Career GPS - Navigating the Best Path to Your Destination

Al Cotrone, DirectorCareer Development and Student Affairs

Agenda

• Greetings and Introduction

~ How did I get here?

• Status from Ann Arbor• Workshop

Interrupt the Speaker, Really!

A Different View of the Search

• There are dozens of companies (in addition to your own?) out there that have the exact ideal job for you, but…

• Opportunities arise on their own timeline~ (usually NOT when we want them!)

• Chances of your bad day being the day your spot is open is slim

Also…

• The %s of cold responses that yield is low

• Who gets the job?...someone who knows someone!~ By the time it hits the listing, it’s already

filled!~ Internal is better than external

The Prescription, then, is Clear:

• Start well before the timeline begins and establish a relationship

• Extend it across the timeline until the point where they have the opportunity

~ and you are the warm introduction

• …So how does one do this?

The Program – M Go Blueprint!

• Self-assess• Refine understanding and elevator

story• (Only then should you) Prepare

resume• Identify company potentials that

“should have” the job you seek• Establish 1-2 protégé relationships

per week• Add each and every contact to your

update list (and then update them!)

What’s Passive and Why it Doesn’t Work

• That’s why lists and search firm inquiries are actually passive – even if you do them every day!~ They ALL look good when you’re

passive~ They make you the outside

candidate• Why leave it to chance – That is NOT

how you got where you are in life today!!!!

• Taking Charge versus Being Passive

Advantages to staying home

• The job you seek may be at your current employer

• Go to your employer first~ Use the search skills discussed today

internally~ You may be able to avoid the “Executive’s

Curse”• Avoid a vindictive job search

~ Looking over your shoulder~ Better to ask first than threaten when it is

too late (trust broken)• Give them the chance to ignore you – they

won’t

Why is Clear Focus Needed?• The impression created to everyone

that you come into contact with~ What is an “interview” in our

society?~ How does hiring really happen?

• Remember

~ Those who keep options open…don’t

~ Someone who can do anything…can’t

Imperative to Start with Self-Assessment

5. HR/Job Postings

2. People in front of whom

you can be somewhat ignorant

1.

4. Develop Strategic

Relationships2.

3.

3. Now! Do your resume.

4.

5.

1. Self-assessment

Career Leader Version of Skills

• Career Leader – Different universe of “skills” 8 to choose from:~Application of technology (streamlining)~Quantitative analysis~Theory development and conceptual

thinking~Creative production~Counsel and mentor~Manage people~Enterprise control~Influence through language and ideas

Career Leader Reward Areas

• Lifestyle• Autonomy• Power & Influence• Variety• Manage & Direct• Security• Positioning

• Altruism• Recognition• Prestige• Colleagues & Affiliates• Intellectual Challenge• Financial Considerations

Al’s Zone Times Spreadsheet Activity

• List 5 zone times• List some skills used in your zone

times• Indicate environments from zone

times

Resumes

• Change from, “Here’s what I’ve done, so what can I be?” or “Here’s everything I’ve ever done – something has got to match”

to…

• “Here’s the ideal career for me, now, what from my past should I highlight to present this image to the recruiter?”

Resume Reviews

• How does a resume get read?

Self-Assessment and Resume, then

• Can help you to know where you should be going

• Can show a potential employer where you’ve been that’s germane to where you’re going

• But how to get there?

Three Types of Networking

• Sales

• Maintenance

• Career Search

Four Types of Stories

• Four types of stories~ The truth (too much detail)~ Elevator story (15 sec)~ Personal odyssey (3 min)~ Behavioral Response

• Elevator (15 second speech)~ Receptions~ At this moment looking forward

• Personal Odyssey (3 min)~ One-on-one at career fairs, interview opening~ The journey from undergrad to now through to the

future• Behavioral – examples in CAR format

Protégé Approach (#1 of 2)

• Not: “got any jobs?”~(You actually are not seeking now, so

perfect)• Rather, seek advice, accept (create)

a mentor – flattery gets you everywhere

• Someone to listen to me!!!!• How to be an insider

The Update Mechanism (#2 of 2)

• Sorry, they aren’t looking on your behalf

• Stay front of mind – how?• Still never ask for anything

(panhandler) • Business reality of the timeline• Resume – always - yes

• But – how do you be the one chosen?

The Program M Go Blueprint!

• Self-assess• Refine understanding and elevator

story• Resume• Company potentials• X-ref companies into databases for

people• Establish 1-2 protégé relationships

per week• Add each and every contact to your

update list

Don’t Ever Start Your Job Search!

• HR and the request for an interview starts a clock ticking on a decision (remember the timeline)

• Instead, establish an ongoing, advisory relationship

• Be disciplined about regular updates~ It’s really too simple~ And it’s guaranteed to work!

Imperative to Start with Self-Assessment

5. HR/Job Postings

2. People in front of whom

you can be somewhat ignorant

1.

4. Develop Strategic

Relationships2.

3.

3. Now! Do your resume.

4.

5.

1. Self-assessment

Alumni Association: http://alumni.umich.edu/jobs

• Find a Job • Post a Job • CareerBeam Career Counseling Services • Wolverine

Occupational Resource Center (self-assessments, company info and more)

• Regional Career Events – club events• Alumni Networks – mentoring• Blue Hiring Blue – U-M employers looking to hire U-M alumni• InCircle – social networking/career advice message

board/job board

• Career Information for Students ~ Panel of Experts