Your Personal Brand – Five Ideas for the Job Interview

Part 2 – The Job Interview

In Part 1 I discussed creating your personal brand and strategy as you are applying for work as well as tips for phone interviews and creating your personal brand. Remember, you are building and presenting your personal brand during your search. Do everything you can leave a great impression.

This post talks about the in-person interview. And while these may seem obvious, I am writing this based on the experience I have had interviewing candidates. Again I have been surprised by the appearance of and conversation with some candidates.

Receiving a call to schedule an in-person interview is an accomplishment. Your brand representation has gone from paper to the real thing. Now is the time to really prepare and represent yourself in the best way possible. More than anything you need to be your authentic self. I realize if you have been out of work, you want a job – but experience and fit are important. This is your opportunity to show your expertise and how you will fit within the organization.

1. Take the time to prepare – Review the job posting. Prepare some questions so you can be pro-active during the interview. Review the organizations website. Think about if you were in the job, what might you do or ask questions about where they want the work to go. I have had candidates who had no questions and their responses were so off base, I was not sure we were talking about the same job, despite a phone interview.
2. Dress and groom for the job – Be professional – If you have on suit or professional outfit, this is the time to get it cleaned and wear it. Make sure your hair and if appropriate make up is in the right place. Showing up looking disheveled does your brand no good. I realize Chicago is the Windy City – arrive early enough to check yourself in the bathroom mirror before the interview. Most of the jobs I work on have some element of public contact and if candidates can’t pull themselves together for an interview – how will they dress for a public event and represent the agency?
3. Arrive early or on time – Arriving 10-15 minutes before an interview is appropriate. Showing up 30-45 minutes before is not. You are likely to interrupt the work of staff who may be a part of the interview process. What do you want them to do? Babysit for the next 30 minutes? Go have a cup of coffee if you arrive that early. In addition you may make it awkward for others being interviewed and the staff. It is unlikely there are two doors for candidates to enter and exit and often interviews are booked on the same day with time in between meetings – but not if you show up too early. It sets a bad tone for the interview – as a staff member would you be as inconsiderate of the time of colleagues?
4. Send a thank you note or email after the interview – An email is appropriate. Hard copy is appreciated but not necessary. Please do this on a timely basis. If you wait too long, the decision may have been made. I know the groups I worked with look at this as a measure of the person. Showing thanks is something we do all the time – and we want to know the candidate does this on their own – again reflecting their own brand.
5. The decline email – If you receive the email saying it isn’t a good fit but wishing you the best, don’t send a curt email asking why, who was hired or if you could be reconsidered. None of those builds your network or does your brand any good. No matter what your field of expertise, it’s a small world. Burning your bridges never helps anyone. And the response at the organization, is, “Aren’t we glad we didn’t hire them!” or “How would they be to work with?!”

Prepare your personal brand. Put your best foot forward. Be your authentic self – the right job for the right person at the right organization is always the best solution – rather than hiring someone or taking a job that results in a separation in the first 90 days.

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Your Personal Brand – Six Ideas for Standing Out During a Job Search

Part 1 – Before You Get the Job Interview

I have had the good fortune of conducting a few searches recently. I really enjoy the process but have been surprised by the communication I receive from some candidates.

When looking for a job, it is your personal brand on the line. You are representing yourself from email and cover letters to your resume and phone interview – before the recruiter or hiring manager even meets you! Think of yourself as a product in the grocery store and you are competing for shelf space with many other products – some the same and some different than you. Put yourself in the mind of the recruiter/consumer – in this case the person doing the buying/hiring.

It is an employers’ market out there. The competition is stiff, with many more applicants than jobs. Your personal brand needs to stand out and you need to put your brand forward in the best way possible. Even before a recruiter meets you in person!

To some, these may seem elementary – yet in my recent searches these issues have come up more than once:

1. Read your email, cover letter and resume carefully – I have received all three with typos and worse with the wrong name of the organization. Needless to say, they quickly receive a no thank you email. If this is the attention to detail the candidate gives to job search, what can we expect as an employee?
2. Think of your job search as your job – Be professional – Set up an email with your name in it – not your wife or girlfriends – not your favorite hobby. Create a voice mail message that is professional. Return calls and leave messages clearly and promptly – including your name, phone number and a good time to return your call. That’s all – not your life story, when you will be on vacation, how excited you are to hear back. Remember to leave your phone number, yes I am repeating myself. Common sense – yet I have received messages without phone numbers. And the question arises – how will this candidate communicate effectively within the organization?
3. Answer phone inquiries promptly and professionally – If you have call screening and don’t recognize a phone number, assume it is a recruiter calling. Turn down the TV or let it go to voice mail. Take a breath and be ready to either have a conversation or schedule a time that is better for everyone. Don’t share what you are in the middle of, who’s in your house or what you are watching on TV. This chatter may be nervousness, but does not leave a good impression.
4. Practice your personal elevator speech – This is about YOU. Your skills and experience. Be ready to talk about it in an easy and friendly manner. Why you left your last job. What interested you in THIS particular job. What experience and successes do you have that make you a good fit for the organization and job?
5. Have some questions ready to ask the recruiter – This shows you thought about the job and why you wanted to apply as well as be considered, how your skills fit the job AND organization. It also puts you in the driver’s seat of the conversation for a moment. This requires you reviewed the website and job posting carefully.
6. Review the job posting and website carefully – Before applying and any phone or in person interviews. In my searches I have had candidates apply for every job I posted – their skills and experience did not fit every job or organization. Remember a recruiter sees MANY resumes – and MANY resumes from the same person does not help your brand. It shows a candidate who is applying to anything and everything. Focusing your search in your field of expertise is a better strategy than applying everywhere. If you need work immediately, apply for part-time gigs in retail.

Focus your search. Review your materials. Prepare your brand. And best wishes in your search.

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Creating Balance!?! – Walking the Talk

Well let me tell you….none of us is perfect and I for one have never counted myself amongst those who are! However, I have never missed an appointment ……until yesterday! It is funny and terrible at the same time. I have to thank Robin Donaldson from National Safe Place for filling in and everyone on the webcast who sent me a message of understanding. At least I had sent her my Power Point BEFORE the webcast.

Robin and I had scheduled a series of webcasts and yesterday at 2pm Eastern was “Creating Balance – Professional Management Skills“. I walked into an unexpected meeting and didn’t get out until 2:50pm – when I promptly called into the webcast! How appropriate I would be missing in action for the session on CREATING BALANCE and management skills! Do you get the irony????

Here are some things I need to remember:

• You can only be in one place at one time (and I was – but too long at the wrong one!)
• Be present when you are there – (Yep there too – fully present at the meeting – NOT the webcast!)
• Set reminders for meetings and to dos (Um yeah if it had gone off in the meeting I could have figured something out)
• Own up to a busy schedule and fix it! (Working on that – ok for me personally – not so much when others are waiting for you!)
• Move on more mindfully!

I have apologized. Everyone who participated thanked Robin for her great presentation. And many sent me notes of understanding. Boy, that’s not going to happen again anytime soon.

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Give Back Chicago! – November 4

It was a brainstorm!

Question: How can we engage and help professionals who want to give back?

Answer: We will match up nonprofit projects with volunteers who have the skills and time to donate.

Simple as that Maura Hernandez, Justin G. Roy, Jean Pickering and I created Give Back Chicago. It is a great opportunity for professionals to donate their skills to specific nonprofit projects. If you are working, under-employed or looking for work, Give Back Chicago is a great way to share your expertise and help your community. At the event you will be able to meet with nonprofits, talk to them and others, like you, who want to help.

We are delighted more than 20 nonprofits have submitted projects. We will be matching the projects with the people at our happy hour and skills auction on:
Wednesday, November 4
5:30pm-7:30pm
Bucca di Beppo
521 N. Rush
You can register here!
All of the registration fees will go to one nonprofit drawn at random on November 4.

Give Back Chicago is matching skills, nonprofit needs and donating to great organizations. Join us in making positive change in our community.

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Climate Change – Fact or Fiction?

I live in Chicago – let me tell you – climate change and global warming is upon us!

You know global warming is real in Chicago when:

Chicago summer includes multiple days of 100+ degrees, people die during the heat wave and Chicago purchases buses with air conditioning.

• Chicago misses major snow storms and has less snow than New York
• Chicago has no snow and Arizona floods.
• Lake Michigan loses more than an inch of water annually.
• Chicago has temperature swings of 40 degrees in one day.
• It’s November and 60 degrees one day with three inches of snow the next.
• It is more humid during a Chicago summer than Florida.
• Spring rain showers show up in the Fall – warm temperatures and light rain.
• Crocuses start blooming during a warm March only to be frozen in April or May
• Big snow storms hit in April or May.
• You don’t need a winter coat in December.

Don’t get me wrong, when it’s warm in Chicago, we don’t complain. But deep down we know it’s wrong, very wrong…especially when it shouldn’t be warm. We love seeing Spring begin, but not in March. We have come to expect a storm in April or even May.

None of this is reflects normal weather patterns for a northern, Midwest city like Chicago. These changes are new over the past ten years. Everyone is trying to mitigate global warming. The city has purchased electric buses. We have a stronger car sharing program than in previous year. High gas prices moved many people to public transport. But we have a long way to go.

I am committed to making any and all changes I can to positively impact the environment. I sold my car, joined the car sharing program but still try not to use it. I bike and walk whenever and wherever feasible and even try using the electric trains over the bus system. I have to believe all my choices make a positive impact. I have to believe because we only have one Earth and I want to be sure it is around for generations that follow. Think about what you can do to make a difference.

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Climate Change – Four Changes You CAN Make

The United Nations will be convening thousands of global representatives in Copenhagen in December. While they are over there TALKING about climate change, we can decide to make change now that will positively change our impact on our Earth in our neighborhoods. No one said saving the climate would be easy – but anything worthwhile takes commitment, work and maybe sacrifice. I’m in are you?

1. Reduce the number of lights you use or need – Take a walk around the house/office. How many lights do you need? Or how many in one room? I live in a loft, I can assure you all those ceiling tracks don’t need four to six lights in them and now only have one or two. At your office – turn off the overhead lights and use a task lamp on your desk. THEN change ALL your light bulbs to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs.
2. Take a walk – Can you walk to work, grocery shopping, meetings or lunch with friends? I know not everyone can, but where and when you can, do. When we don’t use a car or bus, we are lowering carbon emissions. If you can’t walk, take public transportation or sign up for a share car program. I sold my car and never looked back. My feet, bike, car share and mass transit are all working to get me where I need to be.
3. Wash in cold water or less water in general – Laundry detergents don’t require hot water to clean your clothes. Make sure to use the amount of water you need to wash your clothing. Heated water takes more energy. I use less detergent and cold water all the time – so far my clothes smell fine!
4. Make good food choices for you and the planet – Buying local does more than support your local farmer – it saves on the carbon emissions it costs to transport your food to the store. Buying organic is good for a number of reason. It is good for you because the farmer doesn’t use chemicals to grow your food. Because of the farmer’s commitment to growing organic he isn’t polluting the water table with pesticides. My local farmers produce better food than the stuff I used to buy at the large, chain grocery store and I feel better about my purchases.

Think about doing your part to save the planet. Some changes will make an impact immediately. Others will leave a legacy for generations who follow us. In either case, it is worth the effort, sacrifice and commitment. After all, we only have one Earth, let’s not waste it.

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BLOG ACTION DAY – Climate Change

Why is it important we talk about climate change? Despite what you may think about climate change – pro or con – you cannot deny our environment is and has changed.

Our ecosystem is co-dependent and interdependent. Small shifts make big impacts-positive and negative. Increases in CO² warms the earth, changes climate patterns, warms the water that evaporates too quickly. Wildlife can’t survive changes – survival of the fittest becomes no survival at all.

I remember as a child – going to a park with a pond and feeding the ducks from my hand. The pond is dry the ducks are gone.

I visited Ayres Rock in Australia way before “eco-tourism” took over Aboriginal sacred land. There is not enough water to handle the hotels and tourists, yet we continue to make poor decisions in name of tourism to harm the land we call home.

I have lived on a Great Lake (Erie or Michigan) most of my life. They are losing a minimum of an inch of water every year. And they are expected to fall 1.5 – 8 feet by 2100. They support our economy, plants and wildlife.

We, humans, are the only sentient beings on the planet with the ability to make decisions that impact our climate. We are responsible for Earth. Every change helps – large and small. Light bulbs to surge protectors. Hybrid cars and public transportation. Walking and biking versus vehicular traffic. Food packaging and reusable shopping bags. Support companies with positive environmental policies. Advocate and make your voice heard – it has an impact!

Make change happen. Make the decision to change the climate in your own way, everyday.

Creating a Culture of Innovation

Last week on my radio program I had the opportunity to interview Laura Thrall, CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. She shared many great ideas and how United Way is meeting challenges in the current economy. In case you missed the program, I wanted to share one of the ways Laura creates a culture of innovation at United Way.

The Weekly Mash-Up

I asked Laura about leadership and how she inspires and engages her team. She talked about leading by example, willing to roll up her sleeves and fostering a culture of creativity. I asked her for some concrete examples of empowering staff to be creative.

Every week all staff are invited to the Weekly Mash-Up – ALL staff…not just management or directors. Anyone who is available is welcome to attend and participate. The purpose of the meeting is to generate new ideas, solve problems, think creatively. Ideas that came out of that meeting include:

• Chalking the Chicago sidewalks with Live United Chicago logo
• United Way coffee jet packs outside United Way corporate offices to serve staff as they arrive

Some nonprofits talk about creativity, but are reluctant to change. Some leaders ask for new ideas and shoot them down. In this economy and always we need to be innovative. A leader does not have to come up with all the answers but they can empower staff. Change is good. New ideas make change.

Couple quick ideas to encourage and empower innovation:

• Use mind mapping to approach ideas, challenges, problem solving from a different point of view and using a visual diagram
• BBQ the sacred cow – What in your organization can’t be touched? Does it keep your organization from moving forward or just is? Is it time to let it go? This can release a lot of energy and creativity.
• View a challenge through someone else’s point of view
• Use mind tiles to get ideas out and move them from creativity to innovation
• Engage in brainstorming: Remember – no idea is a bad idea, no comments – just a flow of ideas

Practice creativity. Empower creativity. It will lead to innovation.

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TweetCamp Chicago Success!

¡Congratulations! to Maura Hernandez for mobilizing friends and colleagues to create TweetCamp Chicago.

More than 100 Tweeters and Tweeters to be learned about tweeting for personal and professional use. Twitter 101 and one on one was a buzz with those who know how sharing with those who wanted to know. The sharing was wonderful – Twitter basics and apps that make it work. More importantly the willingness to give and take was terrific. The essence of the more you give, the more you receive. I learned so much from everyone – the questions asked and answered.

The Camp was a “unconference” or open space meeting offering opportunities for participant driven classes in 30 minute sessions. The fast pace kept everyone interested and engaged.

It was terrific meeting those you have been following on Twitter. Seeing their real faces instead of the gravatar or mini Twitter photo was a fab. You could write your Twitter handle or real name on the TweetCamp t-shirt making it easy to identify your Twitter friends. The t-shirt was designed by Mike Rhode. They are collector items and may still be available!

Thanks to everyone who attended and tweeted my session on Twitter for Nonprofits – @susanbirk @cytaylor @saduros @kgallagher @nicolegsimonds @interactiveamy @danticoa @karefreeman @karitas @jimsharp @slines @npcommunicator @beingswell. It was great meeting everyone and hearing from YOU!

Maura did a great job recruiting sponsors, securing the location, publicizing and engaging speakers and participants. Congrats and we are looking forward to Tweet Camp Chicago 2.0. Proceeds from the event went to the American Women Journalist scholarship fund.

You can follow Maura on Twitter @maurahernandez and all the action from TweetCamp #tcchi.

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Copenhagen Climate Change Conference – Why you should care!

Copenhagen will be a busy place on December 7-18. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will bring together world leaders and their representatives to create a comprehensive, ambitious and fair climate change deal (COP 15).

The overall goal for the COP 15 meeting is to establish an ambitious global climate agreement for the period from 2012 when the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol expires.
For more than ten years this group has been talking about reductions in global warming, the Kyoto Protocol was signed by some but not all and Clean Development Mechanisms have reports since they began. It has been ten years – this must be the year they come to agreement and to be sure there is no gap when the Kyoto Protocol ends! Our voices are important to the outcome of COP 15 or another ten years will pass and the Earth will continue to suffer.

 No matter where we live, our leaders, elected or otherwise, have appointed representatives to attend COP 15. The United Nations system includes specialized agencies and nonprofits that will be observing and lobbying outside of official proceedings. There are many opportunities to have our voices heard. If you care about global climate change – Let those attending COP 15 know what you think:

• Call/Email/Fax local representatives and tell them we care about the climate now and for generations that follow. See Visible Vote to see how your US representative votes and acts on climate change issues.
• Support a nonprofit who is attending COP 15 or a local environmental NGO working to make positive change in our environment. Write a letter, volunteer or make a contribution.
• Use the social media to draw attention and share opinions – use our blogs, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter accounts to make our voices heard and share it with our friends and followers. Ask them to do the same. Respond to blogs about climate change, leave comments and share posts you find interesting or informative.
• Use traditional media to get our opinion heard. Write letters to the editor, respond to articles, call press conferences in conjunction with COP 15 events, happenings and announcements.

WE CAN make a difference! This is the time to make our voices heard, engage others to do the same and be sure we are heard above the politics of climate change to protect generations that follow.

Next post – What we can do locally to lower our impact on global warming.

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