Another Point of View

Checking LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, etc.

When making a hiring decision, is it ethical to check connections and conversations of a person on social networking sites like Linkedin, Facebook, Orkut etc? 

This simple question sparked a month-long debate on a LinkedIn Group site with more than 156 responses.  The responses ranged from "how dare you" to "of course".  Regardless of where you stand on the issue, everyone who is in the workforce today (or is married to someone who is), needs to be very careful when it comes to posting information, photos and personal opinions on public and quasi-public websites i.e.  Facebook, YouTube, MySpace, Plaxo.  Recruiters, hiring managers and company employees are checking you out. 

Don't forget the new kid on the social media block - - Twitter.  It  seems to give people a false sense of anonymity.  The real truth is - - there is nothing anonymous about social media.  It is an open meeting place for the world to gather, discuss, learn and read about everyone.  So what you say will be read by someone and it could go viral.  Your comments could launch your career or deep six it - - you have control at the end of your fingers anytime they hover over the keyboard

As I've said before, think twice, type once - - then take a deep breath and pause before you hit the send button.

 

 

Networking - electronically - - it works

Whenever I read an article by someone  that is worth repeating - - I do.

Dan's article fits that bill.  It is up-to-the-minute, succint and  - - yes - - worth repeating.  Enjoy........Dan Schwabel

Put it in Writing - It will change your life.

I gather inspiration from others.  This week the inspiration came via Oprah's show entitled The Face of Hope.  Her interview with Terari Trent was amazing.  The impact of Jo Luck's visit to Zimbabwe, where she inspired Terari with a statement that told Terari she could dream and achieve her goals reinforced the power of words.

For Terari it was writing down the goals, putting them in a special box and burying it under a rock (at the advice and encouragement of her mother).  Each time she accomplished a goal, she checked it off the paper and lovingly reburied the box.    She was poor, living in Zimbabwe with an abusive husband and several children.  Her goals were seemingly impossible to attain.

1) Go to the United States

2) Get a Bachelor's Degree

3) Get a Master's Degree

She is on-track to receive her doctorate this December.  Yes her dreams came true. It was hard work and came with a great deal of personal sacrifice.  Today she returns to her village and encourages other young girls and women to dream.  Ready to achieve your goals - listen to Terari.

Twitter it wrong - - lose your Job

A link can be worth a lot of words - - here it is via Twitter - - and it can cost you your job.

Networking - - hidden market - - it's not magic - - but it works

They say everything that is old becomes new again - - certainly the word

Networking fits that description.  20+ years ago, when I started my career as a career coach, finding a job was all about networking and the  hidden job market.  In the early days of Monster, CareerBuilder, et al - - networking became associated with out-of-date job search techniques.  In all actuality, while no one was saying it out loud, the truth has remained constant.    Networking has always played a key role in all job searches.

There was a brief period of time (a few years), where the job boards had the competitive edge for those who were computer savvy.  But it quickly became obvious that the human touch was still, if not always the most important, at the very least - - extremely important in any career search. 

The fun today is that you can combine many different methodologies of networking - - face-to-face, telephone, snail mail correspondence, the internet (complete with a Skype account and a camera).  Just pick your preference  - or better yet - combine two or more and you will be amazed at how quickly your job search moves forward.

I recently had a client with a very specific skill set who answered questions on LinkedIn that were focused on his skills.  In only a short period of time, he had more than 100 people look at his profile and had two job interviews.  He was electronically networking when he answered the questions - - and it worked.

Yes, networking isn't going away - - there are just new ways to accomplish the connections. 

And the hidden market - - it is alive and well.  Networking opens the door to that market.  So  as Larry the Cable Guy says  "git r done" - start networking and opening the door to the hidden job market.

Flashmob - add it to your vocabulary

Sometimes, when you least expect it, you have an "aha" moment.  Mine occurred this weekend as I followed the flashmob trail on youtube.  Some of the videos were funny  - some odd (it runs the gamut - as does so many themes on youtube).  Two worth mentioning are:  Oprah's opening show for her 24th season and an enchanting (from my point of view) rendition of Julie Andrew's Do Re Mi at a    train station in Belgium. 

Using Twitter and Facebook, people are quickly mobilizing for a special event and then just as quickly dispersing.  That power of joining forces is visual proof of electronic networking/connecting at its best.  For the Oprah show, they sent an invitation out on Twitter and Facebook.  80 volunteers showed up to learn the dance.  In the end, 20,000+ participants were in-sync to the Black Eyed Peas music.

Looking at your career search, or your career worth - - there is a direct correlation between how well you are connected, the connection mediums you use and your success.  I've frequently written an admonition to be very careful what you post on the internet  - including youtube/myspace et al.  The numbers above tell the story of how 80 can become 20,000+; how an entertaining video can have more than 200,000 views.

The best investment of your time is in building  personal and electronic networks.  I think videos should be done carefully; posts should always reflect you professionally; and, when it comes to personal opinion and pictures - - keep them private and only share with those you would trust with your credit card. In some ways, LinkedIn builds professional credit card trust.  It is a new, fast-changing world - - stay connected - - but proceed with caution.

 

 

 

Jay Leno - Give It Your Best Shot

The Sunday, Sept 6th, edition of Parade Magazine features Jay Leno's career search advice.  He has good advice and his early career successes, especially, prove it worked for him.  Will it work for you?  Probably, if you follow the general guidelines.

Most importantly, Jay highlighted 2 key ingredients.

1) Persistence Pays off

2) A good attitude can always make the difference

Here are the six keys to "ace an interview" from the article:

1) Prepare, prepare, prepare.

2) Keep your answers short.

3) When in doubt, overdress.

4) Be positive.

5) Say to the interviewer, in your own words, "I really want this job".

6) Follow-up promptly (the same day!!!)

Brad Dunn's story includes real life scenarios of professionals who made significant career changess.  For some it was an increase in salary.  Three of the 5 had increased salaries, all of them said their new careers were more satisfying, exciting and/or fulfilling.

In the job search, follow Jay's advice.

With a little help from my friends

Everything that was old soon becomes new again.  In today’s job search,the buzz word is “networking”.  While many see it as a rather new element of the job search, just as Ringo, Paul, et al sang so many years ago - - With a Little Help from my Friends - - in today’s world it is about making a connection with someone.  The fun today is you can make a connection electronically, in the comfort of your home with your favorite at home attire.  Remember if you are connected by Skypeand a camera - - you may be seen ‘round the world in a less-than flattering way.  Also, everything you say electronically may be transmitted by someone in such a way that it goes around the world - - Think Twice, Type Once and hesitate - - awhile - - before you hit the send button.

Also realize that just as you “Can’t Buy Me Love”, you can’t “Buy me a Job”.  But you can make connections that will prove invaluable with today’s job search.  And, if you stay in touch - - they can prove even more valuable 5 to 10 years from now. 

There’s an interesting article in the ForbesMagazine’s Sept. 7^th edition:  http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0907/power-women-09-facebook-sheryl-sandberg.html.  The dilemma today is that everyone wants to be connected, to network and to reach out to family and friends.  The challenge is how does that help from my friends translate to $$$ for the people behind the scenes who’ve written the connections that make Facebook so much fun.

Before they become profitable, Facebook’s theme song could be “A Hard Day’s Night” as they grapple with connectivity and profitability. 

For each of us, it will be how well to be want to be connected and with whom???  We want help from our friends - - but not all our friends. It is going to be an interesting journey for everyone.

Beatles - OKC Tweetup - A little help from my friends

Please go to:  http://tinyurl.com/kry2fq.  Like the blog?  Please leave a comment.  The blog is a finalist for the OKC Tweetup meeting.

Lesley Stahl - Don Hewitt - 60 Minutes Legacy

There have been several articles and televised interviews with those who worked for and with Don Hewitt.  Everyone, it seems, agrees that  Don Hewitt's passion, temper and unique ability to find a story played a key role in their lives, the long-running show 60 minutes and television news.  Lesley Stahl's story of how she responded when Don Hewitt said he did not like her hair or her wardrobe.   It was a critical moment in her professional career.  When she did not snap back with a sarcastic response, but laughed, it broke the tension.  As a result, she's had a great career with 60 minutes and developed a deep affection for a man with a temper, who had passion.

What caught my attention were the words passion and temper.  In today's workplace, it seems passion and temper may not be positive words for employee productivity - - yet they seem to be closely aligned for many successful people.  I think of Leonard Bernstein - conductor;  Arturo Rubenstein - concert pianist; Dr. Michael DeBakey - heart surgeon; Bob Knight - college coach; Bob Hurley - high school coach; Herb Brooks - Olympic hockey coach. 

Growing up, I had 2 teachers who were passionate and had tempers.  Francis Lantos was my accordion teacher.  He and his family had escaped from Hungary via the underground and, fortunately for me, he decided to live in Cheyenne, Wyoming and teach accordion.  He was a classically trained musician and had played the taragato  (Hungarian national instrument)  in Carnegie Hall.  He had high expectations and was not afraid to vocalize his displeasure when you did not live up to his standards.  The music I learned, the performances I was privileged to be a part of, a rich education in music and a life-long love of music are the legacies he left me.  Do I remember him yelling at me - - oh yes!!  Would I gladly go back and let him yell at me again - - absolutely!!! 

Mrs. Hemphil, my high school English teacher.  A former principal, she took no prisoners in her class room, but you realized underneath her strict discipline was an amazing heart that truly cared for each of us and was determined we would learn the rules of writing and be exposed to good literature.  When things would start to get out-of-hand in the classroom, she only had to stand up - give us "the look" and start down the aisle between the desks.  Even the senior boys were not brave enough to confront her.  You could feel her controlling her temper and you did not want to have it ever directed at you.

In my professional life, I've worked for (and with) people who had passion and temper.  When they go together, you can work with them.  I've also worked with people who had a great temper with no passion.  That's when it is a challenge because you realize they only care about themsevles and their career.  They couldn't care less about you or your future. 

I know I'm grateful for Don Hewitt's legacy - 60 Minutes starts my week early on Sunday evening.

Thanks - Don - - and the 60 Minute gang.

Customer Service

I've recently had the challenge of changing internet/phone providers.  I've gone from a cable company to an telephone/internet provider.  I now have two new acronyms for my ongoing list.  They are:  VCS and RCS.  VCS is Virtual Customer Service.  RCS is Real Customer Service.  There is a direct relationship between these two acronyms and the world of work.  Employers provide what appears to be  a good work environment, or they provide a real work environment.  The same applies to employees.

Each time I've called the new telephone/internet provider (VCS), I've been greeted by a friendly voice, someone who says they will find the solution and the drama begins.  Yes, they do find the right person for me to talk to (which may take up to 20+ minutes on hold, listening to soothing music, of course); or I get the familiar recording that that particular department is closed.  I have found the Win Back operators to be the most amazing.  They're courteous, have answers, take down information, provide datelines for a real solution to the problem.  Does the problem get resolved - - the jury is still out and I'm still waiting to be connected.

When I had cable, I experienced RCS.  I did not appreciate how good the service was, how professional the real people who answered the phone were, nor how quickly my problem would be solved.  Do I miss the good ol' days - - you bet!!!

When it comes to your career (and/or career search).  Think of the difference between the  VCS and RCS in the company you currently work for, the company you're contemplating going to work for and/or the company you hope to go to work for.  Many people may talk a good game, but it is the real people who walk the road with you that make all the difference.

Stay tuned.  Thanks to internet connectivity at work and at family member's home - - I am connected - - I'm just not connected at home!!!!!!