Tune in Sunday morning at 10:00 (CDT). Go to: http://www.blogtalkradio.com. Key Word Search is Kay Stout. Topic is Landed a new Job/ Perform well during the honeymoon - - the first 90 days.
If you miss the show, no problem. You can listen to it anytime by going to the website. Leave a message, give me feedback.
During the social hour at a recent meeting of professionals, there was a consensus that while they based much of their initial screening of clients on related experience in the field, the key indicators of a good hire were the soft skills!!! And, for the most part, they felt few employees truly understood the significance of soft skills or were willing to incorporate them in their professional life. What are soft skills, you ask?
Soft skills are those skills that make life easier when you work in a group or organization. This list is not all inclusive, but it's a start.
1) Be on time; 2) Play by the rules while at work; 3) Get along with your fellow co-workers (you do not have to like them, just get along with them); 4) Do more than is required; 5) Volunteer for some assignments; 6) As much as possible, do not let your personal life affect your work performance; 7) Do not be the first one out the door on Friday afternoon!! 8) If you miss work due to illness (yours or a child's), stay in touch with your boss (sounds simple, but I heard repeated complaints of employees who had a legitimate reason to not be at work, but when their supervisor didn't hear from them after four or more days, doubt began to creep in). 9) Smile, a simple word with great impact. 10) Be gracious when things do not go your way (and believe me, there will be times when it seems as though every thing is going against you. When that happens, refer to #9).
Bottom line? You may be hired for your experience, but your promotion may be tied to your soft skills. Soft skills can be learned...start today.
If you, or someone you know, will soon be entering the civilian world of work, the job search may remind you of basic training. There is no drill sergeant, but the transition will not be without drill sergeants moments of frustration on your part. Remember when you learned a new language in the military (E6, O3, 3rd Herd, CINCPAC, SAC, TACAMO, platoon, squadron, etc)? For the most part, the hiring managers who will read your resume and/or interview you have little or no understanding of the training, discipline and ability to adapt you've learned while serving your country.
It is never too early to be prepared. Start reading newspapers and business magazines to learn the current business "buzz" words and make a connection between those words and what you've learned and experienced in the military. Incorporate the words in your conversation and your resume. Build a file of companies in which you are interested. Research them on the internet and in networking groups such as LinkedIn.
Involved in social or religious groups outside the military? Spend time visiting with the other members, get feedback/advice on the job market in the area and suggestions, from them, on where you might look for your first civilian job once you've left military service.
You may have to take a step back. Don't despair. Once your civilian employer/supervisor observes you in action and you begin to make significant contributions to the organization, promotions and pay raises can come much faster than they did when you were in uniform. And you can move on to bigger and better opportunities.
There is a communication/comprehension gap between what you know and how the civilian hiring managers perceive that knowledge. The more effort you put into closing the gap on your resume, in your conversations, and during an interview, will help tremendously.
An update to my last blog. The program on blogtalkradio (www.blogtalkradio.com) was a great experience. Anyone who goes to the site and types my name (Kay Stout) in the search button can hear it again and again and again. The show, for me personally, will go in my personal "best friend" category. Had the show been a disaster, that disaster would also be a part of my online brand and their website for a very, very long time.
Alison Doyle (www.alisondoyle.typepad.com) , recently wrote about the necessity of building a consistent brand on several websites, including www.facebook.com, www.myspace.com, and personal blogs like ours. I can't say it too often, be sure that everything you put on the web will pass the scrutiny of a future hiring manager, your Mom and you 10 years from now. If it won't, then do not put it on the web. The web is a universal diary, not a personal one.
As a best friend, the internet can connect you with friends from around the world and to your next career position. I live in Oklahoma and just recently a client, effectively using LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) found his next career position because of his profile on LinkedIn and the connections between professionals he had contacted.
Need to vent about something? Before you put your thoughts on a site. STOP!!! Remember it will live on-and-on-and-on. Make the internet your best friend - - you'll be glad you did.
On Sunday, May 4th, you can put a voice to my name (and picture). I will be a guest on www.blogtalkradio.com beginning at 8:00 a.m. (CDT). The show is hosted by Marie Richards. The title is "How to Win an Oscar at Your Next Interview". If you would like to ask a question, the call in number is 646-200-4803.
Time permitting, these are three questions that I will provide insight as to why they are frequently asked and what is the intervewer trying to discover:
1) Tell Me About Yourself
2) Why did you leave your last job
3) Who's the best boss you've had (and who's the worst!!)
Look forward to hearing from readers. As always, feedback appreciated.
See you on the radio!!!
This blog is a sight deviation. Thanks to the advantage of the internet and the daily sites I visit, I recently spent some time at www.onedayonejob.com . Willy Franzen and Amy Gordon are in the process of building a site dedicated to the college student who needs an internship or will soon be graduating and that first paycheck is very important (both to them and to their families).
No matter where you are in your personal career search, spending a few minutes at www.onedayonejob.com is worth it. If you have college age children and/or nieces and nephews, the site should be a must read for them.
For all of you on the career search who've found this page, be sure to also add www.alisondoyle.typepad.com to your favorites. Her personal site has many helpful hints and clicks (buttons) also worth the time to read; as does the jobs and career site at www.about.com. The more you read and stay current, the more apt you are to be the first one to find the job you've been searching for.
Take a few minutes, invest the time and learn.
Oprah (www.oprah.com) had as her guest on Friday, Marcus Buckingham (www.marcusbuckingham.com). Going through the workbook with Marcus (on line at www.oprah.com) is worth the investment in time and money. On the show, Marcus helped women find their strengths, make changes and improve their level of happiness as individuals and professionals. What I've found, from working with professionals in all walks of life, for more than 20 years, is all too frequently they expected more satisfaction and reward from their jobs than the jobs were designed to give. What do I mean?
I frequently tell clients most careers have a similiarity to the world of sports. They have been selected to play on a team; the rules are very different for each sport - - figure out the rules you must play by; coaches (bosses) all have their style - - adjust to it; and when the game is over (at the end of the work day) go home to your family. You really can turn off your cell phone and shut down your computer - - the earth will not quit spinning. And for most of us, we will never play in a major league corporate role, but we will be a major player in the lives of our family and we can become a family icon. When you change your expectation of "reward" to come from home not work - - it changes your attitude. Attitude is the major component of happiness in many situations.
It is true people who have unique talents they utilize in their careers - Dr. Oz, Tom Hanks, Dr. Tang, gifted musicians and inventors - will play by a different set of rules than the rest of us. Where we get lost, is when we look at our careers to give us a personal return-on-investment - - and that isn't a part of the game of work.
Marcus Buckingham was so "on target" when he asked each of the women to find their strengths. For many people, playing to their strengths will not be at work - - it will be at home. Work will provide the $$$ so they take care of their family. There's nothing wrong with it - - in fact - it can be liberating. You simply change your "point of view".
At some point in most careers, you hit a bump in the road. It may be as the result of an acquisition/merger, a down turn in the economy or a new boss who wants someone else in your position. Often times, when that happens, you are not in a financial or emotional position to take the time, effort and $$$ to find the next step up the employment ladder. From my point of view, our best move may be is to take a step back and stay in the game.
I frequently use sports analogies when working with a client, because I believe the world of work has many similarities. In this case it is baseball. Personally, I love a good baseball game, especially high school or collegiate. To see the best collegiate baseball, go to the College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska.
Here's my analogy:
Each year, when young, gifted, baseball player is drafted by a Major League team. a part of his dream is playing in the "majors". However, he most likely will find himself on a farm team. He may have signed with the Texas Rangers; but he's playing for the Oklahoma City Red Hawks at the Bricktown Ballpark, fondly called "The Brick". Even more amazing is the fact that he will willingly go back and forth between Texas and Oklahoma over the course of his career to stay
"in-the-game".
If you find yourself suddenly without employment and the stress of no income, no work for a period of time is not in the best interests of you or your family, stop-gap employment is a viable option. Interestingly enough, frequently the stop-gap employment leads to a new career path in a new company. If that isn't the case and it is truly just a stop-gap opportunity, do not be discouraged. Continue to be the best employee and continue your search for the next step up the ladder. Dr. Phil frequently looks at a guest who is not working and says "No job, no money. Some job, some money". He's right, there may be times when some job, some money is the right thing for you.
Occasionally, as a writer, you have a sudden flash of brilliance (from your point of view). I had one today. Here's the result.
For everyone reading this blog, I do hope you are a member of LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com). Yes it costs a small amount of money each month; but at this point in the technology race, it is one of the best investments you can make in your career.
Once you're connected, spend time getting familiar with all the bells, whistles and buttons offered. Then the first order of business is to fill out your profile. Spend quality time making sure you have the right key words, phrases and information needed. Next comes the fun part. In the upper right hand corner is your connection to an amazing world. Be prepared to go on a journey around the world from the comfort of your home. Type in words related to your branch of the military (Army, Navy, Marine, Coast Guard). You can also type in your unit, your MOS. Then slowly go through each name and write down the names that live near you; or thos whose experience was similar to yours; or - - you served with them!!! Next, go to the inmail or get acquainted through a referral button and type your email. At some point, you will make a connection that will open a door for you. You may have to go through many doors, but you will be making progress and building a network.
Here are additional resources to help you with your career search. Go to http://jobsearch.about.com. Alison Doyle has practical information on interview questions, letter writing examples and general information valuable for a career search. Take the time to print out the information you find of value. Alison's book "Internet Your Way to a New Job" (www.happyabout.com); Joyce Lain Kennedy's "Job Interviews for Dummies" (www.dummies.com) and her website (www.sunfeatures.com) are good investments in your career future as well.
Get started ... have fun .. and build your network to your next job. It may be your first job since leaving the military or it may be your next job - - either way - - get started.
How important is eye contact? Very, very important. When you are in an interview, your ability to maintain good eye contact with the interviewer will have as much impact as the words you use. In the American culture, good eye-contact translates to truthfulness and honesty. While that isn't always a true statement; for the most part, it has merit. It has been said that your eyes are the door to your soul. In a job interview they can be the door that leads to employment. If you have no problem looking directly at someone when you answer a question, you're fortunate. However, if you're not sure (or you know you do not have good eye contact), then have someone take a video of you as you answer job related questions and play it back.
When I'm working with a client who does not have good eye contact, usually the first taped interview tells the client where their problem is. One client, especially, stands out. He had excellent academic credentials and good performance reviews; however, he was usually passed over for promotions. I realized he found it very difficult to look me in the eye while we were talking. When it came to interviewing, his eyes were burning a hole in the floor.
We spent a few sessions working on "eyes up". Each time his eyes dropped, I would stop speaking and say "eyes up". At first, those two words were spoken more than any others. Over time (and working at home with his wife as well), he overcame the habit and could look me in the eye when answering a question. Soon after he'd conquered his "contact" problem, he landed a great job for his skill set. He was an accountant (with a CPA, two MBA's and work on his PhD). The humor (or irony) is that he'd been passed over because his lack of eye contact sent the message of lack of confidence and/or lack of truthfulness. Neither was an accurate description of him; but his inability to make or maintain eye contact left an inaccurate impression on the decision makers.
The eyes may not always "have it"; but they certainly did in this case.
