The Monster Blog

The Monster 5 for Friday--Careers Edition--October 29

We've been watching a lot of people vie, very publicly, for jobs in recent weeks--because that's what election campaigns are: job interviews, in which we (the voting public) are the hiring managers--and we're hiring politicians.

Many of us are not often on the decision-making end of the hiring process, so it might be interesting to ponder, for a moment, some lessons we can take away from our "interviews" with these job candidates.

Going negative is risky. If you have only a limited amount of time to make an impression on a hiring manager, don't waste it by badmouthing former employers (when you sling mud, you invariably get a little muddy yourself). Instead, focus on your strengths and abilities.

Honesty is crucial. Even a little fib about past qualifications can do major damage to a reputation. 

There are no secrets. Like campaign reporters, recruiters and hiring managers are snooping out job candidates online--they're going to Facebook and looking at you and your friends, they're reading through your Twitter history, they're doing Google searches for your name, they're checking out your LinkedIn profile, and more. So you should be looking at these things with a careful eye yourself, to make sure that what hiring managers find presents you in a good light.

For more advice, let's take a look at five of this week's best stories about the world of work:

5. The temporary-staffing industry is growing fast--and this is good news, because temp jobs are often the first sign that an unhealthy employment market is recovering. Find out where those jobs are in "More Temporary Jobs and Contract Positions Coming in 2011." (Also, if you have a temporary seasonal job, Monster.com is offering tips on making it permanent.)

4. A new ABC.com article about stay-at-home fathers has good advice for anyone re-entering the job market after a break. Check out "How Stay-at-Home Dads Bounce Back from Career Hiatus: Dads Talk About Returning to Work After Raising the Children."

3. In a new HotJobs survey, only 29 percent of job seekers say that they have a summary statement at the top of their resume. Perhaps more of them should consider it--here's why and how: "A Knockout Resume Summary Is Key."

2. Not all hiring managers and recruiters are good at interviewing--many of them ask questions that are, frankly, stupid! Knowing what those questions really mean will help you craft better answers. Read "7 Stupidest Interview Questions and What They Really Mean."

1. And the Wall Street Journal reports on the increasing protests against a controversial hiring practice, in "Employer Credit Checks on Job Seekers Draw Scrutiny."

What kind of job-seeker-focused content would you like to see? Let me know in the comments section, or find me on Twitter and send me a message.

Discussing Politics in the Workplace

No matter what our political affiliations may be, I think there's one thing we can all agree on: discussions about politics have a tendency to get, shall we say, heated.

That's one reason many experts advise avoiding the subject at work--as do many regular folks. We asked visitors to the Monster+HotJobs website, "Do you feel that discussing politics in the workplace is appropriate?" and 56 percent opine that the subject should be off-limits. Of the remainder, 29 percent say, "It depends on the situation," while 15 percent say it's always appropriate and part of their "freedom of speech" (1,821 people responded).

And I don't necessarily disagree with that minority: a civil discussion about politics isn't any more out of place around the water cooler than, say, a discussion about the World Series or whatever reality show we're all watching.

It's that word "civil" that poses a problem for some of us. Politics isn't off-limits in the workplace (well, canvassing and fundraising likely are at your work). But angry rants and name-calling are. And too often, those are the sorts of things that discussions of politics lead to.

If you're going to engage colleagues on the subject of politics, first ask yourself:

1. Can I politely agree to disagree with people whose views are radically different from mine?

2. Do I personally acknowledge that a [Democrat / Republican / Tea Party supporter / Liberal activist] is not necessarily a bad person but simply an American whose views differ from mine? (Or can I at least pretend for eight hours a day?)

3. Can I walk away from a disagreement and let the "opposition" have the last word--and then return to a cordial working relationship with that person?

If the answer to any of these questions is no (or if you suspect that one of your coworkers may answer no to one of them), then politics is probably a subject to steer clear of at work--unless, of course, you're certain that all your colleagues share your viewpoints.

What do you think about discussing politics in the workplace? Let us know in the comments section--and check out the tips in "Should You Talk Politics at Work?"

 

 

Making the Most of Monster.com's Job-Search Tools

Have you checked out Monster.com's new, easier-to-navigate homepage? Our state-of-the-art job-search features let you take control of your job search--whether you want to cast a wide net or find that needle-in-a-haystack job. Here's a quick and easy tutorial on making the most of our search tools:

 

How To: Use Monster.com’s Search Features to Find A Job

View more presentations from Monster.com.

Top Ten Job-Search Hashtags

If you're in the market for a new job, you should be using Twitter--not because tweeting is likely to replace traditional job-search methods (such as a well-crafted resume, online job boards, and face-to-face networking), but because it's a great complement to these tried-and-true tools.

Some recent surveys suggest that up to 90 percent of companies have some sort of social-media presence. This means you can use Twitter not only to look for work but also to keep abreast of goings-on at your target companies and in your industry.

When you're using Twitter as a job-search tool, hashtags can help you find relevant tweets; a hashtag is, basically, a keyword with a pound sign (#) in front of it. When people send tweets, they "tag" their messages to help you find them.   

Here are ten top job-search hashtags. If you need career, resume, interview, or networking advice--or help with anything related to your job search, check them out the next time you're on Twitter. And don't forget to follow Monster.com's career experts (@HotJobs_editor, @MonsterCareers, and @MonsterWW), so you can make the most of Twitter in your job search.

1. #jobsearch

2. #career

3. #jobs

4. #interview

5. #workwednesday (mostly on Wednesdays--many companies and recruiters tweet open jobs with this tag)

6. #hirefriday (mostly on Fridays--many job seekers tweet their resumes)

7. #resume

8. #jobhunt

9. #[your industry]--for example, #PR or #mktg

10. #careeradvice

Pop-Culture Report: If Your Boss Were a Movie Character

On Monster+HotJobs, we recently asked people, "If your current or most recent boss were a TV or movie character, would the character be the villain, the hero, the comic relief, the mentor, the oddball, the heartthrob, or a bit part?" Most (41 percent) said that their boss was the villain.

And that's not a surprise, really--people love to hate their bosses.

It's nice to see, though, that 15 percent think of their boss as a mentor. Here are the full results:

The villain - 41%
The hero - 7%
The comic relief - 9%
The mentor - 14%
The oddball - 15%
The heartthrob - 2%
A "bit part" - 12%

We also identified five boss "types" as exemplified by pop-culture bosses--do you see yours here?

If so, check out "Coping with 5 Boss Personality Types." How are things with your boss? Let us know in the comments section.

 

What's on Your Resume?

Last week's Monster+HotJobs poll asked people, "What's the first major content section of your resume (after your contact info)?" And a large majority--55 percent--said that the first item on their resume is an objective statement.

Frankly, this is a bit of a surprise--seeing as how many career experts have been gently advising job seekers to forgo objective statements in most cases.

That's because a traditional objective statement--something along the lines of "Seeking a marketing position in which my ability to produce exceptional work will contribute to my employer's success"--wastes a hiring manager's time. It tells her something she already knows (that you want the position you applied for) and then heaps on a bunch of vague jargon that anyone could say about himself.

Instead of an objective statement, consider a summary statement that tells a hiring manager who you are and how you'll benefit her company (16 percent of poll respondents are already doing this)--for instance, "I'm a marketing professional with 10 years of experience strategizing campaigns; I bring my SEO, social-media, broadcast, and email-blast expertise to multimedia projects that make brands pop."

Of course, you should customize your summary statement to suit the job you're applying for.

(For more resume help, see "6 Common Resume Questions Answered," or check out all of Monster.com's resume advice.)

You might consider an objective statement if you're sending your resume, blind, to a company's HR department. But then again, why would you do that? It's always better to find a specific person to direct your queries to (for more on that, read "5 Sneaky Ways to Find Out a Hiring Manager's Name"). People who are just entering the job market, too, might benefit from some form of objective statement (so here's advice on how to craft one).

Another type of summary statement is a list of skills. And 13 percent of poll respondents said a list was at the top of their resume. Like a summary statement, a list of skills can help a hiring manager see what you have to offer, in concrete terms. It can be a good option for people in high-tech fields, for instance.

Next on the list of responses were "My most recent job details" (12 percent)--potentially a good option if that most recent job is a very close match to the one you're applying for--and "An endorsement" (1 percent).

Finally, 4 percent of respondents said "Other." Were you one of them? Tell us what's at the top of your resume--or share your resume tips--in the comments section, or send me a message on Twitter.

 

The Monster 5 for Friday--Careers Edition--October 22

Social Security has been in the headlines this week; the Social Security Administration has announced that because inflation has been flat, there will be no cost-of-living adjustment for seniors. Responses to this news have been, shall we say, "mixed."

No matter how you feel about this news, it's clear that the way people "retire" is changing. People are working longer (some because they must, and some because they want to).  Should we consider raising the retirement age (a suggestion which has been causing massive protests in France this month)? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Read more on what workers can expect from Social Security in coming years.

And take a look at five of this week's great stories from the world of career and job-seeking advice.

5. Are you thinking of renting a billboard to advertise your resume? Please reconsider--job-seeking stunts can do more harm than good. Read "How Not to Get the Job You Really Want."

4. These days, there's a whole new set of job-seeking skills that we need when we're looking for work. One of them is storytelling. Learn what the rest are in "5 New Skills That Job Seekers Need." 

3. Looking for ways to get noticed by higher-ups at work? Read "10 Ways to Stand Out in Your Office."

2. It's a job-interview request we all dread: How to Respond to "Tell Me About Yourself."

1. A lot of unemployed Americans are getting into temporary seasonal work right now--so Monster.com has "Tips for Making that Seasonal Gig Permanent."

Also new in the world of work: Monster.com has a new homepage, designed to make your job search even easier and even more successful. Check it out.

The Power of Persuasion

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to Chris St. Hilaire, the author of "27 Powers of Persuasion: Simple Strategies to Seduce Audiences & Win Allies," for a new article on Monster+HotJobs, "The Art of Persuasion in Your Job Search."

I'm enthusiastic about his approach to persuasion, which is very simple, and which is fundamentally about positivity: making other people feel good about themselves makes them feel good about you.

One of my favorite tips in the book embodies that notion well (and is a little "gem" of a job-interview tip, I think): You know how when you go to a job interview and the hiring manager asks you if you'd like something to drink? St. Hilaire says you should ask for a glass of water. He explains, "People want to do something nice for you, but not too much. This is a surefire way to make them feel good about themselves without inconveniencing them.'"

Other tips that didn't make it into the article (due to a shortage of space) include tips on actively liking people (when you like someone, it helps him or her like you): St. Hilaire says, "I really, really like the people that I interview with, and part of that comes from practice."

He says that in any meeting, you should find one thing to like about everyone in the room. In some situations, that will involve a mental adjustment: "Every trait can be viewed two ways ... when you flip negative to positive, stubborn becomes resolute, skeptical becomes careful," and so on.

He also advises job seekers to turn their own negatives into positives, and to address them forthrightly. In the book, he likens this to something we often see in politics: a politician turning the weakness of "inexperience" into the strength of "being outside a corrupt political system," for instance.

You can do this with your own "weaknesses"--for instance, a long gap between jobs. Before going into an interview, prepare a succinct story about how you've been spending your time between jobs (or addressing whatever your "weakness" is). He says the trick is to think about the effect your weakness has on the way you interact with the world, and identify the positives in that effect.

(For tips on filling resume gaps, see "Fun Ways to Beef Up Your Resume.")

Other good tips from my notes that didn't make it into the article include "if you need to fidget, wiggle your toes" and "let others finish a question before you start to answer." Also, don't forget to breathe. 

Get more strategies and tips on having great job interviews.

 

Are We Ourselves?*

For last week's Monster+HotJobs poll, I asked people, "Do you think that you can be yourself at work?" And although most of the 3,660 respondents said that they changed their behavior or personality at least slightly on the job, 27 percent said they were "exactly the same at home and at work."

Here are the rest of the results:

• 26 percent said, "Mostly: I change my behavior slightly at work."
• 18 percent said, "Somewhat: The 'work me' is still recognizably me."
• 12 percent said, "A little: I rarely let the real me show at work."
• 17 percent said, "Not at all: I'm an entirely different person at work."

 

Of course, the ability to "be yourself" depends a lot on the job you have. Many jobs require uniforms or at least have a dress code--which can certainly cramp personal style. Many jobs require speaking in a different way--and have their own industry-specific jargon. And I've always felt that giving presentations (a part of many jobs) requires a little bit of "acting." I am definitely not entirely myself when I'm presenting to a large group of people.

Also, an ability to be yourself depends on who you are. If you're an outspoken pessimist, if you're very shy, if you have a colorful (ahem) vocabulary, or if you have a quick temper, modifying your behavior at work is likely a good idea.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the aforementioned traits--I think we're all trying to find a balance between personal and professional in our work lives, and doing so can be tricky. On one hand, we want to be genuine and authentic. On the other, we also have to woo clients, appease bosses, and earn respect from peers.

Are you yourself at work? How do you do it--or what parts of your personality do you change? Do you think the numbers in this poll seem about right? Share your comments, or find me on Twitter to discuss this poll or anything related to the workplace.

* With thanks to the band The Fixx for this week's post title.

 

 

The Monster 5 for Friday--Careers Edition--October 15

Wonderful news in the world of work this week: the 33 Chilean miners trapped at work--nearly half a mile below ground--for more than two months have been freed. Chile and the entire world cheered--and (let's be honest) got a little bit choked up--as the miners were brought to the surface and reunited with their families.

By all accounts, mine foreman Luis Urzua (who was the last worker to come up from the mine) was a heroic leader during the terrible ordeal. "You brought your shift out like a good captain," Chilean President Sebastian Pinera told Urzua, who had organized his men for survival while they were trapped. "All of Chile shared your anguish and hope."

We know there are a lot of great bosses out there. So we're celebrating National Boss's Day today and tomorrow (the "official" holiday is on a Saturday this year, but many people are celebrating today) by giving you a chance to honor your inspiring bosses--past and present. Simply tweet your boss's name and city, and why he or she inspires you, with the hashtag #tweetyourboss.

Then again, not all bosses are heroic. So we're also taking a poll on bad boss types--what's yours like? Visit yesterday's blog post to take the poll.

And here are five more of this week's great stories from the world of work:

5.  "Think before you speak" is always good advice. "Think before you speak to your boss" is even better advice. Read "15 Things Not to Say to Your Boss."

4.  During the recession, some companies became more productive by doing more with fewer workers--and therefore had to ask staffers to take on a broader array of duties (duties that used to be spread among multiple jobs). Read more on this workplace development, in "New Job Skills Required."

3. Halloween is coming up! Learn how to "Conquer Your Career Fears."

2. Procrastination can doom a job search--and it can be hard to overcome. Read "Five Steps to Beat Job-Search Procrastination."

1. The way we search for (and get) jobs is changing rapidly. Being able to adapt to new trends is crucial to your success. Find out what the future may hold, in "How Job Seekers May Use Social Media in the Future." 

Monster.com is tapping into the power of (and innovating in) social media--We're on Twitter, on your iPhone, and online to help job seekers in every industry!