Today's post is for those who have not finished school or university yet. Those who are perhaps not yet seeking permanent full-time work or considering how to get their career underway.
Please don't make the mistake of assuming that your working life starts when your education is complete. If you wait until the certificate is in your hand before contemplating job applications, you will have joined a very long and slow-moving queue for meaningful employment, alongside all the other individuals who have finished their studies at the same time as you.
Approaching the onset of your working life can feel like a guessing game. Perhaps you don't really know what you want to do yet, or you are not sure what employers out there are looking for. Don't wait until you are at a crossroads to find out. Wouldn't it be great to look forward to a VIP entry pass that got you out of the queue? If you're someone who knows people, that can happen more easily than you think.
The reported average number of advertising messages we are all exposed to everyday is anywhere between 3000-5000. Career ideas can start with inspiration. If you like what a certain company does and how they get their point across, start making a list of employers you'd be interested in working for. Then research their websites. Do they have graduate programs? Call them and find out what they would be looking for from a new trainee or entry level employee.
Plenty of people lack the confidence to do this. But they are also the ones who have not planned ahead, and expect options to fall into their lap. We both know you are not one of them, because you are not in that queue.
Make sure you write down who you talk to. You never know if you might want to follow up with them in a year's time and say "how about a job there?" Not only will you show more initiative than the average person, you are also networking.
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. It just starts with being inspired. See who captures your imagination and let your Wants control what happens next, not your Needs.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Friday, December 4, 2009
Meet the Press
Late yesterday evening, the NSW Premier Nathan Rees was voted out of office and Kristina Keneally voted in. I was listening to some vox pop on the radio this morning, people on the Sydney streets being asked what they think of having four NSW premiers in as many years, as well as commentary over other statistics: seven Education Ministers in six years and a colourful congo line of Police Ministers.
The media does a brilliant job of presenting hype as news itself. Are we NSW citizens all worried now about the infighting and crebility of this state's government? Since you ask...
Kevin Rudd has even told the NSW government to get its act together. Bit embarrassing.
What the media does do well however is ask a lot of questions. Stories are coming in this morning which give us a lot more information on who Kristina Keneally is, who the powerbrokers are and the flaws in the current state political system that are perpetuating this dancing in and out of office. So perhaps it's all a good thing, a learning experience for us and them.
Politics is not the same as running a company but some of the HR principles are the same. There is some uncertainty and tension around who our leaders are now. If you were going for a job interview and you found out that those in senior management were only celebrating one or two birthdays in office at the most, I think you would either get a dodgy feeling in your guts or start asking a lot of questions yourself.
Job interviews are a bit like press conferences. Don't research the company only to rehearse and repeat impressive information during your meeting, make sure that this is a solid team with a good performance record. A group that you want to be a part of. Google the company to see if they appear in the media or internet landscape at all, and ask your interviewers about what you find. If you don't feel good about their answers or something doesn't add up, give it a miss. It will save you weeks and months of being in the wrong job and living with that dodgy feeling in your guts each day.
All the best to Kristina Keneally. Most of us are already working for her (paying our taxes and doing our best for the economy) so we can only hope that things settle down and improve.
The media does a brilliant job of presenting hype as news itself. Are we NSW citizens all worried now about the infighting and crebility of this state's government? Since you ask...
Kevin Rudd has even told the NSW government to get its act together. Bit embarrassing.
What the media does do well however is ask a lot of questions. Stories are coming in this morning which give us a lot more information on who Kristina Keneally is, who the powerbrokers are and the flaws in the current state political system that are perpetuating this dancing in and out of office. So perhaps it's all a good thing, a learning experience for us and them.
Politics is not the same as running a company but some of the HR principles are the same. There is some uncertainty and tension around who our leaders are now. If you were going for a job interview and you found out that those in senior management were only celebrating one or two birthdays in office at the most, I think you would either get a dodgy feeling in your guts or start asking a lot of questions yourself.
Job interviews are a bit like press conferences. Don't research the company only to rehearse and repeat impressive information during your meeting, make sure that this is a solid team with a good performance record. A group that you want to be a part of. Google the company to see if they appear in the media or internet landscape at all, and ask your interviewers about what you find. If you don't feel good about their answers or something doesn't add up, give it a miss. It will save you weeks and months of being in the wrong job and living with that dodgy feeling in your guts each day.
All the best to Kristina Keneally. Most of us are already working for her (paying our taxes and doing our best for the economy) so we can only hope that things settle down and improve.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
The Anatomy of Recruitment
Recruitment is a lot about sales. As with any sales, the salesperson works with what they have in stock - the main business areas that they trade in, or what they can possibly order in and arrange for you. The stock we are talking about are job vacancies.
Although many recruitment agencies would call themselves generalist (that is, not exclusive to one key area such as transport, science or accounting), it's probably not the case in a literal sense - most service a core range such as office administration, accounts and sales, or trades, distribution and manufacturing. It would be very challenging to be everything to everyone.
Some agencies have solved this by developing specialised units, so the agency is broken up into exclusive areas with recruiters who only deal with a certain occupation or industry, and this is how they market themselves as separate entities under the same agency umbrella.
But going back to the recruitment agency's main focuses - generalist or not, please be aware of the types or range of positions they actually do business in. If you visit a Ford dealership and ask about new Mitsubishis, it's unlikely that they will have any in stock or be ready to have one delivered - it's just not their line of work. I'm not saying that enquiries are out of the question, but if you are hoping that a recruiter might find you work as an Engineer when they usually work with customer service positions, you're working with the wrong person.
I received an enquiry this afternoon from a graduate who was looking for advice to start working as a manager. It would be a rare occasion that someone finished their degree and started working as a manager (unless you're in the armed forces or part of a great corporate dynasty), so it was a tough ask. Managers have usually worked their way to the top - that's why they have the smarts to manage. So this person lost their temper and said "come on, you work in the HR industry, you must know everyone."
I appreciate that this individual was frustrated. Especially having management qualifications, the hardest step is just getting experience to be on your way. But it's a serious misjudgement to think that people who work in the HR industry know everyone? There's no one salesperson who sells everything, only people who can show you how to get where you want to be. I gave the person recommendations on how to proceed, but there was no way I could provide a quick fix or an easy answer.
Consider how the person you speak to is going to help you - think about the outcome you would like before you start the relationship. Don't be offended by the feedback from recruiters as flat rejection if you don't get the result you're after - it's just a mismatch. Use their experience, ask questions and take advantage of referrals.
Although many recruitment agencies would call themselves generalist (that is, not exclusive to one key area such as transport, science or accounting), it's probably not the case in a literal sense - most service a core range such as office administration, accounts and sales, or trades, distribution and manufacturing. It would be very challenging to be everything to everyone.
Some agencies have solved this by developing specialised units, so the agency is broken up into exclusive areas with recruiters who only deal with a certain occupation or industry, and this is how they market themselves as separate entities under the same agency umbrella.
But going back to the recruitment agency's main focuses - generalist or not, please be aware of the types or range of positions they actually do business in. If you visit a Ford dealership and ask about new Mitsubishis, it's unlikely that they will have any in stock or be ready to have one delivered - it's just not their line of work. I'm not saying that enquiries are out of the question, but if you are hoping that a recruiter might find you work as an Engineer when they usually work with customer service positions, you're working with the wrong person.
I received an enquiry this afternoon from a graduate who was looking for advice to start working as a manager. It would be a rare occasion that someone finished their degree and started working as a manager (unless you're in the armed forces or part of a great corporate dynasty), so it was a tough ask. Managers have usually worked their way to the top - that's why they have the smarts to manage. So this person lost their temper and said "come on, you work in the HR industry, you must know everyone."
I appreciate that this individual was frustrated. Especially having management qualifications, the hardest step is just getting experience to be on your way. But it's a serious misjudgement to think that people who work in the HR industry know everyone? There's no one salesperson who sells everything, only people who can show you how to get where you want to be. I gave the person recommendations on how to proceed, but there was no way I could provide a quick fix or an easy answer.
Consider how the person you speak to is going to help you - think about the outcome you would like before you start the relationship. Don't be offended by the feedback from recruiters as flat rejection if you don't get the result you're after - it's just a mismatch. Use their experience, ask questions and take advantage of referrals.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Parched Pastures
Yes - I will admit that I have a farmville account on facebook. The plots on my farm yield an infinite supply of online crops, are tilled and resown - yes, we farmers are fortunate to have such fertile earth in the farmville neighbourhood.
A magnificent friend of mine was not as fortunate recently in the real world however. Being incredibly good at what she does, and connected to everyone else in her industry area across Australia, she is at the top of her game. The end of her contract was drawing near so it was time to look for a new opportunity. Having worked her way up to where she is, the challenge is to secure a new challenge!
On making some enquiries here and there as to what was available, it slowly became apparent that the freshest newest job option just wasn't surfacing. Despite being such an accomplished and talented individual, no-one enjoys feeling like they are not hot property.
After some soul searching and talking it over, we came to a stunning conclusion. The freshest newest job options weren't emerging because the space was exhausted. Through all her hard work and industry partnerships, she had harvested everything she could from her industry and her very specialised occupation. It's not a bad thing at all, in fact it's a great indication that someone in this situation needs to turn a corner and set out to do something crazily different.
So that's exactly what happened. It's very inspiring and fabulous to witness such a transformation, and I can't wait to see what happens in her new job adventure.
Just because you have invested time, study, passion and sweat into a career that has given you everything you've aimed for, the ground under you might not be fertile with options and challenges forever. Some of my clients feel regret and even embarrassment about changing direction when this happens, but I think it takes immense courage. I have only respect and admiration.
Want to talk about changing direction? Get in touch.
A magnificent friend of mine was not as fortunate recently in the real world however. Being incredibly good at what she does, and connected to everyone else in her industry area across Australia, she is at the top of her game. The end of her contract was drawing near so it was time to look for a new opportunity. Having worked her way up to where she is, the challenge is to secure a new challenge!
On making some enquiries here and there as to what was available, it slowly became apparent that the freshest newest job option just wasn't surfacing. Despite being such an accomplished and talented individual, no-one enjoys feeling like they are not hot property.
After some soul searching and talking it over, we came to a stunning conclusion. The freshest newest job options weren't emerging because the space was exhausted. Through all her hard work and industry partnerships, she had harvested everything she could from her industry and her very specialised occupation. It's not a bad thing at all, in fact it's a great indication that someone in this situation needs to turn a corner and set out to do something crazily different.
So that's exactly what happened. It's very inspiring and fabulous to witness such a transformation, and I can't wait to see what happens in her new job adventure.
Just because you have invested time, study, passion and sweat into a career that has given you everything you've aimed for, the ground under you might not be fertile with options and challenges forever. Some of my clients feel regret and even embarrassment about changing direction when this happens, but I think it takes immense courage. I have only respect and admiration.
Want to talk about changing direction? Get in touch.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
From Victim to Visionary
What are you taking with you when you leave your place of employment for the last time? Never mind that gel wrist pad that you have adopted for your next job or that cool light-up pen that you're sure your soon-to-be-ex boss has forgotten about. No, this is not a lecture about stealing quirky stationery.
These are your emotional belongings. The story that you'll find yourself telling to every friend and family member, every interviewer every new colleague, every former colleague...about why and how you left your last job. The story can vary slightly depending on what you want your audience to think of you and how you want them to react.
Are you painting yourself into the picture as the weary, tortured victim who was just misunderstood by the boss but was only trying to do the best? Or perhaps you are the hero who emerged from a terrible company with only mild psychological shock as to their appalling culture and processes? Our culture encourages us to look for someone or something to blame when an agreement or bond breaks down, and it's probably very satisfying in the short term to pick apart the faults of your former employer to try and repair your own self-confidence, reinforce your own principles and cling to some sense of what is right.
In reality, any one of those people mentioned above will be able to sense if you have done the wrong thing or been wronged, or a combination of both. What they will respect is if you can maintain integrity for what you do, what you are passionate about regardless of your employment status or the job dramas you encounter. No victims or heroes, just stick to what you do best.
Imagine that you have just joined an accounting firm as an Assistant Accountant. With all your training and basic experience, you're really looking forward to becoming part of the scenery and building your career. However, your supervisor is under a lot of pressure and doesn't give you the support or mentorship you need. You are very concerned about falling behind in your work so you mention your concerns to other colleagues. They decide that the new team arrival is a bit of a whinger and start to spread gossip about you. HR gets involved and decides it's not working out - time for you to leave.
This is a very hurtful and saddening experience for anyone, and no matter how many times you run it over in your mind, it's hard to see how it could have been handled differently in the moment. The point here however is to hold back from seeing yourself as hard done by, an easy target, laughing stock, or anything else which is actually just going to damage your self-esteem.
Not only will your decision on how wronged you were affect how you see yourself, it will also influence whether the next employer hires you or not - whether you are bitter about your treatment or self-confident for the next adventure. Instead of dwelling on the injustice, how about: You're a great Assistant Accountant and you knew what you needed to do well, but you didn't get it. The rest of the drama within the company itself is not your concern - then or now.
Don't lose sight of what's important to you as a professional, not what happens to you when you stop working with an employer. Those are fleeting moments, temporary hurdles, and others will respect your maturity if you recognise that episode for what it was. Think of the bigger picture - what you deserve and what is ahead of you. Your identity and pride in what you do is long term. Let passion do the talking, not politics.
These are your emotional belongings. The story that you'll find yourself telling to every friend and family member, every interviewer every new colleague, every former colleague...about why and how you left your last job. The story can vary slightly depending on what you want your audience to think of you and how you want them to react.
Are you painting yourself into the picture as the weary, tortured victim who was just misunderstood by the boss but was only trying to do the best? Or perhaps you are the hero who emerged from a terrible company with only mild psychological shock as to their appalling culture and processes? Our culture encourages us to look for someone or something to blame when an agreement or bond breaks down, and it's probably very satisfying in the short term to pick apart the faults of your former employer to try and repair your own self-confidence, reinforce your own principles and cling to some sense of what is right.
In reality, any one of those people mentioned above will be able to sense if you have done the wrong thing or been wronged, or a combination of both. What they will respect is if you can maintain integrity for what you do, what you are passionate about regardless of your employment status or the job dramas you encounter. No victims or heroes, just stick to what you do best.
Imagine that you have just joined an accounting firm as an Assistant Accountant. With all your training and basic experience, you're really looking forward to becoming part of the scenery and building your career. However, your supervisor is under a lot of pressure and doesn't give you the support or mentorship you need. You are very concerned about falling behind in your work so you mention your concerns to other colleagues. They decide that the new team arrival is a bit of a whinger and start to spread gossip about you. HR gets involved and decides it's not working out - time for you to leave.
This is a very hurtful and saddening experience for anyone, and no matter how many times you run it over in your mind, it's hard to see how it could have been handled differently in the moment. The point here however is to hold back from seeing yourself as hard done by, an easy target, laughing stock, or anything else which is actually just going to damage your self-esteem.
Not only will your decision on how wronged you were affect how you see yourself, it will also influence whether the next employer hires you or not - whether you are bitter about your treatment or self-confident for the next adventure. Instead of dwelling on the injustice, how about: You're a great Assistant Accountant and you knew what you needed to do well, but you didn't get it. The rest of the drama within the company itself is not your concern - then or now.
Don't lose sight of what's important to you as a professional, not what happens to you when you stop working with an employer. Those are fleeting moments, temporary hurdles, and others will respect your maturity if you recognise that episode for what it was. Think of the bigger picture - what you deserve and what is ahead of you. Your identity and pride in what you do is long term. Let passion do the talking, not politics.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Let joy be unconfined!
Meet Jeff. He's a good looking chap of around 26 with a car, and a nice suit with matching shirt and tie. Until recently Jeff was employed as an Account Manager for a gym equipment company until they were bought out by one of their competitors and Jeff was made redundant. Although he was professional and composed about the decision at the time, Jeff was really devastated when his job finished up. He really loved visiting his clients regularly, seeing positive results from his sales and getting to know their customer base.
Fortunately for Jeff, he had developed a great reputation in the gym equipment market and had no difficulty scoring interviews with other suppliers in the industry. Jeff knew his stuff, they knew him and he was cool and confident about getting back into work.
Unfortunately this is where Jeff made a big, blustery mistake. He believed that his expertise and experience would show that he was an invaluable candidate to the new potential employer. He expected that his local business and industry acumen would be pounced on and savoured by the people who were once his competitors. He loved the gym equipment industry and was very frustrated with being out of the loop, so he was putting his most professional hand out for the better offer available to him.
This approach was a mistake for several reasons. Jeff is right in knowing his value as an agent in the industry and a great asset for a new company, but his prospective employers are looking for something different that Jeff just wasn't putting out there. Although Jeff knew within himself that he really enjoyed the gym equipment scene and loved his clients, his professional demeanour didn't allow that to come through. His prospective employers are probably better off hiring someone fresh who is new to account management or gym equipment who will have to prove their passion for the industry in order to succeed. So Jeff's achievements are now not looking so hot.
This is an entirely made-up example, but the difficulties Jeff faced are described to me all the time. Regardless of whether you are continuing a career in a field you have prior experience in, or changing to a new area - the most vital ingredient in an interview is passion. Love for your art. Excitement for your trade. Enthusiasm for making a hobby into a job. Energy to get started! The importance of putting life into the impression you make cannot be overestimated here - it is just about the most important ingredient in converting that interview into a job offer.
No, that is not to suggest that we just scrap professionalism like last week's newspaper stack. But many job candidates mistake professionalism for woodenism. Robotism. Politeism. Pleasantism. Starchedism. Courtesyism. Rigidism. The sort of soothing voice at you normally use for children and dogs. Who do you think is already employed with this company - a team of cyborg drones with no personality? Don't try and conform to a mould that you only imagine. Let your love for what you do spread out all over the interview table and get your interviewer excited about having you on board. Please do this. I would like to phase candidate cyborgs out completely if possible.
Next time: Channeling rage into something helpful.
Fortunately for Jeff, he had developed a great reputation in the gym equipment market and had no difficulty scoring interviews with other suppliers in the industry. Jeff knew his stuff, they knew him and he was cool and confident about getting back into work.
Unfortunately this is where Jeff made a big, blustery mistake. He believed that his expertise and experience would show that he was an invaluable candidate to the new potential employer. He expected that his local business and industry acumen would be pounced on and savoured by the people who were once his competitors. He loved the gym equipment industry and was very frustrated with being out of the loop, so he was putting his most professional hand out for the better offer available to him.
This approach was a mistake for several reasons. Jeff is right in knowing his value as an agent in the industry and a great asset for a new company, but his prospective employers are looking for something different that Jeff just wasn't putting out there. Although Jeff knew within himself that he really enjoyed the gym equipment scene and loved his clients, his professional demeanour didn't allow that to come through. His prospective employers are probably better off hiring someone fresh who is new to account management or gym equipment who will have to prove their passion for the industry in order to succeed. So Jeff's achievements are now not looking so hot.
This is an entirely made-up example, but the difficulties Jeff faced are described to me all the time. Regardless of whether you are continuing a career in a field you have prior experience in, or changing to a new area - the most vital ingredient in an interview is passion. Love for your art. Excitement for your trade. Enthusiasm for making a hobby into a job. Energy to get started! The importance of putting life into the impression you make cannot be overestimated here - it is just about the most important ingredient in converting that interview into a job offer.
No, that is not to suggest that we just scrap professionalism like last week's newspaper stack. But many job candidates mistake professionalism for woodenism. Robotism. Politeism. Pleasantism. Starchedism. Courtesyism. Rigidism. The sort of soothing voice at you normally use for children and dogs. Who do you think is already employed with this company - a team of cyborg drones with no personality? Don't try and conform to a mould that you only imagine. Let your love for what you do spread out all over the interview table and get your interviewer excited about having you on board. Please do this. I would like to phase candidate cyborgs out completely if possible.
Next time: Channeling rage into something helpful.
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Passion Assassin
It's a question mark that will probably never quite leave you - from your first thoughts in school about what to do when you "grow up", to your first few jobs and ongoing employer changes, career changes, life changes:
Am I doing what I love?
And if not - how would I make the transition and still earn a living?
For many people, working is separate to what you love doing. This might be for soundly practical reasons: if you are crazy about mountain bike riding, it might be wonderful release to tear off the suit and go bush-bashing on the weekends. Same goes for cooking or graphic design - to make your passion into a career may even end up killing your personal love for it.
But there are opportunities out there to do what you crave, and sometimes it just takes a leap of faith to start your career again in another area that you know will satisfy and inspire you.
Say for example that you've spent several years in financial planning. The money is good, (financial crises aside) your clients are loyal and plentiful and you work for a reputable employer. But....deep down, it doesn't really turn you on in the way that you'd hoped, and you are aware of others in the industry that get a lot more out of it personally than you do. They are in their element, and as much as you would like to be, your daydreams are more often filled with: coffee.
Yes. The hustle of the early mornings, the regulars, the latte art in the lazy afternoon, the steam of the machines, the cake forks and smooth napkins...if only.
Plenty of people spend their lives talking to family and friends about another adventure they never take. They may have run the figures, partners, locations, plans, through their minds a hundred times but can't ever seem to make that leap.
I'm not even suggesting here that we venture as far as going into business for yourself. There are people who have had those dreams before you and set those businesses up already. If you can't secure paid employment in the area you love, try looking for volunteer work. Aspirations are not meant to be kept in a glass box, take them out and use them!
I'm not finished with this. The next entry will be talking about your passion once you decide to experiment with direction, and find yourself in that exquisite interview moment where your life could change for the better...
Am I doing what I love?
And if not - how would I make the transition and still earn a living?
For many people, working is separate to what you love doing. This might be for soundly practical reasons: if you are crazy about mountain bike riding, it might be wonderful release to tear off the suit and go bush-bashing on the weekends. Same goes for cooking or graphic design - to make your passion into a career may even end up killing your personal love for it.
But there are opportunities out there to do what you crave, and sometimes it just takes a leap of faith to start your career again in another area that you know will satisfy and inspire you.
Say for example that you've spent several years in financial planning. The money is good, (financial crises aside) your clients are loyal and plentiful and you work for a reputable employer. But....deep down, it doesn't really turn you on in the way that you'd hoped, and you are aware of others in the industry that get a lot more out of it personally than you do. They are in their element, and as much as you would like to be, your daydreams are more often filled with: coffee.
Yes. The hustle of the early mornings, the regulars, the latte art in the lazy afternoon, the steam of the machines, the cake forks and smooth napkins...if only.
Plenty of people spend their lives talking to family and friends about another adventure they never take. They may have run the figures, partners, locations, plans, through their minds a hundred times but can't ever seem to make that leap.
I'm not even suggesting here that we venture as far as going into business for yourself. There are people who have had those dreams before you and set those businesses up already. If you can't secure paid employment in the area you love, try looking for volunteer work. Aspirations are not meant to be kept in a glass box, take them out and use them!
I'm not finished with this. The next entry will be talking about your passion once you decide to experiment with direction, and find yourself in that exquisite interview moment where your life could change for the better...
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