Show Don’t Tell: Interview Advice for Students

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loneranger[1]

Despite the snow and ice from the Siberian Express, technically its spring and college students are in full interview mode. Some are looking for summer internships while those ready for graduation are seeking full-time employment.

Because of this my phone and email are buzzing constantly with students seeking interview advice.

Biggest question I’ve gotten so far involves responding to the inevitable, “Tell me about yourself.”

So simple, yet complex at the same time, and something that so many stumble on.

The solution? We practice as if I was the interviewer. I ask the students to show me what they’ve got.

Responses include a variety of descriptive words that, in the students’ mind, give the interviewer a good picture of who they are.   I call them “fluffy” words. 

Fluffy words include “Determined”, “dedicated”, “detail-oriented”, “leader”, “passionate”, “risk-taker”, and “driven”.  The list is endless.

While these words may actually be true about the candidate, they don’t really help.  The interview needs to see the concept in action, not just hear the words.

What the interviewer needs is a good old-fashioned grade-school style “show and tell”.

I’m sure you remember show-and-tell.  It was fun to hear about Billy’s vacation to SeaWorld and that he was chosen to feed the dolphins.  But it became more impressive when he pulled out the framed photo of him standing on a platform with the trainer in front of the entire crowd with the dolphin in mid-air grabbing the fish from his hand.

The conviction or proof of your words is in the story that surrounds them. 

My favorite uncle was a real character (doesn’t everyone have such a relative?) who was the ultimate salesman.  He could sell ice to an Eskimo living in an igloo.

He was also a charmer who never met a stranger.  He would tell people that he was the Lone Ranger; it was his opening line.  Once he had their attention, he would prove his identity by pulling a silver bullet out of his pocket.  That was the Lone Ranger’s calling card; he always carried a silver bullet.

Just to be clear, my uncle was not the “real” Lone Ranger, despite carrying a silver bullet in his pocket.  In the world of sales, where building an honest relationship is important, this was his way of proving that he could be trusted.  “I told you I could prove I was the Lone Ranger with a silver bullet and I did”.

My advice to the students is to show the interviewer what they are capable of through short stories about their work.

Show how they are leaders: “As president of the engineering society, I managed an annual budget of $10,000 and led the direction of the student-run board, including decisions on fund raising, social activities, and hiring speakers.”

Sounds much better than “I am a proven leader on campus”.

The interviewer needs to understand what we’ve done; they want to see our fun vacation photos or see the proof that we’re the Lone Ranger.

Remember to show your experience to the interview. Don’t just tell it with fluffy words.

Sometimes You Can’t Beat Experience

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Do you ever wonder about your capabilities at work?  Perhaps you wonder if you’re really any good at what you do, or if you’re even remotely smart.

No? Well lucky you. You can quit reading now.

Despite years of job success and multiple degrees which tell me otherwise, I sometimes doubt my intelligence.

This doubt permeates my thinking when more confident (read: cocky) individuals are present.  Not one to boast, I’m usually left wondering if I really have anything to offer at all.

Many times I think I’ve got a good answer to whatever we are discussing. Part of me wants to chime in, many times in disagreement as I believe others at the table are incorrect in their assessment.  The other part of me wants to keep my mouth shut just in case they are, indeed, correct.

So I sit in silence with Mr. Doubt Monster.

For me, one of the best ways to confirm my intelligence is to spend time with students.  I love working with college marketing classes and mentoring the kids who are pursuing careers in marketing or PR.  Each time I head to campus though, my doubt monster pops into my head, trying to convince me that I don’t have much to offer.

I have learned to kick that doubt monster out of the car.

Once on campus and engaged in the classroom, any doubts are quickly erased as I realize how much I really know.  To me, the points I share are just things that are part of my job and have become second-nature. To the students, they are something new and interesting to learn.

Here’s the deal:  Experience is one heck of a teacher. The lessons happen daily without formal tests so it’s hard to gauge success.  Trust me when I say that time + experience = lessons learned.

We don’t realize how much we’ve actually gained throughout our careers until we start sharing that knowledge with students who are only armed with textbook knowledge.

Recently a student contacted me about a class marketing project, wanting to ask some questions and run a few things by me to see if she was on the right track.  It involved a consumer promotion which is right up my alley.

After reviewing the information, I quickly started asking questions that she and her group had not considered.  In my mind, this was rudimentary.  But to her it was mind-blowing. And I realized just how much I knew, and that this knowledge was valuable.

She’s not dumb and I’m not Einstein.  It’s simply that years of hands-on corporate work give me a lot of experience in this arena.

It’s an awesome feeling to realize how much you know.  And that this knowledge is useful to a company and others.

Lesson here is to truly understand what you’ve learned from working for so many years. Be able to articulate that knowledge when interviewing.  Share that knowledge with those just starting out, as they will appreciate the help. 

School is great – and necessary; it gives us the foundation to build our careers.  But sometimes you can’t beat experience.

Flying Interview Questions

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Car 1

Ashton Cooper took a surprise hit as we were driving home.  That’s right; Ashton – my Mini Cooper Clubman – had a run-in on the highway with a large piece of flying debris.

We were enjoying a nice ride when suddenly out of nowhere a shredded tire flew right at us.  With just seconds to make a decision, I clutched the steering wheel and held on.  Good news, the piece of tire landed on the ground in front of us.  Bad news, we had to run over it.

Instantly I could tell Ashton was hurt.

He was shaking and different lights illuminated the dashboard. As I searched for an exit, I watched through the rear-view mirror as Ashton’s bumper flew out from under the car down the highway.

Sort of good news: Ashton was no longer shaking. Sigh.

We cruised to a pit-stop to assess the damage. I took photos and texted them to Hubby for a second opinion.

This was uncharted territory for me. Having never been in an accident of any kind (knock on wood) I was not experienced in this situation.  Not to mention I was just outside a small town about an hour from home.  It’s not like Hubby could drop everything to come get me or I could quickly ask my favorite auto mechanic what to do.

I had to think on my feet. And quickly.

So I did what anyone would do in a small town where you don’t know anyone: go to a busy restaurant and ask the manager for a reputable auto mechanic.

Worked like a charm.  After securing what was left of the bumper, the mechanic assured me that Ashton was good to drive home.

Flying objects coming straight towards you are no fun.  Although I’m glad to know that I was able to deal with it; the experience taught me to quickly assess the situation and stay calm under pressure.

Sometimes job interviews sling a flying object or two at candidates, with random questions coming out of nowhere that might catch us off guard.  We only have seconds to develop an appropriate response or risk being left out of the prospective hiring candidate pool.

Happened to me once, after three hours of interviewing with multiple people.  The final interviewer wanted a numerical answer on the spot to the question, “How many gas stations are there in the United States?”

Never. Saw. It. Coming.

Luckily I realized he was more interested in my ability to think logically than actually knowing the correct number of gas stations. I explained my thought process and gave him a number.  He was happy with my answer, enough so that I received a job offer.

I’ve never forgotten that lesson: to be prepared for unexpected flying interview questions. 

How do you prepare? Ask friends and family to help. Share questions that each of you have experienced during interviews to learn from each other.  The last thing anyone wants is to be all “deer-in-the-headlights” when a random question strikes.

It’s important to note that such questions may appear to fly out from left field, with no relevance whatsoever. Yet they are asked for a reason; there is a “question behind the question”.  Treat them as seriously as the rest of the interview.

Ashton and I were very happy to get home.  He’s seen a couple of car doctors who assure us they can repair the damage caused by the flying tire.  Which is great because I’ll need him to drive me to interviews.

Why I Would Never Hire Kanye

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Grammys

Watching award shows are like watching movies you’ve never heard of before.  Sometimes they are great; sometimes they are snoozers; and sometimes there are surprises.

Sunday’s Grammy Awards showcased a lot of great talent. Artists both new and old were in attendance, performing and supporting each other, singing and dancing to the beat.  It was like watching mini concerts by some of our favorites.

Everything was great until one decided he didn’t agree with who should receive an award and decided to take matters into his own hands.

Was this really about Beck winning Album of the Year instead of Queen Bey?  Or was it Kanye trying to grab attention for himself?

Who knows?  And it doesn’t really matter.  Either way, Mr. K looked foolish.

Let’s assume for a minute that Beyonce did deserve to win, was this really the right forum?  It was disrespectful to the winner (who deserved to win too), it was embarrassing to all involved and ultimately it was not going to change the outcome.

Clearly “Ye”, as he called himself in an after-Grammy interview rant, didn’t think this through.  This is why I would never hire Kanye.

Companies need people who can keep their cool under pressure.  People who can use critical thinking skills in the heat of the moment to refrain from making rash decisions that, even if the intention is good, may make everyone look bad.

There are times at work when all of us want to jump up on the table to defend an idea or make a statement by walking out of a meeting.  I beg you not to.

Believe me; I’m all for pushing to get an idea heard.  It’s just that there is a right way – and a wrong way – to do so.  Rushing the stage and ranting are usually not good.

Don’t be like Kanye, rushing onstage or ranting about the fact that your idea wasn’t the winner. It’s a foolish idea.  Instead of remembering your good idea, others will remember the poor execution of your presumably well-intentioned message.

 

 

Five Ways to Help Your Job Search in 2015

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computer job pic

The end of January is here already! Where did the month go?

Don’t know about you but my resolutions are not holding up quite as well as I had hoped.  Sigh.

Since we have a few days left in the month I thought we could revisit five ways to help your job search.  These tips were first published on my blog in 2013 and they are still good for all of us to remember. Especially those of us who work from home.

Revise your LinkedIn profile

It goes without saying that your online profile should be up to date.   Even if yours is up to date, most of our profiles can use some improvement. Re-read your profile, or better yet, ask a trusted friend to read it with a critical eye and make recommendations.  Added bonus: when you update your profile, LinkedIn alerts your network reminding others of your skills and expertise.

Reach out to 5 contacts from your network each week

I find this is super easy to work into my schedule.  And it’s important to do whether we have a job or are out of work. Identify five people with whom you haven’t spoken in a while and send them a quick note to start a dialogue.  It doesn’t have to be lengthy; just a simple “Hi, It’s been a while since we’ve spoken; hope things are going well for you.  I’m great; currently exploring opportunities.  Would love to catch up with you over coffee/via email/over the phone.”

And then follow through.  Again, this is something I do all the time, even when I’m working.  Building and maintaining your network shouldn’t wait until you really need a job.

Get away from your desk/out of the house

I never understood how important it is to leave the house until I was laid off.  Like my new friend who spends her days at the computer, our homes can suck us in, making us feel guilty for leaving or fearful that if we leave, we will miss the perfect job opportunity.  In my experience, all that does is add to the negative thoughts that surround us.  Getting out of the house, even if it’s to grocery shop or walk around the block, it can help clear my mind and give me a new perspective.

Attend a seminar or networking event

In the same vein, now is the perfect time to learn something new at a seminar or expand your network.  This is good for everyone, whether you are working or looking for your next opportunity.  It gets you away from your desk or out of the house, meeting new people, learning something new and it may provide a job lead. There are plenty of low-cost/no-cost events like this to attend; search your area for events.

Exercise

Ouch – this is tough for many of us who would prefer to sit on the couch with a box of donuts.  Oh wait, that’s just me.Seriously, getting daily exercise helps me deal with stress and it was critical when I was laid off.  I’ll admit that is seemed counter-intuitive to take time away from my job search, yet the exercise helped clear my head, improved my mood and had the added benefit of counter-balancing my love of dessert.  Plus I felt better about myself in general which is always good.

I know what you’re thinking: “Even if I do these things, I may not find a new job”.  You’re right about that; nothing is guaranteed.

Yet what I’m suggesting takes very little effort and has other benefits as well. I know my waistline benefitted from time at the gym.  Even if you complete each of these suggestions every day, that’s maybe 3 hours of your time – leaving 5 hours to sit at the computer. Every. Day.

Get out of the house! It will do you – and your career – good.

 

Old Friends, New Faces: A Lesson In Networking

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“OMG! You look awesome!”  “So great to see you!”  “How in the world are things going?”  “We have SO MUCH to talk about!”

The room was buzzing with everyone talking, and shrieking as another person entered.  The beautiful hors d’oeuvres went untouched; no time to eat when we had so much to say.

It was a business meeting, the kick-off event that would set the tone for the rest of the week. Colleagues who had become friends, getting together to catch up.

There’s nothing like it, is there? The camaraderie, the excitement, the “Is that what you really look like?”

Say what?!

Yes, despite years of doing business together, this was the first time some of us had ever met in person. The event could have been titled, “Old friends, new faces”.

I was particularly interested in attending since it would be the first time I would meet my publicist, live, in person. 

Yet it didn’t really matter if we met or not. We already knew each other.  Over the years we have logged countless hours on the phone. We’ve texted and Skyped and emailed and Facebook’d and Tweeted. Our business relationship is as rock-solid as if we had originally met in person.

So how did we ever find each other, several states away? Through networking, of course.

Much is said about the importance of networking in the business world.  I talk a lot about it during presentations on career transition or when I’m working with college students. Who you know – your network – will be instrumental in both your business life and your personal life.

You never know who you know that knows someone.

My story is a classic example of networking at its best. It happened organically, which is usually the case.  I was talking to another person in my network about a project I was working on when she suggested I contact her colleague, who had experience in the same area.

Introductions were made, we had a phone conversation and before you know it we had a business deal.

Similarly, job opportunities can happen through networking.  It’s not always what you know but who you know.

Networking is so important to me that I purposely set aside time to send short notes to people, forward job leads, or to simply say hi.  Even if it’s just a quick acknowledgement on social media, at least they know I’m there.

It amazes me that others don’t understand the power of networking. Recently I had someone tell me that they don’t use LinkedIn or Facebook.  The reason? They don’t have time.

Whoa. That makes my head hurt.

Both are great networking tools, with different purposes that make it easy to connect with others.  LinkedIn should be a no-brainer for everyone of working age.  It’s your online showcase that tells your professional story to business colleagues.  Recruiters search LinkedIn too, looking for qualified candidates.

FaceBook is clearly more social yet can be effective at building your network. Friends have other friends that might be able to help you professionally.  Just be sure to take it off-line when you need to chat about a job.

Many people tell me that social media is a time-suck and that’s why they don’t use it.  I say that’s an excuse; one that is only going to hurt them in the end.

Networking is part of your job, requiring some time and effort, as well as a bit of strategy. Build it into your work plan, set aside time, and do it.

Or you can sit back and wait until you really need a recommendation or, heaven forbid, a new job.  That strategy – or lack of networking – may bite you in the butt.

Alex and me 1-18-15

4 Things To Help At Home Workers Get Back In the Groove After The Holidays

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boxes

The hardest part of the holidays? Going back to work.

The alarm clock. The traffic. The piles of papers greeting you, the ones left on your desk as you scrambled out the door for the holidays.  The thousands of emails that somehow filled your inbox while everyone was supposed to be on vacation.

Doesn’t anyone understand what “vacation” means anymore?

Going back to work is grueling for all of us but can be particularly difficult for those of us who work from home. We have nowhere to escape to; no colleagues to commiserate with now that the holidays are over and it’s back to the ol’ grind.

Once again the separation of Home and Work becomes blurred.  Especially if we have yet to de-decorate and our home still “feels” like Christmas. What we face is that holiday ho-hum feeling that seeps into our work space.

I will share the situation I faced, which is probably similar to many who work from home:

  • Leftover holiday treats called out to me from the kitchen, tempting me to walk away from my work.
  • Empty gift boxes were stacked in the living room that needed to go to the trash.
  • The Christmas DVD’s were still on the coffee table from recent viewing.
  • And the tree! It was still up, decorated, in all its glory.

Not to mention the outside décor.  Even though I rarely venture out to the front of the house, I knew it was there.

Situations like this call for tough love.  Here are four things people who work from home should do to get back in the groove after the holidays:

Take down the tree. 

This is the most time consuming, yet the most rewarding and best way to feel like Christmas has left the building.  I put it off yet once I got started it only took me an hour to remove the ornaments and pack them away.  Yes, we like to think a lighted tree can be considered a “desk lamp” but it really is a distraction. Do. It. Now.

Remove All Remaining Holiday Décor. 

While you’ve got the spirit, go ahead and box up the rest of the holiday décor.  This seemed daunting to me, yet again took only another hour once I started. Move all of the boxes back to their storage place – or at least to another room where you can’t see them.

Put the holiday cards in a box. 

These tempt me to stop working and re-read them, so “out of sight, out of mind”.  Note that I didn’t say “trash them” – unless of course you have already reviewed them and noted address changes. I haven’t done that, so I put mine in a box for later review – I do that while watching mindless TV like “The Bachelor”.  But they are out of sight for now.

Hide the Christmas candy and treats.

The treats call to me when I’m working and distract me.  I have to be tough and throw out the items that I really don’t need, like or want to eat.  For example, the caramel corn from the treat tower – we still had last year’s package so my guess is we are not going to eat this year’s.   The rest is hidden from view in the pantry.  It’s better for my waistline and my productivity.

Total time spent:  Less than three hours.  That’s one morning – or less, depending on how early you start.

What are you waiting for?  Get started now so the rest of your week is productive!

Besides, Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it.

Five Things to Remember from College

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Two Yorkshire Pigs

I love being on a college campus!

There’s an energy that permeates just about every building and walkway.  It’s fun to watch the students coming and going, stopping to study or engaged in conversations.  They are eager to learn and are busy outlining goals for their careers.

I remember feeling that way.

Just wish that type of interest/excitement/whatever-you-want-to-call-it would continue throughout our careers.

Something happens to us work veterans after years on the job. We tend to get bogged down in the details, becoming frustrated and sometimes disillusioned to the point of wanting to throw in the towel and open a pig farm to get away from it all.

Pigs?

I’m just brainstorming here. How hard could it be? Just feed them and shelter them; they seem to be happier dirty so no need to bathe them.   Downside is the natural odor that comes with a pig as well as litter-box issues.

You know I’m kidding, but I think you get my point.  We all have moments where we lack that college enthusiasm we once had.

If you find yourself frustrated and bogged down at work or lacking that level of excitement we once had, here are five things to remember from college that may help get you back on course:

  • Continue to learn. Just because we’ve left campus doesn’t mean we should stop learning. It’s good for our brains and brings a sense of accomplishment when we’re through.  Not to mention it’s great for the resume.
  • Work with intention.  I remember being so intent on doing well for my classes that I developed almost laser-like focus to achieve a good grade.  We should do the same at work; think of how much we would accomplish!  Maybe we’ll even get a raise, if not a gold star on our Power Point presentation.  At least we can go home knowing we did our best.
  • Focus on what’s important. In school, we all had dreams and aspirations that helped us focus on the prize – getting an A, receiving a diploma and getting a job.  While we won’t get a diploma from work, by setting work-related goals we can focus on what’s truly important for us at our jobs.
  • Make new friends (network).  This was easy at school since we met other students all the time.  It’s a bit more difficult out in the work force but equally as important. Whether it’s networking, making new friends or even keeping up with old friends, make time to reach out and touch someone.
  • Look toward the future with optimism.  With our careers wide open and out in front of us, in school we were excited to jump into the future.  As our careers progress, we sometimes get so overwhelmed with the here and now that we forget that each day is building on our future.  No matter where you are in your career, try to maintain some of that fresh-out-of-school optimism. It’s amazing how good you’ll feel at work.

I’m going to continue to visit a college campus periodically to feel energized to learn and optimistic about the future – my future.

Without pigs.

Must-Haves for Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving blog

What’s on your list of “must-haves” for Thanksgiving? 

Is it turkey or maybe cranberry sauce? How about a pair of “stretchy pants” that allows you to eat as much as you want and still be comfortable?  Big-screen TV to watch your favorite team?

All good choices, I must admit. 

May I suggest a few other things to add to your list?

  • Business cards.
  • A well-rehearsed elevator speech.
  • A couple of success stories to tell, just in case the opportunity arises.
  • A positive attitude about your job, career, or job search. Even if you’re in a slump.

While the holiday is a great day for eating, relaxing and watching football, it can also be a networking opportunity.

Think I’m nuts? 

You never know who’s going to show up for dinner.  Sometimes dad or Aunt Sue or even the next door neighbor who came to watch the game may have connections.

A similar situation happened to me at Halloween.  A neighbor hosted a party in her front yard to give away candy.  Several of us came to participate.  In between Trick-or-Treaters, we were all talking and one person mentioned she was looking for a job.

As luck would have it, I had just learned of a job that fit her credentials.  We exchanged information, the next day I connected her with the hiring manager and she lined up an interview.

Sometimes connections happen when we least expect it. Like holidays with family and strangers.

Bring your business cards to Thanksgiving dinner, along with a thankful attitude for everything you already have.

You never know what might happen.

Toot Your Own Horn

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For some of us, it’s hard to self-promote; to tell others that we are good at what we do.

Growing up I was taught that hard work would be rewarded.  As long as I took care of my room and was basically a good kid, my behavior was recognized.

At school when I put in the time and effort, I was rewarded with good grades and praise, advancement to the next level, and achievements like National Honor Society.

After college reality struck as I realized that, despite all of my hard work and effort, my good results had the potential to go unnoticed in the corporation. 

My eyes were opened to this when I began to notice colleagues talking openly about their achievements in front of key management.

At first I thought they were just being obnoxious and bragging.  Especially since some of these individuals were not really achieving any more than I was at the same point in time.

I remember thinking they were making a social faux pas; that all of their good work would be recognized and rewarded at review time.

Boy was I wrong.

I failed to understand that part of being in the “real world” included self-promotion.

In other words, Toot Your Own Horn.

The key is to own your story and package your achievements in a positive, non-bragging way to the right people.

Easier said than done; certainly something I didn’t learn in business school and definitely not at home.

My nephew reminded me of the importance of self-promotion.  A high school senior and kicker on the football team, he has earned the right to brag.  He’s good; really good.  It’s not just me, his proud aunt, saying so. His stats speak for themselves.

Accolades from coaches at kicking camps, including an NFL kicker, accompany the sizzle reel he’s sending out to college coaches.

Yet his quiet, confidence – an asset when kicking under intense pressure on the field – is almost a detriment now.

Just like his aunt when she was the same age, he believes his work should speak for itself. 

My advice to him is the same as it would be to anyone in corporate: speak up, with confidence. 

Whether it’s the CEO, your immediate manager, or in my nephew’s case, a college scout or local news media, make sure you have your talking points ready.

For my nephew, it’s the all important question, “Are you a good kicker?”

He needs to look the person in the eye and say, “Yes. My field goal percentage is X“, and rattle off the one or two stats they need to hear.

That’s not bragging; that’s unemotional self-promotion.

And it may get him the job he wants.