From Military To Corporate World

This is a photo symbolizing the job search in today’s economy. Out of the darkness, there seems to be a ray of hope–but where? (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have a tremendous amount of respect for our military.  I have friends and family that have selflessly served to protect our country and way of life.  As a Recruiter, nothing makes me happier than helping someone transition from military life to the corporate world and I’ve learned some things along the way that you may find helpful if you are about to do the same thing.

As you know, the corporate world is VERY different from the military world and there will be some adjustments you’ll need to make. Some more painful than others.

1.  The “-ish” Factor

Most of the military candidates I’ve interviewed or know personally, have said very similar things.  If you’re given an order, you follow it.  If you have to be some where at 0600, you’re there at 0555. If you’re told you need to find 10 new recruits by end of month, you get 10 new recruits by end of month.  Your boss sends you an email, you respond immediately and they respond back. Cut and dry, black and white, or whatever metaphor you prefer.

Corporate world is different, so let me introduce you to the “-ish” factor.  If your office opens at 8am, you’ll notice that most will roll in about 8-ish.  If your sales team needs 10 new customers by month end, you’ll see around 9 to 11-ish by month end-ish.  If you send your boss an email, they may respond by 5-ish, or the next day, or the day after that.  You may even have to send a reminder email, or two-ish.

The point is things run on different timeframes and priority levels and it’s something you will really have to make a strong effort to adjust to as quickly as possible.  Most of the frustrations I’ve heard from ex-military now civilian employees revolve around the approximates.  Some revolve around the fact that they don’t correspond with their boss on a daily basis or aren’t given daily orders.  There is  more autonomy and often times, directions are given once during a new hire orientation period and you’re on your own to get to the end result.  The quicker you adapt to that, the better you’ll be.

2.  The Gray

Not everything is black and white in corporate world.  There is a HUGE amount of gray, and some can find that frustrating.  Sure, you have policies and procedures that may be outlined for you in your new employee handbook.  But how you do your job may not be so defined.  Decision you make may not be made based on established protocol.  You may have to use your gut and go with it.  You’ll need to learn how to flex your autonomy and creativity muscles to succeed.

3.  The Process

From what I’ve been told, most military follow strict protocols and guidelines.  There is almost always a manual for each job.  I have heard about manuals for everything from opening an office to how to use a fax machine.

Processes in the corporate world often aren’t as detailed as that and most likely, there isn’t a manual created by your predecessor on how to do your job that you can follow. Your training could be OTJ (on the job), one-on-one with your boss, classroom orientation or trial by fire.  My advice; be a sponge and take notes if you need to. Don’t always assume there is a manual for everything.

When you are choosing your next career, think about the things before deciding where to go.  Culture and work environment are a big part of that decision too. If you are a very social person and need to be around a team to feed off energy, taking a job working out of a home office probably isn’t the best choice for you.  At the same time, if you are the kind of person that performs best in quiet environments, you probably don’t want a job that has your desk in the middle of a bullpen style office or cubicle.

Relax and give yourself time to adjust to your new job. Even if it isn’t your final job, you can learn what works for you and what doesn’t so you know what to look for in your next job.

Most of all…thank you for all you’ve done during your service to our country and good luck!

Before You Hit Send, Proofread That Document!

Crystal Clear action spellcheck (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Communication is a crucial skill, yet it still amazes me how something as little as proofreading can elude the most well versed individuals.  Let me give you a couple of examples.

A client of mine wanted to use a new performance evaluation tool instead of the traditional point system they had used in the past. I’ve been a long time advocate for eliminating the point system method as I feel it can be demoralizing.  Studies have shown that performance review time can be the most demoralizing event of an employee’s year. Think about it for a moment.  How would you feel if you were told you’re a 3 on a scale of 1 to 5? But that’s another blog topic for the future.  Back to my point.

The self-evaluation method we chose really put the responsibility on the employee. It asked them to reflect on their strengths and opportunities for growth while working together with their direct supervisor to draft a career path and goals for the future.  Here is where the proofreading comes in.  One employee’s evaluation I received had listed a goal of “being able to provide my boss with extra time to focus on her anal.”

Now, what they meant to say was “focus on her analytical responsibilities”, but that’s not what was submitted.  Fortunately, this team has a great working relationship, so after thanking the employee for caring about the colon health of their boss, we were all able to laugh it off as the employee resubmitted the corrected form for their file.

Hilarious, right?  But this employee was lucky.  What if a document like that had been submitted to their boss, which leads to my second example.

A candidate friend of mine, had their job offer rescinded due to lack of proofreading. They were offered a job,  accepted it, set a start date and lost it all over a three-week time period.  Why? Apparently the emails and text messages they were exchanging with their future boss were not proofread before they were sent.  They were laced with so many spelling and grammatical errors, their soon to be boss decided they weren’t going to move forward with the on boarding. This was a high profiled customer facing role.  The company felt it would be a poor reflection on their organization to have someone representing them with such poor communication skills.  Something they did not see before making her the offer.  Needless to say, my friend was floored.

Why on earth would you take so much care to present yourself so well, just to get lazy after you get the job or have worked at it for a while? Both of these incidents could have easily been prevented with a quick extra click of the mouse and 60 seconds of proofreading.  If proofreading isn’t your thing, get a friend to help you.  A different pair of eyes can see a lot.

Bottom line, stay detailed my friends.

Sometimes You Just Need A Change

I am truly blessed.  I’ve had a wonderful career in the staffing industry for over 18 years. Eleven of those years have been with the same great company.

Sometimes, when you are in a position too long, you start to feel a little stagnent, complacent, or even a little unchallenged with what you are doing.

A friend of mine in a similar scenario, recently asked me, “How do you know when you’re ready to leave and do something different?” At the time, I didn’t have an answer for her. Shocking I know but bear with me.  As I started to think about the signs she asked me for, I realized that I was reflecting on my own feelings in my current position.  I stewed on those feelings for months, thinking it may be a passing phase, but it never went away.  So I decided to act.

I’ve taken a leap of faith and resigned from my Corporate Recruiting role.  I’ve decided to pursue my passion of consulting with small to medium-sized businesses to help them with their HR processes and challenges.  With that, I’m launching Talent Management Solutions, LLC., a firm designed to help streamline HR processes, design talent acquisition strategies and provide on demand human resources support to companies with no to little HR departments.  It’s honestly surprising how many of them there are out there.

The blogs will continue with more topics to come.  Stay tuned readers…I’m just getting started!

www.tmsolutionsllc.wix.com/ondemand

I-9: How a Letter and A Number Can Frighten Anyone

What is it about I-9’s that has us so freaked out?  If you don’t believe me, mention it to an HR professional and follow it up with the word, “audit” and watch their facial expressions.  With some, it’s enough to send them into a fetal position sucking their thumb under their desk.

I-9 audits are not fun but are a necessary evil.  When penalties for non-compliance range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars and possibly some jail time, it’s no wonder people get worked up about them.  A recent audit a friend of mine conducted for a company would have had them writing a check for over $10K had that audit been done by ICE instead of her.

So how do you prevent the anxiety surrounding the I-9?  Simple, follow the rules!  The government has some great resources online that can help you so make yourself familiar with them.  Here is a link you can use:  http://www.uscis.gov.  There is a new version of the I-9 form out and it has a new design.  Although the “Handbook for Employers Guidance for Completing the Form I-9” isn’t out yet, you can use the instructions on the form itself until the handbook is released next week.

Happy auditing!

Three Sure Fire Ways to Tick Off Your Recruiter

I love recruiting!  It’s an incredibly rewarding profession as I get to help a lot of people find their next career.  Over the years, I’ve had great candidates and some not so great.  I decided to dedicate this blog to the not so great to let you, the job seeker, know what things NOT to do during your next conversation with a recruiter.

1.  Don’t be disrespectful or condescending.

“After all, this is just a phone interview at this point.”  This is an actual quote I got not too long ago from a candidate that sought me out because of their interest in a job I had posted.  The sad thing was that it was said within the first five minutes of our conversation and set the tone for the entire interview, which by the way only lasted 10 minutes.  If you approach a phone interview as an inconvenient step in the hiring process and that comes across in your tone, I guarantee the process will be shorter than the wingspan of a gnat.  Phone screens are often the first step.  You don’t know what kind of influence the interviewer has with the hiring manager, so making them feel insignificant isn’t really a great way to start.  Treat them with respect and they will be your biggest cheerleader throughout your journey.

2.  Don’t be evasive when answering questions.

Recruiters ask questions for a reason…they want answers.  Simple right?  If we ask you for the reasons behind leaving your last nine jobs and you dodge, evade or flat-out refuse to answer the questions, guess what, you’re done.  The same goes with the salary question.  We ask to see the pattern in your income and to see if the position you are applying for will be in the same ballpark as where you have been or want to be.  It makes no sense to take someone through a long hiring process if they are expecting $100K a year when the position tops out at $60K.  If salary isn’t your main motivator then say so. We respect that.

3.  Not being consistent in your answers or misrepresenting yourself.

I had a candidate that interviewed so well over the phone, I was in awe.  They had great communication skills, said all the right things and asked very deep questions that were very thought inspired.  At the end of our interview, I was thrilled to present them to the hiring manager.  But when they showed up, it’s as if their evil twin walked into the room. They presented themselves professionally (and by this I mean a nice suit), but told the hiring manager most of what they said in our interview was just fluff to get to the face to face.  In their mind, they thought they were being clever and showing that they were willing to do whatever it took to get the business.  They thought it would portray them as a clever go-getter and make them more attractive.  On the contrary, it backfired and badly.  Not only was I ticked off at being played, but the hiring manager was as well. What they did show us was that they were willing to lie and misrepresent themselves to further their cause at any cost.  No company with any integrity would move forward with someone who displayed such a blatant act of lying.  The candidate was truly in shock when the interview ended so quickly.  Can you say, “Duh?”

Folks, interviewing isn’t rocket science, and good interviews are really more conversations about goals and desires more than they are scripted questions and practiced answers.  Recruiters are there to help you.  Think of them as your corporate friend. You’ll go much farther in the hiring process with them on your side than you would if you treated them as just a step.

Good luck!

The Jig Is Up

Well, it’s official.  My 12-year-old daughter now knows that I am in fact, our Christmas Elf Charlie.

She approached me shortly after Charlie’s annual appearance on the day after Thanksgiving and asked me point-blank, “Mom, are you the elf?”  The sheer bluntness of the question caught me off guard.  I stammered and stuttered while trying to come up with a clever and logical response, but all that came out of my mouth was a soft and saddened, “Yes, I am.”

She jumped with joy. “I knew it!”, she exclaimed. Frankly, I was surprised by her reaction.  I was worried that she’d be disheartened or crushed learning that Charlie and Santa weren’t real.  I actually teared up a bit at the thought that she’d passed this milestone in her childhood and was moving closer to “tween-age-dom” faster than I wanted.  Where was my little girl?

But instead, she laughed.

Then something wonderful happened.  She wanted in on the gag.  She knew her 10-year-old brother still believed and saw an opportunity to have some fun while being a little deceitful, all with full parental support.  There was a spark in her eye followed by a sneaky grin.  I fully expected her to produce a long-haired cat in her arms to stroke as she cleverly plotted the weeks ahead until Christmas Eve, when Charlie magically departed. She started asking questions in rapid fire mode.  “When did you move him? How did you write the notes from him? Where did you get the candies he left?”  It all started to make sense to her.  “You tailored the notes according to our behavior!”, she yelled.

Yes, I admitted it.  I told her I used the jolly little elf as a tool for behavioral modification.  She stood for a moment, contemplating, then stated, “I could do the same thing to my brother, couldn’t I?  I could get him to be nicer to me and maybe even pick up after me or get things for me when I ask.”

It was then that I realized, I hadn’t lost my little girl at all.  She was standing right there in front of me.

My girl.

I didn’t lose her, I gained a partner.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Did You Get Fired? So What?

Fired!.png (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It happens to everyone at some point in their life.  In fact, I don’t know anyone in my circles that hasn’t been fired at least once in their career and I talk to tons of people on a regular basis who have recently gone through it.

So you got fired…so what?  Afraid it will prevent you from your next job?  Well, it may, but a lot of that will depend on how you handle it.

If you try to hide the fact that you were fired I guarantee when it comes to light, it will work against you.  Oh, and it will come to light.  It always does and it follows the same principle that I’m sure you’ve heard from your parents in your youth.   “It’s much better for me to find out something directly from you than to find it out through resources on my own.”  Sound familiar?

If you’re interviewed, it’s your chance to tell your story.  If your performance got you fired, tell your interviewer what you’ve learned since then and focus on your professional development.  The key is to be honest and don’t carry a chip on your shoulder or bash your previous employer.

Now if you’ve been fired from every job you’ve ever had, I suggest you do some soul-searching before applying to the next position.  Make sure it’s the right fit for you both professionally and personally.  You want to set down some roots, not continually replant yourself.

Cover Letters or Cover Ups?

resumes (Photo credit: realisticresumes)

“Do I really need a cover letter?”

I get asked this question all the time and my answer is always the same.  It depends.

A well crafted cover letter can be a great introduction to you and your experiences towards the position you are trying to secure.  However, a poorly crafted letter can get your resume dumped into a trash can without any further consideration.

Honestly, it depends upon the position you are applying to and what you say in the letter. I’ve seen some very well written letters that highlight a person’s career achievements and target their objectives towards their next position.  I’ve also seen some that are so scattered in their aim or have big words used in odd places that when you finish reading it, you pick up the nearest children’s book just so you can read something that makes sense.  You shouldn’t need a thesaurus to get through a cover letter people! Recruiters tend to think you are trying to hide something when they see that.  Not good.

If the application process requires a cover letter with your resume, not providing one could get you disqualified.  If you decide you want to do one, stick to some basic rules.

1.  Make is as easy to read as your resume.  Keep it simple.

2.  Don’t throw up all over it.  List the skills and experiences you have that relate specifically to the job you want and NOT every single skill or experience you’ve ever had in your life.

3.  Customize it.  If you think you can create one generic cover letter that will work in every situation, you are mistaken.  No “To Whom It May Concern” allowed.  Do your homework and find out who will be reading your letter, then personalize it.

4.  For the love of all that is holy, use spelling and grammar check.  In fact, you should have someone else read it before you ever think of submitting it.  The whole adage that you only get one chance to make a first impression applies to cover letters too.

Now start writing!

Weekends Are For Family And Giant Cinnamon Rolls

I love weekends!  Not only for the fact that I don’t have to work but also for the time I get to spend with my family.

I had to share this picture of my son one weekend morning when we decided to stop and try some very popular cinnamon rolls.  He looks a little excited don’t you think?

As my kids get older I am enjoying them  so much more.  They are both at an age where they have their own minds, and frequently share their contents, unfiltered.  They are exposed to so much more than I was as a child (i.e. the internet, social media).  In fact, I think my generation is the last to have grown up with an actual corded phone mounted to a wall or a television that you had to get up and physically turn a knob to change a channel.  Mind you, I was very young when we had a television like that.  😉  Remember when cell phones were in a bag? How about cassette or 8-track players?  I actually remember having one of the first VHS players in the house.  The kind with the gigantic tapes you could use as a small dinner tray.

While things have gotten smaller, family time shouldn’t be one of them.  So, we are dedicating at least one weekend day to cinnamon rolls and cyber free activities.  They may whine and groan but I guarantee they’ll remember it.  The older they get they will long for the days when they were forced to disconnect.

References, Worth It Or Not?

Red phone (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I don’t know what all the steps of your hiring process are, but I’ll bet there is a spot for checking applicant references.   My question is why do we do it?

The idea of reference checking is by all means, a good one.  Being able to talk to a potential future employee’s previous boss (say that ten times fast), can not only tell you what kind of employee they would make, but how best to manage them to their full potential.  But that’s the idea.  Here is the reality.  When you pick up the phone to talk to that previous boss, most likely, they will send you straight to their HR department (if they have any sense), where you will be given only the name, rank and serial number of said employee.  Go ahead, try asking questions about attendance or performance or whether they are reliable and exceed expectations.  Ask away, you won’t get the answers.

Companies are so afraid of getting sued that they resort to removing the possibility entirely by either giving only dates of employment and position or outsourcing the role to a service that you have to dial in with a specific employer code.   Why bother right?

These days, most professionals have profiles on-line that have recommendations regarding their character or work performance that anyone can read.  Sites like Linked In have really made it very easy for us.  So again, why bother?

Because not everyone that applies with you has a profile online.

Because every once in a while, when you do make that phone call, you’ll get to actually talk to the boss and find out exactly what kind of employee you would be hiring.

Because that HR person feels so strongly that as long as what they are telling you is true and documented, you have a right to know.

Those are the reasons making those reference calls are worth it.  Whether you hire based upon what you hear…well that’s up to you.