhunter” blog. The article quickly reminds us that rude and disingenuous companies will be remembered for their poor treatment of employees. It also sends a strong message to job seekers considering working for such a company. Because of the internet, Yahoo’s classless actions will not be soon forgotten.

This rude behavior will remembered, and is something for job seekers especially, to keep in mind while searching for their ideal job. When you find a company you think you’d like to work for, take time to notice how they treat you, and how employees treat each other. If you see smiles, hear laughter, and are treated warmly while interviewing with them, this may be a good sign.

When researching companies, try to talk with employees or past employees. This way you can get a better feel for the culture and climate of the company before you say yes to an interview. Does the company’s management strive to maintain courteous and effective teams and does the company treat its’ management well? Your research will hopefully alert you to companies that may not be so nice to work for.

This is also a good time to take note of how you treat those you interact with during your job search. The longer a job search takes, the less patient candidates can become, so keep you manners in check. You don’t want to be remembered for your poor manners or worse, miss out on opportunities because of your attitude or actions.

Manners that used to be second nature are sadly becoming unimportant to some people and companies. You are going to be at work and with your coworkers for at least 40 hours each week, that’s 1/3 of your life. So make sure you take the time to find a place to work that is pleasant and treats you well.

While watching my niece’s soccer game recently, there was one girl on her team that was obviously very skilled. This particular girl worked mostly alone and tended to be a ball hog. While she played hard it was noticeable that there was a disconnect with her and the rest of the team. When asked about her I was told that although an excellent player, her attitude and behavior toward her teammates was very negative. On the field the rest of the players had a hard time playing with her and working as a team.

My niece said because there was so much animosity the coach had begun to play her less and the team was actually playing more effectively. The team knew they should leave their personal issues and conflicts off the field but they found it hard to do. This girl was creating enemies and missing out on utilizing her obvious talents to help her team. This situation is not uncommon in the school, teams, volunteer activities and in the workplace as well.

When looking to meet new contacts, networking, and especially when interviewing being likeable and a team player can be as important as what you have accomplished or your expertise. There is an abundance of competent competition and sometimes the only thing that may help you stand out, is You – your unique personality, your friendliness and your likeability.

The key is to know that fine line that allows you be confident not arrogant when sharing your skills, achievements and expertise sounding, friendly and like a team player. Like the soccer player, working alone and trying to hard to show off your skills may not be the best course to getting noticed. Instead be sure to demonstrate genuine friendliness and the successes you have had working with others to show employers how you will fit into their culture and work environment.

How you treat others, your willingness to be a team player and your personality are things to be very aware of while you are searching for a job and while you are in a job. A pleasant demeanor is vital when you are working and it will help your employer determine if a raise is deserved, if a promotion will be yours and if a strong recommendation will be given when you look for another job in the future.

Getting along with others and being nice should be a given, but for some it is something that needs to be kept in check or it will hold them back, so be nice!

Just as in dating, with job search success often comes a few rejections. Hearing the dreaded words, “We decided to go with another candidate” can be enough to knock the wind out of anyone’s sail. Candidates that strive to learn from rejection are those that will land the right job quicker.

Some lash out in anger regardless of why they received the rejection and even go so far as to bad mouth the company or write negative comments about the company on Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace.  Burning bridges in any economy is not a good idea. On occasion candidates are called back and offered the position if the first choice doesn’t work out.  It may be detrimental to your chances with future companies too, remember that companies often research candidates when they are interested and they will be able to read your comments.

Keeping a positive outlook and professional demeanor will help you to look at things from both sides and see the big picture that will hopefully help you to keep moving forward even with rejections. Whether or not you learn from your experiences is up to you and it is determined by how you respond to the rejections.

Two ways to learn from the rejections are to look at yourself externally and internally. External learning refers to finding out what others think of your resume documents, networking techniques, interview skills and your overall professional impression. If you are not sure of what others think of you professionally – ask! Only good can come from it, either you are doing a great job and you will receive a well deserved compliment or you receive guarded criticism and learn from what others are offering as suggestions for improvement.

If you are contacted after an interview with the dreaded rejection email or phone call, ask a few questions to find out what exactly were the points that worked against you. Maybe you were not as prepared as you should have been or maybe you appeared over/under confident and it worked against you. What ever the reason, it is important you find out so you can make corrections in your appearance, behavior, interaction or presentation to make you more competitive for the positions you target.

Looking internally can also provide pertinent information about your job search and interviewing techniques. Think back to your most recent interview or networking event and focus on your verbal skills. How did you present yourself? Were you able to ask and answer questions easily about your job search and more specifically about you the skills and value you present to a company? What cues did you send with your non-verbal language? Had you prepared enough before the meeting so that you were fluent on the company’s history, mission, goals and culture? Spend time going through the meeting and look for clues as to where you are having issues and then find ways to correct them.

Rejection can be humiliating and hurt but they are part of the job search process and a vital source of information for improvement. What you project and what you think you project are sometimes two different pictures. Take time to learn from others and yourself to improve your presentation and interviewing skills. Simple modifications may be all it takes to eliminate rejection and take your interview skills from bland to brillian.

If you want to be noticed in your current job or in a new job you’ve recently landed – give more than is expected. If you are currently unemployed and looking for a new job – give more than is expected. If you’re happily employed but a colleague or friend asks you to keep your ears open for something that might fit what they are looking for – give more than is expected.

By giving more and doing more than is expected of you by your company, yourself, your colleagues or friends, you will build a notable work ethic that will be remembered long after your achievements or accomplishments. It will mean more to others that you went the extra step to do your job exceedingly well or to help another person. And at the end of the day that is what I’d want to be known or remembered for.

What can you do to give more than is expected of you?

If you want to get noticed for the job you are doing – do it better. Work harder and accomplish more, or if your job isn’t about accomplishing more than try to provide more. More and better service for your customers or more process improvements to reduce costs. Doing your job well will get you noticed, recognized and remembered.

If you’re unemployed and want to get noticed in your job search – redesign your job search so it is more productive. Pay attention to what works and what doesn’t work in your job search. Don’t keep doing the same thing over and over if it isn’t making a difference. Find out what works and do it often, very often! If online networking is finding you opportunities where local networking groups are not then stick with the online networking functions. Try using new techniques to find the right companies and jobs and then go after them.

If a passive approach isn’t working be more aggressive in your search. For example, don’t follow up once only to never hear from the company. Follow up 2, 3, or 4 times until you get their attention and get a response. The squeaky wheel will get oiled first.

If someone asks you to help in their job search – provide more than just a contact name. Make the connection and provide as much helpful information about the company, person and industry that you can. Both parties will appreciate the professional and helpful introduction, which will add to your own credibility. Supporting others in their search will also help to grow your own support system.

Giving more than is expected is hard work and can make your job search even more difficult but the rewards and successes will be worth the work.

When I talk with job seekers that have been searching for a new position or transitioning into a new career the discussion of the competitive market and high rate of rejection often comes up. During these conversations I usually see three different types of attitudes emerge. I see those that those are personally hurt by every resume sent out that receives no response. Those same people also, after hearing repeated rejection, are somewhat depressed with their job search and move very slowly for fear of more rejection.

Then I talk with job seekers that have a quite different attitude. They have something cynical to say about every missed opportunity or company connection that didn’t work out. They project a tough attitude that they probably think will keep them protected but it comes across as harsh and uncaring, and if I were a hiring manager I would think it might be a hint of someone who is not easy to work with.

Finally my favorite, and the type of job seeker all others should strive to be like are those that are the gracious, helpful and thankful job seekers that resume writers, career coaches, recruiters, HR and hiring managers love to work with. They are pleasant and always try to put their best foot forward no matter what the outcome looks like.

Remember, a pleasant attitude will be remembered long after your work history.

During my conversations with job seekers I often ask what their goals are, what they have done so far with their job search, how they follow up and if they send some type of Thank You note. By far, the group that most often sends a note of thanks is the job seeker group with the positive attitude. Not only do they send the interviewer a note but they also send notes of appreciation to contacts, referrals and anyone that has helped them along the way, again – regardless of the outcome.

Talking with my clients and job seekers I meet on line and in person at networking events, social media communities and at job fairs, those that have the quickest success are those that are working to help themselves and others and those that regularly give thanks where it is due!

Many debates occur whether thanks should be given in person, over the phone, via email or hand written using snail mail. For different situations different formats are better but truly, any thank you is better than none. With more than 75% of hiring managers expecting some form of a Thank You note and only 35% say they regularly receive them, there is a big gap. In this competitive economy, every opportunity should be taken to get in front of important contacts and those that can refer you to target companies or decision makers. Thank You notes do just that.

So, where do you fit in? Are you sitting in neutral feeling a bit sorry for yourself, blaming everyone else for your unsuccessful job search or are you pressing on in your job search leaving a trail of smiles and Thank You notes? If your way is not giving you the results you are looking for, make the decision to change today and start with a Thank You letter.

Moving your Job Search out of Neutral and into High Gear

With love for my clients and true compassion for the job seekers out of work I am writing this post. I understand your pride has been hurt because you thought you were better than a lay off or being let go, some feel they have done all they can by posting their resume on a few major job boards and then expecting the phone to ring, and others in denial, decide to use this time as an extended vacation and do nothing. So, my question for theses scenario’s and the countless others is:

How’s That Working For You?

Is your phone ringing off the hook? Are people tracking you down and begging you to come and work for them? Is doing nothing landing incredible opportunities in your lap? Didn’t think so.

I am hoping this will be a gentle shaking or a  splash of cold water to wake you up to the reality that if you want to find a job you have got to be much more aggressive even desperate in your search.

Your search is about you getting a job, how you came to where you are today should not keep you from pushing forward in your search. Excuses, however valid they may feel, are only holding you back. They do not reveal your authentic self and your marketable value.

Disclaimer: Your job search won’t be easy, so expect rejection, uncertainty, and a little fear during the process but work to remain focused on the goal – finding a job. Realize also that it might take a while, but it will take much, much longer if you continue on your current course.

Think of the top 5 reasons why you need a job and what will happen to these reasons if you do not soon find a job. Write that them down and keep them in your wallet, purse, next to your bed, taped to your computer or to the dashboard in your vehicle. Make it a constant reminder of why you must stay passionate about your search.

How do you take your search out of neutral and into high gear? What ever you used to think about the job search – forget it!

Make the search proactive instead of reactive.

Research companies and find several (start with 10-20) that really feel like the type of company you would like to work for. Dig deep and find out about each company’s culture, goals, future plans, current projects and any recent changes, failures or issues that you can help with.

Continue researching these companies to find specific individuals you feel would be beneficial to meet. Use your contacts, networking groups (on and off line) and LinkedIn to find ways to connect with these targeted contacts. Prepare before you make contact with solutions and skills that you can provide to assist each contact and their company to improve, increase or expand their future.

You are doing the research, you are making the calls, you are choosing the companies and you are in control.

See the difference?

So job seekers, try something new if what you have been doing is not working. Not only is this process effective but presents you as a leader, expert in your field, go-getter, someone who knows how to find solutions and get the job done, and Someone Worth Hiring.

This week was the kick off of the 9^th season of American Idol.  Every year I say I am not going to watch it, but somehow the show finds its way on to the screen of my television. I tell myself, just the first night… to get a feel for what this season may hold.

I admit that I watched the whole show and towards the end, when there were only a few contestants left, a man entered the room for his very long awaited audition and let the panel see his aggravation for having to wait all day. He had apparently been there for many long hours nervously waiting and was tired and a bit cranky.

Well, he was given a chance to sing but the discussion afterwards quickly grew heated as Kara unleashed her anger on this man. She let him know that he had ruined his chance because of his attitude and character, and would not be going any further in the competition.

Whether I agreed with Kara’s outburst or not, and whether the young man had a good voice doesn’t really matter because the people he needed to impress in order to proceed, were not impressed. He lost his chance with the simple act of complaining.

How many times have you complained or whined to someone about your current situation or didn’t take the extra step to be nice to someone? Do you ever wonder if any of those recipients might have been missed opportunities? What if you were at a networking event complaining unknowingly to someone who knew of an opening in his department that would suit you. He could easily and understandably decide to not share the information with you because he would not want be the one to bring a whiner or downer into his office?

You don’t know where your next opportunity will come from and this should be a good reminder to be nice to others, on a regular basis (or at least until you find a new job). Watching American Idol I heard Simon and the others comment repeatedly when they thought someone “seemed like a genuinely nice person” or “have a really good vibe about them”.

Being nice in your job search and your career does matter. People might not remember your name, or what you were selling but they will remember if they liked you or not. Give it a try!

In case you haven’t heard, September is National Update Your Resume Month and I wanted to give a quick reminder to anyone who still hasn’t updated their resume. Competition is tougher than ever because unemployment rates remains very high.

Recruiters and hiring managers are getting bogged down with the number of incoming resumes they are receiving. In order for you to stand out, you need to have an updated resume that is rich in relevant keywords and provides the reader with a really focused picture of your skills, achievements and the value you offer their company.

If you are not sure if you are in need of a resume, see if you fit any of the categories below.

If the resume you’re using was typed on an electric typewriter … you might be in need of a resume update.

If you’re still using your college graduation resume 13 years and 3 jobs later … you might be in need of a resume update.

If you have an Objective Statement or “References Upon Request” on your resume … you might be in need of a resume update.

If you’re tired of getting no response from your current resume … you might be in need of a resume update.

And finally

If the list of bullets on your resume reads more like a to-do list than marketable achievements and past experience … you might be in need of a resume update.

Wednesday’s Q&A

Question: Can a smile really land you a job?

Answer: A smile is so incredibly powerful. It is proven to release chemicals that relax, it takes fewer muscles to make then a frown, and it can make or break a meeting.

Smiles are written about, sung about, drawn, worn as bumper stickers and t-shirts and are used in many quotes from the famous and not so famous including Phyllis Diller who said, “The curve of a smile sets everything straight”. It affects your appearance too, as George Eliot reminded us, “Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles”.  Do you want laugh lines or frown lines?

My favorite quote is from an unknown author, it states, “The shortest distance between two people is a smile”.

If you want to break the ice when meeting people for the first time during an interview remember to smile … often. This doesn’t mean laugh and giggle in a nervous annoyance. It means to look at those you are talking with and give a genuine smile.

When asking for help in your job search, inviting contacts for coffee or lunch to get reacquainted, meeting new contacts, networking, talking with recruiters, administrative or HR support or the hiring manager the first and most natural response should be a smile.

Smiles are a nonverbal communication shared throughout the world. Your smile is more than displaying teeth or curving lips, it is a physical change in your attitude and approachability. When a smile is received it also causes a biological response by mimicking a return smile, so if you want to make others feel comfortable S-M-I-L-E !

A genuine smile and approachable appearance will be remembered as much as your stories, experience and skills you share during an interview. Will a smile land you a job, maybe not on its’, but it can certainly be the thing that interviewers remember and may be a deciding factor at some point.

The little things really do make the biggest differences – It can’t hurt and it will actually make you feel better – try it today!

I used to love the old Patty Loveless song, “…life’s about changing, nothing ever stays the same…” Remember that song? I often find myself humming that song when I think about how life isn’t meant to stay the same. It is about how we respond and react to change. Seeing change and lots of it – in the economy and job market these days reinforces for me, that life is about change and the choices we make while change is happening.

This leads me then to think about job seekers and the different choices they make that directly lead to the success or lack of success in their job search. I talk daily with job seekers and it is easy to spot those that will find jobs quicker than others.

Success isn’t about their education or professional experience or even who they know. It is about their attitude and the choices they are making.

I love working with the client who is excited to complete work on their resume and is actively strategizing, researching and networking while we work on the resume. Their outlook is strong and positive and motivation is high. There isn’t any blame discussed and carried around like I see many candidates doing. The only thing that blame does is hold back job seekers from being productive.

They choose to hold on to the ill feelings of blame and resentment – complaining to anyone who will listen. It tells me and anyone else within ear shot that this candidate is carrying lots of baggage and treading water instead of moving forward with change and opportunity.

Instead of blaming past employers, past employees, economics, job market, government, family or anyone else they can think of, stay focused on what you can change and what you have control over. Some people naturally see the glass half empty, some learned to think this way. For those that do think this way – practice looking for the good in everything. It will help in your job search and in enjoying life in general.

Having a positive attitude while job searching will be reflected in how you address contacts, hiring managers, recruiters and those asking for your help and may determine the outcome of your search. Choose wisely and work at keeping your focus on present happenings and future goals, not on blaming the past for your current situation.

Shine on job seekers!!