Posted on Tue, Feb 28, 2012 @ 12:13 PM
Today's blog is a guest post from Mom Corps Los Angeles. They offer some great tips on how to prepare your 3-minute pitch.
“Walk me through your resume.”
While it may seem like a simple question, the first question you are asked in an interview is often the most important. Since candidates often prepare answers to more specific questions, the open-ended “walk me through your resume” or “tell me about yourself” can cause stammering, surprise, or even stunned silence. Here are some tips to make sure you successfully respond to this important question.
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Tell a story and create a narrative for your career, starting from the last job listed and work up to your present position.
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Include a takeaway or valuable lesson from each job – “Although I eventually moved on to X, this job was valuable because it taught me how to Y.”
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How you present your story is just as important as the story itself. Recruiters can tell what kind of employee you are by how positively you discuss your boss and duties. Keep in mind that one of the key criteria for any job is cultural fit and being negative might give the recruiter a reason to think you won’t be a good fit.
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When telling your story, keep old experiences concise (unless they are relevant to the position) and spend more time emphasizing your most recent jobs.
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Tailor your narrative to the position for which you are interviewing. Clearly illustrate how your experience has directed and prepared you for this position.
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Keep your walk-through timely. Interviewers may give you a timeframe, but as a general rule aim for a three-minute overview.
You can interview confidently and start off on the right foot by preparing your three-minute pitch. By telling your story with clarity, your interviews will feel more like natural conversations than Q & A’s.
Posted on Tue, Feb 21, 2012 @ 01:04 PM
There are many talented moms out there actively seeking to re-enter the paid workforce or gearing up to do so in the future. As experts in flexible staffing, Mom Corps team members are often asked about crucial skills for today’s workplace. In our monthly blog series, we share smart strategies for career re-launchers.
Many people think of an interview as a one-way street, a time for the employer to ask the job seeker questions to see if they are the right applicant for the job. Many people don’t realize that it’s actually a two-way street, a time for both parties to figure out if they are the right fit for each other.
The employer will typically ask you if you have any questions, near the end of the interview and it’s important for you to remember that this is your opportunity to find out the information you need, to make the right decision.
When it’s your turn to ask questions, always be prepared. Employers expect you to ask questions and they are making judgments on the questions you ask, just as they did with the answers you gave to their questions.
A few tips on how to make the most of your questions:
- Come to the interview with a few questions prepared ahead of time. These questions should be information that cannot be gathered from the website and should show that you’ve done some research on the company.
- During the interview you will probably come up with questions that weren’t on the list you made ahead of time. Prioritize all of your questions so that you get the answers that are most important to you in the time allowed.
- When asking questions it’s important to show that you have done enough research on the organization to be able to ask intelligent questions. Know the appropriate terminology for the areas in which you have questions.
- This isn’t the time to ask about salary or benefits. A typical rule of thumb is that these subjects should be addressed when the employers bring them up, not the other way around.
- Use this opportunity to learn more about the culture of the organization. Who does this position report to, what department do they work in and how does this position fit within the structure of the team? These answers will help you get the clearest picture possible regarding the work environment.
- Make sure your questions are open-ended; this ensures that you will get more than a simple yes or no answer.
Remember that interviews at every level within a company are important and part of a procedure. Your Human Resources interview can be a very important first step in learning about how the company functions, as well as your ticket to the next round of interviews.
Interviewing can be a long and tedious process, but it’s important to remember that it sets the stage for your future with a company. Make sure that you provide them with the information they need to make the right decision, but also make sure you get the information you need to make the right decision for yourself, your family and your future.
Posted on Tue, Feb 14, 2012 @ 02:24 PM
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There are many talented moms out there actively seeking to re-enter the paid workforce or gearing up to do so in the future. As experts in flexible staffing, Mom Corps team members are often asked about crucial skills for today’s workplace. In our monthly blog series, we share smart strategies for career re-launchers.
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When searching for a job, many of us tend to put most of our focus on the type of job we are looking for- the title, the responsibilities and the skills required. However, finding a job with the right work environment or culture is just as important as the job itself.
Just like you use your resume to match your skills and experience to the responsibilities of a job, take the time to also define the work environment that best suits you.
Everyone has different things in their lives that determine the type of work environment that is best for them. Answering a few questions can help you think through these factors and come up with a more holistic idea of the job you are looking for.
- Are you someone who likes to work from home? Are you efficient and motivated on your own or do you get lonely?
-Do you thrive in a face-to-face environment? Does being in an office with coworkers motivate you? Do you enjoy getting up and heading out to the office in the morning?
-Do you prefer a more corporate environment or an entrepreneurial culture? Is a more hierarchical structure or a more casual, collaborative structure a better fit for your personality?
-Do you work better with a face time accountability setting or when your day is results driven?
-Do you prefer a hands-on manager or someone who sets the goals and guidelines and lets you run?
Your choices are personal and none are right or wrong. It’s important to be honest with yourself when outlining your choices, so that you are looking for the opportunity that is the right fit.
Once you have outlined the work environment you are looking for, you can use this as a guide for what information to listen for in future interviews and what questions to ask of possible employers. Making sure you align yourself with the job as well as the workplace environment gives you the information to make the best choice for your next professional venture.
Posted on Thu, Feb 09, 2012 @ 10:30 AM
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Name: Monica Miller
City/State: Wyoming, Ohio
Family: Married with three girls ages 9, 11, and 17
Education: Associates Degree in Civil Engineering
New Job: I was initially placed with AssureRX in a contract Marketing Assistant role and have been recently made a permanent part-time employee.
Summary of professional experience: I have worn many hats in my work experiences including office administration, stay-at-home mom, and coach.
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Why did you engage with Mom Corps? Actually, Mom Corps came to me. A friend of mine thought I would be a good fit for a job that was presented to Mom Corps.
How was your experience working with Mom Corps Cincinnati? The recruiter was very professional and helpful in guiding me through the paperwork process. I appreciate that!
How has having a flexible job through Mom Corps affected your work-life synthesis? The job that Mom Corps placed me in has been wonderful for our family. The additional income couldn't have come at a better time!
What is your go-to stress reliever? Running and working out...I love to exercise!
How would you describe your overall experience? It has been very rewarding with great future possibilities. I would recommend other women to look into Mom Corps when they are ready to re-enter the work force.
Posted on Tue, Feb 07, 2012 @ 09:27 AM
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There are many talented moms out there actively seeking to re-enter the paid workforce or gearing up to do so in the future. As experts in flexible staffing, Mom Corps team members are often asked about crucial skills for today’s workplace. |
Can A Career Coach Help You Shine?
As the moderator of Mom Corps’ 30 Minute Mentor program, I speak with a variety of career and personal development experts, many of who can be categorized as “career coaches”. Career Coaches have become very popular for those seeking a career change, goal development or leadership training. Until recently, I have never considered hiring a career coach for myself. I regard myself as “career-savvy” and I am currently in a great job. But while working on goals for the year ahead, I found myself a bit stuck in terms of areas for improvement and development. Was now the time to look for outside advice?
While I found myself craving objective guidance, I struggled with the idea of paying someone to help me find career clarity. Fortunately, I took a step back and realized how seeking the advice of “experts” has helped me achieve personal goals in the past. My husband and I pay a financial adviser to help us understand how to best manage our money. And, I have no qualms about using a fitness coach to help me keep the bulges at bay. So why not invest in one of the most important parts of my life--my career?
Wendy Enelow, a career coach specializing in executive career coaching, divides career coaches into two distinct categories: Career Management Coaches and Career Marketing Coaches. The former is a long-term approach, where you and your coach will focus on broad issues related to your entire career - past, the present and the future. A Career Manager, much like a Financial Adviser, is more likely to be a long-term partner with you as you navigate your professional goals and objectives. You will likely meet with this type of coach several times in the beginning and then schedule “check-ups” as needed.
The latter, or Career Marketing Coach offers a shorter-term solution around an immediate job search. This type of coaching helps define your objectives (e.g., type of position, type of industry, location and commute preferences, salary requirements, quality of life issues) and then developing a step-by-step job search action plan. Compare this to hiring a personal trainer for a specific weight loss or fitness goal. You will meet on a regularly scheduled basis until your objective is reached. For example, Comeback Moms offers a variety of short programs like Interview Preparation and Skills.
What is the fee structure?
As with any consultative service, fees for career coaching can vary widely, but the average seems to fall between 100-175 per hour for individual coaching sessions. Many coaches offer a multi-session package that includes a full skills assessment and a development plan.
Some coaches offer group sessions, which allow a group of clients to meet together, often virtually, and work on career issues together. iRelaunch has a program called coaching circles, that does just this. Costs are reduced for individuals and often you can get the same result. Similarly, many coaches offer free or low cost webinars.
My Experience with a Career Coach
After careful thought, I was ready to begin working with a career coach! I contacted one of Mom Corps’ 30 Minute Mentor presenters, Anne Sugar, for an initial consultation and profile assessment. Anne is certified by iPEC, and focuses on helping her clients identify their core energies. In my case, Anne is acting more as a Career Management Coach, since I am not currently in the job market and seeking to identify my core strengths and areas for development. After a brief phone consultation, Anne had me take an online assessment called Realise 2.0. It took me about 30 minutes and I was immediately given a 7 page report outlining Strengths, Learned Behaviors and Weaknesses. We then scheduled an hour phone session where we talked about what each of these meant in my past and current jobs. Some of our time was spent brainstorming on ideal situations where I could expand my strengths. For example, my profile showed that I have a knack for explaining processes and this activity energizes me. On the flip side, I am also good at building rapport, but this activity depletes my energy. I found the assessment easy to understand and dead on in terms of my unique brand. Now Anne and I are working on the goal-setting stage of our process. I must say that while this is tough, it is great to have someone objective asking probing questions and encouraging me to stay the course!
Is a Career Coach for everyone?
My experience with my career coach has been nothing but positive. However, it is important for anyone seeking career advice to do their due diligence before engaging an advisor. Have friends and colleagues recommend coaches with whom they have worked. Interview coaches before paying them any upfront money to make sure you are comfortable with their style and approach. Create measurable goals and performance objectives before you hire a career coach. And last but not least, be prepared to work hard! A coach cannot do the work for you, he or she are just there to guide you to success.
If you hired a Career Coach, what would you want to work on? Let us know by commenting!