By the numbers: three noteworthy articles

Good afternoon, faithful readers - as you might already know, the springtime weather here in Toronto has been less-than ideal for the second day in a row. Stalking the Job has capitalized on this recent spate of malodorous meteorological conditions by spending some quality time applying for positions through standard channels... and by combing the internet for articles, stories and anecdotes relevant to the ongoing theme of this blog.

Before I begin, I'd like to thank a few people: first, a tip of the hat to Volker Schäfer, a recent contact made via LinkedIn who asked that we connect via Facebook. I'll admit to having been ambivalent about my presence on FB, as my focus these last few months has been primarily to do with re-entering the workplace, not socializing or catching up with old friends. That being said, I agreed to Volker's request and soon thereafter chose to "flesh out" my profile page. It must have worked in my favour to a certain extent, as the pageviews for yesterday's edition of my webcomic serial ("That QR Code Guy") topped out at a number I've never seen before - though this might also be due to some helpful retweets on Twitter, courtesy of @HiMYSYeD and my friend and fellow traveler @lisahorvat.

Further thanks are given to Paul Moyer of Optix Digital Pictures, who graciously invited me around for coffee and a good long chat yesterday. Having sent Paul some relevant links earlier today, I hope we'll continue our discussion to some mutually-gainful conclusion. And yes - Paul's coffee bar is both aesthetically pleasing and very nicely stocked. Thanks again for having me, Paul! And now, those articles:

10 Things You Need To Do While You're Unemployed

(from the original article by Jacquelyn Smith, at Forbes.com:)

1) Take a temporary or contract assignment.
As the article asserts, "If you do a great job, even if it’s for a temporary job, whoever hired you is more likely to recommend you for a permanent position" - and I'd be hard-pressed to disagree, faithful readers. The key to successfully re-entering the workforce is to keep your visibility high and your skill-sets in proper working order. Good advice!

2) Take a class.
While the following is certainly another piece of good advice - "when you take a class in your field, you are also showing that you are serious about your work and that you take initiative" - it's worth bearing in mind that classes aren't necessarily a panacea with regards to attaining gainful employment, although it certainly can be (as suggested in the article) a "great networking opportunity".

3) Volunteer.
Some have a difficult time understanding the value of giving your free time while in search of new opportunities, but the rewards are palpable - as per the article, "when you volunteer for something, you are telling potential employers something about you as a person". Having volunteered my time with Artheart, in Toronto's Regent Park, I am certainly not one to disagree with this point.

4) Start your own business.
Of all the advice given in this article, this is the one thing I am somewhat ambivalent about, as it smacks of the sort of glib responses friends and family are prone to deliver on hearing of your employment status - and (at least in my own case) though I may be many things, a full-blown, dyed-in-the-wool businessman I am most assuredly not.

5) Start a professional blog.
Well, considering I'm writing about this article on my own blog I suppose this is a bit of a no-brainer, although I would caution those considering this route to make a point of delivering something of value to your readership - and also, to be prepared to work at it. After all, everybody and his monkey seems to have a blog these days, so ask yourself: what differentiates your own from any of a thousand others like it? But (as per the article), "Potential employers will see you as having taken the initiative during your job search to blog about something you truly care about: your career", so take heart - even if you're no pro when it comes to the written word!.

6) Follow stories on hot industries and job functions.
Yes, there is a very real and abiding value to keeping on top of what's hot in your chosen field of endeavour. What's more, it pays to follow the news and associated job opportunities.

7) Use the time to come up with ideas.
"Whether it’s an idea for a marketing campaign, new revenue stream, cost savings, etc., the candidates who show up at an interview with ideas demonstrate that they are passionate, knowledgeable, and excited about the opportunity", quoth the article. Well, if there's one luxury that unemployment can afford, it's time, so I must agree. Having used my own time to constructive ends, I decided upon my own unique strategy to raise my visibility in the Toronto job market - and while my own strategy might not be suitable for others, it is the very definition of this this piece of advice.

8) Make connections.
Networking comes in many different forms. The article advises you to "Let friends, family and professional contacts know that you’re looking for a job, and ask for their help in finding connections to the organizations you’re interested in", but I would add that you should also use any and all aspects of social media to greater effect - as well as attending industry functions and/or discussion groups related, or pertaining to, your area of expertise.

9) Follow up.
According to the article, "It's important to take that extra step to let the employer know you’re interested, and make sure you always send a thank you after an interview. Handwritten notes will set you apart from the pool of candidates, but e-mails are acceptable, too." I must agree; follow-ups lend a human touch to an otherwise dispassionate aspect of professional life. 

 10) Use key words.
Now this is most interesting: "...most employers use electronic scanning devices to screen and rank candidates. You’ll want to tailor your resumé for each position you apply for, and include specific words from the job posting. Do this and your resumé will come up higher in employer searches." Yes, this is quite true, and you really do owe it to yourself to take the time to familiarize yourself with the type of language or terminology used by job posters. In some cases, you might want to have a (knowledgeable, trustworthy) third party read through your materials prior to dispatching them. But this should be part &parcel of researching your prospective employers - something I cannot recommend highly enough. 

 Some very useful info from Forbes - which is fast becoming one of my favourite sources online, by the way. However, I also came across an equally valuable article this past Sunday afternoon, thanks to LinkedIn Today:

5 Ways to Lose Your Dream Job During the Interview Process

  

(from the original article by Mona Abdel-Halim, at Mashable.com:)

1) Blow off the phone interview

 Phone interviews are "...how employers whittle down their list of applicants to decide who they want to bring in for an in-person interview - so you need to be prepared and take the opportunity seriously". Got that, folks? The original article contains an interesting anecdote or two on this, and - given that phone interviews are becoming increasingly de rigeur - I find I cannot disagree.

2) Talk about other job opportunities

According to the article, "...some job seekers feel the need to be overly honest when interacting with potential employers. There’s always the chance that one opportunity might fall through, so don’t jeopardize one position because you think you might get another". Indeed! Try looking at it from the point of view of a prospective employer: would you be inclined to hire someone who seems preoccupied with some other employment opportunity - during the job interview?

3) Provide TMI (too much information)

I think it's important to always remain as professional as possible - especially during job interviews - and if you know yourself to be of a chatty disposition, try keeping that in check. It could definitely work against you, should you choose to divulge too much information and, as the original article points out, it's "not going to get you the job".

4) Talk negatively about former supervisors or positions

This should be completely self-evident to anyone and everyone. I can't think of a single instance where trash-talking has netted an applicant a position - can you? Learn to let go, it's healthier in the long run!

5) Act cocky

"Confidence is key on the job search, but cockiness is less than appealing", quoth the article. There can be a fine line between the two, but it's important to be aware of the distinction.

Lastly, I'd like to share this recent post from Boing Boing - truly, this has to be the singlemost appealing workplace ever:

Valve employee manual: the greatest workplace I've ever heard of

 (from the original article by Cory Doctorow, at Boing Boing:)

If you’re working here, that means you’re good at your job. People are going to want you to work with them on their projects, and they’ll try hard to get you to do so. But the decision is going to be up to you. (In fact, at times you’re going to wish for the luxury of having just one person telling you what they think you should do, rather than hundreds.) 

How does Valve decide what to work on? The same way we make other decisions: by waiting for someone to decide that it’s the right thing to do, and then letting them recruit other people to work on it with them. We believe in each other to make these decisions, and this faith has proven to be well-founded over and over again. 

But rather than simply trusting each other to just be smart, we also constantly test our own decisions. Whenever we move into unknown territory, our findings defy our own predictions far more often than we would like to admit. We’ve found it vitally important to, whenever possible, not operate by using assumptions, unproven theories, or folk wisdom. While people occasionally choose to push themselves to work some extra hours at times when something big is going out the door, for the most part working overtime for extended periods indicates a fundamental failure in plan- ning or communication. If this happens at Valve, it’s a sign that something needs to be reevaluated and corrected. If you’re looking around wondering why people aren’t in “crunch mode,” the answer’s pretty simple. The thing we work hardest at is hiring good people, so we want them to stick around and have a good balance between work and family and the rest of the important stuff in life.

This, in turn, emanates from the Valve Handbook for New Employees.What can I possibly say, other than "please hire me"? I still can't quite believe that there's any organization as forward-thinking as Valve operating in our current economic climate!

Have you seen that QR code guy?

Taken by Agustin Inda on Lakeshore Boulevard, April 17th.

Yes, as always, Stalking the Job is still quite keen to receive any and all photos that you, the viewing public may have taken of That QR Code Guy in his journeys around our little metropolis. Of course, I'll endeavour to seek proper permission and provide full attribution whenever and wherever possible, so - don't hesitate to send in links to your stuff!

I recall the day this particular photo was taken, although I'm sure you'll understand if I say I was unaware of being photographed (and to be honest, I'm still somewhat unsure as to which building the photographer, Mr. Inda, was standing atop when he took it). Further complicating matters, Mr. Inda speaks english only as a second language - his native tongue being spanish (a language I am in no way adept with) - but, once we were able to surmount the language barrier, we were eventually able to come to an amicable agreement. Thank you, Agustin!

Once again folks, this has been John Currie for Stalking the Job, signing off... and leaving you to your regularly-scheduled internet.

Remember, I'll be seeing you!