A few things to think about as you look for a job … you have a lot of competition. Treat your job search just as you’d treat a client.
1. Create a strategy
2. Build a list of targeted agencies and research them
3. Create an email that is customized for each of the recipients you contact
4. Take a look at your resume … is it boring to you? Chances are that it will be boring to the HR manager, too.
5. Network. Attend industry events. Shake a lot of hands and pass out business cards (have personal business cards made up with your name, cell and personal email)
6. Work LinkedIn … you can look at your connection’s connections and ask for introductions.
7. Stay on people’s radar by going out for coffee, lunch and drinks.
8. Be social, but don’t be desperate. I don’t see you doing this, but I’ve seen others do it, so I have to warn. Starting off a conversation negatively (oh, this terribly economy, woe is me, I don’t have a job), pushes people away. Instead, approach it as you’re happy and your fierce and you’re looking for new, challenging opportunities.
In public relations, we’re constantly sharing information with reporters, clients, vendors, employees, and so on. As computer viruses increase as well as the use of mobile devices such as Blackberries and iPhones, it’s important to consider the types of attachments you’re sending to the recipient.
For example, anytime we’re working with a reporter, we always copy our news release into the body of the email. This allows us to send a smaller-sized email and makes things as easy as possible for our contacts.
This idea applies to others, beyond our media contacts, too. If we are sending a small document for approval by a client, we’ll copy it in the email so they can quickly examine it. However, if it’s a number of documents, or something that is just too long to read on a mobile device, we’ll of course send as attachments.
Job hunters should take note, too. When you send me your cover letter and resume as an attachment, I’m probably not going to open both. It requires too much time and do you really need to have a cover letter for your email? Consider making the body of your email as the cover letter. Customize it to my business (you can easily find out anything you need from our Web site) and attach your resume so I can file it away.
It’s all about thinking about what you’re sending and what will be the most convenient for the person on the receiving end.
A few days ago, a non-compete agreement I signed a couple years ago will expire. The agreement was signed January 27, 2006 and, at the time, I was so eager to move to Chicago, to work on a major retailer’s PR account and to work as second in command at a rapidly growing PR firm, that I didn’t think too much about the ramifications of a non-compete agreement that expires two years after departing from the firm.
In celebration of the expiration of this non-compete agreement, I’d like to offer some advice for those of you who are reviewing job offers and considering the acceptance of a new position. They say hindsight is 20/20, and that saying is certainly true here.
1. Moving assistance. In this particular situation, I was moving from North Carolina to Illinois for a position. There was no offer of moving assistance and when it was requested, I was immediately turned down because “we haven’t done that for any of the other employees.” If you’re not willing to invest in our relationship at the beginning, why will you later?
2. Unreasonable deadlines. After accepting the position, I was asked to begin work in one week. Obviously, because I was moving cross-country and leaving a position, two weeks was the absolute minimum I could do. We negotiated the start time, and upon packing, etc. I realized that I needed to push my start date back just one day later, from a Tuesday to a Wednesday. The boss did not accept this request and required me to attend a meeting with a client on that Tuesday. Upon arriving in Illinois, I immediately went from moving truck to cab to make the meeting … only to find out that my presence was not at all necessary.
3. Overly Friendly Supervisor. At first, I thought she was amazing. Incredibly friendly and always wanting to spend time with me. But like any unhealthy relationship, her true colors began to show. I quickly discovered that she was manipulative of both her employees and her business contacts.
4. Severely Restrictive Documents. I referenced the non-compete … two years is incredibly restrictive. Be sure to read through the documents thoroughly and mark items that seem strange. Also, invest in a lawyer. Spend a few hundred dollars to make sure what you’re signing is on the up-and-up.
5. Get it in Writing. After any conversation via telephone or in-person, follow up on that conversation with an email or letter. Written communication rehashing what was discussed and agreed upon is essential to your record-keeping.
6. Reviews and Goals. Insist on quarterly reviews to check-in on your boss’ perception of your performance. Make sure you work together to set your goals and be certain the goals are attainable. Someone who sets unattainable goals for you is too weak-minded to fire you.
I could go on, but those are my top six suggestions for vetting any position. Whether it’s a small boutique firm or a large agency, multiple meetings and conversations are a must. You don’t get married on the first date; why should you take a job after the first interview?
There are very few great speakers in this world and most of us can stand to sharpen our skills. I am by no stretch of the imagination a great speaker; however, I do try to employ basic strategies before commanding the attention of any room.
Have something to say. It may seem obvious, but so many people begin with a not-so-exciting topic. Research your topic (even if you are the expert) and take a look at what others are saying about said topic.
Know your audience. By knowing who you’re speaking to and more specifically, what they’re looking to learn, it makes you a more compelling, interesting speaker.
Don’t be dry. Ask yourself, “Would I be entertained by this?” Many times, the answer will be “no”. Take a look at the raw material and find ways to inject some level of entertainment. Can you use props? Visuals? Puns?
Dress the part and one step higher. If you walk into a room underdressed, the immediate message to the room is that you aren’t taking the event seriously. If you’re unsure of how to dress for the event, speak with the event coordinator or someone who has attended similar events in the past.
Don’t be negative. Don’t bad mouth the competition, don’t dwell on how awful the economy is, don’t, don’t, don’t. That five second rant will be the part many remember days later.
Be friendly. Talk with the audience before you’re on stage. Having friendly faces in the audience will relax you and it will engage them.
Size does matter. When given the choice, take the smaller room. iI’s “standing room only” that makes your session even more memorable.
Practice. It seems like a no-brainer, but so many times, especially in our industry, folks are going over their talking points in the elevator ride up to the event. If you’re important enough to impart your wisdom onto a room full of people, then you should be courteous enough to deliver a well-planned, thoughtful, rehearsed presentation.
The strongest business alliances are based on strong relationships, not transactions.
“I’m terrible at networking.” It seems to be a common whine. But networking gives you what you put into it. Here are some quick tips for building your network:
1. ALWAYS carry business cards. If you don’t have business cards, have some printed online. For under $100 you can have some pretty professional looking business cards through vendors like Overnight Prints.
2. Carry a small notebook. You can jot notes down about new acquaintances. Record these notes into your Rolodex. Suggested notes include how you were introduced, personal details (number of kids, where they’re from), favorite restaurant, etc. These notes come in handy for future meetings.
3. Make yourself visible. Attend industry events, fundraisers, … any type of event where you can introduce yourself.
4. Be friendly. At networking events, people are expecting complete strangers to say “hello.” Walk up, shake the person’s hand and introduce yourself. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the conversation will easily start flowing.
5. Stay connected. Look for reasons to communicate with everyone in your network. I go through my Rolodex monthly and review who’s in there. You don’t have to talk to everyone monthly, but pick a few and start up the conversation again.
6. Refer, refer, refer. Any time you can offer an introduction between two people in your Rolodex, everyone benefits. An email introduction is simple, quick and beneficial for everyone involved. By introducing folks in your Rolodex to each other, you’re keeping the line of communication open and you’re inviting others to refer you as well.
What are your top networking tips?
Breathe. It will be okay. You will survive.
Apply for unemployment the day it happens. It takes a while to get the ball rolling.
Hold normal business hours as if you were still working – it helps maintain a level of sanity and prevent boredom. Many people who do this soon discover they have full, productive days.
Trim the fat – cut back on manicures and pedicures, cancel monthly memberships that may not be useful or necessary.
BUT, don’t cut back on your health insurance. If an accident or illness hits you while you’re down, the last thing you need to worry about is “how am I going to pay for this.”
While you’re still employed, there’s no need to be a savvy job hunter, right? Not true at all. Even if you’re in an incredibly secure position and think “it’ll never happen to me” it just might. Follow these tips and you’ll be able to bounce back from any type of brick wall.
Network
Stay dialed into your network. Make use of your collection of business cards. Each week, I pick an hour to spend, going through my address book. Anyone that I haven’t talked to in a while gets an email or phone call. It’s easy, fun and makes the person on the receiving end happy, too.
Emergency Money
Not only important if you lose your job, but equally a must in the event of a medical emergency, auto disaster, etc. Stash a certain percentage of your paycheck each month. A safety net makes life so much easier.
Denial
Keep your eyes and ears open at all times, especially in an economy like this. People not talking to you at work? Are you not invited to certain meetings? Is your industry as a whole having trouble? They’re all signs that you could be on thin ice. I’m not typically a pessimist, but I do think it’s important to protect yourself at all costs.