Be Thankful

Thank You Notes.....Should I?

Believe it or not, thank you notes are part of the interview process. The thank you note is another way for you to influence the interviewer. There are many candidates that don't send thank you notes. However, it is important for you to send a thank you note, because interviewers will read your thank you note and think positive of you. Some candidates have received a second chance because of a thank you note.  In fact, one individual made it to a third interview in which he received a phone call from the HR director informing him that the thank you notes after each interview really influenced the HR director and the hiring manager.  If you take a few minutes to write a thank you note, you'll come to know it is well worth your time.  Keep reading for a list of guidelines to help you write thank you notes for after a interview.

Here is another piece of advice: Show gratitude in all occasions.  Thank yous are not just meant for notes.  Vocalize your thank yous with sincerity often.  As mentioned before, you'll come to know it is well worth your time.  This is where the power of persuasion is introduced.  Remember the story above about the interviewer who wrote thank you notes after each interview?  The thank you notes persuaded the interviewers to keep him in the potential candidate lineup - doing him a favor.  He got the interviewers to do what he wanted them to do because of his sincere gratitude toward them.  People work with and help those they like.  That is common sense, we all know that.  But maybe you need to be told that again, to remind you.  You can thank me later for the refresher :)

Here are a few guidelines to help you customize a thank you note or even to vocalize a thank you.

1. Mail / hand deliver / email letter within 24 hours of the interview
2. Gather interviewer(s) full name(s) and titles(s).
3. Always thank the interview for his/her time.
4. Mention something you learned from the interview.
5. Mentioned your strong interest in the position and why you will fill the position well.
6. In the case of multiple interviewers, send a letter to each of the "Decision Makers" or one to each person that you perceived are important to develop a good relationship with.
7. Send a letter after each interview, whether it is the first or third interview.
8. Spell and grammar check your letter two or three times after you have customized your letter.
9. Use your best judgement for hand writing and delivering your letter.  To help with this decision, do an internet search on when it is best to hand write, hand deliver, email thank you notes after a interview.
10. Keep notes short and sweet.
11. Keep your letter professional.  Avoid extra designs and "busy" things, like happy faces.

"I Didn't Get The Job!" Outrageous!

Rejection happens, but you need to move on!  Here are a few tips to move onward...

Maybe you can use this post as a motivation speech.  Let it just light that fire underneath and give you the determination not to give up, but find that company that will hire you!

If you are currently looking for a new job and have had some rejections already or if you foresee yourself visiting that paradise of looking for a new job then I hope this post gives you a little advice on how to handle those "thanks, but no thanks" job rejections.

First tip of the day - Talk about it.

The fastest and most effective way to diminish your inner thoughts and feelings about a job rejection is to talk about it.  You literally become tired of focusing on it if you talk about it.  Get with a spouse, best friend, family member, trusted co-worker and just talk until your heart is content.  I did not say vent but talk.  Venting involves strong emotions, which can be uncontrollable and unhealthy at times.  Talking, on the other hand, keeps emotions in check, keeps you professional, and keeps brain chemicals in balance.  Why mention brain chemicals?

Have you ever heard of catharsis?  It is the act of purifying, cleaning, or purging of your emotions.  In a way, venting is catharsis.  The You Are Not So Smart blog explains catharsis and how it relates to venting.  Here's a little section out of the blog:

Releasing sexual tension feels good. Throwing up when you are sick feels good. Finally getting to a restroom feels good. So, it seemed to follow, draining bad blood or driving out demons or siphoning away black bile to bring the body back into balance must be good medicine. Be it an exorcism or a laxative, the idea is the same: get the bad stuff out and you'll return to normal.

It's drug-like, because there are brain chemicals and other behavioral reinforcements at work. If you get accustomed to blowing off steam, you become dependent on it.

Common sense says venting is an important way to ease tension, but common sense is wrong. Venting – catharsis – is pouring fuel into a fire. 

(Read the entire blog post @ http://youarenotsosmart.com/2010/08/11/catharsis/).

When you talk, you control your emotions.  You also keep yourself open to options and advice from those you talk with.  You are also emotionally able to view a different picture of your job rejection (read second tip below).  You remain professional and stand ready to move on to another job opportunity when you talk.  You won't be aggressive and make rash, non-thought-out decisions.

Second tip of the day - Recognize.

You probably weren't the only talented one being interview.  It might have been the luck of the draw that someone else was offered the position over you.  It is a good chance that the hiring manager just had to pick someone because many candidates were a good fit, but they couldn't hire everyone.  You may not have been rejected.  Recognize that you were well qualified, but many others were just as qualified and a decision had to be made for one of you.

Third tip of the day - Reflect and Move on!

After you have taken some time to talk about your job rejection, take a moment to think about the interview and see how you can improve.  Review the interview questions that were asked and the answers you gave.  Think about any documents you may have submitted (e.g. resume) and how you may have acted in front of interviewers or around the potential employer’s place of business.  In all these areas that I just listed, ask yourself “what can I do to improve on or do differently?”  See what could have made you more attractive and appealing to the recruiter or hiring manager - on paper and in person.  When you find something, educate yourself on that area and make improvements.

Once you have done a self-evaluation, move on to new job applications, new interviews and regain that momentum you had before the job rejection.  The effects of the rejection will only last as long as you allow them to last.

Social Media Usage Professional advice

Samantha McGary ‏@Samantha_McGary3h

In the professional world it might be better to put your #social media page on private. @DavidMcNary @TylerMcGary pic.twitter.com/xCRwiaTZju

 Retweeted by Tyler McGary

Why A Career Coach?

Do you know the real purpose of Career Coaches?  It may not be what you think.

Recently I read a few articles about career coaching, just to gain a little more insight on the topic and to update my knowledge on new skills or trends.  As I read these articles I thought perhaps there were a few things worth spreading the news to others.

To start off, I pretty sure we all have an idea of what a career coach does.  I sometimes get the impression that we kind of know what a career coach is, like the broad description of a career coach - someone who helps you select a good career or guides you to a better career.  However, I feel we miss the underlining purpose and description of how a career coach can influence someone.

To make the definition of a career coach comprehensible, a few synonyms are: Supporter, Motivator, Life coach specializing in work life, facilitator (facilitates your career progress), and adviser.  A career coach is NOT a counselor or therapist.  They look into your past briefly and find out what your present situation is like, but they are not going to dwell on the past or repair emotional or mental struggles.

A career coach focuses on where to take your career.  They implement a change for the better.  They assist you in career goals AND develop confidence within yourself.  A career coach is also an insider to many different ways to help you be successful.  They know about up-to-date strategies, techniques, trends, and venues that will benefit you.

In my profession, I have perceived that the biggest hold up for people to make career adjustments, whether that be a entry-level person or experience person, would be not knowing the know how to accomplish their goals.  I' m talking about a complete dumb struck on how to start.  No ideas or even a clue to know where to start.  A career coach would be that smart brainstorming buddy you want in your group because they have all the answers.

Let me close with a bit of advice: two minds are mightier than one.  Often times we find a way out of a hard situations because we confide with some else of our struggle.  Just talking to a trusted friend calms our nerves and brings about some unthought ideas for alternative outcomes. Use and view a career coach as a second mind to overcome your struggles and to generate new ideas.  And remember, view a career coach as a friend with expert career advice.  And do view them as a friend - they do find great joy in your success.