Journal / Blog

The power of networking

2013-06-19T19:16:56Z

The book I recently read and reviewed, "Networking is Dead" was a great read. I'm now collecting names for a draw (enter by Friday, July 12 at 5pm ET by emailing your name and if you like, a short paragraph about your biggest networking challenge) as the publisher generously offered a free copy to a lucky reader!

The title doesn't end with that statement; it continues with "Making Connections that Matter." And that's the key to networking. Throw out your outdated or erroneous networking ideas and embrace this robust formula as presented in the book. It's a great read and you'll find a few previous blogs on its content in my journal entries. (Search Career Management or scroll through the last page or two.)

Every once in a while I get a client who really gets it. A person who understands that most people enjoy being included, asked, thought of, mentioned ... it makes us feel good, like we matter, and like our knowledge is respected and needed. That's really what networking "feels" like. Connection. Validation. Communication. These clients find jobs super fast and some use their New Leaf resume only when they reach the salary negotiation stage.)

The power begins when connections are made; it grows as knowledge is transferred; it is solidified as mutual benefits are exchanged.

It is not one-sided, it isn't a tit-for-tat formula and it isn't always linear and obvious.

Success in networking does involve some strategic thinking but it's mostly about honest and erstwhile human interactions that are not focused on "what can I get out of this" but focused on mutual gain.

Enter the draw! You'll want to read it and integrate this organic networking into your life. It's powerful stuff!

- always working toward YOUR career's success, Stephanie

More on "Networking is Dead" and a Book Draw!

2013-06-13T13:59:07Z

In an article about how to use LinkedIn to network I read the following:

"... most jobs are not advertised online. In a 2011 interview with NPR, Matt Youngquist, the president of Career Horizons, says: 'At least 70 percent, if not 80 percent, of jobs are not published.'"

Clearly learning to "network" is critical in job hunting, and recently I was sent a new publication "Networking is Dead" by its publishing company who asked for my review.

(You may want to first read my previous blog on this title: Networking is Dead I.)

Once the main characters, Meredith and Dan, learned to articulate their "why" with conviction and ease, they were on to more lessons. Networking is not an instant-pudding remedy; it is a lifestyle change. Just like weight loss, there is no magic pill; there are building blocks and stumbling points along the way.

Networking is about giving first. And it's about establishing a series of relationships - some become an "inner circle" and others fit into outer rings within a Five Levels of Exchange format. From tentative beginnings in which you find time, treasures, talents or thoughts to share, to bolder steps of introducing people to one another, to finally being on the receiving end of referrals from others, this is a process that takes time and purposeful interactions.

Desperate job hunters don't want to hear that there is no way to quickly build a network that will help

find a job. However, job hunters must also keep in mind that desperation of any kind is a job-offer killer! It's best to begin right, build slow, and in the end have the beginnings of a network that will serve you well beyond the job search into your career.

This is precisely what happened to Meredith and Dan. Their networking lessons - and the reader learns along with them - earned them business and promotions.

This approach is about embracing a wholehearted, engaged, "love my job," glad to be here kind of mindset. An honest and authentic desire to be of service, to be well regarded, to feel good and be recognized for productivity.

I do recommend this book, and highly, as it is as close to being "hand-held" through a long process as you can get without signing up for a multi-month course. And the publisher has generously offered a copy! In the next month I will be holding a draw to give away a free book, to be snail-mailed by the publisher.

To submit your name for the draw, send an email with your name and location, and if you are inspired, a sentence or two about your greatest challenges with networking!

- blog written, and now I return to writing a masterful resume, Stephanie

Global Citizenship

2013-06-11T20:20:56Z

Today I accompanied a friend to hear her speak about her experience with a subject matter that few of us have any experience with beyond a news report. A former Police Sargeant with the Waterloo Regional Police Service, she also travelled to Kosovo, Rwanda and Darfur as an investigator of war crimes with the United Nations and other groups gathering information to stop atrocities or put the insitgators and perpetrators behind bars.

Debbie Bodkin (google her name and you can watch her interview with George Strombolopoulos, visit her webpage and read more about her work) was transformed by her experiences and after overcoming Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression now speaks to groups to further her goal of making a difference, one person at a time.

We met at a local high school where she addressed a group of students as a presenter to their Global History class. I'd not heard Debbie speak before, and was pleased that she invited me. I was riveted.

Atrocities of the "humanity against itself" version are distressing, but the scale on which these war crimes occured are particularly disturbing. In fact there isn't a word in the English language that can convey the horror, lack of humanity, and unbelievable absence of compassion that Debbie witnessed.

I could scarce imagine surviving Debbie's experience of gathering information by listening to survivors, often lone survivors of an entire, extended family, recount their experiences. Actually living through the deliberate obliteration of an ethnic group or destruction of an entire village, characterized by a level of brutality that is so foreign to those of us who are lucky enough to be born in a country that at the moment is peaceful, is truly inconceivable.

As Debbie said, it takes just one person being allowed to spread an evil message of hatred, often fueled by greed or personal gain, to begin a process of abominal proportions that establishes a regime that will become a shameful blemish in humanity's history. Just one person who rather than find commonality spreads division; rather than engender compassion fuels hatred; rather than spearhead a movement of common good holds a spear that kills. Or rather, finds others to hold the spears.

Many of the perpetrators are children, boy soldiers who are tortured, brainwashed and forced into raping, torturing, pillaging, killing, and destroying.

Darfur continues to be a genocide not yet relegated to history. How our government can ignore this situation is beyond comprehension.

It reminds me of something I learned about positive vs. negative. One negative comment takes 100 positive reinforcements to erase. Thousands of dead war crime victims, it seems, require tens of thousands of what? petition signers? protesters? other?

It's tough to know and accept that even proof gathered by competent, recognized investigators is not enough to stop war crimes in their tracks.

It makes me wonder - what might it take to turn Canada into a Darfur? Could it be possible that one day a so-called civilized western country could succumb to a despotic leader who fuels fear and hatred against a group of its citizens? Food for thought.

History or political science teachers or instructors in search of a speaker, or those planning events for a related fundraiser, do contact Debbie Bodkin. Her presentation is plain-spoken and raw, but always delivered with sensitivity. Her message is simple but powerful and communicated respectfully.

- Stephanie

How (not) to use the resume

2013-06-11T12:12:09Z

The resume is getting a bit of a kicking these days with "experts" shooting it down, wondering about its future and even claiming to have replaced it with something new (which when seen looks remarkably like a resume).

It's all for attention.

Today I read Ask the Headhunter, Nick Corcodilos's blog, titled "How not to use the resume." I posted a comment and thought I'd share my opinion with my readers as well. Nick urges job-hunters to skip the resume as a first-contact tactic and go straight to the hiring manager for a verbal introduction, which is then followed up with the written resume.

First of all, Nick's audience is mainly American and mainly senior corporate types. There is a subtle difference between American and Canadian communication styles. Our American cousins are a touch more forthright, a wee bit bolder with an extra dash of brashness. Canadians are perhaps too hesitant, a wee bit too cautious with a dash of humility. That's my opinion from experience working with clients from both sides of the 49th parallel.

And senior leaders have developed, generally speaking, an ability to network as well as an existing network. This comes from years of conferences, courses, leadership training and more.

Canadian HR departments are not so impressed by job hunters who step on their toes getting to the hiring manager. CAO's tend to be less impressed by those who go directly to them, even if to only have a conversation about an opening or a potential opening. I've seen it happen.

Right or wrong, that's simply what I have observed.

The resume is not dead, it's not going away any time soon, and it can be effective. After all, my clients reliably land interviews! Many for that seemingly impossible "dream job," and many for the kind of work they were after. Those who don't land interviews have particular obstacles - a criminal record for example. And others take a bit longer in a saturated market or economic downturn. Even then, there are extra steps that can be taken that don't step on HR's sensitive toes!

Curious about Mr. Corcodilos's blog post? Read it here: Nick Corcodilos's article.

I don't necessarily disagree with the article given the audience it targets, but wanted to provide non-senior leaders and those outside the U.S. another perspective.

- creating masterful resumes for your career's success, Stephanie

I don't like to say no!

2013-06-04T11:30:50Z

When a potential client calls to ask questions and determine if there's a fit between her needs and my service, I really don't like to say no. But that's exactly what I did yesterday.

And it's not the first time I chose to do so.

Here's why. The calller, let's name her Joyce, wasn't sure what she wanted to do. She could return to her role as an Executive Assistant, or she could continue as a General Manager of a small enterprise, but she also was considering something quite different from either of these. Ideally Joyce wanted a "general resume" that would be easy to tweek for all kinds of roles.

I responded to Joyce that the most effective resume is a well-targeted resume. It's one that speaks, from beginning to end, to specific skills or transferable skills; it's one that connects the dots between past experience and how it relates to future success; it's one that clearly (and succinctly) communicates how she would make a positive impact on profits through her productivity and performance. Anything less is a waste of my time and her money! In fact, I simply won't take a client on who is unclear about her next-step-career-goal.

Here's why. My success is based on my client's success. That's how I choose to evalute whether or not I am delivering a good service and a product worth its price.

I sent Joyce away with ideas for determing a goal, and if she returns with two, we will create two resumes, if she would like to proceed with two goals. However, I also counsel potential clients that we begin with either their a) dream job, or b) the job that they can land right away - and this choice is steered by circumstances. If you have the finances to wait for dream job postings great! And if you must find a job pronto, let's do it!

So many choices, yes, and the final choice must be made by my client, but with reason we can work through these. Sometimes all one needs is a 3rd party, objective voice to bring clarity to the situation. I think that that's a role I fulfill well.

- setting the stage for "masterful" resumes, playing the role of objective career advisor, Stephanie

Networking is Dead

2013-05-28T17:01:40Z

I really like talking to a person one-on-one; the thought of mingling and schmoozing in a large group may make me break out in hives or generate a large growth on my nose - really, it terrifies. It's my equivalent of having to beat the fellow in the photo on the left in outrageous performances!

That's why, when the publisher of Networking is Dead - Making Connections That Matter, asked me to review this new book, I said "of course"!

Published by Benbella Books Inc. out of Dallas, Texas, it is authored by Melissa G. Wilson of Networlding (provides relationship selling, marketing and management to leading organizations) and Larrry Mohl, Chief Innovation Officer of Peformance Inspired, Inc. (assists organizations increase performance by activating proven "drivers of inspiration").

The book is written in the popular "business fable" style, making it an easy read. It is like eaves-dropping on a series of conversations in the form of lessons - it literally walks you through a process. I am taking my time, learning and absorbing, and am on Lesson 3 out of 10.

But I have been challenged to define, along with the book's students, Meredith and Lance, my "why." You know, that deep and rich reason that has inspired each of us to do what we do.

Here's the preliminary "why" that I have come up with:

I love writing and that led me to writing resumes, cover letters, biographies and more. That focus in turn led me to explore career management in general. Having struggled with a non-existent career myself at one time, knowing what I now know and having seen it work so powerfully for my clients, I am eager to let people know that yes, it is possible to get ahead, to overcome career obstacles and reach your goal, however you define it.

Now my challenge will be to whittle that down into a more succinct communication. And I have a feeling that with lessons yet to come, it will change a bit before I finish this instructive book.

What does this have to do with networking you ask? Patience eager student! :-) You can hardly choose good connections if you cannot articulate what makes you tick! We are early in the lessons yet.

This book comes at an ideal time, as I re-establish connections in South-western Ontario, having returned after a few years away.

If you are at all wary of networking and would really rather have your eyebrows plucked than attend a networking event, stay tuned. Given the level of expertise the book's writers bring, I am sure we will learn valuable non-large-event-based networking lessons!Join me again as I make progress.

- reading books and staying on top of current topics to make sure Your job search is effective, Stephanie :-)

General Manager's Before and After Resume

2013-05-26T19:54:16Z

Recently I wrote a resume for a General Manager.

Many resumes read like a position description, that is, the resume is written in the 3rd person and lists the duties the position demands, for example:

Lead manages and supervises all business operations staff.
Conduct performance reviews and coaching.
Analyzes and monitors all financial activities.

These are the first three bullets that introduced my client's first position, and launched the resume. I have a few issues with these! First of all, the word "lead" is a first-person verb and the other verbs - manages and supervises are in the 3rd person. And there should be a comma at least between the first and second verb as in "Leads, manages and supervises etc." I also find the use of the qualifier "all" to be unnecessary. What does it add? The second statement uses a 1st person and the third returns to a 3rd person! Oh my!

Needless to say my client's after resume goes wayyyyy beyond this approach!

Here is a snippet of the after:

Rather than jump right onto the positions held, I added a profile or summary that begins

"Exceptional administrator with deep fiscal knowledge, and more than 5 years of experience in directing staff, administrating operating and capital budgets, leading special projects with decisive action, and articulately liaising with multiple stakeholders."

I then proved all of these in the content of the resume with snapshots of projects contributed to, launched with bullets that began, for example:

Realignment of customer service and operations: (and details)
Inventory control: (and details)
Development of policy and procedures: (and details)
and a few more!

In the details I added his role in the projects (as lead or trusted, invited resource), what the project meant to the company, and what it meant to its customers. My client has since sent me a referral, an I.T. colleague with whom I am scheduled to work this week.

My client's "after" resume proves the value he brought to his employers through his close staff supervision and focus on performance, his attention to the need for competitive strategies, and his fiscal prudence.

By the way, the 3rd Edition of Best Canadian Resumes will be published later this year, and several of my samples will be included.

- dedicated to improving career management by writing exceptional resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles (and many other career management documents), and by improving interviewing skills, Stephanie

The Blame Game

2013-05-23T20:42:28Z

I recall a time, way back when, when I was looking for work. This was long before I knew what I know now! My resume was booorrring, my interview skills completely non-existent, my confidence equally lacking.

It took a long time, nine months as I recall, to land a job.

What do you do when looking? Do you find, as I did, people or things to blame? Recruiters who don't know what they are doing? Human Resource departments that are removed, unconcerned, very non-human in fact?

Or maybe the phase of the moon!? Astrology, the tides, whatever?

It's tempting to play that blame game, but guess what? It doesn't get you working faster! Much better to apply some problem solving to your dilemma to figure out what isn't working and then figure out how to fix it!

If you're not landing interviews, your resume is a dud. If you're landing interviews but after two or three interviews, no offers, your interview skills could use some strategy. And if you're landing jobs and getting canned, well, either you're a great talker who can't deliver or your ego is getting you in trouble!

I can't help with egos, but I can help with resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles (and many other career related documents), and with interview skills. And recently recognized as a Master Resume Writer, your work would be in truly expert hands. I've always been devoted to helping my clients, but now I have official recognition!

- working hard on your behalf, Stephanie

The Job Search 101

2013-05-22T20:46:24Z

Today I met with a client with whom I have worked for awhile now. I don't usually meet with clients, but I certainly will if the client is willing to drive to meet me! (I am a reluctant driver - safe, but I don't love driving. And besides, I really need to be writing resumes, not driving!)

Let's call my client Sally. Now Sally is wonderful - personable, capable, lots of skills - but she is having trouble landing an offer. I would say that her major job search downfall is in not targeting her search and being passionately committed to one goal. Really needing a job, and yesterday, she is conducting a less-than-targeted job search, while also running her own small business, which further takes her away from the job search.

It's a fact that a targeted job search brings faster results! Yes, focus in and lock into a position in a specific industry and you'll achieve that goal much faster than with a "I can do any job if given the chance" strategy.

Two things you must - MUST - do before you begin are these:

1. Create a list - target an industry (or a few) and begin creating lists of prospective employers. Select employers to meet your criteria: location, size, culture. Don't leave this to chance!

2. Prepare your script - be ready to talk about yourself with examples of what makes you a great employee. Take into account a potential employer's "buying motivators." (If you don't know that term, "google" it and figure it out - it's critical!)

These are similar to sales professionals, and they work, because every job hunter is in sales - selling his or her own skills/experience/credentials/value to prospective employers who are in the market to buy these!

Need help? New Leaf Resumes is here to assist. Recently certified as a Master Resume Writer, and trained in interview coaching and career strategies, I am here to support your job search.

- Stephanie

Wonderful News to Share!

2013-05-21T17:25:56Z

I am proud to announce that just today I was informed that my submission to Career Thought Leaders, in application for the title of Master Resume Writer, was successful!

After almost seven years in full-time service, providing global clients with an ever-expanding assortment of career management documents, it feels awesome to be so recognized!

Here is an excerpt from the Career Thought Leaders website that defines the MRW:

The MRW is the world’s most elite resume writing credential, clearly signifying that an individual has mastered the art and science of resume writing – strategic approach, content development, formatting and design, English language and grammar, and other key elements of resume development. There are stringent requirements for both writing talent and years of experience to qualify for the MRW.

I am grateful for this recognition, and know that it was my own hard work, an innate talent for writing, as well as a passion for helping people build careers that earned me the right to call myself a Master Resume Writer.

No time to rest on my laurels, I will continue to pursue relevant training, and serve clients with an ever-increasing level of expertise. Onward!

- living my motto "Everyone deserves meaningful work," Stephanie