The 21st century workplace

The 21st century workplace is here.  It's technology driven.  It's global and multicultural.  It challenges old success and leadership paradigms that advocate for one winner and many losers. It requires excelling in three specific areas:  Innovation, Cultural Competency and Collaboration.

Being innovative can be as easy as finding the fastest way to complete a routine task to solving an intricate problem that has pestered employees for years.  The key element for anything to be considered innovative is the perception that it is different from what has been used or tried in the past.  In other words, the newness combined with the effectiveness of the idea is what makes it innovative.  Think the iPhone.

Being culturally competent can take several meanings.  The most popular description is the ability to interact and work effectively across cultures.  Then the question becomes: what is a culture?  Simply put, culture refers to the set of norms, values, beliefs and traditions followed by a group of people.  In this context, culture generally describes different ethnic communities (e.g. Latinos, Asians).  However, culture can also refer to other types of groupings:  small businesses, large corporations, start ups, government agencies, etc.  These organizations have a distinct set of values and ways of conducting business and making decisions that differentiate them from each other.

Being collaborative is a phrase that is thrown around a lot.  Collaboration is not easy.  It requires trust among team members and the willingness to support one another.  The traditional way of working and leading has been the total opposite.  So, this is the one trait that requires significant individual effort to start and group follow through for it to happen.

Some questions to ponder:

• Does my current professional experience show signs of these traits? How? What concrete examples can I offer a prospective employer?
• Which of the three is my dominant trait? Which would I like it to be?
• Whom do I know (personally or through the media) that embodies these traits?

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Career trends in 2012

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Career trends in 2012

Two opposite trends will dominate the career landscape in 2012:  there will be a steady flow of jobs in traditionally recession-proof sectors such as education and health care, while jobs will also be found in self-made opportunities, also known as the gig economy.

It is no secret that the economy is on the mend.  Latest economic indicators are pointing towards a slow but steady recovery.  Key word here is slow.  What does this mean to those who are looking for work?  It means that there are no guarantees of landing a job in a shorter period of time than last year.  Your best bet is to anticipate what career trends are emerging or carrying over from last year and position yourself to seize opportunities presented by these trends.

One trend that has taken hold over the past few years is the gig model of work.  We all have had gigs in one form or another:  babysitting, waiting tables, or tutoring. This approach of hiring temporary help has migrated to the workplace.  According to The Atlantic, there are approximately 42 million Americans working as freelancers, consultants, independent contractors. This number does not only capture seasoned, experienced professionals.  Recent grads are also engaged in pursuing their own opportunities which includes starting their own business.

What to do as a job seeker under these circumstances?  Take a very good look at your current career goals, pick a side and give it a shot.  The career landscape is uncertain, but it also presents unexpected opportunities for those who are willing to proactively manage their careers.

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Congratulations new graduate: Sandro Giraldo!

It is with overwhelming excitement that I share the news about my baby brother's graduation!

Graduation date: May 18, 2011
School:  Mercy College, New York, NY
Degree: Bachelor of Science  Major: Business
Job prospects: Currently works as an Administrative Assistant for Consolidated Edison in New York.  Attended school while working full time.
Main job responsibility: Administrative services to the department of Electrical Engineering.
Tips to get an internship or job:  Read as much as possible about the company before going to the job interview.  Showing interest in what the company does can make you stand out from the competition.  Also this can help you understand better your future role within the company.
Anything else you would like to share:  I used to believe that getting a degree will help me get ahead in life.  Now that I have this degree, I realize that I have gained so much more.  I have learned from teachers and students alike, from their backgrounds, their aspirations, their fears.  I have happy memories which will stay with me and shape me until my last breath.  I have gained long lasting relationships; it’s a journey…..

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The 50 million factor

It's official.  We, Latinos, have passed the 50 million mark.  Last week, the U.S. Census officially announced that there are 50.5 million Latinos in the United States.  You might be wondering what does the 50 million mark have to do with you and your career? My short answer:  A lot!  The explosive growth of the Latino population in the United States will create an unprecedented demand for products and services that will translate into job and career opportunities.  And you could be part of this trend!

As an example, here are three areas where, in my opinion, jobs will increase due to the 50 million mark:

• Human Resources - The increase in jobs and careers to serve the Latino market will inevitably result in the need to recruit and retain talent that can help organizations reach this group effectively.  A human resources professional who has the savvy to build relationships with Latino students and professional organizations will have upper hand when selecting qualified applicants. 
• Consumer products - Companies have been trying to tap into the Latino consumer market for decades.  The difference this time is that the impact is greater because of the numbers reached.  For instance, the Census tells us that one in four babies born in the U.S. is of Latino descent.  This fact creates opportunites for infant and children products from clothing to toys to educational items.  Other consumer products that are ripe for the Latino market:  food and beverages, clothing, music and mobile devices.
• Marketing and Communications - Speaking of consumer products reminds me of the time when General Motors (GM) tried to sell their Chevrolet Nova to a Spanish speaking audience and failed. It took GM a while to realize that "Nova" was interpreted as "doesn't go" by their targeted audience.  This blunder could have been avoided if the company would have relied on language and culture sensitive employees to manage their marketing campaign.

As you evaluate your job and career options in these areas, think of them not only as a prospective job candidate but also as a consumer who has first hand information and experience.  Language skills is only one of the pieces.  Understanding and articulating the cultural values of Latinos as they relate to how they perceive different products and services is the key to a successful career serving the Latino population.  Who better than you to do this work?!

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The 411 on informational interviews

One thing is clear:  Knowing how to conduct Informational interviews is a must if you are looking to find an internship, a job or just get clearer on your career path. 

Three steps that will make informational interviewing a smart, effective and productive process:

• Do thorough research about the company or career of interest.  I repeat.  Do thorough research and I mean thorough.  Go beyond the website.  Find alums in your school that work in the company or work in the jobs you would like to have.  One particularly effective technique is to set up Google search for the topic, company or job description you want.  This way you will be able to skim through information that has already been compiled for you.
• Decide on a specific question to lead with during your interview.  Once you become knowledgeable about the company you are interested, you can pick a few areas where you can go deeper.  These could be a specific area or products within the company where you see your skills be valuable.  Those you are interviewing will be more eager to share their opinion with you if they realize you are really serious about the subject of the interview.
• Find decision makers and advocates. Focus on places where decision makers and advocates gather.  Industry and professional associations are the most common places to find them.  Conferences are also good places to network.  Volunteering to any of these venues gets you closer to meeting speakers, authors, and experts.

Take advantage of the opportunity that Informational interviewing offers:  to learn about a job or industry of interest while making contact with those actively involved in the field.  The best of both worlds!

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Summer internships

If you weren’t sure about applying for an internship in the fall—when companies traditionally recruit their summer interns—you are in luck.  Just-in-time internships are the latest trend these days. Think of applying for an internship as a rolling process.  There is no definite deadline.  It all depends on finding the opportunity that fits you.

Along those lines, here are three main big picture ideas to help you make the most out of your internship experience…should you decide to pursue it.

Start with the end in mind.  What do you want from this internship?  Money?  A reputable name in your resume? The opportunity to work in an entrepreneurial environment? You must decide first what your key priority is.  It’s kind of working backwards.  Think of next September and ask yourself, what would make me the happiest when I think back about my summer internship? Once you have an answer (e.g. money, big-name company) then zero in on those companies that could make your goal a reality.

Make sure you will learn one new skill (at least).  When looking for an internship, one minimum requirement I usually advise clients is to find an opportunity that will challenge them in some way.  If you can do spreadsheets in your sleep, and this job is about Excel 90% of the time, you are going for the easy job.  But if the internship allows the learning of other similar programs or building on the skills you already have, then you will not only have something to show on your resume but your brain will also get a workout.  Now, if your main priority is to earn as much money as possible (remember, point 1?), then not learning a new skill may be the trade off you have to pay.  Your decision.

Seek opportunities to expand your network (responsibly).  An internship experience is a natural way to meet new people who may become future peers or bosses.  And more importantly, references.  Be open and available to social events with you summer colleagues.  The goal here is to build a professional image or dependability and likeability.  Stay away from careless and reckless behavior which can be easily captured on camera.

Remember the saying, "tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are?" The same applies to internships.  Tell me what kind of internship you are after, and I will tell you where you will end up.

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The benefits of joining professional organizations

When I suggest to college students to join one or two professional associations, they usually give me a look of disbelief and confusion.  “I am not a professional, yet,” is a usual response.  Or, “It’s too expensive.”

They could not be more wrong!!

Professional organizations are one of the best sources for college students to explore career options, expand and enhance a professional network, and identify and develop leadership skills.   Some skeptics may argue that student organizations fulfill a similar role.  I beg to differ.  Although student organizations offer an excellent forum for students to develop as leaders, the experience is mainly at the peer level.  Meanwhile, professional organizations provide college students with the chance to interact with peers from other schools and professionals who could later become mentors or, better yet, employers.

If I were to summarize the benefits of joining a professional organization in one word, I would choose opportunities.  More specifically, professional organizations offer college students significant benefits such as:

Resources.  In the form of scholarships, supplies (e.g. notebooks, phones), free training and professional development, tutoring, and mentoring.  Human resource departments of large corporations usually have a college liaison that works with colleges and professional organizations. 

Jobs and internships.  Future employers welcome the chance to get know and to groom their prospective employees.  Every networking event creates an opportunity to meet decision makers from companies that could lead to an invitation to an open house or an interview.

Leadership development.  Becoming a member of a professional organization places college students at the forefront of leadership roles.  By getting involved in committees, members learn about collaboration, team work, delegation and accountability—all while developing and executing a project.

So, next time you hear about an upcoming event hosted by a professional organization in your field of interest, think twice before turning it down flat.

In terms of cost, most student memberships for a year period are on average $25.  Imagine:     How much would you invest to increase your chances of getting the job of your dreams or finding the mentor you always wanted? Would that value be $25?

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Skills, knowledge, and traits…oh my!

When asking for career advice, how many times how we heard, ‘play to your strengths,’ or ‘focus on what you are good at?’  Or my personal favorite:  ‘share your gifts with the world.’  Although there is nothing wrong with these words, they offer plenty of encouragement but very little direction.

Here is my own version of these inspirational phrases:  You need to know what your strengths are before you can share them with the world.  There is a twist to this issue, though.  What if I am not sure what my strengths are? And what do we mean by strengths, anyway?

There are three different ways to define strengths in terms of career development and job search:  Skills, Knowledge and Traits.  To illustrate the differences among these three, let me introduce you to Mike.  Mike is a freshman with an aptitude for languages.  He is bilingual in Spanish and is working on his French. 

Skill is the specific ability to perform an action which could have been learned through the environment or deliberately acquired.  Skill mastery could be reached over time.  For instance, Mike’s ability to communicate in several languages is a skill.  He may have picked up Spanish at home.   So for him being bilingual is an inherent part of growing up.  But his efforts to become fluent in French are due to his own choice. 

Knowledge refers to information, data, and subjects learned by formal or informal means.    In Mike’s case, his ability to communicate in Spanish relies on words and idioms absorbed throughout of cumulative learning.  This database of information became the foundation to his ability to communicate in Spanish. 

Traits are personal tendencies that result in behavior.  These are natural preferences that influence how we perceive and behave.  For instance, Mike’s natural predisposition to being friendly and outgoing might have influenced his interest in languages.

Now that we are clear about the distinct differences among these three types of strengths, what skill would you like to strengthen? How about learning to network effectively?  Or perhaps you may want to become better at managing your time?

Whatever your next step may be, keep in mind that the road to self-discovery and self-improvement is an ongoing but rewarding process.  Enjoy the ride!

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Proactive career management 101

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Management guru Peter F. Drucker.

            Although Drucker’s words are over a decade old, they still ring true in many ways.  For instance, preventive health care aims to foster healthy eating and stress reduction habits to decrease the likelihood of future illness.  Financial literacy workshops look to arm adults with tools to make sound, long-term financial decisions that will generate wealth and economic security.  Through these efforts,  we attempt to create a healthier and more secure financial future for ourselves.

            Why, then, can’t we do the same for our professional future?

            You may be saying, ‘I’m already doing that. I am looking for internships and visiting the Career Center often.’ If you are taking steps towards your career, congratulations!  Every step taken in the right direction is a victory.  However, what I am proposing to you is to lay a foundation that will allow you to start building and managing your career during--not after-- your college years.  The goal is to become deliberate and conscious about shaping the future of your professional life.  Here are four initial steps to proactively start managing your career:

• Have strategic and tactical goals.  Strategic goals are those that have long term impact and create significant change.  Tactical goals are those that are generally short term and aim to solve a specific issue.  A strategic career goal could be to choose a major.  A tactical goal is to learn how to write effective cover letters.
• Understand and accept that YOU are in charge of your career.  Yes, your family may be helping you pay for college and the career counselor may be guiding through the process.  Ultimately, the decision of what path to pursue rests with you.  You are the chief executive officer (CEO) of your professional life.
• Start to narrow down your career options.  Choose two to four career paths, industries or companies that are attractive to you.  Having only a few will allow you to focus all your energy and time on learning all you can about them.  You can then decide if they are the right fit for you.  By the way, this step is a strategic goal.
• Be clear about your skills, traits and abilities.  The more you know about yourself, the better equipped you will be to build on what you have and improve and develop what you want to change.  There are tests you can take to identify specific traits.  Your career center office can guide you with this step.

            As the CEO of your career, are you ready to make an executive decision and take charge of your professional life?

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