The Writing on the Wall

The Writing on the Wall Since yesterdays blog post title was cliche (Windows of Opportunity), why not todays? Ten years ago I was the general manager of a small software and networking services company. My path there was interesting I was an IT manager for a bigger company, and we acquired this little tiny software company, and then we acquired another tiny networking company.  For various reasons, things werent working out. Looking back on it, the intentions and plan were great, but it was a perfect-storm environment where we didnt have the right support, financing, leadership, talent, etc. to really make it work.  What could have been a very cool, nationwide company, was a floundering, stressful mess. I wasnt qualified to do what I was doing, but neither were two others, who were about 20 years older than I was. What we were trying to pull off was tricky, and the board was much more of a heavy-handed why isnt this working partner than a lets make this work, here are the right introductions partner. They totally could have been the latter, but they were the wrong partners, really. Everyone was stressed, from the top to the bottom, and our customers were feeling it. Even though I wasnt qualified, I was up to the challenge to learn, figure it out, put in the work, etc. Not fun. I remember when one of my key guys decided to leave the company. I was crushed.  Not too long after that, another key guy decided to leave. I didnt have very many key guys, and this was making a bad situation worse. So there we were, ten years ago, and it was clear that changes were going to happen. I was not happy, and the stress was taking a toll on my physical well-being as well as my family relationships. I needed to get out, and my wife and I both talked about how to get out of that company, but I was a very loyal guy. I also had a steady paycheck and benefits (I use that word loosely). I found it hard to walk away from my team, and the vision I had been nurturing. We were on a good path, I thought. And then, it happened. I didnt have to wallow in the choice making anymore, because others made the choice for me. What happened to me was no different than what happened to hundreds of thousands of others. Politics. Bad chemistry. Someone spending time fighting for that job, regardless of who would be hurt. Regardless of what was best for the company. Regardless of anything sane. In the end, politics won out.  Those who were easily swayed by a salesman who could sell ice to eskimos, as they say, were swayed. Ive learned that they have regretted, but have had to live with, that decision since then. Thats the bed they made though. I was free. Weight was lifted, and my health was on a path to be restored. I was also scared to death. I had never been forced into a transition before. I had never been in a real job search before. I didnt like not knowing where money would come from to pay my bills. We had bills to pay, and a baby on the way.  Having feelings of fear and uncertainty and elation and freedom, all at the same time, was new and weird. The interesting thing was that I knew this was coming. I knew what our financials were, I knew what we had in the pipeline, I knew where our products where, I knew where our customers were, and I even knew, to a small extent, how much politicking was going on (only later would I learn the extent of politicking that was really happening). But I knew enough, and I could see the writing on the wall.  Like a big brick wall, with big, graffitied letters. The messages were clear. BUT, I didnt trust the messages. I didnt trust my gut. I ignored the writing on the wall. I thought thats what happens to others, not people like me. Indeed, the writing was right. My gut was wrong. And thats why Im writing this post, because I want to share a message with you: TRUST YOUR GUT. Im not saying be paranoid, but Im saying to take in the information around you, read the writing on the wall, and trust your gut. Dont think that you are above the horrible things that you dont think will happen to you.  Your gut might be wrong, but the more you fine tune this skill, and trust yourself, youll be more prepared for things that happen that are out of your control.  But you will be prepared to handle those things by doing things that are in your control. This is a key element of career management. The Writing on the Wall Since yesterdays blog post title was cliche (Windows of Opportunity), why not todays? Ten years ago I was the general manager of a small software and networking services company. My path there was interesting I was an IT manager for a bigger company, and we acquired this little tiny software company, and then we acquired another tiny networking company.  For various reasons, things werent working out. Looking back on it, the intentions and plan were great, but it was a perfect-storm environment where we didnt have the right support, financing, leadership, talent, etc. to really make it work.  What could have been a very cool, nationwide company, was a floundering, stressful mess. I wasnt qualified to do what I was doing, but neither were two others, who were about 20 years older than I was. What we were trying to pull off was tricky, and the board was much more of a heavy-handed why isnt this working partner than a lets make this work, here are the right introductions partner. They totally could have been the latter, but they were the wrong partners, really. Everyone was stressed, from the top to the bottom, and our customers were feeling it. Even though I wasnt qualified, I was up to the challenge to learn, figure it out, put in the work, etc. Not fun. I remember when one of my key guys decided to leave the company. I was crushed.  Not too long after that, another key guy decided to leave. I didnt have very many key guys, and this was making a bad situation worse. So there we were, ten years ago, and it was clear that changes were going to happen. I was not happy, and the stress was taking a toll on my physical well-being as well as my family relationships. I needed to get out, and my wife and I both talked about how to get out of that company, but I was a very loyal guy. I also had a steady paycheck and benefits (I use that word loosely). I found it hard to walk away from my team, and the vision I had been nurturing. We were on a good path, I thought. And then, it happened. I didnt have to wallow in the choice making anymore, because others made the choice for me. What happened to me was no different than what happened to hundreds of thousands of others. Politics. Bad chemistry. Someone spending time fighting for that job, regardless of who would be hurt. Regardless of what was best for the company. Regardless of anything sane. In the end, politics won out.  Those who were easily swayed by a salesman who could sell ice to eskimos, as they say, were swayed. Ive learned that they have regretted, but have had to live with, that decision since then. Thats the bed they made though. I was free. Weight was lifted, and my health was on a path to be restored. I was also scared to death. I had never been forced into a transition before. I had never been in a real job search before. I didnt like not knowing where money would come from to pay my bills. We had bills to pay, and a baby on the way.  Having feelings of fear and uncertainty and elation and freedom, all at the same time, was new and weird. The interesting thing was that I knew this was coming. I knew what our financials were, I knew what we had in the pipeline, I knew where our products where, I knew where our customers were, and I even knew, to a small extent, how much politicking was going on (only later would I learn the extent of politicking that was really happening). But I knew enough, and I could see the writing on the wall.  Like a big brick wall, with big, graffitied letters. The messages were clear. BUT, I didnt trust the messages. I didnt trust my gut. I ignored the writing on the wall. I thought thats what happens to others, not people like me. Indeed, the writing was right. My gut was wrong. And thats why Im writing this post, because I want to share a message with you: TRUST YOUR GUT. Im not saying be paranoid, but Im saying to take in the information around you, read the writing on the wall, and trust your gut. Dont think that you are above the horrible things that you dont think will happen to you.  Your gut might be wrong, but the more you fine tune this skill, and trust yourself, youll be more prepared for things that happen that are out of your control.  But you will be prepared to handle those things by doing things that are in your control. This is a key element of career management. The Writing on the Wall Since yesterdays blog post title was cliche (Windows of Opportunity), why not todays? Ten years ago I was the general manager of a small software and networking services company. My path there was interesting I was an IT manager for a bigger company, and we acquired this little tiny software company, and then we acquired another tiny networking company.  For various reasons, things werent working out. Looking back on it, the intentions and plan were great, but it was a perfect-storm environment where we didnt have the right support, financing, leadership, talent, etc. to really make it work.  What could have been a very cool, nationwide company, was a floundering, stressful mess. I wasnt qualified to do what I was doing, but neither were two others, who were about 20 years older than I was. What we were trying to pull off was tricky, and the board was much more of a heavy-handed why isnt this working partner than a lets make this work, here are the right introductions partner. They totally could have been the latter, but they were the wrong partners, really. Everyone was stressed, from the top to the bottom, and our customers were feeling it. Even though I wasnt qualified, I was up to the challenge to learn, figure it out, put in the work, etc. Not fun. I remember when one of my key guys decided to leave the company. I was crushed.  Not too long after that, another key guy decided to leave. I didnt have very many key guys, and this was making a bad situation worse. So there we were, ten years ago, and it was clear that changes were going to happen. I was not happy, and the stress was taking a toll on my physical well-being as well as my family relationships. I needed to get out, and my wife and I both talked about how to get out of that company, but I was a very loyal guy. I also had a steady paycheck and benefits (I use that word loosely). I found it hard to walk away from my team, and the vision I had been nurturing. We were on a good path, I thought. And then, it happened. I didnt have to wallow in the choice making anymore, because others made the choice for me. What happened to me was no different than what happened to hundreds of thousands of others. Politics. Bad chemistry. Someone spending time fighting for that job, regardless of who would be hurt. Regardless of what was best for the company. Regardless of anything sane. In the end, politics won out.  Those who were easily swayed by a salesman who could sell ice to eskimos, as they say, were swayed. Ive learned that they have regretted, but have had to live with, that decision since then. Thats the bed they made though. I was free. Weight was lifted, and my health was on a path to be restored. I was also scared to death. I had never been forced into a transition before. I had never been in a real job search before. I didnt like not knowing where money would come from to pay my bills. We had bills to pay, and a baby on the way.  Having feelings of fear and uncertainty and elation and freedom, all at the same time, was new and weird. The interesting thing was that I knew this was coming. I knew what our financials were, I knew what we had in the pipeline, I knew where our products where, I knew where our customers were, and I even knew, to a small extent, how much politicking was going on (only later would I learn the extent of politicking that was really happening). But I knew enough, and I could see the writing on the wall.  Like a big brick wall, with big, graffitied letters. The messages were clear. BUT, I didnt trust the messages. I didnt trust my gut. I ignored the writing on the wall. I thought thats what happens to others, not people like me. Indeed, the writing was right. My gut was wrong. And thats why Im writing this post, because I want to share a message with you: TRUST YOUR GUT. Im not saying be paranoid, but Im saying to take in the information around you, read the writing on the wall, and trust your gut. Dont think that you are above the horrible things that you dont think will happen to you.  Your gut might be wrong, but the more you fine tune this skill, and trust yourself, youll be more prepared for things that happen that are out of your control.  But you will be prepared to handle those things by doing things that are in your control. This is a key element of career management.

8 Photos that Should NOT be on Your LinkedIn Profile

8 Photos that Should NOT be on Your LinkedIn Profile Apparently your LinkedIn profile is 11 times more likely to be viewed if it has a photo, but this doesnt mean any old photo. As a professional network, your profile image should represent the professional you. First impressions stick and a large part of the judgement people make when visiting your profile will be based on the photograph, so you want it to portray you in a positive light. You never know when a potential client/employer/business contact may stumble across you profile and you dont want to lose out on opportunities based on a sloppy choice of picture. So what kind of photos should be avoided on LinkedIn? Here are 8 examples that are best avoided, provided by Sales for Life. 1) The  retro shot: People dont care if you peaked in the 90s, they want to build an idea of what you are like now. So make sure you choose a photo that is up to date and portrays the person you are today, rather than 20 years ago. 2) The party pic: Its healthy to have a social life outside of work, but keep the photographic evidence to more personal networks like Facebook or Instagram. Im afraid this rules out pictures of  wild nights out, holiday snaps, etc. 3) Hiding in the shadows: People want to see what you actually look like, not just a face distorted by shadows, so make sure your photo is properly light. Natural lighting is best for avoiding harsh shadows. 4) The dating profile snap: Dont use anything too alluring, that would be better suited on a dating profile. 5)  Why so serious? People want to work with individuals who are easy to get along with have a positive attitude, so a photo of you smiling is much more effective than a stony-faced one. 6) The proud pet owner: Yes we get it, theyre just SO cute! But this doesnt mean your pets should get a feature on your LinkedIn profile. Your photo should represent your professional life, so unless you work with animals, no pets  allowed Im afraid. 7) The selfie: Having a 30 minute selfie photoshoot to find the best angle may produce the most flattering photo, but overly posed selfies dont really give off a professional vibe, so keep them for Instagram. 8) Anonymous: The first thing you should do is change the default image on your profile, bye bye Mr. silhouette man!

5 Things The Apprentice Teaches Us About Job Interviews

5 Things The Apprentice Teaches Us About Job Interviews The BBC’s Apprentice is one of the toughest and longest job interview processes in the world â€" and the stakes are high with contestants fighting it out for a £250,000 investment from one of the UK’s most successful self-made millionaires, Lord Sugar. While you could argue that the show has become more geared towards entertainment in recent years, there is still a lot we can learn from it which can be applied to real life job interview situations. Especially when it comes to the brutal boardroom battles that have left many candidates flustered and speechless before being ushered home in a taxi. 1) Speak in plain English Using business jargon or “corporate guff” as Lord Sugar sometimes calls it, is a very easy way to alienate yourself from an interviewer. Phrases like “blue sky thinking” and “core competency metrics” are sometimes used by candidates in an attempt to appear intelligent, but they often have the reverse effect. This type of jargon can leave interviewers feeling a bit puzzled and they will assume that the candidate is simply trying to fill a lack of knowledge with over- elaborate phrases and clichés. If you want to build a strong relationship with your interviewer and break down the communication barriers, then talk to them like a real person and explain what value you can bring to them in simple yet professional English. 2) Be modest We all know that you have to sell yourself in a job interview but there’s a fine between confidence and arrogance that you should never cross. Elle Stevenson from this year’s series claimed “I hate anything mediocre… I’ve never been that person that comes second”, however Lord Sugar did not agree and fired her in week six after a poor performance in a buying task. She talked the talk but she couldn’t walk the walk. Yes, you should endeavour to highlight your skills and achievements in a job interview, but back your claims up with evidence and don’t make outlandish statements or wild exaggerations they may come back to haunt you very quickly. 3) Fight your corner Interviews can be tough and employers will always be keen to delve into your weaknesses as they try to build a full picture of your skills and knowledge. We often hear Lord Sugar say things like “who is to blame for the failure of this task?” or “what went wrong on this task?” Many contestants shy away from these questions in an attempt to avoid confrontation but that doesn’t go unnoticed by Sugar. He prefers a candidate who can recognise mistakes, take responsibility and demonstrate that they won’t make the same mistake again. If an interviewer is quizzing you on you your weaknesses, then make sure that you meet the questions head on and explain how you can manage your skill gaps to ensure that they don’t have an adverse effect on your performance â€" and explain what steps you are taking to improve your abilities in that area. 4) Be prepared When it comes to The Apprentice’s interview stage, a contestant’s lack of preparation is almost guaranteed to result in their firing.  In 2014’s series, Solomon Akhtar entered with a poorly prepared business plan and it didn’t go down well at all with Lord Sugar’s current advisor Claude Littner.  Claude branded Solomon’s two-page business plan a “bloody disgrace” and asked him to leave instantly â€" he was later fired by Lord Sugar. When you are interviewing for your next career move, don’t leave anything to chance. Not only should you fully research the company in all areas relevant to your role, you should also take along some supporting documentation to back up your case for employing you; such as performance figures, awards and media mentions. You can even research the interviewer on LinkedIn to get a better idea of their background and current role. 5) Show your personal contribution Nothing annoys Lord Sugar more than somebody who rides on the coattails of somebody else’s success. In the boardroom, if a contestant says, “I’ve been on the winning team 5 times in a row”, Sugar will always reply with something like, “great, but what did you actually do in those tasks?” He looks for candidates who go out and make things happen. He doesn’t want to go into business with people who sit on the side line and take all the credit for other people’s hard work. The same is true when you are interviewing for a role; the interviewer wants to know what you can personally bring to their organisation. So be careful when wording your answers and use the word “I” more often than the word “we” to show the actions that you’ve personally taken to contribute to the success of former employers. Overall The Apprentice teaches us that competition can be fierce when a coveted role is up for grabs, so make sure you’re pulling out all the stops to show the interviewer why you should be hired rather than fired.

20 Dos and Donts for Your Company on LinkedIn

20 Dos and Donts for Your Company on LinkedIn LinkedIn you either do it, or you dont. Everyone knows how to build the perfect LinkedIn profile   but do you know how to operate as a business on the site? There are over 500  million users on LinkedIn, covering 200 countries and territories worldwide and 40% of these check the site daily. Thats a wide audience that you may be missing out on.  Additionally, is your CEO on social media? 22% of CEOs of the top 50 fortune companies are on  LinkedIn, which is up from 6% in 2012, with 47% of B2B businesses using LinkedIn themselves. If youre not doing LinkedIn, or doing it right, you could be missing out some important business. This infographic by our friends at Salesforce will give you some dos and donts if you have any other tips or advice, make sure to leave them in the comments or tweet them to us @UndercoverRec! Takeaways: DO:  treat your profile like a professional brochure with an appropriate image and up-to-date information. DONT:  never send spammy messages avoid including sales pitches. DO: be active in groups, by posting relevant discussions and engage with other peoples posts. DONT: try to steer clear of always self promoting other users want to learn something, not just be sold to. DO: nurture relationships by keeping up conversations and always engaging with your network. RELATED: 10 LinkedIn Profile Words Recruiters Must Avoid

H1B Premium Processing Resume - How to Write Your Resume in 5 Minutes

H1B Premium Processing Resume - How to Write Your Resume in 5 MinutesH1B Premium Processing Resume is a great tool to write your resume. Many people are still not using this tool, which is why it is so helpful for those who have not been using it yet.H1B premium processing resume is a professional resume writing service that helps you write your resume and get it accepted for the United States Immigration requirements. Their experience as a website creator and outsourcing company helps them take care of all the details regarding your resume. If you're trying to get hired, H1B premium processing resume is the answer.It is often hard to find an online resume service that will take care of all the details that you have. Especially, when it comes to getting your resume approved for the immigration requirements. H1B premium processing resume makes sure that they are using the latest template and software that will make your job easier. You can also guarantee the success of your resume sin ce they offer a money back guarantee.This service is especially useful for those who do not have any background in writing but want to get their resume approved for the United States Immigration requirements. If you know anything about writing a resume, then this service will help you out a lot. They even give a sample resume that can be used for free or for $5.H1B premium processing resume is different from other online resume services. Their main goal is to provide customers with the best possible service at the lowest price possible. They offer a 100% money back guarantee if you find that your resume did not meet their standards and they will gladly refund your money.The reason why H1B premium processing resume has a money back guarantee is because they have proven that their service works. They have been around for a few years now and have helped many individuals get jobs, especially those with no experience writing resumes.The H1B premium processing resume software is powerful and easy to use. It takes all the stress and anxiety out of your job application process.They are very easy to use, meaning that you can quickly write a resume with their online resume service. If you are interested in H1B premium processing resume, make sure that you are making the right decision by contacting them for a free quote.

LinkedIn Networking #FAIL Heres What Not To Do - Pathfinder Careers

LinkedIn Networking #FAIL Heres What Not To Do - Pathfinder Careers LinkedIn Networking #FAIL: Heres What Not To Do Yesterday, I was speaking at a business group on the concept of career management, and among the many topics I covered, we discussed networking. Particularly, the dos and donts of how to do it right. Then, ironically, I received the following astounding email shortly after my speech concluded.  As an open networker, I dont mind connecting to folks, but when any of us get messages from someone weve never met or interacted with (like the one below), we totally cringe: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Good afternoon Dawn, Thank you for connecting with me via  LinkedIn.  Ive been with (ABC Company) for 5+ years. During that time I’ve managed to elude the rounds of layoffs due to the economy…until three weeks ago.  Please review my Linkedin profile, endorse any of my qualifications you deem appropriate and should you hear of any job opportunities in (state), I hope you will reach out to me or point them in my direction. I have been in the (XYZ) industry for many years, have stellar references, am extremely hands-on, and strategically capable. Thank you in advance for your any assistance you can offer. With kind regards,  Person A ~~~~~~~~~~~~ What do you think is wrong with this picture?? This person didnt get it at all which was my first impression. But as a career services provider, I saw someone who was basically becoming their own biggest obstacle to their job search. So I sent the following email back in response: ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Person A, I got your message and wanted to respond with some insights that will hopefully help you with your job search. Please accept this advice in the helpful spirit in which is intended. ?? The message you sent (not sure if you are sending other ones out that are similar) was extremely off-putting not many people would take the time to provide the reasons as to why, but please forgive me as I am currently channeling my inner career coach right now Asking for endorsements from someone you dont know one iota simply comes across as very desperate, and not very focused. It would be better if you asked folks that have first-hand experience with your performance and abilities, rather than asking complete strangers to do this. From the other side of the coin perspective, this request comes across as an attempt to leverage my reputation (and subsequent endorsement) for your own personal gain most folks would walk away, seeing this as unethical. Additionally, requesting to connect then immediately turning around a demand for any job leads seems very entitled. I dont know you- why on earth should I help you? is what most people would think once they read that part of your message. Having worked with many folks in the exact same situation as yourself, my advice is to take the time to build up a meaningful connection before making any kind of ask otherwise, you risk alienating people rather than galvanizing them to act on your behalf. Another helpful suggestion is to pay attention to where the contacts are located; I am in Oregon, so what would be the odds that I would have a lot of connections in (state)? Not very good. Try to find the best-connected people in YOUR target area thats critical. Also, as a job search advisor, I frequently coach clients and speak to groups about the value of setting up a job search that is focused on target companies, then leveraging your existing network of contacts to make connections at those top businesses. Thats how networking can pay off. I understand that you are likely in panic mode which precipitated the email that you sent, but youll be much more effective if you work to build meaningful connections, cultivate the ones you have, and are as specific as possible about target companies that you would like to reach. Hope this helps, and I wish you best of luck in your job search I know this is a tough time, so hang in there. Best regards, Dawn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Of course, it occurred to me that this person might take my message the wrong way and I would get back an ugly response. But I hoped that they wouldnt. Fortunately, I got an email back that was very appreciative, and the person actually checked on their end and was chagrined to see that they had sent me the wrong email content. But the important message here is that any time we reach out to someone that we dont know, we need to be mindful of how we are coming across and careful about what we send to them.  One mistake can completely blow our chances of ever having developed a meaningful relationship with them!

Is it OK to email thank you notes... Plus, How to get employers to see beyond past job titles

Is it OK to email thank you notes... Plus, How to get employers to see beyond past job titles Is it OK to email thank you notes? I am a big believer in sending thank you notes after job interviews and was told when I got my first job out of college that the reason I got the job was because I sent a thank you note! In this day and age, is it better to send a handwritten thank you note or an email? Advice from Dana Email is not only appropriate, its recommended. And send the emails within 24 hours â€" just make sure theyre personalized. Why 24 hours? You often interview with multiple people, right? So, when they all huddle together after the interview, they will have your thank you note. Be sure to collect business cards or email addresses from your interviewers (including phone interviewers). You are free to send a written note, of course, especially for a follow-up a few weeks after the interview. Ill never forget when a candidate left a handwritten thank you note with the receptionist on his way out the door of our interview! He obviously was carrying blank cards in his briefcase and took a minute in the lobby to write a personal note. Nice touch! Question 2 Over the years I have had multiple positions in multiple industries, and that is causing difficulties in finding my next great adventure. I was general manager with a semiconductor equipment company, director with a technology transfer company, and vice president with a commercial construction company. I feel my expertise is in operations and building strong client relationships. How can I get potential employers to see beyond my past titles? It seems when they cant fit you in a box, they dont know what to do with you. Advice from Dana For anyone that is concerned about the multiple elements in your (great!) background, it’s time to pause and break it apart. Let’s dissect it together: Multiple industries: This is a benefit! You have been able to apply your operational and client relations skills to various environments. Find ways to summarize their commonalities. All of them are industrial in nature and business-to-business. Do they have other similar elements? Leverage your knowledge of these industries and stay in similar industries for the positions you are targeting. Titles: You have been a director, GM and VP, which shows progression. However, it is well known that titles at one company don’t necessarily equate to titles at another. For example, I was a VP at Kodak then a GM at Microsoft. The only challenge I see, and that depends on the jobs you apply for, is that a new company may believe you are overqualified. Convince them through your cover letter and interviews that you are passionate about the position, regardless of title. Functions: This is the part I cant see in your question, but I imagine this may be where the confusion lies. I do agree with your assessment that, “It seems when they cant fit you in a box, they dont know what to do with you.” It’s up to YOU to define what type of functional leader you want to be, not the hiring manager. In what department do you want to sit within their company? Dont be squishy! Are you an operations person? Customer service manager? Sales? Putting industries and titles from your past aside, you need to have a clear description of your job search goal and be able to explain it with clarity and confidence to your network and hiring managers. Dont apply to roles outside of your bullseye or â€" youre right â€" it wont make sense.