Testimonials have slipped into job hunting strategies, and rightly so; a job hunt is, after all, a self-marketing venture in which the employer purchases your services. Recommendations or testimonials are an effective career tool and are now being used on a LinkedIn profile, and in the resume or cover letter.

But how is a job hunter to ask for a recommendation – it seems so bold!?

• Draft a list of those who know you well; if you have to remind them of who you are, they are unlikely to write about you with any useful and influential specifics. Pen a nicely worded request, share the kind of job you are looking for, and respectfully ask if they feel comfortable with providing a written reference.
• Collaborate with respected colleagues, past or present, to exchange testimonials.
• Request testimonials from past supervisors or managers, particularly following a superbly-executed project!
• Ask people with whom you volunteer to write a short paragraph; a volunteer coordinator would likely be quite pleased to do so.

(Resist asking family and friends; LinkedIn or self-marketing documents such as the resume and cover letter are not the place for non-work-related or non-volunteer-related praises.)

Ideally you should choose people who write well as a testimonial full of spelling and grammar errors will reflect badly on you. And if your best references might come from those whose grammar is less than enviable, you could suggest that to save them time you wouldn’t mind editing for grammar!

Sometimes, although this isn’t ideal, you could suggest that you will draft a paragraph — pending their approval of course. Not only poor writers, but also busy professionals appreciate this gesture. And such a step would boost your success rate in securing recommendations.

In drafting a paragraph, keep in mind the skills and attributes that would most interest your potential employer, and consider these in relation to the work you did. Also keep in mind the person on whose behalf you are putting a few words together – stay as true to his or her speech pattern as possible. The challenge is to wordsmith these into a highly personalized recommendation that sheds light on your specific skill set and reputation, while not sounding inauthentic.

Likely you are wondering “Okay, what does a good recommendation sound like?” Glad you asked!

Here is a sample that would be useful to a salesperson, where the emphasis is on building relationships:

“Mark worked for me for four years. An outstanding sales professional, he impressed me with his business know-how, and most remarkable was his incredible ability to make connections by remembering names and faces as well as personal details. His customers felt valued and rewarded him with sales.”

This sample is geared to a manufacturing floor equipment mechanic:

“Paul worked on our manufacturing floor for more than five years. During that time, he earned a reputation for being the mechanic most called upon to fix issues and quickly getting our lines back into production and minimizing down-time. He is not only skilled, but almost intuitive about what the problem is, and I highly recommend him.”

But sometimes a very short phrase works equally as well. For example:

- for a writer “outstanding grammar geek”

- for a manager “amazing ability to build teams that get along”

- for a health and safety manager “thank you for reducing workplace injuries”

- for an administrative assistant “I recommend Ashley for any job that requires tight organization, strict time management, and a ‘wow’ level of customer service … and a splash of fun!”

The key is that the praises must be skill-specific, showing a true expertise in the field of work.

Every pro-active job-hunter, every person who is active in his or her own career management, must collect testimonials or recommendations throughout their career. Seize the moment, who could you ask, right now, for a timely and powerful testimonial?

- submitted by Stephanie Clark, Master Resume Writer

These positions are expected to impact a company’s bottom line. After all, businesses depend on a return on investment. But how does one create a meaningful resume for a position that is publicly funded and does not rely on generating revenue?

Admittedly challenging, these resumes focus more on quality of work than on results. A therapist may not be able to cite that she “cured 12 people last year of a serious eating disorder,” but she may be able to claim “conducted further study in eating disorders, a growing problem in this city, and immediately began seeing some glimmers of success in a few patients.”

Educators are faced with a similar challenge. A teacher may not be able to claim that he “passed 100% of my students” (and that won’t necessarily have impact on a teacher’s resume), but something along the lines of “created a specialized learning plan for special needs student that brought her up two grade levels, on a par with her classmates” will undoubtedly prove the quality of his commitment to his work.

Here are a few key areas in which quality of work can be proven:

Education | On-going Training – As in the example above, many of these positions are in areas with rapidly changing knowledge; keeping on top of current practices is imperative. Whether through formal in-class training, on-line learning platforms, day-long workshops with experts, or through self-study, education is never a waste of your time.

Joining Associations | Participating on Committees – Multi-disciplinary approaches are increasingly common in these sectors. Having participated on a committee that approached a problem from several points of view makes you a valuable resource to the next employer.

Leadership – Leadership is always a sought-after trait. Not sure how to prove your leadership? Express your passion for your line of work by communicating your intense interest and how you take ownership of your job with an entrepreneurial approach.  Add specific quotes from colleagues, superiors, and customers, for example, “I can always count on you to provide the expertise we need”; “I appreciate your expertise on submitting such well-written funding applications”; or, “Your ability to motivate our volunteers is second to none.”

Relationship-building – This term refers to dealing collegially and co-operatively with co-workers as well as with outside clients or stakeholders. It is especially vital in sectors that depend on a contingency of volunteers who must be valued and treated cordially, or that have staff working with people who, due to circumstances, require kindness and compassion. A big picture aspect of relationship building is identifying and fostering community partnerships.

Creativity – No matter where you work, coming up with a new or improved method is always a good thing. Identifying mutually beneficial community partnerships and integrating new methodologies from research and best practices are a few examples.

Proving the quality of one’s work requires more effort than proving results, but it is vital to communicating value in the not-for-profit sector.

- submitted by Stephanie Clark, New Leaf Resumes

Learn from the best!

“Try not to become a person of success, but rather a person of value.” So said Albert Einstein. Success, by popular definition (money, fame, power), is elusive. Value, on the other hand, is backed by ethics, conscience, and a success that lasts.

And how does one ensure a good start in a new position? Here are a few steps to keep in mind. 

5 Steps to a Smoother Transition

1. Lay low and understand the workplace culture. From dress code to taking breaks, watch and learn. Listen more; speak less.
2. Meet your employer’s expectations. Take the initiative and ask for an assessment of how you are doing.
3. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. But do learn from your mistakes!
4. Think of “being of service” rather than worrying about self-serving goals.
5. Find a mentor or “buddy” for informal feedback, support and encouragement.

Nice Guys Finish First

Two studies conducted at North Carolina State University turned the old saying “Nice guys finish last” on its head!! Apparently when a team is led by a “nice guy,” members feel well-treated, work harder, and work more collaboratively. This leads to a very real competitive advantage.

To find out what strategies good employers use to welcome newcomers, google “onboarding best practices.” For more info on starting a new job, google “how to behave at a new job.”  And finally, look up “what not to do when starting a new job” for a sometimes fun perspective from the other side! (Like the 22-year old whose mom came to Orientation…)

~ All the best, Stephanie

It helps to define what bullying is and what it is not. It is not a one-time only clash, it is not a character conflict, and it is not a case of simple disagreements.

Bullying is far more sinister. It leads to more than making an effort to avoid someone; it leads to a serious impact on the victim’s emotional and physical health.  Bullying is persistent and spiteful; prolonged and purposeful. The bullying behaviour cannot be explained with logic. It cannot be dealt with through avoidance. The more you attempt to adjust your behaviour, blame yourself, or doubt your own perceptions, the more power you give the perpetrator – the harder you make it to shake this person’s jaw that seems clamped in your hind side.

Bullies do their dirty work when there are no witnesses, and are deceptive to the max. Clever liars, they deny with utmost conviction anything their victim asserts.  And their “credibility” fosters your own self-doubt. A vicious cycle begins.

Bullying infringes on your human rights and attempts to attack your dignity. Such abuse can lead to the victim suffering from depression and even post-traumatic stress syndrome.

The victim may find it difficult to find allies, quite simply because colleagues, at a deep level where they themselves would rather not admit to, are afraid of the bully and wish to spare themselves the same fate. Others, because they don’t understand the level of conniving, secrecy, and maliciousness, “pooh-pooh” the experience, suggesting that it’s all in the victim’s imagination or somehow the victim’s fault.

What then, can a victim, typically the quintessential “nice” person, do?

1. If it is in early stages, consider asking the bully assertive questions, for example: Why would you say that? What exactly do you mean by that? Or suggest, “Let’s take this discussion to the manager’s office.” You may nip it in the bud.
2. Keep a diary. Courts take cumulative small incidents seriously.
3. If you’ve been visiting your doctor for treatment for depression, or seeing a counselor, keep a record of these visits.
4. With your diary and documented doctor’s visits, go to your boss and ask for a transfer, have the bully transferred, or ask for a grievance hearing. Share how the bully’s actions are seriously impeding your work, and are bringing the work unit into a situation for potential disgrace.

What is the bully’s purpose? Usually it is to control, to hide his or her incompetence, or to project incompetence onto someone else. Most of us wouldn’t begin to torture a colleague in this way, but bullies are not normal, average, or collegial colleagues. Experts agree: you are dealing with a sociopath or disordered personality, making it critical that you fight back by documenting their actions, and assert your rights by involving management.

Bullies are opportunists: they look for an easy victim. Don’t be one. Learn to stand tall, breathe deeply, make good and sustained eye contact, keep your voice in control, and refrain from responding to the bully’s bait.

(I had a recent client who was being bullied, and when the co-worked said, “You’re lucky you weren’t in front of me because I would have slapped you,” she said nothing at all in a concerted effort to not provoke this woman, but knew she would take this conversation directly to her boss, which she did.)

Oftentimes the victim is the first to leave. Management takes no action, and after a year of suffering, it’s time to leave. See this not as a failure, but as a positive step, as one in which you will grow your career in a better direction.

- submitted by Stephanie Clark, New Leaf Resume

And yet, how many people give their job search critical thought and planning?

It actually doesn’t have to be a complicated, convoluted and time-consuming effort! Here’s an easy question to ask yourself: What does a wildly successful (insert term such as job hunt, job, interview etc.) look like?

The wonderful thing about this question is that you can ask it at each step of the job search, for example:

What does a wildly successful job look like? You can’t land a top-notch job if you don’t know what you want to do. This question must be answered before a job search is launched as it drives everything: the resume content, the job search sites, potential employers, networking strategy – everything!

What does a wildly successful resume read like? As a document that is foundational to a solid career, the resume must not be taken lightly. If your resume reads like a position description, it’s not a resume. Don’t you want your resume to really sizzle and sell you like crazy? Don’t you aspire to influencing a recruiter to give you a call? Find out what it takes to achieve this!

What would a wildly successful phone interview sound like? These are becoming more popular as pre-screening tools. Are you prepared to handle this call when it comes?

You can go wild with this idea! Posing this question at each step can only improve the outcome. It forces you to admit to what you don’t know, and that should drive you to research. Asking this question stops you from leaving outcomes to chance, which although useful at times is far more effective when accompanied by preparation.

You will get more done. You will feel efficient. You will feel more in charge. And that can only translate into more confidence, which is essential to a resilient job hunt.

- submitted by Stephanie Clark

I review a lot of resumes. Sometimes it’s through my own service and sometimes through a large university sub-contracting job. Most – up to 99% I would say – suffer from the same failure: they don’t communicate value.

Value is defined as “The regard that something is held to deserve; the importance or preciousness of something: ‘your support is of great value’.”

Does your resume deserve regard? Does it convey the importance of your work? How does one communicate regard, importance, preciousness, as the definition states?

The answer is both simple and complex. You simply need to understand the reader’s buying motivators. What does the reader/recruiter need to hear in order to “buy” your service through a salary? What gets the recruiter excited?

It’s all related to the bottom line: how your performance affects profitability or reputation.

This makes sense as business is driven by profits (with not-for-profits such as social work, teaching, medical arts being driven more by reputation).

How has your work made your employer viable and sustainably profitable?

Thus far you’ve been given a lot of questions to answer, and it is up to you to answer these. Without a clear understanding of how YOUR work impacts your employer’s viability, you’re not going to write a resume that communicates value, nor are you going to reply to interview questions (if you land one, that is) that put you squarely at the top. That’s where the complexity comes in.

In continuing with a theme of questions, here are a few that will get you started. Ask yourself:

• What falls apart if I am not here for a week or two?
• Which skill in particular has my boss commended me for?
• Do others come to me for help or advice on something in particular?
• Have I been formally recognized for a contribution, idea, talent?

It’s up to YOU to manage your career, but it doesn’t mean you can’t seek help. Although many can write a “decent” resume, plain old decent doesn’t cut it these days!

Watch BCJobs.ca for more advice on effective resume writing.  Submitted by Stephanie Clark, whose own career goal is to take resumes from “ho-hum” to “wow”!

1. Approach your job as if it is your business. Take it seriously and treat everyone like your very own customer.
2. Display leadership traits: be proactive, decisive, competent, and passionate. Apply critical thinking and communicate perspective. Display resilience and self confidence—but know when to ask for help.
3. Nurture relationships and provide service to all, from your boss to those for whose work you are accountable. You cannot work in isolation with only a computer; it is, after all, people who get things done.
4. Continually build your contacts and network. Even with a stellar career, shifts happen. Be prepared to launch a job search, just in case.
5. Find a mentor to speed up your career trajectory. A mentor can guide you from spinning your wheels to moving forward. Certainly a mentor’s advice can help you avoid pitfalls.
6. Be a mentor. There’s nothing like teaching to help you know your subject inside out, build your confidence, and lend a helping hand, which could only lead to remarkable “karma boomerang.”
7. Embrace change. Change is inevitable and in our times, relentless. It is also impersonal and cares not a whit if you prefer the old fashioned way. Learn to accept and even embrace change. What good will a fear of and resistance to change do if it leads to your company’s demise because competitors who embraced change took over?
8. Be reliable. Show up, work hard, and contribute with consistency.
9. Safeguard your credibility and reputation. Ethical behaviour is essential. Judicious use of social media is equally critical. Do nothing to disparage your good name.
10. Provide value. Learn how to make yourself as indispensable as possible. And be sure to track your achievements, ready to remind your boss of your effectiveness during your annual review.

Those are a terrific start. There are always more.

For example, you can strike a dedicated path by knowing where you want to be in three years. This could be at either end of the career spectrum: you may aim to change industries to benefit from diverse experience, or master a field of knowledge and become an expert.

Remember, the best career is one that gives you joy, and the job that is a joy is one that uses your natural talents. You know you’re there when you love to go to work, and crave the feeling of success and satisfaction from meeting challenges that demand your intellect. What a rush!

- submitted by Stephanie Clark, www.newleafresumes.ca

Everything has its time, place and purpose.  Clothing that says, “sloppy, fun, sexy or fitness” should be saved for those kinds of activities, and generally have no place in the workplace.

It may be comfy, but if you look like you don’t care, it will likely be translated by others into: “You don’t care”. Even though your company may have a ‘Business Casual’ culture, your business casual dress code should never be interpreted as, ‘sloppy is okay’. For most companies, the casual work days of untucked, uncoordinated, unfitted and unruly dress have come to an end. Today even the most casual work environments are raising their expectations for this category of dress. Business clothing should be neat, clean and coordinated. It should fit your body and always be in good repair.

Clothes that say “fun” are fun. They set the tone for frolicking alone or with others. However, at work they may send the message that you are there to goof off. Most employers and clients would agree, this is not the message that will enhance your professional credibility or the credibility of the company. Employers and clients want to know that you are credible, capable, professional, and are there to do the job to the best of your ability. Don’t let them be fooled by the way you are dressed.

Would you wear a micro mini-skirt to hike in the woods or go downhill skiing? Although mini-skirts can be fashion forward, fun and great for some activities, they may not be comfortable or appropriate for others. Work is one of those activities. Although it may seem innocent to you, revealing clothing or sexy styles such as see-through fabrics, short hem-lines, low neck-lines and visible underwear can be distracting to those around you and send the wrong message.

Although most people would agree that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important, dressing like you belong in a gym, while at work, is a little too casual. Save the sneakers, yoga gear, track suits, leggings, casual T-shirts and shorts for fitness activities. Active wear is called ‘active wear’ for a reason.

When getting dressed in the morning, consider the time, place and purpose most suited to your clothing, and then dress accordingly for your day’s activities. If the activity is work, ‘dress for success’ and avoid anything that might be distracting.

More Articles on this Topic:

What Not to Wear to the Company Picnic

Do not begin with a professional profile.

Many resumes begin with a professional background that’s intended to build credibility. Here’s an example of one that I wrote for a senior level client:

Strong manager and decisive problem solver with over 6 years’ experience of successfully delivering diverse IT projects valued at up to CAD$65Million that met corporate objectives.

Articulate and influential communicator who builds consensus with project stakeholders, monitors budgets, administers activities, organizes details, and directs staff.

Recognized for exceptional technical skills, astute risk management, motivational coaching, financial acumen, and the ability to communicate with all levels.

It could be that without proof, nobody believes you yet! Rather than asking them to translate your background information into something that’s meaningful to them and their business, just skip it.

Improve your introduction.

Don’t waste time explaining who you are and what you’ve done. Rather, launch your resume with a great testimonial. Imagine how the following would grab a recruiter’s attention:

“Andrew has an amazing capacity to ‘sniff’ out sales potentials. How else to explain his consistent, year over year, market share building, goal-busting sales accomplishments?”

or

Award Winning Employee recognized for Customer Service, Exceeding Performance Expectations, and Training Achievement.

Open with a surprising yet relevant fact.

To get a recruiter focused on what you’re going to tell him or her, you must break through the mental haze caused by resume review! This is best accomplished by a startling fact, for example:

2012 – Saved over $40K by eliminating one full time customer service position without impacting service levels or quality (I’d love to tell you how), and $15K by renegotiating three service contracts.

2011 – Catapulted customer service ratings by 50%, from a rating of 40 to 90, after researching and customizing corporate training, and training and mentoring in “Disney-style” service methodology.

Research supports the ideas above. Recruiters, research shows, reliably begin reading a resume at the top, so don’t let them hit their “snooze” button!

These three tips are summed up as one: grab attention at the very beginning! Don’t bury your accomplishments under a lot of “responsible for, provided, and assisted with.” Replace the unsurprising and predictable resume-speak with specific-to-you and attention-grabbing bottom-line impacting results!

Wearing appropriate business attire can go a long way in getting the job, getting the client, or moving up the corporate ladder. However, knowing what an appropriate work wardrobe is can be confusing, as it can vary depending on the industry, the company culture and your job. Before deciding what to wear to work, consider the following:

Look at the industry

Some industries are considered more traditional or conservative, while others are more progressive or contemporary. There may be a traditional business dress code for your industry.

What is your company brand?

The industry may be the same, but the company and product culture may be different. Even though your industry may have its standards for professional dress, your company may have an attitude of its own that sets it apart as a brand differentiating itself from the pack. What is your company culture? Is it formal, laid back, fashion-forward or fun?

Who will see you and how will they be dressed?

As a representative of your company, consider how you want your clients, co-workers and employer to react to you. Do you want to come across as Authoritative, Creative, Formal, Functional, Credible, etc.? The way you are dressed will have a direct impact on the way you are perceived, and how others respond to you and your company.

Maintain a Consistent Image

Some of us wear many hats: in any given day you may be at sales calls, a business mixer or a construction site; and you may feel you need to dress differently for various business-related activities. This can be challenging when getting dressed in the morning, and hard on the wardrobe. Although it is important to dress appropriately for where you will be and what you will be doing, it is still important to maintain a certain level of consistency. If one day you are wearing a matched suit and the next day jeans and a casual top, this can send mixed messages and confuse your client or your employer.

Suppose that someone is meeting you for the first time. What would a potential client or employer think when they first meet you? Do you fit their expectations for the industry, products and skills you are offering? Plan your work wardrobe with careful consideration. The image that you project is vital to establishing a business relationship quickly, and maintaining that relationship over time.