Accelerate Your Search™ Now

Saturday evening we attended Zootopia 2013, an event celebrating the Franklin Park Zoo’s centennial and Zoo New England.  It was fun and inspirational.  Live animals, inspiring people and unique stories combined to produce an engaging evening.

Branded leadership was everywhere.  I truly love to talk to people who have passion for what they do.  The marketplace loves it, too! A person’s palpable uniqueness and authenticity excites, engages, and connects people.

I was most inspired by the owl handler’s love for his job, his strong brand and the immediate impact of his leadership.  You can see in the photo he enjoys what he does.  His voice, eyes and energy share and highlight not only his brand, but also his keen knowledge of of the critical element that helps strong brands flourish — face-to-face time with clients, supporters, and professional contacts.  This time is important for him, the barn owl, and the organization they represent.

It was clear that the entire Zoo New England team (zookeepers, animal trainers, business development staff and board members) understood that uniqueness unlocked allows life to flourish, fun to blast forward and amazing results to occur.  They truly inspired themselves and the event attendees with their passion for what they do.

Do you inspire yourself?  Why do you do what you do?  Do you share your vision, passion and mission with others? Who else have you inspired to share your story?

Here are just some of the people telling the Zoo New England story to the world:   Jeff Corwin, Anna Rose Rudy, Robin Young, Adam Crellin-Sazama and Beau.  And, clearly they are inspiring others to tell the story, too.

Is it time to build your brand equity and inspire others?   Who is shouting about what you do and how you and your team are unique?

If you need help to leverage your uniqueness, do what you love, and inspire others, give me a call.

It was such a delight to take a short sabbatical — spending time resting, recharging and renewing my mind, body and soul during the month of April.  It was also a joy to return to New England to find that spring had indeed arrived.

Spring is a beautiful time of the year.  It represents the point in time each year that nature wakes from its winter rest and shows the world its renewed self. Spring holds fresh starts, new blooms, and often, new projects.  Look around — what do you see?

Last week, the crabapple tree in front of my house popped into full bloom and the red tulips around the trunk also began to show their colors.  It was as if they effortlessly joined together to add their beauty to the world at exactly the same time.

It often seems the spring beauty appears without effort, yet it does not.  Each plant, flower, and tree that suddenly bursts onto the scene is encoded with a plan to help it survive and thrive.

While I was away I pondered what the world, the marketplace, and our lives would be like if humans did not have free will.  What if we could not pick what we wanted to be or what we wanted to do — how would the world be different?

Without free will you would just be a tulip or a rose or an oak tree.  That is it.  Your plan would be set.  You would have no choice.  You would simply live out the plan set for you and be a <insert whatever you want here>.

When speaking to people (clients and others) who are contemplating a career shift or change they often tell me the choices scare and/or overwhelm them.  I get that.  I recall those feelings all too well.

If that is what you are feeling, you haven’t yet experienced the fun, exciting discovery of looking at all the electrifying opportunities before you.  Or all the doors that will open, almost effortlessly, when you tap into your strengths and the unique ingredients that set you apart and make you oh so successful.

If you are in that panic or frightened place ask yourself the famous Dr. Phil question, “So how’s that working for you so far?”

If the answer is “not so well” – are you ready to change that?

Are you ready to begin exploring your strengthens and many the opportunities before you?

You’ve made it to the final “B of Interviewing!”  You’ve stuck with it till the end . . . and, that is exactly what the final “B” is all about.

What is the last “B?”

Be persistent.

Companies take from days to weeks to make decisions.  Decision time varies depending on a number of factors.  Perhaps there weren’t enough great candidates; perhaps there were too many.  The decision maker may be traveling or some crisis in the business may take priority.  Don’t give up.  You’ve already asked when and how to follow up.  Use the information.  Now, I’m not saying to call them every day for a week — unless you’re told its okay to do so.  I am saying you need to follow up until the trail is cold or until you’re told the position is filled.  Even at that point, you should ask if there are other openings for which you would be qualified.

So, there are the “B’s of Interviewing,” from my keyboard to your eyes.  If you follow these points and do the work, you are much more likely to stand out in the candidate pool.  Prepare, practice and present.  Most of all, it’s important to be yourself.  Joining a company where the fit is right is magic!  If you do what you love, you’ll never work another day in your life.

Good luck!

-Mark Key is a retail professional known for driving results in diverse and challenging retail segments.  Mark’s interviewing insights come from companies big and small — having worked with organizations with just a few employees to Fortune 100 companies.

So many are not . . .

Being Honest is the 4th “B of Interviewing.”

Just as it is easy for you to find out all kinds of things about the company through your research (or even while you are sitting in the waiting area!), so too can the company verify all the information you provide.  It is vital you speak openly about your accomplishments, just be sure the information is accurate.  This is especially important when you are asked to explain gaps in your employment, a termination or other blemishes on your resume or record.  I’m not saying you need to point them out, just that you must have a credible answer when asked.

Next on the list?

Be gracious.

Based on the company’s preferred method, follow up with a handwritten note, a letter or an email.  If it’s unclear, ask.  I would much rather have a candidate ask how, when, and with whom she should follow up than to have her guess and get it wrong.

Have you employed any of the “B’s of Interviewing” yet?  If so, let us know the results in the comment area below.

And, if you need a quick refresher (or have missed the previous posts), here are the “B’s” covered thus far:

• Be on Time
• Be Prepared
• Be Interested
• Be Honest
• Be Gracious

Check back next week when we wrap up the “B‘s of Interviewing.”

-Mark Key is a retail professional known for driving results in diverse and challenging retail segments.  Mark’s interviewing insights come from companies big and small — having worked with organizations with just a few employees to Fortune 100 companies.

The whole month of April we have been focusing on The B’s of Interviewing — tried and true tips to ace your interviews.  We began with a discussion on Being on Time, moved to Being Prepared and today, tip #3, is Being Interested.

Being Interested is comprised of two parts.  First, building rapport.  Seasoned interviewers are skilled at small talk, which puts the candidate at ease and allows the interviewer to test the “fit” of the interviewee.  Be prepared to engage in this small talk and engage honestly.  If the woman across the table asks about the local college’s basketball team and you don’t follow them, be honest.  Don’t pretend to engage where you lack experience or knowledge.  Remember the integrity thing?  It applies here, as well.

The second component of Being Interested is to ask sincere questions. The easiest way to do this?  Follow up on questions asked of you.  Ask for additional information or clarification.  Ask questions from your research, about the company’s direction, about what keeps them up at night, about the goals for the department or position.  Employers are much more likely to remember a candidate who engaged in meaningful, thoughtful conversations about them.  Remember, this is a two-way street.  Both parties are dancing — trying to decide if and when to close the deal.  Even if you aren’t interested, ask questions to practice.  Yes, I said practice at the interview.  Don’t share this with anyone, but I know people who go on interviews for positions that don’t interest them just for practice.

And, what will you practice?  The B‘s of Interviewing, of course!  Be on Time, Be Prepared and Be Interested.

-Mark Key is a retail professional known for driving results in diverse and challenging retail segments.  Mark’s interviewing insights come from companies big and small — having worked with organizations with just a few employees to Fortune 100 companies.

The next “B” of interviewing is:  Be prepared.

Being prepared involves several things:  knowing the company, knowing your stuff and knowing how to present it.

I always ask candidates what they know about my company and am surprised by the number of times I hear, ” . . . not much . . .”, “. . . nothing, really . . .”, or, worst of all, “I really haven’t had time to research.”  Really?  When your cell phone has more computing power than the one used in the Manhattan Project, enough to stay connected to several hundred people simultaneously, the ability to shop or get a dinner reservation at a moment’s notice and you didn’t have time to research?  If you aren’t interested in the company, the employer won’t be interested in you.

What should you know to be prepared?  You should know:

• The history of the company and what the company does.
• Their competitors and their competitive advantage (and their weaknesses, for that matter).
• How your skills and experiences match the requirements.

Use company contacts, social media, internet research, stock market information and, even the library, as your sources.

Next — knowing your stuff.  An effective candidate speaks to his resume without looking.  You remember the details and can recite them.  You know the steps you took to drive sales to record highs in the Atlanta division in 2009.  You remember the names of your supervisors, the years you won awards and why you received them.   In my book, a candidate that gives me different information than what is reported on an application or resume has trouble in the integrity department.  Is it fair?  It doesn’t matter.  It is what it is.  Knowing your stuff keeps you out of trouble.

Last, you must not only know your stuff, but also know how to present it.  Great information and big opportunities have been lost in poor presentations. My advice?  Practice.  Even well paid, experienced speakers practice constantly.  Think about it.  Interviewing is something we rarely do.  It takes skill to speak to seldom used information in front of total strangers.

My advice on how to get better?  Go to the internet and find the 100 most common interview questions.  Put them in a word processing document and answer them.  Once you’ve answered them, find someone with which to practice.  It could be your spouse, significant other, neighbor or someone else with whom you’re comfortable and, most importantly, will give you honest feedback.  Have them ask the questions while you practice answering them until your presentation is smooth and natural.

Once you know the company, know your stuff and know how to present your stuff, you will be much more confident.  This confidence helps you relax.  When you are more relaxed, you are more yourself.  Your confidence will show!

Next week, we dive into Being Interested . . . are you?

-Mark Key is a retail professional known for driving results in diverse and challenging retail segments.  Mark’s interviewing insights come from companies big and small — having worked with organizations with just a few employees to Fortune 100 companies.

April is bringing me a very unique adventure — more to follow on that soon!  Part of my adventure includes spending fun time with amazing people and, as such, I asked a few of them to guest post on this blog and share their thoughts on interviewing, building great teams and other relevant topics.

The April guest posts focus on  “The B’s of Interviewing” — tried and true tips to ace your interview.

Let’s get at some tips to help you prepare for a knockout performance in your interview.  The tips are compiled from my experience on both sides of the table.  I do want to confess that I’ve never particularly liked interviews, but once I began to view them as simple conversations the whole process changed for me.

Let’s prepare you for your conversations.  My first “B” tip is:

Be on time.  I know, I know.  Still happens, though — candidates fail to account for weather, traffic, poor directions, etc.  My conversations with late candidates are very brief.  I confirm the time of our appointment, then tell them that being on time is a non-negotiable expectation on my team.  I tell them it’s not a fit as I escort them to the door.  If you aren’t able to get to the interview on time, what makes me think you’ll show up to work on time?  Besides, being early has its advantages.  You have an opportunity to talk to the receptionist, the administrative assistant or the VP you met in the elevator.  You have time to mentally go over last minute preparations or fine tune your questions.  There’s zero downside to being early.

So, “B” on time next week when I share with you the next B of Interviewing!

-Mark Key is a retail professional known for driving results in diverse and challenging retail segments.  Mark’s interviewing insights come from companies big and small — having worked with organizations with just a few employees to Fortune 100 companies.

Welcome to the final installment of the “adventure of my garden.”

At this point, hopelessness and overwhelm had taken over.  Honestly, I was shocked that these feelings had shown up, not in my career or business, but in my desire for a spring garden.  Maybe I should forget about the garden?  Was it really that important?  I could just pour rocks in the beds and settle for a rock garden.

I shared how stuck I was feeling (and the garden story) with a mentor.  She responded, “You are in a new place and have grown, yet you still have growing to do.  Sort out what is holding you back and you will have the garden you desire.  Ignore it and it will begin to impact other areas of your life.”

Boy!  That rocked me back on my heels — for about five minutes.  I thanked my mentor for listening, pondered her statement for a few moments and quickly returned to my “stuck place.”  After three and a half years I was in the same place — frustrated with no garden!

Oh, I was working hard!  I bought soil, plants, books and attended classes on gardening in New England.  I fussed about the trash and cement left behind by the builder.  You got it — I did it all.  I worked hard, watered, planted and kept asking myself, “Why can’t I grow a beautiful garden in New England?”

Bottom line?  My garden and I were in the same place.

A couple of weeks later, I sought the assistance of my business coach.  Could she help me with my garden?  The smile in her voice was clear and she began asking the powerful questions she always asks.  In a few short conversations I discovered what I needed to do differently and formulated a new approach.  Within a day or two I was on my way to creating the garden of my dreams!  By mid-summer my garden was lovely and so much less stressful than my 3.5 years of struggle.

Does your job search sound like my adventure with my garden?

Are you working hard, seemingly doing all the right things and still without the job of your dreams?

Are you feeling overwhelmed and looking for some help in finding a new approach?

I, too, was lost and stuck — and I realized I needed a new approach.  My answer came from working with my coach.  In a few conversations she helped me craft a new plan to get the garden I wanted.  Alone, I had been working in the garden for nearly four years without success.

Would having a coach help your search?

Are you ready to land a position fast, earn the salary you deserve and do it with less stress?

The “adventure of my garden” continues . . .

Gardening in New England <insert your job search here > is just a bear!  I found the process frustrating, full of land mines and seemingly out of my control.

I really wanted a garden.  Why?  The basics:  a garden provides CO₂, creates beauty and adds curb appeal.  Personally, gardening brings me brings joy, satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.

Just like a job — you want to contribute, earn a living, etc.

As I began working on the two small beds installed by the builder odd things began occurring.  A feeling washed over me, a feeling that the whole world was against me having a garden.  Trying to overcome the oddness of this feeling I set my intentions and dug in — literally and figuratively.

Have you done this same thing with your job search?  Your resume and LinkedIn profile are complete, you apply to every job matching your skills, interview and then nothing?  Feels totally out of your control, right?

This garden was bringing up peculiar stuff — feelings I had not experienced in years!  And, I don’t mean just the 20 pound rocks and chucks of cement buried just under the thin top soil.  But, I really wanted a lovely spring garden and I decided to do whatever it took to achieve one.

One spring morning I realized I was feeling and doing the exact same things I had so many years ago when I lost my first job.  The same feelings were overwhelming me.  I felt stuck and hopeless.  I really didn’t know what to do next.

Does any of this sound like your job search?

Are you working hard, doing what you think is all the right stuff and still without the job you want?

If you are currently “stuck” and would like to discuss how I might help with your job search, let’s talk.

Stay tuned to my next post to find out the conclusion of the “adventure of my garden.”

I welcome any questions or comments — just post them below.

In the last post I shared what deepened my understanding of the importance of setting intentions.

If you have already set your intention for your next position, declared it publicly and are thinking and acting differently AND you are still struggling to land your next position — keep reading.

Several years ago we moved from Texas to New England.  In November!  It was the toughest winter of my life and I could not wait for spring to plant a lovely spring garden at our new home.  My simple desire for a garden and what I learned from that garden (heretofore referred to as “the adventure of my garden”) forced me to deal with thoughts and things I thought were dealt with — things I thought were in the past, but were not.

These same issues keep popping up for clients, so I decided it is time to share my experience in this blog.

OK, so the adventure of my garden . . . It was March and in my mind it was time to plant, but there was still snow everywhere.  How was I going to get my garden?

I started to ask questions about gardening in New England, got information and quickly rejected most of it.  Then April arrived and still no garden — I whined, fussed and got very frustrated.

Finally, I set the intention, used the information I gathered and planted the garden.  I got a few flowers and plants, but definitely not what I would call a garden.

Intention, information and action were not enough to produce a garden.  What was holding my garden back?  Maybe it was the bad weather.  Maybe I just needed more information.  After all, there was still snow in May — how could a garden grow in this harsh environment?

Surely, the lack of a full, lush garden was not because of me.  I decided the factors were out of my control and got increasingly frustrated.  Gardening in New England was just a bear!

For my clients this is just like updating their resume, researching job openings and getting an interview or two, but no job offers.

Do you see job searching as a bear?

Have you said the same things about your search that I said about my garden?

Have you given up because of things you believe are out of your control?

Is what’s holding you back really out of your control?  Really?

Join me next week as I share more of the “adventure in the garden . . . ”