1. Editorial: Top Oxymorons
We're proud to announce some of the contributions of our readers from last month's enewsletter from our 'Top Oxymoron'. Mark wrote to us suggesting that if we were to include 'sensitive males' as one of our Top Oxymoron then we ought in the interest of equal opportunities include the term 'logical females.' A quick call to our client Tim revealed that his online 'T'shirt printing company already offered a 'Perfect Woman' 'T' shirt and he was ready to print any Oxymoron of your choice!
Many thanks to readers who rather surprisingly came up with the following Oxymorons:
Military Intelligence, Military Intelligence, Military Intelligence, Military Intelligence, Military Intelligence, Military Intelligence, Military Intelligence* (*recurring ad nauseum)
Please send us your favourites and we will continue to compile a comprehensive list for you.
ED: Is your CV Up to Date? Follow up, Report and Feedback on our Careersnet Forum 6-7pm on 18 March 2004
Thank you all for submitting your CVs and contributing to our 'Is your CV Up to date?' forum last week. We can report 256 unique visitors attending the foums with over 40 new forum users on the night. We received loads of individual's CVs for analysis - keep them coming! We're providing personal feedback on all of them as fast as we can. Phew!
We can break down the topics discussed on the forum into two main interest themes - What can I add to my CV to give it 'impact and definition' and 'How do I get recruiters attention?.'
Impact and Definition:There were some very interesting ideas for making your CV 'stand out from the crowd' as a young visitor to the forum was anxious to compete with the other 93,000-odd graduates from colleges and universities making their way in the world. Suggestions ranged from adding a 'tea bag' to your application to startling statements that capture attention such as '18 Visits to Sing Sing!' The summary opinion from the forum seems to be that whatever you decide to use as a personal descriptor needs to be designed with that reader's particular interests and potential prejudices in mind.
Getting the recruiters' attention: Many visitors to the forum made straight for the post - 'Why don't recruiters reply' and this lead to a spirited thread about the right and wrong and bestest way to get and keep recruiter's attention. My take on this is somewhat different and is the result of being a recruiter myself and having worked for years with thousands of people many of whom have made this elementary job hunting mistake, resulting in lost opportunities and much disappointment, ultimately increasing the length of time it takes them to make a good move!
If it is true that at least 75% of jobs are unadvertised (more like 90%) then what are you doing spending 75% of your time (more like 90%)getting recruitment consultant's attention? Remember job hunting is a lot like 'dating'. Just because someone is 'playing hard to get' does not mean they are worth 'getting'!
You need to concentrate on accessing that 'hidden market' using networking techniques and other proven methodologies (see my Career Manual) not waste time finding out that recruiters 'get fired' if they are found to be providing careers advice instead of doing what they are paid for - interviewing people for a paying client.
Most of the CVs we received from you are fine as they are - there are some tiny details that can make you 'more readily available' such as changing the file name of your CV to include your name *.doc, ensuring that your email address is on there and accurate and leaving your qualifications to last/bottom.
After all the 'hygiene factors' the most important question you need to ask yourself when reading your CV is 'Does it say what I want to do in the future?' If it does not SHOUT this loud and clear then how can you expect others to assess your potential from an 8 second (on average) glance?
If it is simply a question of not knowing what you want - then give me a call and we'll work on it together.
See you at our next forum on April 1 - 'Reduce Your Interview Nerves?' Same time, same place and the CV Forum was so popular that we will be running 'Is your CV Up to date, the Sequel' 15 April 2004. Stick it in your diary now.
Sincerely
Margaret
NB. If you can't make the time then register on our forums and read all about it the next day! It's not as exciting as being there - bit like attending a 'live' versus 'recorded' event - but it's a great way of catching up and keeping ahead!
2. Career Development Notes 1: Cyber Coach, Cyber Fitness and Cyber Schmooze
Cyber Coach: Even world-class athletes can't reach peak performance without a great coach. So it's no surprise that people who are trying to reach peak performance in their careers will seek the advice of career coaches. Thanks to the Web, getting career advice has never been faster or easier.
Margaret Stead is a master coach and business psychologist who offers advice to executives and entrepreneurs around the world. She works in a nice office in Solihull, but she provides much of her advice remotely - by phone or via email. In an interview, she spoke about the virtues of cyber-coaching.
More is better. "Using Careersnet.com helps us move the advice-giving process so much faster. Following up with email, I've been able to review CVs, cover letters, even outlines of talking points for an interview. We can also do certain assessments - of styles, talents, and personality tests - on site." Routines matter too. "The power of the web is that it allows you to communicate quickly. But it's crucial to have scheduled interactions as well. So the power of the site is in combining useful interactivities with personal one-to-one coaching. You can hear a lot in someone's voice."
Working by telephone and email is fun. "When I started telephone coaching years ago I was amazed to find how effective it was - there weren't many coaches who did cyber-coaching. Now we have a cyber-team of accredited coaches who are gifted at giving nuanced thoughts across the airwaves."
Coordinates: Margaret Stead www.careersnet.com
Cyber Fitness: For most individuals, the opportunity to invent a career path feels liberating and exciting. For companies, the same phenomenon presents a daunting challenge: How do we attract the best talent when so many talented people are moving in different directions?
Dave Aker, senior VP of worldwide human resources at Unisys Corp., says that companies should address the battle for talent by looking inside first: "You've got to keep the people you have, and develop them, so that you evolve your workforce over time."
How can you help your employees keep their careers up to speed? With a Career Fitness Centre. Using Careersnet as an internal web site, helps employees identify their strengths, as well as what they need to improve. It also offers tools that they can use to track their progress. As Aker says: "The bar keeps rising on performance. What better way to communicate the need to stay fit and develop new skills than the fitness-centre metaphor?"
In the Fitness Centre, users can go to the jobs section and browse through a list of open positions. They can get their manager's approval online to submit a CV. Moreover, users can track their "workouts" - skill assessments, feedback, coursework - in a Knowledge/ Skills Portfolio and personal planner.
Meanwhile, the Feedback and Coaching Corner is staffed by the company's volunteers who agree to serve as coaches. "This is not a technology application," explains Margaret. "It's an application by and for people."
Coordinates: Dave Aker,
Cyber Schmooze: Tricia had been looking for any ideas of where she could search for consultancy /project work for a couple of days a week during the summer months. With a background of experience in brand management, internal communications and some training and development.
Tuesday week, she joined a 'live' forum on careersnet.com called 'Starting Up in Business' hosted by Margaret Stead and a team of career experts - there to answer questions and give personal advice online. Over 363 people attended the forum to watch and learn whilst 80 individuals joined in, asked and answered questions.
"It's a great way of finding out what other people are thinking." Said Kath Kelly. "...And of asking those burning questions that don't appear in any self help manual!"
Tricia got some great ideas for finding project work quickly using visits to specialist exhibitions and networking with job gatekeepers - she'll need to take a first class CV with her - what's the bet she'll be attending her next networking event with a 'Cutting-edge CV.'
Coordinates: 'Is Your CV Cutting Edge?'
NB. Forums are a superb way of quietly attending a group meeting without ever having to reveal your presence. Most people hang around watching to begin with and then register themselves and begin to contribute, but there is no pressure.
NNB. If you are already registered for FR*E on Careersnet or are taking a Job Search or Executive programme then for privacy reasons you will need to register on the forums separately - it only takes two minutes - unless like me, you find you it difficult to choose from the huge selection of super 'avatars' or personal 'piccies' - in which case, give yourself some extra time.
3. Success Stories: 'Redeploying staff a boom business,' by Nick Easen, CNN
Nick Easen researches and writes about corporate affairs and he asked me to prove to him that redeployment or outplacement services 'made a difference.' We looked at back-to-work statistics with and without support. Experiential reports and testimonies from coaching clients. Independent reviews and analyses. Opinions of corporate clients, their staff and suppliers. Nobody can say the boy doesn't objectively research his material. We could have avoided all that work by simply asking - Can redeployment services really make a huge difference to your employment chances?
When we did on the CNN web site - 88% of people VOTED 'Yes!' -
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/BUSINESS/03/01/globaloffice.career/index.html
Nick is a journalist for CNN based in Hong Kong. We first made contact when he spotted an article about webblogs in this newsletter. He went on to write an article in January, with Ben Jeffs and myself about how to use blogs as a tool to develop your career and promote yourself. It was called and is available here: 'Budding Blogs for Business' If you'd like to learn more about how careersnet transition services can help your employees back to work then click here now.
4. Career Development Notes 2: HR & Psychometrics: What sort of tests do you use?
5. Just for a Laugh!: One Wish!
A woman was walking along the beach when she stumbled upon an unusual old lamp. She picked it up and cleaned it off, and suddenly a Genie appeared. The amazed woman asked if she was going to receive the usual three wishes.
The Genie said, "Nope...due to inflation, constant downsizing, low wages in third-world countries, and fierce global competition, I can only grant you one wish. So...what'll it be?"
The woman didn't hesitate. She said, "I want peace in the Middle East. See this map? I want these countries to stop fighting with each other."
The Genie looked at the map and exclaimed, "Gadzooks, lady! These countries have been at war for thousands of years. I'm good, but not THAT good! I don't think it can be done. Make another wish."
The woman thought for a minute and said, "Well, I've never been able to find the right man. You know, one that's considerate and fun, likes to cook and helps with the housecleaning, is good in bed and gets along with my family, doesn't watch sports all the time, and is faithful. That's what I wish for... a good mate."
The Genie let out a long sigh and said, "Let me see that damn map!"
ED: One of the favourite parts of my work is about helping people rebrand themselves and create promotional material that tell's the work- universe about their availability. The following is a classic example of someone who has done just that, creatively and you need to look at it fast before the lawyer's take it offline: Britney's Guide to Semiconductor Physics
