“Great hiring isn’t an instant process, and many companies would benefit from developing more-structured internship programs, in which success and proof of a good fit are measured over time,” says Mary Ellen Slayter in her recent article entitled Bring Strategic Rigor to Your Internship Program.

In the current economy, companies can afford to take more time with, and put more effort into, the hiring process. In fact, smart companies should be doing exactly that. When the labor market is slow, more talent is available and companies should tighten up hiring procedures, improve job descriptions, and focus on hiring quality people instead of hiring a resume. Internships are a great way to take a look at job candidates and determine – in real time – if they have the skills and attitude to flourish in the company.

Over the last several posts, I have tried to make it clear that finding a good job is about much more than polishing up your resume and checking out a few websites. Candidates have to work diligently at improving their value to employers. They have to find ways to increase the ways in which they can contribute to the success of an organization. In a nutshell, you simply cannot rest on your laurels; you have to be improving, growing, and constantly learning.

Need more proof? Read this excerpt from Slayter’s article:

Scare B-list candidates away upfront. General, fluffy job listings create more work for your HR team in the long run than a sharply focused one would. First, too many random candidates respond. Second, HR must then sift through a mountain of lackluster or insincere applicants. Third, these are short-term applicants that need any job they can get, as opposed to A-list candidates interested in a long-term career path with you. There’s a much better way: Sit down with key managers to carefully draft the most challenging, rigorous, mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive job description write-ups as possible –– with zero fluff. Include a roster of advanced role requirements and high cover letter expectations that invite only the keenest and most accomplished to apply. In short, scare the heck out of flaky applicants. Shotgun-blast resume slingers and well-dressed slackers won’t bother applying.

At first glance, this might be pretty intimidating. As you look at your situation and your resume, you might worry that you have little chance to secure that “perfect job.” My suggestion is to change your perspective: to move out of the realm of “resume slinger” or “well-dressed slacker,” you have to make every single job interview a learning experience. Failure to get an offer is not FAILURE – it’s an opportunity to learn where you need to improve. If you don’t get the job, you need to get as much information as you can that will help you in the next opportunity.

Always thank your interviewer and ask if you might ask a couple of questions regarding your interview. Most HR professionals will give you the opportunity, so make the best of it:

“I want to learn from this experience, so…”

“If you were in my shoes, what one thing would you work on to improve my ability to get hired?”

“What is the weakest part of my resume?”

“As an HR professional, what advice would you give me regarding my interview with you?”

At the same time, if you are serious about working for a particular company, you should consider an internship. They may or may not pay, but you could gain valuable experience inside an organization and potentially work yourself into a nice opportunity. If you don’t get an offer, and you’re fairly certain you were a final candidate, don’t be afraid to ask your interviewer if an internship is an option.

Years ago, Robert Schuller wrote a book entitled “Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do.” Here is what Amazon says about the book:

Dr. Schuller shows you how to build a positive self-image, no matter what your problem. Whether it’s unemployment, poor health, loneliness, fear or anything else that blocks your success, you can turn your negative into a positive. No matter how tough times get, you have the potential to achieve the best of life.

I’m wondering if that particular book is enjoying a revival? I suspect there are more than just a few who are currently struggling with unemployment and success issues, and times are plenty tough. A more current equivalent of Schuller’s best-seller is Larry Winget’s 2005 book, “Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life: A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life.” If Shuller’s group-hug-style of envisioning a more successful future isn’t your cup of tea, maybe Winget (like Curly) can help you discover that “one thing” that will revive your success drive:

…this book will make you uncomfortable. Winget won’t let you escape to the excuses that we all find so comforting. The only place you are allowed to go to place the blame for everything that has ever happened to you is to the mirror. The last place most of us want to go.

You probably won’t agree with all Larry Winget says in this one-of-a-kind book. You may not like the concepts and ideas he believes will change your life. Winget doesn’t care. His ideas aren’t for everyone and he readily admits that.

Or maybe he could just kick the crap out of you. Whatever.

Two different thought processes, but one common idea – don’t allow circumstances to keep you from achieving what you capable of. No question, job hunting can damage your psyche and erode your self-confidence. The key is to stay focused and network like crazy. Talk to the local Chamber of Commerce to find out about job opportunities; attend Rotary or Civitan meetings and talk business with people; get active and join volunteer organizations; visit college campuses in your area to look for new connections and additional training opportunities; visit every recruiter you can find. You get the idea.

Among everything else, keep things in perspective – and try to keep your sense of humor. Like Schuller said, tough times never last.

Text

Is it just me, or do most people have little sense of what is going on in the world beyond American Idol or Survivor or The Real Housewives of (Fill in Your Favorite)? The average “man (or woman) on the street” doesn’t seem to know much of anything beyond sports and reality television.

Yes, I know, that is a sweeping generalization and completely unfair. Actually, most people are well-educated (read this), well-read, and quite knowledgeable about current affairs.

Not.

The “average” adult in the United States reads at a 9th grade level, and, as referenced in this MSNBC article, adult math skills have gone into hiding:

According to the Department of Education’s National Assessment of Adult Literacy, U.S. adults are terrible at solving real-world math problems, like calculating tips or comparing prices in grocery stores. Some dismal results:

Only 42 percent were able to pick out two items on a menu, add them, and calculate a tip.

Only 1 in 5 could reliably calculate mortgage interest.

1 in 5 could not calculate weekly salary when told an hourly pay rate.

Only 13 percent were deemed “proficient.” Worse yet, only 1 in 10 women, 1 in 25 Hispanics and 1 in 50 African Americans made the grade.

More good news: according to the President’s National Mathematics Advisory Panel, “half of 17 year olds couldn’t do enough math to work in an auto plant.”

Hey, I’m not some kind of intellectual snob, nor do I value a person more or less because they don’t know who the Vice President is or can’t find Montpelier, VT on a map (for those of you keeping score at home, that would be the capital of Vermont). No, the problem is that employers are typically looking for employees who can think, solve problems, and develop ideas. If job seekers don’t do anything to develop those skills, they risk being permanently relegated to second-tier status as a job candidate.

The idea in job search is to give yourself the very best opportunity to land a good job. Every single advantage, no matter how small, helps. One certain way to elevate yourself above many competitive job seekers is to demonstrate your ability to think and solve problems. Sadly, many job seekers don’t read well, can’t write business correspondence, and can’t do basic math calculations.

The solution? Extend your interests. Read a newspaper regularly. Pick up Math for Dummies. Complete a Sudoku puzzle once in a while (a little practice at solving problems).

Sound silly?

So does this: “We have filled that position.”

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.

Question: Whatever happened to basic communication skills?

Seriously, it seems that employees who can actually write a legible sentence or communicate an entire thought in basic English have become an endangered species. I mean, speaking of “minority,” where is the legislation to make this a protected class of citizens?

Hey, I’m just sayin’…

Ya feel me?

No, I’m not advocating some sort of political position here, I am simply making an observation. Even a casual review of corporate email correspondence is enough to make an English teacher beg for mercy. This very common problem creates two significant problems for companies and their employees. First, there is a natural tendency (particularly with older Americans) to equate literacy with competence. If someone doesn’t know how to write or speak well, that individual is likely to be perceived as incompetent at some level (usually in proportion to how egregious the mistakes are). You can throw rocks at me if you want to, but it is what it is. Look at the way former VP Dan Quayle was crucified for spelling potato with an extra “e” at the end of the word. Potatoe? Really?

Or maybe a few “Bush-isms” will help you understand the tendency of people to equate communication skills with competency [English gaffes originating with former president George W. Bush]:

“They misunderestimated me.” [No doubt.]

“Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?” [True statement. This question is rarely asked.]

The challenge of poorly written business correspondence is that the company is often perceived in a negative light as a result of those mistakes. For instance, if a salesperson sends a letter or email message to a potential client regarding a large, complex sale – and that correspondence is poorly written – the prospect may decide to look elsewhere based on perception alone.

The second problem is that the vast majority of issues within a company are created by ineffective communication, and poor writing skills only make this problem worse. Performance reviews. Email correspondence. Policy memos. You don’t have to look far to see the problem….as in, “What is THAT supposed to mean??”

So what does all of this have to do with the average job hunter? It means that you may potentially have a competitive advantage right at your fingertips – or, you might be starting off your job search with two strikes against you. How would someone rate your skills at creating effective business correspondence? Do you write acceptably well? Do you know how to write a memo? A letter? An email message?

There is plenty of help available online. If you need it, don’t delay.

It seems us Americans ain’t talkin’ too good, don’t write worth a lick and are worser with e-mails. Our grammar, punctuation and spelling are/is abysmal. And corporate America is saying, STOP.

When Texas communications company Valor discovered its workers, including managers, weren’t communicating, it enrolled them in remedial business writing class.

Jeff Herrington thinks computers are partly to blame for dumbing down English.

“People who are used to using BlackBerries [and] instant messaging are transferring that way of writing into all forms of writing,” he says.

A recent survey found Fortune 500 companies spending more than $3 billion a year retraining employees in basic English.

Even writers have trouble writing.

Sacramento Bee columnist Don Morrison sees the enemy every time he looks in the mirror. Morrison is a client of Roger Peterson, who was among the first to notice Americans butchering their language.

“How about this expression, ‘for all intents and purposes.’ What does that mean?” asks Peterson. “[Or] ‘at this point in time.’ What does that mean? How is it better than saying ‘now?’ ‘That was an awfully nice dinner you just served me.’ Well, was it a nice dinner or was it an awful dinner? Make up your mind. We simply, now, must salvage American English.”

“Unbelievable” is one of today’s “in” words. But is it overused or used incorrectly? Unbelievable means I didn’t believe a word I just said. Anxious — “the president is anxious to meet the prime minister” — means he doesn’t want to meet him at all. And irregardless — look it up in the dictionary. You won’t find it because it’s not a word. Unbelievable.

[From a column by Roger O'Neil. NBC News Correspondent.]

“Unemployment: Who’s been hit the hardest?”

Actually this is an easy question with a very easy answer. The unemployed. Yup, that’s who’s been hit the hardest by unemployment. Loss of income. Healthcare benefits at risk. Lifestyle changes. Sleepless nights. You get the idea; you’ve probably been there.

Yeah, I know, that’s not what the article is investigating – what the writer means is which group of people is more unemployed than the rest of us. Question: Do you think those that are unemployed care which “group” has the highest unemployment rate? Is this the state of our country that we have to compare misery? Or make sure it’s spread around equally? (Actually….ummm…yes, I guess it is.)

So let me give you the real answer to our question. Again, it’s very easy…it’s teenagers. Yessir, teenagers are suffering through an unemployment epidemic – 26.9 percent of Americans age 16-19 are unemployed (as of March 2010). How can that be fair?? OK, on the serious side, why in the world are unemployment figures for teens reported? Are they heads of households? Are they primary breadwinners? Seriously?

No, the REAL, real answer to who has been hit the hardest by the rise in unemployment is:

By Race – African Americans (15.8% unemployment)
By Gender – Men (10% unemployment)

The only “winners” at this point appear to be Caucasian women over 20 years old – only 7.4 percent are unemployed. Those who are the worst off appear to be African-American males over 20 years old – 16.2 percent are unemployed. And on and on the list goes – identifying group after group with their “standing” in the unemployment line. Feeling any better now that you know? Probably not – unless, of course, you’re a white woman over twenty.

On the other hand, there is one group you really SHOULD know about. As it turns out, workers with a Bachelor’s degree have an unemployment rate of only 5 percent. Those with only a high school diploma, on the other hand, have an unemployment rate of 11.5 percent – over twice as high. If you haven’t graduated high school, close to one-in-five of you are looking for a job (17.9 percent unemployed).

The real lesson here is simple. If you are lucky enough to have a job, get off the couch. Ditch the Wii or the XBox. Cancel your Blockbuster account. Find a way – any way – to get that college degree. Finding employment is more and more competitive every day, but if you can double your chances of finding a quality job by getting a college education, you should strongly consider making that happen.

Yeah, I hear you screaming at your computer. “A college education? I don’t have that kind of money!!!” Hey, I get it. So, if you need something or someone to blame, that’s probably a good place to start. On the other hand, there are loads of examples of people who got their degrees when others said it couldn’t be done. Try this story. Or this one.

Maybe – just maybe – you could do the same.

I knew a guy that was always complaining about his (current) wife. “Women,” he would say. “Can’t live with ‘em. Can’t shoot ‘em.” A bit harsh. Can’t imagine why his marriage(s) resembled a train wreck. I understand he is currently out looking for his next future ex-wife.

The funny thing is that you probably never would’ve known that he had marriage issues. Nice guy. Fun to hang out with. Behind the scenes, however, there were things going on – I don’t know what kind of things, but they were enough to keep his personal life in shambles.

The truth is you are much the same way. No, not from the negative standpoint; in fact, just the opposite. What I’m really concerned here about are the GREAT things about you that employers can’t divine from your resume. For example, how will your resume communicate that you are a positive person rather than a negative one? Or enthusiastic rather than pessimistic? Mature rather than a drama queen (or king)? How can we tell if you are a peacemaker or a polarizer? A “git-er-done” kinda guy or a “find-something-else-to-do-while-others-carry-the-load” kinda guy? See my point?

The answer is the employer has no idea. Which means your resume has serious limitations. Everybody knows that a resume is designed to put your best foot forward, but there are still many things that cannot be communicated by a sterile piece of paper. That is exactly why proactive job candidates make it a point to get in front of prospective employers. They take the initiative to make face-to-face contact with prospective employers, because sitting back, waiting on the phone to ring, is a very bad plan when there are too many applicants for too few jobs. If you are sitting at home, plugging career websites and answering newspaper ads, then you are already down in the count (hey, it’s baseball season).

Make no mistake, getting a job is exactly like making sales calls. You have to overcome call reluctance. You have to overcome the fear of rejection. You have to be willing to get back up 801 times if you get knocked down 800 times. So, if you hate salespeople, you probably need to get over it – at least for the time being. How would you like to earn your living that way?!?

I hear you screaming. “SO WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?” Here is a great start: Make a list of the top forty or fifty local companies you would like to work for. Do your homework – websites, Google, LinkIn, the whole nine yards. Get contact names, look for connections, learn everything you can – including who your potential boss would be. Then make a personal call – resume and personalized cover letter in hand. If you don’t know who your boss might be, identify the H.R. Manager and call on him/her instead.

Did I say do your homework? That bears repeating. It’s a big deal because you need to know about the company’s culture, philosophy, mission, vision, and so forth. You want to be able to have an intelligent conversation after you introduce yourself. Here is your opening: “I wanted to introduce myself and find out more about [the company] because I think it would be an excellent place to go to work.”

No matter what the outcome, you will have communicated some key traits: initiative, courage, and resourcefulness. Trust me, if you are any good at all, you won’t make it through your list before you get hired.

Over 4 million jobs have been lost as a result of our crumbling economy. While many families are trying to be optimistic during this financial crisis, many people speculate that the number of job losses will continue to rise exponentially throughout the coming years. People are undoubtedly fearful for their careers, knowing that companies are constantly being faced with having to make difficult decisions on how they are going to save money in order to keep their businesses afloat; including the possibility of widespread layoffs.

There is no foolproof method to ensure you will keep your job in an unforgiving economy, but it is possible to regain your employment status if you do find yourself cast off by the company you’ve been dedicating yourself to and that is to take it into your career into your own hands.

While it’s definitely a lot easier to work as part of a company, our current financial crisis and massive, widespread job loss has proved that people are resilient and will do all they can in order to provide for themselves and their families. It is a fact that small and independent, home-based businesses thrive in an unpredictable economy and people excel when they are actively building their own businesses and furthering their own careers.

A layoff gives you the ability to dedicate your time to something you truly want to do. If you were stuck at a job that you were not particularly happy with but continued your employment with that company to make ends meet, not having that job commitment to meet every day could turn out to be one of the best occurrences in your life; even if it may not seem like it at the time. Instead of waking up every morning and commuting to your regular nine to five job, you could wake up and immediately begin applying yourself to searching for your next endeavor or building your own business.

Whatever industry you worked in when you were part of a company, it is completely possible to begin actively working in the same field outside of a company. Better yet, the chances for your individual success have risen greatly simply by using the internet as a marketing platform. By creating a website for yourself and business and taking advantage of the social media phenomenons that have already worked for countless other business professionals, you cannot go wrong in effectively branding yourself and marketing to millions of potential clients and customers.

If you believe that your ultimate calling in life is from a different direction and you are ready to leave the career and tasks you are experienced in behind, a layoff could give you the opportunity to seek job training and coaching for a profession you’ve either always wanted to be in or a career that you just recently thought could be right for you.

While many speculate that the number of job losses will continue to rise in the coming years and that we will not see our present state of cutting corners to save money come to an end as soon as we may have hoped, the economy has nothing to do with what you can do when it comes to your career. This could be a time where you feverishly search for a replacement job to go back to simply managing to stay afloat, or you could use this experience as a jumping off point to do what you truly wish to do with your life. The choice is yours.

You got fired, didn’t get along with the boss or had it out at the office with a co-worker. Whatever the case, not a lot of good words are said on your behalf and you are looking for a new job. Officially in a “career timeout” you need to be creative on doing damage control for your naughty work behavior.

Ideas that could help:

• 1. Get your Ducks in a row:

  Gather your accomplishments together nicely and have them ready to share. See if you can find any former co-workers or previous managers that can back up your accomplishments should a perspective employer ask.

• 2. If you have nothing Nice to say, say Nothing at all:

  DO NOT bash your former work place, never ever. It only makes it look worse if you bad talk your former work place, boss or co-workers. Even if it was the worst place on earth to work at, keep it positive. You will lose any and all credibility if you come across as a negative nelly. No one likes a sore loser and this is exactly how you will come across.

• 3. Temp:

  Try temping for an employment agency. They have an abundance of skill testing that they do. Even if you work for them on a few short term assignments utilize this by doing your best, showing up on time and being that team player. It’s a great way to build back career credibility that you might have lost at your last employer. Larger employers sometimes like to hire on workers temp-direct so that they can try someone out before making a hiring commitment. It doesn’t always work out perfect, but it’s one way to get your foot in the door and build good references.

• 4. Have good references ready to Rock and Roll:

  Whether you were fired, quit on your own or still working while looking, have good references ready to go. You might need to be creative on this one if your boss couldn’t or can’t stand you. Maybe you were escorted out by security, but did any of your customers love you? You will need to be extra resourceful on this one. How about other former colleagues that have left the company? Did they work well with you? Whatever the case, find them or go directly to idea #4, #5 and #6 ASAP.

• 5. Give and You Shall Receive:

  If you are unsure how former colleagues felt about your work performance one tactic to test this is by offering a LinkedIn endorsement first. NEVER ask for an endorsement upfront also give one first. It may come across as rude and only fuel the negative professional perception of you if it exists. Often times, receiving a glowing endorsement will prompt the recipient to reciprocate. LinkedIn is another great way to find former co-workers that you might have lost touch with Searching this site will also prompt you to remember a few people worked well with but had forgotten completely about.

• 6. Visual aides to Strut your stuff:

  You are having trouble finding solid professional references to back you up so why not try a good portfolio presentation or visual CV? By illustrating what you have and can do, a hiring manager will get an instant snap shot of your working capabilities. Hopefully this may over shadow your reference dilemma by showing your talents this way.

• 7. Build Good Career Karma:

  When all else fails to yield you good career vibes, try volunteering for a charity organization, city outreach or something within your own religious community. Doing good deeds by putting yourself out there for a good cause is an excellent way to at least provide a perspective hiring manager something positive about you. If you get heavily involved this might even prompt someone to talk “nice” about you and your working efforts to help others and provide a solid reference alternative. I believe in good career karma and helping out in some way is a great way to start.

Let’s face it, we all mess up. It’s not the end of the world, but you might need some serious damage control when competing for an open job slot. Keep in mind you will need to come across better than any of the other perspective hires and having outstanding references can really help set you apart from the competition. Without it, you need to think creative.

What do you have to get off the career naughty chair?