Why to Avoid the Trap of Client Familiarity

Why to Avoid the Trap of Client Familiarity Now bear with me on this; I’m just as culpable as you on this one. We all have clients we deal with who we get on with like a house on fire, knowing exactly the kind of candidate they need for their numerous roles. Were guilty of  taking  half-arsed job specs for them because, lets face it, we know the client and we know what they want right? This is a trap I fell into many times and it’s one I am trying my damnedest to climb back out of. You see, it’s far too easy when ‘Dave’ from ‘Global Sprocket Noodles’ calls and says “hi Paul, how was your weekend? Listen I need a fella for the Ramsbottom branch, you know the kind of guy I want”. The reply 99 times out of 100  is “no problem Dave, I’ll get some CV’s across as soon as”. Now we may have somebody in mind that fits Dave’s idea of the perfect candidate but how the hell do we really know that, with only 2 pertinent pieces of information;  Ramsbottom and Sprocket Noodle? Understand the  role What we need to do is ask the right questions (I know, I sound like a bloody recruiter). The right questions asked at the start of the conversation will make your life a hell of a lot easier in the long run. So this is how it goes. “You know the kind of fella” needs to be addressed with “yes Dave, but can I just get a few more details from you, such as….” Then take a proper job spec. Youll likely find the Sprocket Noodler needs not only to have a HND in Sprocket Noodle 101, but also at least a CG in ‘Widget Firtling. The CV you thought was a call-off-the-search was in fact a back-to-the-drawing-board. Sell the job A good job spec  can also make your life easier when calling Brian ‘King of Widget Noodles’. For example when Brian asks “does that job come with a company car or do  I need to have my own  wheels”? you have in front of you a plethora of information to dazzle him;  â€œBrian, not only does it come with a company vehicle, but it also has a fuel card with it so you won’t be out of pocket when filling it up”. Incidentally, Brian is a good Yorkshireman, hence the accent (you will now go back a read the paragraph in a Yorkshire accent). Don’t Alienate your core business By this I mean both your best client and the candidates you work with. No matter how well you get on with Dave, sooner or later he is going to get annoyed at the amount of CVs coming his way which don’t fit the bill. Candidates will not thank you for wasting their valuable time being interviewed for a role which you pitched as ideal, but is actually  about as ideal as (insert stock chocolate fireguard or similar analogy). As a recruiter your reputation rules, so if you get a bad one (and I don’t mean  that time at the work do with Debbie from accounts) then your work and ultimately your billings will suffer. When that happens you are on a hiding to nothing, which leads me on to my next point. Dont get  too  comfortable Were all guilty of getting a little too comfortable with clients at times, resting on our laurels. I too fell into the all-too-easy trap of client familiarity, but with the help (for help read shouting) of my line manager I can honestly say my job is now infinitely easier. Dave is even happier and Brian loves his shiny new Mazda. To dazzle Brian, please Dave and make your job easier, a good job spec is quite literally gold. *Sprocket Noodles are made up (sorry again) *As is Widget Firtling (I know it sounds plausible) *Ramsbottom is a real place in Lancashire   About the author: Paul Murphy has been working for SER Limited in Engineering Recruitment for over 11 years specialising in the intelligent buildings sector â€" especially BMS (Building Management Systems). He is also it seems a part time keyboard warrior on behalf of recruiters everywhere.

Branding Yourself For A Career Change - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Branding Yourself For A Career Change - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career One of the main reasons youre having difficulties changing careers is how you brand yourself. Youre not used to the idea that branding makes such a big difference for a career change. The last time you changed careers, we were in a candidate shortage. Since there were candidate and skill shortages, you just had to show that you had the basic skills needed for the job. Employers were so desperate for candidates with basic skills, many would hire candidates without past experience in the job function or industry. For example, if you wanted to change careers into IT in the late 90s, you could get a job if you could just spell JAVA, then the key programming language for web applications. Fast forward to today During the job market turmoil of 2007 2012, millions who lost their jobs decided to do something that would be more fulfilling or have better job prospects. Others, seeing a downturn in their industry (ex: real estate, mortgages, construction, home building, remodeling, pharmaceuticals), have sought to change careers to something more lucrative. This makes sense when we see that what weve chosen isnt working out as well as wed hoped, why not try to make a change to something more fulfilling, fun, or profitable? Especially if it was as easy to change careers as it was before. That was then this is now In todays job market, its so easy to change careers. Not impossible, but certainly not easy. In yesterdays job market of candidate shortages, employers would consider career changers because they couldnt find enough people with direct experience. Compare this to todays job market, where hiring managers can have their choice of many candidates who meet not only skill requirements, but also experience requirements. Added to this Hiring managers are being given goals and being told to do more with less. This is what happens in a slow recovery: employers are given challenging goals, but not the additional employees needed to accomplish these goals. Even at full headcount , assume your hiring manager is understaffed. How do hiring managers, who are understaffed, figure out how to achieve challenging goal numbers? One of the most tried and true ways is to hire someone who has already solved their priority problems. Since understaffed hiring managers dont have the luxury of providing on the job training, to be successful in changing careers youll want to show that you dont need training. Much of this comes down to branding Think back to TheLadders.com study demonstrating the first decision a reader makes when looking at your resume the unqualified decision. Your resumes readers decide in the first 4-6 seconds if youre unqualified based on the first impression your resume makes. This is especially important to career changers. Most job seekers brand themselves based on their past job title, rather than their anticipated job title. For example, lets say youre a financial analyst seeking a career change into a marketing analyst role. Most job seekers in this situation brand themselves based on their past job: Financial Analyst seeking Marketing Analyst position Instead, wouldnt it make more sense to describe yourself as a Marketing Analyst, the job youre seeking showing a couple of the portions of your financial analysis experience that related to marketing analysis? A more effective personal brand might look like this: Marketing Analyst Expert in sales and profitability analysis The best part is, you dont have to lie A portion of most financial analyst jobs includes sales and profitability analysis. However, most financial analysts dont think of their past work in marketing terms. So why would you expect your target employer to think of you as a marketing candidate, unless you show the hiring manager exactly why they should think of you in marketing terms? Your resume isnt a timesheet, a diary, or an autobiography its a marketing tool to convince your reader that youre the best candidate for the job. If youre trying to change careers and convince a hiring manager that youre the best candidate for the job, why would you describe your work experience from the point of view of your old job? Youre not interviewing for your old job, youre trying to change careers, remember? Yet thats exactly what most of you who are trying to change careers still do brand yourself for your old career, rather than your new career. Dont you think youre much more likely to show your target hiring manager that youre the best candidate for the job if you described your experience from your new jobs point of view? Author: Phil Rosenberg is President of http://www.reCareered.com, a leading job search information website and career coaching service. Phil also runs the Career Central group, one of Linkedin’s largest groups for job seekers and has built one of the 20 largest personal networks on Linkedin globally. An active blogger about social media, career advice and job search information, Phil’s articles have been published by The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, CNN, CBS, AOL, FastCompany, CIO, ZDnet, The Examiner, and leading job/career/recruiting publications and sites. Check out one of Phil’s complimentary job search webinars at http://ResumeWebinar.com.

5 Reasons to Interview for Jobs You Dont Want

5 Reasons to Interview for Jobs You Don’t Want You already have a job and you were asked to interview for a position. You have no interest in the job but you can still attend the job interview without ruffling feathers at work. Before thinking it will be a waste of time, it may be a good idea to go on the job interview anyway. We explain the reasons why you should interview for jobs you do not want.1. Protect Your Relationship With ConnectionsThere are times when people you know, or recruiters you worked with in the past, will think of you for a job. They will go ahead and submit your resume or tell you about a job. But you know it is wrong for you.It may sound strange but you should honor their work and thoughtfulness and go on the interview anyway. In the future, you will need to know helping you is not a true waste of time. Today, you are showing them that you appreciate what they did for you.Ultimately, people in the business of finding others work need to know you are dependable. They need to know that you mean what you say when stating, “I am looking for a job”. Do not appear to be a flakey job seeker. Go on the interview and make them look good. It will pay dividends one day. You are protecting a professional relationship.2. Get Some Practice in Before the Real DealIf you look at social media and believe that “everyone must be getting jobs but you can’t”, you are only fooling yourself. Only 2% of online job applications lead to interviews. Your network will be more of a valuable resource for interviews.Given job interviews are few and far between, you need to get some practice in before that perfect job comes along. And when it does you will be ready because you practiced your interview skills on jobs that mattered little to you. You got all the trial and error out of the way.When the real job you want comes along...you will be ready. Practice makes perfect. And who knows? Maybe #3 will happen to you.3. The Job Turns out to Be Something GreatPeople, in general, are more likely to have a gre at interview the less they care about the success of the interview. Now, imagine you go on the interview for practice and then something ironic happens.You really like the company, the people, the job, and salary. Who knew?! And thankfully you were your very best in the job interview. You had nothing to lose and you were very confident because you could care less if they hired you or not. Now, you have job offers and you get to see what it means to have leverage during a salary negotiation.The experience also teaches you a great way to trick your mind into being confident for important job interviews: The less you are concerned with failing the job interview, the more you stand a chance of doing well and landing the job.4. Use Your Apathy to Leverage a Better OfferGo in and give the interview your very best. Be the #1 choice on the company’s mind. You may not have an interest in the job, so this is the perfect chance to try and get an amazing offer.After all, does it really matter if they say yes or no? What if they match your offer, as crazy as it seems? The salary offer you negotiated will give you the confidence to negotiate your true value in the future.And if the salary you negotiated is very attractive, taking the job may just be worth the money. Think about it...If you really (and I mean...REALLY) desired the job you interviewed for, would you have been as brave you were during salary negotiations? Not many people have the ability to negotiate a salary offer when facing the possibility of losing out on a job.5. Get Some Insider Info for Your Job Search and CareerThere are companies that unfortunately call people in for job interviews with the sole purpose of getting information and other things recruiters never tell you before an interview. They may be expanding and have no idea where to start, so they call you in for an interview. Then, they ask you tons of questions about what you know and how you work.Companies use people for interviews. So, you sh ould do the same as a job candidate. When the interviewer asks, “Do you have any questions?” go to town and start asking anything you want to know that will help your job search.Try and find out how companies are doing things and what skills they are looking for. Find out the systems they use. Find out what they think are current trends in business for hiring someone like yourself. Turn the tables. They were picking your brain. Now, pick theirs.In ClosingAt the end of the day, going on interviews for jobs you do not want simply provides the opportunity for you to gain knowledge, practice, and network. And you have nothing to lose by interviewing for jobs you do not want. You only stand to gain from the experience.

How to succeed in a new job

How to succeed in a new job The majority of people who fail at their job will fail in the first 90 days. So take special care to make a good start. Here are areas you need to manage carefully. 1. Assume everything in the interview was wrong. Dont come to work with a preconception of your job description. Youll be disappointed at best and annoying at worst. During the interview process, a hiring manager tells you a job description that will make you want to take the job. The description is not likely to be an accurate summary of what your boss really wants you to do. After all, no one says in an interview, Youll have to pick up pieces when my disorganization gets our team into trouble, or As a newcomer, you will take the projects no one else wants, which may or may not be relevant to your interests. Also, during your initial meeting, you probably asked your perspective boss about his management style. The answer he gave was really the management style he thinks she *should* be using. People do not generally say what they want. (This is so true that focus groups have to be run in a way that consumers are not asked directly what they want because they say the wrong thing.) So watch your boss, read nonverbal cues, and understand what is motivating him. Once you really truly understand your boss you will be able to constantly adjust what youre doing in order to meet his or her needs. 2. Get your goals in writing. And meet them. Find out what your boss wants you to accomplish in the first 90 days. You need to know how you will be judged during this crucial time. Initiating this discussion shows that you are goal oriented and you want to be part of your bosss agenda. Ask for detailed descriptions and quantified expectations and get them in writing. Even if your boss does not create an official document, do it yourself, in an email an informal summary of the conversation, but in your mind, treat this as a formal agreement. Of courses, you must meet these goals, but forget about the phrase hit the ground running because youll slip and fall. If you are running have no time to double check where theyre going, and theres no time to make sure you are moving similarly to everyone else. Pace yourself for the first few months so you have a chance to learn how the company operates. 3. Manage your image. Here are questions youll hear every day for your first three months: Where were you before this company? How did you get into this business? Where are you from? These are general, fishing-for-information questions. It is an opportunity for you to package yourself to your coworkers. So get your spiel ready. Only a few people interviewed you; most people in the company know very little about you. Have a short, snappy answer for general, tell-me-about-yourself questions. People are going to make judgments that stick, based on this seemingly casual conversation. So prepare in advance. Everyone will make a snap judgment about you this is how people operate. Even good people. We cant help it. If youre lucky, theyll ask you a question. But most people will just take a look. So you have no ramp-up time when it comes to image. You have to look right on the first day. Dress like the other people at your level in the company. Set up your desk to present a crisp, organized image from day one. This means not barren but nothing cutesy. Your desk and clothes are an expression of your competence, not your personality. Express your true personality at home, with your friends who are not evaluating you during the next 90 days. People should perceive you as a listener. Ask questions, observe carefully, and meet as many people as you can. Instead of spouting off about how great you are, which only serves to show people that you are insecure, try listening to people, which makes them feel important, and consequently they will like you more. And in those first 90 days, who likes you is what will matter the most.

Tips for Writing a Resume For an Entry Level Pharmacy Tech Job

Tips for Writing a Resume For an Entry Level Pharmacy Tech JobWriting a resume for an entry level pharmacy tech job requires some research and thought before going to print. No two jobs are the same, and most jobs require experience in certain areas. For these reasons it is important to have all the appropriate information available to accompany your resume.No matter how experienced you are or what specialty you've held, a pharmacy tech job will always require experience in the specific fields listed below. The term Pharmacy Tech describes the job of filling prescriptions. Most pharmacist jobs involve working closely with doctors, usually on a one-on-one basis. Before being hired for a pharmacist job, a Pharmacy Tech must meet the job qualifications, usually listed on the job posting.Pharmacists work to improve the quality of medical health care through their knowledge and expertise in medical health care. They are a key component in a health care team and are responsible for providi ng the best possible treatment and care for patients. Pharmacy techs are also responsible for ensuring that prescriptions are filled at a convenient location and do not exceed patient access limits. Some jobs may also be required to take prescriptions to pharmacies for distribution to patients.Before submitting a resume for a pharmacy tech job, you will need to answer questions related to your education and experience. Your academic qualifications and college degrees are very important in this position. You can check with your prospective employer to determine which classes will give you the best advantage. Check the requirements for each pharmacy tech job to see if you will need additional training before applying.You will need to include details regarding any experiences that are related to the specific entry level pharmacy tech job you are applying for. This includes hours worked, details on certifications or licenses, job responsibilities, as wellas other information that relate s to your experience. Your experience may be listed under occupation, education, skills, or training. You should include all of these areas as this information is important to show potential employers that you have the experience they are looking for.Other information that relates to your work history should be included as well. Be sure to include your dates of employment as well as the beginning and end dates of any employment you had prior to the current pharmacy tech job. These dates can be on paper or in an email attached to your resume. Any additional job responsibilities you had during the period of employment will also need to be documented and should be listed separately from your work history.Finally, be sure to list any awards or certificates you may have received as a Pharmacy Tech. You may want to add information about certifications such as CPHTA, RCPT, PharmCNA, CCNA, or MCA and the types of certification you are certified in. It is also a good idea to list what medica l skills you possess, such as Pharmacy Therapy, Chemical Dependency, or Pharmacy Science. Any certifications that you earned prior to applying for the job should be listed as soon as possible.Once you have all of the necessary information for writing a resume for an entry level pharmacy tech job, it is now time to submit your resume. A potential employer is likely to read your resume, so be sure to add a personal touch to your resume. Make a point to highlight your accomplishments and educational background while leaving out your current employment situation. This will help you stand out from the crowd and receive a better response when applying for a position.

Are You Toxic To Deal With How To Tell, and How To Change - Kathy Caprino

Are You Toxic To Deal With How To Tell, and How To Change Last week, I posted a piece on LinkedIn about toxic behaviors that I see everyday in the work I do, and the response has been quite amazing.   Heres the post: 6 Toxic Behaviors That Push People Away: How To Recognize Them In Yourself and Change Them When I write an article, I truly never know how it will be perceived and received. I just write about what matters to me, and what emerges on the forefront of what Im thinking about and focusing on that week.   In this case, I felt compelled to write about behaviors I see daily (and that Ive engaged in as well), that wreak havoc in our lives and careers, bringing with them unhappiness, pain and suffering to those participating in them, and to everyone involved. Whats shocked me about this post is that it went viral (1.8 million views to date), and that some of the direct responses Ive received were evidence of the exact same toxic behaviors Ive described. Ive heard from people who: 1) Attacked me for my views, and called the post dangerous 2) Accused me of thinking I was better than other people 3) Put me down for not seeing their specialness 4) Demanded I help them now 5) Criticized me for not having more time and ability to personally help everyone who needs it 6) Called me judgmental and haughty for pointing out toxic behaviors The lesson Im learning in my life and work right now (and its an important one for me) is that when something reaches millions of people, there will be just that many different types of responses (good, bad, and the ugly), and my boundaries need to be sufficient to withstand that.   And I need to focus on the positive and be grateful that the post had an impact, and made people think. About toxic behaviors, my wish from this piece is that people can begin to identify these 6 toxic behaviors in themselves but from a loving, compassionate standpoint, not to beat themselves up about it.   I believe weve all engaged in some form of these behaviors throughout our lifetimes theyre universal.   The key to increasing your happiness and having more satisfying human connection is gaining greater awareness of when you are hurting yourself and others. Greater awareness equal greater choice. The six toxic behaviors to watch out for are: 1. Taking everything personally 2. Obsessing about negative thoughts 3. Treating yourself like a victim 4. Cruelty lacking in empathy or putting yourself in others shoes 5. Excessive reactivity 6. Needing constant validation Once you can recognize these behaviors in yourself, and accept that you have the capacity to be self-obsessed, negative, self-limiting, cruel, emotionally reactive, and overly needy, you can do something about it.   But if you continue to hold yourself above self-scrutiny, you cant change or grow. Thank you for looking at yourself in the mirror today, and being honest and open in identifying what you see, both the things youd like to change, and the things in yourself youre grateful for and appreciative of.   Writing this piece has deepened my commitment to identifying these toxic behaviors in myself and also appreciating what is positive, loving, and helpful and doing something about it. Let me know what you think about these 6 toxic behaviors. Do you see yourself in any of these? What have you done to shift away from them?

How To Stand Out From Your Competition

How To Stand Out From Your Competition How To Stand Out From Your Competition If you’re planning to look for a new job in the next 6 months, it’s time to start working on your resume. Now. Whether you’ve decided to write it yourself or plan to hire a professional writer, it ALWAYS takes longer than you think it will. Getting recruiters to notice you isnt easy. As a recruiter, most of the resumes I received were much like reverse-engineered job descriptions.  A few years later, the resumes I review as a resume writer are much the same. Even the resumes of C-level executives. Under each job title, there are long, bulleted lists of job duties and responsibilities. Boring. To get an employer’s attention include a brief overview of each position followed by 3 to 5 bullets that demonstrate value.  These are things that stand out, things that had a direct impact on your team, department, maybe even the company. Make sure to quantify your results whenever possible. You may think that saying you made millions of dollars for a company is impressive. But, it’s not. Employers want to see numbers. For example, the campaign you developed built your newsletter list by XX. Even if you’re not generating revenue, you may be making (or saving) money for your employer. For example, you redesigned the expense report payment process so instead of taking 2 days a week it takes 1 day a week. That means a staff member can focus on other things 4 days a month. If you’re in sales, you probably already have a bunch of numbers on your resume. In that case you need to tell the story behind them. How did you win that big account? How did you build out that winning sales team? You get the idea. Make sure your resume is concise and easy to read. Differentiate sections like Professional Experience, Core Skills, and Education with graphic lines. Go through your resume and cut excess content. Try not to repeat either your accomplishments or the words you use. Don’t have a resume where every bullet begins with Developed. Writing a compelling, results-driven, resume that meets the 6-second scan test isn’t easy. If you decide to go it alone remember that you need to convey value. You need to show not tell what you can do.