It’s Better To Be Respected Than Liked

When I started University, my faculty passed out a sheet of paper to all of the students that contained a set of 10 rules for being successful in the business world. And while I have long since lost the sheet, there is one rule I remember very clearly:

It’s better to be respected than liked.

While this made some sense to me at the time, I have only recently started to appreciate exactly what it means for your career. Now that I have been in the corporate world for a few years, it has become easier to see the link between how people view you and your career advancement.

There are many ways/reasons for people to like you. You could:

  • Be a genuinely nice person
  • Be social
  • Do favors for others without any expectation of favors back
  • Make people smile or laugh

But ultimately, being liked in itself will not advance your career. Do to this, you need to be respected. And in my opinion, there are only two ways to gain the respect of others:

  • By making good decisions
  • Through your ability to get the job done and done right

Without gaining the respect of others, you cannot expect to move up within an organization. The reason for this is that decisions on promotions are rarely made in a vacuum. Your boss may think that you are a nice person and want to promote you, but unless you have gained the respect of the majority of the decision makers (including your boss), it will not happen.

This is not to say that you don’t need to be liked. In fact, it is incredibly important to be both liked AND respected. Being liked can often make the difference in a competition between two well respected employees. However, without having the respect of your peers and superiors, you will never be given that opportunity.

So once you land the Entry Level Job of your dreams, remember that in order to get ahead, you need to gain the respect of those around you. You can do this with a strong work ethic and sound decision making skills. Without respect, you will find your career path more challenging.

Financing Big Career Changes

A popular excuse for not making a big career change is money. You don’t have enough money – training for new skills, career coaching, whatever support you need for the big change cost more than you have. You need the income you have – you don’t have any left over to save for the big change and you certainly don’t have the option of quitting to focus more time on the big change. However, although money is a legitimate consideration, it is not an obstacle you can’t overcome. It comes down to the math: how much do you need and where will you get it.

Think Robin Hood. Take from one place to give to another. Look at your discretionary income after the fixed bills are paid. Where can you shave off dollars to allocate towards your career change?

Raise your income. Can you start a side consulting business and use the proceeds for the big change? The graphic designer can create websites, the financial planner can give Quicken tutorials. I know a marketing director who did a brand strategy for a start-up to pay for her kids’ new swing set. However, remember that you need your energy for the big change — this job is just for money so pick something you know you can do in which you won’t get too invested.

Challenge your assumptions. Still don’t have enough? Have you really separated out discretionary income or are non-essentials still in there? (Cable TV is not an essential when you are questioning all expenses.) Are you sure you need this money? (Can you take a workshop instead of getting a long-term class?) Are you sure you have itemized all expenses? (When you are trying to find the wasted dollars, you need to take a microscope to your spending.) There are always gaps between what you actually spend and what you think you spend, so be willing to challenge your memory and actually look.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

The Bachelor And Your Entry Level Job Hunt

Mrs. Gradversity loves watching the Bachelor/Bachelorette. She can’t bear to miss a show. And while I’m no fan, I also understand that I have no claim to the TV on Monday nights when it is on.

So when Adam Anthony let me know that he had posted an article relating The Bachelor to your Entry Level Job hunt, I couldn’t resist posting about it, if only for her sake.

Seven ways NOT to find an entry-level job this summer is a fun read with some practical job hunt advice. I don’t want to spoil all of the goodies, so you will have to check it out to find out more.

Enjoy!

Lying During Job Interviews

When it comes to interviews, I have a strict “No Lying” policy. So when I read the recent article Should you ever lie in a job interview? on CNN, I thought it was worth sharing.

The gist of the piece is that while many people tend to distort the truth during job interviews, even minor fibs can get you fired. So, in order to help mitigate the risk of either losing the job or getting fired in your first few weeks, the author (Rachel Zupek) shares some tips on how to answer tough questions without lying.

There are many pearls of wisdom in here worth sharing. So I will just point to you to Should you ever lie in a job interview? so you can read it yourself.

Enjoy!

Busy Week At Gradversity!

Hello everyone!

Just wanted to let you know that this is a busy week here at Gradversity. On top of trying to share great job-search related content, I’m also working on some other cool stuff for the site (like the long-promised contest that I’ve been on the verge of for the last few months). I promise it will be worth it!

Anyway, since life is a little crazy this week, I might not be able to respond right away if you drop me an email or a comment. However, I will get back to you soon. Promise!

Have a great week!

A Word About Typos

I love Heather Huhman’s Examiner column. She has a way of getting right to the point.

She recently posted an article which brought to light a survey by Accountemps about why Typos Will Cost You The Job.

In the context of improving the overall quality of your applications, there is one thing that you can do that will help your cause the most:

While there are an infinite number of ways to improve both [your resume and cover letter], the first step you should take is a simple one—don’t make any typos.

Very practical advice. Nothing can derail an application faster than problems with your spelling and grammar.

Check out Typos Will Cost You The Job. It’s well worth the read.

What Would You Like To See On Gradversity?

As I was writing yesterday’s post, I started to think that it might be time to get some feedback from my readers on what to write about.

So, dear Gradversity reader, what would you like to see me write more about? More about interview tips? Resume writing? Personal branding? It’s up to you!

And how can you let me know what you see? Easy! You can let me know by leaving a message for me on Twitter, the comment board (below), or through the contact page.

And while I can’t promise that I will be able to fulfill all of the requests, I will do my best.

So now it’s your turn. What do you want to read on Gradversity?

Quote Of The Day (Aldous Huxley)

Today’s quote comes from Aldous Huxley, who was the author of the classic book Brave New World.

I thought that it was appropriate given that most New Grads struggle with overcoming a perceived lack of experience when competing for jobs.

Experience is not what happens to a man.
It is what a man does with what happens to him.

~ Aldous Huxley
Enjoy!

What Not To Say In An Interview

I thought it would be a good day to introduce some job search humor. A recent article on CNN (via CareerBuilder) provided a list of outrageous things that candidates have said to employers. The article, 43 Weird Things Said In Job Interviews, provides some insight into what not to say, while giving us all a good laugh.

Among my favorites…

“I’ve never heard such a stupid question.”

“If this doesn’t work out can I call you to go out sometime?”

“If I get an offer, how long do I have before I have to take the drug test?”

“What is two weeks’ notice? I’ve never quit a job before, I’ve always been fired.”

“May I have a cup of coffee? I think I may still be a little drunk from last night.”

And finally, my personal favorite…

“You should probably know I mud wrestle on the weekends.”

Priceless!! Check out 43 Weird Things Said In Job Interviews

How To Avoid Job Scams

To go along with my recent post on Predatory Recruiters, I came across an article on CNN the other day about Job Scams. Six Signs It’s A Job Scam outlines some of the ways that people can get scammed while looking for work.

What disturbs me most is that job scams take advantage of people who are already in a bad situation. Falling for a scam when desperate can only add insult to injury.

While the article has some great tips on how to avoid job scams, the most useful one (in my opinion) is to be wary of anyone looking for money from you:

“No legitimate employer asks you for money. This is a foolproof tip off that something’s not right,” Giroir says. “There are a number of scams that work this way. You deposit your money in an offshore account and wait for your investment to make you wealthy, or you purchase a list of high-paying jobs you can do from home. Whatever the scam is, don’t fall for it.”

All in all, this is a must read for any New Grad looking for an Entry Level Job. Don’t get scammed!

Guest Post: Social Media and the Job Search

Consider this quote from a recent Business Week article:

In today’s competitive job market, it will be the resourceful and self-motivated participant in social media that will find the perfect job….it takes more than a handful of contacts and a good résumé to land a new job in the 21st century. Sending numerous e-mails or applying online to any and all job postings doesn’t allow one to shine.

What are YOU doing to stand out from the crowd? What will you do TOMORROW that’s different from what you did YESTERDAY? When was the last time you took a good look at your LinkedIn contacts to see which of those might help you with your search?

Does your web presence go beyond a resume and LinkedIn profile? No?? Then take a look at WordPress’ or Google’s blog apps. You can have a new online presence in about 15 minutes where you can showcase your resume, skills, and knowledge.

Oh, and one more thing — you’ll pick up some neat new skills when you start and run a blog — and then add those skills to your resume!

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Why Personalizing A Cover Letter Is Important

Interesting post on Evil HR Lady (the blog) the other day. It talks about a letter she received asking her to promote a book. She uses this example to make a great point about why you need to personalize your cover letters.

The main goal of a cover letter is to get you noticed and convince an employer to look at your resume. While personalizing this letter cannot guarantee success, not personalizing it will (almost) guarantee failure.

Check out The Importance of a Individualizing a Cover Letter. It’s a short read, but might help you improve your response rate.

How’s Your Job Search Going?

Does your job search need a jump-start?

If so, it pays to sit down and analyze your situation. You should carefully question everything you’re doing. Careful, though — the wrong questions can be harmful to your career health.

Example: Never ask yourself questions like, Why can’t I find a job? Or, Why won’t anyone hire me?

Such “Why” questions will prompt your brain to give you excuses instead of answers — you’re too old/too young/too experienced/too stupid, etc. There’s not much you can do about being young or stupid, is there? Which just leads to more frustration.

Instead, when analyzing your job search, ask yourself empowering “How” questions like, How can I generate just one networking lead today? Or, How can I meet someone who works at General Mills?

Such “How” questions lead to actionable ideas like these: You could call an old buddy from high school, someone you worked with two years ago, a neighbor who works for General Mills, etc.

See the difference?

Let’s follow this logic and replace two common “Why” questions with more-effective “How” questions that can get you hired faster …

1) Why is my job search taking so long?

This is exactly the sort of “why” question many unemployed folks ask themselves every day. Unfortunately, it will produce more frustration than answers.

Instead, examine every aspect of what you’re doing to find a job and ask yourself this “How” question: How could I improve this?

Analyze the following:

  • Where you look for job leads each day (online and offline)
  • The resume and cover letters you send out — have they been proofread by someone else?
  • Your networking activities — how many people have you added to your network this week? This month?
  • Your job interview skills — when is the last time you practiced by videotaping yourself or talking to yourself in a mirror?

If you could improve each of those areas by just 10%, you would gain an overall 40% increase in the effectiveness of your job search. Do that and you can’t help but get hired faster.

2) Why aren’t employers calling me?

This is another question that generates a long list of frustrating possibilities, none of which is fun or useful to contemplate.

Instead, ask yourself, How could I get in front of more decision makers who can hire me? Answering this “How” question will encourage you take positive action. For example, you could:

  • Write down the names of the 105 companies you most want to work for. (You do have a list of target employers, right?) Research them at ZoomInfo.com. Then, email the people in your network asking for an introduction. (This is made easier if you have a profile at LinkedIn.com.)
  • Call 5 of the most successful people you know and ask them, “How did you get your last 3 jobs?” This gives you a double benefit:
    • You will learn 15 ways to meet hiring managers and recruiters. That’s the obvious benefit.
    • Your calling for advice will flatter those people, making them more likely to remember and recommend you to potential employers. This is the not-so-obvious benefit.
  • Start a blog about your industry that gets you noticed by recruiters and hiring managers. This is not a quick fix, but it’s a great way to improve your visibility and employability for the long term. (You’ll find excellent articles on blogging for employment at www.CareerJounal.com/jobhunting.)
  • Finally, if employers aren’t calling in response to your emailed resume, it may be because they never got your resume. Spam filters are set on “Kill” these days, making email less reliable than ever. If there’s a job you really, really want, consider sending your resume by FedEx. Yes, it costs a few bucks. But a FedEx envelope, addressed by name to the hiring authority, has a 100% chance of being opened. That means your resume will get read. And that’s what you want, right? Besides, if you’re applying to a carefully targeted list of employers, you won’t be FedExing hundreds of resumes — it will be more like 5 or 10. So this can be money well spent.

Now go out and make your own luck!

Kevin Donlin is co-author of Guerrilla Resumes. Since 1996, he has provided job-search help to more than 20,000 people. Author of 3 books, Kevin has been interviewed by The New York Times, USA Today, Fox News, CBS Radio and others.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

CAREEREALISM’s Advice For Making Your Resume Great

At this point, most of you know that I have been volunteering with the Twitter Advice Project for CAREEREALISM. One of the main reasons I do this is because J.T. and her team offer excellent career advice and I want to ensure this extremely worthwhile project is a success.

As I was scanning around the site the other day, the recent article (4 Ways) Take Your Resume From Good to GREAT caught my eye. So in the spirit of sharing more great career tips, I thought I would pay it forward. This piece by Teena Rose has very practical tips on how to take your resume to the next level.

No more details required. Check out (4 Ways) Take Your Resume From Good to GREAT and be sure to stop by CAREEREALISM on a regular basis for more great career advice.

7 Ways To Ruin An Interview

Having heard some recent horror stories from employers, I thought I would share my list of ways to ruin an interview. My hope is to provide a pre-interview checklist that you can use to ensure that you have all of your bases covered.

Here is my list of things to avoid when interviewing for the job you really, really want.

    • Arrive Late: Nothing ruins your chances faster than showing up late. Respecting the employer’s time is essential to show that you will make a reliable employee.
    • Be Needy or Overbearing: Coming off desperate is a major turn-off. Employers want confident, capable candidates who are easy to get along with.
    • Avoid Eye Contact: Eye contact is the best way to connect with the person on the other side of the table. Use it to your advantage and it can win you the job. Avoid it and it looks like you are hiding something.
    • Give a Weak Handshake: I hate the “limp fish” handshake. It can destroy an otherwise good first impression. Practice ahead of time if necessary.
    • Forget to Smile: Goes hand-in-hand with eye contact when it comes to making a good impression. A smile can make the difference between otherwise equal candidates.
    • Give Long Answers: This relates to respecting the employer’s time. Give short, concise answers to avoid rambling. It will help to reinforce that you know what you are talking about.
    • Ask No Questions: This is critical. If you don’t ask intelligent, informed questions, it will appear that you are only there for the job and not to become part of the team.

      There are many other ways to ruin an interview that aren’t listed here. Share yours on the comment boards below!

      Job Search Tips from Movin’ On Up

      Fun little post today on Movin’ On Up called Top 10 Job Search Tips of All Time. As the name suggests, it’s a short list of concise job search tips.

      And while there isn’t any supporting information on how to accomplish each of these goals (other than internal links), it will still help to ensure that you are doing everything you can in your job search.

      I do want to add one to the list:

      Manage your online reputation.

      This is becoming more and more important as potential employers up the ante by researching you on social networks.

      Enjoy!

      More Reasons Not To Mix Work And Social Networking

      After the fallout from the Cisco Fatty Incident, more and more people have become aware that what you post online can be found by your employer (or potential employers) in addition to your friends, family and contacts.

      So it goes without saying that I don’t have to remind you (AGAIN) to be careful about what you post on social networking sites.

      However, just in case it isn’t already crystal clear, I’d like to direct you to Social Media Pitfalls, an article on CareerBuilder that gives excellent examples of how careless social networking got people in trouble at work.

      Included are stories about people fired over Facecbook posts, terrible job related Tweets, and the aforementioned Cisco Fatty Incident. It’s just a sampling of how people can ruin their employment situation through bad networking decisions.

      Consider this a public service announcement from Gradversity. You’re welcome.

      Execupundit’s 17 Rules for Job Seekers

      There’s a great post up on USNews by Michael Wade (of Execupundit) called 17 Rules for Job Seekers. As the name suggests, it contains his list of job search rules that everyone should know.

      It’s a nice, short read and has some good quality advice. My favorite?

      If you are waiting by the phone for a call from the interview board that you wowed, Interviewer A is on vacation, Interviewer B is home with the flu, and Interviewer C is waiting for the others to return to work.

      In order words, never read too much into a situation. There’s often a simple and reasonable explanation for it.

      Either way, there’s some great advice in this piece. Check it out.

      A Reality Check From Punk Rock HR

      I love Laurie Ruettimann’s posts on Punk Rock HR. There’s just something about her ability to “Tell It Like It Is” that really appeals to me. And once again, she is right on the money.

      In a recent post, Punk Rock HR’s Best Advice for Job Seekers, Laurie outlines the one piece of advice that current job seekers are most in need of.

      That advice?

      Stop being needy.

      She couldn’t be more right. When I read this article, I realized that it is written for the benefit of people who are already in the workforce and who are looking to change jobs/careers. However, this is also great advice for New Grads who are looking for Entry Level Jobs as well.

      When you are applying for a job after graduation, it’s easy to come across as needy. It could be an over-reliance on the support your parents, the weight of your student loans, or the realization that you don’t know what you want to do with your life. Regardless, being needy is a major turn-off for employers.

      I guess Laurie said it best when she writes about people bringing…

      …psychological baggage into our interviews. There’s no bigger turn-off than a clingy, needy, desperate candidate who lacks confidence and self-awareness.

      If you lack meaning in your life, and if you feel disconnected from the ones you love, a job will not fill that void.

      I would suggest reading the whole article. It might change your perspective on interviewing.

      Thoughts? Comments? Respond below!

      Napoleon Dynamite’s Social Networking Advice

      I was cruising through the archives of The Talent Buzz the other day and came across an article called Gosh! Napoleon Dynamite’s Guide To Social Networking. Not only is it good for a laugh, it also has some great advice when it comes to getting the most out of your social networking activities.

      The article itself takes actual quotes from the movie and uses them to illustrate how to be a better social networker.

      Here’s an example:

      Put your connections to work for others so they get sweet stuff, too.

      “Pedro offers you his protection.”

      You may not know somebody with skills to save people from certain destruction, but you might know the owner of the best place in town to get tots when you’re hungry! A great networker isn’t just a resource but a channel through which the needs and talents of others connect. A good friend comes to your house and tries to help you fix your toilet. A great networker knows a trustworthy plumber who will fix your toilet and takes you out for a drink to celebrate the victory!

      Both funny and true.

      Anyway, it’s an easy read with some excellent advice along the way. Any one who has a Facebook page who loves this movie should check out Gosh! Napoleon Dynamite’s Guide To Social Networking.

      The Dollar Value Of Networking

      Networking is the type of activity that can’t easily be quantified in terms of dollars. There are too many variables to determine what a missed networking opportunity might be worth.

      However, a recent post on MN Headhunter outlines exactly what one contract worker gave up by refusing to network.

      Not Enough Time To Network Becomes A $48,000 Mistake outlines how a series of missed networking opportunities led to him missing out on $48,000 worth of work.

      How did they get to this value?

      15 weeks x 40 hours = 600 hours

      600 hours x $80 an hour = $48,000

      Now I know that this isn’t the type of money that a New Grad would make, but it does illustrate the importance of networking.

      What makes this story especially sad is that it appears that there were people willing to hire him:

      One of our friends said, “I thought you would be at XYZ until after the 1st of the year, why did you not say anything? You know we would have taken you on.”

      What’s the moral of the story?

      You may not enjoy spending your time networking, but neglecting these opportunities can cost you a lot more than your time.

      Have you missed an opportunity to network? Leave us a comment!

      Gutsy Resignation Letter

      Cat Sacdalan has guts. When life at work became unbearable, she decided to quit. While this alone doesn’t make her extraordinary, it’s how she quit that really takes the cake.

      Not one to go out without making a statement, Cat decided to express her displeasure by crafting her resignation letter in crayon.

      Behold, the greatest resignation letter I’ve ever seen:

      crayon_letter

      Want the rest of the story? Read Best Resignation Letter Ever.

      Making a Career Change

      In order to make a career change, you must determine:

      1. Are you committed to making a change?
      2. What industries interest you?
      3. What are your strengths and transferable skills? How can you utilize those in a new position?
      4. What types of positions are you most qualified for? Of those, which spark the most interest?
      5. Are your salary expectations realistic for the position in which you are interested?
      6. What training do I need to qualify for positions?

      The next steps to making a career change are most important in helping you achieve your goal.

      1. Craft your resume to emphasize transferable skills.
      2. Include all work history emphasizing how past experience relates to the position.
      3. Submit a cover letter with your resume explaining why you want to make a career change.
      4. Prepare to answer questions as to why you are looking to make a career change.
      5. Practice mock phone/in-person interviews to help build confidence.
      6. Have a list of your employment dates, key accomplishments, and goals near your phone.
      7. Recruiters will conduct a phone screen to determine your employability, and you want to be prepared. Keep it brief, always upbeat, and informative; use impact adjectives.
      8. Register with a staffing firm to gain experience and exposure in a variety of industries. Lakeshore offers complimentary online training for software applications, and career counseling for transitional employees.
      9. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK. Seek out job clubs and networking groups that will not only help with career guidance, but will also keep you focused, and motivated.
      10. Use the internet – you will find countless articles offering tips and recommendations to job seekers.

      Make your job search your job until you land your new job!

      Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

      How To Ruin Your Network

      I spent some time reading How Absolutely Definitely NOT To Build Networking Relationships this afternoon. Beyond just being a great read, it is exactly what the author suggests:

      …a rather tongue-in-cheek look at network relationship-building

      In this article, the author lists many of the things that you can do to ruin your network. And believe me, there are plenty of ways to cause harm. My personal favorite is:

      Don’t invest too much effort in your relationships. Remember, as soon as you have found the job of your dreams, you are going to drop these contacts like a ton of hot bricks anyway – well, at least until the next time you need them.

      What makes this article really stand out to me is that everyone has made at least one of these mistakes when it comes to networking. However, knowing and avoiding mistakes is only half of the game. Realizing that you’ve made a networking mistake and taking corrective action is just as important.

      Either way, this is a great post. Check it out here.

      Why You Shouldn’t Post A Resume On Craigslist

      I have a love/hate relationship with Craigslist. On one hand, I love the fact that it is a great way to post free classified ads on the web. I also love that the site has stayed true to its roots and avoided selling out.

      What I don’t like is the lack of formality. Now, I’m not suggesting that everyone should be formal all of the time, but the informality of Craigslist leads some people to believe that a posted resume (or “job wanted” ad) doesn’t require the same time or effort as you might see on a larger job board.

      So when I read How NOT to Post Your Resume on Craigslist, I thought that this was the type of thing that was needed to prove my point.

      This article is a collection of poorly written/edited/posted resumes as found on Craigslist. And while I can never fault someone for using every possible weapon at their disposal in order to find a job, I can fault them for posting something like:

      I NEED A JOB! I’ll literally do anything!

      Kinda makes you want to bang your head against the wall.

      The biggest problem I have with the resume posting service that Craigslist provides is that no recruiter I have ever met has looked in a resume bank and blindly contacted a candidate UNLESS they were looking for a very specialized, hard to find skill/talent. Every recruiter wants you to show your interest in the job and the company. With this in mind, it seems like a waste of time to just blindly upload your resume with the hopes that it will lead you to a job.

      On top of this, when you do post your resume on Craigslist (and/or other job boards), and you do it poorly, it can come back to haunt you.

      For instance, imagine that you have just applied to a job and the employer likes your resume. As a next step, they decide to do a little research on you online. When they do, they come up with this gem on Craiglist, where you last posted your resume:

      I.m looking for work

      The point that I am trying to make is that you not only need to be aware of what you are posting on the Internet, but also about how your posting will be viewed. Poor grammar, spelling mistakes, desperation, confusing language, and/or vagueness will help to ensure that your credibility is ruined before a recruiter even looks at your information.

      This is doubly true if you are just posting a resume without applying to a specific job.

      So be careful. Finding a job is hard work. The people who are willing to put in the most effort are (generally) more successful. Just be aware of how your information is going to be perceived if you intend on posting your resume online.

      June Roundup: The Best Gradversity Posts of June 2009

      Happy July Everyone!

      It’s time for the monthly roundup where I provide a look back at some of the best posts that June 2009 had to offer:

      1. Why Body Language Matters
      2. Why I Don’t Like LinkedIn Recommendations
      3. The Entry Level Jobs of Successful CEOs
      4. Job Interviews vs. Informational Interviews
      5. The Secrets Of A Great Handshake
      6. Hiring Practices In A Recession
      7. Site Review: How To Nail An Interview
      8. How to Botch A Job Offer
      9. Guerrilla Cover Letters
      10. What To Leave Off Your Resume

      Enjoy!