Professionalism goes beyond a great resume and neat appearance for the job interview. Think about a recruiter’s first interaction with you. What does your email address or your voice mail message say about you and your professionalism?

Voice Greetings

Are your voice greetings professional and tastefully done, understandable and clear? OR, do you have your cute three year old speaking the message? Who can understand him/her besides you?  Do you have background music playing that may be offensive or in poor taste, played too loudly and drowning out your message? Remember your cell phone voice mail as well, if you are using that as your main phone contact number! As a recruiter, if I got a voice mail message that I could not understand, or was in poor taste, I hung up, without leaving a message to call me regarding my job opening. They may have looked like the best candidate for the job on paper, but the impression their voice mail message gave, was the opposite.

Email Addresses

Do not forget the email address. Anyone can get a free Google mail, hotmail, Yahoo etc., account. Your email address should be professional and tasteful, not something risqué, politically incorrect or lacking in common sense. (iamadormable@myfanclub.com does not cut it!) As a recruiter, if I had to ask myself “Why on earth would anyone use that email address for their job search?” I would discount them as a viable candidate to interview. Why you ask? Sounds harsh, but that is the chance you take when you send out your resume. Leave ihavedimples@cutecheeks.com off of everything in favor of a more neutral email address like your.name@whateveremailaccount.com!

If the message or email address were not professional, then it left me with a bad impression. It told me the person lacked common sense, or was not serious about their job search, nor respectful of the potential employer.

Being fully professional with all written and audio information is essential. Get the job – then revert to your old messages with the cute kid giving the message, or an email address that harkens to your playful side.

Photo by iStockPhoto © Jacob Wackerhausen

A person who knows how to get things done is in possession of a highly marketable skill. The ability to complete complex tasks or projects is a skill that most every employer can, and will, use. The devil, as they say, is in the details. Because the real skill is not just the ability to “get things done,” but the ability to get things done right.

As in, completely. All the “I’s” dotted; all the “T’s” crossed. Soup to nuts – done. Correctly. According to specifications.

If “gitt’n ‘er done” is not among your strong suits, don’t despair – help is a simple “To-Do” list away. That’s right, the proverbial task list. Amazing how those little buggers work. Well, if you do them right (not like the one shown that I found here).

Legendary sales trainer Zig Ziglar tells a story about what he calls the “Day Before Vacation” attitude. He illustrates how much people can actually get done the day before they leave for vacation. Why? Because they have tons of stuff to accomplish and only a single day to get it all finished. The solution? Plan and Prioritize. Put it on a list. Lay out the most efficient way to get it all done.

First, the Post Office. Then, the bank. Drop the dogs at the kennel. Pick up the dry cleaning. You get the idea. The result is that someone who is mostly average at getting things done turns into Larry the Cable Guy on steroids. Git ‘r Done!!

To-Do lists can be fantastic tools. They can also create the illusion that you are actually doing something when you’re not (see picture above). I’ve know people who spend most of their time making lists, rearranging lists, collating lists – essentially, managing the lists. That, of course, is not so good. However, creating a prioritized To-Do list that outlines the critical details that must be addressed and completed can dramatically impact your daily performance.

Using a task list while you look for a job is a great place to practice (if you fail, you only have to explain it to your significant other). Start the week with a Priority List – things I must accomplish this week regardless of the obstacles I may encounter. Think through the details and include them on the list so you don’t overlook anything important. Then, each day, review your Priority List and add any additional items that you need to do that day. Just as you would on the day before your vacation, put them into a logical sequence that will make them easy to accomplish. Anything you don’t complete today goes on tomorrow’s list. Finally, keep all of your notes in a small notebook and you will not only keep a record of everything, but you’ll ensure that nothing slips through the cracks that you should have completed.

In your job search, be specific with your task list. Don’t put something general like “Look for job” on your list. Write down the details of the things you must do. 1) Complete resume revisions. 2) Make the following phone calls (list the people and their numbers – in order of priority). 3) See these companies (list by name and prioritize by geography to make them easy to get to). 4) Send follow-up notes to these people (list specifically).

Ultimately, you can get very good at using a To-Do List, and the side benefit is that it can become a huge asset for you in the workplace.

The “Johari window” (pronounced Joe-HAWR-ee) is a psychological model that was created by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham in the 1950s to help people better understand their interpersonal relationships. It’s a pretty simple model, but profound in helping individuals understand how they are perceived by others – and how that perception varies from one’s own perception.

The quadrants (see graphic) are as follows:

• What is known by self and known by others (public arena)
• What is known by self but unknown by others (private arena)
• What is known by others but unknown by self (blind spot)
• What is unknown by self and unknown by others (unknown arena)

The two key quadrants for any individual are the two that are “unknown by self.” These quadrants would illustrate what  someone means when they say, “I don’t know what I don’t know.” If other people know it or observe it, however, this is described as your blind spot – what other people see in you that you don’t see in yourself.

As you mature, one of your objectives is to make your blind spot as small as possible. In other words, you want to have a high degree of self-awareness. At some point in time, you have probably heard someone described as having no “social awareness,” meaning they say or do things in public that are out of place. Typically, they have little awareness of the issue.

How does this apply in your job search? Simple. The smaller your blind spot – in other words, the higher your self-awareness – the more mature you will be perceived, and the more accurate you will be in representing yourself. The problem with many interview questions is that you cannot answer them from an outsider’s viewpoint – you can only answer them as you have awareness of the topic. For example, an interviewer may ask, “What is your biggest weakness?” Really?? Like I would know? My biggest weakness is probably the one I am not aware of!

My suggestion is to talk to three or four people you can trust and have a discussion about your “blind spot.” Start this way: Use the table of words below and have them pick out six or seven words that best describe you, while you independently pick out the six or seven words you think best describe you. Then compare.

• The words you both pick are in your public arena.
• The words you pick and the other person doesn’t are in your private domain.
• The words the other person picks and you don’t occupy your blind spot.

Don’t rush to defend yourself or explain the other person’s observations. Instead, ask for details; ask how you might improve. Then use that knowledge to make yourself a better candidate.

Johari Window Word Choices

My brother is an executive at a large corporation. He called me a few days ago to share his recent experiences in helping others get their careers back on track. He has volunteered to speak at a local university on a couple of different occasions to provide insight to displaced workers on getting hired. His primary message is that getting hired is about positioning; at its very core, job search is about personal marketing.

Big news, right? Like you didn’t already understand that little pearl of wisdom? Sure you did, but here is the deal: on both occasions, he said the appearance of many in the audience was nothing short of embarrassing. People in sweats, unshaven, or in other ways completely inappropriate. Doesn’t that get covered somewhere during the first day of Job Search 101?

Hey, this isn’t about limiting your personal expression. If you want to look like Mr. T, your favorite biker, or a cast member from Cats, knock yourself out. But when you are in job search mode – no matter where you are going – every point of contact is a potential network opportunity. Doesn’t it make sense to be prepared? Shouldn’t you appear professional? Shouldn’t you have an ‘elevator speech’ prepared to describe your capabilities? Shouldn’t you have a resume on hand at all times? Let me recheck – you are trying to get hired, right?

Here is what I know about companies that are hiring – they want employees that are dependable, show initiative, and pay attention to details. They want to hire maturity and good judgment. They don’t want to hire someone who talks about those things in an interview, they want to see evidence that you are that kind of individual. This is where personal marketing becomes important – not only do you need to improve the scope of your job skills at every opportunity (see my last post), but you need to think in terms of positioning yourself effectively.

Positioning, or personal marketing, begins with the “physical” you. What do you look like? What do you sound like? How do you present yourself? Are you professional in appearance? Are you approachable? Welcoming? The answers to these questions create perceptions of your dependability, maturity, and attention to detail. Whether we like it or not, people form opinions of others based on appearance and personal interaction. Which means you could have mad skills, but still lose a great opportunity because you didn’t market yourself well.

Think about it. A hiring manager will usually make a decision on giving you a second interview based on a piece of paper (your resume) and an impression of you formed during a 30-minute conversation. It’s your choice – pursue a career as a feline impersonator, or get serious about your professional image.

Job applicants beware! Recent studies show that at least 70% of hiring managers in the United States have rejected job applicants due to online profile information. This past Thursday, January 28, marked the 4th annual Data Privacy Day. Data Privacy Day, initiated by Microsoft, puts into perspective just how much of our private lives we expose via social networks, microblogging, photo sharing etc.

A simple entry of the applicants name into a search engine can result in loads of personal information which, while not professionally relevant, can have damaging effects. We can debate that our personal and professional lives should remain completely segregated; however, research proves that personal relationships do affect our professional potentials.

Fear not. Online reputation can be repaired and maintained if proactively managed. Microsoft suggests that rather than simply removing past — or omitting future — negative information, we utilize our online profiles as a tool to build the image we would want an employer to find.

Smartplanet.com suggests a number of ways to build your online reputation. For instance, social networks such as Facebook are great places to start because they’re anchored to your real identity. Just be sure to adjust your privacy settings. Additionally, create a profile on LinkedIn, a more professional social networking site where you can connect your profile to coworkers. An employer will be able to get a better sense of who you are, and where you have been. It also allows you to discover new opportunities. Lastly, create a Google public profile. Since Google is the most popular search engine, it’s a good idea to create a profile page. Your Google profile can also be linked to your Facebook and LinkedIn.

An important, but often undervalued, piece of the job application process is the cover letter. Many call writing one an art, and just as many will end up using a cookie-cutter letter they found from somewhere else. What must be aimed for is to be original and make yourself stand out, while maintaining professionalism.

Add a Dose of Caffeine

… Not literally, of course. Yet, take the following into consideration: You are one of countless applicants for the same position. The likelihood is, the person that is going to receive your resume will have to go through many that day. Even with a killer resume, yours can easily be overlooked if it’s lacking pizazz. Do not using dull languages. Instead, incorporate a sense of liveliness to the cover letter. Let the hiring rep know that you’re excited about the job, and they’ll get excited about you.

Make it Personal

A good candidate does his/her research. Not only on the company, not only on the position, not only on potential bosses, but also on the human resources side of things. Find out who will be looking at your resume and address them by their name. There are pretty much two reasonable ways to go about this. Either give a call to the office and speak only with the receptionist to inquire about the name of the hiring manager, or using a job search engine like LinkedIn will allow you to see who posted the listing. Only use a title to address them by if a name is absolutely not available. Be sure to use the best one instead of the extremely impersonable ‘sir or madam.’

Be Attractive

As energetic and personable one may be, it will be difficult to stand out if some keywords are not laced throughout the cover letter. Get the reader hooked by including some of your more marketable skills. If there are key terms used in the job listing that are not in your resume, now is the time to strategically put them into the letter. Remember that a cover letter is not a summary of your resume, but a necessary supplemental element.

Stay Active

The rest of your letter does not portray a lazy candidate, so don’t drop into it at the end. Remain in an active voice throughout. At the closing, don’t only thank the reader for their time, but let them know that you will follow up with them. This shows them that you’re a) interested in the position/company and it’s not just another resume sent out; b) you will be an active/interactive employee that keeps their word.

Perfecting a cover letter is not an easy task for many, and the same goes for the resume. Take advantage of the 360 Job Interview pool of experts and enjoy the personalized resume service by a human resources executive from your industry.

Hey job seekers, where were you last night? If you didn’t say “out at a business networking event,” you may be missing out on opportunity. The site I use to find good networking events is Meetup.com.

Meetup is a great online place to both host reoccurring networking events and find good ones to join. You can search by location or by topic. You can even see how many people are planning to attend – I like to attend ones with at least 100 people or more.

Last week I attended the Santa Cruz New Tech Meetup (more about the meet-up). As an active job seeker, this networking event was perfect for several reasons.

1. New Professional Contacts

   The event was an excellent opportunity for me to meet several new local business contacts that I would previously not had an opportunity to mingle with.

2. New Company Leads

   A couple of the tech companies who presented I had not heard of before this event. All three are growing and there may be an opportunity for me at some point.

3. Add Value to Your Network

   Only a few people in my network made it that night, which allows me the opportunity to add value to my network by sharing this new technology, new contacts and new information. I heard of at least two job openings as a result of the events, none suited for me but it allows me a great way to reach out to my network of professionals.

4. Professional Branding Opportunity

   Getting out there to brand yourself isn’t an easy task. A great setting like this networking event is a great way to meet people, share what you do and create opportunity for yourself. Several of the attendees that I met, want to talk “blogging” and recruiting in near future.

   

   Remember to have your professional business card ready to hand out. Even if you aren’t employed at the moment, gets cards made. Do not hand write your information, but have them professionally done. Vistaprint has fairly inexpensive business cards. I personally like Moo Print because they print on eco-friendly paper. I was able to upload my own image and create a custom look.

5. Gain Control of Your Job Search

   Meeting and networking with other professionals helps me to expand my network. This could lead me to other opportunities in the future or when I am gainfully employed, help the company I’m working for. I never want to be “stuck” in a professional role but feel empowered to be successful. Simply applying to jobs online isn’t as effective as networking into them. I’m comfortable with networking, but for someone more introverted a career coach might be an excellent idea.

This article is the third in a five-part series where we will evaluate free services on the Internet to aid you in your job search and general career advancement.

One of the key elements I emphasize to my clients when giving advice is to expand their network. Some of the greatest career advancements were made possible by a good word from the right person. To find those right people, it’s time to begin actively socializing. Meetup is the place to go if you’re looking to join a social or professional group of folks that share your interests, experience, and goals.

Finding the right Meetup groups is essential. This isn’t always the easiest task, and quickly becomes more complicated if you live outside of an urban area. Search for an appropriate group by querying a few keywords (try one at a time first) related to your field or desired career path. Be sure to insert the correct location, too. Sort through the search results by viewing the number of active members, how frequently the meetups are conducted, and how recent the last group activity was. These factors are key to connecting with the right network of people.

You found the group. You’re going to the event. Now, what to wear? The dress at most of the professional related events will be business casual. For men, this means something along the lines of khakis and a buttoned-down shirt. For women, this means a pair of slacks or a knee-length skirt with a blouse. These events are not the time to try out blue tips in your hair or a spiked collar necklace. The image is best described as a relaxed, approachable, professional.

Be sure to bring business cards with updated information to the meetup. If you have cards from a position at a company you no longer work, it’s time to get new ones (VistaPrint offers free basic business cards in exchange for a small advertisement of their service on the back). Have a relaxed smile on your face, prepare a firm handshake, always repeat the person’s name you are meeting (“It is nice to meet you, too, Kim.”), and make sure you have your ‘elevator speech’ down.

Good luck and go interact!

Other Articles in This Series:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• RSS
• Blogging

This article is second in a five-part series where we will evaluate free services on the Internet to aid you in your job search and general career advancement.

To use Twitter as a ‘micro-blogging’ site or a place to provide a general status update is a mistake. Twitter is quickly turning into a tool that is used to project a professional, yet personable, image. And, let’s face it, image counts for a lot when looking for the right job.

Twitter is available to the public and is searchable. If a potential employer is going to search for your Internet presence, your public updates are an important part of the impression they will have of you, even before giving you a chance to interview. Tweet wisely! While you may be tempted to tweet about the crazy night you have, save that for your Facebook status (for which you may want to change the privacy settings on now). Definitely do not mention your involvement in any activity that may be obscene, extreme, or illegal. This is a powerful network on the web and is not the place you want to spread word that you’re possibly irresponsible, immature, and have a disregard for common sense.

Do Tweet your opinion about industry news, relevant (non-marketing) links, and even about positive events in your personal life. Find influential people in your industry on Twitter and follow them. When appropriate, engage in conversation by providing thoughtful commentary, asking an excellent question, or even politely offering your assistance with a question they may have posed. But remember, these industry contacts are not your personal friends, and while it may be a personable move to congratulate them, or inquire about a group meetup, you do not want to get into their personal lives.

The goal is with Twitter is to project a positive, intelligent, and professional demeanor via daily Tweets (updates). Keep up with it regularly and follow folks in similar fields. To successfully utilize Twitter, go there with the intent to be true and a useful Twitterer and you’ll have the potential to do very well and land that perfect position to advance your career.

Other Articles in this Series:

• LinkedIn
• Meetup
• RSS
• Blogging

With the web running at full speed, we’re seeing the traditional form of networking and job hunting turning tech. The question is: How can you utilize these developments to assist in accomplishing your goals?

In this series of posts, we’ll go over five useful tools available free on the Internet that can help you grow your network, refine your resume and communication skills, and get your career moving.

This is the one site that you must add your resume to. Oh, and all of your past and present professional connections, as this is more than just a website, it is a social network.

First, create your resume by “edit[ing your] profile.” Fill out as much as possible, and be honest. Job titles, descriptions, and your skills are very important and must be worded carefully. Adding a good quality head shot photo, editing your contact settings, and letting folks know “what you’re working on” will enhance your ability to connect with the right people. The applications available can help showcase your work, availability, and more, so don’t ignore this great feature.

Sample LinkedIn profile

Connect with friends, colleagues, and other associates to expand your own personal network. Join a few relevant groups and add applications that you may find to be of use. And the most important thing – ask for recommendations from former employers, coworkers, and other folks in the industry who know your working style. These can be used as some great references. Don’t forget to return thoughtful comments to each individual who takes the time to give one to you.

Go check out some of their LinkedIn groups. Join the ones that are relevant to you and your career. Try getting into one specifically for your region, your niche in the industry, and even ones created for alumni from various extracurricular affiliations. They are a great way to connect and will even post job opportunities available that may be more appropriate for you.

Sample LinkedIn group

By fully optimizing your LinkedIn profile, you will have a full, strong resume available online for viewing. There are even settings to change your public profile, the one that will come up in search results for those who are not in your network. It will build your image online, the one that you want there, as it usually becomes one of the top search engine results when searching for an individual’s name.

Check it out and get linked in to the social network for professionals. Happy hunting!

Other Articles in this Series:

• Twitter
• Meetup
• RSS
• Blogging