Career tips during Hispanic Heritage month

The festivities to honor Hispanic Heritage month are well on their way.  And, aside from free food and live music, there are hidden opportunities for job seekers looking to engage in the celebration while continuing to identify potential job leads.

Typically, two groups host events related to Hispanic Heritage month:  Student organizations and Professional organizations.  Let's look at each and the job seeking opportunities they offer.

Student organizations focus on social events to attract new members.  On occasion they will invite a speaker to campus.  I remember listening to actress and director Rosie Pérez give an impassioned talk at Babson College a few years back. In these types of events, your goal as a job seeker is to meet and build a network of peers and, perhaps, college professors and advisers who may share your area of interest.  Another way to participate is to practice your leadership, organizing and event management skills by volunteering to help the planning committee.

Professional organizations offer a different experience.  They usually attract sponsors (read companies looking to hire) and openly promote sharing resumes and business cards.  This type of event is the optimal venue to find job leads.  A job seeker would benefit the most by learning in advance what companies will be attending in order to research them ahead of time.  Networking skills that go beyond exchanging information will be the most effective.  For instance, you could ask the company representative for an informational interview or ask him about his experience with the organization.  Volunteering is also another tactic that will give  you an insiders view and possibly catch the eye of recruiter.

Hispanic Heritage month places the spotlight on Latinos.  Organizations interested in learning about Hispanics--or Latinos--will make themselves available through sponsorships and hosting events.  What a better forum for you to showcase your talents, skills and experience!

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Life after 9/11

My 9/11 story starts with a lay off.  I was laid off on September 11, 2001.  The rumor mill had confirmed the date weeks ahead, so I was aware of my possible fate.  At the time, I was a Boston-based technology analyst following Internet and e-commerce trends.  The technology bubble had burst months before, so I was convinced that I would be one of the employees to lose my job that day, so I packed ahead.

The morning of 9/11 I felt a sense of anticipation as I waited for the Human Resources representative to show up in my office.  Instead, I started to receive phone calls from colleagues as far away as Denmark and Chile. "There has been a plane crash in New York City," one of them said.  "And the plane came from Boston."  

By the time the Human Resources manager stopped by to talk about my termination package, I was numb in disbelief about the attacks taking place in New York and Washington D.C.  I had worked at 2 World Trade Center years prior.  Downtown Manhattan was where I started my professional life.  First in Wall Street and later at the World Trade Center.  As I heard her list the different package options, my brain could not register the sounds she was making.  Who cared about a job?  My lay off became so insignificant.  I wanted the HR person to leave my office that second so I could call my former colleagues, friends, family.  All lived and worked in Manhattan.

The day after 9/11 was one of the hardest days I have ever lived.  At first, I thought I had a horrific nightmare.  But then reality set in and I felt paralyzing physical pain.  I wanted to stay under the blanket, but I was not sick.  My former city, New York, had been ripped open.  My old work neighborhood looked like a nuclear war zone.  The towers that greeted me every time I came back from a trip into JFK airport had been obliterated.

Then, all of the sudden, I remembered the images I saw on TV the night before of countless firefighters and first response personnel who kept on going despite feeling broken inside.  How in the world could I complain about my pain when others were suffering a million times more?  Their strength lifted me up and helped me understand the fragility of the world we live in.  It was the kick in the rear that I needed to gradually get back on my feet--physically and emotionally.

Over the years, remembering all of what transpired during and after 9/11--the unthinkable evil acts and the extraordinary acts of kindness and courage--has shaped how I make decisions in my personal and professional life.  When I am torn about an engagement that might comprise my values, I ask myself, "Would I be OK having this project mentioned in my obituary? How would I like to be remembered?  And if you think you are too young or too cool to have such sobering thoughts, remember 9/11 and the weeks, months and years after it.  It has been 10 years and it feels as it were yesterday...

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Making lemonade from lemons: the job seeker mantra

Lately, it seems that everything is conspiring to test our optimism.  First, there were several tremors felt across the United States and Latin America.  Then, Hurricane Irene caused havoc the Caribbean and along the East Coast, from Florida to New England. Telephone lines, internet and electric power were interrupted.  How can we focus on looking for work under these conditions?

I was one of those who was in a technology stand still.  We lost electricity for three days which meant I got behind  in my work and deadlines.  It took lots of will power to channel my frustration into some kind of productive outcome but somehow I got there.  Here are the steps that helped me.  They may help you.

• Go with the flow.  It is useless to get angry about an act of God.  Accepting that there are circumstances beyond our control, like the weather, diffuses the feeling of helplessness. 
• Refocus and re-prioritize. Once you have accepted your new, temporary reality, see what you can get done.  Could you go to the library to continue your online search?  
• Test your resourcefulness.  Make a game of finding solutions to the challenges in front of you. If you need to write a thank you letter, do it by hand until you can get to a computer. It is as simple as that.  You would be surprised to know how many people spend the day complaining about what's wrong and do not do anything about it.
• Acknowledge what is working.  The feeling of appreciation will put things in perspective.  Although our level of comfort was radically changed, it did not compare to what others went through.  And this applies to Irene or to being unemployed.  

Remember, there are always others who are better or worse than we.  Understanding this dynamic does not make us complacent.  It turns us into grateful, resourceful, creative individuals that can be productive under any circumstance.

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The language of success

Maintaining your cool during interviews

Given the volatile economic environment we live in, we are bound to think and to react out of fear.  We will promise results we are not sure we cannot deliver.  We will accept situations that make us uncomfortable. How does this fear-based reaction translate into your careers and job search?

When a hiring manager asks, 'would you relocate to Latin America?,' you immediately jump and say, 'of course!' knowing that you have some personal responsibilities that make it difficult.  Or if an interviewer asks, 'how fluent are you in Spanish?,' you say, 'I am pretty fluent. I am a prolific writer and engaging speaker,' knowing that you are massively stretching the truth.

When placed on the spot during an interview, do what politicians and other personalities do when being interviewed:  stall in a subtle way.  I call it smart stalling.  The goal is to gather a bit more information to answer the question in a clear and confident way.  Here are a few steps:

1. Ask additional questions.  For example, when asked if you are willing to move to Latin America, you could ask, where? what country? This will give you a break to quickly check with yourself and see how the possibility of a move might affect you. After the interviewer tells you where, you could make a positive statement about the country and say, "I will certainly be willing to consider moving there if the job requires it."
2. Show authentic enthusiasm.  As a job seeker, hungry for work and a salary, you could easily nod and smile from ear to ear to every requirement described during the interview.  Interviewers have caught on and know that people are desperate to work and would say yes to practically every job demand.  You will be able to stand out from the desperate pile of applicants by expressing your enthusiasm according to your level of interest.  For example, if you like the customer service part of the job, say so with a wide smile--because it is true.  But if you are not too thrilled about the record keeping that follows, then you could say that you are looking forward to learning more about this function.  Just don't lie about how much you love to keep records.  
3. Provide specific examples of your ability.  For instance, when the interviewer asks you about your level of language proficiency--or any other type of knowledge--give specific examples of how you have applied this knowledge in your professional life.  Did you translate customers feedback into Spanish and created reports for management?  Did you write periodically for the company newsletter?  

By staying true about your credentials, experiences and levels of interest, you will be able to demonstrate a maturity and confidence as an interviewee that will help you come across as the poised professional every one wants to hire.

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Effective networking tips for job seekers

There are infinite articles about networking to find a job.  They all say pretty much the same:  you have to get out there and sell yourself.  The implication is that networking is an activity focused on meeting the "right" people that will help you achieve something.  In this case, that something is a job lead, an interview, or an internship.   Wrong!! Networking is about cultivating relationships for mutual benefit. The key word is cultivating, which means that results from networking will not happen overnight.

So, what is the quickest way to produce effective job hunting results from networking?

Start with people who already know you.   I mean people who will return your calls, emails, those with whom you have had several interactions and have stayed in touch.  Why?  Because they could act as your ambassadors and help establish your trustworthiness with others.   They could help you consider perspectives or ideas you have not thought about.  And most importantly, they could offer support when things are not happening the way you expect.

Sort them by categories and rank them.  The three categories are:  friends, family and professional contacts.   Although you may be tempted to name everyone that you hang out with, focus on those that will feel comfortable to offer feedback, share your passion to proactively look for opportunities and believe in your ability to succeed as a young professional.  Use these three qualifiers to rank them.  For instance, of all of the family members mentioned, who are the top three that could be best at offering practical advice, or the one with the most knowledge about the type of career you want to pursue?

Looking for work does not have to be done in isolation.  But before you start asking everyone you know to send you job leads, do a bit of homework.  Take the time to work your network of contacts and be clear about how they can be of assistance during you job search.  This approach will save you lots of time, find qualified allies, and get you faster results.

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First impressions tips and strategies

The crude reality of looking for work is that potential employers make their decision in the first few seconds of meeting you.  They spend the remainder of the interview trying to find facts to support their first impression.  It is your immediate task to convince them that you are credible and likable.  Your resume got you the appointment.  Now, you need to rely on your appearance, body language and confidence to move you to the next round.


Appearance.  Think of appearance as how you come across visually.  It has nothing to do with physical attribute (how tall/short/etc.)  Have you heard of the phrase, dress for success? Well, it is true. Dressing to be perceived as successful (meaning capable, sharp and reliable) includes and excludes accessories, and even perfume.  Your impeccable work experience can be easily outshined by too much mascara or cologne.  A conservative look is generally the best way to go.

Body language.  Wearing the right suit or earrings is not enough.  If you are slouched or do not make eye contact, you will not project trustworthiness.  What you are not saying with words you are saying with your body, posture and overall stance.  A firm handshake is a good example of positive body language. 


Confidence.  There are other ways to convey confidence in addition to dressing well and standing up straight.   This is where you want to give the interviewer an idea of how you will be interacting with colleagues on a daily basis. You want to come across engaging and comfortable around new people and situations.  For instance, answering or asking questions clearly and effectively.  

If you are a bit baffled by how first impressions work, turn the tables for a minute. Remember a past interview where the interviewer did not give you a good vibe.  Was it the limp handshake? Or the rushed conversation?  Or the lack of eye contact while reviewing your resume? As you can see, it works both ways!


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Four things to do while looking for work

One of the hardest challenges for job seekers is to figure out what to do in between job interviews.  Waiting to hear from recruiters could turn into an excruciating experience that could fill you with frustration and anxiety.  What to do, then, in the meantime? After sending the customary thank-you letter, stay busy.  Below are four suggestions to remain occupied:

Schedule your daily activities.  There is nothing more demoralizing than waking up and having the feeling that you are not needed anywhere.  You can effectively manage your time regardless of your employment status. It's up to you to approach your job search as a job. Create your own activities and put together a schedule.  Block time for job searching, networking, do some physical activity and time to unwind and do something fun.  A little structure will help you stay motivated.

Learn something new.  Learning does not stop after graduation.  There are plenty of reputable, online resources available to expand your knowledge.  The OpenCourseWare Consortium is a community of of universities around the world that provide free university-level courses online.  There are thousands of options to choose from.  Another way to learn something new is to get in the habit of staying up to date on world and industry events.  Remaining current will give you plenty of fodder when engaging in conversation during an interview or networking.

Practice your networking skills weekly.  Networking is a strategic, systematic activity to build and cultivate relationships for mutual gain.  The key word here is mutual.  Inexperienced networkers meet people with the expectation of asking a favor.  This approach rarely works.  Effective networking takes time as both parties need to get to know each other and build trust.  Being in between jobs gives you the opportunity to attend events and start nurturing relationships that could become future job leads.

Journal and spot lessons learned.  Looking for work could become a draining activity that requires perseverance, confidence and resilience.  You are bound to feel the pressure mounting as times goes by.  Writing your feelings in a journal will provide you with a safe environment to be truthful to yourself.   Besides, having the opportunity to revisit your thoughts could give you a chance to reflect and to learn from the experience.

Despite of what others may think, being in transition does not mean you have no life.  It is all a matter of organizing your time, and finding activities that keep you focused and motivated.


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