10 Key Items to Turn the Table in Your Favor

It's a new year, time to turn over a new leaf.  It’s also a different environment this year than last, but does that mean it’s any easier to land a job?  Companies are still being very careful to hire just the right person.  The good news is that many companies are showing signs of a new sense of urgency to find the best.  The real truth, they are not hiring just to fill slots.  They are hiring to make productivity gains.  They are hiring where their skills needs are.  This year, your focus should be on finding the right job for you and doing everything you can to demonstrate that you are the best candidate for that job. The competition will still be tough, but here are some tips that can turn the tables in your favor. The following is a summary list of 10 key items you should work on and will be the subject of 10 monthly articles this year.  Watch for them in future months.

1. Narrow your search. Stop applying to jobs that you're not qualified for or don't really want. It's a waste of time and what’s the point?  Search recruiters are not impressed when you apply for 10 or more jobs at the same time.  Be honest with yourself when evaluating job postings.  Put yourself in that company’s shoes.  Do you really have those skills to start that job tomorrow?  Really read the job description.  If you won’t or can’t move to that area, then why are you applying?  If you don’t have the experience called for, how do you expect your resume to show that?   While it's always great to be willing to learn, companies today want to hire someone who can jump right in and get started without being trained from scratch. More in February…

2. Know exactly what you want. Narrowing down your job search may force you to ask yourself some tough questions such as: What kind of job am I really after? And what skills can I really demonstrate to a new employer? If you're unsure of the answer, you are not prepared.  Ask your peers what they see in you as your strengths and skills.  Then focus your search on what you do best.  More in March…

3. Do you need more training? If you feel as if you've looked at every job posting on earth and you still can't find one your skills match up with, then it's time to get some new skills. This may be the perfect opportunity to go back to school, or at least add some challenging night classes.  More in April…

 4. Set goals. Yes, your overall goal may be to get a job, but setting short-term, specific job search goals for the year will help you grow and force you to continuously evaluate your progress.  Set your longer term goals on such things as how much do I need to put away to retire, and when is it really that I expect to retire?  More in May…

5. Improve your References:  Friends and family are not suitable references.  Your references are former supervisors, satisfied customers, and other relevant peers, such as those that mentored you in the past.  Make sure your interviewer has reference information and that they can follow up with key people that know your work and are familiar enough with your specific effort that led to the objective results.  More in June…

6. Get ahold of your online reputation: When human-resources managers search for your name online, and they will do it, you can either take control of what they see, or you can leave it to the powers of the search gods. Search results that are professional and consistent and that establish you as an expert in your field will be far more impressive than Facebook pictures from that last party.  Things like a Facebook or LinkedIn profile and a Twitter feed will all show up on the first page, so signing up for these sites and populating the accounts with up-to-date, professional content will make a great impression. Also, if you have what you think is a humorous or suggestive email address, get rid of it.  Something like love-goddess is not going to give the impression necessary to get a professional position.  More in July…

7.  Network:   Improve your networking skills.  Make it a goal to be active in a professional organization.  Get to know others in your industry better and just what they do in their job.  Becoming more socially active in your industry field will boost your self-esteem and motivate you to continue searching by providing you with new leads and information.  More in August…

8. Be accurate on your resume:  HR managers are more diligent than ever on accuracy of resumes submitted.  Make sure your job titles are accurately reflected as well as the exact status of your education.  Your resume should contain quantifiable accomplishments, not just what you were responsible for.  If you have a 4 year degree, then state that, such as B.S. in Education.  If you don’t have the degree, then don’t imply that.   Once screened out, you will not get another shot at that company no matter how many times you apply.  Remember, your resume will stay in databases for a very long time, so if you applied years ago with inaccurate information and you try to apply again years later, with different information, you are likely going to be flagged forever with that company for being dishonest.  More in September…

9. Stay current: You should always be in the loop, even if you're out of work. Read trade publications, comment on industry blogs and stay on top of any emerging technologies or policies that may affect your career path.  Sign up for RSS feeds on news articles related to your industry, and job postings that are relevant to your field.  Your current knowledge will not only help you have a great conversation with an interviewer and keep your professional edge, but it may also give you new ideas about where and how to look for a job.  More in October…

10. Sell yourself: An interview is no time for modesty, especially in times like these. When you land an interview, go prepared with at least five examples that demonstrate your best qualities. That way, when an interviewer asks, "Why should I hire you," you can talk about what your experiences are relevant to the company’s needs. You should have researched the job well enough that you can answer that in the interview.  If you haven’t, then you didn’t prepare well.  More in November…

Your Guide to Interview Greatness

Sometimes our most important messages bear repeating.  This is an article we wrote 3 years ago.  The message is so important, and one that stands the test of time that there is no reason to change anything.  The message:  Be Prepared. 

It all comes down; it seems, to this moment. You’ve been granted an interview with the hiring manager for your dream job. You have a week to prepare and you don’t want to blow this chance. What do you do? How do you prepare? What do you focus on? Keep these tips in mind and you will likely get a lot farther down the road.

1. Be prepared…to ask great questions! If you come into an interview and just expect to answer questions fired your way, you will likely look very average. So what are you to do? Prepare a list of 5-6 great questions. Not just any questions, but what are called interrogative questions. Interrogatives are designed to solicit detailed answers that require thought from the person in order to be answered. They start with our old friends who, what, why, how, and when. For example, be prepared to ask a question like this: “what are your performance expectations for this position in quarterly increments over the next 12 months”? Another great question might be, “what would this territory (sales) look like with maximum market share”? This question will force your interviewer to paint a vision in his / her mind as to what this territory will look like at full capacity while you are sitting in front of them!  And another great question for a sales territory that will yield some good answers and opportunity for follow-on questions is, “how is this territory performing now compared to where you want it”? Sit back, listen and take notes! The answers will give you the opportunity to dig deeper and show your ability to get to the bottom of a situation and provide a solution…which is why you are there in the first place! Take your time and think through 5-6 good questions that you would like to know the answers to going forward. Your ability to ask good interrogative questions will set the tone in your favor. Always remember that the one not talking is actually in control of the process!
2. When the conversation does dictate your need to give an answer, be prepared to speak professionally and be prepared to back up achievements and past accomplishments with facts and figures. Growing a business unit by 20% per year over the past 2 years is much better information than “we grew the business”. Further, and most important, be prepared to elaborate on how you were able to pull off this amazing feat! The deer in the headlights look won’t cut it here! If it is on your resume, be prepared to talk about it in detail. The more relevant details the better.
3. Give some thought in advance as to how you would handle certain situations related to you’re job. If you’re in sales the question, “how would you handle losing your largest account to your competitor” is fair game. My advice is to give these potential questions some thought in advance.” If a product launch is late (which most are) how will you hold your customers off while it is being readied for market”? If you work remotely (away from the office) how do you organize your day, weak, month, year, etc.? This is not hard, but you will be better prepared to talk intelligently about these questions if you have ran them through the old gray matter first.
4. The old standbys are still solid today: show up early, dress a notch above the position, call a day in advance and reconfirm the time, place, etc. Have all the materials you feel you will need with you including paper to take notes and a pen that works!

5. Finally, don’t leave the interview without asking what the next step is. Remember to use our old friend the interrogative question. An example might be “Mark, I appreciate your time and I like what I have heard thus far, what do you envision the next steps being? Shut up and listen from this point forward as the answer should let you know how you’ve done.

Good luck, and don’t hesitate to contact us here at Ag 1 Source for more great tips and excellent career opportunities.

Valuable Tips for Would Be Job Seekers

Today’s job market has many job seekers in unfamiliar territory. Employers have tighter hiring practices and the good opportunities are tougher to find. Many employees are in under-employed positions, having more skills than the current job requires.  Another big challenge for many job seekers is the decline in home values throughout much of the country that has presented new challenges for people looking to sell a home and relocate.

The following are a few tips that should help in preparation for a job change.

1.   Make a clear plan. The smartest move that you can make is to carefully map out an effective career-change strategy. Keep in mind that a successful job change can take several months or longer to accomplish.  Patience is the key.  This should include a detailed action plan that takes into consideration personal finances, your own research, your education, and training.

2. Wait for the right time. The best time to consider a new career is while you are safely working in your existing position. A steady paycheck can relieve a lot of pressure while you look. There are many ways to take steps toward your new career path.  Volunteer for a special assignment.  You can offer yourself as a freelancer or consultant. This can help you to “test the waters” in your desired new field.
3. Be sure of your reasons. Just because you’re unhappy in your current job isn’t a strong enough reason to make a total career break. Carefully analyze whether it is your actual career you dislike or whether your employer, supervisor, or office situation is the problem.
4. Do your research. Be sure to examine all possibilities before attempting a career jump. Talk to people in your network, read career and job profiles.  Talk to a career management professional, such as your Ag 1 Source recruiting consultant. The more information with which you arm yourself beforehand, the more successful you will be.
5. Decide what’s important. Ask yourself what it is you really want to do with the rest of your life.  Have you found your purpose?  Take an honest inventory of your likes and dislikes, and evaluate your skills, values, and personal interests. Many people who are looking to change careers do so to find a balance between their personal and professional lives, to accomplish the right mix of meaning and money. You may want to consider taking a career assessment test since you may find that you’ve been working in a job not really fitting your best skills all this time.
6. Examine your qualifications. Do you have the necessary experience and education to be considered a qualified candidate in your desired career field? If not, you need to find a way to bridge the credentials gap. This might mean making your goal more long-term while you take additional classes or schooling to get additional credentials such as an MBA, or receive additional training in your field. 
7. Learn more about the industry. Read industry journals, attend conferences, and talk to people in the profession about what they do. Learn whether your targeted industry has the growth potential you once thought it did. Trade magazines, associations and organizations related to your industry have abundant resources and information related to your interest areas. 
8. Develop your network. Begin nurturing professional friendships early and tend them regularly. Professional organizations and job industry trade associations are a good place to start. Many of them hold networking events on a regular basis.  Many of these professionals can also become good references, a necessary support network when you begin to seriously consider a new position.
9. Update your job searching skills. It is especially important to polish up on communication skills before you get out there and start interviewing. Practice interviewing with some of your peers.  The feedback can be very helpful.
10. Pay your dues. Don’t expect to begin at the same level of seniority in your new career that you held in your old one. It will take time to move up the ranks, but if you find a new career that you absolutely love, it will be worth it.

How to Know When it is Time to Consider a Career Change

How to know when it is time to consider a career change.

For most people, it isn’t something sudden, such as a termination, or the company falling on hard times that causes us to consider a change in employment.  It is rather more of a constant evaluation of circumstances in most cases.  For those of you that have these questions, we can help you evaluate.

1.       You have accomplished everything possible in your current position and are now ready for a new challenge. You go to your current supervisor and have discussed promotions, but there are people ahead of you, and the opportunity to advance is realistically years away.

2.       Your values and the company values no longer are in sync.

3.       Unethical business dealings are taking place and are not being addressed by the company. You have brought this to your supervisor’s attention, yet nothing changes.

4.       You have a long history of success with your current company, but now you have a new boss. Your relationship is just not working, your personalities just don't mesh, and you have tried everything. The company will not transfer you to another division.

5.       Your company has been acquired by a larger firm. The culture of the new company is just not one you care to be a part of. You decide to give it some time and see if you can adapt, but your heart just isn’t in it. It’s time for a change.

6.       Your current employer has grown so much that the quality of products and services they provide are no longer the cutting edge industry leaders that you and your customers have come to expect. Though you have had meetings with your company about these shortcomings, they seem to turn a deaf ear and nothing seems to change. Your reputation is on the line.

7.       You moved away from home to accept a career position. Your company has moved you a couple times and now you have a family and desire to move closer to home to be near parents and siblings.

8.       You started your career and now have experience. You have developed a reputation for being a strong performer. After time you have determined your company just doesn’t pay the most competitively and your company just doesn’t value your contribution.

Have you or someone you know been faced with these kinds of situations?  At Ag 1 Source, our recruiters are known as Recruiting Consultants.  A consultant’s duty is to evaluate and recommend.  We are here to do just that.  It isn’t easy to decide when the right time is to make a change.  In most cases we will recommend that communication with your current company is the best course of action, but when those talks don’t go well, then we’re here to consult.  Your career is too important to take any of these situations lightly.  Our promise is that we’re here to listen confidentially when one of these situations appears.  After careful consideration, you’ll know when the time is right.

Phone Interview-How to avoid being screened out

Telephone interviews are becoming more and more common these days. Travel can be expensive and companies are practicing tighter expense management. The phone interview is now seen as a valuable tool to help in narrowing down the playing field. Job hunters should keep one key thing in mind as they prepare for a phone interview. This is your opportunity to advance to the next step, the face to face interview, so make every second count! This is also an opportunity for the interviewer to narrow the field, so their intent is to find the talent they want and screen out those that don’t make the cut.


The interviewer will likely ask questions specific to your work experience, life experiences, availability, and salary requirements. Your job as an interviewee is to provide facts that support your resume and career ambitions. Wherever possible you should use quantifiable accomplishments in support of your work performance. It is important that you sound professional and not desperate.

Preparation is the key to success!

Make sure you schedule the phone interview at a time that you can be free of distractions. It is best to do this away from work. Make sure that if you are on a cell phone that you can be in an area with good coverage, clear sound, and do not do a phone interview while driving. If called for a surprise phone interview, try to reschedule. Your simple answer can be to indicate to the interviewer that this is not a time that you can give them your undivided attention. Suggest a couple of alternative times when you can be distraction free. Make sure you approach the phone interview with the same level of energy and enthusiasm as you would the face to face interview. Research, prepare, research and prepare!

Things to have READY:

• Pen, paper, calendar

• Research you have done on the company, competitors, and position

• Your resume and the job description

• Short list of questions

Questions you MUST be prepared to answer:

• Tell me what you know about our company and our products?

• How would you add value to our business? (Help us grow or improve)

• What is motivating you to make a career change?

• If relocation is necessary, are you committed to relocate and how soon?

• Where do you see your career heading in 5 years?

Keys that will lead to SUCCESS:

• Relax and be yourself, speak directly into the phone

• Confirm the interviewer’s name and company, ask for their title if you don't already know

• Make sure that you answer questions with a high level of enthusiasm, and take time listen and think carefully for your answer, then speak clearly

• Avoid yes or no answers; elaborate and be prepared to sell yourself

• If you need more time to think, say so, and ask them to repeat a question if you are unsure. (Repeating a question and asking for confirmation is a good way of showing that you are listening and also gives you time to think about an answer.)

• Close! Re-affirm your qualifications; express your interest in the position and the company. State that you would appreciate the opportunity to meet in person to further discuss this great opportunity.

Things to AVOID:

• Smoking, chewing gum, drinking, and eating during the interview

• Poorly performing headsets and phones

• Unprofessional voice mail recordings or ring tones (your “hold music” while the caller is waiting for you to answer)

• Talking badly about past employers, competitors, or supervisors

• Rambling, stuttering, cursing (limit such phrases/words as “um”, “like” “you know” or “I think”)

• Asking any questions about compensation or benefits

(Compensation should only come up at the end of the interview process, never at the phone interview or 1st face to face interview stage.) If the question is posed, simply state that you would expect to be compensated fairly based on the position responsibilities and expectations.

Follow-up after the phone interview:

• Make sure you obtain the phone number, address, and email of the company and interviewer

• Follow-up with the company within a few days with a thank you

• Use this follow-up to clarify any answers you felt maybe you could have expanded on better during the phone interview. Also this is a great time to re-emphasize your qualifications, ask additional questions, or provide additional quantifiable accomplishments that are not on your resume. Use this as an opportunity to re-state your interest in the position!

This all sounds like a lot of work, doesn’t it? Perhaps if you don’t really want to take time to prepare, then you may not be all that interested in the new job and in most cases, this will likely be evident to the interviewer during the phone interview. Remember – Preparation is the key to success!

Develop Your Personal Brand

Having a good professional reputation is an obvious key to success, but many people don't take the time to nurture it, or they don't know how. We find it helpful to think about a reputation as a personal brand. Developing your own unique brand is considered not a luxury but an essential for future employability and success.



We work with corporate clients in the area of brand development, and we've identified the DNA that makes up a good brand. This DNA, the basis which guides the development of a brand, also applies to individuals as well as to products and organizations.


DNA is, coincidentally, an acronym. To get you started on your journey of ongoing individual brand development, contemplate these three concepts, which form a similar acronym:


Dependability
A good brand is consistent. With a good brand, there are never any unpleasant surprises. You can count on a brand to help you quickly sort through an unlimited list of options to identify "a sure thing." In the old days, there was a sales adage that went something like this: "Nobody ever got in trouble for purchasing IBM." If you aren't old enough to recall exactly what that meant, it alluded to the fact that IBM was not always the "best" or "most innovative" or "most anything" for that matter, but it was certainly a dependable brand.


“Are you an IBM of today? Can your family, friends, customers, or your supervisors rely on you to not only do what is expected, but always impress them with a little more? Are you on time, or the person that is always late? Do you show up to a meeting or event prepared, or do you throw things together in the last minute? Are you organized enough to get things done before deadlines, or do people need to remind you about the deadline?


For whatever that you decide distinguishes you in the marketplace of talent, make sure consistency is the bedrock of your brand.


Novelty
OK, so what makes you different? It's not enough to be as dependable as everyone or anyone else. Brands always have substantive identifiable differences -- perceptually if not in fact -- in the mind of the marketplace. Being a generalist isn't a bad thing, but being a generalist without any discernible specialized skills, abilities, or talents isn't a great thing, either.


Fortunately, in today’s business world, it’s easy to be novel. Simple things can make you stand out. For example, personally hand written “Thank you” notes, whether personal or business, are almost a forgotten tool, but they can be incredibly effective.

Attitude
Attitude isn’t only about being upbeat or happy. Attitude is also about your desire to help others and perform your job at a higher level. Do you call on a client with something in hand that can improve their business, or just go to ask for more orders? When you talk to a neighbor, do you offer to help, or complain about your work day? A big step in attitude is to add value to the person you’re with. Again, it doesn’t matter if it’s business or personal. If you focus on making sure each conversation helps the other party in some way instead of being all about yourself, you will definitely be recognized!


DNA - Dependability. Novelty. Attitude.


As a first step toward marketing yourself better, take some time soon to write out the DNA of your brand.

Top 10 List-Candidate Dumb Answers/Mistakes During Interviews

Most of us take interviews quite seriously. Some don’t. Being that we talk to quite a few clients and we debrief quite a few candidates after their interviews, we have heard a lot of the “dumb” interview mistakes, but I’m sure we’ve not heard it all. I thought for this article we’d list a few of the “dumb” candidate answers or mistakes we’ve had the opportunity to witness, or hear about. We’ll list it like “Letterman’s top 10”. This is your opportunity. If you’ve heard something wild, let us know. If we get enough responses, we’ll print Volume 2 in the series. It could get quite humorous.


10. The candidate says he/she has great sales success and wonderful relationships, but lists only family members as references. This one probably didn’t make it to the interview. It only takes the question to the reference, “Well, how do you know the candidate?” It’s a tossup whether Uncle or Brother is the most common answer!

9. The candidate has been through 2 key face to face interviews and it’s down to 1 of 2 possibilities. There is a key person in the company that must conduct the final interview. Timing is critical. The candidate decides to schedule a vacation where he/she will be unavailable for a week. What’s your thought? Good idea or not?

8. The candidate shows up to the interview in a leisure suit…Didn’t those go out of style in the 70’s?

7. Here’s a story told to us by a client: He had the candidate on the phone for a first screening and all had gone well. Then at the end he said, “I don’t really want to relocate. I just thought it was a great opportunity to take my wife on a nice trip.”

6. The interview has been all set up. The recruiter gave instructions, directions, and the cell phone number of the interviewer for tomorrow’s interview. At 3 AM, the candidate calls the interviewer and indicates that he can’t make it to the interview tomorrow because he is drunk. This one rates a big, “Duh?”

5. Showing up late…This is a classic blunder, but it needs to be discussed again. If a candidate can’t show up on time for an interview, how in the world would a supervisor be able to believe that he/she could show up for work on time? Or, how about the candidate that doesn’t show up at all? Do you think there will be a second chance?

4. The position requires relocation to somewhere, let’s say Iowa. The candidate knows this but is asked in the face to face interview if he/she is okay with that? The answer…Well, I’ll have to convince my spouse, but I’m okay with it. Maybe it would be a good idea to discuss this with your spouse first?

3. During the interview, this question is asked, “What are the key responsibilities of the job?” That question sounds simple enough, however, if the candidate waits until the interview, then it’s obvious that no preparation has been done before coming to the interview.

2. Most of us are just vain enough about our appearance that we present well when meeting someone new, but how about this comment from a hiring manager, “I once had a candidate that had such bad breath, that I slid my chair all the way back to the wall and put my notepad on my lap to take notes.” Is that called a distraction?

1. This one is a classic, but many candidates never really understand the impact. The last question of the interview is asked, “Do you have any questions?” The interviewee asks, “Yes, what does this job pay?” Suddenly the interviewer becomes concerned that money may be the only reason for the candidate to consider this job. It’s best to leave this question for once the company decides they like the candidate and is ready to extend an offer.

While this “top ten” list is somewhat humorous, it is also serious. Believe us, the situations covered in this list is a serious, “do not let this happen to you” list. Do you have more to add to the list? We’d love to hear from you. You can disagree with any of these, however, we can also likely point you to examples of each one of these situations causing that candidate to not get that job offer. Want to know what you can say? Then let’s talk before you interview. We can help avoid the blunder.