In this article, I highlight four multimedia resume techniques that are replacing the traditional resume strategies. And as a glimpse of things to come, I also look at what one college is doing using multimedia to help its graduates position themselves as competitors in the job market.

FOUR MULTIMEDIA RESUME OPTIONS

The traditional resume won’t disappear completely anytime soon, there are certain guidelines that you should always follow, regardless of mode of delivery. The multimedia resume techniques described below are all marketing tools, containing marketing messages about you. The question is: Can multimedia help you stand out in the application process?  If the answer is yes, there are four multimedia channels you can tap into to accomplish this.

1. Video: Giving a Face and Voice to the Applicant
As Bruce Hurwitz of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing says, “Video can increase my confidence in a candidate’s ability to successfully interview–Is she professional? Is she articulate?–or eliminate a candidate from consideration.”

The website Purzue makes it easy for job seekers to create a profile based off of their resume, accompanied by a quick video pitch in place of a cover letter. The recruiting platform and job board GetHired goes further, with real-time interviewing capabilities and virtual screening through recorded responses. Of course, time is money, and candidates need to give recruiters a reason to keep watching. My advice: personality is great, but don’t get too cute. Balance is key.

2. Infographics: Bringing Flat Resumes to Life
Breaking out of the traditional resume template isn’t easy without a degree in design. But presenting a recruiter with a more visually stimulating overview of experience and qualifications can go a long way in setting a candidate apart. Thankfully, it doesn’t take an Adobe Illustrator savant to turn a boring old resume into an interesting infographic.

Vendors like Vizualize.me pull information from your social media profiles (LinkedIn, in this case), and lay it out in various (and customizable) formats. Not only are these easy to create, but they’re easy to share across multiple channels.

3. Social Media Profiles: Providing Insights into Culture Fit
Most job seekers–okay, at least those under 50–have some kind of social media presence. It’s no secret that recruiters investigate some candidates’ social media profiles to obtain a more rounded picture of the individual (and yes, also to check for questionable content).

Job seekers are responding to this shift in recruiting practices by beefing up their networks (which gives a nice halo effect), expanding their professional profiles and adding recommendations on LinkedIn, driving conversations and connecting with thought leaders on Twitter, and cleaning up their Facebook profiles.

4. Blogs and Personal Sites: Showing Off
Blogs are an excellent platform for candidates to showcase their hobbies, writing and communication skills, and general interests. Think they’re just for marketing candidates? Think again. Even a meat cutter at Whole Foods can run a successful butcher blog to establish expertise and share experience with an avid audience.

And who said blogs are just for writing? Techies can demonstrate their ability to build WordPress templates, too, or simply prove they know how to find and add plug-ins to build websites. And candidates for and candidates for artistic positions can showcase their portfolio of work.

IS THE MULTIMEDIA RESUME THE FUTURE?

The basic function of a resume isn’t going anywhere. What’s changing is how that function is executed.  To that end, many college campuses are taking it upon themselves to give the next wave of workers a competitive advantage in the job market of tomorrow.

At Ithaca College’s Park School of Communications, Dean Diane Gayeski spearheaded an initiative to prepare to enter a workforce with limited work experience, and where social media engagement and a strong portfolio are a graduate’s strongest ally. All freshman communications majors are required to take a six-week multimedia course in which they learn how to create and market an online repository of their work via an ePortfolio, learn best practices for using social media tools, and connect with alumni–both fresh out of school and already established in their careers. They’re seeing success.

“When you’re starting off in college, you’re dealing with buzzwords like branding and image. It can be intimidating,” says Aaron Edwards, a senior journalism major and future James Reston Reporting Fellow for The New York Times. For Edwards, however, the ePortfolio started in freshman year became a repository of his best work that was easily leveraged when he began applying for jobs and internships. Says Edwards:

“I now have a personal website, which is a little more permanent. It was great to have the portfolio as a stepping stone to something I’ll use for the rest of my life.”

Your comments: What successes have you had in using media to find work?  Do you think you will try any of these options above?  Please add your comments below.

Guest author: Kyle Lagunas is the HR Analyst at Software Advice, a resource for selecting a talent management or an applicant tracking system. Kyle reports on trends and best practices in HR and recruiting software—offering fresh insights into the ho-hum of people processes.

This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to BeMyCareerCoach.com, please follow these guest post guidelines.

So what can you do to maximize your chances of getting promoted quickly at a company?  Here are 6 tips I recommend

1. Make a good first impression – Because first impression can last a long time, start any job strong by building a good reputation fast with key influencers of the company – your boss plus other senior people that can contribute to the decision of your future promotion.   You usually have about 90 days to build your initial reputation.  Make them count because a major misstep in the beginning can be very hard to reverse later.
2. Discover Promotion Expectations - Once you settle into a company, find out what are the criteria for promotion from your boss.  Approach him or her with a positive and open attitude.  Communicate your desire to excel and proactively find out what it takes to be promoted and when it could happen if you do well.  This communication does three things for you: a) helps you find out the exact criteria for promotion, so you can work toward it. b) understand the typical length it takes to get promoted – for example 3 years. and c) gives your boss the impression that you are focused and want to excel.
3. Demonstrated skills at the next level - Obviously you have to excel at your current position to be promoted.  That is usually a given at most companies.   Whether it is said or not, it is also important to develop and demonstrate skills at the next level to ensure promotion.  For example, if you are an individual contributor and the next level up is manager level where you would have to manage people, then you should already find opportunities at your current level to informally manage people.   It is a lot easier to get promoted if you can show your boss that you have the skill already than to convince him or her that you will be a good people manager.
4. Proactively build a good relationship with your boss – This is important even when you are a stellar performer.  Let’s face it. Promotion is a subjective decision still and people still rather promote the person they like and are similar to them.  So if there are more than you in the team who performs well but you have a closer relationship with the boss, you will get promoted.  c’est la vie.
5. Build a personal “board of advisers” – Companies all have board of advisers.  Why? so that they can get great strategic advice from people with diverse experience.  You should follow that example and build your own personal “board of advisers”.  They can tell you the informal scoop on how to get promoted.  Your board of advisers are senior people that can include your boss’s peers, people senior to your boss, as well as people outside your company.  Usually 5 people is sufficient.  You want to build relationship with those you respect, have the experience to provide sound advice, and want to help you with your career.  With these people, you can ask them to be your mentors.   But not all people on your “board” have to be a mentor as it’s hard to find many good mentors. Others can be on your board for politic reasons.  By this, I mean you want to figure who has your boss’ ear and build a good relationship with that person.  Make sure that person thinks highly of you using subtle self promotion and this will help with your career progression.
6. Proactively check in on your progress - Lastly, it’s also important to directly check in with your boss periodically (every 3 to 6 months) on your performance.  You never want to assume you are on track unless you hear it from your boss as he / she can have different perception of your performance than your own.  By proactively asking for feedback, you demonstrate initiative; you will get a chance to find out what areas you still need to improve to be on track for promotion; and you will remind your boss that you want to be promoted and expect it if all goes well without directly saying it.

By following these 6 tips, you are doing yourself a favor, making sure you are recognize for the good work you do and getting promoted according to your expectations.  Best wishes to your career success!

Like this post?  Then help me share it on Google+, Linkedin, Twitter and elsewhere.  For more advice to support your career success, sign up below for my email newsletter – How to Succeed like an Executive – learn practical tips for developing your soft skills and apply them immediately at work

Your comments: Do these tips help?  Did I miss any?  I look forward to your comments below.  Thanks.  I am always in your corner.

Lei

To read more tips, also refer to my other post - Can’t Find a Job after College – 6 Ideas.

Podcast: How to Maximize Your Job Search Chances After College

Your comments:  was this podcast helpful?  any outstanding questions?

Like this podcast?  then help me out and share it on Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and elsewhere.  Thanks.  Subscribe to my podcast channel on iTunes – under Job Hunting Tips or Lei Han

I am always in your corner.

Lei

1. You don’t discover how tough this job is until you are on the job.
2. Your boss is pretty demanding but does not communicate well.  You have to often guess what he/she wants you to do and whether he or she is happy with your work.
3. Your boss requires you to be on call almost 24/7 in the first few months on the job.
4. Many people are qualified to do this job but to be really good at it requires a lot of dedication and personal sacrifice.
5. You are usually thrown into the job without much formal training. No matter how many books you read about it, you will be still scrambling from time to time, especially during the first year.
6. While you most likely work in a team with at least one other person on this job, nobody else can help you do some parts of this job.
7. This job usually requires a long term commitment.
8. While job security is high, you can be fired from this job if you are really bad at it.
9. You can make a profound difference in someone else’s life in this job.
10. This job is often under paid and under appreciated by many.  Some people may even look down upon you if you have been at this job full time for awhile.
11. If you let it, this job can also be one of the most rewarding job you will have .

Your comment: Is it obvious what this job is?  Share your guess and comments below.

I am always in your corner.

Lei

Top 10 On the Job Advice Posts

1. List of 28 Soft Skills – Business Professionals
2. Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills – Difference and Importance
3. Examples – Interpersonal Skills are More Important than Hard Skills
4. How to Ask Someone To Be Your Mentor
5. What are Soft Skills
6. What Makes a Good Manager- 7 Qualities
7. How to Improve Your Soft Skills
8. What is Interpersonal Communication – Definition and 3 Myths
9. Overwhelmed at Work? Six Practical Solutions 
10. How to Make a Good First Impression

For more way to navigate this blog and take advantage of all the 140+ career advice articles, click here.  Best wishes in 2012.  I am always in your corner

Lei

Job seekers: Xmas is usually the slowest season for recruiting as many hiring managers are taking vacations and budget for hiring are not set until January.   So give yourself permission to enjoy the holidays and start your effort anew in the new year.  The only thing you can work on is your resume during the holiday.  If you want help, start with this free resume template.

Those with jobs: Be thankful to have a job since unemployment is so high still.  Even if your job is not perfect, you at least have options to work it out or try to find a new one in the new year.   Most companies have holiday vacation schedules.  Take it and spend time with your family.  Work can wait.  Choose life over work during this holiday season.  Nobody ever wish they worked more on their death bed.  Everyone however wish they spent more time with family.   Take the time now while business is slow and say no to work.

As for me, I am thankful for a wonderful year.  While I have little income to show for it this year, this year has been rewarding in other ways and an adventure.

• I am thankful to be able to reach over 13K readers now worldwide monthly and still growing at 20-30% a month.   I started this year only reaching about 500 people a month.  I also found out that I love to write.  I have hated writing for about 15 years of my life, so this is quite a revelation.
• I am thankful for everyone’s interest and support of my career advice blog.  I love the fact that I can help people I don’t know with their careers.   I treasure every email that lets me know I was helpful in some way.
• I am thankful to find a passion – helping professionals develop their soft skills to achieve career success - which I realized that I would do for free indefinitely if I had all the money in the world.  I don’t have all the money in the world, but I am working on gaining financial freedom so I can always pursue what I love.
• I am thankful for a year of learning new skills – writing, search engine optimization, paid search marketing, new product development, etc…
• I am thankful for the unconditional support of my husband and my ever growing family – I have a 3.5 year old daughter and by the time you read this, I would have given birth to another daughter due Dec 15, 2011.

This picture of my daughter says it all about how I feel about the holidays.  Perhaps it’s because I see more of life through her eyes these days.  She is so excited about our tree, all the presents Santa is dropping off, and her little sister due to arrive this week.

I wish we can all remember how we feel about life and the holidays as we did as a kid – with excitement, joy, and hope in our eyes.   Happy Holidays to you and your family.  I will be back next year with more career advice.  Email me if you have any topic suggestions.

I am always in your corner.

Lei

Podcast  - How to Say No at Work

Your comments:  was this podcast helpful?  any outstanding questions?

Like this podcast?  then help me out and share it on twitter, facebook, linkedin, Google+ and elsewhere.  Thanks.  Subscribe to my podcast channel on iTunes – under Workplace Communication or Lei Han

I am always in your corner.

Lei

3 Common Mental Obstacles – to Finding Your Passion

One Exercise to Help Find Your Passion

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me
2. I wish I didn’t work so hard
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier

Reading this prompted me to come up with this exercise on how to find your passion.  In our 20s, 30s, 40, even 50s, we rarely think about dying.  It’s morbid and depressing.  However, knowing you will die soon also give you clarity and can quickly help you break down the mental obstacles (crap) you hold in your logical mind.   So to do this exercise, allocate an hour somewhere in your house or a cafe and imagine what if you are told you have just one more year or one more month to live, then ask yourself 3 questions in order to find your passion.

3 Questions to Ask to Find Your Passion

1. As you face death, what is your biggest REGRET of what you didn’t do in life?    This question overcome the fear mental obstacle.  There is no bigger fear than death, so assuming you will die soon, what do you wish you would have tried to do in your life regardless of success or failure?  This will give you some ideas about the passion you have been too afraid to try.
2. If you had financial security already, what would you do for free?  It doesn’t matter how much money you have and what fancy cars you drive, you cannot take any of it with you when you die.  What you can take with you, as the article indicates, is the feeling that you allow yourself to be happy in your life and you were true to yourself.  So setting aside financial responsibilities, what would make you happy?  What do you want your legacy to be when you die?   This question overcomes the responsibility mental obstacle and also gives you an indication of your passion
3. As you face death, what one thing you wish you had done that you know others may disapprove of?  By asking the question this way, you overcome the what other people think mental obstacle.  Death makes us face reality about what we really want in life and how we really feel about things.    The truth is people are usually too worried about their own lives to disapprove of any of your decision.

I leave you with the final sentence from “Five Regrets of the Dying” article – “Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.”

Like this post: Then help me out and share this on Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook and elsewhere

Your comment: does this exercise and questions help you find your passion?  Add your comment below.

Best wishes in finding your passion one step at a time.  I am always in your corner.

Lei

• 1 in 6 workers use social media to get hired
• 9 in 10 job seekers has at least one profile on a social media site and 54% of job seekers use Facebook,  Twitter, or Linkedin to find jobs
• over 18 million Americans say their got their current job using Facebook
• 50% of job seekers last year says they use Facebook to do job search and 15% says they used Facebook to get a job referral
• The more social you are the more likely to find a job on a social media site. “Super social” is defined as having more than 150 contacts on a social media site.   1 in 4 “super social” job seekers find their job using social media (Facebook being the most popular)

Here is the infographics

Created by: MBA Online

My recent experience reminded me that life or work is not always fair or reasonable.  And when life gives me a lemon, I can choose to be a victim or be resilient and make lemonade.  What happened to me is not work related but the same principles of resilience apply.  My 3 year old daughter’s Mandarin immersion preschool – Language-in-Action – abruptly announced 2 weeks ago that they will be closing mid-year. All the parents and teachers were stunned.  No explanation was given.  We had exactly 10 days to respond and have to find another suitable spot to continue our children’s Mandarin education.  Usually these things takes months of research and mid year is the hardest time to find any openings.  What a holiday “gift” to receive.

You may not be able to easily relate to my story if you don’t have kids, but this kind of news to a parent is similar to any of the following bad news you may encounter in your career.

• Being laid off unexpectedly right before the holiday – This is what’s happening to the teachers at this school without any warning
• Being passed for a promotion you expected - This school’s director told us only last month how committed she was to this program.
• Not getting an offer after you aced all the interviews - None of the teachers or parents knew this was coming.  Everyone was happy and thriving at this school.
• Being blamed for something you did not do at work - Teachers and parents are given no choice but to accept this decision.  We still don’t know to this day what went wrong.  The school director declined to explain or show her face anymore.

p.s:  For those interested in the outcome of my school story – 1) After two weeks of scrambling, we finally found a temporary spot for Isabel to attend starting next Tuesday.  We are hopeful it will work out 2) We as a parent group plans to voice our opinions in all social networks to warn other parents about any future dealings with Language in Action.  3) We formed a much closer bond with all the parents and teachers in the same plight – our version of making lemonade .

Here is a summary of his 10 tips provided by Forbes .  I added my comments as a reminder for myself.  Hope you will find these tips inspirational as well.

1. Avoid “good” and “bad” labels -When something bad happens, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, when you make an error, be aware of it without passing judgment. “Do what you have to do, but don’t surrender your calmness and sense of peace.”
   Lei:  Also sometimes what seem to be a bad experience (like a layoff) could be a blessing in disguise in the long run.  My friend was laid off at the end of last year but found a better job in 6 weeks with 20% more pay and now his company just got bought.
2. Practice “extreme resilience” - This is the ability to recover fast from adversity. “You spend much time in needless, fruitless self-recrimination and blaming others…You go on pointless guilt trips and make excuses that you know are fatuous. If you’re resilient, you recover and go on to do great things.” 
3. Let go of grudges -  This is the key to being happy at work. “Consciously drop the past,” he writes. “It’s hard, but with practice you will get the hang of it.”
   Lei: I completely agree with #2 and 3 – refer to my post on Forgive and Forget – Key to Career Success to read more examples.
4. Don’t waste time being jealous - “When you’re jealous you’re saying that the universe is limited and there’s not enough success in it for me.. Instead, be happy, because whatever happened to him will happen to you in your current job or at another company.”
   Lei:   Don’t waste time dwelling on what you don’t have because that just takes energy away from you and cause you to feel like a victim.  When you spend 100% of your energy on striving for the future, you will achieve.
5. Find passion in you, not in your job -  Rao warns against searching for that perfect position, or even believing that it exists. Instead, he advocates changing how you think about your current situation. For example, instead of thinking of yourself as a human resources manager at a bank, identify yourself as someone who helps other bank employees provide for their families, take advantage of their benefits and save for the future.
   Lei:  This is probably my favorite tip from Prof Rao.  If we depends our happiness on what happens at work, then we will always find some level of disappointment as no job is perfect.   Only when we can find self worth, confidence, and happiness in ourselves and our life regardless of work, can happiness be in reach.
6. Picture yourself 10 years ago and 10 years from now -“Most problems that kept you awake ten years ago have disappeared …Much of what troubles you today will also vanish. Realizing this truth will help you gain perspective.”
   Lei: it’s so funny how true this really is.  I can’t even remember what I was worried about 10 year ago.  Whatever is fretting us now, take a step back and take a long term view.  Everything will work out in the long run.
7. Banish the “if/then” model of happiness – Many of us rely on a flawed “if/then” model for happiness. If we become CEO, then we’ll be happy. If we make a six-figure salary, then we’ll be happy. “There is nothing that you have to get, do or be in order to be happy.”
   Lei:  This is so true and probably the hardest tip to follow.  If you look at any achievement you made in the past, you will find them often anti-climatic.  You may feel good for a few hours  but soon you will think of the next level of what you want.  Since human always want more, tying happiness at work to an “if” is like denying yourself ever having the chance to be happy NOW.
8. Invest in the process, not the outcome - “Outcomes are totally beyond your control”  You’ll set yourself up for disappointment if you focus too much on what you hope to achieve rather than how you plan to get there.
   Lei:   We need to focus our attention on trying our best and believe that whatever happens is meant to be.
9. Think about other people - Rao advocates inhabiting an “other-centered universe.” If the nice guy gets passed over for a promotion, he may still succeed in less tangible ways. “He may rise later in the shootout … I’m challenging the assumption that you need to be a dog-eat-dog person to survive in a corporate environment.”
   Lei:  Perhaps he also means that you can build good karma by helping others, then good things will also come to you in the long run.  You don’t need to play unfair politics or step on others to succeed.
10. Swap multitasking for mindfulness - Instead of working on tasks for 20-minute intervals that you gradually increase to two-hour spans. Turn off any electronic gadgets that can be a distraction. With practice, you’ll be able to accomplish much more and with less effort.
    Lei:  I think what he means is in order to do multiple tasks effectively, you have to give each task enough time and effort.  Constantly switching between tasks waste time and leads you to be unhappy.

Your comments:  Do you agree with these tips?  Which are your favorites?  Share you comments below

Like this article?  Then help me out and share it on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and elsewhere.

I am always in your corner.

- Lei

• If only I had more time …
• If only I had more money …
• If only I had technical skills ….
• If only I got my MBA …

For those job interviews where you didn’t get called back, ask for some honest feedback about how you did on the interview so you can learn and be better at the next one.  What is there to lose?  They already moved on to another candidate.   You may not always get a response when you ask for feedback but there is always a chance you will and can learn some real insights from their interview feedback on how you can improve.

Here are 5 rules of thumbs when asking for interview feedback.  Also see an example of an actual email I wrote to an interviewer recently to get interview feedback

1. Do it by email instead of a call - this way it doesn’t put anyone on the spot.  They can consider what they want to tell you and then get back to you.  An email can also give you a chance to ask for feedback tactfully
2. Be humble and sincere – Don’t use this opportunity to give them feedback about anything.  Focus on the fact you want to learn and ask for honest feedback.  Thank them in advance for the help as providing good interview feedback takes time
3. Be flexible – put in language that makes you sound earnest instead of pushy.  sth “when you have time.”  ”Share anything you are comfortable with.”
4. Be specific – put in specific questions you want feedback on. People are more likely to respond to a specific question than a general email that asks for feedback.  It shows that you thought about it.  One way to be specific is actually lay out your self assessment of what could be improve and see if they had the same impression or not.
5. Be patient – not everyone will be willing to provide you honest feedback.   Some will never respond.  Some will keep it high level.  and then there will be a few that can give you true insight.  Realize this is normal and don’t dwell if you don’t learn anything.  At least you took a shot.  Also give the interviewer some time to respond.  Wait a week before following up with one more email.  If you don’t hear anything still, then leave it at that.

- Lei

Why Say No at Work - Here are 4 key benefits

1. Protect your work reputation - Saying yes at work is not always good for you.  If you said yes and then did a poor job because you had too much work then not only do you NOT get any credit for saying yes, but your reputation for doing quality work will be damaged.
2. Maintain high productivity - Once you learn how to say no tactfully, saying no will lower your stress level and keep you balanced and productive for all the work you still have on your plate.
3. Increase work enjoyment  - It’s hard to enjoy work if you are constantly overwhelmed.  By saying no sometimes, you can maintain a healthy work load and better enjoy the work you do.
4. Respect for your word  – By judiciously saying yes or no to extra work, you can build a reputation for being your word and avoid easily being dumped on.  When you say yes, the work you return will be stellar.  When you say no, you have a good reason and people will respect you regardless.

When to Say No at Work - While it’s absolutely okay to say no at work, you will have to do it selectively.  It’s not healthy for you to say yes all the time, but it’s also career limiting if you said no all the time.  Here are 6 key considerations to help you decide when you should say no.  Remember there are benefits/consequences to saying yes or saying no.  It’s up to you to decide based on your career aspiration, health condition, and goals in life.

Stayed tuned for next week’s post on How to Say No at Work – 5 Tips.

- Lei

Developing skills to become a good people manager is not easy.  Just because you were a good team member does not automatically make you a good manager.  The good news is you can learn and develop your manager skills over time.  The fact you are reading this post means you are aware you need to know what makes a good manager before you can develop skills to become one.     Based on 8 years of experience in managing people, I recommend 7 qualities of what makes a good manager.

1. Have confidence and provide clear direction - One of my favorite quote at work is “Vision without action is a daydream.  Action without vision is a nightmare”  This first manager quality speaks to the latter part of this quote.  You will lead the team in a set of efforts.  It’s important to set and communicate clear direction to your team on what needs to be accomplished and how it can be accomplished at a high level.   There are many ways to get things done.  Choose the best one based on your experience and stick with it.  If you lack the confident to set direction, your team can easily get overworked and it can turn into a nightmare for everyone.
2. Delegate issues not tasks – This second manager quality speaks to the first part of the quote above.  Make sure you delegate well in order to accomplish greatness with a team.  If you delegate only tasks, then you are restricting your team from helping you solve the larger problem.  Assess your team members’ skills early and delegate issues accordingly based on what you think they can handle.   Your job is to own a large issue, break them down into smaller ones and then let each team member help you solve the smaller ones.  If you hold on too tight and only delegate tasks, then you will end up doing most of the work and your team members can also be de-motivated from not being challenged.
3. Support open communication – Even if you are already good at #1 and 2 above, it’s important to realize that you can never be 100% clear to your team.  This is why this 3rd manager quality is ultra important.  Find a way to encourage your team members to ask clarification questions and get feedback on their work progress.  This will make your job easier in the long run as you cannot easily guess where someone may be confused or stuck.  By encouraging communication, you can create a safe environment for your team to ask questions, get feedback and escalate concerns.
4. Invest time in people development - Being  a manager is not just about getting more things done.  You also need to invest time to develop your team.  This means understanding each person’s skill level, career goals, and creating opportunities for them to learn new skills while at the same time accomplishing what the company need this team to accomplish.  This may sound like a lot of extra work, but it’s worth it.   When you care about the success of each of your team members, they will in turn care about your success and go above and beyond to perform.   This 4th manager quality also set the foundation for you to become a great leader.
5. Provide constructive feedback – In conjunction with a mindset to develop others, as a manager, it is critical to know how to provide constructive feedback.  No one is perfect and all will have strengths and development areas.   It is your job as a manager to let each of your team members know how to leverage their strengths and provide good examples of where and how to develop.
6. Give credit to team – This may sound simple but if you worked hard to get something done with your team, your ego may instinctively want to claim the credit since you are the team lead.  Resist!  Nothing demotivates a team more quickly than a manager who claim all the credit.  My advice is to always give the credit to your team.   Your team will appreciate it and frankly leadership is smart and will naturally credit you even if you don’t claim it and will also think you are a great manager.
7. Define your own management style – At the end of the day, the qualities of what make a good manager may be the same but the style you will use to manifest these qualities depends on your personality.  Don’t try to copy someone else’s style exactly just because you admire them as a good manager.   Find a few role models in management and incorporate a little bit of each into your own management style.  Only when you take time to develop your own style, can these manager qualities be manifested consistently and genuinely.

All these qualities are easier said than done.  Becoming a good manager is a process.  These 7 qualities of what makes a good manager is only the beginning to help you set a vision of how a good manager should behave.  If you invest time, you will become a good manager over time.  Best wishes on your journey.

Want more on this topic?  Then subscribe to my newsletter - How to Succeed Like an Executive – in-depth tips (not published on the blog) on how to develop your soft skills including manager skills.

Like this post?  please help me out and share it on Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook, and elsewhere.

Your comments:  is there a quality of what makes a good manager that I missed?  Which of these 7 qualities do you think is the most difficult to develop and why?  I look forward to your comments.  I am always in your corner.

Lei

This podcast is a one-on-one coaching discussion with a job seeker on the topic – How to network with companies even when they have no official job openings? 

By listening to it, you will find answers to the following questions

1. How to identify companies to network with?
2. How to approach companies to introduce yourself?  should you email, call, set up an info interview etc..?
3. How networking this way benefits you and the companies you approach?
4. How networking can help you find a job long term?

Podcast  - How to Recognize Good Management During Job Search

Your comments:  was this podcast helpful?

Like this podcast?  then help me out and share it on twitter, facebook, linkedin, Google+ and elsewhere.  Thanks.  Subscribe to my podcast channel on iTunes – under Job Hunting Tips or Lei Han

I am always in your corner.

Lei

While you can never know for sure before you start work at a company, here are 5 ways to try to figure it out during your interview process.  Before you start, you must know what good management means to you – what’s the most important – clear management structure, no micro-manager, you having authority and responsibility, etc…  Once you have a clear prioritized list, the following tips will help you uncover information to make a good judgement during job search.

1. Do a Linkedin search on the Management Team – Look at their profile, experience, educational background, and especially recommendations.  It’s good news when your direct boss has at least one of two recommendations from team members about her great management style.   Also see if you are indirectly connected to any of them.  If any of them are on your secondary network, you can ask a trusted direct connection about that person’s management style.  Do this only if you have a good relationship with your direct connection who knows that person.
2. Assess management style and structure during your interviews - Did you feel rapport with the manager and the senior people that interviewed you?  Did you respect what they asked of you?  You can ask questions regarding how the organization is structured and what success in your position looks like to indirectly analyze what it may feel like to work there.  Red flags are if you need to report directly to one boss but have dotted lines to at least one other person.  That makes management complicated and you de-facto have at least two bosses.   It may still work out but chances for one of them to not be a good manager is much higher.  You can also ask your potential manager about his or her management style.
3. Ask scenario questions after you receive an offer – While you cannot be too probing during the interviews, once you get an offer, you can tactfully ask more detailed questions.  If you have a particular situation in mind where your last company handled it badly, set up a follow up call with your potential boss or a senior management person and pose the scenario as an hypothetical situation and ask how it would be handled in this company.  Be diplomat – don’t bad mouth your last company.
4. Ask future peers about their experience there – Sometime your future peers also interview you.  In this case, during the interview or after getting an offer, get their perspective about what they do or don’t like about working there.   Ask for their viewpoint around the management style and company culture
5. Get 3rd party assessment and former employee opinions – If the company is large enough, then Vault.com may have a review of it (although you may have to pay to access it).  Also see if they are listed by Fortune as the top 100 companies to work for.  Lastly, do a Linkedin search of people who used to work for the company and see if you can ask for the inside scoop there.  You should definitely be able to get the good, bad, and the ugly that way.

At the end of the day, whatever your assessment is based on the above tips is still an interpretation.  You won’t actually know whether the company really have good management the way you hoped until you work there.    The good news is every time you do job search, you will get better at assessing this.  Good luck with your job search.

Want to learn more?  click here to listen to my podcast where I go in-depth on this topic during a coaching session with a job seeker.

Your comments: Can you think of any other ways to assess the management team from the outside?

Like this post?  Then help me and share it on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and elsewhere.

I am always in your corner

Lei

It is true companies are less likely to hire us if they know we are pregnant.  Legally (at least in the US) they can never say that, but that is the reality of business.  With that said, this fact should not stop us from job hunting and interviewing with the same vigor while pregnant.

Here is how you can  job search while pregnant and make the most of this wonderful time of your life also for your career.  My suggestions are based on two financial scenarios

Scenario 1 – if you financially need/want to get a job while pregnant, here are two things your can do to maximize your chances.

1. Apply for short contract jobs  (3 – 6 months) - Do this early in your pregnancy.  I would not tell the company you are pregnant.  Legally, they can never ask even if they suspect.   Since the contract is short term, you will be done before you deliver.  So focus on getting the job and doing it well.    Also broaden your horizon on what kind of contract jobs you would take.   If you are number 1 goal is to work while pregnant, your best chance is to apply for these shorter contract jobs and be flexible to take lower rates so that you can get the work quickly.
2. Apply for a permanent job early in your pregnancy – Again, since companies cannot ask if you are pregnant, you don’t need to tell them when interviewing and can try your best with the right clothing to look not pregnant.  One of my friends did this successfully and got a full time job when she was almost 5 months pregnant.  She is very qualified for the job, but there are consequences to this approach.  In addition to you feeling bad about not disclosing you are pregnant, the company may not react favorably after you start showing.  Again they cannot legally fire you for being pregnant or for not telling them, but they may feel deceived and therefore find other reasons to lay you off.  You have to ask yourself if this is the risk you are willing to take.

• Over 75% of Americans work more than 40 hours a week and about 10 million Americans work more than 60 hours a week
• 10% of worker take work home every other day and 24% of worker think about work at home or at social events
• 1 in 3 American adults don’t take their vacation days.

Being overworked comes at a price to the employee and the company they work for – increase chance of disease, less time with family, disturbed sleep, more stress, and actually less productivity.

• Workaholics are 67% more likely to suffer from coronary heart disease than those who work < 8 hours a day
• # of stress related disability claims for American employees have doubled
• 56% of workaholics don’t think they accomplished much throughout their day

If you think you are overworking, what can you do?  Well, a lot more than you think.   Many of us who are overworking feel trapped in that mode.  First we blame others (like our boss, job, deadlines) primarily for our situation and second, we feel like there are no good alternatives that could change the situation.   Both are NOT true.  Here are 4 tips on how to stop overworking today!

1. Stop being a victim and take control - We control how much we work.  When too many things are put on our plate, we can communicate and negotiate for staggered deadlines or get help from colleagues.  Often times, we don’t do this, because either we don’t know how to say no, get help, or we are afraid to say no in fear of how it may affect our career.  Many of our fears are exaggerated in our mind.  Remember fear stands for False Evidence Appearing Real.  Realizing we are choosing to overwork is the first step to regain control and give ourselves options to change.
2. Realize overworking has long term negative consequences – Many times we overwork because we put too much weight on what we may benefit from overworking – faster track to promotion, more money, praise from boss etc…  We easily do this because we see the short term benefits and attribute them to us working hard.  Unfortunately, the negative consequence of overworking happens later (as seen in the above statistics of higher risk of disease, etc..)  It’s important to realize every time you decide to bring work home, work overtime, there could be long term negative consequences.   In my last contract job, I knew 3 people that got seriously ill in their late 40s and early 50s and 1 person who died of cancer.  If your health is already affected because you are overworked, do you want to wait until you catch a serious disease to stop it or do you want to try to stop it early?
3. Lower your financial burden -  Many of us feel like we have to overwork because we need to make more money to support a certain lifestyle – house, car, vacations, private school, etc…   But remember we only need about $40-75K a year to be happy.  Material things do not lead to happiness.  Kids can go to public school and still excel.  We can be just as happy driving an Acura vs. a Jaguar.  If you are actively choosing a lavish lifestyle which require you to overwork to support it, then you are implicitly saying these material things are more important to you than your health and your time with family.  Again, you chose it which means you can stop if you want to.   Life is a balancing act of trade-offs.   The question is what are truly the most important things to you in life?
4. Put work in perspective- – Last Sunday marks the 10 year anniversary of 9/11.  I bet you anything, none of those workers thought they should have worked more or bought another fancy car when they were faced with death in the twin towers.   Just like no one on their death bed ever wish for more work,  they usually only wish for more time with family, more time to pursue their hobbies, and more time to enjoy the small things in life.   As morbid as it is, death is inevitable for everyone.  Sometimes, we are so tied up with the daily grind, we act like we will live forever – delaying vacation time, personal enjoyment.   Unfortunately, the reality is tragedy like 9/11, car accidents, or sudden disease can happen tomorrow .  The only time we have is now – so enjoy often and never retire.

It’s very possible to stop overworking, but the change has to come from you and not others.  You need to choose to stop it.  The question is – will you start to say no to too much work?  Will you start taking vacation time with your family even if work is busy?

If your answer is yes, then here is how to change.  The next time you are faced with a decision to overwork or not, do the opposite of what you usually do.  It will feel immensely uncomfortable, but it’s only way to start.   Overworking can be a habit, even an addiction – you do it even when you know it’s not good for you.  To create a new habit, you need to make different decisions today than the ones you usually make.  The first time is the hardest and then it gets easier.  Once you have said no to overwork a few times and see how it shakes out, you are well on your way to create a new and healthier work and life habit.  I look forward to your comments.  I am always in your corner.

Lei

Image by: Business Insurance Source

- Lei

I worked for Deloitte for 10 years but still was pleasantly surprised to see I knew half of the alumni at the event. Some are now Senior Managers and Partners at Deloitte and others are senior executives or successful owners of their own business.  The funny thing was as I was talking to people and recounting old times, I realized I never worked with 95% of the people I knew.  Instead we discussed the good old days of lavish consulting retreats, late night illegal golf cart rides, and dancing up a storm at the annual Christmas parties.

What’s my point?  I think how to network well is NOT just about being able to show up to an event and network with strangers about mutual work interests.  Much of the networking we can do is actually done informally in social settings  and those are the ones that can leave a deeper impression as well as also benefit us in the long run.

Here are three ideas about How to Network by “Partying More”

• Start in School  - Those who just study and get good grades in school are missing out.  When you go out to parties or do fun activities outside of studies, you develop sound social and interpersonal skills and can forge deeper bonds with people.    After we leave school, we leave with three things: 1) an education – a credential hopefully a decent one (e.g. B.S, MBA) 2) friends we made and still keep in touch with 3) acquaintances/alumni we see once in awhile at Alumni events or perhaps in our business field.    This is why where you go to school matters – it’s not just the credential but the alumni network that could be invaluable to you in business.   10 to 15 years after school, many of your classmates are in senior positions and could be potential partners, customers, or could hire you for a job.  If you were social in school and knew a lot of people, your classmates will remember that and will more likely to take a meeting with you just based on fond, old memories.
• Be Social at Work - Socializing after work hours is not just for fun.  You may go to Baseball games, wine tasting, team dinners, but the point is to get to know people on a personal level.  If you got to know your boss on a personal level and found something in common, you can more easily build a better relationship as well as communicate better with your boss.  Same goes to your team or your CXOs.  Work may be work, but people like to work with real people – those that have similar interests and a social, engaging personality.
• Continue to build your own social circles – Don’t just work and then spend time with family and existing friends.  Continue to invest time to socialize in your community to expand your network.  You never know who you will meet and how they may be a resource in the future.   For example, since having a baby, I started a mother’s group in our building 18 months ago.  The purpose is for our kids to play together, but I am amazed at the intellectual power of the parents in this group – Senior VCs, Partners at Finance firms, Architects, Lawyers, etc….  We rarely talk about work, but after 18 months, we are becoming close friends through our kids.  I didn’t start this group for business purposes but I know I can reach out to this network regarding business if it was ever needed.  So ask yourself, what are your interests?  Participate or start groups with similar interests, you never know who you can meet while you are having fun.

3 New Features

• First Time on Site guide (launched this week) - With 120+ articles now on this blog, I realize it can be a bit daunting to navigate.  I wrote this short guide to help first time visitor find the best contents quickly.  Check it out and let me know in the comment box below your reaction or suggestions.
• New Q&A page (launched this week) - I borrowed this idea from Penelope Trunk who recently launched a Mailbag page on her blog.  The Q&A page is a way for me to share questions I have received from readers and my answers to them.  It’s another way to help you in case you had a similar question.   I am still in the process of building it out.  Check it out and let me know in the comment box below your reaction or suggestions.
• Career Success Newsletter (launched 6 weeks ago) – In addition to weekly blog posts and answering questions from my readers, I wanted to write a newsletter that shares more in-depth insights on how to achieve career success.  It is called How to Succeed like an Executive and contains key tips on how to improve your soft skills – all transferable skills that you can use at any job and during job search to increase your success.   Sign up today and you also get a chance to vote for future newsletter topics.  I look forward to your comments

I realize one-on-one coaching can be expensive (usually $100-$200 an hour).  I thought of an idea to provide one-on-one coaching for FREE similar to the office hour concept in school.  I would set specific hours that I am available and let subscribers sign up for 15 minute one-on-one coaching session.  It would be recorded so it can be sent to the participant and can be re-broadcasted so others can also learn.