Tripping On The Ladder

 Posted by Linda Lande
 (c) January 26, 2010

Today’s economy has plenty of people searching for new employment. But could you inadvertantly be getting in the way of your own job search success?

If you’re falling flat with job applications or interviews,  it might be because you’re falling into these common trip-ups.

 In today’s segment (Part I), we show you some of the most frequent pitfalls that happen before an interview that will clearly work against you.

Part 1. Before the Interview

Are you making any of these trip-ups?

Sending the exact same cover letter and resume to each potential employer.
If XYZ Corporation receives materials saying that you’re looking forward to becoming an employee of ABC Corporation, it’s guaranteed that your resume will be deposited quickly in the trash.

“Your materials should be customized for each job application,” says Stacey Stratton, president and executive recruiter for True Talent Group. That means addressing your cover letter to a specific person (when possible), mentioning the company’s name a couple times in the main text, telling them how your skills and personality will benefit their organization, and briefly explaining why you’re interested in the position.

Keeping your humorous phone message.
You want them to know that you’re light-hearted and fun, right?

“Make sure that the phone you direct potential employers to has a clear, professional message,” says Stratton. “It’s the first time they’ll hear your voice—make it count.” 

Including spelling errors in your materials.
And if you really want to sink your ship, misspell people’s names—maybe even your own!

There really is no excuse for spelling errors—but don’t trust spell check alone! Read through your materials carefully to ensure that you are using the correct spelling and the right words.

Forgetting a couple items.
Employers like to know that employees can follow directions. So to ensure you don’t get the job, exclude a few of the items requested, such as work samples, forms, a list of references, or your salary history.

The job market is tough. Any means of weeding candidates will be used. Give potential employers what they ask for—in the way they ask for it.

Leaving inappropriate pictures and messages on Facebook and other online venues.
What’s the big deal? Work life and personal life are totally separate, right? 

“All employers Google potential candidates,” says Stratton. “You’ve got to be on your ‘A’ game. Clean up your online information.”

In fact, there are experts and services, such as Social Media 1-2-3 for Job Seekers, to help you audit, evaluate and shape your online presence  for maximum job search success.  

Failing to spend time preparing.
You know all about yourself—what’s there to prepare for? 

“While much of the interview is about you,” says Marni Hockenberg, principal and executive recruiter for Hockenberg Search, “potential employers also want to know that you’re sincerely interested in them. The ‘I’ in ‘interview,’ is not about you.”

Do your research. Visit the company’s Web site to learn about who they are, what they do, how they behave as a member of the business community. “Even more important,” says Hockenberg, “review the company’s mission, vision and goals—and then determine ways that you will help them meet those goals.” Know why you’re a good fit for the job.

“Come prepared to explain how you have helped other employers meet their business challenges—and explain how you’ll do the same for them,” Hockenberg says. “Know how you’ve benefited your previous employers.”

She also recommends taking at least three sets of printed resumes and references with you.

Stay tuned for Part II: During the Interview in Thursday’s installment of Tripping on the Ladder.  

 By Jenaissance
 (c) January 12, 2010

Starting your own business is an exciting, exhilarating leap of faith—and a very empowering one, at that.

If you’re like most sole proprietors in the start-up phase, however, you will want to save every penny that comes in the door and choose your expenses carefully…at least until your revenue grows. That doesn’t mean you won’t one day have that shiny office with an expansive view of downtown and your name stenciled on the door in gilded paint. It does, however, mean you may need to make do with a less glamorous set-up until your business grows to a profitable and sustainable level.

In this two-part series, we explore where you should spend—and where you can save—when starting your new small business.

Part I: Where You Should Spend

It’s tempting—and generally wise—to cut corners when starting a small business and to choose your expenditures wisely, since it’s likely that you may not have a lot of seed money to start with and it may take awhile before revenue comes marching in the door.  Don’t make the mistake of cutting corners on absolutely everything, however. Here are the things—in my own humble opinion–that you should never scrimp on (even if you’re tempted):

Legal services.
Going to law school and, later, working as the communications director for two large law firms taught me a very important business lesson: Don’t make a big business move without first consulting with a business lawyer. It’s important to find someone you trust, who has demonstrated experience helping small businesses like yours, and whose fees are palatable to your pocketbook.  A good business lawyer will help you structure your new business in a way that makes the most sense for your business objectives, keep you on the right side of the law in your jurisdiction, and protect your business from unforeseen legal issues down the road.

This will probably be one of the biggest expenses you will incur during the start-up of your small business. Lawyers are expensive. (One reason is because, as my husband likes to say, “If the work was fun, people would do it for free.”) Just gulp now and accept it. But legal planning now will save you time, and perhaps costly problems and unforeseen “surprises,” down the road. It’s kind of like going to the doctor:  a full work-up now will keep you on the healthy path toward the future.

You may also need an intellectual property lawyer to help you file any trademarks or service marks that you are developing as part of your new business. You may want to do this as soon as possible after meeting with your business lawyer, since filing trademark applications takes time and is a fairly slow and tedious process—not to mention that you will want to protect your intellectual property from the very beginning of your business venture.

Accounting and tax services.
Uncle Sam is not always the friendliest guy. Not if you mess up your taxes, that is. Spare yourself the guess-work and hire a good certified public accountant (CPA) with small-business experience to guide you through the tax process. It pays to start building a relationship with a CPA you trust; as your business grows, your accounting and tax needs also will grow in scope and complexity and you will want to rely on someone who’s been with you from the beginning, who understands your business goals and who can help you navigate complex tax laws (which seem to be getting more complicated with each passing year).

In the same spirit, invest in a good accounting system for your business so you can be organized and effective in invoicing clients, paying your bills, and staying on top of your cash flow. QuickBooks offers several easy-to-use solutions, including a starter version that is free and can be upgraded as your client base—and your business needs—grow.  

Marketing basics.
It’s worth it to spend a little money on developing a brand for your new business, followed by a simple business card and Web site so that potential customers have a way to find you. My 10-plus years in the marketing and communications arena have given me a very strong bias, which I will share with you here: Hire an expert to help you. Don’t try to do this yourself if you don’t know what you’re doing. Being able to create circles in Microsoft Word does not make you a designer and plugging words together does not make you a writer—and, if done poorly or sloppily, it will make you look ridiculous. And, for pete’s sake, that handwriting font that looks like a little kid scribbled with a pencil should be outlawed. Just…don’t go there.

Hiring a graphic designer, a writer or a marketing/communications consultant can make all the difference between giving the impression of being a strong, successful, professional, contemporary business or a rinky-dink, unprofessional business that’s running out of someone’s back bedroom…and looks like it. And, frankly, if you are a client seeking to hire a sole proprietor, which company will you trust more with your business, based on first impression alone?

You need not hire a costly agency to help you. There are some outstanding freelance designers, writers and consultants (I like to think I am one of them) who have award-winning experience and who, because they are freelancers with low overhead, can offer you a better price than some of the flashy agencies and creative services firms. Some may even be willing to barter services with you as a cost-effective solution.

A post office box.
If your office is in your home, you will want to consider renting a post office box from the local post office or mailing-related store (such as Mailboxes, Etc., or The UPS Store). Since you will want to keep your personal mail separate from your business mail, this is one way to ensure that happens. And, if you work from home, you probably won’t want to broadcast your home address to strangers who visit your Web site. A p.o. box gives you a business presence, and a place to direct your mail, while protecting your privacy at home. Generally, post office boxes are available in a variety of sizes and the cost to rent a box is commensurate with the size.  

Stay tuned for Part 2 in Thursday’s issue of The Daily Rung, where we highlight some areas where you should save money in starting up your new business venture.

 By Jennifer Cohen
 (c) December 18, 2009

Every job I accepted, I secretly knew (deep down in my gut, which I tried hushing at every interview) it was probably not the exact job for me…but then again, no one gets their dream job the first time around…or second, or third, or fourth. Right?

So, just because the job didn’t meet every one of my requirements and I knew I would be pigeon-holed in my responsibilities, I didn’t think it was a smart decision to just pass. I mean, why not give it a shot and maybe my instincts would be deceiving me?

But I was always right. The job would last for a bit, but I was very cognizant to the signs indicating it wasn’t going to be forever. I probably could’ve made a very aggressive over/under bet and made half my salary for pinpointing the day/time of separation.

I also think my appetite for success and leadership was never being fulfilled, since I was always required to start at the bottom and report to someone who wanted to prevent me from advancing. It seems as though the cut-throat environment of some corporations does not foster teamwork when you spend most of your time with bus tire tracks on your back.

What I can say, though, is that from each experience, I definitely took away something great and I do not regret any opportunity that came my way.

I am actually forever grateful for the positions and even more grateful for the separations. In every position, I always learned something new, expanded my network and learned a lot about management and how to communicate using various styles.

I can also confidently admit that I definitely knew that each of the positions  was not going to be where I would stay for long—and hopefully, I stayed just long enough in each before I was fired (four times).

The moral of this story is we should be in tune with our emotions. We should listen to what our gut is telling us and take it into consideration when making big decisions. There is constantly a struggle between what is true, what we want to be true, and our final decision. We should also understand that ultimately, the decision we make is the right decision and the way it was meant to work out.

So don’t regret anything from which you can learn something, but make sure you are not hushing your gut when it is screaming in your face.

“Fired…Four Times” is a monthly column written by 20-something Jennifer Cohen, chronicling her experiences being fired, four times, and ultimately reinventing herself in a new and successful career as a marketing and social media consultant.

Recent Posts:

• “Fired…Four Times. Now What?”

 By Sharon Korbeck Verbeten
 (c) December 17, 2009

If you’ve purchased a first home, you’ll recall how that experience took research, planning, expense, time and a healthy dose of resolve. It also likely involved a leap of faith.

That’s not unlike starting your own freelance writing business—which I did five years ago. And while launching All Write Creative Services was just as unpredictable as buying my first house, my decision has proven just as comfortable as that modest two-bedroom ranch.

After more than 20 years working in magazine and newspaper journalism, I summoned up my desire and connections (along with motivation and moxie) to break out on my own. At first, I needed a bit of convincing, but with the support of family, friends and business associates, All Write Creative moved from a longtime desire to a reality.

Here are three things I learned from launching my own business.

1.       Remember: You aren’t just a freelance writer. You’re a business owner.
You’re not just a freelance writer; you’re a business owner. Before you begin, write a proposed business plan to determine the specifics of your business. What will you call your business? Proposed business expenses and income? Will you work 9 to 5 or have more flexible hours? Work from home or rent an office? Incorporate your business? Hire an accountant? Specialize or offer more broad-based services?

Proudly introduce yourself as a small business owner. Presenting yourself in a professional manner–complete with business cards and a title (I chose “editorial director”)—allows others to take you seriously. Too many people still believe that writing is something people do just for fun. Let people know this is your business, and they will be more likely to treat it as such.

2.       Don’t underestimate the power of networking.
Even if you’re extremely well connected, never underestimate the value of meeting new people. You never know where your next assignment will come from. More than a decade ago, I worked in the funeral industry; a former colleague of mine heard I was freelancing and later called me first when she learned of an editorial project in that industry. In another instance, I was chatting with an old friend who knew an editor in the waste management industry. Now that editor offers me regular work. Sure, in both cases, I had to introduce myself, follow up, provide writing samples and prove I could do the work, but I may never have pursued—or even known about—those opportunities had it not been for these contacts.

Don’t overlook other freelance writers. Consider them connections, not competition. Some of my best connections with editors have been through referrals from their regular writing stable. There’s plenty of work for talented, dependable writers, and editors trust their better writers’ referrals.

3.       Working on assignment…and other misconceptions.
Before I started my business, I thought I’d always be flush with assignments from my “regular” editors. It doesn’t always work that way. And while these clients are good to me, sometimes they’re too backed up with stories to need anything. Or they may be too busy to respond or make a formal assignment. That’s why you always need feelers and queries out there—to your regular clients as well as to new markets. And remember, once you break into a new market, be sure to ace the assignment (turn it in clean and early!) and foster the relationship so they become one of your regulars.

 Much like any major decision in life—buying a house, having a baby—starting your own freelance business comes with its own set of “must haves” and “must knows.” Remember that the key to staying sane while serving up success is being prepared and organized—while still being ready for the unexpected!

 
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Sharon Verbeten, a regular contributor to Tripping on the Ladder, is editorial director of All Write Creative Services in De Pere, Wis. Before starting her own business, she worked for 10 years as editorial director of three national hobby magazines. A 20-year veteran of journalism, she now writes for many national trade and consumer publications in the antiques, library, funeral service, waste management and business sectors.

 By Tripping on the Ladder
 (c) October 15, 2009

Even under the best of circumstances, the annual performance review at the office can evoke dread in even the highest of performers. So what do you do when you think you’re doing a fine job but your boss doesn’t agree?

In today’s “Ask the Expert” column, Julie Paleen, a professional coach and HR consultant with Blue Star Group, offers a few tips for what to do — and offers hope that all is not lost.

To read this and other recent Ask the Experts columns, click here.  

 Featuring Julie Paleen
 Professional Coach and HR Consultant, Blue Star Group
 

Do you have a question you’d like to “Ask the Experts”? Submit your question to editor@trippingontheladder.

 By Tripping on the Ladder
 (c) October 10, 2009

He’s been your trusted work buddy–getting drinks with you after work, sharing war stories over tuna sandwiches at the deli down the street, and dishing  the office gossip at the water cooler. But now, out the blue, your buddy is about to become your boss.  

It’s one of the most perplexing, and potentially detrimental, challenges of the workplace. In this installment of our popular “Ask the Experts” column, professional coach Julie Paleen of Blue Star Group shares some tips for navigating this potentially dicey situation.

To read this and other recent “Ask the Experts” columns, click here.

 Featuring Julie Paleen
Professional Coach and HR Consultant, Blue Star Group
 

Do you have a question you’d like to “Ask the Experts”? Submit your question to editor@trippingontheladder.