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college graduates

Building and Contributing to Your Own Stimulus Package During Covid-19

Building and Contributing to Your Own Stimulus Package During Covid-19

As we’re all aware, organizations are taking significant measures to mitigate the spread of the disease. The virus is already having an impact on job seekers and the entire lifecycle of the hiring process.

What steps can you take now to better meet and respond to the current challenges, adopt a healthy mindset, focus your efforts on what you do have control over, and tap trusted resources to support your preparation and better position you for the opportunities that hopefully lie ahead?

From Setbacks to Comebacks: Reinvesting in yourself!

Consider what a pivot in your career/job path might look like, and determine what’s required to make you more relevant in the upcoming gig economy? Think about the kind of hard and soft skills companies will require and seek in existing and new employees. Here’s a valuable reference point pertaining exclusively to the technology space. If this is an area you have an interest in or have dabbled in the past, determine what if any skill gaps, training and certifications would make sense to investigate: https://www.beseen.com/blog/talent/top-tech-skills-2020/.

Another company fully committed to scaling and “skilling up” the next generation of IT talent is IBM. They have an ambitious training program for New Collar employees. The following article was written in 2018, but offers keen insights applicable in today’s market. 

https://www.ibm.com/blogs/ibm-training/how-do-we-skill-up-the-next-generation-of-it-talent-ibm-has-a-plan-with-new-collar

What You Do Have Control Over

Adopting a mindset of Flexibility in how you evaluate opportunities outside of your normal job duties, even considering a different industry is key now. There are several companies looking to beef up their workforce. Walmart, Amazon’s fulfillment centers want to add 100,000 new employees to meet the current demand. Pizza chains – Poppa Johns in particular, grocery chains across the country are actively recruiting and fast tracking the hiring process. (You may need to have a temperature check.)

Six Degrees of Separation

A likely positive outgrowth from this situation is that it will encourage employers to leverage their remote-work technology, offering greater flexibility in the workplace. That’s good for job seekers and current employees. It’s a reasonable assumption that remote work is not a passing phase and more companies will find opportunities for virtual recruiting, inviting a different level of connection between HR and candidates as they test-drive remote capabilities. Getting comfortable with virtual and one-way interviews is essential.

Seeking new ways for connection in the age of social distancing.

I'm a believer that the actions of companies/organizations offer a vital window into their culture. Research how they are handling this crisis. Is it being handled in a way that is comfortable to you? Does it track with your values, seem rational and well considered? These are telling moments in the administration of a company that most likely will reverberate throughout its operation.

Let this inform a short list of companies you’d like to get to know, apply to an immediate opening/s, and/or establish a connection, planting seeds for when hiring resumes. As I’ve referenced in prior posts, a targeted letter of introduction is a powerful tool and sets you apart from other candidates who may be waiting for a job to open before they reach out. Research the company’s brand, what resonates with you about their products and services, culture, mission, business development practices, and tailor your outreach to showcase relevant aspects of your background, interests and capacity to meet the challenges of the organization. Invite an information interview during this period of social distancing. You may be surprised how welcoming a conversation may be, if your outreach shows an authentic and thoughtful desire to learn about the organization.

 Here’s wishing us all a mindset of improvisation, creativity and purposeful action as we navigate this period of uncertainty.

Take good care!

Coach, CarrieOn

 

 

Career Ready: Distinguishing Yourself From the Interview Pack

Career Ready: Distinguishing Yourself From the Interview Pack

What does it mean to be the PC…The Perfect Candidate? It begins with your STORY.

Is your ambitious college grad on the verge of entering the job market or currently teeing-up that invaluable summer internship? If so – and they can demonstrate in a well-crafted cover letter and resume that they have some of the requisite skills organizations’ value, they’ll be far closer to landing that first gig! 
But first – they’ve got to GET the interview. And then – they’ve got to NAIL it!

No doubt, it’s a highly competitive landscape out there, with far more candidates vying for far fewer jobs. Your job is to rise above the crowd by first establishing you’re a serious candidate on paper! And you accomplish this by focusing on the transferability of your current skills! These may include your college and any relevant extracurricular activities AND their application in the environment you would like to enter (presumably, that of your target organization.) The takeaway here: no generic cover letters. Customize, tailor, tailor, tailor. One good test is to ask your friends, parents – that man on the street, if they can tell what job you’re applying for just by looking at your resume. If they can, terrific! And if you stay with me, below I’ll make a quick reference to how the job description can be your best guide in crafting your resume.

So, let’s make some assumptions and say you’ve advanced from the initial phone screen to the in-person interview. Now what????

Here’s where I come in: showing you how to effectively convey your winning attributes in an in-person interview.

Together We Will:

• Identify your (USP) Unique Selling Proposition.
• Capitalize on what sets you apart from your competition. 
• Understand the difference between the Traditional Vanilla and Behavioral-Based Interview and how that translates into your interview preparation. 
• How crafting a well-structured storyline “STARS” can address any question an interviewer tosses over the net with a sure-fire lob back! 
• How Mise en Place (MEEZ-ahn-plahs) – the French culinary term that means “everything in its place” translates into successful interview preparation and outcome. 
• What your body language says that speaks louder than any words.
• Pacing, and that all important VOICE. How to ensure that yours is a three-chair turner.
• How to address broad and equally lame interview questions such as: “So, tell me about yourself? (And they don’t mean if you’re a vegan.)
• Why the Job description should become your best friend and greatest source of intel. 
 • Shifting the traditional interview mindset; recognizing it’s not about you to IT’s ALL ABOUT THEM!!!!!
• How to turn your stretches into strengths when asked about your greatest weaknesses.
• How best to authentically position yourself to showcase your value to the organization.
• How to be a closer, not a poser.

 

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CarrieON Coaching

Carrie on Rock Sedona-01-1.jpg

CarrieON Coaching

Greetings, Parents, and Friends

Is your ambitious college grad on the verge of entering the job market or currently teeing-up that invaluable summer internship? If so – and they can demonstrate in a well-crafted cover letter and resume that they have some of the requisite skills organizations’ value, they’ll be far closer to landing that first gig! But first – they’ve got to GET the interview. And then – they’ve got to NAIL it! (And no offense, but if I may speak directly to your youngin’s.)

No doubt, it’s a highly competitive landscape out there, with far more candidates vying for far fewer jobs. Your job is to rise above the crowd by first establishing you’re a serious candidate on paper! And you accomplish this by focusing on the transferability of your current skills! These may include your college and any relevant extracurricular activities AND their application in the environment you would like to enter (presumably, that of your target organization.) The takeaway here: no generic cover letters. Customize, tailor, tailor, tailor. One good test is to ask your friends, parents – that man on the street, if they can tell what job you’re applying for just by looking at your resume. If they can, terrific! And if you stay with me, below I’ll make a quick reference to how the job description can be your best guide in crafting your resume.

So, let’s make some assumptions and say you’ve advanced from the initial phone screen to the in-person interview. Now what????

Here’s where I come in: showing you how to effectively convey your winning attributes in an in-person interview.

Together we will:

• Identify your (USP) Unique Selling Proposition.

• Capitalize on what sets you apart from your competition.

• Understand the difference between the Traditional Vanilla and Behavioral-Based Interview and how that translates into your interview preparation.

• How crafting a well-structured storyline “STARS” can address any question an interviewer tosses over the net with a sure-fire lob back! • How Mise en Place (MEEZ-ahn-plahs) – the French culinary term that means “everything in its place” translates into successful interview preparation and outcome.

• What your body language says that speaks louder than any words. • Pacing, and that all important VOICE. How to ensure that yours is a three-chair turner.

• How to address broad and equally lame interview questions such as: “So, tell me about yourself? (And they don’t mean if you’re a vegan.)

• Why the Job description should become your best friend and greatest source of intel.

• Shifting the traditional interview mindset; recognizing it’s not about you to IT’s ALL ABOUT THEM!!!!! • How to turn your stretches into strengths when asked about your greatest weaknesses.

• How best to authentically position yourself to showcase your value to the organization.

• How to be a closer, not a poser.

If I may be of service, I hope you'll connect. If not, I wish you the best in your endeavors, and most importantly, enjoy the ride! Be well!

 

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