The Roll-out

This post is dedicated to the job seekers that I, personally, feel the most connected with. 

Here’s to you recent college graduates! 

As a recent college grad myself…I know exactly how many of you are feeling.  And I’m not talking about the smug sense of accomplishment that goes along with that new addition to your wall decór.  (When my college diploma arrived in a cardboard cylinder tube my little sister exclaimed: “JULIE!!!  You got a new POSTER in the mail!”…)  I’m talking about the feeling that materializes after all of the graduation parties have been celebrated, and after all of the checks have been deposited and thank-you notes sent.  It’s difficult to describe but its something like excitement, fear, anticipation, and nausea.  I found myself avoiding family get togethers so that I would not have to answer the inevitable:  “So what are you doing now, Julie?”  Because I didn’t know, I had no idea what I wanted to do or what was the best path to take to get there. 

I consider myself very fortunate because I managed to find a job that I enjoy coming to every day.  I genuinely enjoy the people that I work with ( Cheers, guys).  But the point that I am trying to make is that its okay to not know.  Gone are they days when after graduation one started with a company and then 45 or so years later retired there.  Today young adults are expected to have quite a few different jobs throughout their career.  I work at a staffing agency, and one thing I have learned:

Every job is temporary.

This simple statement can take on a few different meanings.  Firstly, we cannot predict the future.  It is unwise to get too comfortable, no matter if you’re a first year intern or the CFO.  Not only is the economy unpredictable, but so is your company’s future and your personal life.  You never know what could happen. 

 (Just ask the shareholders of Netflix.  After a recent change in their product line, and a significant price increase, Netflix lost 1 million members and shares dropped 18%. )

Secondly, its important to learn from every work experience.  (This is directed at you, recent grads)  Let’s face it…we may not land our “dream job” right off the bat.  We may have to pay our dues for a couple of years, and that’s OKAY.  What’s imperative is to remember that every position we take is an opportunity to gain some new skills. 

Tip:  As a recent graduate, you have little to no experience.  Some may consider this to be a problem…WRONG.  This could be your biggest selling point.  Why?  Because you are a blank slate, you are open to new ideas and can adapt to almost any corporate culture.  Often times companies are specifically looking for young people because more seasoned candidates are already set in their ways.  The problem is their “ways” may be a little out of date.  Embrace your, for lack of a better word, naïveté.  In your interview express how you 1.  Have no baggage, 2.  Are willing to be molded, and 3.  Are full of energy and ideas…they’ll eat it up.

And lastly, remember to value yourself.  Granted, you may be young and inexperienced…and maybe not sure what the heck you’re doing half the time (ahem, cough cough).  But that doesn’t mean that you do not deserve respect.  If you find yourself in a situation where your company is not treating you fairly, or you are truly uncomfortable in your surroundings…don’t be afraid to walk away.  My Dad once told me something I’ll never forget.  After being in business for many years, he learned that it is inevitable that we make mistakes and bad judgement calls.  He also learned that you have to roll with the punches because life gives you a million chances.  As long as you learn from your mistakes and grow as a result, you’ll do alright.  So don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself, because you will be better for it…and another opportunity will present itself…you just have to keep your eyes open.

-JG

Labor Day is over, and summer is drawing to a close.  No more excuses, it’s time to get serious.  Time to take an honest look at your job search efforts and determine whether or not you are using your time effectively and efficiently.  Here is the Who, What, Where, When, & Why of your new and improved job search.

 WHO are you?  Your Resume.

 Updating your resume requires MORE than just rearranging the “Education” and “Employment” sections.  And it is more than just changing the font to a more personable “Georgia” instead of the standard Times New Roman.  Times have changed.  The first “person” to read your resume may not a person at all.  It could be a computer scanning a Word Doc for keywords.  It does not matter how qualified you are for a position; if you do not have the proper keywords in your resume you will not be noticed.  The best place to find appropriate keywords?  The Job Ad.  Scour that ad and make sure that your potential employer is finding what they are looking for in your resume very visibly.  Make it easy for them.  And, yes, this means that for each individual job you apply for you should be updating and rewording your resume.  I understand that this will be a little tedious…but I promise you it will be worth it.  Blindly sending out the same generic resume for every position you apply for makes you look just that…generic.

 WHAT are you selling?  Your Personal Brand.

I know that I have touched on this subject a couple of times now, but that is only because it is such an incredibly important issue!!  Alliterations aside, here is a checklist of key components to a successful Personal Brand:

1. An updated Linked In profile with all of your previous work history.  There are several tools available on Linked In, use them!  Ask previous employers for recommendations, have your Twitter account feed on your profile, and be sure to connect with as many people as possible
2. An appropriate Facebook page that lets your personality shine through.  Your Facebook page should show employers that you are a real person with real interests, and that you can balance those interests and a successful career which you outlined in your Linked In profile.
3. An active Twitter account, keyword ACTIVE.  This is perhaps your most engaging tool, because when used appropriately Twitter can allow you to have conversations with anybody in your industry.  Tweet early, Tweet often.
4. Another component to your Personal Brand is a blog.  You must assume that when you apply for a new job, they are going to Google you.  You have the ability to control what shows up when your name gets plugged into that search engine!  The top slots should be gushing with positive information.  A blog provides the perfect tool to express yourself and your opinions.  Once an employer checks out your blog with all of your good ideas and charismatic prose…they won’t be able to resist!

WHERE are you looking?  Your Network.

 Knowing where to look can be the most difficult part of the job search.  Skimming over the “Classified” section of the local newspaper is NOT going to cut it.  Blasting your generic resume to dozens of job postings found on popular online job boards is also not going to cut it.  As a recruiter I am constantly reading resumes for open positions that we have available.  It amazes me how many people apply for positions they are so obviously not a fit for.  If you are looking for an interview, you need to specifically target where you are sending your resume.  This is where your network comes into play, and when you realize how important developing your Personal Brand is.  Use the tools discussed previously to research companies and find out who is hiring.  Be an active job seeker, not a passive one.  Waiting by the phone is not going to get you anywhere.  GET OUT THERE and show them what you got.  Request an informational interview with your dream company so that you can make a possible connection there.  Attend networking functions in your area and then FOLLOW UP with whoever you met.  The more people you meet, the better your chances of landing an interview. 

 WHEN should you start looking?  Right NOW!

 You should view your job search as a full time job.  That is how much energy you should be putting into it.  And there is no better time to get serious than today, right now.  For the lucky ones out there, you never know what the future may hold for you, or for the company you work for.  That is why it is important to continue maintaining your network even after you land a job.  No pessimism intended, just realism. 

…and finally, WHY is all of this so important?

I think L’Oréal says it best…”Because you’re worth it!”   (Haha…couldn’t resist…)

Good luck out there everybody!!

-JG

Morgan and Julie repping their teams…this season is going to get interesting. 

It’s that time of the year again.

…when your best friend can become your greatest enemy…

…when Sunday Funday gets a little out of hand…

…and, of course, when you suck up to whoever you have to in order to land those company seats at the game.

Here’s to a great football season.

So I have been in the workforce for a solid 7 months now.  And, granted, that is not exactly a long time and I understand that.  However, I have witnessed a phenomenon and I feel the need to comment on it.  I am going to call this phenomenon “The Grumble Effect”.

The Grumble Effect occurs every single work day around 11:15 AM.  (Give or take 15 minutes)  After the obligatory morning phone call buzz dies down, and the customary two cups of coffee have been drunk (sometimes a mocha latte from Starbucks if I’m feeling a little crazy)…inevitably somebody’s stomach grumbles. 

**Sidenote regarding Starbucks: What is with the game of 20 questions everytime I order my latte?  Look, let’s be real I got WHOLE milk…obviously I’m going to want the whipped cream and choc. syrup…

It’s important to note that nobody comments on the fact that somebody’s stomach just grumbled…everyone just makes a mental note of it.  There is a lull that occurs in the phone lines for about 3 to 5 minutes.  Don’t be fooled by the initial lull, it’s usually just a 45 second tease and then the phone rings again.  And then it happens…somebody says out loud what we have all been thinking since about 10:30 AM (Okay, okay since we got to the office… ): 

“So, what’s for lunch?”

The discussions/negotiations that ensue after these fateful words can last anywhere from 20 minutes to a full hour.  It absolutely astounds me.  The thought and care that goes into which place to get take-out from rivals that of any other major business decision…for an experience which usually lasts on average 10-15 minutes. 

You can count on this phenomenon to occur every single work day, without fail, in every single office in the country.  I can offer you no solution to the amount of time wasted in debate, I just wish you all decisiveness and patience in all of your future endeavors…lunch or otherwise.

-JG

A quick note on the “Personal Brand” idea that I mentioned previously…

The term “Personal Brand” is defined by Dan Schawbel** as the process by which we market ourselves to others.  If you are currently in the job market than you are, by default, a salesman.  Your product?  YOU.  Therefore, like it or not, you must define what you are selling so that you can market your product effectively.  We aren’t going to sugar-coat it for you, it is tough out there right now…which is why you need a marketing strategy that will convince employers that they do not just want you, they NEED your creative, hard-working, and excited self to sign on with their company.

There are a plethora of tools available for you to get started creating a personal brand.  What you need to make sure of is that these tools are working for you and not against you.  For example, most job seekers have set up a Linked In profile as well as a Facebook page and a Twitter account.  Now, a very wise person once told me (Hi, Mom) that “Perception is Reality”.  I quite literally could not think of three truer words.  When you walk into an interview you want to give a good first impression.  These days, that first impression could have been made days ago…when the recruiter found your resume…Googled you…and then did NOT call you after seeing your Facebook pics.  Your profiles that you create via social media profiles are your new first impression.  The way a recruiter perceives you to be based on your personal brand is, in fact, the way you are.  Because their perception at that moment is how they decide whether or not to call you for that position.

Just so we’re clear: Profile Pictures

BAD

GOOD

MJ Morgan Group has officially registered its team for the 2011 Team Relay in the Under Armour Baltimore Marathon.

I think it goes without saying that we are looking for a solid victory this year.  We will be counting on Moogs to establish the lead early so that Mista Pat and JG can tackle the hilly sections, and then Trey will come through as anchor and leave the other teams in the dust.  It’s training season guys, lets put our game faces on. 

For more information regarding the Baltimore Marathon check out their website:

The Baltimore Marathon

Since the mid 1990s the Internet has had a profound impact on culture, society, and the world of business.  We interact with people in new and different ways every single day.  Communication is instantaneous.  Faxing, regular (snail) mail, and conferences have been replaced by e-mail, Skype, and Webinars.  We are able to research competitors, find potential leads, and interact with current customers from the comfort of our own desks…and even our own homes! 

When social media entered  the picture, communication evolved yet again.  The term “Personal Brand” was coined and everybody has since established an online presence on Linked In, Twitter, and of course, Facebook.  Job Seekers are more than just one piece of paper summarizing their job history, skills, and references.  A Job Seeker can be someone with their own blog expressing his or her opinions, a Linked In profile with recommendations from previous employers…this profile probably has a feed to a Twitter account which documents what the candidate is up to on a day-to-day basis.

All of this info. is online…so tell me, what about the old days?  Should we toss aside old school practices such as distributing business cards?  Does the traditional business card have a place in this new 140 character or less world?

 As a recent business administration graduate, receiving my first business cards was a big event for me.  Getting my diploma was a big deal, yes, but something about that 3.5 x 2 inch card made me think to myself, “Yes, I have arrived”.

The new tools that have been made available to us through the Internet and social media are extremely beneficial.  They have forever changed how the recruiting industry operates.  However, it is my personal opinion that we must tip our hats  and pay our respects to the Baby-Boomers that came before us.  There is something to be said for that personal touch, handing over a tangible representation of yourself that will help people remember you.  True networking is more than just a handshake at a conference, and its more than a “Like” on Facebook…its a balance between the two.  It’s being able to utilize all of the tools that are available and apply them appropriately to every situation.

The business card will most likely evolve to include more information such as links to Facebook & Linked In profiles, Twitter pages, and personal blogs.  But it isn’t going anywhere, I believe the business card is here to stay…and I look forward to many years of placing my own business cards in dishes across the country…trying to get that free lunch for the office

-JG