An "Opportunity" to Discuss: Resumes; Recruiting; ....and DATING?!

Recently I was invited to be a guest speaker for a college undergrad senior class. The topic was recruiting. The class was engaged and asked a lot of great questions - very fun.  I had two interesting take-aways...

1. This "opportunity" re-affirmed my direction on experiential-learning, or action-learning. I was hoping to help the class better understand the intricacies and nuances of the recruiting process. My challenge was to deliver this talk in a meaningful, non-boring, impactful way....this was a night class, so I wasn't sure what kind of attention span to expect!  First of all, like most people, the students thought recruiting to be merely a name-gathering exercise. It is so much more! So how was I going to convey this big topic in the time allotted?! I used my favorite "recruitment process" analogy as a basis for the exercise (see: http://www.upwordsinc.com/executivesearch-process.php)  ...how the steps of "the dating process" closely match up with the recruitment process.  Since these young adults are in the throes of dating, it seemed like a pretty good angle. I had the students volunteer for various roles in our little analogy drama (the lone guy got to be "the guy"). We also had a Scribe, "the female", and "the friend". I had the students physically act out the dating process, stopping at each point to identify the interaction (i.e. finding out if the guy is right for your friend, the blind date, the engagement, etc.). Then....we correlated the recruitment process to the dating process. They had to think...and they had to participate! I am very hopeful and confident they learned something. They got it! ...and so did I!! I saw their reactions to a non-lecture-information-dumping approach - it was great.  I saw the wheels turning (they had to actually respond and interact!). Once again, this approach to learning has proved to be the way to go.  They learned, I learned.
2. The Resume. I made the class an offer. After I passed out my card, I told them if they contacted me/sent me their resumes, I would call them with a verbal opinion/ my perspective. A couple of students have already taken me up on my offer. Their resumes were surprisingly good actually...but....I think as a whole, people miss the point of a resume. What was missing in their resumes was the same thing I see missing in most resumes. It is not a listing of information - well, let me re-phrase, it is not just a listing of information. A resume needs to speak to who you are. It represents "you" when you are not present to represent yourself. So many resumes are VANILLA, (especially for college grads since they have a minimal amount of experience). Most candidates seem to think the employer is looking for a detailed account of their "responsibilities". Not true. The employer is looking for a detailed account of their "accomplishments". Seriously, if another person had the same job history as you, and it was about listing responsibilities, technically, the resumes would look the same, right? The job of your resume is to highlight YOU...what YOU are capable of, what YOU have done/accomplished...not just what you were hired to do. 

It was great to combine areas of my expertise & passion into this single event: connecting with the class; delivering a message in a way that they "got it"; educating/clarifying the topic of recruiting; and helping these soon-to-be-grads better represent themselves on paper. I'm anxiously awaiting the test scores :)

Preparation or Wishful Thinking? Our apporach to life, work, success, and resolutions....

As I am an avid reader, a friend and colleague just recommended a book to me - Dare to Prepare by Ron Shapiro. Interesting title, so I checked it out on-line and found numerous 5-star ratings...which prompted me to pick up the phone, call him back, and enter into a conversation about the topic of "preparation"....  Now we didn't solve the world's problems, but it did get me thinking about resolutions.

My first question to you is: How is your New Year's Resolution going? We are 2 weeks into the year, and based on my very informal poll, 60% of the good intentions have already crashed and burned. Are you in the 40, or the 60%? Is this a pattern?

My second question: When you sat down at your desk this morning, did you think "what are the 2-3 things I need to do today to consider it a successful day?" or did you "find something that needed to be done - to occupy you?" Do your days feel reactive or proactive?

My third (and last!) question: Does your life resemble the board game "Life" where the dice determines your fate...you move yourself forward without considering options or strategies...making decisions as the need arises? Or do you create "the board" on which your life plays out?

In my coaching practice, I often hear people enter into "wishful thinking". They believe if they wish hard enough, it will happen. "I really want my boss to see me differently, I really wish he would get to know me" - yet if there is a suggestion to modify current behavior or take action to make it happen, there are 101 excuses why that won't work, not to mention some finger-pointing. What is interesting is the surprise and disappointment people feel when nothing has shifted. Is this an issue of wishful thinking vs. preparing for success, or is this an issue of powerlessness?  Or an issue of just not knowing how to make it happen? I'm not sure....but I do know there is an expectation for wishful thinking to "work".

Let's go go back to "resolutions".  Step One, you've set your resolution. Great.  Step Two...now what? Hello...Step Two.  The truth of the matter is most of us think if we wish it, or declare it, we're good. You'll have to do more than that...you'll have to prepare.  Studies show the most successful dieters (c'mon, admit it, this has probably been on your list of resolutions at least once), are successful because they prepare. They prepare their menus and meals in advance, they prepare by acknowledging and deciding what to do in certain pitfall situations, they prepare for the day.....they prepare for success.

Achieve all the things you are capable of and/or want in life, not by wishful thinking, but by preparation - take control of your success and prepare.

 Please let me know how you have prepared for success, I would love to hear your response!

With a new Attitude and a new Plan, I welcome in 2010!!

Happy New Year! I don't know about you, but I am thrilled to see 2009 in my rear-view mirror - bring it on 2010!! ...and it seems many people share the sentiment!

2009 was an exhausting year....for me anyway. We made it - and for that I am grateful. As many people in our industry struggled to cross the finish line, the new year couldn't come fast enough.

Well, it's a new year and a new race. Isn't it funny how our attitude changes from December 31st to January 1st? In a span of 24 hours, well really in the span of 60 seconds, people feel lighter, more hopeful, and energized.  Nothing has changed - not really. We have the same economy, the same problems (for the most part), the same jobs, the same leadership, the same news stories... From where I sit, the only change that has occurred is in me - my attitude has changed.  And that is everything.

As I breathe in 2010, I feel light, hopeful, and energized. I'm excited to move forward. My desk is clean. I have a plan. I, with my positive attitude in check, am ready to go.

Here is my simple, yet effective, go-forward plan:

1. Dump the mental "garbage" that accumulated in 2009 and start with a clean slate. Now set a vision for 2010. (yes of course this is an ever-evolving process and should already be in place, but re-envision and re-commit to the vision)
   
2. Set Goals: What are my goals for the year? And what 2-3 goals do I want to accomplish today?
   
3. Plan "the Execution" of those goals. Map out your time.  Be proactive and protective of your schedule.
   
4. Get rid of distractions.  Does e-mail come to mind?  Limit yourself to checking it only certain times of the day. Any other time-robbers?
   
5. Ask yourself continuously throughout the day: "Is this the best use of my time?"
6. Commit to Excellence.

Plan for a great 2010!  Best wishes for big success this year.

I would love to hear about your "get ready for 2010" strategies and how it's going!!











I was so bogged down last year that I stopped "dreaming" and visioning.  I got very reactive vs. proactive.  So today I feel free to dream.  I reset my goals.  I have gotten back to the basics in my planning routine. I have commiteThese are things that work for me....what works for you?