Are you too relationship-driven?

We all take jobs for specific reasons – pay the rent, something to do until school starts, get your footing in a new location – the list is long. However, once you are no longer just holding a series of jobs and have a bona fide career, you need a sound rationale for taking the next  job.  Usually that driver is about greater responsibility, skill-building, greater compensation, ability to relocate or even working for a certain talented person with whom you might have previously worked.  The presumption is that because you’ve had a good working relationship with this person, he/she has your best interest at heart and will be in a position to offer you continued professional growth and relative security.  The sense of loyalty is comforting and you, in turn, are compelled to do your best work for him/her.   I’ve watched people make this practice a pattern, usually Learn more...

Where’s the Beef?

A close family friend said last week, “Ginny I’ve been reading your blogs and they’re good, but kind of dense and serious.  They might not appeal to younger Gen-Y’ers and others looking for shorter answers to career and job questions – you know ‘fast food’.”  Trying not to be defensive, I thought about it for a minute and said, “You know, they are dense, but I don’t do fast food.”  Sure, I’ll eat a burger or salad now and then from Mickey D’s or Wendy’s, but when I stop there I’m not looking for real sustenance, just something to get me by in the moment.  Similarly, people who are going to read my blogs should be looking for sustenance, a sustainable plan that helps them navigate their careers.  Sure, I’m offering tactics and anecdotes that will help people in the moment, but I’m espousing a system for people who are Learn more...

Generosity and Reciprocity

Networking is an art that is nuanced.  People who do it best understand unspoken rules and demonstrate generosity, reciprocity and respect.  When I was an executive recruiter, I was always popular at parties (I like to think I still am); people would saddle up to me and say – sometimes whisper - that they wanted to send me their résumés.  No problem, I’m in the service business and genuinely want to help people.  I would gladly add these people to the firm’s database and my own Contacts List.  Invariably though I would find people who would not return my occasional phone call, but when they needed a job or career advice, would pursue me relentlessly and without regard for my time.   Indeed, there are givers and takers in this world.  I’m generally a giver and will give to takers – but to a point.  There is the rule of reciprocity that Learn more...

Personal Mastery

Last night, my 13 year old son, Julian, came to my room to talk to me about how we have been getting along for the past couple of weeks since he returned from camp.  I’ve gotten angry with him for not taking care of the little things that he knows he’s responsible for (cleaning his room, taking out the trash, etc.), being forgetful and inconsiderate and talking back to me.  He was frustrated that I get so angry and was feeling like I didn’t want him around.  I explained that I love him and do want him around, but I expect him to develop personal mastery.  He must master the little things, take responsibility for them, own them and handle them to clear the way for the big things.   In his case, he has to keep his room clean to maintain a space to be able to study.  He has Learn more...

Leveraging the Network

We started talking about networking 2 weeks ago  and hopefully you’ve found the detailed commentary on every type of contact in your network helpful.  Now the real work begins and you have to effectively use (in a good way) these people to get what you need.  I spoke with a mentee a couple of months ago who was so excited to have gotten several meetings and interviews set up with a variety of companies for prospective job opportunities. He has this wonderful personality such that getting meetings is easy for him.  He rattled off 4 different functional roles in 3 different industries and I stopped him.  “What are you doing?” I asked; “where’s the focus, because I can’t believe you are going to be compelling to any one of these people you are meeting with since you’ve not committed to any one (or two) functional roles, much less 1 or Learn more...

Defining Your Network – Part VIII

8/24/09  Social Media – LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and other social networking sites are places you can express your job interests and get leads.  Note that confidentiality generally goes out the window in these situations, so be judicious.  I’m a big LinkedIn fan and have over 500 contacts; this site is a great way to stay abreast of people’s professional movement and to reach out to assist, ask a favor or cheer them on.  On LinkedIn, you can see how many degrees separate you from someone and who you might know, who knows someone who knows the person you want to contact.  It can work, but you need 2 -3 willing participants and a clear reason why you are trying to track them down.  On Facebook, I reached out to this cool author after seeing him speak and being hugely impressed.  He responded and invited me as a friend.  Now Learn more...

Defining Your Network – Part VII

Executive Recruiters – Having been an executive recruiter for 12 years with one of the world’s leading firms I feel strongly that job seekers should not expect that recruiters hold the key to their next opportunity.  Recruiters are intermediaries who work for the employer and while they are aware of many excellent opportunities, those opportunities are a relatively small fraction of all the jobs that get hired for in any given year.  I would even suggest that in difficult economic times employers forgo paying the executive recruiter’s hefty fees in favor of posting internally or doing the search themselves.  Having said that, recruiters are a valuable part of your network and there is an art to knowing how to deal with search firms so that you do get the call when they have something juicy:   Identify the firms that work in your current or  intended industry and function.  Recognize Learn more...

Defining Your Network – Part VI

Alumni network – This can be a rich network that should be cultivated throughout your professional life.  Social networking has made it so easy to identify and reach classmates from college, grad school – even high school.  You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain by staying in touch with people.    Earlier this month while traveling on vacation in London, I got a LinkedIn acceptance from a Kellogg classmate who congratulated me on my transition from search and suggested we connect to compare notes.  He said he’d be in Chicago in the Fall, but I should be in touch if I was in London.  It was my last day in London.  I immediately sent him a note saying I was there and asked if there was any chance he was free for lunch.  He was!  We had the most inspiring and fruitful conversation and will surely be working Learn more...

Defining Your Network – Part V

Friends – People you trust who can give you honest feedback about how you present yourself in different settings.  While not always unbiased, friends can tell you the good and the bad about yourself:    Get an honest assessment of your image from a good friend.  Is that same hairstyle or haircut from high school still working for you?  Does that suit from 20 lbs ago still flatter you?  Are you projecting the maturity and professionalism you want? Have your friends check your speaking patterns (volume, pitch, extraneous words) or hand gestures when presenting in a one-on-one or group setting.  Ask a friend to conduct a mock interview with you or listen to your “elevator pitch.” Tell your friends what you are seeking from your career or in your job search – you don’t know everyone they know. Be a friend to your friends and offer constructive feedback to them Learn more...

Defining Your Network – Part IV

Industry and functional experts – You don’t have to know these people, but can solicit them with very targeted questions about how they see the current and future prospects for the industry and/or function, even opinions or insights on some of your targeted companies.  These people are especially valuable when you are trying to break into an industry or function you haven’t worked in.    One year out of business school, I decided I didn’t necessarily like the credit/lending aspect of banking, but I liked the real estate aspect of what I was doing.  I didn’t know much about the real estate industry, so I researched the top local companies in leasing, property management, development, etc. and identified about 6 people I wanted to get to know and learn from.  I cold-called them and asked for a 20 minute meeting with a clear agenda.  Over the course of about 6 Learn more...

Next Page »