Tag: applying for jobs
Talent 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 MoreTalent 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 #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 #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 #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…
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