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Projecting You as a Social Entity

How many hours a month do you spend on the Internet?  How much time are you using it for education, entertainment, work, purchasing services or products, or connecting with friends and family?  The average American spends 32 hours per month on the Internet.  A tidbit I learned on a recent webinar hosted by Juicy Results, a terrific web marketing company.   And as I thought about that number, I realized I probably spend that much time per week on the Internet!  If the nature of jobs and careers in the future is changing, then this is important information to know.

Do you have a social media presence?  What does it look like?  Universities and employers alike are using social media to “check out” their candidates.  Everything from your email address and voice message to your pictures and comments on the Internet are available for public scrutiny and feed into your public image or “social entity.”

Just as different people have different perspectives on issues, different generations view and address issues differently.  In regards to social media, there is a great article and some interesting data that specifically address the issues of school and job impact.  Click here to read the article and be sure to scroll down to table 2B and note the difference between Baby Boomers and Echo Boomers.  While an Echo Boomer may see nothing wrong with a particular message posted on a social media site, the individual responsible for your admission to college or hiring you may be a Baby Boomer and the posting is offensive.

Now ask yourself the question again and consider who may be on the other side of the computer monitor checking you out.  What does your “social entity” look like?  What do you need to do to create the kind of social image that characterizes you but doesn’t jeopardize future opportunities?  Contact me if you need assistance or want more information.

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STARS and Secrets to a Successful Interview

In the last Blog, the theme was “Knowing What You Have to Offer.”  Whether you are interviewing for admissions to a university or sitting in a job interview, some of the standards for success are identical.  You must know what you have to offer the organization and you have to be able to articulate it to the individual or team asking the questions.

So, what are the STARS and Secrets to a successful school or job interview?

Secret #1 – Confidence – Look them in the eye, extend your hand for a firm handshake and flash an enthusiastic smile. Create a sense that this is the energetic and engaging person that they would want on their team.  Stand tall and sit tall, shoulders back and continue to maintain eye contact with everyone in the interview.  You won’t have to tell them you’re confident.  Demonstrate it!

Secret #2 – Toot Your Own Horn – Mom always said, “Sometimes you have to toot your own horn.”  Mom was right!  When you are working to secure admissions to a university or a job, you have to be able to promote yourself.  That means highlighting great examples of what makes you unique to the organization due to your past experiences or natural abilities.  There is a difference between being arrogant and tooting your horn.  Honesty and integrity are highly valued so promote yourself, but don’t embellish.

Secret #3 – STARS – Since past behavior may be a predictor of future performance, many organizations are turning to questions that require the interviewee to provide specific examples of situations that are indicators of how they may perform in the new environment.  That’s where the STAR comes in.   In answering a question that asks you to give an example, follow this formula:

     Situation – Identify the situation you are going to reference

Time frame – Identify the time frame that the situation required from start to finish

Action – State the actions that you took to resolve the situation

Results – State the results as they relate to your actions

Secret #4 – Do Your Own Interview – Make sure you have done your homework before the interview.  Know as much about the organization as you possible can and be prepared with your own questions.  Your interview is not just about what you can do for the organization, but also how good the organization is for you.  Questions that you ask should not have answers readily available on the website or literature about the organization.  They should be specific to the position, supporting positions and opportunities for growth.  Demonstrate your interest!

The competition for admissions to universities and the job market is challenging.  Being prepared for your opportunity means getting the work done ahead of time and following a strategy.   Activate the Secrets and STARS to land your big opportunity!

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Know What You Have to Offer

Whether you are a high school student presenting yourself to a university market, a college student or adult looking to get in the work force, the question and need remain the same.  What do you have to offer?  In a recent homepage article for msn, the following article popped up, “How to Prepare for Your First Job Interview in 10 Years.”  The author, Anthony Balderrama, writes for CareerBuilder and this time his message was especially of interest to me and I hope to you.  He says, “The more you understand what you offer, the more confident you will be going in and the more focused you will be in sharing your skills and abilities.”

There is a distinct difference between skills and abilities.  Do you know the difference?  Did you know it is possible to measure abilities and quantify how they can influence job performance?  So, just as it is important to be able to give concrete examples of tasks or responsibilities and outcomes from a previous job in an interview, it is also important to know what the company’s expectations are and how your abilities can provide exactly what is needed to ensure a successful fit as an employee.

What is your personal marketability?  To measure your abilities and help you articulate what you have to offer….that’s my work!