Is Diversity The New Hypocrisy?

Posted on May 15, 2012 by themattbowie

Diversity

di·ver·si·ty/diˈvərsitē/
Noun:
The state of being diverse; variety.
A range of different things.

A range of different things.  Things that as a group do not have fully common similarity.  That is diversity.  In many areas of life and business, diversity can be a strength.

In investing, we learn to diversify our portfolio.  ”Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” as many have said as a way to say if the basket gets tipped, you’ve lost your value.  Without getting into the minutia of investments, breaking up allocation of investment can help keep you safe should market conditions radically change.  Diversity of investment may not necessarily maximize your chances of large rewards, but it can often reduce your overall risk exposure.

In baseball, hitting lineups can’t all be made up of huge swingers.  They need some with power, others with speed, others focused on contact, etc.  One never fully knows what the other team is going to throw at you, nor do you know how the other team will perform.  Successful general managers stock their team with players that fit different situations and molds as a way to ward off adversity.  Diversity in this manor may not insure a win, but it can alter the other team’s effectiveness, and often force them to change their game plan.

Let’s turn to business, and where I’m going with all of this.  My company is a certified MBE (Minority Business Enterprise).  This means that 51% or more of ownership represents some sort of minority group.  Certifications these can open the floodgates to new business for MBEs and allow them to expand their business footprint.  Many companies and government entities have portions of their budgets set aside for suppliers that fit certain groups (small business, minority, service disabled veteran, woman, etc.) called set-asides.  Some of these set-asides are mandated, and some are voluntary.  This can be great for suppliers that fit into these categories.

The problem I see with all of this is that what “diversity” has become.  By definition, diversity is well, diverse… different.  Not the same, right.  So I went to Google, and searched for diversity programs, and looked up any that showed pictures (they DO speak a thousand words).  I went to the top three (see here, here, and here).  I went beyond this to make this non-scientific study a little more scientific — 7 more to be exact.  Still not scientific, but the initial data was so consistent, it went to my point which is this:  Diversity now equals “everything but white males”.  Go back, and look at the sites.  Even in my top 10, the only one that showed caucasian males, had them in a large crowd where they were very difficult to find.  Why is this a problem?  This is called Diversity*, not Diversity.  That’s the problem.

Looking to a person’s color of skin, gender or national origin as a positive or negative when assembling a talented team seems to be counter-diversity.  As I mentioned, my company is minority-owned.  I believe it shows the true strength of REAL diversity.  It looks for who has the drive, the mental capability, and the experience to do the job, period.  If you really care about gender, color, etc., my company’s management team includes minority, female, caucasian and males.  Same with the rest of our team.  We focus on ideas and results from them.  Frankly we’re color-blind.  Our workforce fluctuates if we need to focus on race or gender, but currently sits at 38% caucasian male, and the rest fit the “minority” profile.  This is not by design, but purely based on who was the best person that we could find for their various jobs.  Our business-model is very aggressive and has resulted in extremely strong growth since inception by outperforming competition.  We fit the “diversity” mold, but only accidentally.  That is that we welcome different background and opinion.  We know what sounds like a good idea, and what needs to be retooled.

Usually being something other than the majority is difficult.  But creating programs and pressure to hire just based on this is purely ignorant.  I suppose if an Italian women’s shoe store were hiring, they may want to hire primarily Italians or females, but this would be a wild exception to this rule.  Companies don’t rise and fall because someone has a certain demographic unless their whole business-model is to sell to a specific demographic.  Our United States government is of the people, by the people, and for the people.  The people in this case are Americans — a melting pot of people, and the best example of how a group of people that despite their differences, have fashioned the most powerful country in the history of the planet.  This is not without some major errors along the way, but people make those (and so can generations and governments).  The point here, is that we look at best-practices in businesses.  We look to models of success to drive further success.  Being open to motivated people, and their ideas is what creates success, not a focus on demographics, which is sadly what Diversity* has come to mean.

I do hope things will change and a focus on the bottom line result, not what someone’s color or gender returns to being what government and companies strive for.

*- Hypocritical.

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Build an Employment Plan redux

Posted on September 13, 2011 by themattbowie

Recently, I have been coming across people that have better fumbling and stumbling around the career marketplace.  This is due to lack of direction and plan.  In this, I’m re-posting an article I wrote a while back in hopes that this helps some people get started.

The economy has been all over the news lately, but I’m not telling you anything.  What I will tell you is this – most people need to get their resume, career search, and goals together.  Most sources are estimating by fall, we will see unemployment at 9% nationwide (already higher in some localities), and the economy will most-likely still be on a downturn.

I’m not saying all of this to scare you, but to give a brief and realistic picture of what we’re seeing.  As a matter of fact, at 9% unemployment, that means we’re still over 90% employment, and the unemployment rate is still quite a bit better than in the early 80s.  Furthermore, we know that the economy will not stay down forever.  In fact, down markets are when smart companies that have the wherewithal to do so, sink time and money into hiring.  So this is a time for all of us, whether we are happy where we are, feel like we’re in a stable position, own a company, are new to the market, or currently unemployed to put together a plan. What kind of plan?  An Employment Plan.

How do you create an Employment Plan?  This is a very brief and FREE guide (check back as I may update it from time to time):

Step 1:  Be honest with yourself, and think about your requirements. Map out what you have really done in life and your career, and think about adding it to a resume.  Think about your marketable skills.  Take a hard look at your finances, and calculate what you realistically need to earn to accept another position.  Think about commute, travel, and benefits.  If you’re not heading into the retirement zone, map out what your career goals are, and be realistic.  NOW WRITE THIS ALL DOWN.  I recommend creating separate documents for each item: Resume, Goals, Skills, and Needs.

Step 2:  Create, update, or recreate your resume.  I post about resume creation in an earlier post.  Give it a read, the tips are solid.   The basic gist of the post is that you should create a master document (see a pattern here?) for your resume, and pull from it what you need.  Once you’ve mapped out what your want to do as your next step in your career, you should customize your resume to the specific position you want.  Whether it is the same kind of position as what you have/had, or whether you are making a change or step up, a customized resume to the position you are applying for will get you a lot farther with employers. As I state in my previous post, make your resume crisp and clear.  Put it in 10 or 11 point font – any larger or smaller will bug the viewer – and keep the font to Times New Roman, Arial, Verdana, or other simple yet commonly used font as not everyone will be able to view rarely-used fonts.  Clearly state your objective, and make sure it is to have the type of position you are applying for.  Unless you are freshly out of school, do not limit your resume to just one page.  AGAIN, BE HONEST.  Talk about what you accomplished, not what your responsibilities were.  Talk about things you were critically involved in, not what the department are the guy next to you did (a common blunder).  Be concise.

Step 3:  Build your network.  Sending your resume into job postings is often the road to futility.  Referrals are the best way to get your foot in the door.  How do you do this?  Start with who you know – send out feelers on what you are looking to do for your next work.  Talk to family and friends if you are comfortable; they may end up connecting you to your next opportunity.  Not comfortable with that?  It’s OK, that’s common. There are other methods.  You could try joining online communities (LinkedIn, BrightFuse, etc.) as a place where people may share leads, hiring managers may take a look at you, you can ask and answer questions, and so on.  There are also networking or user groups you can join locally.  If you are out of work, post that resume on job boards. Additionally, build some relationships with some recruiters.  First, get referrals, and if you don’t have any, look up some firms that post jobs you want, and talk to a recruiter there that you feel comfortable with. Recruiters are typically rushed people, but if you feel overly-rushed off the phone, find a different one – your time is valuable too!  Let the recruiter know what you will not take, what you will, share your expectations, and accept some of their advice.  Also interview them about their track record with your type of positions.  You’ll get a quick sense if he/she has the network you need.  Good recruiters don’t place people… they build relationships.

Step 4:  Build your brand.  Now that you’ve given yourself a hard look (product analysis), built your resume (product specifications), and your network (distribution), you need to build your brand.  Your brand is who you are.  It’s your specifications, analyzed to match with the needs of the consumer, and set up to be delivered to the buyer.  The thing is, there are lots of products out there, so you need to catch their eye.  This is physically, professionally, and personally.  How do you do this?  First, work on your appearance.  Yes, appearances matter, don’t kid yourself. You don’t have to be stunningly attractive, but you do have to appear organized and that you care about your appearance.  Make sure your hair is cut regularly, as you don’t know when a chance meeting may come around.  Yes, if you can, watch your diet, it is best to do so.  Keep one or two suits (or interview outfits) ready to go.  Make sure to bring a briefcase or similar item with you to meetings, and include a lint roller, some breath mints, a comb/brush, and any quick make-up, hair products that you may need (make them as small as possible).  No matter what the excuse, looking disheveled will cost you “customers”.  Know your product (yourself); you are selling yourself, and no one likes a salesperson that has poor product knowledge.  This means, know your resume, know your history, and know the position your are looking to attain.  I personally recommend you come up with a 30-60 second “infomercial”.  This is a quick run down of your history (as it pertains to the position you want).  It needs to be interesting, but no fluff.  This gets the “customer” interested and sets the tone for the “product demonstration”.  It would be wise to come in with a value proposition –the way a business proposes to use its resources to deliver superior value to its customers – to set yourself above other job-seekers.  Stay away from “quick learner” or “hard worker”…  If you can’t, you’d better have some verifiable examples of them.

Step 5:  Learn to close.  All lawyers, as a major part of their arguments, will work to craft a masterful close.  In your case, yours is a wrap-up, and exit.  This means that you need to keep the presentation strong, as most people try to do, but you need to leave on a high note.  This means  ask some questions of the interviewer (“what are the next steps?”, “You had mentioned travel, how often, and for how long?”) it gets your head around what you could be in for, shows intelligence and comprehension, and shows interest.  Furthermore, you need to wrap up, and exit.  This takes practice for most people.  Once the questions are done, and answered, as long as you have the contact information you need, you’ll want the strong exit:  “This has been a great meeting, and you’ve got my interest.  I look forward to hearing from you next week once you’ve talked to your team.” or “Listen, I know you’re busy, so I’m going to make my way out.  You have my information; I look forward to the next steps.”  The point is you want to head out on a strong and high note, and while you haven’t overstayed your welcome.  It can be just as important as your entrance.

 

 

I truly hope at least one person is able to get their next job with this free advice.

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Private Sector Job Growth Still On The Rise

Posted on April 1, 2011 by themattbowie

From ERE.NET:

Payroll processor ADP reported this morning that the U.S. added 201,000 private sector jobs in March, an estimate that bolsters expectations that Friday’s government jobs count will show an equally positive increase in hiring.

The estimate, based on payroll data from ADP’s half-million employer clients, is slightly lower than the 205,000 average of economists’ predictions. However, it is the second consecutive month of 200,000-plus private sector job gains, even after accounting for the downward adjustment in February’s job count from the initial 217,000 to 208,000.

The National Employment Report from ADP and its partner Macroeconomic Advisers says most of the hiring came from small and mid-sized businesses, which cumulatively added 184,000 jobs.

The service sector added 164,000 jobs in March, while manufacturing and goods producing businesses added 37,000 jobs each.

While economists and investors consider the ADP numbers a sort of bell cow for the official U.S. Labor Department employment report typically released the first Friday of each month, the data doesn’t always track well. Part of the explanation is that the report from U.S.  Bureau of Labor Statistics includes government jobs. For months, now, that sector has been laying off workers.

Still, it’s a valuable indicator of employment trends. Alan Ruskin, an economist with Deutsche Bank, told The Wall Street Journal:

OK nobody is going to get too excited about a number that has proved such a poor indicator of employment changes in recent months, but the 3-month average of ADP has been above 200K for 2 months which is a comparatively rare event. This ‘feat’ was achieved only once in the prior recovery back in 2004, when the 3m average was above 200K for only 2 months.

Economists expect that Friday’s report will show employers added about 190,000 jobs in March, even as the unemployment rate inched up to 9 percent. February’s decline in the rate — from 9.0 percent to 8.9 percent — is considered a statistical aberration by many.

Whatever the numbers turn out to be, it’s now almost unarguable that the U.S. economy is growing jobs again, and that the momentum is picking up.

Note my use of “almost.” Residential construction and housing prices are stalled or down, and the Conference Board said yesterday that consumer confidence took a beating in the month, dropping from 72 to 63.4. There are other indices and measures that show similar ups and downs. But overall, the evidence is that employment is growing.

The Conference Board’s Employment Trends Index was up in February for the fifth month in a row. The Index is a combination of multiple other indices, which, taken together, smooth out bumps in any one of them. Meanwhile, its Help Wanted OnLine report said 208,000 more jobs were advertised online in March than in February. Since December, the number of advertised openings has grown by 600,000.

That’s consistent with SHRM’s most recent LINE report. The recruiting difficulty indices for both manufacturing and service sector hiring took double digit increases in February compared to February 2010. However, the LINE report predicted service sector hiring would be down in March, on a year-over-year basis, while manufacturing would be up.

Friday’s BLS report will show how accurate those predictions were. The ADP report suggests hiring was up across the board.

Meanwhile, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said today that employers announced 18 percent fewer layoffs in March than in February. On a year-over-year basis, announced layoffs are down 39 percent. Says the global outplacement consultancy:

Overall, employers have announced 130,749 job cuts through the first quarter, 28 percent fewer than the 181,183 planned layoffs announced in the same period of 2010.  The three-month tally is, in fact, the lowest first-quarter total since 1995, when employers announced 97,716 job cuts from January through March.

The largest share — 46 percent — of the 41,528 layoffs the consultancy tracked during the month came from government.

 

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Redirect your career: Build an Employment Plan

Posted on March 17, 2009 by themattbowie

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The economy has been all over the news lately, but I’m not telling you anything.  What I will tell you is this – most people need to get their resume, career search, and goals together.  Most sources are estimating by fall, we will see unemployment at 9% nationwide (already higher in some localities), and the economy will most-likely still be on a downturn. 

 

I’m not saying all of this to scare you, but to give a brief and realistic picture of what we’re seeing.  As a matter of fact, at 9% unemployment, that means we’re still over 90% employment, and the unemployment rate is still quite a bit better than in the early 80s.  Furthermore, we know that the economy will not stay down forever.  In fact, down markets are when smart companies that have the wherewithal to do so, sink time and money into hiring.  So this is a time for all of us, whether we are happy where we are, feel like we’re in a stable position, own a company, are new to the market, or currently unemployed to put together a plan.  What kind of plan?  An Employment Plan. 

 

How do you create an Employment Plan?  This is a very brief and FREE guide (check back as I may update it from time to time):

 

Step 1:  Be honest with yourself, and think about your requirements.  Map out what you have really done in life and your career, and think about adding it to a resume.  Think about your marketable skills.  Take a hard look at your finances, and calculate what you realistically need to earn to accept another position.  Think about commute, travel, and benefits.  If you’re not heading into the retirement zone, map out what your career goals are, and be realistic.  NOW WRITE THIS ALL DOWN.  I recommend creating separate documents for each item:  Resume, Goals, Skills, and Needs.

 

Step 2:  Create, update, or recreate your resume.  I post about resume creation in an earlier post.  Give it a read, the tips are solid.   The basic gist of the post is that you should create a master document (see a pattern here?) for your resume, and pull from it what you need.  Once you’ve mapped out what your want to do as your next step in your career, you should customize your resume to the specific position you want.  Whether it is the same kind of position as what you have/had, or whether you are making a change or step up, a customized resume to the position you are applying for will get you a lot farther with employers.  As I state in my previous post, make your resume crisp and clear.  Put it in 10 or 11 point font – any larger or smaller will bug the viewer – and keep the font to Times New Roman, Arial, Verdana, or other simple yet commonly used font as not everyone will be able to view rarely-used fonts.  Clearly state your objective, and make sure it is to have the type of position you are applying for.  Unless you are freshly out of school, do not limit your resume to just one page.  AGAIN, BE HONEST.  Talk about what you accomplished, not what your responsibilities were.  Talk about things you were critically involved in, not what the department are the guy next to you did (a common blunder).  Be concise.

 

Step 3:  Build your network.  Sending your resume into job postings is often the road to futility.  Referrals are the best way to get your foot in the door.  How do you do this?  Start with who you know – send out feelers on what you are looking to do for your next work.  Talk to family and friends if you are comfortable; they may end up connecting you to your next opportunity.  Not comfortable with that?  It’s OK, that’s common.  There are other methods.  You could try joining online communities (LinkedIn, BrightFuse, etc.) as a place where people may share leads, hiring managers may take a look at you, you can ask and answer questions, and so on.  There are also networking or user groups you can join locally.  If you are out of work, post that resume on job boards.  Additionally, build some relationships with some recruiters.  First, get referrals, and if you don’t have any, look up some firms that post jobs you want, and talk to a recruiter there that you feel comfortable with.  Recruiters are typically rushed people, but if you feel overly-rushed off the phone, find a different one – your time is valuable too!  Let the recruiter know what you will not take, what you will, share your expectations, and accept some of their advice.  Also interview them about their track record with your type of positions.  You’ll get a quick sense if he/she has the network you need.  Good recruiters don’t place people… they build relationships. 

 

Step 4:  Build your brand.  Now that you’ve given yourself a hard look (product analysis), built your resume (product specifications), and your network (distribution), you need to build your brand.  Your brand is who you are.  It’s your specifications, analyzed to match with the needs of the consumer, and set up to be delivered to the buyer.  The thing is, there are lots of products out there, so you need to catch their eye.  This is physically, professionally, and personally.  How do you do this?  First, work on your appearance.  Yes, appearances matter, don’t kid yourself.  You don’t have to be stunningly attractive, but you do have to appear organized and that you care about your appearance.  Make sure your hair is cut regularly, as you don’t know when a chance meeting may come around.  Yes, if you can, watch your diet, it is best to do so.  Keep one or two suits (or interview outfits) ready to go.  Make sure to bring a briefcase or similar item with you to meetings, and include a lint roller, some breath mints, a comb/brush, and any quick make-up, hair products that you may need (make them as small as possible).  No matter what the excuse, looking disheveled will cost you “customers”.   Know your product (yourself); you are selling yourself, and no one likes a salesperson that has poor product knowledge.  This means, know your resume, know your history, and know the position your are looking to attain.  I personally recommend you come up with a 30-60 second “infomercial”.  This is a quick run down of your history (as it pertains to the position you want).  It needs to be interesting, but no fluff.  This gets the “customer” interested and sets the tone for the “product demonstration”.  It would be wise to come in with a value proposition –the way a business proposes to use its resources to deliver superior value to its customers – to set yourself above other job-seekers.  Stay away from “quick learner” or “hard worker”…  If you can’t, you’d better have some verifiable examples of them. 

 

Step 5:  Learn to close.  All lawyers, as a major part of their arguments, will work to craft a masterful close.  In your case, yours is a wrap-up, and exit.  This means that you need to keep the presentation strong, as most people try to do, but you need to leave on a high note.  This means  ask some questions of the interviewer (“what are the next steps?”, “You had mentioned travel, how often, and for how long?”) it gets your head around what you could be in for, shows intelligence and comprehension, and shows interest.  Furthermore, you need to wrap up, and exit.  This takes practice for most people.  Once the questions are done, and answered, as long as you have the contact information you need, you’ll want the strong exit:  “This has been a great meeting, and you’ve got my interest.  I look forward to hearing from you next week once you’ve talked to your team.” or “Listen, I know you’re busy, so I’m going to make my way out.  You have my information; I look forward to the next steps.”  The point is you want to head out on a strong and high note, and while you haven’t overstayed your welcome.  It can be just as important as your entrance.

 

 

 

 

My $.02

 

 

 

A little about me: 

 

I don’t have a crystal ball, nor do I have all of the answers.  I do have a little over 18 years of Human Capital Management experience in my life – Operations, Management, Consulting, Recruiting, and Ownership.  Please don’t stop your reading and research with my post, but use this as a basis to formulate your winning strategy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed under: Advice, Careers | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

13 Reasons You Will Never Get A Job

Posted on February 5, 2010 by themattbowie

I was pointed to this article at TCRB.com and while I think it’s some tough love to readers, I find it quite telling.  Leave your guard at the door, and just bring your self-honesty to reading this article by Collin Daymude:

Yes I know that 13 is an unlucky number and even that may deter some of you from reading this. Just this once how about being a contrarian? That’s right, go against the grain. Make a difference in your life. Okay let me be perfectly honest with you. Nobody owes you a job. And to make it worse most job seekers are faced with a perfect storm of barriers that never existed in the past.

// //

Those barriers include huge competition for a single position, social media, applicant tracking systems, the complete elimination of entire job descriptions and industries, not to mention a totally overwhelmed HR and recruiting department. You have to be prepared to put your best foot forward. Your most prepared foot. And the one that completely differentiates you from the flock.

Although “experts” are skirting the issue and giving you false hope, I don’t have any problem telling you that you are likely going to stay unemployed, unhappy and a complete burden on society if you continue to do the things I’ve outlined below. Consider it a wake up call; consider it an opportunity. Because statistics show that only a very small percentage of you will take any action. Interesting, that’s about the same percentage of people in the world who are independently successful.

Your choice, it’s a new world with new rules so you have to be ready to do new things.

These 13 reasons outline opportunities that most people will never take advantage of. That’s good news for some of you because the difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people will do what unsuccessful people will not. Here you go (don’t kill the messenger).

1) You spew facts vs. stories. There’s an old adage in sales and marketing that stories sell and facts tell. People can relate personally to stories and the more you know about the company and person that you are interviewing with the better you can get that person to relate to what you are talking about. Stories evoke emotions and get people connected. And being personally connected is the differentiator you need. Think about the book series, “Chicken Soup for the Soul”. It is just a compilation of short stories about real life. It’s also the best selling book series of all time. But what if instead of telling a heart wrenching story about a paraplegic who learns to walk again and fights all odds to win a dog sled race in the Antarctic all alone, it was just a series of facts like, “Man rides sled across the snow”? One of the most powerful things you can do is call up former employees and employers and just shoot the breeze with them. Write down all the wonderful, “remember when” stories as well as the stories of success and challenge that make you unique. You need other people to jog your memory. If you can give your story personality and feelings, then you will gain instant rapport with anyone you talk to. Instant differentiator, you win.

2) You don’t present solutions. Let’s be real, an employer wants to hire someone to solve a particular problem. Either they don’t have enough of something or they want to fix/change something. And if they had all the solutions then they wouldn’t need you. So after you have thoroughly researched and analyzed the company, its culture, the competition, the industry and the people you are interviewing with then you better know what solutions they need and be able to communicate it. If you don’t, it’s okay because somebody else will. One great tool is to actually perform a S.W.O.T. analysis on the department, industry or company you are interested in. S.W.O.T. stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Just Google it if you need a template to help guide you. And believe me, any employer worth working for will be completely impressed not only by your research but by your diligence.

3) You’re lazy. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. Abe Lincoln said that if he had 8 hours to chop down a tree then he would spend the first 6 sharpening his axe. Unfortunately most people don’t want to put forth the time and effort to do what they need to do to secure an interview and a job. The facts are clear that the vast majority of jobs are attained by some sort of active networking practice. And not by posting your resume on-line or applying for job after job. Yet most people are not willing to do what it takes to establish and nurture (you don’t just make a connection and then magic happens) the right networks. When I suggest that people actually call companies and build a rapport with associates in order to seek referrals, they look at me like I’m crazy. But that one additional step can mean the difference between having or not having network contacts, job referrals, insight, interview process feedback and much more.

4) You’re boring. Surveys of recruiters and Human Resource managers show that the number one trait that job seekers lack is high energy. The bottom line is that people want to be around other people who are upbeat, exciting and at the very least, energetic. The perception is that high energy people are on the ball and exude confidence; low energy people are lazy, unmotivated and no fun. Regardless of whether that is true or not, you had better have a gut check about your output. And I’m not just talking about the live interview where your handshake needs to be strong and secure (ladies included) and your voice confident and strong. During your phone interview, your energy is even more important because no one can see the bright expression of excitement that is hidden by technology. The only way to portray confidence and high energy on the phone is to have the proper inflection, tonality and great volume. With blue tooth and other type headsets, it’s more and more important to speak up. And after all, if you’re not excited about what you have to offer, why should anyone else be? And please get some honest feedback from someone about how you sound. True story; I was actually offered a job because of a message I left on an answering machine. It wasn’t the message itself; it was the energy, passion and drive that delivered it.

5) You don’t add up. Have you ever talked to someone and they just make you turn your head and say, “hmm”? Well how do you know if someone isn’t saying that about you? Here’s the best way to tell. If you have anything to hide, have covered something up, or speak in half truths or your resume doesn’t match what you say or what you wrote on your application. If any of those things are true, people will say, “Hmm”

about you. The biggest lies we tell are the one’s we tell ourselves (think of your kids who will honestly say they didn’t get into the cake, all the while covered in chocolate icing). No job, guaranteed. Be honest and be consistent. There are no perfect people in the world. In fact the only people with no problems are well, dead people. What differentiates people is how they handle those problems. So turn your past issues into opportunities. Employers are looking for solution providers so be one.

6) You only speak one language. I’m not talking French or Spanish. I’m talking about the three ways that people communicate and learn. People

learn and disseminate information in one of three ways; auditory,

visual and kinesthetic. Without a full dissertation, this is what I’m talking bout. Auditory learners can grasp information just by you talking to them. Visual learners need some form of pictures or stories to create the picture before they “get it”. Kinesthetic learners need to be an active participant before the information gets through their thick skulls (that’s me). These interviewers would most benefit from a Socratic type interview where they were guided to come up with their own conclusions about why you are the “man” for the job.

Oh and by the way most people are visual. I just happen to be kinesthetic. Which means that I am so dense that you can talk ‘till you

are blue in the face and I won’t get it. I know what you are saying, “So what”? Well let’s say that that there is an even distribution of the population (33.33% each) that prefers to communicate in one of the three styles. And you prefer to communicate in one of the other. So you are visual and the interviewer is auditory. You show graphs and pictures but don’t really “explain” why you are the best candidate (stories are also like pictures). Have you ever wondered why you have a passionate message that just doesn’t produce the results that you are looking for? Well this is the number one reason. Why do you think that Google paid like a gazillion (I’m sure that’s the official term) dollars for YouTube? Because video appealed to the masses in a way that written text never could. So the solution is always to appeal to the interviewers preferred style. How do you do that? We’ll it would be great if you could give them a test to determine their preferred style but the fact is that you just don’t know. So the only solution is to ALWAYS communicate in all three styles. And if you do…..wow you will do what 99% of job seekers not only don’t know how to do but they are also not willing (see lazy above) to do. Hey what’s the big deal anyway…being unemployed is not that bad. I’m sure that Obama will extend your jobless benefits and eating out is so over rated.

7) You’re a quitter. If I hadn’t just had two glasses of wine complements of Delta on my first class upgrade I would have said that you need to have more perseverance. (Disclaimer: I am not condoning the use of alcohol to enhance your creative abilities) But let’s be

real here. Most people quit too soon. Studies show that 81% of professional sales people take 5 calls to close a sale. But a full 90% give up prior to making that critical 5th call (48% quit after the first call and another 24% quit after the 2nd call). I can think of a significant number of hires who scored the position just because they were the one who stayed front and center with me. And not just when I had a position open, no these candidates made regular contact regardless of whether anything was available. And you know the best part is that I really appreciated those candidates staying top of mind with me. Why? Because it kept me from having to weed through hundreds of unqualified candidates.

8) You don’t take advantage of opportunities right in front of your face. Right now I am sitting on a two hour plane ride from Kansas City back to my home in Atlanta. I had an idea pop into my head to write this article after talking to a couple of job seekers who are close to 100% guaranteed not to get employment anytime soon (see reasons 1-13). Oops the battery on my laptop is completely dead and Delta just doesn’t have the foresight like the Virgin Atlantic visionaries to add AC; even in first class (yeah I’m spoiled, so). I am actually writing this entire article on my iPhone because my laptop battery died (I thought about writing a book about writing a book on my phone). I have never understood how someone can spend hours on a plane and not at least have something to read, let alone work on. But in all seriousness, opportunities are all around us every day. Most of the time we are just not prepared to take advantage of them. They say that luck is when preparation and opportunity cross paths and that is so true. Here’s a great example. And this story came from an article in the Atlanta Journal almost a year ago. Yes I was prepared for the opportunity and cut the article out and filed it under, “opportunities”. Anyway the article is about a marketing executive who was a little down on his luck (not enough business) so he decided to create some by actually scheduling flights (mostly first class) to no-where in particular. Why? Because most decision makers were on flights and in first class. The result was that David Topus, marketing and business consultant, landed a 3 year business relationship with former Delta CEO, Leo Mullin, countless contacts and even a 100k deal because of a seat assignment mix up. Now I understand that most people don’t have the means to spend a couple of grand on a first class ticket just on the chance that they will meet someone, but you are missing the point. David just created networking opportunities that exist for all of us, every day. Instead of a first class flight, the opportunity you create could come from a Chamber Networking function or a MeetUp group that you start, or god forbid strike up a conversation with someone in line at the grocery store. The differentiator is that David took an active role in his networking whereas most people think that “showing up” is good enough. Seriously, the whole “90% of life is just showing up” has really screwed up a lot of folks. In the very best of markets maybe that has a hint of truth; with the results only lasting short term. In this market it has no relevance what so ever.

9) Your resume sucks. Alright I’ve reviewed more resumes than I can count. Do you want to know the bottom line? Okay here you go. You know that resume writer that you paid big bucks for? Fire them and hire an editor instead (at a fraction of the price). Your resume won’t get you the job or interview but it can certainly lose it for you. So use this as a rule of thumb. Don’t make it too long, too complicate (go for it if you are a PhD in Neuroscience and are applying for the same but still be careful because a recruiter is likely screening your resume) or too messy. It doesn’t matter how good a candidate you are if your resume shows how poorly you can hire a proof reader or do it yourself. And here’s some very valuable information (you can send me a check if you want) that will completely differentiate you from the rest of the world. Go back and read number 6 above. Take out some words (no fluff in the resume please) and add a few graphs or charts that are easy to read. It will immediately catch someone’s eye and it will resonate with another 33 1/3% of the population who are visual learners (come on, we all like to look at the pictures).

10) You need immediate gratification. An article in The New Yorker highlighted a 1960′s study that showed there is a direct correlation between a child’s ability to delay immediate gratification and success. In fact the 30% of kids who could delay getting a marshmallow for just 15 minutes scored on average 210 points higher on SAT scores. The 70% who could not delay immediate gratification struggled making friends and handling stressful situations. To put this in perspective, the job seeker that needs immediate gratification is the one who posts their resume every day, they do mass mailings of cover letters, and they mindlessly apply for job after job. The job seeker who can delay immediate gratification will do their due diligence by researching companies, individuals, industries and competitors. They will put together a package of solutions and take the time to build relationships as well as practice until their message is clear and value oriented. So what’s it going to be? One marshmallow now or two in 15 minutes?

11) You’re a taker, not a giver. If you are always looking for what a company is going to do for you and what your benefits will be then you are thinking backwards and you are doomed to fail. Everyone’s favorite radio station is WIIFM (what’s in it for me) so it’s only natural to be a little selfish. The only problem is that your potential employer listens to the same station and they have the upper hand. So if your mission is not to add value to individuals and organizations then you’ve added one more reason why you may never get a job in this economy. The best way to learn how to add value is to make a list of the common concerns an employer might have about hiring someone and answer them. Employers are really only concerned about 3 things. If you can do the job. If you will do the job. If they like you. Answer the objections before the interviewer has had a chance to ask you about them and you are in baby. Other great ways to add value is by doing a S.W.O.T. Analysis or actually preparing a summary of how you will attack the position in your first 90 days (please include items related to soliciting the help of other people in the company).

12) You’re going it alone. Here’s the bottom line. Two heads are better than one and you only have one (if you do in fact have two, skip this section). Napoleon Hill in his masterpiece, Think and Grow Rich, described it a little more elegantly. He said that a mastermind is “The coordination of knowledge and effort of two or more people, who work toward a definite purpose, in the spirit of harmony.” And also, “No two minds ever come together without thereby creating a third, invisible intangible force, which may be likened to a third mind.” In fact he also stated that nothing of greatness was ever achieved by a single man. Yet so often, especially when we are down and out, we tend to play turtle and hide in our shell. You should be doing just the opposite by joining forces with accountability partners who will challenge you to do things that you would never do on your own. And of course, you should return the favor. If you want to know where to find an accountability partner, don’t worry, they are everywhere and likely looking for you as well. See number 8 above.

13) You aren’t prepared. I had to add this in just to make it an even 13 reasons that you will never get a job (only if you are actually a participant in one or more of them). Brian Tracy, the world famous sales trainer said that for every minute you spend planning, you save 10 minutes in execution. That’s a 1000% return on your energy. To put that in perspective, if you do the proper planning and preparation then you can have one interview and get the job or you can be poorly prepared and continue to interview over and over and over again. Get it? So what should you be preparing? In a word, everything. Interview questions (with your accountability partner), reviewing your resume (with your accountability partner), interviewing other people (because you learn when you teach), researching companies, individuals, industries, trends etc and practice relating the information over and over until you are good at it and you exude confidence (because you will when you know your stuff). I could go on and on but I think you get the point. Everything you do, you should plan and prepare for.

There you have it. 13 reasons why you may not ever get a job in this economy. I hope that is not the case. I hope this has been a wake up call for you because these are also 13 ways that you can differentiate yourself from most every other job seeker. It’s a buyers market and you better have the right product for anyone to be interested. Dents, dings and scratches need not apply.

Colin Daymude, Chief Employment Officer at The Job Genius specializes in teaching active job search strategies that dramatically reduce the time a candidate spends in the market. He does this by taking Human Resources and Recruiters out of the equation. Download the free e-book, Getting Past the Gatekeepers at www.thejobgenius.com

You can also connect with Colin on LinkedIn.

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Still Unemployed? Treat Your Employment Search Like A Well-Run Project.

Posted on June 30, 2010 by themattbowie

The economy has been picking up.  Various sectors are seeing mild and some even strong growth.  Certain skill sets are in very hot demand.  But you still don’t have a job.  Why?

Is it possible that it’s not the market?  It’s not the employers?  It’s you?  If you can’t consider that the answer might be staring you in the mirror, then move on to another article.  If you are willing to acknowledge that it could be less than 100% someone/something else’s fault, read on.

In a previous post, it was outlined that there are several reasons you are/might not be getting the job.  This is not to say you just haven’t had some bad luck – this article is not to beat you up, but to get you going – but when your job search has had a death (lost the job to someone else), then create a post mortem.

Let’s focus on the fixes.  As I said at the beginning you need to treat your employment search like a well-run project.  Most of us are not trained Project Managers, but we all have some level of experience in it – whether at work, home, or in organizations.  So let’s get to it.

Planning: Without spelling out the 7 Ps of Project Management, we’ll just focus on the idea.  Planning is important to nearly everything in life.  If you don’t do it, your project may end up having delays, be poor quality, and more costly.  3 negatives… so do it!  In planning, you need to figure out exactly what you want to do when you grow up.  Don’t just think of what you want to do (be realistic) for your next job, but where you plan on directing your career.  Think of pay, and plan on negotiation including the lowest you are willing to take to accept a job.  Just like when planning a meal, or painting, or pretty much any other project, prep work is key.  Make sure you have a dedicated space to search for, and submit your resume to jobs if you don’t already have one.  In most cases, you’re going to spend hours per day on the front-end looking for work if you’re dedicated.  Whether it’s a section of a room, or a dedicated office, this is a huge priority.  The Scouts say “Be Prepared”, and if you’re not, you’re in deep doo-doo.

Don’t just plan on sending out resumes, plan on interviewing.  Most of us have other things to do, even if unemployed (childcare, family, other activities).  Make sure you schedule yourself several interview slots each week.  These are dedicated time slots, so that if called, you are organized, and can quickly confirm the manager’s suggestion, or offer your own.  Organization is a plus in everything.  Speaking of organization, did you schedule your dry cleaners?  Make sure to keep at least one business outfit available at all times.  Need more far-out ideas?  Fill your gas tank the night before.  Test drive to the interview location during the same time of day the day before.  Make sure your car is tuned up (astronomical turn-off to hear someone has to re-schedule due to car troubles).

What about the next steps?  You’ve gone for an interview, now what’s your plan?  Plan on follow-up.  Put a follow-up call on the calendar.  If the manager has given advice on when that should be, use that.  If not, call in a week if you haven’t heard anything.

Great, so you’ve had a first round interview.  Most companies don’t have just one interview nowadays, so plan on a second round.  Don’t just show up, but arrive.  By this, I mean study up on your last meeting (interview) and go to the next level – have more understanding of the organization, the key players, and culture if you can by reading white papers, blogs, etc.

Next, plan on the decision phase.  You’ve already figured out your needed compensation.  Be prepared to answer the pay question if you haven’t already been asked.  Be prepared to tell them exactly when you can start.  Be prepared to accept rejection – GRACEFULLY – as there may be several interviewing for the position.

Get Active: Activity begets activity.  I’ve mentioned this in a previous post, but you can never get too much exposure from positive activity.  By this, I mean join groups, societies, churches, sports or other organizations that get you out of the house.  Don’t go overboard as you’re searching for a job now, but there is always a need for volunteers to get things done.  Whether you get into the fraternal, service, religious, or other, treat these like projects – allocating a time budget and schedule.  Wild idea (if within budget or interest) – join a golf league.  Many of those in the league are business owners and hiring managers.  Exposure to them in a positive light can open doors!

Set your clock for your normal wake-up time.  Maybe give yourself a week to “vacation”, but after that, get up and get going.  Too many people get lethargic while unemployed, and that will become very evident during interviews.

How is your house/apartment?  What types of projects can you get done?  Feeling good about your home, and accomplishing something that you see every day will boost your morale.

Get Healthy/Attractive: I can’t tell you how many articles I’ve read about the benefits of nutrition and physical activity on brain function.  Some of us need all the help we can get in this category!  Think of interviewing like dating… who is going to catch your eye?  The person who looks trim, or the person who doesn’t seem to care about their appearance?  Hiring is not all that far off.  Maybe the reasons why this matters is different, but the end result is the same.  Whether it is the small businessperson who is worried that someone just can’t make it up the stairs everyday to the office, to the corporate manager who is worried about sick days (people in better physical shape take fewer of them), health means a lot.

Additionally, getting fit is a stress-relief.  Not only does it help tone, and drop fat, but it allows a safe release of tension.  When unemployed, the stress factors of not working can be enormous.  Don’t think this requires an expensive gym membership.  You may opt to go that route, but many simple exercises (read this quick article from renowned author, trainer, and nutrition guru Will Brink) can be done on any floor, or in your neighborhood (running, biking, etc).

Remember, no one is offended by someone who is in good shape.  If the hiring manager is health-conscious, you can bet he/she is going to at least subliminally factor that in.

So to round it all up, get your plan, activity, mind and body all focused on achieving some goals, and have them all converge on getting employed.  Busy begets busy, so get to it!

My $.02

A little about me:

I don’t have a crystal ball, nor do I have all of the answers.  I do have a little over 18 years of Human Capital Management experience in my life – Operations, Management, Consulting, Recruiting, and Ownership.  Please don’t stop your reading and research with my post, but use this as a basis to formulate your winning strategy.

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