Expectations Travel Both Ways March 7, 2012
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Business, Job Search, Leadership, Life, Management, Relating.Tags: business, job search, Leadership, Life, management, relating
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Got a new job, new assignment, or a new project? Regardless what it is, don’t wait for your copy of clear and concise instructions to be delivered during a well-coordinated handoff meeting. It’s not going to happen.
What to do? Start asking questions. Lots of questions. And if you don’t get answers, start asking more questions. And if you still don’t get answers, start doing what needs to be done, that is, your job. Be thorough, be precise, and over deliver.
Now if you happen to be the manager of that person taking on this new job, assignment, or project, it’s your job to set a goal, state expectations, and offer support. Don’t expect the new person on the block to be asking questions in these times of economic fear. Very few will challenge the status quo, much less their boss, by pestering you with probing questions.
In other words, both parties have an equal responsibility to set and receive instructions, provide feedback, and deliver results. Both share the burden…and likewise should share in the joys of success for a job well done.
Everyone has a boss. Even your boss. But don’t assume that he or she is fair, courteous, or concerned. Do your job, do the best you can, ask questions, over-deliver where you can, and don’t look back.
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Manage Up! October 25, 2011
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Job Search, Leadership, Management, Personal Development.Tags: job search, personal development
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Managing Up is both an action and an attitude. It says, “I’m taking responsibility for my career.”
Regardless of your position in a company, there is one thing you still have control over…your behavior. Mark Sanborn (The Fred Factor) covers a similar dimension of this in another book of his.
Here’s the thing, in this age of entitlement, do you:
- Proactively communicate with your boss?
(Not to be confused with Kissing Up) - Consistently look for improvement opportunities?
- Consistently look for learning opportunities?
- Consistently look to assist coworkers in need?
That’s managing up. Taking responsibility for your career (and happiness), with no strings, no conditions, and no regrets.
Managing Up is an essential skill that creates opportunities and value for those who take pride in what they do; in things big or small.
Send a request via Facebook,
if you would like a free copy of
the Managing Up! self-assessment.
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What’s a Great Team to You? August 9, 2011
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Job Search, Relating, Teamwork.add a comment
Many times words sound idealistic in writing,
but when practiced on a team they are inspiring…
Synergistic
Empathetic
Eclectic
Consistent
Supportive
Fun-conscious
Cooperative
Energized
Amazingly productive without the stress
Trusting and trustworthy…
AND
Inspiring and inspired
Unstoppable
Highly collaborative
Opportunity-driven
Equally results-oriented and people-oriented
Consistently dependable
Intolerant to divisiveness
Open to ideas, opportunities, and change
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What is a great team to you?
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Don’t Recite a Job Description in Your Resume July 31, 2011
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Job Search, Relating.add a comment
Just saw another same old, same old resume. Seems that even in this world of paperless-ness, job candidates insist on creating resumes that are nothing more than an assemblage of past job descriptions.
The reality is that less than ten percent of resume recipients, if that, ever completely read them.
Don’t recite a job description in your resume, make your last two positions-held come alive with your accomplishments, WOW projects tackled, and even near-misses on big goals. Let me know that you’re aiming high.
But don’t fake it. All the BS in the world won’t hold up to a simple phone call to your last manager who’s asked, “What can you tell me about Project X that Mr. Jones refers to in his resume?”
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Energize Your Job Search – 6 June 22, 2011
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Job Search, Personal Development.add a comment
6. STAY IN ACTION - The best way to stay in action is to always have a fallback activity. Some job seekers, when they find some extra time on their hands, will start practicing their interview answers, others will pick up the phone and follow up with people in their network that have expressed an interest in helping them find employment. The key is to always keep moving. When things get slow create your own list of interview questions and practice, practice, practice.
Don’t struggle with how to get a job or how to interview -
See htttp://getthatnewjob.com for more guidance.
Energize Your Job Search – 5 June 21, 2011
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Job Search, Personal Development.add a comment
5. GET LEVERAGE ON YOURSELF – GET FEEDBACK FROM A TRUSTED ADVISOR – With the “busy-ness” of life in general, it gets easier to start drifting or making excuses for yourself. To keep the momentum up during your job search, find someone who can and will hold you accountable. Stay away from those who will let you off the hook. You want to stay on track; you want to be reminded constructively of what you should be doing. Whether it is an associate, coach, or other advisor, you want someone who will provide you with insight and feedback, not just an opinion of what they think you should or shouldn’t be doing.
Don’t struggle with how to get a job or how to interview -
See htttp://getthatnewjob.com for more guidance.
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Energize Your Job Search – 4 June 20, 2011
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Job Search, Personal Development.add a comment
4. SET ACTIONS THAT ARE MEASURABLE – Most of us are spoiled by technology, so we expect results immediately. By setting measurable actions, you are working towards your job search goal in small steps versus taking impulsive giant steps. Although the steps might be smaller, make sure they’re big enough to make you stretch a bit in order to achieve it. The type of actions you may want to measure could be the number of calls you make a day, the number of interviews you secure each week, the number of networking events you attend, or the number of new contacts you make each week.
Don’t struggle with how to get a job or how to interview -
See htttp://getthatnewjob.com for more guidance.
Energize Your Job Search – 3 June 19, 2011
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Job Search, Personal Development.add a comment
3. DEFINE “SIMPLE-TO-FOLLOW” ACTION STEPS – Sometimes we overcomplicate things; we make things harder than they have to be. Before going off on a tangent, ask people that have recently landed a job what they did to stay on track. Define the job searching actions steps that are right for you; make sure they’re clear and easy to carry out. Whether it’s when and how you will search for job openings, or researching and practicing interview questions and interview answers, or what kind of networking you need to do, or what are your follow up steps after your interview?
Don’t struggle with how to get a job or how to interview -
See htttp://getthatnewjob.com for more guidance.
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Energize Your Job Search – 2 June 18, 2011
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Job Search, Personal Development.add a comment
2. CLEARLY DEFINE WHAT YOU WANT – Whether you want to earn $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, or $1,000,000 annually, the important thing to remember is to always seek clarity. What kind of career do you want? What are the types of jobs in that field? Take the time to define the job duties, define the values you want this company to have, the location of the company (is it across town or across the country?), and even the job promotions that might be possible in the future. Choosing a career and finding employment are two big steps every job seeker must face. Take the time to define these points so it becomes easier to recognize your perfect job when is shows up.
See htttp://getthatnewjob.com for more guidance.
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Energize Your Job Search – 1 June 17, 2011
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Job Search, Personal Development.add a comment
Many people begin their job search in earnest, with lots of positive energy and a willingness to do what is necessary to land the job of their choice. Then reality sets in and things slow down or they don’t go as planned, or the routineness of seeking employment becomes a chore. Suddenly, it feels much harder to a find that job. What happened?
It’s extremely tough out there for those seeking employment, so here are some ways to help ensure you stay on track, not lose your momentum, and not be confused about how to get a job.
1. CUT YOUR “TO DO” LIST IN HALF – Life goes on, even during a job search. Everyday chores and responsibilities can and will get in the way…but they have to be done. Successful job searchers follow a process called “Lightening your Load.” To be successful in your job search, you absolutely must find ways to free yourself up. A big “To Do” list will only slow you down and make you feel ineffective, especially if there are things on your list more than 2 weeks old. Do the things you need to or must do, delegate those things that you can, and dump those things that add no value.
See htttp://getthatnewjob.com for more guidance.
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