To help compete in
this competitive job market, NYSAE launched a series of Career
Development Workshops. These informal brown bag lunch sessions are small
group, interactive workshops designed to leave you with new skills and
new acquaintances!
The January 24 program,
led by Beverly Daniel, MS, MBS, founder of the CareerGrowth Group and
chair of NYSAE’s Career Development Committee, focused on working
effectively with executive recruiters, tapping into the hidden job
market, expanding your networking contacts, and becoming the best
candidate. “The purpose of these workshops is to make sure that
you have done all you can to be first in line for a new opportunity and
be the one who gets the offer,” said Daniel.
“The most important thing a
candidate must do is match their skills with a recruiter’s or hiring
manager’s needs,” said Daniel. Too many times, she noted, people jump
when they receive a phone call and start talking before they have all
the information.
“It’s very important to learn how to have a
conversation,” advised Daniel. “Before you start speaking, ask for a
position description so you can address yourself in terms of that
position.” Remember, she pointed out, once you take a call from a
recruiter, you only have a few moments to make that first impression, so
anything can be held against you. You can only present yourself as an
outstanding candidate based on other person’s needs.
Another aspect of the
January program was learning how to tap into the hidden job
market—through networking , whether in person or online through social
media, such as LinkedIn.
“It’s all about using your
networks and the art form of conversation,” said Daniel. “You get only
one opportunity to ask a question, to present yourself, whether that’s
at an NYSAE meeting, when you get a call from a recruiter, or when
networking online. It needs to be in a sophisticated manner. You need to
know the art form of conversation,” she added.
One program attendee—Judy
Sanford Guise, CAE, past chair and current member of the Membership
Committee—offered her takeaways from the session.
- You have 10 seconds to make an impression—whether in a cover letter, online, or in an interview.
- You should always have your business cards with you.
- When using LinkedIn need a fully flushed out profile.
- It’s not a matter of how many connections you have, but with whom you are connected.
- Contacts need to be nurtured. Remember to stay in touch with in your connections.
- Update your profile frequently.
- Join appropriate
groups to your area of interest, and demonstrate your potential value by
participating in meaningful discussions. Do not post, just to post.
- Be careful of what you post because everyone is doing searches.
- Organizations, such
as NYSAE, are essential to keeping us in the loop as to what is going on
and developing relationships that could lead to other connected.
- Always be aware of what your accomplishments are, and don’t forget to list them.
- Know your association’s online policies before you post anything, either professionally or personally, on a social media site.
- Join NYSAE’s LinkedIn Group.
“Ultimately,” summed up
Daniel, “it’s about the image you create—not just how you dress and
look—but what you say and how you say it.”