Job Search Networking #3: 7 Essentials for Small Talk Haters
As I am writing my soon-available book, today’s working title: Did those networking “experts” every really try what they tell you to do? here are today’s thoughts:
The purpose of small talk is to give you and the other person a chance to find something that you have in common. That is the beginning of building a relationship. And you’ll want to be a master of creating a relationship quickly since they are the foundation of your career success.
So here are some quick tips to make small talk easier for those of us who kinda hate it and/or don’t do it particularly well.
· Make your first remarks quite neutral and non-threatening. Remember, the purpose of opening remarks is to let people process the sub-text that says you like them.
· Say something relevant to the situation. You may build agreement right away. For example, you may say “Beautiful place for this event, isn’t it?” This would encourage your conversational partner to start agreeing with you from the first moment. This is good!
· Say something pleasant, complimentary or empathetic because your first sentence is 100% of their experience of you at that point. If your first comments are boastful, complaining, negative or sarcastic (no matter how witty or intelligent), that will be their impression of you, and it will be a difficult task to change that impression.
· You will find that acknowledging them for something they have done is a powerful way to melt the ice.
· Say something that is easy to agree with. This provides sub-text that says “we agree, we’re alike, we have something in common. We can now move on to more meaningful conversation.”
· Save your jokes, strong opinions, clever remarks for when you know the person better. The sub-text here says “look at me; appreciate me.”
· You want your sub-text to say “I see you and I appreciate you.” Keep that thought in your head and it is conveyed easily in your small talk.
Remember, the numbering system on these Job Search Networking tips has no rhyme nor reason. You didn’t miss any. Sometimes being a little out of sequence just appeals to my inner rebel.
Job Search Networking #5: Meet people outside your function
While I recommend this to everyone in job search, I think it’s especially critical for HR professionals to spent time with people who are outside the HR function and at least one level above your current level.
One of the challenges I have seen HR professionals face in their job search is to be able to translate all the great work you did into results that resonate with senior management. It’s not always easy to identify the financial impact of things like improving employee satisfaction, developing new training programs, etc., or even things like doing layoffs without any employee suing the company.
When talking to people in other functions, whether or not they are at your company, you can ask them how they translate HR initiatives into financial terms. How does HR in general contribute to their function?
Talk to CEO’s and CFO’s. Ask how they need to have HR translate what the function achieves into a language they relate to?
It may take a while to get to some answers, but it’s a very worthwhile exercise. Great networking conversation and you’ll learn how to translate what you do into a language that will make you stand out from other candidates.
By the way, the numbering system on these Job Search Networking tips has no rhyme nor reason. You didn’t miss any. Sometimes being a little out of sequence just feels good! Or is it a sign I’ve been sitting at this computer just a wee bit too long?
No fuss no muss stay visible tip
Here is a really painless way to increase your visiblity quotient.
Update your LinkedIn profile at least once a week. Add an article or presentation you’ve done. Change the information in your summary, update what you’re working on, add a book to the list of books you’re reading. You get the idea.
What to add?
Add information that reflects your brand as a candidate. What would make you stand out to a hiring manager and/or recruiter? Be very strategic here—make sure everything supports and reinforces the brand you’re creating.
What does this get you?
Your update will be sent to all your contacts in that weekly email LinkedIn sends out. Your name will keep coming up week after week with yet something else that brands you. A lot of visibility for just a few keystrokes.
BONUS TIP: When you sign up for my Quick Start Job Search email series, the email you get the second day has a fun fast way to uncover your brand. Please don’t skip this point—it’s an accelerant for your job search success.
PS: What’s cool is that some people have reported back to me that doing the branding exercise from my Quick Start has actually lead to a new job! Can’t promise that but I can promise you’ll start to see what really differentiates you. If you have that nailed, you’re already ahead of nearly every competitor for the position.
HR Job Search: What to Say When You're Not There
At the risk of eliciting a “Well, duh!” from all of you, please let me mention this critical and often overlooked element of your search–the outgoing voice mail message on your phone(s).
Call your own voice mail and listen to that outgoing message as if you were a hiring manager reaching out to say “I’d like to talk to you.”
Is that important person going to hear a message that says “You’ll be glad you called me”? Will they be eager to talk to you because they heard a professional, friendly, appropriately energetic and enthusiastic message?
It’s great that candidates use their cell phones for job search. We recruiters love to be able to talk to you as soon as possible!
And we do listen to the message to get a sense of you. It’s just another piece of data we collect.
This may be the first time the caller hears your voice. You may be getting a call from that great networker you met who wants to introduce you to a great connection. Or someone you’ve been wanting to meet is finally returning your call. Or a recruiter or hiring manager calling about a position.
Perhaps they have seen your picture on Linkedin and now they have a voice to go with the face.
What is the image you want to portray? Energetic, enthusiastic, friendly—the kind of person they would like to work with?
What do you say in your message? Did you make it a message for your friends or for your job search?
If you put your home phone on your resume, check that message, too, to see if the impression the caller will get is appropriate while you’re in job search mode.
The concept is a lot like selling your house. You have to do things differently in order to attract buyers than you would do them if you were not in sales mode.
It’s difficult to say what impact this can have on your candidacy for a particular position or your networking success. So please don’t take any chances—at least not with your job search success.
Resume contact information: Make it easy to find you!
You probably should not put vital contact information into a header or footer. I know it looks professional on a multi-page resume, but to be safe you may want to use a different format.
The challenge is that not all the resume database and search systems see that information. So it’s possible the recruiter will not be able to contact you.
When a recruiter does a search of their database for candidates who might be a fit for their positions, your resume may show up without the header and/or footer.
Always good to make it easier for people to find you!
Essential Interview Skill — Sorry, Mom!
Probably your mom, like mine, told me to always answer when someone asked me a question.
But in certain situations when you’re interviewing, you may want to delay mom’s rule for just a moment.
Most of us launch off into an answer when we are asked a question in an interview. It’s the question-answer-question-answer mode. We want to appear knowledgeable, and besides it’s fun to talk about ourselves. Or we’re nervous and just start talking. Or it’s just that mom did a good job training us!
But those times when the question is a little different, you may want to stop and ask a clarifying question or two. I’ve always found that when I do that, I get critical information about the question that is REALLY being asked.
Interview Standout
The link below is a great article about how HR can add value especially in these interesting economic times. The reason it can be helpfu to you in your job search is because it has some great ideas of things you can talk about in your interviews.
The economic survival of any company is likely to be top of mind for your interviewers. These are specific areas that could add to their bottom line. Talk about what you have done in these areas and would do for the company . You will truly stand out from the competition.
http://www.trainingmag.com/msg/content_display/training/e3icd8ec261b0f1e7f74f664ea9ff11a849?imw=Y
The one thing the author doesn’t discuss is putting results into financial terms. We might all agree that the value of people should be inherently obvious to senior management. If it isn’t, then let’s win by speaking their language.
Always be on the look out for information that can help you stand out in your interviews. You never know where you may find it.
Panel Interviews: A few thoughts
1. See how much info the recruiter will share. Is it typical for the company to do panel interviews, who is on the panel, what do they feel the benefit is? Sometimes recruiters won’t or cannot answer. Remember you’re building a relationship with the recruiter so talk to that person.
2. Share control with the panel members: Have some opening remarks ready. Say what makes sense to you and in your way, but do be an active participant right from the beginning.
If people don’t give their titles, you might ask if they would share with you a little of what they do at XYZ company. Say how much you appreciate all the effort to get them all in a room at the same time to meet you, etc., etc.
The first person who speaks may be the panel leader or just the most vocal. Sometimes panels members have not done prior preparation and there may not be a designated leader. Even if there is a leader, be sure to make eye contact with everyone as you answer questions.
3. Prepare your answers to some of the questions you’ll undoubtedly get. This will help you appear calm from the beginning and make sure you’re differentiating yourself by your answers and conduct.
Why did you leave your last job? Why should we hire you? Tell us a little about yourself.
All should be crafted before you go to any interview. There is a special report on this site called: How to answer the question they will always ask you.
Build your answer to all the questions around your brand (what it is about you that makes you THE person for the job) and what you learned about the company.
4. Your questions. You may not get a chance to ask questions, but you should have them ready. Depending on who is on the panel, you may decide some of your questions are inappropriate or need to be addressed to someone else or perhaps not asked in a group setting. Save those.
You should have thoughtful questions that demonstrate: you’re thinking as if you already have the job, you’re going to be bringing them skills, experience and perspective they need, you’re the person they want because you stand out from the other candidates.
5. Enjoy!
Networking: How to Pay to Play
Actively networking and making connections are essential and significant elements of your job search strategy today. Social networking is important, but must be augmented with face-to-face or at least voice-to-voice connecting.
The etiquette is “ask for the help–ask for the check.” That can get expensive unless you get creative. And the good news is “creative” is not only acceptable, it can often really make you stand out.
These days it is quite acceptable to ask someone to join you for coffee–on you. You could even offer to bring coffee to their office to make it easier for them to meet with you.
I have taken someone to lunch when it was critical for me to be able to spend time with her. I asked her assistant for her favorite restaurant–and then asked her to join me for lunch there. It really differentiated me from everyone else asking for her time.
You can ask the person’s assistant or the person who referred you if there is something special they like–jelly beans or chocolates or cookies?? I recently met with someone who loved the oatmeal raisin cookies from the Il Forniao bakery. Those 3 cookies were one of my best investments!
A couple of years ago someone gave me a lot of his time and never asked for anything in return. I found a fabulous hero action figure that I sent him since he was now “my hero.” It still sits on a shelf in his office and even though he’s become quite well known, he always takes my calls and gives me invaluable advice.
You only need a few of these wonderful people in your life and they will lead you to everything you want.
Thank people in a way that shows both your gratitude and personality. The handwritten notes I’ve gotten create a special spot in my heart for those who took the time to write.
When you think of networking as a way to make connections and build relationships, you’ll come up with unique and money-saving ways to say “thank you.” And really build a relationship at the same time.
