Did You Know?
It's all about Chemistry
There are many elements to a successful
interview with a perspective employer: appearance,
poise, confidence, experience, and chemistry. When
meeting with a hiring manager, you can demonstrate
that you know how to dress, and you can show your
grace under pressure. You can show them that you
are confident (but not cocky), and your resume should
speak well enough to your experience, but there is
nothing in those traits that can win you an offer
faster than good chemistry.
You have to keep in mind that hiring (and firing)
are almost always an emotional decision. When your
interviewer looks back over all the perspective candidates,
there are three main factors they usually consider:
Can they get the job done, how will they fit into
the company culture, and what would it be like to
work alongside them.
As most people know, there are hundreds of people
in any major marketplace that can "get the job
done", and many that would fit into multiple
company cultures, but the biggest piece of the hiring
process is how the hiring managers feel that person
would be to work with. This, above all others, will
determine the outcome of the interview.
The keys to building chemistry are pretty simple:
be yourself, be polite, and be open-minded. Ask probing
questions, and be sure to listen intently to their
answers. If you can do that, you are well on your
way to closing your interviewer with their own thoughts
of how much they would enjoy working with someone
who can build this type of rapport so quickly. This
is VERY important when going for a sales position,
because very often, you only have a few minutes to
build the chemistry you need to make a successful
sale. |
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Your Job Search:
The Importance of Networking
When faced with a job search, many people have no
idea where to start. There are so many avenues to getting
a new position that the options are often overwhelming.
You can search the job boards, research companies,
contact a recruiting agency, post your resume on line,
send your resume to every company in your field, and
so on.
Although all of these tactics can work, there is one
that is tried, tested, and true; networking! Anytime
a person is faced with a daunting task of any kind,
it is always a good idea to contact your friends, old
coworkers, past employers, and, of course, your working
network to make them aware of the problem you're faced
with, and also to solicit their help.
The whole idea behind building and maintaining a network
is to use it to your advantage. These people are willing
to work with you because they know themselves that
one day, they may need to recruit you to help them
with a similar problem. These networking partners can
get you names, phone numbers, a good word to a hiring
manager, and even interviews.
One of the biggest advantages to working your networking
is the quick movement you can generate by reaching
out to just a couple of well-connected professionals
who can pull some strings and get your information
in front of the right people rapidly. Once you have
got the ball rolling, be sure, during your down time,
to make an effort to thank those that helped you, and
be sure to offer your assistance with any pressing
problems they may have. It really goes back to the
idea of "You scratch my back and I'll scratch
yours". Once they do their part, you must do yours,
or at least offer to now or in the future. Without
your willingness to return the favors you receive,
the entire system breaks down, so make it a priority
to help those who help you, and they will be willing
to help you again in the future.
Keep your eyes open for opportunities to be of assistance,
and your network will grow and grow. |
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Hot Spots:
Know When to Unplug
How many times have you heard the expression "Let's
sleep on it"? This saying has many connotations,
but the most common sentiment for this is meaning to
say; take some time away from the situation to clear
your head, your perspective, and any underlying emotions
that may be playing a part in your decision-making
process. It is this basic thought that also drives
the idea of vacations. Companies offer employees vacations
so they can take time away from the stresses of the
job, relax without too much concern for the movement
of projects, and rejuvenate themselves so they can
return with a fresh perspective and a renewed zest
for the elements of their position.
Many employers see vacations as a paid leave from
the company with no real benefits to the employer,
and some of them will even make it clear to employees
that they are not encouraged to take their vacations,
and should be a team player by not taking them. This,
of course, is flat wrong on many levels. A vacation
allows people some time away from the stress of the
job, and allows them to reconnect with family, friends,
and most importantly, themselves. This connection helps
people to put their lives into perspective, and gives
them the needed incentive to come back to work with
fresh goals, plans, and ideas on how to improve the
way they do things. A vacation gives struggling sales
people the opportunity to reflect on what hasn't been
working for them, and clears their head enough so they
can make the changes necessary to pick up their production.
On the other hand, a vacation for a top-performing
salesman is looked at as a well deserved reward for
a job well done, and gives them the added motivation
to come back and make it all happen all over again. |
