Talent is overrated

“Most people learn how to do their jobs in the first year, and then they never get any better. They just coast in their jobs. But the only direction you can coast is downhill.
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The average person does only an average job, and as a result, he earns an average income and worries about money all his life. He does not realize that there is often only a thin veil that separates the average person from the excellent person. The fact is that if you are not getting better, you are getting worse. No one stays in the same place for long.”
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The only thing that separates the average person from the exceptional person, is continuous learning. Listening to podcasts, reading, doing courses.
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Part Four: Your future employer is going to cyber-stalk you.

Before you are employed- possibly before you are even interviewed- your future employer is going to stalk you on the internet.  I know this, because it’s the first thing that I would do, and most of my clients do as well 😊!  And its perfectly fair and ethical to “invade your privacy” and make judgements on what is on your social media accounts… because you made it public!

You have the power to decide what people see and do not see on your social media profiles, by changing your privacy settings and thinking before you post.  By looking at little details such as your display name, account name, email address, statuses, and profile pictures.  Your WhatsApp Profile picture may be my first visual impression of you.

Take a moment to scroll through your account and look at your posts through the eyes of a future employer.

And while we are on the topic of digital accounts- do you have a LinkedIn Profile?  If not, it is time to get one.  Think of LinkedIn as the professional Facebook for the business world.  Next week I will post a few hints and tips of putting together a professional LinkedIn profile.

Part Three: Tertiary Education sells you on Dreams

It’s sad, but true.  Tertiary education is a business like any other.  They must sell you on studying qualifications through them, with the promise of amazing careers, dream jobs and huge salaries.  The truth is, that a lot of the Student Advisors are students themselves and have no idea what the business world has to offer.

You study for years, excel in your exams, enter the employment market, only to find that the jobs and salaries are not what you expected.  Business on the other hand is less interested in your qualifications, and more interested in who you are and the value you can add to their business.  And without practical experience behind the theory that you learnt, they will have to invest more in you initially, than the value you will add.

The reality is, that when entering the job market, you need to see what the market is paying, and the value of the experience that you will gain.

The good news is, that while you may not necessarily be the next Marketing Intern for Unilever, or Account Manager for an Advertising Agency, with hard work and a little time, you will achieve those great things.  And there will come a day when you and another applicant apply for a job or promotion, and you will get it, because of the qualifications you studied.

(A final note- I am not for a second saying that studying is unnecessary or irrelevant.  As a recruiter, if a CV passes my desk of a graduate, I immediately assume that they are intelligent and have work ethic, simply because they completed a qualification.  That alone will open doors for you!)

Part Two: Who wants this job- you or your mom?

Every recruiter’s pet peeve- when a girlfriend, boyfriend, best friend, wife; or in this case- parent, phones on behalf of their child to find out about jobs.

When you are starting your career, there is not a lot on your CV to “sell” you.  Most of the time when we book in a school leaver or graduate with no experience for an interview, it is because they impressed us with their communication.

If you are not the one communicating with us, how will we get to know you? How will you form connections/ network? How are we supposed to know that you are confident enough to speak to people on the phone or construct a professional email?

(A side note to the parent: I know you care.  I know that it’s easier for you to just get it done.  I know you are at work to access to your employers’ phones and internet.  I am a parent too. But you undermine your children when you phone for them.  Respect them enough to let them do this themselves.)

What they didn’t tell you about looking for a job in school- Part one: Looking for a Job starts with Job Portals

Gone are the days of looking for a job in the local newspapers.  Today you look for employment opportunities digitally.  And the number one place is on Job Portals. A job portal, also known as a career portal or employment website, is a modern name for an online job board that helps applicants find jobs and aids employers in their quest to locate ideal candidates.

Internationally Indeed and Monster are popular, but in South Africa, you want to get your CV on Careers24, Career Junction and PNet, among others.  You can also search for jobs on Gumtree, Job Mail and various social media groups, especially on Facebook.

Its important that you include as much detail as possible when uploading your CV onto these websites.  Prospective employers will search this data base of CV’s using “key words” and if those words are not on your CV, you CV will not show up on the search.  ALL experience is important, when you have limited experience.  Include the subjects that you studied, and all the computer packages that you have worked on.

It can be tedious uploading all the information on the forms as well as your CV, but be as detailed as possible.  I promise- you will be grateful for the initial effort later!

Profile Pictures on CV’s

The latest trend in recruitment seems to be putting a photo of yourself on your CV.  The majority of the population hate having their photos taken, are naturally critical of themselves, and generally object to this.  I have to admit, if I was in your shoes, I would too!  But the reality is, that employers want these photos, so this may help you to understand why, and what your ideal photo should look like.

 

 

WHY PUT A PHOTO ON YOUR CV?

I cannot speak for every recruiter, and certainly I am sure that there are those people that are asking for photos for the wrong reasons.  RESOURCE recruitment does not ask for a photo when you apply for a job through us, but we take one at the interview, which we put on your CV that we will send to our clients.

Many people are visual, and it helped us remember the candidate, a year or two down the line.  Clients then started requesting photos.  When they are interviewing several people in one day, it helps to look back on the CV and photo, to recall and reflect on the interviews.  Clients will also phone us three months down the line, and say, “Remember we interviewed that lady for the sales position, and she was not suitable.  Well another position has opened up, that she would be perfect for!  She was the one with the really cool afro.”  A glance at a photo, and they know they have the right person.

 

But probably the most important reason for putting a photo on your CV is that it makes your CV personal.  It makes a piece of paper, a person.  The candidates getting short listed, are the ones with pictures on their CV, it is not because of their good looks!  A few years ago we placed a senior bookkeeper.  All the applicants happened to be between 55 and 59 years of age.  One of the applicants did not want a photo taken for their CV (which we respect).  When the client short listed candidates for interviews, he asked to see all the candidates except the one without a photo.  When I asked him why he did not want to see her, he replied, “I don’t know.  I don’t get a good feeling about her CV.  Let’s see the others first.”

 

THE DO’S AND DON’T’S OF PROFILE PICTURES

Here are a few common mistakes to watch out for when putting a profile picture on your CV.  Always remember the aim- to market yourself as a professional, not to win admirers and friends.

Blurry or Too Small

Ideally your photo should be 200 x 200 pixels or larger. Anything smaller and you’re guaranteed to end up with a fuzzy or teeny tiny image If possible chose a square head shot, as it will work with other social media accounts.

Too Close or Too Far Away

Stick with a standard head shot for your profile pic. Prospective employers won’t be able to identify you from a picture too far away.

The Group Shot

Remember, this picture is supposed to represent your professional brand – no one else’s. Don’t make recruiters guess which person you are in the photo. Use an image that shows you and only you.

The Crop

Cropping yourself out of the group shot doesn’t work either. While it may be your favorite picture, no one wants to see half of your loved one’s face or your best friend’s hair on your shoulder.

Too Serious

Opt for photos where you’re looking at the camera and smiling. You want to appear friendly and approachable.

Goofy Expressions

Remember, this image is supposed to represent your professional brand. When you look at your profile photo, does it send the same message as your resume?  This includes NO pouty lips!!

No props, baby pics and pets.

Save these cute pics with your toddler or puppy for your personal social-media channels such as Facebook or Instagram. Make sure that you are not holding alcohol or cigarettes, and that you don’t have any props in the picture indicating that you are off to do something, such as a motor bike helmet or fishing rod.  Stick to a photo of yourself for your professional profiles.

No Selfies

This is a professional photo of you.  Ask someone to take it, rather that have your hand shooting out the corner of the photo.

Backgrounds Count

Before you put a photo of you in a nightclub, or most commonly a bathroom, think about the impression this makes.  Either a neutral background is good, or alternatively at your desk or in a professional setting is always good.

Dress to impress

Dress in appropriate work clothes.  No evening dresses, wedding gowns, bikini tops, topless men or sky diving suites if you want to be taken seriously.

 

It’s totally up to you if you put a picture on your CV or not, but if you are going to, make sure that like all things when looking for a new job, it markets you the way you want to be viewed by prospective employees.

 

 

If you are Applying for more than one Type of Job, Have More than one CV.

Looking for a employment is a sales job.  It’s all about marketing your CV to potential employers, looking for opportunities, building your brand.  Whether you fancy yourself as a sales rep or not- tough- now is the time to learn how to sell.

 

And the first thing that you have to do, is get your brochure (CV) professionally and appropriately drawn up!

 

If you decide that you are a secretary and would happily be a secretary, but would equally like the idea of getting into Events/ PRO or Sales Coordination position, because you have already done a bit of this, then you need to have a cv that sells you for each line of work.   Similarly, you may be a draughtsman who is keen to also try mechanical engineering or technical sales.

 

The first page of your CV will remain the same for all the jobs you apply for.  This will contain your personal information, contact details and ideally a professional photograph of you.

 

The second page will contain your computer skills and education.  Here you will list the skills most relevant to the job you are apply for first, and in more detail than the less relevant qualifications.  It’s often a matter of just switching the order around.  But the person reading your CV will assign the most importance to the skills they read first and that dominates the page.  For example- you are a draughtsman applying for a technical sales position as well.  When you apply for the draughtsman jobs, the Dale Carnegie course is not really that relevant and would be at the bottom of the skills section, if there at all.  But if you are applying for a technical sales job, putting this first, immediately gives the impression you have people skills.

 

The next section is the career history.  Always start with the most recent job first, and put dates and duties.  But the duties that are relevant to the position you are applying for, should appear first, and in more detail.  A good example is that you are an Office Administrator/ General Accounts Clerk.  You want to apply for a debtor’s position.  You need to take your debtors duties and put them as the first duties under that place of employment.  You may have just written “Debtors” as one of many points.  Now you need to elaborate.  What is the size of your debtor’s book and how many accounts do you handle?  Do you do invoicing and statements? Do you phone for money? Do you allocate payments off the bank statement? Do you deal with debtors queries?  If the first 5 points listed under duties are debtors, even though after that are a bunch of other unrelated duties, you have still made the impression that you are a debtor’s clerk!

 

Finally, if you don’t have a lot of skills and experience in the area that you are applying, but it is your passion and you know a lot about it through your hobbies and research, then add this in.  If at all possible, include it under the career section and give examples of your work.  Maybe you designed a website in your own time to market your wife’s business?  Or you do your husbands bookkeeping in the evenings?  Or you won a quilting competition and you want to get into the textile industry.

 

When I look at your CV, and you are applying for a particular position, your CV needs to give the overall impression that you are suitable for that position.

 

But… never lie and misrepresent yourself.  You can promote and emphasise why you are suitable, but don’t ever lie.  One lie will discredit your whole CV.

 

Finally, The Golden Rule:- “If it’s not on your CV, you never did it.”

Getting Feedback on your Applications

GETTING FEEDBACK ON YOUR APPLICATIONS

 

Not getting feedback when you apply for jobs can be so frustrating and demotivating!  But, instead of being powerless in the job seeking process, why not  be more proactive with your communication and take control of the feedback process as much as you can?  Here are a few tips that may help you take control of the situation:-

 

The ability to communicate effectively and professionally at all levels, is a skills that all businesses seek.  It’s one of the first things that is assessed in interviews. You can be a genius, but if you can’t communicate, no one will ever know!  How you communicate before you even get the interview, and during the interview and shortlisting process, can make all the difference at the end of the day!

Listening & Interpreting Information
Being a good listener is one of the best ways to be a good communicator. No one likes communicating with someone who only cares about putting in her two cents, and does not take the time to listen to the other person.

Sometimes, recruiters put specific requirements on how to apply for a vacancy.  There are many reasons why they will do this, but failure to follow the instructions, will ensure that you start the process on a negative note.  If the application asks for CV’s to be emailed, faxed or posted- use this means to deliver your application.  And if they ask for a covering letter or supporting documentation (or none at all) – listen to the instructions.  If you are not communicating in the way they want, they may reject your application, without you even knowing, and this is the reason you are not being contacted for interviews.

Keep it short and to the point!
Good communication means saying just enough – don’t say too little or talk too much. Try to convey your message in as few words as possible. Say what you want clearly and directly, whether you’re speaking to someone in person, on the phone, or via email. If you ramble on, your listener will either tune you out or will be unsure of exactly what you want. Think about what you want to say before you say it; this will help you to avoid talking excessively and/or confusing your audience. Often people talk themselves out of a job. Nerves kick in and they start talking and just can’t stop and end up telling way more than they should.  Keep it short and sweet, and remember this is a professional exchange, not a friendly chat!

Friendliness
People like happy, friendly people. The effort it takes to smile, be friendly and patient; will be the best investment you can make when looking for a job. I know that you will get frustrated and irritated with the process, everyone does, but avoid making a phone call when you are in a negative mood, and check the tone of your email.

Be aware that when you get negative, stand your ground and confront a potential employer or recruiter, you may make your point, but chances are you will not get the job.  Always be assertive in a constructive, positive manner!

 

Picking the Right Medium
An important communication skill is to simply know what form of communication to use.

Initially, always follow the medium that the advert asks for the application.  This shows that you respect their process and can follow instruction.  If it is not stated, always apply in writing, via email.  Attached your CV and anything that is requested, but at the initial stage, avoid attaching lots of supporting documents.  Try and make the recruiter’s job as simple as possible.

From this point, you need to get the balance right- when it is appropriate to continue on email, phone or maybe even pop in to see the recruiter.  Too many phone calls or an unsolicited visit, may be inappropriate, but there is a lot to be said for picking up the phone.  (But never let anyone else phone on your behalf!!)

Feedback
And the most important bit of advice from this newsletter- ASK FOR FEEDBACK! As demotivating as it may be, it is a reality that you are one of hundreds of people applying for a position, and there is often just one person going through the CV’s and the process. If you want feedback you need to pick up the phone or send an email.  Not only will this give you constructive feedback on where your CV or skills may be lacking, but it is an opportunity to build relationships with the recruiter.  Knowledge is power, and knowing why you have not been short listed, can be extremely motivating (as strange as that may seem!).  If you have not passed the email stage of applying, then forward your original application, and ask for feedback (don’t make the recruiter go looking for your application).  If you have been in for a personal interview, then pick up the phone and start building relationships.

Relationships are a two way street, so don’t apply for a job and then wait to get a phone call.  Be proactive, and drive the process!  Start interacting with your recruiter, and I promise, you will be at the top of their minds next time a job comes in, and they will start communicating back!

 

Tips for Looking for a Job Online

10 TIPS TO LOOKING FOR JOBS ONLINE

 

Along with all things, how we look for jobs is changing rapidly every year, and in just the last 10-15 years the recruitment industry has moved almost completely from advertising in newspapers and receiving paper (fax, posted or delivered CV’s), to advertising electronically and receiving digital CV’s either via email or uploaded onto websites.  The industry is changing so rapidly, that a lot of schools have no even started teaching school leavers about job portals, and if you are new to the job market after being away for a while, you may find it quite daunting!

Hopefully, these tips will help you navigate looking for a job on line a little easier.

  1. Be careful who you ask for advice

Everyone is an expert!  Everyone likes to tell you what you are doing wrong, and what you can change (even if it does not need to be changed).  You can ask parents and grandparents for assistance and guidance in your education, maybe dealing with your boss and how to resign.  But when it comes to preparing a CV or posting your applications online, unless they currently are responsible for recruiting staff, they may not be the experts to turn to.

  1. Use reputable websites or job portals

There are a lot of job portals out there that take adverts off other websites, and place it on their websites to drive clicks/ traffic to their websites.  These are not the websites that you want to be visiting because often the jobs you are viewing are outdated or invalid.  You want to be using websites where the advertiser placed the job themselves, has the correct email address for responses and a deadline for the advert.  RESOURCE recruitment always keeps their jobs updated at https://2r.co.za/category/vacancies/ .  Other good websites to keep an eye on are Pnet, Careers24, Career Junction, IOL and Gumtree.

  1. Make sure the KEY WORDS are in your CV.

When I search for a suitable applicant among CV’s, I use “Key Words” to find applicants with the required skills.  This means that if those skills (key words) are not on your CV, you never did it (even if you did), and you won’t be short listed.  Keywords would be, depending on the job requirements, things like- Pastel, Syspro, reconciliation, VAT, balance sheet reconciliations, statutory returns, payroll and Forex for a bookkeeping position; or litigation, conveyancing, Dictaphone typing, minute taking and paralegal for a legal secretary position.  Think about what job or industry you are wanting to get into, and then make sure these words appear on your CV

  1. Avoid abbreviations

Don’t assume that the person reading your CV will know your industry abbreviations and lingo.

  1. Fill out the registration form in full

I know that it is time consuming to do this when it is all on your CV, and you have probably filled out a hundred forms similar to do this before, but it is important.  Remember, “If it’s not on your CV you never did it”, so “If it’s not on the application form, you also never did it!”  (If the company then sends you another application form to fill out, you need to complete this form too.)  Recruiters are going through literally hundreds of applicants, 80% of which are totally unsuitable, and these application forms from the companies are created to streamline the short listing process.

  1. Keep your CV Updated

This is normally the main reason that the most suitable applicants are NOT short listed.  Their CV is not updated to show their latest experience; that they now live in the specified area; that they now have a car; that they have completed a qualification; or that they are available immediately.

  1. Put your email address on your CV

It stands to reason that if you are applying for a job online, you should have your email address on your CV in addition to your phone numbers.  And don’t forget to check that email address daily!  If your CV is forwarded to someone else in the company, saved or printed- it may be separated from your original email.  (And we should not have to say it- but remember your phone number too!)

  1. Social Media Accounts

If you are applying online, chances are that the recruiter will google you, or more accurately- Facebook- stalk you!  If you have not put your privacy settings on your social media accounts, you are inviting them into your personal lives.  Do you want to be judged on your political views and what you did last Saturday night; or that you are home from work again with a sick baby; or that all your posts are made during business hours?

LinkedIn is huge internationally, but it seems to be gaining popularity now in South Africa.  This is the “professional” version of Face Book.  This is the face you present to future employers and network.

  1. Get your CV out there

Looking for a job is a “stats game”.  The more people who have your CV, the sooner you will find something.  The more portals your CV is on, the more companies will view your CV.  The quicker you reply to emails requesting information or interviews, the more interviews you will attend.

  1. Keep your Account Current

The final tip is to keep your profile current on the portal.  Each month, go in and edit something.  It’s not important what you edit.  When I am searching for applicants, those that were active most recently will appear first, and those that were last active six months ago, I probably wont look at because, chances are, they have found something.  The job portal does not show when you registered, it shows when you were last active.

 

 

 

How to look and feel POWERFUL in your next interview… even if you are not on the inside.

We all know the importance of making a good first impression, and the importance of body language in doing this.  It’s probably the single biggest weakness we see in job seekers attending interviews- they often let nerves get the better of them, which translates through poor body language as a negative attitude or presence.

Here are a few common mistakes we see with body language:-

  • Poor posture- slouching (lazy), leaning forward (like you going to make a run for it) and leaning back (too casual), can all send the wrong message. Sit up straight, without being rigid and look alert and engaged.
  • Eye Contact- make eye contact, especially when shaking hands, but be careful to not stare too long or have fidgety eyes- constantly looking around- like your attention is elsewhere.
  • Keep your arms neutral- don’t cross them, hold them behind your back or put them in your pockets.
  • Don’t fidget and bounce. This is the most common.  Interview nerves bring out the bouncy leg, the itches and hair that constantly needs adjusting.  And this nervous energy is distracting the interviewer from what you are actually saying.

If poor body language can make us appear nervous, incapable, submissive, unconfident and negative, then what if the opposite was true?  What is we posed with the correct, empowering body language- would this make us feel and appear confident, positive, assertive and optimistic?  This is exactly what Amy Cuddy discovered in her research:-

Our minds may change our body (language),

but our body (language) can also change our minds!

Amy Cuddy researched one of life’s most simple tricks- Power Posing.  Power Posing is the act of taking a posture of confidence, even when you don’t feel confident, to make yourself more dominant.  (Its seen in nature with an ape banging his chest, a snake rises to attack and birds extend their wings and tail feathers to assert themselves.)  Her research showed that sitting or standing in a certain way, for as little as two minutes, raises testosterone levels and lowers stress hormones, and ultimately effects the way you interact with people.  Power Posing is especially beneficial when facing a “social threat” where you are being evaluated, such as negotiating deals, pitching ideas and job interviews.

Examples of High and Low Power Poses
Examples of High and Low Power Poses

Power Poses involve stretching the body to take up more space and appear more powerful.  Take a minute to stand up, feet slightly apart, hands on hips, shoulders back and chin slightly raised.  Or lean forward and put your hands on the desk, placed wider than your shoulders.  I am sure that you immediately feel the power shift if you have been sitting hunched over your computer or desk.

 

If you have 15 minutes to spare, and want to find out more, I would strongly recommend that you follow the link and watch Amy Cuddy explain power poses, give examples of various poses and show you how you can “Fake it until you Become it” (https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are) !  This article also elaborates more on 8 power poses for work, has some great pictures to illustrate the point. (http://www.businessinsider.com/power-poses-interview-body-language-2014-3 )

 

It’s the little changes that we make in life, that often have the biggest impact.  So, before your next interview, don’t sit in reception making yourself as small as possible.  Sit up straight, shoulders back, chin up and arms open; or take two minutes in the bathroom or parking lot before the interview, in a power pose.

 

Empower yourself so that when you leave the next interview, you know that you have showed the best there is of you, and made the best possible first impression!

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