When to Follow Up

It's time to answer another question from a job seeker!

Dear Julie,

I was wondering if you could give me your expert advice on an interview question. I had a one-hour phone interview with HR on March 1st, which went well and then a face to face interview with the hiring manager on March 15th. I think this went well also, however, he said that they are going through interview process and would not have a final decision by middle or late April.

I followed up with HR on March 30th to see my chances and she advised me that I was one of the candidates but they are still in the interview process. My questions is how long should I wait to call back HR or should I contact the hiring manager for an update? Hope you could help me on this. Thanks for your time.

Signed,

"Antsy"




Dear "Antsy,"

Aaah, the dreaded "when to follow up" dilemma.

As a short answer, follow up well, but not so often you look like a creepy stalker.

I know it's hard, but don’t get stressed out about the lengthy hiring process nowadays. Companies are generally taking longer amounts of time to fill positions – this is because there is a ton of possible qualified applicants, and also because companies are still hesitant to pull the trigger, so they add 16 extra unnecessary steps to the hiring process. Most of those silly steps have nothing to do with you, and all to do with internal paperwork, etc. It’s not usually personal. In your case, they did mention mid-late April, so you’ve got plenty of time according to their own internal calendar.

Also, you need to remember, that they do not necessarily have the same sense of urgency that you have. They have jobs and paychecks coming in. They are not feeling the stress of unemployment right now. So, for them, if the memo to hire you sits on their desk for an extra couple of days until they get around to it, it's no big deal. (Multiply that by however many people in the company that need to see that memo before HR can call you, and you get an idea of what's going on over there.)

My best advice would be to wait two weeks and try again. If you feel that two weeks is too long, make up some reason to email/connect with the hiring manager (not HR) so you can be at the top of their minds and they can fight on your behalf. Like sending an article which discusses something you talked about in your interview, etc. Lots of different ways you can make a connection without acting “like a stalker” – as long as you don’t do too many at once!

And while you’re waiting, go look for more opportunities. DO NOT PUT ALL OF YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET! Right now, the best thing you can do, is to just let go, move on and find your next potential contact. It only puts you in a position of negotiating strength if you can find other companies to interview with by the time they finally get around to calling you and making you an offer.

I hope this advice is helpful to you!

Julie Mendez

New – DISC Behavioral Assessments Available

What is DISC?

DISC is the universal language of observable human behavior. Scientific research has proven that people, in terms of “how they act” universally, have similar characteristics. By learning these characteristics, we can increase communication and therefore, increase our understanding of each other.

DISC is not a measurement of human intelligence, an indicator of a person’s values, a measurement of skills and experience, or a measurement of education and training. DISC is none of these and yet has an inescapable bearing on all of the above.

DISC is the language of how we act, or our behavior. A person’s behavior is a necessary and integral part of who they are. In other words, much of our behavior comes from “nature” (inherent) and much comes from “nurture” (our upbringing). The DISC model merely analyzes behavioral style; that is, a person’s manner of doing things.

DISC is not a personality test. Personality extends far beyond the scope of the DISC instrumentation. The DISC model measures how we act. That is why it is called a “Behavior Analysis Instrument.”

Why use DISC?

It is very important that you understand yourself in relation to your job, your family and your daily living environment. But for a job seeker, it is important that you know how to incorporate those understandings into your résumé and marketing documents, your interviewing style, and your daily work environment. By identifying your unique traits, you will learn to appreciate the style that is yours and yours alone.

There are several versions of assessments available so that you can choose the one best for you. Don’t you want to learn how to improve your interviewing skills and performance? Knowing who you are, why you should be hired and being able to effectively communicate this are essential in making your search process easier and more successful.

Available Assessments

• Career Planning Insights Version - Identifies specific talents and behaviors you as the employee bring to the job. Success and job satisfaction come easier the closer the job matches the natural behavior style. This profile / report offers a system to capitalize on your talents and your potential and continuing value to the organization, including specific job titles most appropriate for the your behavioral style. (***This report is fabulous for job seekers and those in career transition!***)
• Interviewing Insights Version – General - Enables you to prepare for the interviewing process by displaying your general characteristics, ideal work environment, value to the organization, and interview questions.
• Interviewing Insights – Sales - Specifically designed for the sales professional.
• Executive Version - Helps you attain a greater knowledge of yourself as well as others so you may interact most effectively.
• Management-Staff Version - You are unique and should be managed, coached and supported in a way that capitalizes on your uniqueness in the work environment.
• Sales Version – You’re a sales professional? Get a broad understanding of your natural sale style and how to adapt that style to give the customer what they want.
• Time Plus Version - Identifies time wasters that impact individual productivity, possible causes, and offers possible solutions for correcting or eliminating specific time wasters. It allows you the opportunity to develop a powerful new approach to organizing and managing your time.

April Special Offer!

Contact me in April to get your own DISC Behavioral Assessment and get 10% off! This package includes the assessment exam (done online) and a one hour session afterwards to review and discuss the results. This deal is only available in April!

What You Can Do With Those LinkedIn Recommendations

I would really like to draw every job seeker's attention to this article by Jason Alba, CEO of JibberJobber.com, and my owner personal LinkedIn Guru.

Jason Alba: "What to Do With LinkedIn Recommendations"

One of the points he makes in this article is just so important for job seekers to hear: "As a marketer, what do I do with it??"

He's absolutely right! Once you get those lovely recommendations on your LinkedIn profile, it is time to put them to work!

Here are a couple of ways my clients have utilized their recommendations:

• Right on the resume. - Yes that's right. This is a very stylistic new tool that I've learned through the National Résumé Writers' Association, and I wish I could tell you how effective it has been!
• In cover letters. - Again, another great place to grab a decision maker's attention. Let other people sell them on how fantastic you are!
• Portfolio (hard copy, not online) - If you've worked with me before, you've already heard me talk about your "marketing materials." Think of these as the promotional materials that a salesman would have to help sell his product. Beyond your resume and cover letter, this could include a personal bio, examples of projects and methodology, and you can also use these recommendations to replace those old, tired "Reference Letters" that haven't been updated in years.
• Web Portfolio, other social networking sites. - Managing your online brand is so vital to your job search. Recommendations from others carry much more value than you realize.
  

Jason also lists a few other suggestions such as your email signature, your business card, and your (professional) blog. All fabulous ideas!

One caveat: In the comments section of this article, several people suggested going back to the original person who gave you the recommendation and asking permission to publish it elsewhere. This is just proper Internet etiquette and I strongly agree with this advice!

Finally, one little shout out to Jason Alba's LinkedIn Training: If you have ever wanted to learn more about LinkedIn, this is the guy to listen to! Check out this website to get his LinkedIn for Job Seekers DVD.

“So, Tell Me About Yourself.”

A huge thank you goes to Elizabeth for forwarding this link to me! It’s fabulous and I just had to share it with all of you! And muchas gracias to Elizabeth for her notes from the video as well!

New Grad Blog: "Tell Me About Yourself!"

If you have gone through my interview coaching sessions, you know that one of the first questions we review is the dreaded “So, tell me about yourself.” It’s common practice for an interviewer to use this question to break the ice and get the interview started. When done well, you can use this opportunity to set the tone for the entire meeting, which gives you the control to guide the process down paths that sell you most effectively!

My advice is to always answer this question as if the employer really said this: “So, tell me about yourself professionally.” Interviewers don’t really care so much about your personal life at this point (other than to make sure you’re not hiding human skulls in your closet).

What they want to hear is how you are the answer to their problem. When they ask you this very simple question, what they are really saying is:
• “Please tell me why I should hire you.”
• “Why are you better than the five other shmoes I interviewed this morning?”
• “What can you do for me?”

Some of you might have also worked with me on your “30 Second Commercial” or “Elevator Speech.” Again, the exact same concept applies.

This particular video is fabulous because it breaks the process down into easily achievable steps. There’s no reason to be intimidated by or dread this question any more!

How to Address the Interview Question: “So, Tell Me About Yourself.”
1. Brief intro
2. Your key accomplishments
3. Your Primary strengths (demonstrated by these accomplishments)
4. Importance of these strengths to the potential employer. How do these strengths fit the potential employer’s needs?
5. How do you see yourself developing these skills for the new employer?
6. Tie-in. (Turn it back around to the interviewer, putting the ball in their court). Asking them a related question, for example.)

I strongly urge each and every one of you to complete this assignment this week. Cover each of these steps and prepare your answer to this question. This is one of the most common interview questions out there, so you’ll really appreciate it when you walk into your next interview!

Julie Mendez

Motivate Your Way Through a Blizzard

I'm watching the news guys. And I'm thinking of all you job seekers who are stuck under those mountains and mountains of snow.

I can just imagine what is going on in your heads right now. You're wanting to kick back, snuggle up, let your guard down, and take a break from the job of your "job search." After all, everyone else is, right? Other folks are getting a "snow day." Heck, the federal government even shut down. No one is really caring about that email of yours in their inbox right now, so why not relax while everyone else is?

NO WAY! This is your golden opportunity!

I hear the scepticism rolling around in your brain right now. So listen to this carefully.

This is YOUR chance to get ahead. Do you hear that? This is YOUR chance to get ahead.

You've got time now, to:

• Work on connecting with others via LinkedIn,
• Improve your resume or other written marketing materials,
• Practice that 30-second commercial until you can say it in your sleep,
• Work on your SMART stories, or
• Get some extra interview practice sessions in.

How about:

• Researching the top ten companies on your target list,
• Figuring out networking connections at each of those companies, then
• Sending emails asking how they're doing and inviting them to meet for a cup of the warm beverage of their choice.
• Fill up those inboxes with messages, so when the world starts turning again, you will be turning right along with it!

Now is also a good time to:

• Catch up on industry-related reading,
• Writing white papers and blog articles on topics of interest and importance, and
• Filling your calendar with upcoming networking events to attend (after you dig out of your igloo that is).

You've GOT to keep busy, and keep motivated. Keep digging away at your job search, just as much as you've got to keep digging at the snow.

I'd love to hear stories of how you are keeping motivated during your job search! I plan to use them in an upcoming blog article - just email me at JulieMendez@jsmcareer.coaching.com,

FREE TELESEMINAR: Setting Goals and Actually Achieving Them

Yes, it's the New Year, and with that comes the dreaded "New Year's Resolutions."

I think I must be one of the few people that love making New Year's Resolutions. Yes, that's right, I actually LOVE making New Year's resolutions. And most years, I even successfully complete many of them! (Even though I'm still working on that nasty "lose the baby weight" one.)

It used to amaze me that people hated making resolutions each year, and complained when they fizzled out by March. I had no idea why that happened to others, but not to me.

Then I had an epiphany.

Those that were not succeeding were were picking New Year's Resolutions they felt they "ought" to do, that they "should" complete. I, however, chose goals that fulfilled me, that pushed me toward my personal vision, that both challenged and motivated me, propelling me toward my definition of success. In short, I had yearly goals that mattered. And on top of that, I had a plan.

I want to help ALL of you find the sort of success that I have found. But let's not call them New Year's resolutions. Let's call them your yearly goals. Isn't that more accurate? Aren't these "resolutions" more about effecting change throughout your whole year, instead of just one day?

This isn't a teleseminar for "job seekers." This is a teleseminar for E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E, everyone who wants to change their upcoming year. This is your chance to start your year with focus and purpose!

We will review brainstorming techniques to create the goals most important to you - what will drive you all year long. We will discuss choosing goals that are both ambitious and attainable.

Then we'll discuss the the HOW. We'll discuss creating a plan and organizing yourself so that your goals become more than meaningless words on a piece of paper. We'll also discuss different "tricks" to keep yourself accountable.

It is MY goal that this particular teleseminar start a national trend of motivated and focused goal setters and "goal accomplishers," excited to live 2010 with clarity of purpose! And yes, at the end of the year, I plan to host a "re-cap" teleseminar for all that participated, so that you can share your successes and your tips with all of us!

As always, I plan to end this teleseminar with special deals JUST for participants! So, be sure to sign up here and mark your calendar! This teleseminar is FREE and OPEN TO EVERYONE, and you are welcome to invite your friends!

January Telesminar: Set Goals and Actually Reach Them!
Date: Thursday, January 7, 2010
Time: 4:00pm, EST
Duration: (1 hour)
Cost: FREE
Register Here: http://www.jsmcareercoaching.com/tele-seminar.html

Talk to you soon!

Julie Mendez, CJSS

Now an affordable Job Seekers' Job Club, with a Certified Job Search Strategist.

In my December Newsletter, you might have seen a mention about JSM Career Coaching's new "Job Club." This is a new service that JSM Career Coaching now provides.

Let's talk a little bit about job clubs. I've worked with clients in the past who have said to me, "Oh, I joined a job club." However, when I investigate further, they seem to not get much out of the experience. One client in particular belonged to a very small group of three people which seemed (from our conversations) very unproductive. How can sitting around complaining how hard it is out there help you get a job? No, that is not a job club. That is defined as a whine-fest. Which can be fun, but is not useful in helping you land a job.

What IS a job club? A job club is a supportive environment of many job seekers learning more about job search tactics and aiding and encouraging their compatriots through the process.

A good job club is more than just an accountability group (though, this is an essential element of any job club's success). A good job club is an organic organism, where members actively engage in their own job search process and are actively involved in each other's efforts: as a sounding board, a encouraging voice, and sometimes a motivating push or "loving kick in the pants" as I like to call it.

Why in the world would you want to join a job club? In the article, "For Networking and Support, Join or Start a Job Club," it states:

What ties people in a job club together is the need for mutual support and
encouragement. People who are energized by social situations and tend to
procrastinate the lonely tasks of job-hunting will likely benefit from a job
club. Those who are shy, insecure, or ashamed of having lost a job can get help
from other job club members in overcoming these mental roadblocks. Job club
membership can stave off the depression that sometimes sets in during a protracted job search.

Not only will you feel supported in a job club, but you will probably be more successful than if you went it alone. Those who've been involved with job clubs report that their efforts that are strengthened by belonging to the group and their job searches are shorter. Richard Nelson Bolles, author of the classic What Color is Your Parachute? and a strong proponent of job-seeking support groups, notes an 84 percent success rate when job-search techniques are conducted in groups, compared with a 15 percent lower rate when the same techniques are followed individually.

Anything that can give you a higher percentage of a success rate in this economy is a bonus. Plus, as the above quote states, there is a wonderful thing that happens when you have the ability to share this experience with others, not the least of which is an increase in your daily morale.

Why You Want to Join JSM Career Coaching's Job Club
Frankly, I'm not satisfied with hosting a good job club. JSM Career Coaching's job clubs can only be defined as GREAT!

1. You will have access to the wealth of knowledge and experience of a Certified Job Search Strategist. Someone who can guide the group through the leading edge of innovative job search tactics that are guaranteed to get results.
2. JSM Career Coaching job clubs are "action-oriented." It's all about the "doing" of the job search!
3. Groups are fully interactive, encouraging practice and implementation of ideas through exercises, role play, and discussion. Members will both give and receive specific, steady feedback and positive reinforcement.
4. Each group (with a maximum of ten participants per group) will be organized around a structured framework that will facilitate a supportive and motivational group environment.
5. Participants from across the country can join in via a weekly conference call, allowing for full flexibility and networking for all group members.
6. The goal of each group is GRADUATION! We will celebrate as each group member graduates when they receive their job offer.

Who can benefit most by joining? Clients who have already gone through intensive job search coaching sessions will appreciate the chance for accountability and continued growth in a group setting. Other job seekers who have not yet decided on intensive private sessions with a Career Coach will appreciate the chance to learn from an expert while networking with other job seekers. Frankly, we have a place for any job seeker who is willing to join!

The specifics: Each group will begin with a minimum of four job seekers and a maximum of no more than ten. All sessions will be held as weekly teleconferences that will last one hour. Every member will get a chance to speak equally. Different exercises and "homework" will occasionally be assigned, and all group members will be expected to complete these assignments and actively participate so they can receive the full experience of the job club. The job clubs are not for job seekers who are not clear on the type of position or industry, etc. that they are looking for. These job seekers should consider getting individual coaching to help themselves through these steps first.

And yes, finally: The Cost! In order to make this service as affordable as possible, membership in the JSM Career Coaching Job club is just $50 a month.

Interested? Email Julie Mendez at JulieMendez@jsmcareercoaching.com for more information.