Understanding your Value in the marketplace

It is time to change the perspective on how a candidate should view themselves in the marketplace. A job seeker is now the empowered “buyer” in the marketplace and needs to understand the value of their “currency”—their information.
Think about what the candidate really is giving to their future employer during the interview stage: from the onset, when the job seeker sends the cover letter, resume, and references and completes the application, there is nothing but information.
Employers don’t get to “try” out the job seeker’s abilities to their complete satisfaction before extending an offer. A future employer or hiring manager can only extend an offer based on an assessment that comes from information that they have gathered on the candidate.
Therefore, any job seeker must understand their own value, and learn how to communicate it to the potential employer.

Resume

From an information standpoint, the one most important thing about a resume is accuracy. Information that does not reflect the candidate’s true experience will devalue that currency. When a future employer feels that they must question the validity of any statement in the resume, then it greatly reduces the employer’s confidence in the profesional’s abilities. The statements in the resume must be clear and concise with the most effective presentation being a bullet point layout.

Cover Letter

The cover letter is an opportunity for the candidate to share their understanding of the position and the organization.
It is important that the candidate address the job functions that best match their skills sets and also provide examples which highlight success in some of those areas. There is no need to write a novel filled with the greatest adventures, but please include a couple of strong examples of proven success.
This piece of information is also useful in addressing any areas where the candidate my not have the exact level of experience required. An employer will appreciate that a professional is aware of their abilities. In pointing out a shortcoming, the job seeker must also state how they can either ramp up quickly in that area of skill or how other experiences would translate well into those responsibilities.

Technical Knowledge

Rarely does the job seeker have the ability to correct an answer during the process, so it is important that homework is done thoroughly. Be able to answer fundamental questions because, sometimes, these are the things more experienced professionals take for granted. Even for technical questions, it is always a plus to use real world examples when answering.
If a candidate feels like they need to increase their technical knowledge, Profiles provides free Lynda.com training.

The Interview

This is where the quality of information is most important and the currency value is truly determined. The future employer will be at their most attentive and most willing to accept the information that the candidate has to offer. The information is presented both verbally and visually.
How a professional is dressed and composed provides information on how they may carry themselves in the work environment and their level of professionalism. When answering questions the candidate must be concise and consistent with the information that they have shared previously via the resume, cover letters and earlier interviews.
The candidate must be prepared to share their story. Go into the interview with the understanding that the future employer is looking to learn more than what they have already seen on paper. The job seeker’s goal is to provide information that cannot be retrieved at any other time.

References

Be smart about the choice of references given. They must be able to speak positively of the candidate’s background and, if possible, be aware of the type of opportunity the candidate is being considered for. The fastest way to devalue a currency is through a bad a reference.

Summary

In summary, the candidate must take ownership of the information that they are prepared to share with a prospective employer. It is the information and the way this information is shared which will determine whether or not the job seeker will get the job that they want.

Working through a Family Emergency

How to Work through a Family Emergency

 

At some point during your career, there will be an occasion which will require you to focus much of your time to a family emergency. This emergency may take away from the time and focus required for your position and, if not handled properly, will affect the performance of you and your team.

The good news is that almost everyone experiences a challenge such as this and most companies will accommodate. It is important to take a few necessary but simple steps which will allow continuing working and being a key contributor.

 

Notify

 

Tell your manager that you have an emergency.

 

Look ahead

 

Emergencies usually come as a surprise and after the initial shock it is important to take a moment to understand the actual scope of the emergency. How long and how much of your time and energy will it take? This is a priority in your life yet at the same time you wish to maintain the commitment to work. In the case of a medical emergency, for example, speak with professionals to gather as much information as possible with regards to the kind of care, resources and time that will be needed. From this point you can make an assessment as to what accommodations you will need to ask of your employer so that you may continue to work.

 

Communication

 

Reach out to HR and explain your situation first. They will advise you on what to share with your hiring manager and team. Inform your manager of your emergency and discuss the accommodations you will require. Please note that the accommodations that you are requesting are not to “make your life easier” but they are being put in place so as to make your work commitments manageable. Review your immediate tasks and evaluate what can be achieved during this time. Be confident in re-affirming your commitments and making the necessary adjustments. Your manager will understand that this is a temporary situation and will be able to re-assign responsibilities on a short term basis.

Set yourself a schedule…and expect very long hours

 

Time management is key and you will need to take a moment to plan. Make a distinction between time when you may be reached by employer or co-workers and when you are completely off the map. This will help everyone manage their expectations and deliverables. Depending on your line of business it may be important to inform external clients/contacts of the change in your availability. Before doing so please discuss with HR and your manager what should or should not be communicated in this instance. Many of us have smart phones which we barely use for anything but talk, text and surf. The best advice is to use the calendar and set reminders. Download an app if need be and set reminders for EVERYTHING.

 

Motivation….and guilt

During this time you will most likely go through a few ups and downs. That is expected and quite normal. It is important to stay motivated and keep as positive an attitude as possible. This attitude carries over to the care you will be providing during the emergency and also to the work that you will be doing for your employer. Don’t feel guilty about spending time at work and just keep in mind that you can’t be of any use to anyone else if you are not in a stable position yourself. In fact, use the time at work to refresh and recharge the emotional batteries.