WIll any of them be hired?

Last week I read an article titled Suits are Passe.  Although I have two relatively new business suits, I feel a little over dressed in them.  When I make a sales call, I want to look stylish.  When I make a presentation, I want to look sharp, up to date.  The article I read addresses women’s attire only, so I decided to explore deeper since I coach many people in job transition through my recruiting, outplacement and volunteer activity.  I contacted many of my colleagues, both men and women in the Dallas area and in other states, since I recruit nationwide.

Additionally, I talked with job seekers to hear their views.  The difference between my colleagues and the job seekers demonstrates the need for discussion.  I gathered enough information to publish a two part series.  Part one is for our female readers.

Mitch Byers, HR Director at Jefferson Dental Clinics summarizes the research, when he says, “Like so many other things in life, it depends….It depends on the company and the position. Someone interviewing for a position as press foreman at a local print shop might dress business casual or wear a golf shirt, where a bank manager position around the corner would warrant a suit.”  But there are guidelines to gain, as a result of my un-scientific research.

Suit or No Suit

Whether you are the interviewer or interviewed, you need to update your look.  Ann Luna, sales recruiter, who places sales professionals in the Dallas area recognizes what can happen.  “Don’t pull out your 2001 business interview suit and attempt to squeeze yourself into it because that was what you wore the last time you interviewed.”  What looked great a few years ago is no longer the norm.  Although a suit is not really wrong, some companies want to see how you’d fit within their casual atmosphere through how you dress.

If you are in the financial, banking or legal industries, suits will work and are ordinarily required.  Gaudy jewelry, low cut blouses or tops are not a good way to begin.  You need to be hired for your skills, not how you look.  Pants suits or a layered look, with dark slacks and a colorful jacket over a plain blouse can be quite stylish.  A pretty scarf or elegant piece of jewelry on a boring suit may help you feel more confident.

Dye or not  Dye

Dying your hair can be an asset or liability.  Beautiful white or gray hair may actually be an asset, yet if you are competing with 20 year olds, you may want to cover the “snow.” Your hair needs to look natural.   A touch of gray may be better than solid black dye which could look severe.  Many women have highlights in their hair, which may provide a more fashionable appearance and competitive edge. You don’t want the interviewer to be staring at your coal black hair rather than asking about your accomplishments!  Women need to be sure their roots are not showing.  Unless you are interviewing for a beautician’s job or a retail establishment where tattoos and purple hair are the norm, you need a complimentary hairdo.  Many women with long hair may prefer to wear it swooped upward.  Just be sure it’s not falling in your eyes, as the interviewer might be greatly distracted, wanting to swat it to see you better.  Maroon or brassy red hair is better left until the new colleagues are sure of your competence.  You can be more flamboyant, based on the area of the country, the interviewer’s preference and the specific industry.

If you have been out of high school or college for more than five to ten years, are you still wearing your hair the same way?  A good hair stylist can help, even if you have challenging hair that is too curly or too straight.

Heels or No Heels

Unless you are going to an advertising agency where everyone dresses like fashion models, the extreme heels with platforms are not advised.  Really!  Your wobbly walk might be the focus, rather than your skills.  Low heels or stylish flats are appropriate.  No tennis shoes, of course!  Nice sandals are fine in the summer.  More people are wearing fashion boots in the winter.

Culture or no culture

An interview is two-way communication.  Will you fit the corporate culture?  Be sure to ask the person who contacts you for the interview what you should wear.  The companies who are business casual all the time may want you to see how you fit their relaxed atmosphere.  And you need to determine if sharing a cube with someone in this company could be disasterous.

You simply need to look sharp.  Although some hiring managers and recruiters are a bit disappointed that suits are no longer as common, they are looking for your skills and personality fit more than how you are dressed.  You need to feel comfortable in what you are wearing.  As Ann Luna said in her comments, “You can be up to date without being too trendy.”

Your appearance is just one rung on your ladder to success.  You need to suit the company but what you wear is only one factor in achieving the goal.

I want to thank my colleagues who took the time to respond.  Space is limited for comments, but all their ideas are incorporated in this article.  Part 2 will be shorter.  Men’s attire is far less complex, but equally as important.  Feel free to add your comments.

Ruth Glover is the author of MORE than a Paycheck: Inspiration and Tools for Career Change. If you’re thinking about a career change, you’ll want to read the 20 stories about real people who have moved their careers in various directions.  You may contact her though www.morethanapaycheck.net.

Where are the jobs? Fix the economy!

According to a recent online article The Best Cities for Jobs 2011 by Joel Kotkin and Michael Shires:

“…no place displayed more vibrancy than Texas. The Lone Star State dominated the three size categories, with the No. 1 mid-sized city, El Paso (No. 3 overall, up 22 places from last year) and No.1 large metropolitan area Austin (No. 6 overall), joining Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood (the No. 1 small city) atop their respective lists.

Texas also produced three other of the top 10 smallest regions, including energy-dominated No. 4 Midland, which gained 41 places overall, and No. 10 Odessa, whose economy jumped a remarkable 57 places. It also added two other mid-size cities to its belt: No. 2 Corpus Christi and No. 4 McAllen-Edinburgh-Mission.”

More new jobs exist in Dallas than many other places, but the long term unemployed need their voices heard. Fortunately job seekers in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area can avail themselves of membership in a number of faith based groups which are free and non-denominational. The groups provide career resources at the various churches through excellent speakers, panels, networking, leads and emotional support. Jeff Morris, leader of the group at Christ United Methodist Church in Plano developed an amazing website for the entire area, listing the calendar of events, addresses of the groups, the leadership and other resources.

Watermark Church, a non-denominational Christ centered church in Dallas, is an example of one of the groups with large membership and many different activities to assist job seekers. Dewitte Ray is a facilitator with a cadre of 30 other volunteers. The Tuesday morning main meeting often attracts 70+ in attendance..

When I visited their group last week, I asked the participants if they would share how they would fix the economy, which, if Congress doesn’t stop squabbling soon, will ruin our economy, not just in Texas, but world wide. I promised not to share the names of those who responded to my question. Here are pertinent responses:

From Will Balanz

“I think that credit cards are the root to “most evils”. Therefore, I feel that credit cards should be restricted in that there should be a monthly spending limit imposed for each individual and that nobody should be allowed to carry a balance over from one month to the next – you have to pay your balance in full before you can use it the following month.

This would force people to spend only what they have instead of going beyond their means. I feel this was the beginning of the bank bailouts that occurred in recent years, too. I know many people think they can handle their own money, but statistics prove them wrong. This would also lead to many financial challenges and changes for individuals as well as the credit card companies. In the long run, though, it would provide for a stable economy where people can trust one another.”

From Ima Inarush

“I am in real estate and don’t know why banks are holding back on lending money right now. Something is keeping them overly conservative and ‘scared’ to lend out.

Donna Givhup

“I would encourage employers to keep their employees as long as possible. They could institute 15% pay cuts across the board, rather than lay off a percentage of their talent base.

In both the public and private sectors, there is a lot of waste, fraud and abuse. If there was a greater crackdown on wasteful spending, companies and governmental agencies would have larger amounts of funds to put to good use.

Consumers should continue to spend in accordance with their means, but not hold on to their money too tightly. It takes some spending in the economy to keep everything going.

The tax rates should be adjusted so that small businesses, in particular, are comfortable with hiring additional staff.”

Ann Gree

I am a baby boomer. My group has had it particularly tough time finding work in this recession. Usually we get labeled over qualified. However, just a few short years ago employers were focusing on “top grading” or hiring only the best. Today most employers aren’t hiring the most qualified. Apparently hiring people who are safe and “fit” a certain mold by looking like the hiring manager are preferred over experience and credentials.

Of course, in theory companies should feel pressure from the EEOC not to discriminate based on age or anything else. However, it seems company culture and the need to fit that culture takes priority. Companies claim to want diversity but that doesn’t include seasoned professionals. Minority groups are fine as long as they are under forty.

Why can’t the EEOC enforce TRUE diversity which would include hiring a quota of older workers? And pressure companies to hire those individuals who have been out of work for the longest amount of time first?  This would be good for the economy including the housing market. After all, do companies hire people based on what they bring to the table or how they fit in?”

Bill Fold

“As one of the leaders for this group, I see the membership as more sophisticated in approach in looking for work than they were several years ago. But we need to find a way to fix the economy as it won’t improve unless employers start hiring the unemployed.”

Why can’t Congress compromise? The polls show the people and the President all agree that they want compromise but the our elected officials seem to have forgotten that they were elected by the people, FOR the people. And the people will certainly suffer more than ever, not just in the United States, but globally. Please urge your elected officials in Washington to show that they are  working for all of us, not just for their political parties. Let’s get people back to work, not create havoc!

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OMG! I forgot to mark that private!

Anthony Weiner, a formerly esteemed member of Congress, knows about Twitter. But he failed to realize how to stay relevant and not ruin his reputation.  Today you must vigilantly guard your profiles and messages as you never know when you may flip a message to a friend, thinking it is private, but it lands with 1700 of your connections.  Everyone makes mistakes periodically. Whether you are 25 or 55, employed or unemployed, you need to grasp the power and perils of social media practices with extreme care.  Whether it’s an email or a profile, checking it twice or more before post  is imperative.

Social media will continue to evolve. If you don’t have a Linkedin profile, you are missing an excellent opportunity to show the world you are relevant and professional.  If you are a hiring manager, your profile is extremely helpful for candidates.  Knowing where you went to college could engage your candidate quickly.  Your profile needs to be up to date, showing more than just your title and number of years’ experience, along with education.  It is not your resume but a short, concise statement, showing your professional expertise.

What good is a profile if it’s marked “private?”  What good does it do, if you say you are an engineering manager with no details regarding what kind and what products you develop?  Look at someone’s profile you admire or with similar background to find an example to assist you.

Some people are fearful that details will increase internet traffic and phone calls which will interfere with responsibilities.  If that happens, you simply mark the profile, “Not currently accepting InMail.”  I’ve been using Linkedin successfully for approximately four years with no unfortunate incidents.  Some refuse to connect with people they don’t know, which was the original intent, but the tool evolved to assist with electronic communication.  I rarely hear of inappropriate use.

For several years I resisted putting my photo on Linkedin as I didn’t think it added value.  I had a picture of my dog posted briefly before I realized that was a huge mistake: it made me look less than professional.  Facebook is ok for less formal communication with friends and family (and a picture of my dog).  Linkedin is for professional business associates.  Having your picture on Linkedin is almost like putting the fork on the left side of a dinner plate.

Probably before long another business network will become the new “ultimate source.” But for now, using social media effectively is a wonderful way to show you understand the power of technology.  Eventually, lawsuits may cause companies to create a policy to keep you from using it but it is currently the “tool of the day.”

Many older workers are refusing to learn about new methods using social media.  Many younger workers spend hours on end texting and using language which, when they start looking for a new job, may haunt them.  Too many people are wasting time on Farmville and other games, which can be seen by recruiters when they look for work.  “Hmmm!  Maybe that person will continue to play Farmville if I hire her.”  If you are a professional, act like one!

Whether you are 24, 44 or 64, using technology is important.  You may only want SKYPE for to see your grandchildren in Poughkeepsie, New York or you may need it for an interview with your Sales VP in Paris, France.  Keeping up with technology is like keeping your grass cut.  You want to be relevant, not old-fashioned or crass.  Social networking is here to stay in various formats.  You don’t want to act inappropriately or be known as a dinosaur.

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Beginner Tips

1. When you first start looking, do “informational” interviews, rather than trying to replicate your former or current job. Be flexible in your investigative initiative.
2. Attitude is extremely important. Exercise and volunteer work help improve your outlook.
3. Volunteering helps you, as much as others. You make new friends and feel good that you’ve helped someone else.
4. Review your attributes, strengths and work history regularly to reassure yourself you are worthwhile for a new organization.
5. Your references need to be prepared for calls about you.

Resume Tips

6. Look at the requirements in any job description to determine your relevant skills, which would transfer to this job. Customize your resume. Use key words repeatedly in your document.
7. Try a few different resume formats. One size does not fit all. A hybrid resume with key words may be a great way to capture attention, especially if you are changing industries or careers.
8. Be sure to check your contact information for accuracy. Do not put your contact information in a template. Keep it as part of the text; otherwise, it may disappear in some applicant tracking systems.

Resources, HR and Recruiter Tips

9. The phone is your friend!
10. Try to find managers to connect with rather than Human Resources or recruiters. Contact them directly. Use Linkedin.com or other social media to find the right connections. Recruiters must abide by the requirements.
11. You must use all possible resources. The “big boards,” such as Monster and CareerBuilder, provide job opportunities which cannot be ignored; however, you should not use the internet as your sole resource.
12. Let everyone know you are looking. You never, ever know who may have leads for you.
13. If you are reticent to call people on the phone, attend meetings (professional associations, faith based, clubs, etc.) to share leads with others. The operative word is share. The groups are excellent for networking.
14. If an activity is not producing results, drop it!

Other Useful Tips

15. A career/job partner or accountability group can help you reach your goals more quickly.
16. Your will be quicker if you show passion for what you would be doing. Focus. Focus. Focus. Yet be open and flexible regarding helpful suggestions.
17. Thank you notes are important.
18. Reciprocating helpfulness is important. Don’t be rude to anyone, even if you think it is justified.
19. Your job is finding a job; two hours a day is not enough. Ten hours a day is probably impossible for most. When you’ve spent serious hours in search, reward yourself in some way.
20. Prayer or meditation helps.

A special thanks to Roy Hunter who recorded the significant points during the JOB Group presentation, which is the basis for this article. Custer Road UMC provides an accountability group (AAA Group) which meets each Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. The third Tuesday of each month the JOB Group provides Resume Review and Interviewing Tips, in addition to the AAA Group. The church is located at 6601 Custer Road in Plano, Texas. No fee is charged for participation. A Linkedin group is available if you’d like to see announcements.

Do you have time for a texting explosion?

Situations which involve lewd messages with graphic photos can explode quickly, if you are the manager and discover that one of your most productive employees sent 300 messages via email to various females over the past few weeks. Why were you the last to know? Why didn’t some of those employees notify you sooner? And what can you do about these issues?

In my recent presentation about this topic to a group of HR executives, the participants asked many, excellent questions, indicating they often struggle with each new problem surrounding social media. The group realized by the end of our short time together, they may need to elevate the urgency of a policy or guidelines and provide training for the entire company.

In an excellent article in Texas Business Today, the quarterly bulletin which is mailed form Texas Workforce Commission, you are strongly encouraged to assure that your company has an adequate policies in place. Coupled with the written policies, you must make employees aware of updated information regarding what is and is not allowable. The article is titled Texting and Facebook: Minimizing Employer Liability.

Most companies today understand that generational differences exist, along with diversity in corporate culture. Generally, companies do not want LOL on an email or an OMG response. Spell out what is acceptable, rather than wait for a problem to pop. Linkedin.com is an excellent resource for finding people in other companies for benchmarking, discussions and recruiting. But do you or will you allow a manager to put a testimonial on someone’s Linkedin profile? Is your policy too restrictive for today’s workplace with many companies using Facebook for advertising? Companies such as Southwest Airlines encourage their workers to understand and use social media. Philanthropies seek donations and volunteers through the internet. We must cope with the realities of the changing way we do business.

According to the article :

“In a June 2009 survey by Proofpoint, an online security firm, 8% of the employers with more than 1000 employees were reported as having terminated an employee for Facebook use during company time. 17% also reported taking issue with an employee’s use of social media while on the clock. “

Texting is an ill defined issue, according to the article. “There is no Texas federal law requiring employers to allow employees to have access to their personal cell phones or to make or receive personal phone calls.” But reality shows most people make a few personal calls daily. The problem explodes when Sally gets 30 texts a day from an unwanted suitor. Or when the receptionist or customer service representative is texting or talking instead of achieving the company expectations, like greeting the public! You need to remind your managers that they may be breaking the law via text messages, if the messages are unwanted.

Getting into defining privacy in your company is another “can of worms.” What will you do if one of your employees makes disparaging remarks about his or her manager outside of work hours?

I urge you to take the time to learn more about the growing issues surrounding social media and texting. I agree with the clear message from our state employment officials: we must have a policy and it must be in writing. Of course, new issues will continue to keep us busy solving the next puzzle in this electronic quagmire, even with a policy in place. Set aside time to read this long, but extremely informative, article.

If you don’t have a copy of Fall 2010 Texas Business Today or wish to subscribe to the publication, call 1-800-832-9394. You may also find sample policies at Http://www.twc.state.tx.us/news/efte/tocmain2.html and click on The A to Z of Personnel Policies. Regardless of where you are when reading this, you can use this resource to create or improve your company with this information. Avoiding problems before they erupt can make your life far less stressful!

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