You’re “IT”
When I was a kid, one of the favorite games to play in the neighborhood was called “IT”. The premise of the game was a simple one. One person was “IT” and had to cover his eyes and count to twenty. During this time, the rest of the players would hide. After the “IT” person …
Strategic Networking uh err .. Strategic Relationships
Often when I talk about strategic networking, people will immediately think of networking events. Their palms will get sweaty as they would rather get a root canal surgery than walk into a room full of strangers.
I now say strategic relationships because that is what we are really creating. Also, relationships are rarely created at …
Becoming Influential and Compelling at Work
Becoming influential and compelling at work doesn’t so much have to deal with one’s looks. For instance, when a Steve Balmer or Jack Welch enter a room (neither known for being particularly handsome), their aura quickly makes them the most attractive people in the space.
Once they speak, people realize that it’s not the nice …
Are You Missing Important Steps in Making Connections?
You’ve done the proper research on your business, set up the appropriate social media networks to reach out to your audience, and even attended a few networking events in person, probably to get your name out there. Problem is, making connections seems harder than you thought, and so far your results are not something you …
“Tell Me about Yourself” Revisited
One of the most dreaded requests job seekers struggle with while networking, and during job interviewing, is “Tell me about yourself.” As my recruiter friend Skip Freeman noted in his 2012 blog post titled Beware The ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ Job Interview Question, a poor response to this request in a job interview can have …
Importance of Keeping a List of Companies You Applied To
When you are actively looking for a job, you generally apply to so many companies that you even forget which ones you applied unless you hear back from them within a month. However, if you write down all of the companies you sent your resume and keep a list, you can follow-up on your application …
Job Search Lessons from College Football
Last week I travelled to see my alma mater play a conference game with my son’s alma mater. Although my team was a 15 point underdog, I was confident they could “beat the spread” and maybe even win the game. We decided to make a nominal wager to make it interesting!
After the kickoff, my …
There Are Two Types of Americans: Employed and Unemployed
The title of this blog is of course oversimplified but I wanted to emphasize the vast difference between the two sides. As a career coach, I spend a lot of time with people who are not employed, whether they’re my private clients or attendees at the various job-search networking groups I support and frequent.
On …
Networking Tips from the Godfather
In the opening scene of the 1972 classic, The Godfather, Don Corleone (The Godfather) and Bonasera (the undertaker) engage in a conversation around favors. Bonasera desires justice to be served on the young men who assaulted his daughter. After some discussion, Don Corleone agrees to punish the guilty and in return, he informs Bonasera, “Someday, …
Personal Branding Weekly – I is Better than We
It is and you know it. Imagine if someone told you “we’re really glad you’re here”. Now, imagine if that same person said “I’m really glad you’re here.” Can you feel the difference in energy between the two statements? In an effort to be more professional, more corporate and more team focused we’ve lost the …