6 career tips from 3 successful women

by K B , updated on November 10, 2020

My new financial year resolution is to practice what I preach and to get out to at least one networking event a week. This week I went along to Network Central‘s forum on women and careers featuring a panel of three successful women: CareerOne’s online editor, Kate Southam, Regina Fikkers, a partner at PWC and journalist and author Catherine Fox.

Networking is hard. Nobody likes fronting up to a room full of people you don’t know and introducing yourself. But I was lucky enough to find myself in the hands of the lovely Hacy Tobias from Arbonne International. I think she may have sold me her skin care range just by being charming and interested in me, but that’s a whole other networking story!

If you don’t network, give it a go. You’ll lose nothing. The worst thing you can take away from a networking event is some new knowledge. I did so much better than that and picked up these pearls from the panel for women making their way through what still is a hard core male dominated corporate world.

–  Be yourself. Yes it’s a cliché, but it’s true. There is no point being anyone else. If you’re in a blokey environment, you’ll lose yourself if you try to be a bigger bloke than the blokes.  If drinks at the pub don’t do it for you, don’t do it. But do find different ways to connect.

–  Learn that it is OK to understand the politics of an organization.  Many women are scared of this. But politics is simply a way of understanding who really makes the decisions and the way those decisions are made.

–  You will be surprised about who is a stakeholder in your career. Regina told the tale of when she was pregnant with twins and was negotiating a major deal while suffering morning sickness. The only person who knew was the PA who quietly held the door open every time she needed to throw up. The PA knew she was pregnant but kept it to herself and gave Regina a lot of support through an incredibly stressful time.

–  Everybody expresses emotion at work. Don’t buy it if it is implied that you are too emotional as a female. Some of the most emotional people are men. An angry man is an emotional man.

–  All three women had times where they wanted to just give up and felt it was all too much. Don’t give up. That’s just par for the course.

–  You will be your own worst critic. Even when things were going perfectly Catherine says she always found something to worry about. The important part of this is that she was aware that it is part of her make up.

–  If you are not having children, then it is important to support women who do. Any concessions to work life balance your female counterparts may win, is a win for you, and a win for everyone as at some point in our lives we will all need flexibility.

Catherine Fox made the point that Australian women lack a lot of confidence. All three women spoke about supporting other women and how important that is. On that note I’d like to publicly thank Kate Southam . She has given me plenty of breaks in my career and was kind enough to give me a shout out at the event.

{ 1 comment }

Just how many Linkedin recommendations do you need?

by K B , updated on November 10, 2020

This guest post is brought to you by: Jorgen Sundberg aka The Undercover Recruiter

Most of us are on LinkedIn; we have pimped our profiles and thrown in the buzzwords so that we can be found by whoever has a nice juicy opportunity for us. Apart from joining and getting active in groups, the best way to raise your profile is to get online testimonials from people you know professionally.

The beauty of LinkedIn recommendations is that everyone can see who has endorsed you. No more of that “references provided upon request” b-s, the references are right there on your profile and you can leverage them as much as you like. Recruiters, HR and hiring managers all skim the recommendations section of your profile so it’s worth investing some time in getting the right ones. Every time you do get a recommendation, it will appear on your contacts’ home feeds and thus giving you an additional plug.

How many recommendations should I have?

Some employers claim not to consider applicants with less than ten recommendations on their profiles. Other employers couldn’t care less. To play it safe, I would recommend anyone to get to at least ten recommendations and build from there. Getting them is not going to hurt and it will also allow you to pick up contact with old colleagues, clients, and partners. A good rule of thumb is to get two to three recommendations from each job you have had.

How do I get them?

Social media networking is all about karma and the best way to get a recommendation is to write one first. Pick someone that you would love to get an endorsement from, write them an honest and useful recommendation and they are bound to reciprocate.

Another way is to ask people just after you have done them a favor; your goodwill is still fresh in their minds. This is a classic trick of the trade for recruiters and is typically applied just after you they have found you a new job. If if you have got more money and responsibility, you will be happy to write something nice for the recruiter in return. Learn from the masters and apply this to your situation. Whatever it is you do in your profession, ask for the recommendation when you most deserve it.

Make it easy for the other person

Everyone is busy these days, or at least they think they are. You will get people promising to write you a recommendation but they don’t deliver and keep dragging their feet. Just like with your typical employment reference, you can provide them with a little text or bullet points you put together. They can then choose to publish it or make amendments. The point is that you make it easy enough for them to take action.

Who should I get them from?

Whoever you request a recommendation from, consider how it will be perceived by the reader. Recruiters and employers are likely to rate it by who wrote it and therefore the more influential people, the better. Having a CEO endorsement on your profile could do more for your job search than ten from your colleagues.
Strive for diversity as well as quality. You will want your recommendations to be from a tasty mélange of colleagues, customers, managers, partners, suppliers and anyone else that is relevant to your professional career. Too many from one of these groups will look weird, so try to keep a nice balance.

Stay away from any recommendations written by friends and family unless you have actually worked with them. In case you are a LION, you might be requested to write a recommendation for a random connection. Although they promise to do the same for you, it’s not worth it as it will completely wipe out your credibility as a networker.

Call to Action

Get busy with recommendations today; it will typically take a few weeks to get to ten of them. Just like with any personal branding, you want to get cracking on it now so that you are prepared for when you need it the most.

Jorgen Sundberg is a Personal Branding Consultant based in London. He helps sales people, entrepreneurs, business owners and executives to create, build and promote magnetic brands to attract more business online. After 7 years of marketing people in recruitment, he started Personal Branding UK and he blogs at The Undercover Recruiter and JorgenSundberg.net. You can connect with him on Twitter @jorgensundberg.

{ 2 comments }

6 strange things your nerves make you do in a job interview

by K B , updated on November 10, 2020

Many people come to me for help when they freeze up in interview, which they attribute to panic and nerves.  That’s true. Your nerves can make you freeze up under the spotlight of an interview. What you may not know however, is that your nerves will make you do other strange things. So if you’ve ever had an interview that you thought went wonderfully well, only to receive a knock back a week or so later, read on. Many recruiters see the way you handle yourself in interview, as an indication of what you will be like under pressure in real life. That is, you give at your weakest points. Here are a few examples to show you what I mean:

Answering the question before an interviewer finishes asking it: I list this first as I honestly loathe this behaviour. I’m not sure why people do this, but my take on this is that the person has poor listening skills. Interrupting someone before they finish asking you a question is like a verbal kneecapping. unexpected and painful.

Not answering the question: Sometimes interview questions are too long. Sometimes an interview question has too much preamble. Sometimes interview questions are too confusing. So as an interviewer I don’t mind repeating a question, but when I need to rephrase and simplify a question three or so times, I give up and move on to the next question.

Talking too much: Some people don’t seem to take a breath in interview. This is fine if you have an engaging story and you can remember the question you are answering a few minutes into your answer. However many people keep talking and forget to keep checking to see if their interviewer is listening. The tricky thing here is to know whether your interviewer is a person who likes detail or who likes bullet points. It’s also difficult to know if interviewers are actually listening. Some interviewers, particularly experienced interviewers, are professional at looking like they’re listening.

Shutting down: Often people switch into “interview mode”. They’re engaging in reception. They’re lovely over the phone. But when they get into interview they talk in a completely different way. As an interviewer I think “whatever happened to?”

Injecting odd phrases: “Like”, “like you know”, “do you get what I mean?” This verbal stuffing can completely detract from your appearance as a competent professional. The public speaking group, Toastmasters, is good for eliminating this kind of thing, as is recording yourself in an interview practice session.

Forgetting to listen: Sometimes people launch into an answer that they want to give, rather than listening to what a question is actually asking. The danger in this is that it may take the interviewer a couple of minutes to realise you are off tangent. If your interviewer is short on time, or simply impatient, you may have missed your chance.

Need to get ahead of the pack for your next interview?

Get our free e-book The 7 Deadly Sins to Avoid at Job Interview!

Deborah Barit wrote this book. She is one of Australia’s leading interview coaches.

To get your free e-book and some of our best interview tips direct to your inbox, simply click on this link.

Here’s what happy readers said about the e-book and interview tips:

“Deborah Barit is a very smart lady…She is good at figuring out what an employer is looking for. It’s like she has ESP, with her help in preparing, I found no surprises in a recent interview and I was prepared for every question….” Cathy, Leichhardt, NSW

“Because I read so many of your posts, I feel as if you were my personal employment coach. I start my new position in two weeks. I had so many obstacles to overcome and each day you posted a solution to my dilemma and how to improve my search. Thank you so much for your input and PLEASE continue to do what you do!”

Click here to get access to the e-book.

{ 6 comments }

What to wear to a job interview – the second time around?

by K B , updated on November 10, 2020

If you are what you wear, what do you wear to a job interview?

There is heaps of advice around on what to wear to a job interview. I’ll link to some better resources at the bottom of this post.

The trickier question I think, is what to wear to a second job interview.

I had a question the other day from a candidate wanting to know what to wear to his second job interview. He’d worn a suit to the first job interview, but his interviewers were dressed in business casual. The interviewers had complimented him on the way that he understood the culture of the organisation, so he was wondering whether he should show that he’d taken notice of the culture and dress in the same style as his interviewers for his second interview.

Tricky question! So I took the opportunity to ask a consultant from an image advisory company.

She said an emphatic no! And that no was because:

–  People sum you up pretty quickly when they meet you. You may meet someone new in the second interview who is a stickler for a suit

–  It is rude and presumptuous to second guess what is important to an organisation and that more casual dress would be acceptable for the second interview

–  The first interview could have been held on “casual Friday”

–  The interviewers had already complimented him on his knowledge of the culture the first time around, while he was wearing a suit

What to wear to an interview, whether it is a first or second interview is a difficult question.

The consultant was emphatic that people should wear suits, and I agree to a point. However, one of the employers we interviewed for our book, What Do Employers Really Want?, said she worried when people wore suits to her interview, as it showed they would not be suitable for their environment, which was strictly casual, and based at the markets.

My rule of thumb for what to wear, is to think about the job and what people from that company would typically wear, then dress as smartly as they would do, if they were visiting their clients. So it generally means a suit for a male. That suit however does not need to be deep blue banking conservative, if you are going for a marketing agency role, but a suit nonetheless.

Nobody is going to penalise you for making an effort!

This post has some excellent advice on what to wear to a job interview.

{ 0 comments }

Selection criteria tips for the frightened

by K B , updated on November 10, 2020

Selection Criteria Tips for beginners

Are you interested in a career in government, but don’t know where to start?  I receive hundreds of emails from people who want a public sector position, but who are stumped on the selection criteria the government uses. It is possible to crack the government criteria as an outsider, but you do need to do a lot more research than someone who is inside the system. I’ve written more selection criteria than I care to count, so I’ll share a few top tips to get you started.

Selection Criteria Tips # 1: Understand what the selection criteria is asking

Selection criteria can be tricky. You can be lulled into thinking you are perfect for the job, because on the face of it, the skills listed in the selection criteria sound the same as yours. I know it sounds obvious, but all roles are different. Even though the skills listed on the selection criteria seem the same as yours, it’s possible that they mean something completely different.

Confused or bemused?

Let’s have look at the selection criteria used in the federal government for leadership roles. They use an “Integrated Leadership System.” This system states the skills managers and leaders will need to become effective in all tasks required of them as leaders. The government recruits around these skills.

One of the criteria they list, is for example:  “cultivates productive working relationships“, and for each point of the selection criteria they bullet point the underlying skills a manager will need to demonstrate. If you are a manager to cultivate a productive working relationship, you will need to do the following:

  • Nurture internal and external relationships
  • Facilitate cooperation and partnerships
  • Value individual differences and diversity
  • Guide, mentor and develop people

This is where it gets tricky! If you are responding to this criteria, you will need to know with whom you need to develop a productive working relationship.

If you think about it, you could almost take all these steps to build strong relationships with internal customers, external customers, or your team. Yet the role for which you are applying, may have no external contact, for example. If you do not know this, you may give the wrong example and the panel may penalize you.

I really can’t emphasize this enough. If you are outside the public sector system you need to call the convener to find out few simple facts about the role. I have never seen an application pack that does not have a name and a number to call. Please use it.

Selection Criteria Tips # 2: Ask the convener the right questions

To find out the right types of examples to provide, you’ll need to ask the convener intelligent questions about the job. Like anyone they can be time poor. Start with acknowledging that you have read the selection criteria, but state you would like to clarify some aspects, to fully understand the challenges of the job.

If you don’t mention you have read the selection criteria, the convener is likely to give you the flick or direct you back there.

Good questions to ask are:

–  “what do you see as the challenges of this role”. The emphasis is on the you, that should get the convener talking

–  “can you give me a run-down of a typical day or week” I like this question because this is not what a list of duties on paper tells you

–  “what are the main priorities in this role”  you would be surprised how often the real priorities are buried down at the bottom of the selection criteria

–  “could you explain how I may apply this requirement”  this helps clarify any of the selection criteria that you find baffling. The question you could ask in the example above, is: “who are the stakeholders in this role?”

Selection Criteria Tips # 3: Join the dots

Depending on the space you have in your application, refer to your research in your application. Explain how the challenges you may face in the advertised role are similar to challenges you have faced in your experience. That then introduces your examples.

Read this before you apply for a government job. This is one of my most read posts on this topic.

Need to get ahead of the pack for your next interview? 

Get Our FREE e-book The 7 Deadly Sins to Avoid at Job Interview!

Deborah Barit wrote this book. She is one of Australia’s leading interview coaches.

To get your free e-book and some of our best interview tips direct to your inbox, simply click on this link. It is packed full of easily actionable interview tips.

Here’s what happy readers said about the e-book and interview tips:

“Deborah Barit is a very smart lady…She is good at figuring out what an employer is looking for. It’s like she has ESP, with her help in preparing, I found no surprises in a recent interview and I was prepared for every question….” Cathy, Leichhardt, NSW

“Because I read so many of your posts, I feel as if you were my personal employment coach. I start my new position in two weeks. I had so many obstacles to overcome and each day you posted a solution to my dilemma and how to improve my search. Thank you so much for your input and PLEASE continue to do what you do!”

Click here to get access to the e-book.

{ 34 comments }

10 tips for compelling cover letters

by K B , updated on November 10, 2020

Ten tips to make your cover letter stand out

Does your resume go better with a cover letter? Some people say no, because nobody reads them. I agree to a point. Not all recruiters read cover letters with resumes. But I think many recruiters don’t because so many cover letters they see are a bit “blah blah blah”. That’s when the cover letter says nothing new or exciting, nor does it say anything about why the candidate wants the job, or it just repeats claims you make on your resume. In a sea of such banality, one way to make your resume cover letter stand out, is just to do a good one. You can do more than that, though. Here are 10 rules to help you write compelling cover letters to complement your resume.

Cover Letter Tips # 1.

Do your research, part 1.

Even if the job is advertised through a recruitment consultant you can still do your research. Call them and connect with them. They will probably not give you their client’s name but they may give you an outline of the challenges of the role as they see them. Your resume cover letter becomes far more engaging if you can tell the recruiter how they’ve inspired you to want to take this opportunity further.

Cover Letter Tips # 2.

Do your research, part 2.

If you know who the company is, then there is no excuse for not looking up the website, doing a thorough google and reading the linked in profile of their company executives. And that’s just as a start.

The aim of this research is for you to find some compelling reasons to want to work for that organisation and some ways that you can add value. So many people forget to say this on their cover letters.

Cover Letter Tips # 3.

You cover letter should clearly show you have read the job advertisement. The way you do this is to pick the key criteria in the advertisement and point out how you meet this in your letter.

Also use key words from the advertisement, throughout your resume cover letter. That way it has a better chance of being picked up in screening software.

Cover Letter Tips # 4.

Try to keep your cover letters to one page and three or four paragraphs.

The only real exception to this rule is if you are asked to respond to an “expression of interest”.  An expression of interest is a mini government selection criteria where you outline how you meet job criteria. Then your letter may run to two to three pages.

Cover Letter Tips # 5.

Don’t be boring. Try to keep your own voice.

Cover Letter Tips # 6.

Keep a logical format. I use “hook,” “book,” and “took.”

“hook” :- specific and memorable reasons as to why you want the role
“book” :- a coherent argument as to why you should be hired
“took”  :- what you want to happen as a result of an employer reading your letter

Cover Letter Tips # 7.

Be personal. If you have someone’s name use it. Ideally a cover letter should start with a title Ms, Mr or Mrs.

The exception to this is when informality is invited. A first name is more acceptable in an informal email, perhaps if you already have had a conversation with the contact person.

Cover Letter Tips # 8.

Type it. This sounds so basic. But I have to say this next bit because I have been asked this question.

Yes.

An application in writing generally means typed.

Cover Letter Tips # 9.

If you are submitting a posted application – then plain white paper please. Pretty pink perfumed pages or something similar are never a good idea. Your letter will be unique, but for the wrong reasons.

Cover Letter Tips # 10.

OK I’ve crammed a few things here into one rule. A cover letter should not be:

– a repeat of your resume
– a standard letter that you send out to everyone
– hard to read
– full of spelling and grammar mistakes

 

{ 11 comments }

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →