This is my favorite question to ask when I’m interviewing for a job. I say, “I’m looking for a great place to work. Why is Xyz Company a great place to work?” The range of responses is revealing.
Some hiring managers have already answered this question in the way they talk about their work, their team and the company. It is apparent from their enthusiasm that they like where they work.
Others are not as comfortable. I look for body language to read between the lines. Slumping shoulders, a lowering of their voice, eyes to the floor (maybe all in a split second) tell me that they are not as convinced as they’d like to be.
I liked this article on, determining the corporate culture of a company. While jobs are tight (and they won’t be forever), the ability to assess whether a company is a good fit for us is an important skill.
Think about answering these questions for the last place you worked and then think of the answers you’d like to have for your next employer.
What 5 key words or key phrases best describe your company?
What would you guess would be the 5 key words or phrases that your (husband/wife…) would use to describe your company?
What is your favorite day of the workweek? Why?
By the way, turnabout is fair play. I am always prepared to answer their question about why I’m the kind of employee who would contribute to making their company a great place to work. Happy Holidays.
You might wonder what Lucille Ball, Michael Jordan, Ulysses S. Grant and the Beatles have in common. They were all thought to be failures. Lucy’s high school theater teacher thought she was too shy, Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team and Grant failed so many times that, at 38, he finally went to work for his father. Lastly, the record company that listened to the Beatles thought guitar music was ‘on its way out’ when they turned them down.
These household names not only had talent, they also persevered. If you watch this video, you’ll find a source of inspiration. Feeling discouraged? Remember what each of these failures faced. The difference between them and a lot of other very talented people is that they did not say, “I give up.” They just kept going.
At a time when the world is moving faster and opportunities may seem elusive; it is important that we simultaneously lighten up and bear down. Remember the good inside you and decide that, as one of our most patient and famous Rochester forbearer’s, Susan B. Anthony, once said, “Failure is impossible.”
When I first saw this video, it was like listening to a wise friend. Patricia Ryan Madson says, “Ready or not, scared or not…improvise your life, no matter what, don’t give up,” from ‘A Way of Life’. I want to be a cheerleader for you and what you want to do. If you need some encouragement; I hope you’ll call on me. It’s your faith in me, your encouragement and kind words that keep me going. Thank you!
I hear it over and over, “Twitter is stupid.” When some people find out I teach social media they tell me how dumb twitter is. They know almost nothing about twitter and have never even seen it, yet they are convinced (based on something they’ve read or heard) that it’s a waste of time. When I explain it, some people still argue with me and announce,”I’ll never use twitter.”
To that I reply, “You don’t have to.” If you can grow your company, find a job, network effectively or accomplish your other goals without it, then good. If however, you’re looking to inexpensively reach new contacts; you may want to have an open mind. I encourage people to learn what twitter is and how it might help them. I agree Twitter isn’t for everyone but only make that decision after its capabilities are understood.
If you are unfamiliar with Twitter you may think that you have to follow people and have followers and that is what it’s all about. The power of twitter is in REAL TIME SEARCH. All the information that is attached to a ‘tweet’ is there because a person thinks it’s worthwhile.
Here are just a few facts about twitter for job seekers. Did you know that:
There are a minimum of 180 recruiters on twitter?
There are over 50 companies who regularly post jobs on twitter?
You can find jobs by searching on a profession e.g. @engineering
You can find an internship by searching @findinternerships
People who find jobs there already ‘get’ the power of social media and don’t need to be trained
I regularly teach social media for job hunters, my next session is on October 29 at the Pittsford Library, Rochester, NY. Let me know if you’d like to join us. The sessions are free, fun and you can network at the same time as you learn. I am looking forward to meeting you.
I just read a blog post from Guy Kawasaki called, “The Art of Recruiting” (2006). In it, Guy talks about how the idea of “A” players hiring other “A” players and “B” players hiring “C” players. His conclusion is that “A” players actually need to hire “A+” players; candidates better than themselves. While “it takes self-confidence and self-awareness” to do this, “it’s the only way to build a great team.” The Bozo explosion, he notes, is the slippery slope of hiring “B” players who then hire all the way down to “Z” players.
So how do we get to be “A+” players? I’d like to suggest that while we may not all be “A+” players, we can learn to be “A+” versions of ourselves in our chosen field.
Commit to learning how to manage yourself (Peter Drucker) and never stop. Find a mentor or co-mentor and tackle the hard work of self examination. What can I do better; how can I be more effective? What are my strengths and how can I build on them?
Read books. Smart people write books. I love to talk to people about the books that interest them. Reading a book takes effort and it feels great when you finish. Add the book and what you learned to your Linked In profile.
Listen. This seems so elementary and yet, I’m always working on this. Here’s a test. The next time you meet someone new, sit down immediately after your conversation and write down the questions you asked them. Think about how much time you spent listening versus talking. After you shake hands to part company, honestly assess how well you listened. What are the 5 things you learned about that person? What did you admire about them? If you can’t recall, you probably could have listened better.
Demonstrate passion. Guy’s advice to recruiters is to hire passion not skills. To job hunters he says, “Passion can overcome the lack of a ‘perfect’ educational background and work experience.
I learned to listen while raising my children. The more I talked, the less they listened. The more I listened, the more they talked. Pretty simple. Let me know how you are growing to or maintaining your “A+” status. I need all the ideas I can get!
Something new is cooking in Rochester to help people looking for work. It’s the Career Navigator program currently being offered by Rochester Works and is sponsored by the United Way, Finger Lakes Wired and others. Our own Career Sherpa, Hannah Morgan is one of the driving forces behind this project.
This 5 day training program (the pilot version of the program is free to attendees through Jan. 2010) is designed to teach transferability of skills, provide tools/resources to promote proactive job search methods and maximize the power of group learning and support. Classes will be held weekly at various locations around the area. I spoke to Hannah about the program:
How did the idea of Career Navigator get started?
“In the economic downturn, we saw so many talented people losing their jobs. Through no fault of their own, they found themselves out of work; many for the first time in their careers. We also noticed that people were slow to learn about the strategies that would help them get back to work. Things have changed significantly in the last couple of years and job seekers need to learn entirely new strategies.”
Where are the programs held?
“Rochester Works looked to partner with various organizations who would donate space to host the program. We will be holding the program at Pathstone, High Tech of Rochester, the United Way and other locations.”
What else can you tell us about the program?
“We will be holding weekly sessions nearly every week between the beginning of September and the end of January. We hope to serve more people and help them be more prepared for the job search process.”
What are the benefits of attending the program?
a) It is intensive – all the information is delivered cohesively
b) Participant-centered learning allow attendees to more easily put principles into practice
c) We help each participant understand what they want to do and then we delve into resume creation
d) We assess people’s skill s and marry them to positive employment trends to help them be redeployed whenever possible.”
Let Rocky Show Us the Way
Well, we don’t have to beat up slabs of beef but staying upbeat is important for job seekers. Sad sacks, like Winnie the Pooh’s Eeyore (http://www.just-pooh.com/eeyore.html) turn off potential employers. The ups and downs can be rough on us and those around us. Taking good care of ourselves is the best thing we can do for our loved ones and our job search.
Don’t Eat Right and Don’t Exercise
Not really. Do what you can to maintain a healthy weight, but cut yourself some slack. I don’t like working out but I do it because I feel better: the endorphins and a feeling of accomplishment lift my spirits. If you don’t have access to a gym, find stairs to climb. If the weather’s bad, walk at the mall. Find a buddy to exercise with. It’s a good networking opportunity. Set a small goal like two hours of walking a week.
Pay Attention to Your Attitude
I haven’t watched network or most local news for years. So am I an uninformed slug? I hope not. I pick and choose my sources, mostly online. I think about H.A.L.T: am I hungry, angry, lonely or tired? If so, I take action. I meet regularly with my two unemployed “buddies.” They understand how I feel better than anyone else. I tell them about my goals and report my progress.
Enjoying Your Life – Free or Inexpensive FUN Things to Do
Take a Walk through American History
Visit Ganondagan (ga·NON·da·gan), site of the historic Seneca community in Victor, NY. Tour a full-size replica of a 17thc. Seneca Bark Longhouse; walk miles of self-guided trails. Their ongoing events include visiting a living beaver dam, watching art demonstrations are free or $3/adult. You can also attend the annual dance and music festival in July .
my favorite question to ask when I’m interviewing for a job. I say, “I’m looking for a great place to work. Why is Xyz Company a great place to work?” The range of responses is revealing.
Life Transitions | Deborah | 
December 22, 2009 7:52 am | 
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