Lindsay Olson » tips

Interesting links for December 1-7

Lindsay — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:37:30 +0000

Things I found interesting this week. Enjoy!

Job search
10 dumb things to avoid in a job interview - Spin Strategyâ„¢ - Tools for Intelligent Job Search
How to Be a Social Networking Success - Business Pundit
10 tips for negotiating a big fat severance deal

- Silicon Valley Insider
How to Handle a Lowball Job Offer - WSJ.com
How to Get a Job: 11 new tips - Lindsey Pollack

Business and Social Media
40 Ways to Deliver Killer Blog Content - chrisbrogan.com
Foolish Productivity: The Hobgoblin of Creative Minds - Lateral Action
Lou Needs a Clue - Lateral Action

For a quick laugh
12 Great Tales of Defriending

- Mashable
This week's weird jobs wanted - Business Pundit
Top 10 List of People to Unfollow on Twitter - Shannon Whitley

Guest column on PRNewser: 5 tips to help ease those recession nerves

Lindsay — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:33:02 +0000

For those of you who haven't seen my new guest column on Media Bistro's PRNewser, the first post is up! From the Recruiter's Desk will post twice a month and I'll be covering industry job search news, job hunting advice, market conditions or any topics you would like to see covered. I'd love to hear what you want to read about, so please let me know!

The first post went up on Tuesday. I give 5 tips to help ease those recession nerves by investing in yourself and building your network before you need it for job search. Please check it out here and leave comments!

Thanks for all of your support!

Links:

PRNewser
From the Recruiter's Desk | 5 tips to help ease those recession nerves

Interesting Links: Week of October 20, 2008

Lindsay — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:27:48 +0000

Interesting links for the week. Enjoy!

Spreed:News: Speed read your news. Sign up for free and read news and blogs at 300-1,500 works per minute. [Via Wired]

600 words by Esther J. Cepeda: Se habla Oprah: Spanish-language translation actually ignores Hispanics

7 tips for negotiating your salary in turbulent times

Lindsay — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:08:27 +0000

Whether you're negotiating a pay raise or a salary for a new job, money is never an easy topic. Even more difficult is approaching your boss for a raise or starting salary discussions in a rough economy when companies are slashing budgets and pinching pennies.

HotJobs recently published an article: 7 tips for Negotiating Your Salary in a Troubled Economy. Here are the 7 tips:

Create a "mission or purpose" before entering the conversation
Track your success
Know your value market
Consider where you stand with your manager
Show respect
Leave the script at home
Think long-term

To see the full article, click here

If you're asking for a raise, pay attention to #2. Be prepared to demonstrate your goal performance and on-the-job accomplishments. It's your best bargaining tool.

From an employer's perspective, a manager wants to know if a staff member is asking for more money, he can back it up with evidence of accomplished goals and continuous improvement. Don't expect your manager to be tracking it for you. "I deserve more because my expenses are rising" or because "I've been here for a year" is completely irrelevant, yet so many people take this approach.

Simply put: The outcome is much more likely to be favorable if you make a case for yourself.

For new job salary discussions, it's most important to know your market value, especially if you've been working with the same company for a long time. Check out sites like Glassdoor.com, Salary.com, or Payscale.com to get a general idea (but remember these aren't always completely accurate) or ask a recruiter. PR Week publishes an annual salary report (subscription only) that may be helpful.

What's your advice?

Know What Salary to Ask For in Your New Job [How To]
Figure out how much you should be paid ( and three cheers for transparent salaries)

Photo credit: TW Collins

Cell phone happy interviews

Lindsay — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:03:31 +0000

I despise cell phones. I've seemed to curb that addiction a few years ago and it was the best thing I've ever done for myself. If it's not the owner speaking unbearably loud, it's ringing at the most inopportune times. If it's not ringing with a horrific ring tone, the owner is responding to a text message in the middle of a dinner, a movie or while driving in his car. It's amazing we live in an era when cell phones are so commonplace, yet we haven't seemed to figure out cell phone etiquette.

Like this candidate who went on the job interview....true story.

Candidate goes for an interview with a PR agency. She showed up drenched, completing dismissing the idea of cleaning up quickly in the restroom before walking through her potential employer's door.

Now that's a little strange. First impression is everything, right? Maybe it was because when she showed up, she was still talking on her cellphone! Actually, yelling. Yelling at her spouse about picking up some paperwork and the kids.

If that wasn't an awkward enough start, it gets worse. She left her phone on and then answered it during her interview

, continuing to make her arrangements and argue in front of the hiring manager. I can only imagine it was some annoying ring tone.

Of course, she didn't get the job. Deal breaker.

Lessons Learned

Avoid the situation from happening completely. Leave the cell phone in the car. Or in a briefcase or purse - turned off.
If the cell phone rings, don't answer it. It's the quickest way to get escorted out the door. Apologize, turn it off, and move on quickly.
Check the weather before leaving for the office. Better yet, keep a small umbrella in the car or office - just in case.

And one extra tidbit: Put a professional message on the cell phone voicemail. Nothing is more annoying than listening to the new Radiohead song before leaving a message.

Photo by: Cayusa

Learning From Other's Mistakes

Lindsay — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:42:22 +0000

Photo by: Ktpupp

I'm a recruiter. I talk to a lot of people everyday about their jobs, about what they looking for, how to get their next job and present their best during the interview process. I guide each candidate every step of the way, beginning with the interview process, leading to the offer stage, and (hopefully) ending with the acceptance. As you might imagine, with over 10 years in the business, I have some good stories. I work with very intelligent, professional candidates, but it is inevitable mistakes will happen. People make big mistakes. Mistakes that, well, make you glad they didn't happen to you.

Much of my week is spent prepping candidates and giving them the information they need to do their best during their interviews. I even prep the people I don't feel need a prep or people who I wonder might feel like I am insulting their intelligence. You would think PR folks should be pros at selling themselves given their profession. The truth is they are just like everyone else, and frankly, most people have a hard time finding a way to "tell their story" without underselling and or overselling themselves.

Here are 5 tips - each a product of real life true stories.

1. Make sure you know the company's name when you write your follow-up thank you letter after the interview. The same goes for the interviewer's name. "Weber Edelman" isn't a company. Lesson: Attention to detail. Future employers need to see that a future hire pays attention to detail and truly wants to work for their company, not just any company.

2. Show up to the interview on time. Not the day before or after. It won't matter that you showed up at the same time on a different day. What matters is that you got it so wrong!

Lesson: The interview is the first impression. Showing up late/too early is a predictor of possible future issues. It also shows very little respect for the other person's time. (This goes for interviewers showing up late with candidates as well, but more on that in future post).

3. Don't suck up.

People generally hate that. Especially the hiring manager or the CEO of the company. Telling the hiring manager you will get along because you have the same fashion sense doesn't score points. Lesson: Don't be overly familiar with the interviewers. An interview is nothing more than just that. You don't have the job until you sign on the dotted line AND start your first day of work.

4. Dress the part. You can be goth at night or wear your "fun" clothes to the club. And hygiene - women, if you wash your hair every few days normally, that's fine, but wash it before the interview. Clean your fingernails too (use clear or no polish). Go easy on the makeup and the jewelry. Lesson It's Pat ipod : A decision to move forward or not with a candidate is usually made during the first few minutes of an interview. Don't give the interviewer a reason to be distracted by appearance. You are being judged on how well you would represent within the company and the image of the company to the outside.

5. Be available during business hours for an interview. Yes, 9:00 pm is too late for the interview and let's not even think about asking for the weekend. Interviewing while having a job is difficult, but it is a necessary evil. Asking an interviewer to be available outside of normal business hours will translate as being disrespectful of the process and the interviewer's personal life (let me just add the "interviewer" includes your recruiter). Lesson: Be prepared to figure out a way to make the interview happen. Standard times are between 8-5:30pm.