Mark Hirschfeld

I hope you know how important networking is to the success of your job search. But are some contacts more beneficial than others? Is it more important to network with a former co-worker, or network with someone who is a friend in your personal community?

One research study suggests the former is better:

“We show that it is crucial to distinguish between network members who share occupational characteristics (work ties) and network members who do not (communal ties) Work ties tend to provide job information that matches job seekers and job characteristics, whereas communal ties often provide less accurate information.”

According to the study, folks who network more with “work ties” were re-employed, on average, more quickly.

It’s okay to network with a friend, but make sure that contact is someone who is a position to help provide insights about your job or industry.

All networking is good, but put focus on work ties.

It’s a new day. Let’s get started.

There are free training videos on the web site of my faith community. Please pass along: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

#career #careercoach #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch

I have a good friend at work with whom I collaborate frequently. He and I were about to call on a prospective client we had not met. We weren’t sure how the meeting would go, but just before the call I said, a bit in jest: “Hey, how much of me do I get to bring to the meeting today?”

He smiled and said: “Bring all of you, Mark!”

Both of us brought our true selves, our best that day, and we had a great meeting.

To the degree you can, find a place where you can bring all of you, your interests, your skills, you passions, and your goals. If the culture of a prospective employer feels like they don’t want all of you, the authentic you, it’s probably worth taking a pass.

Don’t settle. Find a place that will welcome every interest, skill and passion that is you.

There are free training videos on the web site of my faith community. Please pass along: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources 

#career #careercoach #jobhuntingtips #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch

My father, Leonard Hirschfeld, ran a clothing store which, by the way, has been in operation for over 104 years.

He could put up with a customer buying a necktie from him that didn’t match a suit, or he’d let it slide if you didn’t buy a new belt even though your mid-section said otherwise.

But for him, putting shoes on a person that didn’t fit was an ethical breach.

He would say: “If your shoes don’t fit, your feet will hurt. And if your feet hurt, then your mood will change. And who knows how you’ll treat people if your mood has changed.”

So if you sold shoes for my father, you learned to fit them properly.

That was the standard. Many clothiers may not have felt that way. But he did, and it was one of the things that helped his business stand out.

What are the standards in your work? Can you tell stories of how you set the bar, and in doing so, how you stand out?

If you’re looking for a job, think through times when you acted in a way where you set the standard of excellence. Prospective employers will be impressed by someone who has thought about those things, as that can be a differentiator in a competitive market.

#career #openforwork #jobsearch

I don’t need research to tell me that I want my work to count and give me the opportunity to have meaning, but the research does exist. When we talk about the concept of “meaning at work”, I’ve often had folks say: “Well, I’m not in medicine or in some job that really counts, so I guess that doesn’t apply to me.

Baloney.

When I asked one of the most successful fast food restaurant managers of a chain what his mission was, he said: “I hire many young people, and this is their first job beyond lawn mowing or babysitting. I teach them responsibility and how to treat people with courtesy and how to take pride in work. Most of these young people go onto to other jobs, but it is wonderful when they come back and tell me they’re a better person and employee because of the skills and values they learned at our restaurant.”

Meaning and purpose are NOT sequestered in one profession. Where does that purpose and meaning reside?

In you.

In EVERY job you can take the mindset to act in a way that adds dignity and meaning.

And you can do that in even the most so-called “modest” job.

Set your mindset that you will find the meaning and mission in what you do.

Prospective and current employers will notice.

There are training videos on the web site of my faith community and a handout. This content is free: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

#career #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch

Have you applied for a job at a company, had an interview, and then never heard back?

You’ve been “ghosted”.

Sadly, many employers don’t follow up with candidates who aren’t moving forward on a job. It is, in my view, lazy, disrespectful and unprofessional on the part of an employer. It can hurt their brand. Even if you don’t get this job, you are still a potential future employee, referrer and also a customer.

As a job seeker, what should you do?

~ If you had what you thought was a good interview that you think might lead to an offer, DON’T STOP SEARCHING. Keep looking. You are in control of your search.

~ Check your networking contacts to see if you know someone can help.

~ Finally, take the high road. Send one last note to the recruiter or hiring manager. Express your disappointment they have not followed up, and wish them well.

Stick to your plan. Do your homework. Tell your story.

It’s a new day. Let’s get going.

There are free training videos on the web site of my faith community: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

#career #careercoach #jobhuntingtips #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch #jobsearchtips

There was an article in the newspaper about a woman who was recently invited for an in-person job interview. She thought it went well, but didn’t get a call back.

She followed up and found the position had been filled. When she asked why they hired someone else, they said: “When you came in for an interview you wore your mask the entire time. We thought you might be one of those people who will complain about every safety issue.”

Each of us will need to make a decision about what kind of work environment for which we will feel comfortable. In the case above, the woman was actually relieved she found out that their values regarding safety weren’t the same as hers, and went onto her next career opportunity.

I used to work for a utility that highly valued safety, and I never felt unsafe when I worked there. That was important to me, so in that case my values and the values of my employer were aligned.

Use online resources to understand the safety culture of a prospective employer. Additionally, you can use networking skills to gain additional insights.

Do your homework. Find a job that is right for you in an environment and culture that fits what is important to you.

There are training videos on the web site of my faith community. This content is free. Please pass along: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

#career #careercoach #jobhuntingtips #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch #jobsearchtips

#jobsearchcoach #jobsearchhelp #jobsearchstrategies

Don Clifton was at a national sales meeting of a client. He heard people whispering about a man across the room. Although the man had on a nice sports coat and tie, he apparently had made a faux paus with his socks…

They were white.

Don found out later that the man with the white socks, although ridiculed, was outstanding. In fact, his hecklers didn’t know that later that day he was being honored at the meeting.

Don deemed his peers suffered from “glare”, where in this instance they were evaluating this gentleman wearing white socks which, of course, has absolutely no relationship to his productivity and success.

If Don was alive today, he wouldn’t call it glare; he would call it bias.

Sadly, there is way too much “glare” in the world of work, too much bias, including in the hiring process.

We must fight against this bias; resist it. As job seekers, some of you may face it because:

~ Of your age

~ Of your gender

~ Because you are a person with a disability

~ You are unemployed

~ Of your sexual orientation

And, three months after the death of George Floyd in my hometown, there is bias because of your race.

Let’s name this—it is bias.

Photo is of Don and me in 1982. I miss him.

#jobsearch #careers #bias

Don’t you just love job interviews? (tongue firmly planted in cheek)

This is a question you’re likely to get in a job interview, so best you think about how you will respond.

Recruiters and hiring managers have told me that by asking you to respond “to what a former manager would say” you actually are revealing what you think about yourself.

Tricky!

Think carefully about what descriptors you use to answer this question, because what you say may be telling to a prospective employer a lot more than you think. You can also use this as an opportunity to provide an example or two of your successes and accomplishments.

And, of course, be honest.

This is one of those questions for which you will want to practice (there’s that awful word “practice”) with a friend. Record your response and review. Think about how well your response represents you and helps advance your search.

So, what would a former boss or coworker say about you?

It’s a new day. Let’s get started.

There are training videos on the web site of my faith community and a handout. This content is free. Please pass along: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

#career #careercoach #jobhuntingtips #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch #jobsearchtips

#jobsearchcoach #jobsearchhelp #jobsearchstrategies

You see an internal job post where you work. It looks like a job you would have a real chance of getting, and it fits your career plans. Since it’s an internal post you probably don’t need to do the things you would do for an external post, right?

Wrong.

You should put in as much effort into an internal posting. You’ll want to:

• validate that the job is a good fit,
• prepare a cover letter and resume that is customized to the opportunity,
• network with people who know about the job and can provide good coaching,
• do homework to determine salary, if that information isn’t available,
• practice for an interview so you can tell your story and connect to the job requirements, and
• prepare follow up correspondence after the interview.

All this work may seem unnecessary, but these tasks are all within your control and give you the best chance possible to be successful.

Do the work. Identify needs. Tell your story.

There are training videos on the web site of my faith community. This content is free: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

#career #careercoach #jobhuntingtips #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch #jobsearchtips

#jobsearchcoach #jobsearchhelp #jobsearchstrategies