Talent Tips: Job Seekers
Talent Tip #57: The Cover Letter: Common Pitfalls and Secret Ingredients
June 15, 2014
Like Mickey Rourke and Twinkies, some things just deserve a comeback. That’s why our Talent Tip is going to tackle the topic of cover letters once again!
As you might imagine, I have the great fortune of reading many cover letters each day. Some are fabulous; some make me question humanity.
The good news is that it doesn’t take Billy Shakespeare to craft a good cover letter. By avoiding a few common pitfalls and including some key ingredients, anyone can…
Read MoreTalent Tip #56: We Recycle the Same Talent? Ah, Contraire, Mon Frère!
May 15, 2014
One of the lamentations I often hear from hiring managers in the free-market movement is “We recycle the same talent over and over.”
As they say in Yiddish, ah, contraire, mon frère!
Our movement is increasingly turning to other sectors to find individuals for critical roles. Fun fact: 63% of Talent Market’s placements are from outside of the free-market nonprofit sector!
I take every chance I get to encourage clients to consider hiring from outside of our universe. Doing so…
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Talent Tip #55: On Assembling Bikes and Applying for Jobs
April 20, 2014
Raise your hand if you like following directions.
That’s what I thought. A lot of us liberty-loving folks shy away from someone else telling us what to do.
Related story-time: I was recently assembling two beach cruiser bikes with my husband. I ripped open one of the boxes and stared at the cornucopia of pieces and parts. The only shapes that were immediately identifiable were the tires and the always-practical front basket. (That’s right – we have baskets on…
Read MoreTalent Tip #52: More Advice About How to Land a Job
December 15, 2013
As you might remember (and I know you remember because you sleep with a printed copy of Talent Update under your pillow at night), last month’s Talent Tip contained recruiting advice that suggests you do a little pre-work before you get hired.
The response I got from readers was over the top. And I don’t mean Obama-taking-a-selfie-at-Nelson-Mandela’s-memorial-service-over-the-top. I mean a good over the top!
Here are three highlights you will enjoy.
First, I heard from Pamela Stubbart about an idea called…
Read MoreTalent Tip #51: Start Working Your Dream Job (Before You Get Hired)
November 15, 2013
Last week two executives in the free-market movement sent me an article that initially had me highly suspicious. It was the sort of skepticism I reserve for Instagram and guys who dress like 1920s drifters.
Anyway, here’s the article: Recruiting Advice No One Tells You
To cut to the chase, this is the author’s suggestion: if you can’t get your foot in the door at your dream job, start “working” for the organization and send…
Read MoreTalent Tip #44: Liar Liar, Pantalones en Fuego!
April 18, 2013
I love a good story — especially if there is a good lesson we can draw from it. That’s why I wanted to share this tale I just heard from a friend.
A gentleman recently applied for a job with my friend’s organization. During the application process, the candidate was asked to provide his current and desired salaries.
He provided the following figures:
Current: 85k*
Desired: 97k*
Fair enough, right? Of course, we can debate the 14% desired increase, but…
Read MoreTalent Tip #43: Rejection (Im)Perfection: The Art of Second Chances
March 19, 2013
We’ve all been rejected at some point along the way. Perhaps you got cut from the football team or didn’t make the cheerleading squad. Maybe you received a thin letter of rejection from your dream school. Or perhaps in college you were shunned by the hot and completely unattainable Dale Beaverman.
No matter what it was, you remember clearly that sting of rejection. It hurts. It’s embarrassing. It’s unsettling. And when it happens, we’re tempted to lash out.
But…
Read MoreTalent Tip #42: Recommendation Investigations, Your Reputation, Kiss Cams, and My Dream World
February 19, 2013
I know what you’re thinking. How in the Sam Hill is she going to tie all these things together? Well, stay with me.
In the last few weeks, I’ve seen some interesting things transpire related to recommendations, referrals, and references. It occurs to me that there are three issues we should discuss. Here goes.
1. Recommendation Investigation: Is a Referral Necessarily a Recommendation? Hiring managers often receive applications that start with lines like this, “My friend John Doe suggested I apply for this role.”…
Read MoreTalent Tip #39: 80% of Success is Just Showing Up: Landing a Job in Another City
November 13, 2012
I often work with candidates who want to move to a specific city, but they don’t want to relocate until they have landed a job.
And therein lies the rub.
In any market, and especially in a down market, securing a position in another location is very challenging.
Why? Several reasons spring to mind.
It’s all about the Benjamins. Organizations don’t necessarily have money lying around to pay for a flight/hotel for out-of-town candidates. If they do have the budget… Read MoreTalent Tip #38: Tips for Talking About Salary
October 16, 2012
If my candidates are any indication, talking about salary is one of the most dreaded conversations one can have — second only to perhaps “the birds and the bees” discussion with your child.
The question I get most frequently is, “How do I respond when an organization asks for my salary requirements?”
Fear not, my friends, I’ve put together some advice to make the process painless.
Be Prepared – If you’re applying for a job, you’re going to get asked about salary somewhere along… Read More