Losing Sleep - It's a Good Thing

In the HR profession, we cannot let ourselves become immune to hard times.  We are dealing with peoples’ and organizations’ livelihoods.  It should bother us when we see things happen in organizations that mean less for employees, or mean less health for the organization.  When we become immune to being bothered, we become subjective; easily swayed by what’s “easy” or “popular,” and forget that we are dealing with real people with real problems, families, situations and security, or lack thereof.

People outside of our profession wonder why we are so conscientious when it comes to tough decisions.  We need all I’s dotted and T’s crossed.  We need to know that managers have done EVERYTHING in their power to rehabilitate a failing employee or to change their responsibilities to better suit their skills.  We do this because SOMEONE needs to.  We need to have the sensitivity to be able to step outside of the logic box and compassionately work through situations.  The moment we lose this ability to carefully consider ramifications is when we become irrelevant and may as well step into a role in Finance or Operations where we may function more according to the black and white.

So if you have stayed up nights worrying about tough HR issues, then congratulations.  You are the HUMAN in Human Resources and we need to you to continue to worry.  We need you to continue to dwell.  Employees need you, organizations need you.  Our careful consideration before acting and considering the consequences of our actions makes others throughout our organizations dependent on our thoughtfulness.  So don’t stop losing sleep over tough HR problems, it might be best for everyone involved.   

Cover Letters: Mystery Solved

Should I write a cover letter?  How long should it be?  What should it say?  These are all very good questions.  With application systems going online, the frequency of cover letter submissions has declined over the past 10 years.  Most companies include a cover letter field on their job application page, but few make it a “required” one.  As a result, the perceived importance of a cover letter has declined.  But the serious job seeker should understand that writing a really good cover letter is a way to be set apart from the hundreds of more generic applicants. 

Should I write a cover letter?

Unequivocally, yes!  A cover letter gives you a chance to convey your interest in whatever position you are applying for, and your interest in the company you are applying with.  It also shows recruiters and hiring managers that you are serious - you've taken the time to prepare a letter tailored to the opportunity, and you are able to reach out on a personal level and communicate with others.  It is your first opportunity to show your personality and enthusiasm.  It is the “first impression” you make on an employer.

How long should my cover letter be?

I have found a simple three-paragraph formula to be sufficient (described below).  This should translate into about eight sentences.  Any longer, and the reader reads the first couple of sentences and then ends up skimming over the rest of the letter, moving on to your resume.  Remember, we see many applications each week, perhaps hundreds.  Your cover letter needs to hold our attention and that is more likely to happen if it’s concise and to the point.

What should my cover letter say?

Paragraph 1:  State what position you are applying for and how you heard of it, and state your interest in the opportunity.  Paragraph 2:  List two or three qualifications that you possess that you believe make you uniquely qualified for the position.  End the paragraph reiterating your interest –in the position AND the company, also telling the reader WHY you are interested.  Paragraph 3:  Tell the reader you want to interview for the position and tell them the best way(s) to reach you.

Happy writing!

5 Interview Tips for Job Seekers

Whether you're a recent graduate at the start of your career or a seasoned executive, some simple job interview best practices can help you land that opportunity of a lifetime. Do these things well during your interview, and you will increase the probability of getting hired:

1. Show up 5-10 minutes early.  This is simple but important.  In my office we joke that if we could analyze the success rates of those who are offered positions by our organization, we’d find that most people we offer positions to show up no more than 10 minutes early for their interview, and no less than 5.  This shows you are considerate to the interviewer’s schedule and that you have the social skills necessary to consider the needs of others and build effective relationships. 

2. It may go without saying, but never underestimate the power of a smile.  You are making your first impression, and experienced interviewers know that they are getting the best YOU they will ever get.  In their minds, you are not going to get any better than you appear now.  In addition, though it may seem old fashioned, a firm handshake still goes a long way.

3. Bring something.  Nothing looks worse than a candidate who doesn’t bring something to take notes on.  Bring a notebook, portfolio folder, or a tablet.  Even if you do not end up taking notes, do not sit across the table empty-handed.  Bringing something with you is a non-verbal statement of interest.  It communicates “I took the time to prepare for this interview.”  The alternative empty-handed candidate conveys “I really don’t care if I get this position or not, and don’t care to remember anything that I am told about the company or opportunity.”

4. NEVER be negative about a current or former employer.  For many recruiters and hiring managers, this is a deal breaker. We know that people who are negative in an interview are those who will be running to the HR office at every little conflict or disappointment.  They are those who will drag others down with them and create a climate of negativity.  

5. ALWAYS state your interest in the position.  Do not leave an interview without doing this.  Even if you are not specifically asked, at the end of each interview state “I want you to know that I really want this job and I am truly hopeful that it is offered to me.”  Show some humility and wear your heart on your sleeve a little.  It will pay off.

Have a problem? Let me solve it.

Have a problem?  Let me solve it.

Anyone who is a parent knows that it is really easy to solve our kids’ problems for them.  Sometimes it’s faster and more convenient just to have it over with.  I’ll help you clean up, I’ll help you with your homework, I’ll help you with that argument you’re having with your sister, I’ll help you buy that thing you really, REALLY, want.  But we also know that when we solve problems for others, the end result is that those people never learn to solve their own problems or take responsibility for their own actions.  This can too easily be applied to situations that HR professionals come into contact with every day.

Someone comes into your office complaining about so-and-so did such-and-such, or my job is not what it was cracked up to be, or the sink in the community kitchen is full of dirty dishes,  AGAIN.  Amateur HR pros will take it upon themselves to hang that sign in the kitchen saying “please be courteous to others and clean up after yourself.”  Or they will schedule a meeting with the conflicting parties to “work it out.”

What if we helped these people brainstorm solutions they can implement themselves?  After all, if HR hangs that sign in the kitchen or sends an email to everyone telling them to stop acting like children, the result is the email CC phenomenon.  The message goes out to everyone and no one acts.  Instead, make a list of ideas that will force the individual to take ownership of the solution.  (Using the dirty sink example), option A:  do the dishes yourself; option B:  sit in the kitchen, watch for the offenders, and reprimand them in the act; option C: do not use the kitchen sink; option D: forget about it and worry about things you can control. 

Chances are the person with the problem will choose choice C or D, and magically, the HR pro's time is freed up to do things they have been trained to do.  In HR, as we encounter interpersonal issues, complaints, conflicts, etc., we should give consideration to helping people solve problems for themselves, rather than trying to be the small-problem solving hero.  HR can then spend more time on big initiatives that impact the business, and create an image among other business leaders that we have an important role in future success.

Make a List

Looking for a new job?  Make a list.

You’ve heard it before – lists are the epitome of organization for any endeavor.  They help you plan.  They help you think.  They help you accomplish things and get rid of what’s been on your plate.  Take into consideration the power of list making when you begin a new job search.  It will make a big difference in the outcome.

You started your search for a reason. Maybe you need better hours, or better pay, or better balance.  Maybe you are looking for an organization that offers more opportunity for challenge or managing others.  Maybe you are looking for a different position altogether, or maybe you are looking to move geographically.  Chances are there are things you want to change, and things you want to stay the same.  Writing these things down helps you remember why you started, so that you don’t find yourself in another job hunt in a year or two.

Before you apply – write down 5-10 things that you ENJOY about your current work situation, and then 5-10 things you would change if you could.  Whittle down each list until you are left with 3-5 things you simply cannot live without. The deal-breakers, so to speak.  Now, as you job search, do NOT sacrifice those things.  Any time we get caught up in making a change, we tend to get swept into the excitement of it and the more likely we are to want to change things for the sake of change.  Chances are if you go that route, change for the sake of change will only lead to you wanting more change down the road.

Each time you are presented with a job opportunity, take out your list.  Do you have any reasons to believe the opportunity will not accommodate the things on your list?  If so, don’t apply or don’t accept the offer.  Let your list guide your decision and don’t sacrifice the things on your list.  Hold out for something that you truly believe will fulfill your dreams and desires.