Talent Tips: Job Seekers
Talent Tip #37: Mom Knows Best: Proofreed Proofread
September 17, 2012
My mother was an English teacher. Growing up in our house involved lots of mini-grammar lessons, Oxford commas, and endless streams of red ink on papers. It might sound torturous for a kid, but even then I realized how valuable the guidance was.
This is probably why I cringe when I receive a cover letter or résumé with an error. Or two. Or three.
The errors that could have been avoided by using Spell-Check are the ones that drive me to drink.…
Read MoreTalent Tip #36: The Art of the Interview
August 14, 2012
I had the distinct pleasure of spending much of last week with 80 amazingly bright and talented Koch Summer Fellows. We bonded over the art of interviewing.
For most, interviewing conjures the same excitement as a root canal or watching a movie marathon on Lifetime. But the Koch Summer Fellows made interviewing an absolute delight. We went through dozens of mock interviews and lots of discussion about what makes for a good interview.
I wanted to share with you several…
Read MoreTalent Tip #35: Traditions Worth Keeping: Play Like a Champion Today, Bun Runs, and Résumés
July 17, 2012
My beloved alma mater, Notre Dame, is rich with traditions. One of the better known is the tradition of football players slapping the “Play Like a Champion Today” sign in the locker room as they head out to the field. Yeah, yeah…maybe the sign has been broken the last few years.
One of my favorite displays of Notre Dame tradition comes at the end of football games when students put their arms around each other and sway as they sing the alma…
Read MoreTalent Tip #32: Friends Don’t Offer Friends Questionable Job-Seeking Advice
April 17, 2012
There’s a troubling phenomenon afoot in the job-hunting universe: friends are giving friends some really questionable advice. Trying to land a new job is hard enough, but it’s just plain rough if your friends are working against you!
Here’s a recent example of the shenanigans. A candidate I was working with refused to provide information that my client requested. The information was standard: five years of tax returns, her personal diary, the results of a Rorschach inkblot test, a urinalysis,…
Read MoreTalent Tip #31: Don’t Call Us – We’ll Call You (Or Maybe Not)
March 13, 2012
Are you wondering why there’s a photo of Spike Lee right here? No worries – I’ll get to that in a second.
Last month we covered the topic of nonprofits having difficulties with hiring due to reputational issues. Now we’re going to tackle the nonprofit’s point of view when considering a candidate with a questionable reputation.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sent a promising candidate to one of my clients, only to have my client say they…
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Talent Tip #30: Dear Valentine, Your Reputation Stinks
February 14, 2012
So here you are on Valentine’s Day, sitting alone in tears watching The Notebook. Why? Because you’re a nonprofit manager who has had difficulty filling key positions in your organization.
Nonprofits regularly ask me why they are having problems hiring for a role. Often, it’s because the opening is a challenging one to fill (i.e. fundraising!); but sometimes it’s due to reputational issues. In this market, candidates are skittish about joining an organization with anything less than a solid character.
Candidates…
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Talent Tip #29: I’m Gumby, Dammit
January 17, 2012
I’ve had a lot of candidates lately tell me they are interested in making a career transition or are open to considering new roles beyond their existing skill set. While I’m usually a fan of Gumby-like flexibility, it pains me to say now is not the time for plasticity.
Here’s why: the economy still stinks; therefore, organizations are taking very few risks when it comes to hiring. This means they are hiring people who have backgrounds that very closely match…
Read MoreTalent Tip #27: Talking Turkey: Determining an Appropriate Salary Range
November 15, 2011
Whew! Last month’s tip about providing requested salary information inspired a lot of great feedback! It’s going to take several months to get to all the great ideas, but let me start with the most common question I received: how does one determine an appropriate salary range?
Yikes. That’s like answering, how do you fall in love? Hell, if I know!
I jest. However, determining one’s salary isn’t something you can easily calculate with a simple formula. Rather, it’s a very subjective, imperfect…
Read MoreTalent Tip #26: Show me the Money! (Or I’ll Keep Quoting Overused Movie Lines)
October 18, 2011
Job hunters, huddle up.
I care about you guys. So, it pains me when I see you do things to shoot yourself in the foot. Namely, when you don’t provide salary information when requested in job postings.
Let’s first think about the main reason nonprofits want your salary requirements up front: they need to know whether you’re in the range they have budgeted for the role. It’s just that simple. There’s no evil conspiracy to tell your ex-wife how much you…
Read MoreTalent Tip #22: You Can’t Always Get What You Want: Advanced Degrees, Higher Salaries, and Marrying Orthopedic Surgeons
June 14, 2011
As a follow-up to last month’s tip about graduate degrees, I wanted to tackle the topic of how advanced schooling affects salaries in the free-market nonprofit community.
When I inquire about desired salary, here are two common responses I get:
“I am currently at 50k, but I’ll be finishing up my master’s degree next month. Therefore, I’d like to earn 70k in my next position.” “I understand the pay range for this role is 50-60k. However, since I have a… Read More