San Diego Jobing Community Blogs

 

If you want to learn how 250K+ job hunters effectively networked with their existing circle of contacts to land great jobs:

Mark your calendars for Tuesday December 8th at 6PM PST for JobRadioUSA’s Episode 23 “Highly Effective Networking – How to Meet the Right People and Get a Great Job.”

Orville Pierson – career expert, author, and SVP for Lee Hecht Harrison - will discuss:

The best way to network for a job

How to create highly effective job search and networking plans

The components of structured and effective network meetings

How to set up network meetings with insiders of your targeted companies, establish rapport, and generate referrals to hiring managers

How to use network meetings with hiring managers to uncover hidden opportunities and transition from networking to interviews and job offers

You can access the show by either dialing 347-838-9326 or visiting http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thecareercatalyst

Feel free to share this information with employed, underemployed, and unemployed job seekers.

During the listener Q&A session, Orville will reveal:

How job seekers can use a small network to reach dozens of insiders and decision makers

How job seekers can get the right message to the right people, even if they have never met

How job seekers can talk to hiring managers before job openings are announced

A network step-by-step strategy job seekers can follow to generate referrals, uncover job leads, and/or generate interviews

This should be a great show. Likewise, I look forward to your live participation Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thecareercatalyst and listen to any of the previous 24 career shows you may have missed.

A job seeker should seek opportunities in both the advertised and hidden job market. For the past two weeks, I predominantly discussed how to locate relevant, advertised jobs on Twitter. Next week I will discuss how to use LinkedIn and Twitter to apply to advertised jobs and to locate hidden opportunities. For this post I will discuss how to locate targeted companies and individuals of interest using Twellow.

Visit www.twellow.com and register (if you are new to Twellow) by clicking on the Register for Free link (in the upper right of your screen) and inputting your Twitter screen name, password, and email address. Otherwise, just log in.

In the search field (at the top center of the screen) type the name of a targeted company. Let’s assume that Southwest Airlines is one of my 20 targeted companies. Likewise, I typed Southwest Airlines in the search field.

Next view the results. In my case, there were 44 matches including the official Twitter account for Southwest Airlines, profiles of employees including corporate recruiters, profile of the former CEO, and so on.

Click on the profiles of interest and click the follow button to add these individuals and/or companies to your group of followers on Twitter.

In my case, I clicked on the official Twitter profile of Southwest Airlines and on the Click here to visit this user’s Twitter page link under the profile.

Next I viewed some of the company’s tweets and viewed the Twitter list (located under the Lists area of the company’s profile) created for the company’s employees.

Most importantly, when you conduct a basic search for other companies like Pepsi, there will be thousands of matches or Twitter profiles for both employees and non-employees. Viewing all of these matches to locate company insiders is not efficient.

Likewise, you need to conduct an advanced search on Twellow. To accomplish this: go back to www.twellow.com, click the Search tab in the top center of the page, and view the search tips.

Now let’s assume I wanted to locate Pepsi employees who work in marketing. Likewise, I typed @(bio,extended_bio), Pepsi, marketing in the search field. Afterwards, I located the profiles for a marketing manager, international marketing director, and VP of marketing at Pepsi. These are three individuals I can follow and contact to ultimately generate referrals to other individuals of interest including hiring managers.

Next, I wanted to locate all the marketing and product managers on Twitter located in Dallas Texas. Likewise, I typed (”Dallas”) “marketing manager” | “product manager” in the search field. I retrieved one match.

In conclusion you now know how to locate advertised jobs, targeted companies, and individuals of interest on Twitter. Next week, I will discuss how to use both LinkedIn and Twitter to be introduced to hiring managers for both advertised and potential hidden opportunities.

 

I admit, I have a personal bias against Wal-Mart, and won’t shop there.  Why?  Because of their employment practices. 

By RODRIQUE NGOWI, Associated Press Writer Rodrique Ngowi, Associated Press Writer – Wed Dec 2, 8:22 pm ET

BOSTON – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has agreed to pay $40 million to 87,500 Massachusetts employees who claimed the retailer denied them rest and meals breaks, manipulated time cards and refused to pay overtime, according to court documents filed Wednesday.

The settlement — believed to be one of the largest of its kind in the state — seeks to resolve a class-action lawsuit filed in 2001. It comes less than three months after the world's largest retailer reached a deal with state prosecutors to pay $3 million to settle complaints that it didn't give its Massachusetts workers proper meal breaks.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091203/ap_on_bi_ge/us_wal_mart_wage_settlement

 

Wal-Mart continues to defy good employment practices and apparently doesn’t care about the money it has to spend to resolve these issues.  Is this the kind of company you want to promote?  Are the savings worth the cost?

I believe in being flexible when times call for it, it is obvious that Wal-Mart has a consistent practice in place and feels it is entitled to disregard employment law as long as the profits are rolling in.

As times get tougher, employment best practices often take a back seat to expediency and employees are less likely to speak up or take any legal action.  This goes back to the “be lucky you have a job” management philosophy.  And if an employee doesn’t like the practice, he/she risks a job; possible denial of Unemployment if fired for cause or the first to be on the lay-off list.

If other companies start following Wal-Mart’s lead in fear-based employment practices, as employees we have lost a great deal of power; earning power, and personal power over our working life.  De-motivated employees do not seek additional responsibilities, or challenge themselves to do the best job possible.  They wait for the first opportunity to leave.

 

So, this holiday season, think of where you shop and what the company stands for.  We can regain some self-respect by following our own value systems and promoting companies that treat their employees as assets to the company. 

 

 

Happy Holidays!

 

 

 

 

 

 

In today’s business world, the climate has definitely changed.

Certainly, your organization has changed along with these economic times.

To stay current with this ever-changing world, you must ask questions such as:

How do you approach restructuring strategically so that your current workforce remains positive and productive and focuses on the future?

How do you promote trust with your customers?

How do you build a genuine and open environment in a climate of trust?

SDSU’s College of Extended Studies will help answer these questions – and others – during a "How to Rebuild Trust after Downsizing" training & development exchange Friday, December 11, 8:30-10:30 am , in the SDSU Extended Studies Center .

This workshop will help you create a strategy for (re-)building trust in your organization, as well as help you define important questions you must ask and steps you must take to ensure that employees and customers can have confidence in the organization and where it is headed.

 Key takeaways will include learning how trust is a strategic issue in an organization by:

Analyzing behaviors that impact the workplace and cause lack of trust

Learning how to establish a common language to address issues precipitated by downsizing

Identifying personal strategies and methods to increase trust in your organization

Evaluating how trust impacts customer reactions and ultimately results

Presenters include:

Cynthia Olmstead, the CEO of TrustWorks Group, Inc., who has more than 30 years of organizational development and training experience. She helped develop TrustWorks to assist leaders and teams by teaching them proactive ways to manage conflict, improve communications skills – and ultimately build a culture of trust.

Rose Avila, Ph.D., RMA Consulting, who has more than 20 years of experience and success in helping people become top performers and achieve quality results. Her clients work in all sizes of businesses in a cross section of industries, from start-ups to billion dollar corporations, as well as public and private companies and non-profits and municipalities.

For more information, call (619) 594-1138, email traindeve-CES@sdsu.edu or visit www.neverstoplearning.net/TD

It’s a great way to spend Friday morning!

Did you know that most colleges and universities will start the spring semester in January 2010?

For the past couple of months, I have been getting more and more inquires in how to get started in re-careering and re-educating. 

The re-educating question means going back to school.  So as I researched this question, the answer was basically that a lot of people didn’t even know -- that there were colleges located right in their own back yard.

In order to help my clients as well as possibly help you, I compiled a list of websites for our local colleges.  Please review these links and then review the questions at the end of this blog.

Hopefully you can use them to get started back in school.

CSU San Marcos = http://www.csusm.edu/

Cuyamaca College = http://www.cuyamaca.edu/

Grossmont College = http://www.grossmont.edu/

MiraCosta College = http://www.miracosta.edu/

Miramar College = http://www.sdmiramar.edu/

Palomar College http://www.palomar.edu/

San Diego City College = http://www.sdcity.edu/

San Diego Mesa College = http://www.sdmesa.sdccd.cc.ca.us/

Southwestern College = http://www.swccd.edu/

San Diego State = http://www.sdsu.edu/

University of San Diego (USD) =  http://www.sandiego.edu/

UC San Diego (UCSD) = http://www.ucsd.edu/

NOTE:  National University, Phoenix University, Alliant, and other Private College are on line as well.

Do you need or want to go back to school?  If your answer is yes to one of the following questions, then it’s time to get signed up.

I NEED COLLEGE FOR;

Re-Career

Re-Train

Finish my A/A Degree

Finish my B/A (or ) B/S Degree

Become better on the Computer

Take a fun class like Art, or Swimming

Get my Motorcycle License

Become a Notary

Become a School Teacher

Get my Masters Degree

If I can help you get started, please let me know!!! 

Coach Eddie 

Last week I created a post that discussed how to source job leads using TwitterJobSearch, locate targeted companies, and create a targeted company list. For this post I will discuss how you can locate job leads using TweetMyJobs and have your resume tweeted every 24 hours (if you choose to do so). Next week I will discuss how to determine if specific companies are on Twitter and to potentially view relevant tweets from company insiders.

Below I will discuss how to create an account on TweetMyJobs, subscribe to the desired job channels (by location and industry), and have openings automatically sent to your cell phone. I will discuss how you can also view these openings under the Job Listings link of TweetMyJobs.

1. Visit www.tweetmyjobs.com, click on Sign Up (if you are new to TweetMyJobs), fill out your profile, click on the link provided in the TweetMyJobs activation email (you’ll receive), and afterwards log in.

2. Click on the Enter your Twitter id/password in Account tab link (under Job Seeker Dashboard on the Home page), input your Twitter username and password, and click the Save button at the bottom of the page.

3. Select the Subscribe to Job Channels link or click the Job Channels link at the top center of the page, select the appropriate location (country, state, or city/state) in the left drop down box, select the appropriate job function (such as energy) in the right drop down box, click Filter list, and click on the green button (with the white plus sign) to subscribe to this channel.

Repeat this process to subscribe to more relevant job channels. Once you have established your channels, click the Job Listings link at the top center of the page, view the number of listings, and make any job channel adjustments. For example, I changed the location filter from Texas to Dallas, Texas to reduce the number of postings.

4. Select the Public Profile link at the top center of the page and create your profile by providing your contact information; links to your website, blog, LinkedIn profile, and/or other social media sites; profile title and objective; employment preferences; and text and MS Word resumes. If you do not want to receive text messages for relevant jobs, do not include your cell phone number in your profile.

If you choose to do so, you can tweet your resume every 24 hours by clicking on the blue Twitter icon located above your public profile under the Public Profile link. You can also submit it by clicking on the Home link, the Tweet or retweet your profile to the twittersphere link (under the Job Seeker Dashboard), and the Click Here to Send It!! link.

5. Click the Job Listings link at the top center of the page, click on a job posting of interest, and click on the Apply to this job button. Afterwards, you will be directed to the company’s website where you can apply. Also after clicking on a job posting, you can click the blue tweet button to view the original tweet and follow the individual who tweeted the job (by clicking on the individual’s twitter name and the follow button).

You can place these individuals in a dedicated list located under your main Twitter account or in the same targeted company list.

If you want to locate jobs on Twitter by a specific city or zip code, you can visit www.twitterjobcast.com. You can either locate all jobs or certain jobs in a specific zip code.

If you have not done so, I recommend you listen to Duncan Mathison’s “How to Conduct an Effective Holiday Job Search,” BTR Show. This show is excellent. Click here: http://tiny.cc/JedZR to listen.

This past year, I have been on the front lines of our economic meltdown – assisting layoffs, holding career workshops, talking with the media and have been able to witness transformations within our society and within individuals.   It has been an incredibly challenging time for many people where their world has been turned upside down and they have truly have had to reinvent themselves in a new world where newspapers are dying, financial institutions are crumbling, and the new way is not completely clear yet.   

I feel that my role in this process has been to be the beacon of light and the calm in the storm, because I can see in each person I meet with whether that is helping them through a career transition from a layoff, financial bankruptcy, and even more common from a job that they hate to finding a job that they love – I see that each person is unique with incredible gifts and talents to offer to the world.  The key is to help to them reconnect or maybe for the first time connect with that and believe in themselves and go out in the world with a clear message of what they want to do and present that with energy, enthusiasm and confidence.   I have seen clients go from complete devastation to joy and fulfillment that in their breakdown of a layoff or whatever the condition may be – they have been able to really connect to their passion and purpose.  In fact, most people who come to me are no longer satisfied with just the grind, the paycheck – they want to figure out how they can take their true strengths and talents and translate that into how can they make the biggest impact in their community, the nation and sometimes the world.   

What I have seen from this process is a stronger sense of community and connections where people are really coming together to support each other and step outside themselves and think how can I do something bigger than themselves.   I feel a whole new sense of awareness of the incredible greatness within people – I have one client who took 2 years off to build an orphanage in South Africa and now has returned to the United States to use his leadership skills to make the biggest social impact that he is capable of, I see a 16 year old high school student who feels that no one should have to live in poverty and has founded a non-profit , I see galas sold out to support amazing social causes, I see incredible acts of kindness to support those in need.  

Can you imagine our quickly our economy recovery can happen if we can all tap into our passion, strengths and continue to support each other and search for ways that we can all make the greatest social impact.  What is your calling?  How will you change the world?  How can you take a breakdown in your life and turn it into a breakthrough?   

If you feel the need for support, please look into these resources below.

www.careerswithwings.com/view/resources.aspx

Marcy Morrison is a Career Strategist and owner of Careers With Wings(www.careerswithwings.com).  Marcy is passionate about helping others find their dream career via speaking engagements, media appearances, workshops/training, one-on-one sessions and her book "Finding Your Passion:  An Easy Guide to Your Dream Career”(www.myeasycareerguide.com).  “Finding Your Passion” is filled with inspirational stories of people living their passion along with practical, interactive tools of how to live your passion.  Sign up on Marcy’s website to receive information of how you can start living your passion through your career now (www.careerswithwings.com).  Marcy is equally dedicated to her vision of giving children and communities opportunities – or wings – to rise above poverty.  She serves on the advisory board of the Just Like My Child Foundation(www.justlikemychild.org) and donates 10 percent of her earnings to the organization.  Marcy received San Diego 's North County Philanthropy Association's Volunteer Award for her work.

 

Over the next few weeks I will discuss how to use Twitter and Facebook during the job search. For this post, I will share how to source job leads, locate targeted companies, and create a targeted company list.

1. Visit www.twitterjobsearch.com, sign in to Twitter, and click on the Allow Access button (if this is your first time using TwitterJobSearch).

2. Next complete your TwitterJobSearch profile by providing contact details, your skills, and URLs to your LinkedIn and online resume. You can log in to LinkedIn and click on “View My Profile” to obtain your public profile URL (located above the Summary).

3. To source job leads, click on the Browse button in the upper right of the screen, and type your job function in the search field. For example, I typed “corporate strategy” and retrieved 3500+ results. You can also use the categories and subcategories located under Browse Jobs on TwitterJobSearch’s home page.

4. Next refine your search using the filters on the right of your screen which include: Date, Job Title, Country, City, Salary, Job Type, and so on. For example, I clicked on “United States” under the Country filter and then clicked on “Dallas” under the City filter.

5. After setting up your search, click on the Subscribe button (on the right of your screen above the filters) to automatically have relevant jobs sent to your RSS reader.

6. Next follow individuals of interest who tweeted jobs (by clicking on their twitter name and the follow button) to ultimately network and establish relationships with.

7. To follow targeted companies that are recruiting and posting jobs on Twitter, visit the two links below:

http://tweepml.org/Employers-Recruiting-on-Twitter/

http://tweepml.org/Top-10-Companies-Recruiting-on-Twitter/ 

Then deselect the companies you do not want to follow, click on the Sign in on Twitter button at the bottom of the screen, and click on the Allow Access button. In an upcoming post I will discuss how to determine if specific companies are on Twitter.

8. Next place your targeted companies in a list. To do so log in to your regular Twitter account, click on the Create a new list button in the upper left of your screen, type the name of this list, select the appropriate privacy setting, and click on the Create list button.

Click on your following icon to locate the individuals and companies you are following. For each of the targeted companies (you are following), click on the manage list icon under actions, and select the targeted company list (you just created).

Click on the Home button and under the Lists section on the right of your screen, click on your targeted company list, and you will only see the tweets from these companies.

There is help out there for companies seeking alternatives to layoffs.  If your company is thinking of reducing hours as a way to save jobs and still keep moving forward, the State of California is offering some assistance in a Work Sharing Unemployment Insurance Program.

 

http://www.edd.ca.gov/pdf_pub_ctr/de8714bb.pdf

 

Your employees may be able to receive Unemployment benefits for the time off. 

 

Some of the Requirements:

·         10% of an employer’s workforce or a unit of workforce must be affected by a reduction in wages and hours worked.

·         The reduction in hours and wages must also be 10% or higher.

The costs:

·         The company pays Unemployment Insurance for the employees that receive this benefit.

 

An example:

An employee normally works a 40-hour week and is paid $500.00 (gross pay).  If the employer cuts hours to 32 per week, this is a 20% reduction in wages and hours.  The Work Sharing benefits for this employee are 20% of the UI benefits this employee would receive if totally unemployed.  This offsets the $100 loss to the employee by $60 so the net loss to the employee for the week is only $40.00. ($400 +60 = $460) 

 

Benefits to Employers: 

This is a temporary solution and when the economy picks up again, the company will not have to go out and spend important dollars on new recruiting, hiring and training. 

It is less expensive than restructuring; severance, outplacement assistance and organizational restructuring costs. 

The company retains its quality employees, who might not be able to continue working with the amount of salary lost. 

It demonstrates good will and caring for the people who work for you. 

This program can also be used to transition employees into a full layoff, but gives them some time for job searching before the final layoff. 

It saves money in the long run, by retaining productivity the cuts produce.  It increases employee morale and loyalty, reducing future hiring costs. 

 

Benefits to Employees: 

Employees can retain their positions instead of being laid off and going through an extended period of unemployment. 

The program promotes good will, which in turn increases company loyalty and willingness to find other solutions to save money. 

 

 

For more information on organizational development, transitions, training or conflict resolution, contact me at suearth@yahoo.com

 

 

 

 

You have prepared for traditional and behavioral interviews. You have accomplishment stories that demonstrate you are a problem solver who can increase revenue and/or decrease cost. Now let’s imagine that a potential interviewer wants to learn more about your problem solving abilities. Likewise, the interviewer gives you a case interview. Are you prepared to ace it?

A case interview consists of the interviewer presenting a problem and asking the interviewee to come up with a solution. It is typically a real life business situation an interviewer encountered. Most importantly, case interviews are used to measure a candidate’s business acumen, executive presence, and ability to think quickly under pressure. They are also utilized to measure a candidate’s problem solving, analytical, communication, and listening skills.

If you are ever presented with a case interview, below are tactics you can use to maximize your performance.

1. Verify the information you received - you will be given an initial set of facts including the situation and the problem you need to solve. For example, “Our client is a global industrial engineering firm that manufactures wind turbines. Revenue is increasing while profit is declining. Our client wants to improve profit. What do you suggest the company do?” Afterwards, verbally paraphrase this information to ensure you understand the problem you need to solve.

2. Structure your thoughts - next you should take up to 60 seconds to structure your thoughts. This entails breaking down the problem into components and subcomponents. For this case interview, your components could be revenue, cost, and competition. The revenue and cost subcomponents would be price and volume and fixed and variable cost, respectively. The subcomponents for competition could be competitor benchmarks, actions, and so on.

3. Share the path you are going to take - verbally share your structure with the interviewer. To ensure you are going down the right path, state “Unless you suggest otherwise, I am going to start with revenue.” Likewise, the interviewer can point you in the right direction just in case revenue is not the main issue.

4. Next ask probing questions - you should ask thoughtful questions to acquire the information you need to ultimately crack the case. You should also ask questions in a structured fashion. For example, gather all the information you need for revenue before asking questions to acquire cost data. Then obtain all of the facts you need for cost before moving on to competition.

5. Perform calculations out loud - you will be given facts, figures, and/or charts to use to perform calculations. It is vital that you perform these calculations out loud so the interviewer can correct you if you make a mistake. If you perform your calculations silently and the final results are incorrect, the interviewer will have no idea where you made a mistake.

6. Structure your recommendations - once you have all of the information you need, take up to 60 seconds to structure your recommendations. This will also give you time to prioritize the supporting details for your solutions and identify potential risks and implications.

7. Deliver your solutions - finally present your solutions or recommendations with confidence and list the supporting details. Next mention the potential risks and implications and/or discuss potential next steps.

You should listen to Carole Martin’s “Personal Branding During the Interview Process,” which was a good show. Click here: http://tinyurl.com/yekyfgh  to listen to this podcast.

Linkedin is the number one Social Networking site for professionals on the Internet with over 60 million users. A growing number of Green companies and professionals are using Linkedin to conduct business and make connections. If you are interested in a career in the Green industry or promoting a Green business then this workshop is for you.

Green professionals and job seekers will learn how to create, update manage and use important features of Linkedin to effectively promote their skills and business to the world. Attendees will receive "Insider" information that will help them get the most out of the must-have business tool.

Topics that will be covered:

    * Why Linkedin?
    * Your Linkedin Profile - create, manage and key features
    * Linkedin Groups
    * Linkedin Events
    * Contact Management
    * Linkedin Applications
    * Communication Strategies
    * Building Effective Networks

Cost and Registration: $29 prepaid online at http://greenlinkedin.eventbrite.com/

This seminar will be held at the

California Center for Sustainable Energy
8690 Balboa Ave., Suite 100
San Diego
CA
92123-1502

Did I mention, Pizza and soft drinks will be provided!

See you there!

 

P.S. You may want to bring a laptop with you, you'll be able to immediately put our tips and tricks into action.

All of a sudden, an argument erupts out of nowhere.   If you are employed, you dread coming home, and if you are unemployed you dread the question “what did you do today?”   Does this sound familiar in your house? 

An article in the New York Times, gives some good examples of family situations caused by unemployment.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/us/12families.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&th&emc=th

The tension created by extended unemployment is taking its toll on family relationships.  How does this happen? 

When someone loses a job, there is often a lingering doubt about ability or personality that may have contributed to being let go, even when we can objectively point to the economy as the real reason.  Why was I the one let go vs. someone else?  The longer the unemployment, the louder the doubts become, eroding self-esteem and affecting behavior.  Your patience is shorter, your tolerance level for stress is lower, you may be isolating yourself or lashing out. You are suffering and so are those around you. 

The same questions of competency, willingness, caring for the family unit start to surface in your spouse, and in the children as well.  

Role reversal is one area of conflict.  If Dad loses his job, it may be nice to have him around the house more, but it changes the family power dynamics.  Budgeting and finance decisions, caring for and discipline of the kids, daily chores and responsibilities become areas of contention when the family dynamics change.    Dad is perceived as weaker, Mom has to pick up the slack, which she resents, and the kids wonder who is really in charge and what the future may hold for them.  

Conflict usually does not bring people together, it separates them.  We look for reasons to explain what happened, someone to blame. 

So, what can we do about it?  

I don’t have the answer, but personal experience has taught me that open, honest communication can help.  Is this easy?  NO.  But it can be beneficial.  If we can be open and vulnerable enough to be honest about fears, ask for help, accept our shortcomings and try to learn from them, try to be more flexible in our reactions, show compassion, change the attitude to “one for all and all for one” we can come out stronger on the other side.  I’ve seen this transformation and truly believe in it. 

What is the bigger picture?  As a company or a country, if our collective self-esteem takes a hit, the same responses as the family occur.  We may lower our expectations, lower our standard of living, lose momentum in innovation, and lose our standing in the world.

So, what’s the message here?  Be kind to yourself and your loved ones.  Be open to change, and don’t give up!

1. Make telephone calls - Few things are more terrifying than the unknown. The fear you create for yourself is far worse than the reality of cold calling. Once you start making telephone calls and continue making telephone calls it gets easier. You overcome fear by doing.

2. Make a lot of telephone calls - If you have only one prospect to pursue, that prospect becomes overwhelmingly important. If you have hundreds of leads, no one prospect can make or break you. The more calls you make, the more success you will have.

3. Prepare - Prepare for cold calling the way you would for any major presentation. Know what you want to say, how you want to say it and how you want to represent yourself, your company, your product or service. And know the goal of your telephone call.

4. Practice - If you are new to cold calling or uncomfortable with cold calling practice your pitch out loud. Role-play with friends or colleagues. Practice various sales scenarios. This way you will not have to worry about what you are going to say, you will be prepared and you can focus in on your prospect.

5. Start with less important leads - It will be good practice and less stressful. Once you feel more comfortable, start working on the more important leads.

6. Stay calm - You will for the most part be talking to people who will appreciate your call. If a prospect is rude, remember: This is not personal. They may just be having a bad day. Move on.

7. Realize your priorities and your prospect's priorities are different - You want an immediate "yes," your prospect may want to finish a report, finish a conversation, start their vacation.… Be very careful not to read negative or extra meaning into early conversations with your prospect or prospect's secretary. If, for example, your prospect's secretary says that your prospect is "on the phone," "in a meeting," or "out of the office," that does not translate to "My prospect knows that I am calling and is avoiding me."

8. Accept some things are out of your control - If a prospect does say "no" ultimately that is out of your control—but what is within your control is continuing to prospect and continuing to make calls. It is also within your control to improve your cold calling skills, take seminars, read books or hire a coach-then fewer prospects will say "no."

9. Play Arlene's game - The object of Arlene's game is to focus on rejection. The goal is to reach 100 points. You get 1 point for every rejection. Give yourself 1 point for every "no" answer. If your prospect says "yes," that's a bonus! Focus on acquiring points. The more calls you make, the more points you acquire. When you reach 100—You Win! Give yourself a prize!

10. Have fun!  This is not life or death—it's only a cold call. The fate of the world does not rest on you and your telephone. You will not destroy your company or ruin your life if a prospect says "no." Loosen up, be creative, have some fun!

Wendy Weiss - "The Queen of Cold Calling ™" - has been training some of the largest sales organizations (Avon, ADP and Sprint to name a few) on how to create more effective cold calls and generate more results. Wendy has been featured in The New York Times, Business Week and Entrepreneur Magazine.

Kevin Kermes publishes the ‘Build the Career Your Deserve' e-zine with over 21,000+ subscribers. If you are ready to empower yourself with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job you want and build the successful career you deserve, visit him now www.kevinkermes.com

 

 

In today’s job market where demand far exceeds supply of jobs, job seekers need an edge. Job seekers who are confident about their skills and capabilities have a greater chance of successfully ending their job search. Below are seven approaches job seekers can use to develop or enhance their confidence simultaneously as they conduct their job search.

1. Believe in yourself and your abilities - you must believe that you are the ideal employee who can produce great results for your targeted employers. You can accomplish this by minimizing doubt, viewing failure as a temporary setback, and looking for the good in every adverse situation. Also surround yourself with confident people and participate in positive mental attitude activities.

2. Develop or revisit your career plan - next adjust or map out your career path. You must determine where you want to go and the actions you need to take to acquire your career aspirations. This exercise will help you focus on potential opportunities that will keep your career on track – maintaining or growing your confidence in the process.

3. Determine the required skills and capabilities - next identify the technical, soft, and personal skills and capabilities you need to move from the beginning to the end of your career plan. You can acquire this information by conducting external research and interviewing professionals who are where you want to be in your career.

4. Identify your strengths and weaknesses - pinpoint areas of strength and weakness for each of the competencies and qualifications you need to achieve your career goals. For each skill and capability, determine which ones are either your greatest assets or areas for improvement.

5. Develop methodology for previous capability and skill usage - create outlines for the processes you used to produce great results for your previous employers. These outlines will help you produce work that at least meets your future employers’ expectations especially when you encounter unfamiliar territory in your career. For example, you could have identified potential solutions, conducted analyses to prioritize these resolutions, gained stakeholder buy-in throughout the process, and executed the best solution(s) to solve problems.

6. Locate resources and access to help - compile all of the relevant resources you can store on a computer such as training material including eBooks, industry and analyst reports, notes, previous work, and so on. Also bookmark websites that provide relevant online databases and free assistance from subject matter experts for all of your required technical, soft, and/or personal skills. These resources will provide you with assistance whenever you need it.

7. Participate in professional and personal development - consistently engage in professional and personal development activities which can include formal and informal hands-on training to acquire and/or strengthen your required skills and capabilities. You could also participate in pro bono (or volunteer) and/or consulting assignments and work in teams with confident individuals who are strong in your areas of weakness.

I recommend you listen to Ron Nash’s “How to Use Facebook to Revitalize Your Job Search” which was a Featured show or one of BlogTalkRadio (BTR) Today’s Picks. This show contained several golden nuggets. Click here: http://tinyurl.com/yfftohf to listen to this podcast.