I’ve got a short survey out on Twitter and LinkedIn. Here the question:
In my career there were times I ended up in a new job when I wasn’t actually looking, either by referral or approached by an employer. You?
For Twitter, go to: https://twitter.com/MDHirschfeld/status/1329439789960065027?s=20 f
For LinkedIn, go to: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/markhirschfeld_what-is-your-career-experience-activity-6735201451909414914-Q29K
A couple of years ago I got some points from my company’s recognition platform.
I redeemed for a new golf club.
My golfing will attest that every time I hit a good shot (which isn’t as often as I would like) I’m likely to mention that I got the club because of recognition from my employer.
According to the academic research, I see “trophy value” in the club, and it is natural for me to share where I received this reward, in this case from my employer.
We will socialize a reward like this, but it is bad form to do so with cash—you just don’t talk about getting cash like you would an item like my new driver.
As you’re developing your recognition and reward strategy, take advantage of the “trophy value” of noncash awards.
And if you want to find me on the golf course, I’ll be in the rough.
#ThankYouThursday #recognition #appreciation #gratitude #grateful #inspiration
My employer has created a free site to recognize folks. Use it as often as you would like! Give some appreciation, right now: https://appreciate.biworldwide.com/
I’ve spent too much time complaining about… socks. Why, because too many socks are one-size-fits-all, which if you have a size fourteen shoe like me that means no-size-fits-all.
I’m old enough to remember when having one resume and cover letter was standard fare, which you carefully prepared on your typewriter and copied.
Those days are gone.
You now have the ability to customize all your job search communications. You could apply to ten different jobs and have ten different cover letters and resumes.
Really, why?
When you take the time to customize your messaging to a specific employer, you increase the perception that you have done your homework about the employer and are truly interested in them.
They like people who show interest—they’re funny that way.
To have one “cookie cutter” set of correspondence these days is just plain lazy, and makes you stand out in a way that doesn’t advance your search.
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 #careercoach #jobhuntingtips #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch #jobsearchtips
#jobsearchcoach #jobsearchhelp #jobsearchstrategies
I saw this quote on social media: “Being a leader means bothering to listen.”
The word “bother” may have different connotations across the globe, but in my neck of the woods it feels like we must do better than merely “bothering” to listen to our team members.
We must embrace listening to our team members.
We must look forward to listening.
We must take joy in doing so.
We must listen when we disagree.
We must listen when there is conflict.
We must listen when there is concern, even fear.
We must listen when there is joy and celebration.
We must listen.
We most go beyond “bothering” to listen to embracing the act.
Why?
When folks are heard, truly heard, there is more engagement
When they are heard, truly heard, there is more inspiration and creativity.
When they are heard, there is more commitment.
According to research from my friend and colleague Dr. Brad Shuck, outstanding, compassionate, leaders are present for their team members, listen actively and without distraction, and stay in the moment.
Leaders who listen are leaders who inspire and engage their teams.
Are you listening?
#leadership #compassionateleadership #employeeengagement
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:
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 All the posts at www.markhirschfeld.com
#career #careercoach #jobhuntingtips #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch #jobsearchtips
#jobsearchcoach #jobsearchhelp #jobsearchstrategies
In your job search you will meet many people. Some of those contacts will be helpful, some won’t be particularly helpful, and some may be downright annoying.
Thank them all.
Say thank you to each contact you make in your job search.
No exceptions.
If I have a mailing address I prefer go old school and write a note. It’s a nice touch and will differentiate you because most people won’t make the effort.
In absence of that you can also send something electronically. I’m posting below a free site created by my employer. I posted this yesterday, so forgive me if I’m sounding like a stuck record. It has several card options and is easy to use. You don’t have to use this site, but do something.
There is so much in your job search you can’t control, but this is something that is within your control.
Aside from being a smart thing to do it also happens to be, in my view, a kind and considerate thing to do.
And I think the world can always use a bit more of those qualities, don’t you?
There are training videos on the web site of my faith community and a handout. This content is free: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources
A former colleague, Dr. Kenneth Liggett, had a wonderful metaphor about healthy relationships:
“Mark, let’s say you want to eat healthier. You know apples are healthy, so you create a diet where you only eat apples. But that wouldn’t be healthy, would it? To have a healthy diet you need a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables and proteins.”
He continued: “The same thing is true with your network of relationships. If you only have “apples” you don’t have a healthy network. You need different, healthy relationships in order to have a truly healthy network.”
Think about your current network—do you have diversity, or do you only have “apples”?
As a job seeker, having a more diverse network can help you in so many ways. A more diverse network can “see” things about you that a more homogenous network can’t. They may have insights about job opportunities that you wouldn’t be aware of otherwise.
Over the last several months I’ve been intentional about expanding my network. I’ve met some wonderful folks and learned a lot.
To expand your opportunities, diversify your network.
#career #careercoach #openforwork #jobsearch
The great basketball coach John Wooden had a unique approach—he didn’t spend much time telling players what they did wrong and how to fix what they did wrong. Instead, he showed employees the right way to do something and affirmed them when they performed accordingly.
“Like this,” he would say.
It turns out this approach works in other places. In a recent study we found that a large region of a retailer had better sales and customer satisfaction when employees were more frequently recognized for living out the corporate values with customers.
Like this.
This is but one example of where a gamification technique such as the badging of key behaviors in a recognition program can be an invaluable business tool. Employees will repeat those actions for which they are recognized, and in the case of this retailer that produced better sales and customer satisfaction.
“Like this” is a simple yet powerful approach to aligning employee behavior to generate results.
#ThankYouThursday #recognition #appreciation #gratitude #grateful #inspiration
My employer has created a free site to recognize folks. Use it as often as you would like! Give some appreciation, right now: https://appreciate.biworldwide.com/
On Veteran’s Day in the United States, I would like to offer my thanks to those who currently serve and have served in our military.
I am reminded that veterans have a number of challenges transitioning to civilian life. One of those is finding employment.
If you are a veteran and are looking for a job, I am raising my hand today to offer my help. Connect with me, or if we’re already connected please send me a note.
To those of you in my network who may know a veteran who is looking for a job, can you also please consider reaching out?
#veteransday #veteranhiring #jobsearch #work #careers
A friend of mine was looking at a job posting that had a “preferred skill” of using a certain software application. She didn’t have experience with that application, but had used two others that she thought were similar.
She contacted a friend who had worked with both applications. He told my friend that if she knew the one application that she was 90% of the way to knowing the other. She also went online and found screen shots of the application, which gave her confidence that she was well prepared to learn the new solution.
She listed her experience with the other application, and when asked in the interview told the hiring manager she had reached to someone about how easy it would be for her to learn the new technology.
The hiring manager was impressed she had taken the time to learn about their preferred technology, and told her that “in your case I think you’ve shown you are a great candidate”.
None of us will meet every requirement for a job, but we can make the effort to show prospective employers that some of our gaps can be managed and, in doing so, showcase our candidacy.
There are training videos on the web site of my faith community. This content is free: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources All the posts at www.markhirschfeld.com
#career #careercoach #jobhuntingtips #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch #jobsearchtips
#jobsearchcoach #jobsearchhelp #jobsearchstrategies
Mark Hirschfeld 