Archive for the ‘Great First Impressions’ Category

Are You a Linchpin?

Friday, September 17th, 2010

I recently finished the book Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin. Great book. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it.

While most business books I’ve read don’t really introduce new concepts (I know my blog doesn’t really either), the really good ones get me to focus on the important things I’ve been missing, or some areas for improvement, generally in leadership. This book falls into that same category and reinforces some important concepts we’ve all learned in the past, but does put a different perspective, in my opinion, on the mindset the Linchpin has while doing her work. She’s an artist, and is “giving” away her art, or, in my opinion, her gifts and strengths to an organization and those it serves. It’s just who she is – she is going to do a great job and not keep score, and make sure she leaves those she serves better off for having interacted with her. Keeping score – “They don’t pay me enough”, “I’m not appreciated”, or “They overwork me” – can be very tiring and generally leaves the score keeper not feeling better for the experience.

(more…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Great First Impressions, Job Performance | No Comments »

Perseverance in the Job Market – How Much are You Sweating?

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

“Leave it all on the field.”

“Twice the sweat for ½ the return.”

“Yesterday’s ‘A’ game is today’s ‘C’ game.”

These are just some of the quotes I’ve heard recently about today’s economy. By the way, these weren’t from job seekers – they were from business people that are just as challenged today in selling their products and services.

Good quotes to think of and remind us that we’re not alone, and that those that are persevering in this market are going above and beyond to stay alive. Many companies have downsized significantly, and in some cases shut down plants or entire business units. Becoming more efficient quickly was the name of the game in 2009 and now it’s still challenging and no one is ready to shout, “Mission Accomplished!”

(more…)

Tags: , ,
Posted in Great First Impressions, Job Search | 3 Comments »

The Lost Art of Mastering a Great First Impression – Part VI: How to Position Yourself for that Dream Job

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Did you hear the one about the person who applied for the advertised job, only to be told there wasn’t one? While companies may post jobs, or hire search firms like McDermott & Bull to fill them, the reality is that jobs have changed character over the last 20 years. In the past, a job meant a potential career with a company. You really evaluated that company thoroughly, spoke to the hiring manager about upward mobility after that assignment, and tried to picture yourself retiring from that company. How often does that happen anymore?

The answer: not a lot. In fact, today, you need to take a different tack if you’re looking at an opportunity. A job is no longer a potential career (that’s not an entirely accurate statement), but instead is an opportunity to solve a problem for a company. Quite possibly – no more, no less.

(more…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Great First Impressions | No Comments »

The Lost Art of Mastering a Great First Impression – Part V: The 30 Second Elevator Pitch

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Ever go to a networking event and meet someone that is unwavering in their attempt to make you hear everything they’ve done in their career and what they’re looking for in their next job? OK, I’m exaggerating here, a little. But it is true. We’ve all run across those people that think it’s important you know so much about them, or else you won’t be able to effectively help them. I’m sure even I’ve done it to someone before, and I really sympathize with them now.

Now for the controversial part of the post, so get those keyboards ready and start flexing your fingers. In an elevator pitch, I’m a firm believer that LESS IS MORE! Really, they don’t call it 30 seconds for nothing.

(more…)

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Great First Impressions | No Comments »

The Lost Art of Mastering a Great First Impression – Part IV: The Car Makes the Candidate

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Wow, am I setting myself up for the hate mail or what? I know this post will be controversial to some, and I’m the first to say, if you don’t agree with me, it’s ok, do what you want. These are only my opinions, are not set in stone, and sometimes even I go against them if I feel compelled.

That said, I do have some thoughts on how some candidates do themselves harm with their car. I was taught about five years ago by my business coach, Vance Caesar, to walk candidates to their cars after an interview. I must admit, I am not always able to do this, but I do try, especially when interviewing someone at my office. I might say something like, “I’ll walk you out” after the interview is over, and then follow them out of the building since our suite is on the first floor. As we’re making conversation, I might say, where are you parked and they’ll point in the direction so we’ll start walking towards their car.

(more…)

Tags: , ,
Posted in Great First Impressions | No Comments »

The Lost Art of Mastering a Great First Impression – Part IIIb: How to WOO

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

If you’re an extrovert, you’ve probably never been told you lack energy or the ability to build rapport. However, when interviewing with an introverted hiring manager, it’s important for an extrovert to dial it down. Introverts want to drill down on your past responsibilities, your experiences, and your success stories. Keep it to the point. While one-word answers are almost never great in an interview, stick very closely to the question asked and don’t over communicate.

(more…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Great First Impressions | No Comments »

The Lost Art of Mastering a Great First Impression – Part IIIa: How to WOO

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Many of us by now have read the great book “Now Discover Your Strengths” and are familiar with the talents spelled out in detail. The one talent that some have in excess, and that serves them their entire careers, is WOO – winning others over. We can also call this topic building rapport with all the stakeholders and parties involved in you landing your dream job.

WOO’ing is not easy for all of us. My partner, Chris Bull, can walk into any room and immediately build rapport with just about any type in that room – from the cigar chomping, back slapping CEO type, to the technical R&D product developer type that’s passionate about technology but that sticks to themselves in social settings. I like to say that he can play the entire spectrum.

(more…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Great First Impressions | No Comments »

The Lost Art of Mastering a Great First Impression – Part II: To Dress or Not to Dress, That is the Question

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Many companies have gone casual dress these days and it’s difficult to know just how to dress for an interview. I just had lunch with a former public company CEO who visited the senior management team of a company he’s recently interviewed with for a CEO spot, and found everyone to be business casual. He was dressed to the nines with his best suit, great shirt, and great power tie (remember that line?). Immediately he felt over dressed and said to the assembled masses, “If you all don’t mind, I’d like to shed the tie and get comfortable with everyone,” at which they all said please do and he was one of the team. The point though, is that he knows how to dress and I’m sure they felt confident he can do the part in representing them to investors and analysts. And, while he dressed down by losing the tie, he still looked like a million bucks. This is a simple thing to do if you don’t know what a company hiring manager expects of your dress in your first interview. While I know I’ll probably hear a few comments about this, my feeling has always been to overdress with a company interview, and you can always say something about it so they know you can don the khakis and golf shirts just like everyone else. I have heard from hiring execs that even though their company is casual, they were put off by the candidate coming in for an interview dressed casually, at least for the first interview.

(more…)

Tags: , ,
Posted in Great First Impressions | 1 Comment »

The Lost Art of Mastering a Great First Impression – Part I: Introduction

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010



I’ve probably interviewed over a thousand people in the last 11 years and prior as a hiring manager, before getting into executive recruiting. (That’s less than 2 a week and many weeks, I might average over 5 so I think it’s a safe guess for this story.) It never ceases to amaze me how seemingly great candidates who are very smart, and have reached the executive level, or at least the senior part of middle management (that’s pretty concise) make a poor first impression when the interview starts. And, without trying to be sexist, men, the women have us beat here. They invariably know how to dress and how to position themselves properly in the chair or on our couch. They do however, join the men in missing on other points, which I’ll mention later.

(more…)

Tags:
Posted in Great First Impressions | 1 Comment »