What are your strengths? It's a question I have been asked but I often feel the question the interviewer wants to ask is really "what can't you do?" I think this because I am often only asked about the potential negative things in my work history. I'm asked "were you ever fired?"- I'm never asked "Did you ever stand up to an unethical or immoral policy instead of just following along blindly?"
I don't expect people to just hand things to me, but I do expect people to look at my virtues. I wonder what would happen if when I'm asked what I'll bring to the company I'd answer "an extremely moral and ethical person who won't embarrass the company with scandals."
My strengths are honesty, integrity, hard working, and the ability to get the best out of people- what are yours?
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
cookies
Baking cookies and searching for a job are very similar. I know that this seems a bit strange, but let me explain:
1- both require multiple steps
2- both require more work than many think they do
3- both can not work if you don't do them correctly
4- both can be really satisfying if done properly
5- often both will benefit from some outside help
Tonight, I am baking cookies to put in my boys lunch boxes this week. The first cookie sheet came out of the oven and didn't do what I wanted it to. Then I double checked the recipe and realized I had put in baking powder instead of baking soda. Rather than give up, I went to the internet to get help- I learned how to adjust the recipe to allow for this. As I was adding baking soda to the dough to fix things a revelation hit me- I forgot to put in sugar as well. So I put in sugar and beat the dough by hand and now the first 2 cookie sheets are complete and they taste like chocolate chip cookies.
Tomorrow, I will meet with the career placement office at my Alma Mater in order to get some much needed help in my job search. Here's to the job search being as sweet as the cookies are.
1- both require multiple steps
2- both require more work than many think they do
3- both can not work if you don't do them correctly
4- both can be really satisfying if done properly
5- often both will benefit from some outside help
Tonight, I am baking cookies to put in my boys lunch boxes this week. The first cookie sheet came out of the oven and didn't do what I wanted it to. Then I double checked the recipe and realized I had put in baking powder instead of baking soda. Rather than give up, I went to the internet to get help- I learned how to adjust the recipe to allow for this. As I was adding baking soda to the dough to fix things a revelation hit me- I forgot to put in sugar as well. So I put in sugar and beat the dough by hand and now the first 2 cookie sheets are complete and they taste like chocolate chip cookies.
Tomorrow, I will meet with the career placement office at my Alma Mater in order to get some much needed help in my job search. Here's to the job search being as sweet as the cookies are.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Stating the obvious
Yesterday, at my son's baseball practice, I was asked the question I've been avoiding- I was asked what type of work I did. I paused for a moment, thinking of what I could say, and then said, "I am currently unemployed, but actively looking." It's true, but not something I have said out loud very often. Pride can often be a bad thing.
Through the years, I have had no problem speaking with people about what type of work I was doing, but to speak about not working, that's tough. Then this person told me that, "It must stink to be out of work, but you have a lot more time to spend with your kids- and that's a good thing."
The obvious things here are that the fear of speaking about something is often more frightening than saying it and if you don't tell people you are looking for work- they won't know and they won't be able to help you because you never know who might hear of a job opening that would be perfect for you.
Through the years, I have had no problem speaking with people about what type of work I was doing, but to speak about not working, that's tough. Then this person told me that, "It must stink to be out of work, but you have a lot more time to spend with your kids- and that's a good thing."
The obvious things here are that the fear of speaking about something is often more frightening than saying it and if you don't tell people you are looking for work- they won't know and they won't be able to help you because you never know who might hear of a job opening that would be perfect for you.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Weekends
I want to work in a meaningful position where I can help others to live better. Certainly sounds easy enough to me. I'm open to multiple types of companies. Although not-for-profits are set up with the purpose of helping others, there are many companies that either by the generosity of the owners or by what business they are in also fit this job category.
In a roundabout way, this brings me to my point today, weekends. It is late Saturday night as I write this and I wonder if it matters if I send any resumes out tonight or tomorrow. A hard copy resume can be put in the mail, but it won't get picked up until Monday. If I send an email, will it be looked at before Monday, probably not- and how will the person getting the email be reading them- will they read the newest first or the oldest first?
The answer I have come up with is simple. I will job search a little tonight, tomorrow is Mother's Day- so I will spend the day with my wife (the mother of my- no, our children) and I will spend an hour or so tomorrow evening searching.
In a roundabout way, this brings me to my point today, weekends. It is late Saturday night as I write this and I wonder if it matters if I send any resumes out tonight or tomorrow. A hard copy resume can be put in the mail, but it won't get picked up until Monday. If I send an email, will it be looked at before Monday, probably not- and how will the person getting the email be reading them- will they read the newest first or the oldest first?
The answer I have come up with is simple. I will job search a little tonight, tomorrow is Mother's Day- so I will spend the day with my wife (the mother of my- no, our children) and I will spend an hour or so tomorrow evening searching.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Should I use email?
Should I use email to send my resume? Of course, if the help wanted ad/posting says to send an email then it is alright. But what if you are sending an email cold to a name you picked up on the Internet. This is a question I have been pondering.
One of the job search books I recently read suggested looking in the phone book and contacting the companies you wish to work for. I'm sure that doing this won't hurt my job search, but I'm wondering what would be the best way, in 2011, to do this. A letter? A phone call? Or, an email?
I wonder if an email would be read. I know that I receive hundreds of emails a day, many of them trying to sell me something. Would my introductory email get sorted with the sales emails? That would probably depend on how I subjected the letter. Although I could say something like "great person looking for a job"- I should probably phrase it as "letter of introduction" or (if I was given the email by someone else) "mr. blankity blank suggested I send this to you" or "our mutual acquaintance ms blank thought I should meet you".
For now, I think I'll have to stick to an older method of communication, but if anyone has any suggestions, please post them. Thanks!
One of the job search books I recently read suggested looking in the phone book and contacting the companies you wish to work for. I'm sure that doing this won't hurt my job search, but I'm wondering what would be the best way, in 2011, to do this. A letter? A phone call? Or, an email?
I wonder if an email would be read. I know that I receive hundreds of emails a day, many of them trying to sell me something. Would my introductory email get sorted with the sales emails? That would probably depend on how I subjected the letter. Although I could say something like "great person looking for a job"- I should probably phrase it as "letter of introduction" or (if I was given the email by someone else) "mr. blankity blank suggested I send this to you" or "our mutual acquaintance ms blank thought I should meet you".
For now, I think I'll have to stick to an older method of communication, but if anyone has any suggestions, please post them. Thanks!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Customer Service- as I see it
In cover letters, I often bill myself as a "Customer Service Expert"- but I am never quite sure how much I should explain in the letter and how much I should leave out, to explain in the interview. Based on the recent lack of activity from this statement, I think I should explain it more in my cover letters.
This is my view of great customer service:
Rule #1- the customer is always right
Rule #2- when the customer is wrong, refer to rule #1
This is not original to me- I've seen it on signs in stores for years (I'm not sure who was the original)- but it rings true. Basically, if you make the customer feel special and appreciated, they (or at least most of them) will come back- even if you don't have the lowest prices. Everyone likes to feel special.
How many times have you walked into a retail store and been ignored and you're not even sure who works there? Does it make you want to go back?
On the other side, you don't want to be attacked when you walk into a store either. No one likes to have employees hounding you the minute you walk into the store.
My philosphy is to let the customer know you are there, available and that you care, but not to get in their way. This works on the phone as well. A customer calls with a question- it doesn't matter if the 100 previous calls have asked the same question- answering the question has to be treated as if it is the most important thing for you to be doing at that time. Make the customer feel wanted and special and they will come back.
Great customer service breeds brand loyalty and brand loyaly breeds profits in the long run.
This is my view of great customer service:
Rule #1- the customer is always right
Rule #2- when the customer is wrong, refer to rule #1
This is not original to me- I've seen it on signs in stores for years (I'm not sure who was the original)- but it rings true. Basically, if you make the customer feel special and appreciated, they (or at least most of them) will come back- even if you don't have the lowest prices. Everyone likes to feel special.
How many times have you walked into a retail store and been ignored and you're not even sure who works there? Does it make you want to go back?
On the other side, you don't want to be attacked when you walk into a store either. No one likes to have employees hounding you the minute you walk into the store.
My philosphy is to let the customer know you are there, available and that you care, but not to get in their way. This works on the phone as well. A customer calls with a question- it doesn't matter if the 100 previous calls have asked the same question- answering the question has to be treated as if it is the most important thing for you to be doing at that time. Make the customer feel wanted and special and they will come back.
Great customer service breeds brand loyalty and brand loyaly breeds profits in the long run.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The thrill of victory...the agony of defeat...
Job searching is not for the faint hearted. It's been 5 months since I left a part time telemarketing job which I was not good at (I had a hard time selling credit cards over the phone to, mainly, senior citizens). I had confidence that I'd be able to find a full time position quickly, if I was able to give it the attention I wanted to give it.
That was in January, it's now May and I am still looking. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I didn't think it would be so hard to find a position where "good customer service skills" isn't just a buzzword for selling more. Where flexible hours means you can take off for your kids concert, not "we're not sure when you'll work, so we want you not to plan anything, because you might be scheduled that day." Where the pay is a living wage. Where you don't need 5 years experience or a Masters degree to do something which pays $9 per hour.
I don't think I'm asking too much. I'm looking for someone to take a chance on a 43 year old man- married, with 6 kids- who wants to work- wants to learn new skills, but also wants to help to make the world a better place. My family and I are willing to live simple, so others can simply live. I'm not looking for 6 figures, I'm looking to be given a chance. This job search is truly like the old "Wide World of Sports" intro- the thrill of victory- both when I'm called for an interview and when I eventually land a position- and the agony of defeat, when either I get no response, of when I get an email telling me they are going with a better qualified candidate- I'm curious how I didn't qualify for the part time customer service position, but, I guess I'll never know.
Most days though, I feel that either I'm Job Searching or maybe, I'm just banging my head against the wall.
That was in January, it's now May and I am still looking. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I didn't think it would be so hard to find a position where "good customer service skills" isn't just a buzzword for selling more. Where flexible hours means you can take off for your kids concert, not "we're not sure when you'll work, so we want you not to plan anything, because you might be scheduled that day." Where the pay is a living wage. Where you don't need 5 years experience or a Masters degree to do something which pays $9 per hour.
I don't think I'm asking too much. I'm looking for someone to take a chance on a 43 year old man- married, with 6 kids- who wants to work- wants to learn new skills, but also wants to help to make the world a better place. My family and I are willing to live simple, so others can simply live. I'm not looking for 6 figures, I'm looking to be given a chance. This job search is truly like the old "Wide World of Sports" intro- the thrill of victory- both when I'm called for an interview and when I eventually land a position- and the agony of defeat, when either I get no response, of when I get an email telling me they are going with a better qualified candidate- I'm curious how I didn't qualify for the part time customer service position, but, I guess I'll never know.
Most days though, I feel that either I'm Job Searching or maybe, I'm just banging my head against the wall.
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