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Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Friday, June 24, 2011
Stanford startup info
We would love for you to be part of the next generation of Silicon Valley technology and innovation. Our firm soon will be launching a social networking site that has a very compelling combination of features. To learn more, you must attend the information session.
Please send your resume ASAP to stanfordstartuprecruiter@gmail.com so we can schedule you for an information session.
We currently are looking for experienced, entrepreneurial software engineers to join the next great Stanford startup and get involved in software development. The team meets nights and weekends part-time. Key employees are responsible for a wide range of activities including product management and business development.
About Us: We are a startup company from Google, Yahoo, Stanford, Dartmouth, MIT, UC Berkeley, SJSU, Cisco, Sun and more! We are angel funded and building excitement within the VC community.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
"This job post no longer available?"
I'm having a great time (like a heart attack) sifting through my manifold e-mails full of job opportunities. Of course, I'm doing the usual: carefully tailoring each cover letter and resume to each opportunity. I'm pulling out what each employer wants and ensuring key words are included for proper SEO.
Then schmega juicy jobs pop up and I'm salivating eager to lap up the chance to get my resume to the top of the pile. I'm pouring over the cover letters. It's taking me an inordinate amount of time because I want it just right. I'm excited about getting back into a space that is so familiar and for which I am uniquely gifted. I truly enjoy this particular line of work so I want, at minimum, a first interview.
Voila! It's done! My best and final tweeks sing like Pavrotti and I'm stoked. I click on the "Apply Here" button and (gong sound) "This job post no longer available." Oh that's gotta be a mistake. I must have misclicked. <Click> "This job post no longer available."
Let the whining begin
WHAT???
ARE YOU SERIOUS???
Do you have any idea how much time I spent poring over these cover letters and resumes and I can't submit it? You've got to be kidding, right? I checked how long ago I received the job notice and see I got the e-mail only 18 hours ago. There's no way they closed those jobs yet.
It could always be that there's a problem on their end. It could also be a problem from my e-mail in-box to their server. Let me go directly to the actual company's web site. G O N E !
You mean I just wasted my time, hopes and all, on cover letters they will never see? Any recruiter will tell you it's never a waste of time. I'll run across a similar opportunity where I'll get to repurpose that killer cover letter.
But 18 hours later the requisition is closed?
I don't scare that easy buddy
I prefer to keep my hopes up. I refuse to let this sucky economy drag me down. I'm hopeful it's just a glitch somewhere in the system. SOMEWHERE! I'll be back ... Monday.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Social interviews, awakenings
Social studies, butterfly
Social networks, interview
Socially acceptable, awkward
So I'm minding my own business interviewing for a job when lo and behold I have to engage in a "social interview." I had no idea what I was getting into. It was interesting to say the least. Mind you it was two days in a row of interviews at 54 miles round trip.
I walk into their human resources office along with several other candidates for other positions. They asked for my resume and I provided cheerfully. They wanted me to fill out a paper application so I asked for it so I could multitask while we did the social interview. Initially I was told no. Minutes later, someone else gave it to me and asked for another copy of my resume. Hmmm.
Nevertheless, all of us felt a little awkward but it was very clear who possessed social graces and who didn't.
We sat on either side of tables that formed a u-shape. They instructed us to introduce each other but with a twist. What they did was lead by example. Each of the six HR peeps introduced themselves by name, title/role and revealed a personal fact about themselves. One said they were getting married next month. Another said they were expecting their first child in two weeks. They all smiled and were most enthusiastic. My first thought was why do I want/need to reveal anything personal to people I never have met before? Awkward???
So they started at my table and I was the third person to introduce myself. "Hello! My name is Emiliana Martin, I'm a candidate for a PR Manager position and I'm the PTA president at my son's middle school." I didn't say it to impress anyone but the woman wearing a suit sitting next to me blurts out, "Impressive." Great. Now I've just come across as someone trying to intimidate others with my station/position. Swell. Most revealed something personal. A few didn't.
They split us up into two groups for group dynamic exercises. The first thing we were instructed to do was to come up with three key things that make a team great. They split their team into groups of three and observed our group dynamic. Here's the weird part: When we were done they told us that they would give us a critique and we were to say "Thank you" afterward. The person's tone in providing us these instructions gave me pause. It felt dictatorial as if to say, "and you will like the critique so much you'll say thank you." Weird.
So they started on the opposite side of the room and first asked if they could give feedback. What were we supposed to say, "Oh hell no!" That would have been suicide. The feedback was interesting, to say the least. I felt the critique should not have public. That was inappropriate. Feedback, particularly criticism, should be done in private, not in front of peers. I don't care how constructive it is. Yet another red flag.
I finally got my critique. It was positive until she said I interrupted someone. Before I had a chance to process and cheerfully say thank you, she moved onto the next person. Red flag number three.
They ended the social interview. I was asked to complete the application. I wasn't ready with my references because I didn't know I had to fill out an application beforehand. I turned in the application and they asked for yet another resume. I asked for an e-mail address to send the references. They said they would be in touch for an HR interview within two weeks. I was looking forward to that because I checked a box that said they were not allowed to contact my last employer for a reference. I was never given the chance to explain why.
Today I got the rejection letter. Here's what one person did with their rejection letter that made me giggle. I hope you do too!
Moral to the story: There's something better elsewhere.
Social networks, interview
Socially acceptable, awkward
So I'm minding my own business interviewing for a job when lo and behold I have to engage in a "social interview." I had no idea what I was getting into. It was interesting to say the least. Mind you it was two days in a row of interviews at 54 miles round trip.
I walk into their human resources office along with several other candidates for other positions. They asked for my resume and I provided cheerfully. They wanted me to fill out a paper application so I asked for it so I could multitask while we did the social interview. Initially I was told no. Minutes later, someone else gave it to me and asked for another copy of my resume. Hmmm.
Nevertheless, all of us felt a little awkward but it was very clear who possessed social graces and who didn't.
We sat on either side of tables that formed a u-shape. They instructed us to introduce each other but with a twist. What they did was lead by example. Each of the six HR peeps introduced themselves by name, title/role and revealed a personal fact about themselves. One said they were getting married next month. Another said they were expecting their first child in two weeks. They all smiled and were most enthusiastic. My first thought was why do I want/need to reveal anything personal to people I never have met before? Awkward???
So they started at my table and I was the third person to introduce myself. "Hello! My name is Emiliana Martin, I'm a candidate for a PR Manager position and I'm the PTA president at my son's middle school." I didn't say it to impress anyone but the woman wearing a suit sitting next to me blurts out, "Impressive." Great. Now I've just come across as someone trying to intimidate others with my station/position. Swell. Most revealed something personal. A few didn't.
They split us up into two groups for group dynamic exercises. The first thing we were instructed to do was to come up with three key things that make a team great. They split their team into groups of three and observed our group dynamic. Here's the weird part: When we were done they told us that they would give us a critique and we were to say "Thank you" afterward. The person's tone in providing us these instructions gave me pause. It felt dictatorial as if to say, "and you will like the critique so much you'll say thank you." Weird.
So they started on the opposite side of the room and first asked if they could give feedback. What were we supposed to say, "Oh hell no!" That would have been suicide. The feedback was interesting, to say the least. I felt the critique should not have public. That was inappropriate. Feedback, particularly criticism, should be done in private, not in front of peers. I don't care how constructive it is. Yet another red flag.
I finally got my critique. It was positive until she said I interrupted someone. Before I had a chance to process and cheerfully say thank you, she moved onto the next person. Red flag number three.
They ended the social interview. I was asked to complete the application. I wasn't ready with my references because I didn't know I had to fill out an application beforehand. I turned in the application and they asked for yet another resume. I asked for an e-mail address to send the references. They said they would be in touch for an HR interview within two weeks. I was looking forward to that because I checked a box that said they were not allowed to contact my last employer for a reference. I was never given the chance to explain why.
Today I got the rejection letter. Here's what one person did with their rejection letter that made me giggle. I hope you do too!
Moral to the story: There's something better elsewhere.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Microsoft Hell
"I'll send that to you right now!"
Famous last words before I discover that my two-page resume is actually four pages ugly ... and I mean U G L Y !!!
When I send out my resume, I actually send out two. I have an executive summary version (thanks Marla!) and the standard detailed version for recruiters. On my computer in MS Word, it looks fabulous. I'll typically send the .PDF version so the formatting is retained regardless of printer settings. Unfortunately, I had to come through with an MS Word file NOT Acrobat. I thought there would be no problem. I turned around the request within five minutes.
About a minute later, the recipient tells me my name is missing from the top and it's more pages than I originally intended. It didn't matter that it looked fabulous on my computer/printer. I ended up sending to about five girlfriends. All of them had problems printing out my resume. Swell.
Understand that I have over 20 years experience with MS Word and consider myself an expert. It took me three hours to debug the problem. THREE HOURS! That's ridiculous.
What I learned
As soon as someone comes out with a far superior word processing software offering, I'm there. Until then, I get to suck it up, buck up and figure it out.
Before I send any document to anyone, send it to myself. Upon receipt, read it using Google Docs (a lifesaving application in my book). What I figured out was my document was over formatted. By this I mean I had styles I no longer use and outdated fonts. In order for the resumes to fit on one page each, I had to perform some serious text wrangling. The solution: Cut the entire document sans the last paragraph marker and paste into a shiny new MS Word document and reformat from scratch.
I had to mess with the template organizer, modify/delete old styles, ensure Adobe TrueType fonts were used, reset defaults, all that stuff. Long story short, I had to completely reformat the document without adjusting any character spacing, kerning, etc. It all came down to the font.
Once formatted and reworded to eliminate widows and orphans, everything was fine. But what a pain in the butt!
I LOVE TECHNOLOGY but wish it wasn't as complex as Microsoft software product offerings. Back in the day, I could call Microsoft and expect to speak with an expert to solve problems. But Bill Gates wasn't getting paid well enough so he came up with a pay-as-you-go customer help model that effectively killed any chance of me getting helped.
But so what. I figured it out. I'm over it. Next ...
Famous last words before I discover that my two-page resume is actually four pages ugly ... and I mean U G L Y !!!
When I send out my resume, I actually send out two. I have an executive summary version (thanks Marla!) and the standard detailed version for recruiters. On my computer in MS Word, it looks fabulous. I'll typically send the .PDF version so the formatting is retained regardless of printer settings. Unfortunately, I had to come through with an MS Word file NOT Acrobat. I thought there would be no problem. I turned around the request within five minutes.
About a minute later, the recipient tells me my name is missing from the top and it's more pages than I originally intended. It didn't matter that it looked fabulous on my computer/printer. I ended up sending to about five girlfriends. All of them had problems printing out my resume. Swell.
Understand that I have over 20 years experience with MS Word and consider myself an expert. It took me three hours to debug the problem. THREE HOURS! That's ridiculous.
What I learned
As soon as someone comes out with a far superior word processing software offering, I'm there. Until then, I get to suck it up, buck up and figure it out.
Before I send any document to anyone, send it to myself. Upon receipt, read it using Google Docs (a lifesaving application in my book). What I figured out was my document was over formatted. By this I mean I had styles I no longer use and outdated fonts. In order for the resumes to fit on one page each, I had to perform some serious text wrangling. The solution: Cut the entire document sans the last paragraph marker and paste into a shiny new MS Word document and reformat from scratch.
I had to mess with the template organizer, modify/delete old styles, ensure Adobe TrueType fonts were used, reset defaults, all that stuff. Long story short, I had to completely reformat the document without adjusting any character spacing, kerning, etc. It all came down to the font.
Once formatted and reworded to eliminate widows and orphans, everything was fine. But what a pain in the butt!
I LOVE TECHNOLOGY but wish it wasn't as complex as Microsoft software product offerings. Back in the day, I could call Microsoft and expect to speak with an expert to solve problems. But Bill Gates wasn't getting paid well enough so he came up with a pay-as-you-go customer help model that effectively killed any chance of me getting helped.
But so what. I figured it out. I'm over it. Next ...
Friday, January 21, 2011
Hunting methodology madness
Things are looking up for PR/Marcom professionals like me. However, the trick is to figure out how to navigate through a virtual ocean of opportunities. The biggest challenge for everyone: It's an employer's market. The market is so saturated with candidates that employers can pick and choose from the cream of the crop.
For candidates, it's tough out there. There are almost too many ways to find a job.
Headhunters
God bless them all. They have a tough job. They have to first negotiate their finder's fee then find the perfect candidate. Word on the street is that since 2000, employers want 10/10 qualifications for any given position. Even if a candidate has nine and some stellar value-add, they won't even look at the resume.
The other conundrum is if you previously have applied for any job directly through the employer, in most cases, the headhunter can't provide the resume. Terrific. My current job, "Career Seeking Manager," is applying for jobs everywhere there's a decent lead but I may have shot myself in the foot if my headhunter thinks I'm a perfect fit for a job at, e.g., Applied Materials, but can't submit my resume because I already applied for a different job. Wonderful.
Search Engines
In 2000 they were all the rage and today, they seem to be a shadow of their former selves. They want to charge for higher visibility in searches -- however that works -- and they also charge employers subscriptions worth $10k per year to search their database. One headhunter told me not to bother with Monster because fewer peers use, much less recommend, Monster for their candidate search needs.
Why do Monster, Career Builder and others expect me to pay to play particularly when there are all kinds of places like headhunters who will do it for free (at least it's free to me)? First of all, I'm out of work, which means I have zero discretionary funds. Besides. I'd rather spend the money on business cards for networking events than job board databases. I can get the lead for free and apply to the company directly. No money involved.
But here lies my biggest pet peeve: Duplicity. I don't mean to pick on Monster but they were the most frustrating. I had to enter my information twice for two different profile formats. Unless or until I did that, my profile was incomplete. It made absolutely zero sense but I sucked it up and just did it. I think I spent three hours on that board alone compared to about 30 minutes on Career Builder. What is that about?
Corporate profiles
I must confess that of all the companies accepting resumes electronically, I liked Intel's best. I spent, at most, 20 minutes answering questions, providing relevant information, etc. The toughest was HP.
What through me for a loop when I applied for a commercial marketing position at HP was the ever popular interview question, "Tell us what distinguishes you from other candidates." Keep in mind it was among the first jobs I applied for. I saved my application as a draft right then and came back with an answer the next day. I didn't adequately prepare for interview questions just yet and certainly didn't expect one while submitting my resume for consideration. Intel didn't ask that question though I'm ready to answer it today thanks to a nudge from HP.
What I love most about this job search is I don't have to buy reams of bond paper, envelopes and stamps. It's all electronic so I get to help save a forest or two. The downside of that is it's easier to hit the delete key than merely throw away a paper resume.
Networking
You've heard that some of the best jobs are the ones that aren't advertised but networked? Honestly, I know very few people who have their jobs because they networked with a former colleague, friend of a colleague or college professor.
That said, I ordered my business cards and am ready to network my butt off at any mixer or job fair. BTW, I designed my own business cards and they look fabulous. Man I'm good.
Logic vs. intuition
The job search climate is more robotic than it should be. Intuition seems to have taken a back seat to logic. Logic has it's place in the process but intuition and raw talent are what drives Silicon Valley. Of course, no one wants to work with a qualified curmudgeon. Human factors such as intuition must be restored to human resources. Technology is certainly relevant when it comes to recruiting. However, no database can determine how well a candidate fits into the mix of personalities.
For candidates, it's tough out there. There are almost too many ways to find a job.
Headhunters
God bless them all. They have a tough job. They have to first negotiate their finder's fee then find the perfect candidate. Word on the street is that since 2000, employers want 10/10 qualifications for any given position. Even if a candidate has nine and some stellar value-add, they won't even look at the resume.
The other conundrum is if you previously have applied for any job directly through the employer, in most cases, the headhunter can't provide the resume. Terrific. My current job, "Career Seeking Manager," is applying for jobs everywhere there's a decent lead but I may have shot myself in the foot if my headhunter thinks I'm a perfect fit for a job at, e.g., Applied Materials, but can't submit my resume because I already applied for a different job. Wonderful.
Search Engines
In 2000 they were all the rage and today, they seem to be a shadow of their former selves. They want to charge for higher visibility in searches -- however that works -- and they also charge employers subscriptions worth $10k per year to search their database. One headhunter told me not to bother with Monster because fewer peers use, much less recommend, Monster for their candidate search needs.
Why do Monster, Career Builder and others expect me to pay to play particularly when there are all kinds of places like headhunters who will do it for free (at least it's free to me)? First of all, I'm out of work, which means I have zero discretionary funds. Besides. I'd rather spend the money on business cards for networking events than job board databases. I can get the lead for free and apply to the company directly. No money involved.
But here lies my biggest pet peeve: Duplicity. I don't mean to pick on Monster but they were the most frustrating. I had to enter my information twice for two different profile formats. Unless or until I did that, my profile was incomplete. It made absolutely zero sense but I sucked it up and just did it. I think I spent three hours on that board alone compared to about 30 minutes on Career Builder. What is that about?
Corporate profiles
I must confess that of all the companies accepting resumes electronically, I liked Intel's best. I spent, at most, 20 minutes answering questions, providing relevant information, etc. The toughest was HP.
What through me for a loop when I applied for a commercial marketing position at HP was the ever popular interview question, "Tell us what distinguishes you from other candidates." Keep in mind it was among the first jobs I applied for. I saved my application as a draft right then and came back with an answer the next day. I didn't adequately prepare for interview questions just yet and certainly didn't expect one while submitting my resume for consideration. Intel didn't ask that question though I'm ready to answer it today thanks to a nudge from HP.
What I love most about this job search is I don't have to buy reams of bond paper, envelopes and stamps. It's all electronic so I get to help save a forest or two. The downside of that is it's easier to hit the delete key than merely throw away a paper resume.
Networking
You've heard that some of the best jobs are the ones that aren't advertised but networked? Honestly, I know very few people who have their jobs because they networked with a former colleague, friend of a colleague or college professor.
That said, I ordered my business cards and am ready to network my butt off at any mixer or job fair. BTW, I designed my own business cards and they look fabulous. Man I'm good.
Logic vs. intuition
The job search climate is more robotic than it should be. Intuition seems to have taken a back seat to logic. Logic has it's place in the process but intuition and raw talent are what drives Silicon Valley. Of course, no one wants to work with a qualified curmudgeon. Human factors such as intuition must be restored to human resources. Technology is certainly relevant when it comes to recruiting. However, no database can determine how well a candidate fits into the mix of personalities.
For example, if during the course of interviews my gut is screams "GET OUT," then it's a firm handshake and "Good day to you." However, if a friendly, collaborative, respectful atmosphere is clearly evident after meeting with hiring managers, team members, etc., I'm there.
Some of the best candidates and most successful employees do not have all the qualifications but have energy, enthusiasm and a commitment to lifelong learning. There are plenty of us who are eager to learn something new.
There's a creative in all of us. Once we learn something new, innovation explodes and best practice thrives. This is the epicenter of innovation. Not everyone knows a new technology but most can pick it up quickly and run with it.
Whatever happened to the entrepreneurial spirit? When my father was among the Silicon Valley pioneers, there was a real camaraderie, boldness and flexibility when it came to new hires. If you didn't have all of the qualifications, maybe only seven out of ten, but had boat loads of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn something new, you were seriously considered and, in many cases, got hired.
Can we please get back to our core values, i.e., marketplace of innovation. Employers, please invent a better way to find the right candidates so we can get back to work.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
The sport that is Job Hunting
I love ocean fishing, deep-sea especially.
I remember fishing on the pier at Santa Cruz with my father and grandparents. We'd catch tons of little King fish, starfish if you left the line in the water long enough and, of course, crabbing.
Later, my father bought a 17' Boston Whaler. The cool factor was definitely a 10+. Once out of the harbor it was full steam ahead breaking waves, leaving a wake, wind in my face and through my hair, smelling that sweet sea air, staring at the beautiful coastline. Awesome!
The bait was usually the same: bloodworms, squid, anchovies, etc. Typically, you needed a lure for catching a prized salmon. After the fog burned off, the sun was very warm and you had your very own personal paradise in the middle of the quiet Monterey Bay. Priceless.
The old school job hunt
Hunting for a job used to be much like fishing. Put together the same old resume (bait), with the predictable job descriptors and standard references (rod and reel), etc. So imagine my surprise when I decided to re-enter the workforce after being gone for six years.
The cold shower
The environment completely changed. Not only was the bait totally different, recruiters expect accomplishments, highlights, awards, publications, execute, execute, execute, results, results, results!!!!!! It's enough to make one recharge their pacemaker, fasten seat belts and return seats to their upright position.
My career is marked not by a learning curve but a vertical line. Why walk around the hot coals when I can walk through them? Story of my life: Perseverance, overcome obstacles, just get it done with style, flair and a cherry on top.
21st Century hunting and gathering
Suddenly, it's not enough to have a resume. Oh heck no. If you're a communications professional like me, you instantly realize that, unlike an engineer, I'm being graded on my resume style, presentation, wordsmithing, everything. I don't know a single engineer who is worried about their resume except to include relevant experience and some accomplishments. For communicators, there better be zero typos.
Today, communications pros like me have to make their resume sing like Luciano Pavarotti in his prime. I'm a tenor also so I'm shooting for a Beverly Sills-like performance. Remember the famous line in Jaws, "We need a bigger boat"? Well, I needed a bigger, more savvy online and offline presence.
Tossed into the sea of job seekers, I was expected to part the Red Sea and walk on water. I learned instantly that it's not enough to have a cell phone and e-mail address.
Just when I thought I was done with my detailed resume, an old boss who I love to pieces, sent me a resume sample and said, "less words, more like this one." Aw crap. I gotta write yet another version of my resume.
It was the best thing I ever did. It's an executive-level resume that cuts through all the crap and gets to the point. Now I send both. One for the recruiter, the other for the hiring manager.
But wait, there's more!
I had to polish my LinkedIn profile, create a high-end digital portfolio, get an attention-grabbing e-mail ID and today, I was reminded I have to get business cards PRONTO! I attended a networking coffee this morning and completely forgot I need that vital marketing tool. I also need to develop five- and 30-second elevator pitches as well as more detailed 1-/3-/5-minute pitches. I also need to find the toughest interview questions possible and craft then memorize outstanding answers.
Ah, yes, clear out the cobwebs and get to it.
Did I mention that no one is paying attention to Monster or Career Builder boards any more? Naive as I was, I started there and soon learned not to waste much time on those boards. LinkedIn is the new Monster for job-seeking pros like me. But that's not enough.
I need people to recommend me. You mean I have to find former coworkers and ask them to write a recommendation? Okay, cool! I love a challenge but what this really means is I have to draft the recommendations and send them to people to post on my LinkedIn page. Of course, I'll return the favor and write them a recommendation, but I have to be sure they also are on LinkedIn NOT Plaxo.
LinkedIn ain't enough either
If you think just having a LinkedIn account is enough, think again. Join as many professional groups on LinkedIn as possible. Those groups have TONS of job leads nationwide.
But don't stop there. Facebook and Twitter accounts. Yeah, I said it. I have hundreds of friends on Facebook and post daily. However, the security on that account is tighter than Fort Knox. You can't find the account if you searched for it. Imagine my dismay when my old boss said I needed those accounts also.
Rather than complain, I got my feces coagulated. I created new Facebook and Twitter accounts just for job searching, i.e., Emiliana PRstrategist Martin and @ResultsDiva respectively. Ya see, I wasn't going to shoot myself in the foot and not have those available for recruiters and investigators to find.
I protect my personal information by creating a professional presence on what are now mission-critical job search tools. I post professional topics and comment professionally.
So, in summary, job hunting is hell but the rewards are awesome. Bring it, baby!
From the trenches,
e
PS You might want to consider starting your own blog if you're in communications.
I remember fishing on the pier at Santa Cruz with my father and grandparents. We'd catch tons of little King fish, starfish if you left the line in the water long enough and, of course, crabbing.
Later, my father bought a 17' Boston Whaler. The cool factor was definitely a 10+. Once out of the harbor it was full steam ahead breaking waves, leaving a wake, wind in my face and through my hair, smelling that sweet sea air, staring at the beautiful coastline. Awesome!
The bait was usually the same: bloodworms, squid, anchovies, etc. Typically, you needed a lure for catching a prized salmon. After the fog burned off, the sun was very warm and you had your very own personal paradise in the middle of the quiet Monterey Bay. Priceless.
The old school job hunt
Hunting for a job used to be much like fishing. Put together the same old resume (bait), with the predictable job descriptors and standard references (rod and reel), etc. So imagine my surprise when I decided to re-enter the workforce after being gone for six years.
The cold shower
The environment completely changed. Not only was the bait totally different, recruiters expect accomplishments, highlights, awards, publications, execute, execute, execute, results, results, results!!!!!! It's enough to make one recharge their pacemaker, fasten seat belts and return seats to their upright position.
My career is marked not by a learning curve but a vertical line. Why walk around the hot coals when I can walk through them? Story of my life: Perseverance, overcome obstacles, just get it done with style, flair and a cherry on top.
21st Century hunting and gathering
Suddenly, it's not enough to have a resume. Oh heck no. If you're a communications professional like me, you instantly realize that, unlike an engineer, I'm being graded on my resume style, presentation, wordsmithing, everything. I don't know a single engineer who is worried about their resume except to include relevant experience and some accomplishments. For communicators, there better be zero typos.
Today, communications pros like me have to make their resume sing like Luciano Pavarotti in his prime. I'm a tenor also so I'm shooting for a Beverly Sills-like performance. Remember the famous line in Jaws, "We need a bigger boat"? Well, I needed a bigger, more savvy online and offline presence.
Tossed into the sea of job seekers, I was expected to part the Red Sea and walk on water. I learned instantly that it's not enough to have a cell phone and e-mail address.
Just when I thought I was done with my detailed resume, an old boss who I love to pieces, sent me a resume sample and said, "less words, more like this one." Aw crap. I gotta write yet another version of my resume.
It was the best thing I ever did. It's an executive-level resume that cuts through all the crap and gets to the point. Now I send both. One for the recruiter, the other for the hiring manager.
But wait, there's more!
I had to polish my LinkedIn profile, create a high-end digital portfolio, get an attention-grabbing e-mail ID and today, I was reminded I have to get business cards PRONTO! I attended a networking coffee this morning and completely forgot I need that vital marketing tool. I also need to develop five- and 30-second elevator pitches as well as more detailed 1-/3-/5-minute pitches. I also need to find the toughest interview questions possible and craft then memorize outstanding answers.
Ah, yes, clear out the cobwebs and get to it.
Did I mention that no one is paying attention to Monster or Career Builder boards any more? Naive as I was, I started there and soon learned not to waste much time on those boards. LinkedIn is the new Monster for job-seeking pros like me. But that's not enough.
I need people to recommend me. You mean I have to find former coworkers and ask them to write a recommendation? Okay, cool! I love a challenge but what this really means is I have to draft the recommendations and send them to people to post on my LinkedIn page. Of course, I'll return the favor and write them a recommendation, but I have to be sure they also are on LinkedIn NOT Plaxo.
LinkedIn ain't enough either
If you think just having a LinkedIn account is enough, think again. Join as many professional groups on LinkedIn as possible. Those groups have TONS of job leads nationwide.
But don't stop there. Facebook and Twitter accounts. Yeah, I said it. I have hundreds of friends on Facebook and post daily. However, the security on that account is tighter than Fort Knox. You can't find the account if you searched for it. Imagine my dismay when my old boss said I needed those accounts also.
Rather than complain, I got my feces coagulated. I created new Facebook and Twitter accounts just for job searching, i.e., Emiliana PRstrategist Martin and @ResultsDiva respectively. Ya see, I wasn't going to shoot myself in the foot and not have those available for recruiters and investigators to find.
I protect my personal information by creating a professional presence on what are now mission-critical job search tools. I post professional topics and comment professionally.
So, in summary, job hunting is hell but the rewards are awesome. Bring it, baby!
From the trenches,
e
PS You might want to consider starting your own blog if you're in communications.
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