Your Media is Social, But is Your Resume?
Posted on 02. Feb, 2012 by ggunn in Blog
On Tuesday January 31st, MGD Services kicked off a six month series of seminars through our Wired4Hire career alliance program. It was held at the Flemington New Jersey Library. Our next Wired4Hire series will be at the Clinton New Jersey Library on Tuesday, February 28th at 7pm. Go to our events page for more details. http://bit.ly/AojPXT
On this past Tuesday, we had the pleasure of having LisaBeth Webber, who is nationally recognized for her work and founder of creativebizhub.com as a guest presenter. She discussed how to integrate social media into a job search or business marketing initiative. She also blogged about the evening.
Thank you Lisabeth for joining us! For those of you who were not able to attend, please join us next month when Lisabeth has agreed to return and delve deeper into this topic, sharing with us her personal experience and some amazing successes which she made possible through her creative use of social media. I look forward to seeing you there.
~Gretchen
Has the Paper Resume been forced into Unwanted Retirement?
Posted on 26. Jan, 2012 by ggunn in Blog
Thanks to social media (LinkedIn) I didn’t miss a current Wall Street Journal article discussing the death of the paper resume (http://on.wsj.com/wftqlx). So is it true? Is the paper resume obsolete? Yes. As a staffing partner, I always hand them back to candidates I meet at career fairs or Wired4Hire seminars and gently ask that they email me a copy. Why? Because that paper resume has little chance of leaving my roll along brief case which houses my laptop, iPad, and other electronics. Our entire recruiting process is now online. But this is only part the reason why a paper resume is no longer going to get you a job.
While the need for a chronological history of one’s work will always exist, it is not sufficient to be competitive in today’s high tech, immediate social and professional networking world. Now your complete resume, or better yet curriculum vitae – which is a Latin expression loosely translated as the course of my life, must include such basics as having a robust LinkedIn profile complete with at least your last three positions, (provided you have been in the work force that long) references, and a sizable group of connections. It is also useful to have a website and blog, as well as an active twitter account. Facebook with its latest introduction of the Timeline feature is making its way to the top of the resume checklist must haves. Why? Because Facebook is quickly bridging the gap between a place to share your life with friends and family to a place where you sell your services or products to a raft of adoring followers made up of a blend of your inner circle and people with professional interests similar to yours.
Is all of this really necessary? Have we been reduced to what we were in high school? A realm where the jocks, brainiacs, gear-heads, and geeks all have their own circles? Yes and before you cringe it is a good thing for your career, whether you are looking for a job or to advance a business. Now both who you are and what you do can make you desirable to your employer. This is why the death of the one dimensional – one page resume is a good thing. How can you possibly express all of your talent on a single sheet of even the highest grade paper?
Companies want to meet you before they actually sit across from you. They want to be able to do this by viewing a picture of you on LinkedIn. They want to check out what you do for fun on Facebook. They care how well versed you are in your field. They will read your blog – and they want to see how well you present yourself and what you do in a video blog.
Technology has forced the paper resume into unwanted retirement. It is also compelling people to use social media to market themselves visually and in a professional yet personal manner. This process will prepare people talk to anyone, prospective employers or relatives, about the course of their lives. This is not the wave of the future. It is the wave to ride right now. The new norm is a three dimensional resume, using multiple media platforms. People who adopt this new resume format will have an absolute edge over their competition.
Gretchen Gunn
MGD Services Inc.
Office: 877-643-8378
Mobile: 973-945-9817
www.linkedin.com/in/mgdservices
5 Steps to a Successful Networking Strategy
Posted on 16. Dec, 2011 by ggunn in Blog
If you are in the hunt for a new job, you know that it is no longer enough to post your resume on a job board and then sit back and wait for the phone to ring. Undoubtably you have also heard that networking is a great way to generate job leads. But what if the thought of meeting strangers and telling them about yourself makes your knees weak? Focus on these five steps and see how easy and rewarding networking can be.
- Determine Networking Opportunities that attract people who would have the need for someone with your abilities. Professional Group Events, Chamber of Commerce meetings, Personal Interest events – hobbies, sports, etc.
- Prepare plan of attack when at a networking event. Have your story and perfect pitch ready (http://mgdservices.com/career-center/perfect-your-perfect-pitch/) Network to build lasting relationships. The most successful networkers understand that this is as much about helping others as it is being helped.
- Write actionable notes on the back of business cards of those you meet. What can you refer to when you follow up with this person?
- Follow up! The biggest mistake people consistently make after networking is failing to follow through. Don’t depend on the other party to follow up. Be clear in what you want from the contact. Is it a referral, valuable information, or an opportunity to formally discuss your credentials?
- Know when to walk away. If a networking contact doesn’t respond after three attempts stop calling them – at least for now. You want to spend your energy working on productive leads not unresponsive ones.
~Gretchen Gunn
New Year’s Resolutions in November
Posted on 29. Nov, 2011 by ggunn in Blog
Thanksgiving is behind us and at least for me it is still making its festivities known with the few extra pounds that I’ve gained. Happens every year. Just as my seasonal yelling at the television does. I find myself complaining when the big glitzy retail ads run prior to Thanksgiving, with me saying inane things like, “Let the Bird die before you start in with the Reindeer!” Luckily, my husband of over a decade is accustomed to my rants and doesn’t find me completely insane. Either that or he’s just gotten very good at blocking me out. Whatever the case, I am glad he accepts my peculiarities. He’s about to accept a new one.
I’m announcing this evening that I am declaring my New Year’s resolutions today and getting started on them right now, not on January 1st. Why? Early advertising works. It speaks to the early adopters and planners while allowing the biggest procrastinators time to procrastinate and still complete their shopping strategy. Yesterday was Cyber Monday and sales were up 18% from last year. That’s a significant increase! So I’m declaring that I’ll stop criticizing them. (Yes, that’s a resolution. You have to have a few easy ones on the list!)
Using the same logic of repetition, I am not waiting until January 1st to start my business New Year’s resolutions. I encourage you to join me especially if you are on the market for a new job. Here’s why. New Year’s Resolutions rarely work. They require discipline, dedication, and let’s face it, aren’t very fun to do. Reaping the rewards are fantastic. The process necessary to reap awards – not so much. So why not start today? Why not start before the Reindeer get here? That way when all the Holiday hype is over, you will have a head start and a solid success plan to achieve this year’s New Year’s resolutions. And… if you slip up and get off track between now and January first, so what? It doesn’t really count until then anyway.
Getting a head start on your New Year’s Resolution such as finding a new job will allow you to give yourself the freedom to work out the kinks in your plan. Was the goal too large? You’re not a failure. Your goal just might need a little tweaking. For example, I usually promise myself each New Year’s Day that I’m going to contact 5 new prospective clients every day. Every Day! Great goal right? It is and for me, a completely unrealistic one with the other responsibilities that I must accomplish in a day. Therefore I never keep this goal. What’s worse? I feel bad about it and prospecting usually grinds to a halt in the month of January until I decide the resolution is unachievable. Which is bad for my self-esteem… And really bad for business.
If I implement my resolution today I have time figure out that the goal is unrealistic. I can revise the goal. What can I commit to? I can commit to researching one new client a week and finding five new prospects within that client to call each week. (Yes this is another resolution.) For me it’s not the end result that is hard to maintain, but the work leading up to making that result a reality. In order to call five new prospects a day, I must first research viable clients that would be interested in our services and then find the right people within that organization to contact. (Sound familiar job seekers?) This is what derails my goal. By starting in November, I can devise a process to find and qualify clients which will then fill the prospect calling pipeline. With this process in place, I can then accomplish my New Year’s resolution. I’ll keep you posted on the goal on Twitter, feel free to follow it and me at: www.twitter.com/gretchengunnmgd.
Here’s some added incentive! If you are job seeking putting in extra effort today is really smart. Organizations never stop hiring over the Holidays – even though job seekers typically slow their search efforts. Some organizations are even forced by budgetary demands to make a hire before the year ends. While other job seekers are waiting for January 1st to implement their resolution, you can be interviewing and actually starting your new career on January 1st! So who’s with me? Who is ready to start their New Year’s Resolutions today? I’ve shared two of mine with you. Share yours with me! Join me on any of the following social media sites and tell me what you resolve for 2012!
~ Gretchen
www.linkedin.com/in/mgdservices
Making Cold Calls Manageable for Job Seekers
Posted on 10. Oct, 2011 by ggunn in Blog
We’ve all heard it. Cold calling is the how the best sales people stay on top. So with sweaty palms, many of us have hit the phones, calling complete strangers. How’d that work for you? “No thank you!”… “Click”… “Thanks but I’m not interested.”… “Send me some information.”… And then after hours of heart palpitating dialing… Someone says YES! Finally some good news!
It’s true. Cold calling works. As long as you stick to it long enough. But the reality is… it’s time consuming and not easy for the majority of us. Which is why many otherwise ambitious people will do almost anything before they make a cold call… Go to the Dentist…. Speak in front of an auditorium of strangers…. Tell their mother-in-law that her dress does indeed make her look fat. Well maybe not that last one but you get the picture. An entire industry has been built upon teaching people how to make a living through cold calling. My goal is to help job seekers understand the benefit of cold calling and to show that even without years of training, anyone can be successful at picking up the telephone and asking for something… in this case help finding employment.
I also believe that cold calling is an art and some are just better at it than others. I also believe that practicing and preparing for a cold call is paramount to anyone’s success. Can cold calling be made easier? Yes. But make no mistake… it will still be nerve wracking for most and you will still get turned down. What I’m about share is what others package as never making a cold call again. Trust me, I’ve read these articles with great expectations and high hopes only to realize that they are really still discussing what I consider a cold call. Here’s what I mean when I talk about a cold call. Cold calls are defined as the marketing process of approaching prospective customers or clients, typically via telephone who were not expecting such an interaction. The word “cold” is used because the person receiving the call is not expecting a call or has not specifically asked to be contacted.
I call strangers all the time but I always try to let them know in advance that I will be calling. I’ll get to that momentarily. But first your pep talk! Reasons abound for making calls to people within organizations where you want to be employed. The number one reason is that many jobs never get posted on a company website, job board, or even a newspaper. Many jobs are filled by word of mouth.
The easiest way I have found to make a cold call palatable and to increase my odds of succeeding is to follow some simple guidelines.
In order to increase your chances of getting what you want from a cold call, consider this mind shift. You aren’t selling. You are asking for information or educating this person as to why she wants to buy from you. And who doesn’t enjoy buying more than selling?
Know the Company. Why did you chose this person in this company? She will buy from you if you can solve a problem for her, save her money, or make her company money. If you can do one of these three things, why are you waiting to call someone within in the organization and let them know?
Know thyself. Why are you qualified for this role? Why are you better than the competition? What projects have you done in the past that prepare you for this role? What are your weaknesses and how can you compensate? Why are you worth the risk?
Introduce yourself electronically first. (This is what I was talking about before when I said I call strangers all the time – I do… but not before I introduce myself electronically.) An easy way to make cold calls more successful is to contact the person via email or blog post response, news group comment, etc. first. It gives you something to reference during the call. “Hi there. You and I exchanged thoughts on the latest updates on Facebook, the newest FDA warning letter issued for xyz company….” The great thing about starting with an email is that it gives you a chance to craft your platform (why they want to hire you and what you can fix for them) it also gives you a chance to ask for what you need. That could be a request for information on the interview process and if you are being considered. It might be to ask for information about how the company hires and who best to contact to be considered for a current opportunity or one coming up in the future.
Always be positive when rejected! If you hear these dreaded words, “We just filled the position.” Here’s a great response. “Congratulations. I’m sure that’s as much a relief to you as it is to the lucky person you hired! Is there a chance that you will be looking for any other individuals with the same skillsets?” If they say, “No”, try this: “I understand and know you must be relieved to have finished interviewing folks. Please keep me in mind if for any reason this position becomes available again. And while I have you on the phone, could you direct me to any other departments within the organization who might be hiring? Do you mind if I stay in touch with you every few months?”
Befriend the gate keepers. Not all gate keepers are created equal. The truth is…some are overworked and cranky. You’ll never win with them. Remember this and repeat after me: Some will be nice. Some won’t. So what. And then move on. I bet that even when they’re cranky you have made their day by being nice to them. Get off the phone as quickly as you can by asking to be directed to voicemail, or say that you will call back. And then call back… but after hours when you should be able to go directly to the voicemail you want. Friendly Gate Keepers are gold! Talk to them. Ask them for help. “I know that Mrs. Senior VP is always busy. I’d like to leave her a message in voice mail, but before I do, do you know what’s going on with this position? Do you know if they’re still interviewing or if they’ve made a decision to hire anyone yet?” 9 times out of 10 they will be the ones scheduling interviews or even new hire arrangements. And they will often share this with you if you’ve spoken with them more than once. I always ask gate keepers for information. “Is there ever a time that is better to call back? Does any day this week look a little less crazy?” You’d be surprised at how often they will share. Make them your partner.
One final word on cold calling. Being asked to pick up the phone and speak to total strangers when you may already be at the end of your rope doesn’t seem far. And maybe it isn’t but consider this: when we are pushed to our very limits we are often amazed at our resilience and ability to become better than we ever dreamed. Think about Steve Jobs. By now we have all been amazed and saddened by his bright but all too short life. Think he didn’t make a few cold calls in order to make his dream a reality? Think again. Check out this interview with Bob Metcalfe: “(I) was sitting alone late one night in 1979 at my apartment…and the phone rang next to my Selectric typewriter. The caller was a Steve Jobs from a company called Apple, neither of which I’d ever heard…” (Read the entire article here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20116378-37/bob-metcalfe-recalls-steve-jobs-cold-call/). Cold calling is just another tool that will help you take control of your future success. I’m rooting for you!
~Gretchen
The Beauty of a Behavior Interview
Posted on 09. Sep, 2011 by ggunn in Blog
I sat down today to write an article about Behavior Interviews and how, when used, judiciously, this interview style is incredibly useful for both the hiring manager and the candidate. However, I cannot blithely go about this without acknowledging current events. On Sunday ten years will have passed since 9/11 and with this anniversary many are experiencing the pain of that day as freshly as if it happened yesterday. Combined with an earthquake, hurricane winds and flooding, fires, and an undeniable reality that the job market is still tight, people are feeling a sense of unease and a certain level of hopelessness.
While this may seem farfetched, now is a good time to talk about behavior interviews, because this interview style can help candidates feel prepared, in control, and (dare I say this?) even excited for an interview. Not what you expected someone to ever say about a behavior style interview is it? Here’s the great thing about well-planned behavior interview questions. Not only does this interview approach help a hiring manager chose someone with skills and values that are in line with themselves and the organization at large, it also helps the candidate come to the same conclusion.
When done well, a behavior based interview places a candidate in situations that may actually happen, not just day to day tasks, but in situations where difficult decisions must be made. Therefore when preparing for a behavior interview one must really think about his or her quantifiable accomplishments. Having a list of skills won’t cut it. A candidate must come prepared with examples of how those skills were used to meet a goal. Think CAR. Car stands for Challenge, Action, Result. When a candidate pulls together CAR stories, they are able to speak persuasively about their past experiences. Being prepared allows a candidate to not only prove that they have the right stuff to the hiring manager, it also proves it to themselves and builds their confidence. Who doesn’t feel great succinctly talking about a million dollar deal that they landed, or that runaway project they saved? Suddenly, the interviewer doesn’t feel like a victim of the interview process.
It gets better. When participating in a well-planned behavior interview the candidate will get a very clear picture of the role. They will be able see themselves in it and can decide if it’s right for them. Whether a candidate who participates in a Behavior Style Interview is offered the position is still in the hands of the decision maker, but they will know before they leave the interview whether or not they are a good fit or if they want the job. They will also leave feeling a sense of accomplishment and will be ready to jump right back into the job search which is exactly what they need to do until they have an offer in hand.
For more information on examples behavior interview questions, feel free to email info@mgdservices.com.
~Gretchen
And to everyone who has suffered a loss in 9/11, the recent floods, fires, or unemployment, we at MGD are truly sorry for your loss.
Welcome Helena Del Re and Gene Sower’s new Ebook: What you Need to Know About SEO
Posted on 24. Aug, 2011 by ggunn in Blog
August is closing quickly and parents are happily getting kids ready to go back to school. In an interested twist this year, we at MGD Services find ourselves doing the same. We are sad to announce that one of our own, Courtney Utman, MGD Office Manager, is also going back to school. We wish her well on her new academic journey. We are also thrilled to say in true Courtney efficiency, she has found us her replacement. So please welcome Helena Del Re as the Newest Executive Office Administrator of MGD. Helena comes to us with a wealth of small business experience.
Part of our training for Helena included having her read, “What You Need to Know about (SEO) Search Engine Optimization” written by Gene Sower. She found it so helpful that she asked if we could post her thoughts here so that others could benefit from Sower’s book. I’m happy to do this as we all agree that the book is indeed very useful. We already love Helena’s spirit of supporting others and we can’t wait to see how her SEO support effects our website.
~Gretchen
“After reading Gene Sower’s e-book “What You Need to Know about Search Engine Optimization (in Plain English)” I was swimming in a sea of SEO terms but instead of feeling frustrated, I was excited because now I understood how to use keywords, geo targeting, piggybacking, spiders, tags, linking, and so much more! Sower truly makes it understandable to the neophyte. This new knowledge will certainly be valuable in my new role at MGD Services.” To learn more about Sower and his book, go to: http://www.samsonmedia.net/seo.html
~Helena Del Re
Inside New Jersey’s Job Numbers, A Cause for Optimism
Posted on 02. Aug, 2011 by ggunn in Blog
I saw this article on the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Newsletter while I was on hold, waiting to offer a candidate a job, and it seemed fitting to share.
~Gretchen
“Since January, New Jersey businesses have created nearly 28,000 service sector jobs, about 8,000 more than if we had grown at the national rate in that period. Employment in one key sector – professional and business services – has grown nearly 3 percent, or by 15,000 jobs, since January, after very limited growth last year.’
To read analysis, click here.
Guest Blog from Karen C. Hughes – Dress for Interview Success
Posted on 26. Jul, 2011 by ggunn in Blog
W
hile at a conference last week, I had the opportunity to meet Karen C. Hughes. Karen is a Certified Image Professional and as we chatted, I shared with her several stories of interview fashion faux pas we’ve witnessed at MGD over the years. While the stories are funny now, it really was no laughing matter at the time. But what could we do then – when we were presented with someone who had made a bad wardrobe choice on interview day? It was always heartbreaking because the person was perfectly qualified for the position but they didn’t get it because of their outfit.
I asked Karen to share 10 reliable and never outdated interview dressing style tips that will apply even in a more relaxed business dress landscape. What is the right outfit to wear? What else other than clothing should you ‘wear’? What will kill your chances in an interview before you even open your mouth? Here’s what she has to say:
~Gretchen
Getting ready for your next interview can make even the most seasoned interviewee sweat. Maybe it’s been a long time since you’ve had an interview, or it’s your 100th. “First impressions” aside, your job in an interview is to engage and get eye contact as quickly as possible. Dressing “as if” you have the confidence to handle the job will create the energy you need to power through the process.
Scuffed shoes, too much or too little makeup or jewelry, too loose or too tight clothing, are all points that stop to trip up to your eyes. It has the potential stop engagement even before the process ever starts.
Perhaps you’re simply having a phone interview. Dressing for it will get you mentally prepared and help you be more confident. Treating each and every interview that you have as if you are meeting in person will set you apart and make you more memorable.
On the phone or face to face every introduction is an equal opportunity for engagement. Pay attention to these 10 Tips before you are out the door and I can assure you that you will be more confident and present yourself as prepared and ready for hire.
- Maintain a regular haircut schedule. Don’t get your haircut the day before an interview, you might have “whitewalls” and it will look as if you were shorn for the interview.
- Keep your shoes polished and current. Men, a well polished leather lace up shoe will transcend the decades. Ladies, make sure that your shoes are not scuffed or worn at the heels.
- Your clothing must FIT your body. No bulging tummy, no pulling or gaping holes from fabric being too tight. FIT the largest part of your body and then ALTER to fit the rest of your body. The same goes with shirt collars that are too loose or jackets that are too big. Poorly fit clothing conveys a lack of confidence even if you have confidence.
- Carry a nice pen. Yes, a nice pen will make you stand out. Do not carry anything plastic.
- No BIG oversized watches. That means, no trendy “Toy” watches or sport watches. If you don’t have a watch with simple face and leather band, don’t wear one.
- Carry a portfolio (leather) that will contain your resume. If you do not have a leather portfolio choose a nice folder or envelop that will serve to deliver an extra resume if needed. Ladies either a brief case or handbag but not both. Preferable a portfolio or briefcase.
- Leave your cell phone in the car.
- Arrive early so that you will have time to park, go to the restroom, relax and assess your environment. But not so early that you make the interviewer stressed to get you before your scheduled time. Fifteen minutes is the perfect amount of time if possible.
- Know how to deliver a good handshake. Aside from your first impression, a good handshake will tell your interviewer that you are confident and ready to engage. No bone-crushers, limp-fish, or pastoral handshakes.
- There is no substitute for preparation. Aside from preparing for your answers, do your research on the company. Who will you be interviewing with, what kind of company are they? How long have they been in business? What are their values? Do you know their mission statement?
Remember, when opportunity knocks, it’s too late to prepare.
With a love of learning and a desire rooted in teaching Karen shows her true passion by engaging audiences both young and old to “look good, feel great and have fun doing it”!
Feeling the Heat from another round of dismal job numbers? – pass on some good news
Posted on 11. Jul, 2011 by ggunn in Blog
I think this is the one time of the year that the entire country is feeling the heat, and not just outside. Every time we listen to reports of the dismal employment numbers, no matter how high the thermometers climb, those of us who are unemployed want to stick our heads in an oven.
I know it’s hard when you are out of work to maintain the faith that you will find a job, but you will. You just need to keep doing all the steps necessary to gain employment. These include searching and applying for open positions. Researching companies that need your skills, and requesting informational interviews. Networking, networking, networking. Every day. This can’t be said enough, networking is still one of the best ways to find your next position.
Which is why I have a request. When you finish reading this, forward it to someone else, whether they are out of work or not. What is it? It’s a listing of the open positions MGD Services is working on. As amazing as it will sound in this job market, we are having a hard time finding candidates for some of these positions. http://mgdservices.com/career-center/job-openings/
Wouldn’t it be nice to be the bearer of some good news? Open jobs do exit. Some of these are as hot as it is outside. The hiring managers may have enough viable candidates within 48 hours. Anyone interested should apply online immediately.
~Gretchen Gunn
