Mark Hirschfeld

You’ve gotten yourself an interview for a job you’re excited about, but you get a sense you might not be their “ideal” candidate. You may have a skill gap, or perhaps you don’t have experience in the industry.

Here’s an idea—address their potential concern head on.

If you go through the interview and they haven’t asked about “the elephant”, you might want to say something like: “You may have concerns about me being a candidate for this job. What are your concerns about me as a candidate for this job?”

And, of course, you will have practiced the answer to the elephant question, acknowledging you may be a different candidate but have the skills and experience that can make you a great fit.

I’m not the kind of person who likes to let an elephant get too comfortable in the living room. Address the potential concern head on, tell your story, and put your best foot forward.

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

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

Opportunities will open and close based on a factor not always obvious to the job seeker…

The business cycle.

All organizations run on some kind of year, either a calendar or fiscal. Jobs can become available in a new budget cycle, and they can also go away if not filled within the budgeting year.

Knowing the cycle for a potential employer can be helpful to your search. One former client knew a job wasn’t going to open up for a couple of months, but proposed they hire him with a start date when the job became available. Another I know took a job with a company that was a temporary role while still staying in the running for another job at the same company that was coming open in a few weeks when a new fiscal year started.

Since we’re coming up on the end of the calendar year there may more of these opportunities out there.

Keep your head up. Keep telling your story. Keep showing how you add value.

There are training videos on the web site of my faith community and a handout. This content is free: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources  You can find all the posts at www.markhirschfeld.com

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

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  All the posts at www.markhirschfeld.com

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

People who offer to give references have your best interests in mind, but it’s often helpful to provide them information about your job search and the company that is asking for your reference.

You can do that by sending your reference information about the job for which you are applying. It’s also helpful to send the reference a copy of your resume and highlight the experiences or successes you think might be particularly valuable for the reference to discuss with a potential employer.

This communication can be particularly helpful for someone who hasn’t worked with you for a time and isn’t as familiar with your recent activities.

As a person who has given references, it is always a relief if I receive this kind of information. I’m in a much better position to provide truthful and helpful information to the potential employer.

There is often a feeling that as job seekers we don’t have a lot of control, and that’s true. This is something you can have some control over—help your references to best tell your story.

There are training videos on the web site of my faith community and a handout the videos reference. This content is free. Please consider passing along: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources  You can find all the posts at www.markhirschfeld.com

#jobsearch #jobseekers #careerchange

Track coach Bob Timmons wasn’t impressed with his new long-distance running recruits, but then he saw he saw something in a sophomore runner…

… a glimpse.

He started working with that young man to help him develop the ability to take his performance from a “glimpse” to a full performance, and a few years later that young runner, Jim Ryan, set a world record.

Every day in our workplaces there are folks who are working hard. They may not have put it all together, but they may have shown a “glimpse” or two along the way.

Have you seen a “glimpse” recently? If not, do you need to take more time to truly see what’s going on with your team?

Let’s identify and recognize those glimpses, and then work to help our team members build on those glimpses.

Who knows, we just might help develop some world-class performances.

For discussion: where can I focus my attention to see some “glimpses” where I work?

#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/

For those of us in the United States, as of early November 4^th, we await the final election decision. This waiting can be emotional, frustrating, and stressful.

For those who are searching for a job, waiting to hear about a decision regarding employment can also be fraught with the same emotions.

What can you do when you’ve been interviewed for a job and the prospective employer tells you’re still in the running but they don’t have a decision?

~ Don’t stop the rest of your search! Even if you are a finalist in a job, continue to work any other opportunities on your board. Until you have a firm offer and start date you should assume you don’t have the job.

~ Get feedback from coaches who know the prospective employer to determine if there is anything else you can do to advance your best interests.

~ Take care of yourself. In these stressful times when there is no decision, take care of yourself and get into a circle of folks who can encourage and support you.

What is common about these three pieces of advice? They are within your control, and in the midst of waiting for a decision you want to control what you can.

Hang in there.

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

#career #careercoach #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch

It’s election day in the United States. This is a big deal, and there will be lots of attention paid, justifiably, to this event.

But you can still advance your job search:

~ I just checked, and there are still postings on job boards! Take a peek and see if a new opportunity looks right for you and get that application and resume posted.

~ The internet still works and libraries are still open, so you today can be a time for you to conduct research about prospective employers and maybe an new industry you’re exploring.

~ There may be some folks who would love to take a few minutes for a networking call today to distract them, so go ahead and ask! And if folks don’t want to meet today, perhaps you can use today to schedule a time for a networking meeting sometime down the road.

If you are here in the U.S., please vote (safely) if you haven’t already done so, but if you’re in the job search this can still be a productive day to advance you toward your ultimate goal.

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

#career #careercoach #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch

This plea is to those of you who are fortunate enough to have a job. If someone asks for you for a few moments to ask for advice, please do so. If you know the person well enough and feel comfortable writing a reference or validating some of their skills on this platform, do it.

One exceptionally important thing you can do in a networking meeting it to provide connections to a job seeker from your network. I was trained by my father to understand and utilize the power of networking, a skill others may not have.

I have used this privilege to my own benefit over the years, and am now using that to help others navigate these often complex systems called employers.

I’ve heard some say they are uncomfortable taking networking meetings because of the fear they can’t help. You don’t need to have all the answers. In fact, just listening to folks who are searching can make a difference—you help them feel heard.

Reach out and help not because you may receive something in return (although you might); do it because it’s the right thing.

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

#jobsearch #hiring #jobs #careers

A former job search client told me about how a first interview with a prospective employer got off to a great start because she was learning about the employer. Prior to her interview she had been online and noticed a news story about the company, which she referenced in the “small talk” introductions. The hiring manager hadn’t seen the article, so was grateful for her bringing it up and it offered them an opportunity to connect. The rest of interview went well.

This is a good example of the importance of doing your homework about a potential employer. In some cases that can be accomplished in online research—the web site of the employer, online review sites and social networking sites can all be useful.

In other cases you need to do some networking with people you know who may have insights or can introduce you to people who do.

There are twelve free training videos on the web site of my faith community. Please consider passing along to friend or loved one who may need help: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources