Job Hunting Tips: Minimizing Desperation

Trust me, I get it. You’ve been laid off or fired and all you have left is that pep talk in your head that keeps you from staying in bed crying all day. I’ve been there. You make the phone call and someone picks up. Here’s your chance. Here’s your moment to tell this employer how wonderful you are inside your head.

Pause. Don’t do that.

You probably are wonderful. Lots of people are wonderful. However, wonderful people don’t need to tell you they are. Margaret Thatcher once said, “Power is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are…you aren’t.” Same thing.

Keep this in mind before you make that next call. When someone picks up the phone, remember in your head how awesome you are. They are lucky to be talking to you (you think inside your head and not out loud).

You want to know how I can tell how long someone has been out of work? The longer the joblessness, the more words they try to fit in between “hello” and “how can I help you?” Instead of launching into your prepared speech—I know you have one—just take a breath. Telling an employer how wonderful you are before they’ve even seen your resume just screams desperate.

Job interviewing is a lot like dating: you want to like them, you want them to like you, you want the other person to pay your health insurance (kidding!) According to an eHarmony article, desperate daters are always available, meaning the hiring manager has no reason to follow up with you immediately. They can come back to you whenever they feel like it.

So go ahead. Give yourself that pep talk. Write it on your mirror every morning. Just don’t let it slide into your interviewing techniques. You’re interviewing the company just as much as the company is interviewing you. Both of you need to be happy for this to work.

Jessie Gable
Research Assistant

Global Recruiters of Huntsville
Office 256.533.1444 x200
Fax 256.418.4485
jgable@grnhuntsville.com
www.grnhuntsville.com

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the July Unemployment Rates remained virtually unchanged

Is that good news?  The BLS reported tot total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 215,000 in July, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.3 percent. Job gains occurred in retail trade, health care, professional and technical services, and financial activities.

The WSJ reports that; Employers added 215,000 jobs in July, marking the 58th consecutive month of job gains, the longest stretch on record. Employers have added an average of 211,000 new jobs a month this year, a slightly slower pace than last year, when they added an average 240,000 a month over the same period.

Also similarly reported, the unemployment rates for college graduates changed only slightly from 2.5% to 2.6% ( http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t04.htm) 

On the surface, this is really good news.  Again, The WSJ reports that; The unemployment rate has been steadily dropping since it hit its recent peak of 10% in October 2009. A broader measure of unemployment that includes those who are stuck in part-time jobs or who have given up looking for work over the past month fell to 10.4%. While that’s down from the peak of 17.1% in early 2010, it’s still higher than it was before the recession, a sign that the labor market might still have some slack to make up.

David (Mac) McElhaney

Managing Partner
Global Recruiters of Huntsville

102 Clinton Ave, West

Suite 201

Huntsville, AL 35801

Phone: 256-533-1444 Ext 201

Fax: 256-418-4485

Mobile: 407-341-4462

dmcelhaney@grnhuntsville.com

www.grnhuntsville.com

Strike a Pose

There was recently post by Paul Petrone on LinkedIn titled The Pose Every Recruiter Should Strike to Start the Day. This was a great article and even if you aren’t a recruiter, I recommend you go to his LinkedIn profile and read his post.  While he wrote the article to recruiters it is a lesson that every candidate, every person can use to bolster their confidence before a meeting or interview.  In fact, anyone faced with one of those meeting that gives us that moment of pause, is worthy of this action.

I use this “Superhero Pose” technique in my Interviewing Skills classes that I teach.  I tell my candidates to take a minute.  Perhaps you slip into the restroom before your meeting or interview and strike your favorite superhero pose; put your hands on your hips, thrust your chest and chin out and survey your domain before you.  Try it and you will see that it really works.

Brian Tracy, a well-known motivational speaker uses a different variation on this.  He suggests that you look yourself in the mirror, put your best smile on your face and repeat out loud, over and over again “I like myself, I like myself, I like myself”.  I use this in my class as well.  I have the students turn to each other and do this exercise. 

So, turn this around.  Imagine that you are in your office preparing a customer meeting. You are putting the final touches on your presentation.  You are pumped!  This is a really big deal!  Your boss walks into your office to pump-you-up.  He asks; Are you ready?!  Don’t blow this presentation!  We desperately need this account, and storms back out of your office.  You are instantly filled with dread.  Why?  The opposite effect just happened because your brain is visualizing your failing and is flooding bad chemicals through your body.  Now imagine this same scenario but this time your boss storms into your office and says; You got this buddy!  You are the man! You are going to knock ‘em dead today!  I’ve got your back, and storms out of your office.  Now you have those positive affirmations and your body is awash in positive chemicals.

Why do these techniques work?  Simply because these actions (the positive ones) stimulate your brain to release positive chemicals into your body and you simply feel better; more confident; happier. Try these things and see if they work for you.  Come on! You know you want to go into the restroom and give it a try…

David (Mac) McElhaney

Managing Partner
Global Recruiters of Huntsville

102 Clinton Ave, West

Suite 201

Huntsville, AL 35801

Phone: 256-533-1444 Ext 201

Fax: 256-418-4485

Mobile: 407-341-4462

dmcelhaney@grnhuntsville.com

The Dandelion Effect

As a kid, probably everyone has picked a dandelion and blew the florets (you know, those little white things that blow all over the place) at a friend or just up in the air.  What you saw was the quick dispersal of the florets all over the place.  Given the wind, how open the area was and how high up you were, the dispersal could be widespread.

  

We talk about this in our company as regards to our contacts inside a given company.  These contacts could be casual or they could be our clients within the organization or they might be candidates that we have worked with and perhaps even placed in the company. 

The dandelion effect comes into play when (any of them) they move on to a different company or even perhaps changing jobs and/or locations within the existing company.  Whichever the case, as those people move on in their careers, they create the opportunity for us to network with and grow our connections along with them.  If you think about it, this true with all of us no matter what business we are in.  Each of us has the capacity to grow our relationships with others and to be dandelions for all our contacts throughout life. 

People talk about not burning bridges but this is such a negative thought process.  Instead, think about being a dandelion for someone or helping spread the florets of your life and connections.  Networking, no matter the form, is using this dandelion effect.  So go on, see how far your connection florets (have) are being blown across the landscape.

David (Mac) McElhaney

Managing Partner
Global Recruiters of Huntsville

102 Clinton Ave, West

Suite 201

Huntsville, AL 35801

Phone: 256-533-1444 Ext 201

Fax: 256-418-4485

Mobile: 407-341-4462

dmcelhaney@grnhuntsville.com

www.grnhuntsville.com