Past Five

Internalizing Your Fears

This economy is making people scared.  It's just a fact.  People wonder if they are going to get let go...if they are going to get fired, if there is someone more qualified to do their job. Companies are buying other companies and employees are wondering if they still fit.  What all employees need to realize is that change is inevitable....so you better adjust and adjust quickly!

 

Internalizing your fears doesn't help you and doesn't help your company.  Talking about your fears all the time doesn't help either. Managers don't want to have to calm you down three times a week.  What an employee needs to do is sit down with their manager, director, VP, etc....and simply get to the point:  "what do you expect of me...because once I know, I can exceed those expectations and feel secure in my role".

 

That's the key:  exceeding expectations.  In a good economy, most employees simply do what their job duties require, nothing more. In this economy, people need to realize that doing what is expected of them is not enough. Employees need to do more; faster and smarter.

 

If you're in sales and your quota is five new clients a month...you need to aim for seven or eight.  If you are in marketing and your deadline is July 31st, shoot for the 25th so you have time to perfect the final product.  If you are in accounting and close the books on the 10th, do it on the 7th or 8th.  It really is that simple. 

 

In the past all you had to do was show up to the party.  Today you not only need to show up, but bring music, chips and dip and a case of beer.

Keep it Clean

Google yourself.  Go ahead, we'll wait...

 

What did you find?  Anything good?  Anything bad?

 

If you discovered something your mother wouldn't be proud of, it’s time for change.  If you're an active job seeker, you need to clean up your online profiles immediately. 

With the unemployment rate approaching 10%, job seekers can't afford to miss out on exciting job opportunities due to the content of their on-line profiles.  Whether you have a profile on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Flickr or Twitter- content is king and it better be clean. 

1. Privacy- You wouldn't leave your doors and windows of your home open all day, leaving it vulnerable for anyone to enter and snoop around.  So why would you let anyone view your online profile?  Social networking sites offer various degrees of privacy.  It's easy, but so many job seekers neglect to take advantage of this setting.  Block or limit users who aren't your friends from gaining access to your profiles. 
2. Content - Your online profile can show friends and connections a broader perspective of who you are, what you are doing right now, what books you read this summer, what your interests are, etc.  When presented well, this can portray you positively as a person.  However, when the content presented is negative, it can drastically impact how a colleague or employer feels about you.
3. Photos - Yes, visiting Cancun during your senior year was fun, but potential employers are going to think otherwise when they see the photos.  Untag and block any photos that may be inappropriate.  Upload photos that will strengthen your personality, not show the world how much you love being the center of attention.
4. Posts – Once you author a post on any social networking profile, you cannot go back.  Despite the ability to “delete” the content later, you have no control over who has already seen the material, commented about it, or forwarded the post/image to someone else.
5. Etiquette - Many of you have probably been friended by moms and dads of your close friends, and dare we say a grandparent or two?!?!  Yikes!  But remember “friending” a potential employer isn’t a professional way to go about getting hired.  Save the MySpace and Facebook friending for close friends, coworkers and colleagues that you have already established solid face-to-face relationships with.    

There is no denying that the Internet is one of today’s primary communication tools.  The popularity of social media has grown exponentially in the last several years.  Twitter, for example, grew from 1.6 million users in 2008 to more than 32 million today.  No one is expected to stay off the Internet, but people should be savvy social networkers while still maintaining a professional reputation online. 

 

We continuously urge our candidates to keep their networking profiles clean.  Think about it, you wouldn’t want to risk losing out on a new career because of the scandalous photos your friend tagged and the 37 comments that you made on them about how drunk and wild and irresponsible you all were on your summer vacation.  Your personal life is all your own, but employers, universities, and organizations see is put online, so keep your image clean.

 

 

 

Posted by guest author Bobby Wilson

Staying Optimistic...

Check out my thoughts on the current Chicago marketplace in this week's Crain’s Chicago Business - "Looking for signs of life".

Video also available at Chicago Business Today.

 

The Key to Management Is...

I was at a store the other day and heard a conversation amongst the staff that went something like this:

 

"I am so bored...I hope they let me off early."

"Do you have a date?"

"I wish...nah…just going to go home and sleep!"

 

I am not sure where it went from there, however in a world where people are worried about money and unemployment is high...it strikes me as odd that people would want to not work and not make money.  Good managers make their staff better by holding them accountable.  Making sure they know what they need to do to succeed...to do their jobs well.

 

However, the key to management is finding people who want to be at work.  It doesn't mean there aren't days we'd all rather be at home, a ball game, etc...however, too often managers settle on the wrong people. The consequence is poor service, bad results and at the end of the day...usually turnover.

Giving Up Money Will Make You Money

In these crazy times, it may make sense to actually take a decent size salary cut well before you are "desperate".  What I mean is that if you were making $75,000 and you are out of work for six months, you have already "lost" $37,500.  If you would have taken a job for $50,000 right out of the gate, you'd only be down $12,000...(the difference between $50 and $75 times 6 months).  So really you'd be up $25,000, have had insurance and benefits and been on your way to a possible bonus and review. 

So while you should want as much money as you can get...it also makes sense to have a bigger picture on how things may look down the road.  If you're really good at something, and take less money...once you prove yourself odds are you'll be rewarded!

What Will GM Workers Do for 11 Weeks?

The news is that GM will close 15 or so plants for up to 11 weeks affecting 24,000 people in an effort to save money and save the company.  The thought I had was, " I wonder what those 24,000 people will do for up to 11 weeks?"  How many will take entry level or hourly jobs at McDonalds, Home Depot, etc?  Will they volunteer for charities?  Will they take classes to learn new skills (IT perhaps?) to prepare for a new career?  I can only assume they won't be eligible for unemployment benefits for those 11 weeks.  Perhaps this is a window of opportunity for these 24,000 people to look at what else may exist outside of the 4 walls they have known. 

Info Junkie

Learn about Tom's information inclinations, including what book he keeps 20 copies of at all times and why he feels personally connected to CNBC's Squawk Box host in this week's Crain’s Chicago Business – Info Junkie section!

Tom on NBC Five - Job Hunt Tips for Recent Graduates

He's at it again!

Tom was featured on NBC Five Morning News this morning offering job hunting tips to recent graduates. If you missed Tom's appearance, Tips for Recent Graduates - How to Get a Job Without Experience, see the below link or visit our Web site at www.thelasallenetwork.com.

Click here to learn how to secure a job in this stringent economy if you're a recent college graduate.

Coming Soon - Monday, April 20!

Look for Tom in Crain’s Chicago Business, Info Junkie Section

How to Reinvent Yourself Post-Layoff

If you missed Tom’s appearance on WGN Morning News this morning, How to Reinvent Yourself Post-Layoff, see the below link or LaSalle Network’s Web site, www.thelasallenetwork.com for the full interview.

 

Click here to learn tips on reinventing yourself after a layoff.

 

Coming Soon!

Look for Tom in Crain’s Chicago Business, Info Junkie Section

 

 

Does Hawking Resumes Work?

The recent Sun-Times article, “Does Hawking Resumes Work?” explores different methods job seekers are utilizing to get noticed in this flooded marketplace. Tom offers tips on the strategies that work, and comments on how to capitalize on your already established network of contacts. See below for the full article.

 

Chicago Sun-Times – Does Hawking Resumes Work?

 

Coming Soon!

 

March 2009 WGN Interview