Gilbert Resumes: Your Career Partner

How’s Your Email IQ?

12 Tips for Email Efficiency

Email is often me-mail. We “check our email” or say “I have to do my email.” It’s all about us. But with email costing us more than $308 billion in lost productivity, it might be time for a shift.

Research shows that of the 40 percent of our day spent doing email, people feel that at least one-third of that time is wasted due to lack of clarity, overuse of “cc” or “reply to all” and the overall volume. With busy professionals sending and receiving over 18,000 messages annually, the sooner we rethink our relationship with and practices of doing email, the better.

The time for new, clear agreements has come as we consider the hidden costs of low-value email on our lives, our families, our teams and our organizations. Take a moment to consider how many of these answers are true for you:

1. I often check my email even when I don’t really need to.
2. I frequently use the “reply all” and “cc” button.
3. My friends and family tease me about how often I check my email.
4. My emails often turn into a back-and-forth chain.
5. I rarely pay attention to or change the subject line.
6. I ignore or put off emails that are unclear to me.
7. I don’t organize the body of my email in any particular way.
8. I don’t really picture the other person who receives my email; I’m concentrating more on what I’m saying.
9. Most days, I have hundreds of emails in my inbox.
10. I check email most nights/weekends.
11. I typically respond to email as soon as it comes in.
12. I rarely associate email with my professional image.
13. I send partial emails just to get back to people quickly.

If you found that three or more of these were true, honing your email skills will save time and reduce stress. These tips for improving email efficiency can add a few new behaviors to your repertoire and improve your Email IQ by reducing the quantity of your emails, improving the quality, and coaching others to send you better emails.

Send We-Mail

Think of the busy recipients – what would help them most to take action? Don’t Me-Mail by really thinking about what you want to say.

Reduce The Quantity

Send less email so you get less email. For every five you send, you get three back. To stop the boomerang effect, try eliminating just 1-in-5 and you will have fewer coming back in at you.

Never think more is better or believe the more you write, the clearer you are.

Send to Action-Takers Only

Target your emails rather than “spraying” them and be more efficient and effective. Don’t “cc” or “reply to all” just because it is habitual and everyone else is doing it.

Send Complete Emails

Don’t send incomplete emails that cause others to have to send you multiple emails to clarify or get the complete picture.

Strengthen the Subject Lines

Clarify the reason you are sending the email in the subject line. Use a descriptive title such as delivery, confirmed, or request, and dates so people instantly know why the email is being sent and what you want them to do with it by when.

Put the Action Up-Front

The brain remembers what it sees first. People don’t read email, they scan it for pertinent information. Help them find it fast. Avoid rambling and embedding the context or action in the body of the email or creating stress through a “wall of words” email.

Be Clear and Concise

State your key points or background information with bullets or numbers in the body of the email. Refrain from rambling, tangential writing that has no structure.

Use an Auto Signature

This will help people locate you quickly. Signing your email with your name and no way to contact you causes others to have to take one more step to find you.

Build Your Professional Image

Your reputation may be strengthened through clear, concise, organized email. Remember, email is a snapshot of the perception people have of you. You are judged by how you communicate.

Check Email on Your Schedule

It takes 64 seconds to recover the flow of your work when interrupted. Don’t let your email manage your priority list by checking and responding to email every time it comes in of 24/7.

Coach Others

Effective strategies save us all from unnecessary, stress-causing, vague email. It is a mistake to think that others might be offended by you giving them advice on how to do email.

Use the Best Communication Channel

Email is not always the best channel for building relationships. With sensitive topics, call or meet face-to-face to better interact with others. Just because email is so easy doesn’t mean it is the best communication channel. Using email may cause you to miss opportunities for building lasting relationships through courageous conversations.

As you seek to improve your Email IQ and practices, remember, just like a new fitness program, it takes time and determination to build new habits. As you write, keep in mind that most people don’t read email, they scan it. Since it takes about 1/10^th of the time to read a numbered or bulleted, concise email versus a rambling one, you will save people time and they will respond to you with greater success and insight.

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As vice president of applied learning for The Ken Blanchard Companies, Dr. Victoria Halsey specialized in partnering with organizations to design, deliver and coach their people through interactive workshops, keynotes, webinars, podcasts and numerous other classroom and e-learning experiences. Her newest book, The Hamster Revolution: How to Manage Your Email Before It Manages You, contains email strategies designed to cut email time in half and improve the quality of the work environment by reducing stress and inspiring clarity. Contact Halsey at Vicki.Halsey@KenBlanchard.com.

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Sincerely,
Marty Weitzman,NCRW, CPRW, PBC, JCTC
Gilbert Resumes
"Your Career Partner"
800 967 3846

http://www.linkedin.com/in/resumepro

 

Seven Deadly Myths of Job References

Thinking about your prospects for landing that new job? You should think first about what your former boss and other references will say about you. There is no doubt that a person's past has a direct bearing on his or her future.

No matter what the nature of the job or pay scale, people should take their references very seriously for they can make or break a hiring decision. Here are some common myths about job references and the REAL reality:

Myth No. 1: Companies are not allowed to say anything negative about a former employee.

Reality:
While many companies may have policies that dictate that only title, dates of employment and eligibility for rehire can be discussed, people do break the rules every day. Due to human nature, providing a reference may be an emotional call for some. How about the boss with whom you had philosophical differences or the supervisor who sexually harassed you? Maybe a boss was just jealous of you? Fifty percent (50%) of our clients do receive a bad reference, despite the strict policies in place.

Myth No. 2: Most corporations direct reference checks to their human resources departments, and these people won't say anything bad about me.

Reality:
Most human resources professionals will follow proper protocol. However, in addition to what is said, reference checkers often evaluate how something is said. In other words, they listen to tone of voice and note the HR representative's willingness to respond to their questions.

Myth No. 3: If I had any issues with my former boss, I can simply leave him or her off my reference list and nobody will ever know.

Reality:
Many companies actually check references without an official list or you even knowing that they're doing it. They conduct what is known as a 'social security check' to determine where you have worked in the past and then call the human resources department or office administrator at each employer for a reference. This practice also is in place to see if a prospective employee has left any significant places of employment off of a resume, a bad move that should be avoided at all costs.

Myth No. 4: I should have my references listed on my resume.

Reality:
Your references should be treated with kid gloves. Only provide them when asked. The last thing you want is a number of companies that may or may not have a real interest in hiring you bothering your references. What's more, you want to meet with a prospective employer first to leave a favorable impression before any reference checks take place. If you suspect a less than favorable reference from someone, you can use the interview to address the situation proactively, from your perspective.

Myth No. 5: Once a company hires me, my references really do not matter anymore.

Reality:
Many employment agreements and contracts include a stipulation that says the employer can hire you with a 90-day probation period. Not only are they evaluating your job performance but, in some instances, they're also checking your background and references. During this time, your new employer may call your former companies and, should the results be less than expected, they have the legal right to fire you.

Myth No. 6: I sued my former company and they are now not allowed to say anything.

Reality:
They may not be able to say anything definitive, but do not put it past them to carefully take a shot at you. There have been plenty of instances where a former boss or an HR representative said, 'Hold on a minute while I get the legal file to see what I am allowed to say about Mr. Smith.' Many employers may be uncomfortable hiring someone who has a legal history and, thus, this can damage your job prospects.

Myth No. 7: There is really no need to stay in touch with former references.

Reality:
As the saying goes—out of sight, out of mind. Honor these etiquette guidelines and your references should continue singing your praises for a long time. First, call your former boss(es) periodically and update them on your career, asking them to continue being a reference for you. Make sure you thank them for their time. Next, as you move further up the career ladder in your profession or achieve new educational goals, make sure your references stay abreast of your success. As you progress, a reference is more inclined to see you in a positive light. Finally, acknowledge your references with a personal thank-you letter or email, offer to take a former boss to lunch or dinner, or send them a thoughtful gift.

--
Sincerely,
Marty Weitzman,NCRW, CPRW, PBC, JCTC
Gilbert Resumes
"Your Career Partner"
800 967 3846

http://www.linkedin.com/in/resumepro

Minimize Wait Time During Your Job Search

Five Follow-Up Strategies

 Every job seeker on the planet has experienced the agony of waiting to hear back about a job, an interview, a key contact, or the next step in the selection process. These guidelines will help you minimize your wait time without nagging or antagonizing your contacts.

• Set the expectation. At the end of every meeting, clarify the next step and the expectation for follow-up. "Great, I'll look forward to your call on Friday. If I don't hear from you, may I check in on Monday?" With this approach, you'll feel confident on Monday that your call won't be viewed as intrusive.
• Keep the ball in your court. When possible, rather than waiting for someone else to take action, take the initiative to pursue a contact or expedite the process. Busy executives will appreciate it, and you'll be assured that progress is made toward your goal of finding a new job. For example, if a network contact promises to pass your resume on to a colleague, you might say, "I know you're busy, so I'll be glad to save you a step and get in touch directly. May I use your name?"
• Don't be demanding. No matter how impatient, frustrated, or angry you may be at a lack of response, don't let negative emotions show in a voice mail, email, or person-to-person message. If your contacts feel uncomfortable when hearing from you, they'll be less and less inclined to take your calls.
• Follow up with a purpose. Of course you can simply call to follow up on a prior message or letter, but why not find a better reason to get in touch with your contact. Can you supply a bit of information on a topic you discussed? Share a news story or an idea? Refer him or her to someone who can help with a specific problem? With this approach, you'll call with confidence.
• Don't ask for something your contacts can't give. Remember, you want your call to be cordial, friendly, helpful, and professional at all times. If you ask for something your contacts can't give, such as a job, they'll feel guilty and uncomfortable when hearing from you.

And what about the protocol for following up when you haven't had a meeting or even a conversation? You've sent your resume in response to an ad, and now you want to know if you're in the running. This is a great strategy for this kind of follow-up call.

• Try calling early or late in the day (before 8 am and after 5 pm) to improve the odds that your target contact will pick up the phone.
• Leave a polished, positive message. Practice in advance so you can perform beautifully whether you reach a live voice or get routed to voice mail. Preparation will boost your confidence in making these difficult but critical follow-up calls.
• Don't leave your number or ask your target to call you back. Sounds contradictory, doesn't it? But remember, you want to keep the burden off your contact and the ball in your court. Instead, leave a brief message and indicate that you'll call back "tomorrow at 8:30 a.m." Then, be sure you call precisely as promised, and repeat the process until (a) you give up; (b) you reach your target; or (c) your target calls you. (This happens much more often than you think, even if you didn't leave your number.)
• Decide how many times you'll follow up before giving up. For many job seekers, once is more than enough. But chances are, your target is simply busy, and returning your call reaches the top of the "to do" list. Consider persisting for four or five times, leaving a brief message each time, before you give up.

Most importantly, when calling any contact during your job search have a clear message about who you are, the value you offer, why you're calling, and how (specifically) they can help you. This clarity will help your contacts to help you wherever they can and will give you confidence when you pick up the phone. And that's half the battle, ensuring that you approach your calls with an upbeat tone and a positive attitude.


--
Sincerely,
Marty Weitzman,NCRW, CPRW, PBC, JCTC
Gilbert Resumes
"Your Career Partner"
800 967 3846

http://www.linkedin.com/in/resumepro

Career Trends & Facts - Jan 2008

Employees are Eliminating Sick Days Due to Economic Uncertainty

With the news of Bush looking to boost the economy to avoid a recession with tax rebates in the next month and employees feeling the brunt of the unstable housing market from the New Year, many employees are less likely to take off for a sick day, even though we’re in the middle of flu season – which means you are likely to be more vulnerable to illnesses. To avoid this issue, it is advised that you keep your area clean to reduce the number of sick days you need.

Fewer Doctors and Lawyers?

According to a recent study released in January by Newsweek, it was determined that college-bound students have little to no interest in pursuing a career as a lawyer or doctor due to the number of years committed to education as well as the lack of creativity and flexibility allotted in the fields once in practice. Many students feel giving 80 or more hours to a job will leave them overworked, overstressed, and unhappy in the long run.

There Are Still a Few Offshore-Resistant Jobs

Many fear that starting January, many more companies have begun sending their work out of the country, however there are still some offshore-resistant jobs to consider for this year including the optometrist, hair stylist, biomedical equipment repairperson, clergyperson and firefighter – some of which have high job satisfaction.

After-Holiday Blues

Many people are finding that their job dissatisfaction increases as they realize that they work must resume after a holiday break. For this reason, watch for an increase in various fields as people polish their resumes, practice their interviewing skills and seek out new opportunities.

Making a Difference in the New Year

Now is the time that people are looking at the economy and the superficiality of society and deciding they want to make a difference. One good way to start 2008 is to look at your vision for the New Year and decide what contribution you want to make to the world in a very specific manner. What are your talents and skills and how can they be applied to creating significant change on the world’s stage?

Free to Work from Home

Starting with the turn of the New Year, many more people are finding their job security online. Where it was customary to seek writing jobs with print magazines, newspapers and other media outlets, more companies (including CNN) are beginning to turn to online freelancers for insight. In addition, many traditional employers are finding it to be less expensive to simply let employees work from an at-home office, especially when much of their company is reliant on Internet business.

Look for Promotions

Because turnover is higher due to job dissatisfaction, New Years resolutions, the feeling of being overworked and underpaid in the shaky economy, you can expect many employers to crank out more promotions. Approximately 32 percent of employers plan to add full-time, permanent employees in 2008, which means you may be able to slide into a higher position, while letting someone outside of the company take your slot.

Hottest High-Paying Jobs Are Still in New York

As of the beginning of 2008, TheLadders.com reported that New York still offers the best jobs for the $100,000+ executives, attracting the highest number of job-seekers from other parts of the country. While other cities such as San Francisco, Boston, Seattle and Chicago are in the race, New York stands out as a winner raking in an incredible 3:1 ratio of job-seekers to job postings. Some of those hiring firms include JPMorgan Chase, Johnson & Johnson, and General Electric.

Data Miner and Simulation Developer Jobs

These are two careers of the digital (Internet) world that are falling under the radar, but could quickly become two of the next hot jobs. They are jobs that require you to have an understanding of the Internet through providing companies with data on what to sell and to what markets (data miner), and how to develop simulation programs that can educate, entertainment or train individuals through the convenience of the Internet (simulation developer). Both are virtually unknown, however career bloggers are placing them in the spotlight this month so get in while you can! 

Look for Jobs in Government and Service

At the end of 2007, many factories, retailers, construction companies and financial services cut their jobs, leaving little room for new employees. However, where these sectors dropped the ball, government and service are picking it up, doing the majority of their hiring since the beginning of the year and potentially into the summer months.

Brought to you by:

Marty Weitzman
Managing Director, Gilbert Resumes
800 967-3846

Marty Weitzman on LinkedIn

For more information on Marty, please look at his LinkedIn profile:

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/0/223/7a6


Marty Weitzman
Managing Director, Gilbert Resumes
800 967-3846

Are you prepared to...

Are you prepared to capitalize on the peak hiring season that traditionally begins in January?
Is your résumé up-to-date?
Have you included all your new accomplishments?
Is your job search strategy leveraging all the tools available to you?

• Business & Social Networking
• Internet
• Recruiters
• Direct Company Mailings

Need assistance with your career endeavors?

Resume Writing, Cover & Thank You Letters, Job Search & Interview Coaching, Recruiter Distribution

Marty Weitzman
Managing Director, Gilbert Resumes
800 967-3846

Top 20 Retirement Jobs and Occupations

In the rapidly growing older workforce, certain industries hold more appeal than others, reports Robert Skladany, Head of Research and Certification for RetirementJobs.com:

1. Nursing
2. Healthcare technician
3. Healthcare administration
4. Teaching assistant & aide
5. Contract & temporary professional
6. Merchandise & grocery retailing
7. Specialty retail sales
8. Accounting & finance and tax preparers
9. Banking & lending
10. Car/van/light truck and bus driver
11. Customer service representative
12. Non-profit services delivery & administration
13. Insurance & investment services
14. Home care & personal aide
15. Hospitality & food service staff
16. Office clerical & administrative
17. Self-employment
18. Franchise and business owner
19. Small employers
20. Federal, state, and municipal government

Criteria for selecting the top 20 jobs and occupations include availability of opportunities, preferred employment (of age 50+ adults), worker preferences, and variety of opportunities.

Source: Retirement Weekly Newsletter


Marty Weitzman
Managing Director, Gilbert Resumes
800 967-3846

Statistical Data on Social Networks

Here's some valuable information about LinkedIn, MySpace.com and Facebook that I'm sure you'll find interesting:

LinkedIn:

• #1 business networking site with 15 million active users
• 4 million visitors each month and 35,000 new members daily
• Average user is approximately 39 years old
• Maintains an online resume of each user

MySpace.com:

• Reaches 39% of all adults
• 110 million active users, 61 million visitors each month and 270,000 new members daily
• 66% of MySpace's audience consists of people ages 25+

Facebook:

• Fastest-growing demographic in the 25+ age group with 30 million active users
• 17 million visitors each month and 150,000 new members daily
• 1% of all time spent on the Internet is on Facebook

Marty Weitzman
Managing Director, Gilbert Resumes
800 967-3846

Seasons Greetings

As we enter the holiday season, I want to wish you and your family a joyous and healthy New Year.

Sincerely, 
Marty Weitzman
Managing Director, Gilbert Resumes
800 967-3846


 

Phone Interview Techniques

Ten Tips for Mastering the Phone Interview

Phone interviews are becoming more and more common as companies gain greater access to candidates and as more recruiters and hiring managers work from virtual office locations. On the positive side, with a phone interview you don’t have to worry about having your suit pressed, and you can have your notes right in front of you. On the flip side, it’s much more difficult to establish rapport and get a read on the hiring manager during a phone conversation.

Below are 10 tips to get the most out of your phone interviews.

1. Schedule the meeting during a time when you won't be distracted.
   A phone interview should be scheduled like any other interview. At the designated appointment time, be sure the dog is in the backyard and someone else is watching the kids. Don't add additional hassle to an already stressful situation. If a recruiter or hiring manager calls you without advance notice and wants to interview you on the spot, use caution. If the interview "conditions" are not optimal at the time of the call, it's best to tell the interviewer that you are very interested in the position, but need to schedule another time to have a conversation. That time can be as soon as ten minutes later if that works for you—just make sure that you can take the call without being distracted.
2. Conduct interviews from a landline.
   Cell phones are a boon to modern communication, but the quality is still not the same as that from a land line. The last thing you want to do is frustrate the recruiter or hiring manager with a bad connection. Using a cell phone means you have a greater chance of getting distracted by multi-tasking when your attention should be completely focused on the interview. A landline forces you to stay in a relatively stationary locale. Plan your interview from a reliable phone line.
3. Create an office space.
   Dedicate an area as your office. This area could be as simple as a card table with a phone and your documents. Conduct your interviews from your "office". Being seated at a desk or table allows you to create an environment similar to an in-person interview.
4. Put a mirror in front of you.
   This helps you focus, and it anchors your conversation to the visual representation of a person. Monitoring your facial expressions helps you see if you are communicating your enthusiasm to the recruiter.
5. Have a glass of water nearby.
   If your throat is dry or you get a tickle you can take care of it before it turns into a cough and disrupts the flow of the interview.
6. Have your notes in front of you.
   A phone interview is like an open book test. You can have your research about the company and answers to potential interview questions right in front of you. Try organizing your key information on colored index cards by category so you're not fumbling through papers in the middle of the interview.
7. Vary your voice.
   Since the other person can't see you, it's critical that you vary the tone and cadence of your voice to communicate interest and develop rapport.
8. Use pauses effectively.
   Pauses in an interview situation are always difficult, and they can be especially awkward during a phone interview since you can't judge what the interviewer is thinking by their body language. Rather than wondering what the person on the other end of the line is doing (or even if they're still there!) use the silence to ask a question. For example, if the interviewer has just asked you about your strengths and your response is met with silence, make that an opportunity to ask a question like "What are the key strengths of your ideal candidate?" This tactic both takes care of the silence and allows you to learn more about the position.
9. Don't multi-task.
   We have grown so accustomed to multi-tasking; however, as mentioned in tip #2, it can be counterproductive during a phone interview. Don't check your email or stick a casserole in the oven while you are engaged in a phone interview. Act the same way you would for an in-office interview, and maintain your focus.
10. Practice.
    Record some of your answers to prospective interview questions. Play them back and critique yourself. Are you easy to understand? Are you talking too fast? Is your presentation riddled with long pauses and "ums?" Do you communicate interest and enthusiasm? If necessary, rework your answers and your overall presentation.

Marty Weitzman
Managing Director, Gilbert Resumes
800 967-3846