10 Things That Will Update Your Mid-Career Image

I’ll keep this short and sweet. Want to be taken seriously as a mid-career professional? Here’s what you need to do right now:

1. Get a smartphone. It’s not negotiable. If you want to be taken seriously as a mid-career professional, you need to be able to read and respond to emails and texts outside of the office--and search websites for content. Without one, you simply look like an idiot. If you say “hey, I really don’t need one”—you are an idiot. My top pick: The latest version of Apple’s iPhone. If you’re new to all this, purchase one in-person at your provider’s brick and mortar store so you can get lots of up-front assistance.

2. Further embrace technology. If you can afford it, buy a tablet or notepad and get comfortable with it. You will look smarter and be more useful to your organization—and also have something interesting to talk about. Please lose the mindset that these are simply toys for children—because a tablet is a serious business tool. They’re not difficult to master, and they make you look considerably smarter than the dinosaur in the plaid jacket sitting next to you. My top pick: Apple’s iPad.

3. Clean up your ride. If your car is rolling junk, it’s not helping your image. Even worse if it’s dirty and full of crap. Think: Would I wear clothes that looked like this? Well—in many people’s minds, you are what you arrive in. Yes, it’s a big investment in a depreciable asset—but you have to drive something. My pick: Go “newer” instead of “more expensive”. If you can afford both, that’s cool. If your budget doesn’t allow for this, do the very best you can at keeping your older vehicle looking clean and appealing. People start evaluating you when you pull into the parking lot. Please don’t shoot me—I’m just the shallow messenger.

4. Driving: Remember when you were taught to hold your hands at “10 and 2” on the steering wheel? Well—that’s changed to “9 and 3” or even “8 and 4” because of those newfangled air bags. You don’t want to be cracking bones and blowing your fists into your face if you bump into something solid, right? You’re guaranteed to look senile if you’re holding the wheel wrong. Unless—of course—you’re driving a car built before airbags were invented. Last but not least: Stop answering your mobile phone when you’re driving—because by now you’re important enough for others to wait. Have you noticed that people in their 20s rarely answer their phone?

5. Eye wear: Update it. Grab some style magazines and note what people are wearing. Ask for help—and visit at least three stores before deciding on a purchase. Hint: If you’ve been wearing the same style for several years, you’re guaranteed to be pigeonholed as a fogey. Get over it and fix the problem.

6. Jewelry: Nothing old—unless it’s your wedding set. Antique jewelry looks cool on twenty-somethings, but when you’re wearing it, you look like the antique. My picks: For men—a nice, professional dress watch—and nothing else. Women—conservative earrings and a dress watch. Nothing too trendy, and certainly no “statement” bands on your wrists.

7. Hair: Whether you’re male or female, get some professional advice on what’s considered a solid, professional look for you. Suggestion: Start paying attention to what successful looking people are doing with their hair—and emulate them. I could say more, but I won’t.

8. Clothes: This is a whole topic on its own. What I want you to take away from this is that you need to look current—but not 20. If you’re working with a bunch of people in their 20s and you dress like their mom, they’re not going to enjoy hanging out with you. They probably won’t anyway—but at least you’ll be seen as trying to fit in and be taken seriously as a professional. Major suggestion: Male or female--look at professional style as an evolving personal journey—and get some help.

9. Speech: 


When you say:


"back in my day, we never had all this technology yadda blah yadda”


they hear:


"I remember when dirt was invented. It was wonderful, because we could grow food.  I used to play stick-ball with Methuselah when we were kids." 


Refrain from spewing advice—but don’t be afraid to offer well-crafted solutions. Just remember that people in their 20s will believe you think they’re stupid if you offer unsolicited advice. Sure, some of them are pretty stupid—right? You don’t need to rub it in. Nope--there's nothing in it for you. Feel free to extrapolate on cleaning up your speech.

10. Expand your interests. Learn something new and interesting outside of work. Be able to share some thoughts and ideas to which others can relate. Consider getting smarter on entertainment, current events, technology, social media, photography, diet, and fitness. Speaking of fitness—there’s no time like the present to get into shape and it will also give you something to share. My pick: Beachbody.com. They’re famous for P90X, but they also have some superb entry-level fitness routines almost anyone can do. Consider yoga, cycling, swimming and walking if you don’t want a structured fitness plan—but start budgeting some time to be active every day.

10.5 Your cube: Get rid of the artifacts from yesteryear. No calculators with hand-cranks, art deco staplers, or spare cathode ray tube monitors. Think “contemporary”, and make your personal workspace look like your boss would be proud to show new clients where you sit. If at all possible, go as paperless as your job will allow. Limit photos; one of your sweetie or vacation home is good. Having too many photos in your cube is a distraction for others. Remember: You’re there to work.

Why Fail? Select A Recruiter Before You Need One

There’s a fairly predictable curve that most new decision-makers fall under when they’re looking for top talent. Typically, they think of themselves as being a good judge of what makes a good employee, and a sound evaluator of the requisite background, experience, education and skill-sets required for their key positions. Being over-achieving workaholics they almost always add the job of recruiter to their already full plate—and generally fail.

Why?  Because when they’re doing the recruiter's job, they're generally not doing their own.  In reality, they’re putting off their regular duties (like running a company, division, or profit center) and begin to spread themselves thin.  The irony here is that they would never take on the job of janitor if the toilet backed up (they would at least call a temp if the normal employee was unable to perform); nor would they take on a technical position outside their professional area of expertise—say they’re a mechanical engineer by training and there’s a current need for an electrical engineer. Nope—not happening because we all know that electricity can do some pretty weird stuff. For some reason, though—everyone seems to think they can be a good recruiter. You know: give it a whirl and see what happens. How hard can it really be?

HEADHUNTER.  Yep--I said it.  "Head" = Qualified Candidate.  "Hunter" = A Lot Of Work.

Some things never change. It’s never been easy to find the best talent—because they’re generally not looking for a change, don’t have their resumes posted on job boards for you to search, won’t respond to job postings--and the companies they work for keep them well below the radar. As the hidden costs (some are not so hidden) accrue from leaving critical positions unfilled, the added burden of recruiting pulls down an otherwise smooth-running division.  In short, the critical work just doesn't get done.

We see it all the time.

So, what’s a busy senior manager to do?

If you’ve made it this far through this article, you’re probably smart enough to find some professional recruiters who work in your field. Select a few to make friends with and contact them. If nothing else, they’ll probably offer you some advice that might come in handy someday. Of those that respond, choose one to go down the path with.

Why should you start a relationship with a recruiter before you actually have positions to fill?  Why do this now?

Good relationships take time to develop.  Good relationships are based upon trust.  You’ll want to know that your recruiter understands the direction you and your organization are going.  The more you share with your recruiter, the more success they’ll have when it comes time to attract some top talent for you. In essence, they’ll be able to find what you want—and not waste anyone’s time (especially yours) with the wrong candidates.

When you think about it, can anyone really put everything they want into a job description? I’ve never seen one quite that detailed, especially after an organization's HR and legal departments have a whack at them.  What about the personalities of other key players already on the team? The subtle nuances of your corporate culture? Common vision? Shared values? How your division is different than the rest of the organization?  How success is really measured?  What common traits have successful candidates shared in the past?  These elements should be clearly understood by your recruiter before you decide to work with them.

All good recruiters tend to specialize over time. If someone contacts me asking for help outside of my areas of expertise, I can generally refer them to someone appropriate and most professional recruiters will do the same.

When you're selecting a recruiter, listen to your gut—it will likely be right.  They should be able to tell you exactly what they do, how they do it, how long it should take, and what to expect along the way.  If they're not able to articulate these things in terms that you understand, consider moving on.

If you start the ball rolling now, when the time comes to fill those critical positions, you’ll be glad you did.

10 Helpful Hints For Getting A Job Interview

Whether you're a seasoned professional, an entry-level job seeker, or just wanting an internship, landing an interview can often be challenging.  Here are some helpful hints--along with the basic logic behind each idea.

This article contains advice for the active job seeker.  The concepts are not difficult to master--and if you follow the 10 steps, your chances of landing an interview should significantly improve.

1. Be findable.  In theory, this sounds so simple but the reality is that not everyone seems to grasp the importance of this concept.  If you don't already have a good resume, you need to develop one that clearly shows your work history, skills, accomplishments--and contact information.  Make sure you include your name, city, postal code, email, and mobile phone.  Post it to the large online job boards (Monster.com, Job.com, CareerBuilder, Indeed, etc.) and any specialized online job boards unique to your industry. Take some extra time with each job board to complete a detailed personal profile.  Keep the resumes you've submitted updated.  Never let them sit unattended for more than three weeks.   

Next, create an up-to-date LinkedIn profile.  LinkedIn is the place to be if you want to be found.  You can actually import your resume to your LinkeIn profile; however, you'll need to do a few more things to make LinkedIn really work.  Please see 10 steps to a better LinkedIn profile--from a recruiter's perspective  and follow the simple directions.  If you think LinkedIn is just another Faceboook or Myspace, you're wrong.  If you're actively looking for a job and are not on LinkedIn, well--you're a fool.  If you have other social media accounts that contain postings or photos that are questionable, get rid of the offending materials.

Why? Because the way things are today, you're about as likely to get an interview from being found by an organization as you are from actively sending out your resume--especially true with organizations that don't advertise their positions.  I know you may find this hard to believe, but many companies don't post all of their open positions.  My company rarely posts an opening--and we're in the recruiting business.


Allow me to correct yet another misconception:  Many of the people tasked with finding new employees for their organizations are not really hard-core recruiters; they perform recruiting tasks as collateral duties.  Generally, most of them devote less than 25% of their time to filling the open positions they're responsible for.  Typically, when they're searching resumes, they take the best matches that are the easiest to find.  In recruiter-speak, this is also called "low-hanging fruit".  If you’re difficult to find or contact, well…it probably won’t happen. 

It's also important to know that job board search filters used by employers typically have a default cut-off of “1 month or newer” for resumes; the recruiter can specify a longer length of time, but many don’t.  This means that if your resume has gone over four weeks without being updated on a job board, you probably won't show up in initial searches. 

With many job boards, the first thing a recruiter will see when your resume makes the "cut" is a synopsis of your profile BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE TO READ YOUR RESUME.  If you have an incomplete profile, the recruiter will see a lot of blank spaces--which will require them to dig deeper if they really want to learn about you.  Having an incomplete profile on a job board makes you look quite unprofessional; it's sort of like sending a cover letter written in crayon.

2. Make sure your resume contains all the appropriate keywords for your industry and position. Sorry to tell you if you didn’t know, but you must put a lot of effort into this.  The importance of having the correct keywords in your resume for each of your positions cannot be overstated.  If you find this to be too challenging, please get some help with it.

Why? With appropriate keywords missing from resumes you submit, the internal screening software that many organizations use simply won’t see you—or if it does, your keyword strength will be so weak that you won’t make the cut—meaning that no human will ever see your information (let alone call or email you). 

The same holds true for keyword strength when your resume is accessed by potential employers from online job boards where you've posted your resume.  Keyword searching is the primary way candidates are found from these sources.  Life’s little irony: Many of the best people have the worst resumes. Don’t be one of them.

3. Answer your phone (this means picking up when someone calls and not letting it go to VM if at all possible), and check your email frequently. Unless you’re completely unable to afford it, carry a smartphone and set it up so you can easily receive/read/respond to your emails. See 10 reasons you need a smartphone, and respond quickly when you receive an inquiry.  Never confuse your recruiter by listing too many emails or phone numbers. One of each is good.

Why? Because if you don’t immediately return a communication, the recruiter will happily deal with next person who does.  If you don't do it fairly quickly, we think you're either arrogant, or not too bright--begging the question "would this candidate treat others important to my client in the same way?"

4. Review your “junk”, or “spam” folder very carefully several times per day. Many corporate emails sent by recruiters look like junk to a spam filter, even if you’re the only recipient on the list.

Why?  We really have no way of knowing if our email went to your spam folder. Sadly, it's "sorry", and “next” if you don’t check it. Yes—this is natural selection at work.  Please see #3 above.

5. When we call, answer your phone with a smile on your face. Answer professionally. Never respond with something dumb like “how did you get my number?” or “are you for real?”  When you answer your phone, always assume it's someone really important on the other end, and address the caller accordingly.

Why? Because we don’t enjoy talking to dolts. Please don’t be a dolt; no, no, no.  If anyone has ever made a comment on your phone skills (or lack thereof), now would be a really good time to take it to heart--and perhaps make a course correction on how you answer the phone.  Suggestion:  Role play with a friend to gain confidence.  

6. Comply with any reasonable instructions you receive.  If you’re asked to provide some references, provide them. Don’t ask for a rationale. If you’re asked to apply online, do it--unless of course you're not interested in the position. 

Why? Because the hair on the back of our neck will stand up if you don’t, and you’re probably going to the very bottom of the list (if not the circular file). Anyone who's been recruiting for a while has gone down the path with recalcitrant candidates—all with pretty much the same negative results. Failure to comply is like having “I'M A WASTE OF TIME" tattooed on your forehead.

7. Ask questions about the position—but make sure they’re not dumb questions.

Why? Because we think you’re interested if you’re asking questions. If you don’t seem too interested, act aloof, or come across as being (searching for a tactful way to say this) unintelligent, we’re probably going to drop you like a hot spud.

 8. After you chat on the phone with the recruiter, send a “thank you” email. Don’t send a “thank you” card; it will likely get there after they've made a decision to move forward with you.  I personally hate snail mail.  Some like it, most don't.

Why? It reiterates your level of interest, sets you above the rest of the pack, and we like the attention.

9. If you don’t hear back from the recruiter within a few days of your phone screening, send an email to remind them of your interest and availability.  Don’t demand information—simply reaffirm your interest in the position. Be incredibly polite—because we’re probably not sending any rude, or pushy people to our clients.  That might make us look unintelligent.

10. If you’re offered dates for an interview, take the first slot available. If this means you’re missing the appointment to have your poodle dyed pink again, Fluffy must wait.

Why? Sometimes, decisions are made more quickly than everyone might like to think. If there’s a real, pressing need for someone to fill the position, they may cut the interviewing short as soon as they find someone who fits the bill.  Many companies continue to interview even after they offer the position to someone else—until they have a firm acceptance.  Some even continue after that to save face.  Go figure; stranger things do happen.

Best wishes on that interview!  If you're serious about making a great first impression, you should read  What mid-career professionals should wear and bring to their interview.

Will Baumann is a recruiter specializing in difficult to fill technical and leadership positions.  

LinkedIn profile:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/willbaumann

Company site:  http://www.anrgroupinc.com/

What mid-career professionals should wear and bring to their interview

Wardrobe guidance for men and women--and advice on accessories to make you look sharp and smart.

For you mid-career professionals who’ve been “recruited” away from another firm and are somewhere in the process of preparing for your first interview—I have some news for you: Your prospective employer will start evaluating you as soon as you pull into the parking lot, irrespective of whether I, or some other recruiter “sweet talked” you into considering the opportunity. Here’s some advice to make your foray through interview land more rewarding and fun.

There are thousands of “what to wear to the interview” articles out there and I promised myself I would never contribute to this overburdened genre; however, I’ve changed my mind—especially as things have changed over the last couple of years and many of my prospective candidates have required a little “tune up” before successfully crossing their new employer’s threshold. What you wear and carry (in other words, how you look) may need a little updating if you’re going to significantly impress your new colleagues during your interview. In short, what you’ve been wearing for the last few years at your present employer may go over like a lead balloon, especially if your new position will be one of increased responsibilities.

From your perspective, you may think you’re doing just fine—since you were not even thinking about making a career move until I (or another recruiter) cold-called you, or sent you an intriguing email to start the ball rolling. The trap here is that since you’ve been doing well with your current employer, you may believe you don’t need any updates in the wardrobe or professional accessory departments. You may actually enjoy wearing that paisley tie from 1988, the eyeglasses from 1992, the shoes that are “just like new” from 1994, and the jacket from 1996—you’re getting the picture and note I’m only picking on the guys (so far). Seriously, this logic may actually exclude you from the gene pool at your prospective new gig.

You may be asking “so, why is it important to wear nice, crisp conservative clothes and bring well-chosen professional accessories to a job interview when I’ve been recruited because of my skills and background?” The answer is perhaps more complex than you might guess. Primarily, you want to make a great first impression—because we all know you only get one chance to make a first impression, and first impressions are important. When you show up for your interview in a sharp looking, conservative outfit, you’re showing a high degree of respect towards your future colleagues--and that you can literally “go anywhere, anytime” should your new organization require it. It shows a mature, deep understanding of human relations and will definitely elevate your standing compared to other candidates who fail to grasp this. I’m not saying you can put on a nice suit and bamboozle your way into a Director of Process Engineering position if you have no experience—but I am saying it makes a big, big difference if you do have the requisite background. Think of it as a box on a check-off list; but a very important box indeed.

The number one rule here: Listen to your recruiter. If the recruiter you’re working with doesn’t offer some advice, make sure you ask. Just trust me on this. Remember, we’re in business to make money and successful candidates are our stock in trade. Every company is a little different; good recruiters know what’s going to fly and what’s not in the dress code department with their clients.

If you’re even remotely contemplating a job change, it’s time to review your wardrobe now because it can take a while for you to get used to subtle style changes and you’ll want to wear your new duds like they’re your second skin. It's critical that you get started on this little task right now. If your new job (or interview) requires a nice, new blue suit—buy one or two now, because alterations can take a while and the availability of merchandise in your size may be limited—necessitating that it be ordered-in even before you give the tailor a whack at it. If you’re an average sized gal or guy (like me), don’t fall into the trap of thinking that the clothing stores have items on the rack that fit you—because they might have sold out during their last sale, or be in the wrong color. Rule of thumb: All suits are going to require alteration and this takes time, so plan accordingly. Act now.

Perhaps you think wearing business professional clothing is not really for you?  Here's an example to ponder:  Let’s say you’re an engineer—and we all know that most engineers rarely wear suits to work. Why do you need to show up for your interview in one? Because engineers wear suits while presenting technical papers, attending conferences, meeting new clients, and going to dinner with existing customers.  Tip:  You want to look like your new employer could put you on a private jet and send you to D.C. to testify before congress—without worrying that you’ll look like a fish out of water or (worse yet) a goof-ball.

Perhaps you’re worried about being interviewed by people who are (how shall we say) not quite as well-dressed as you are on First Impression day. No problem—you suck it up and say “hey, I’m glad you have a flexible and casual dress code; I really prefer to dress more casually when I’m at work”. Don’t worry, they’ll remember that you looked like a million bucks and you probably just scored some major points.

I suggest that everyone show up to their interview with two professional accessories. The first is the ubiquitous black or burgundy/cordovan professional portfolio—large enough to comfortably hold three copies of your CV or resume just in case your interviewers lost their copies, but not so large that you could possibly live out of it for a week. Make sure it contains a working pen and note pad. The second is a smartphone. Yep—I said it. You need a smartphone, which means if you don’t have one, get one now and…umm…get smart on it. Everyone is more valuable to their employer when they have a smartphone. When you sit down for your interview, you take it out, turn the ringer off, and put it away. Probably ‘nuff said, but if it doesn’t come up, make sure you ask “hey, what do most people carry for a phone here? Is the ability to check and respond to emails when out of the office important? Do you have any corporate apps?” At the very least, learn how to open an Excel spreadsheet, check your email accounts—and use a search engine to find critical information just from the “smart” features on your phone.

There is a third accessory that you may consider—and you can say you heard it here first. If I wanted to make a great impression with a new employer, I’d show up with an iPad, or something similar along with the portfolio and phone. Pretty soon, we’re going to be able to drop the portfolio and phone and just use an electronic, Wi-Fi-enabled tablet for most non-engineering tasks. Maybe not just yet, but pretty soon. You decide. Just setting it on the table makes you look a little more valuable than perhaps the next person who fails to fully embrace technology. The intention is to not fiddle with your gadgets during the interview; rather, just look smarter (and hopefully be smarter and able to provide more value to the organization than your competition).

If you’re an even geekier guy or gal, (I love that word, and somewhat resemble that remark), consider updating your laptop bag if you’re taking it along. Bring it only if it’s de rigueur for your position and yes—it really is a fashion statement. If yours is stained, tattered—or ancient, please lose it. Upgrade to something nice and professional that makes you look like you actually care about what’s inside—and how others perceive you. If you normally keep extraneous junk in your laptop bag (twinkies and sock-puppets come to mind), please clean it out. Sidebar—if you’re using the laptop to give a presentation during the interview, make sure you have your slides on not one, but two backup flash drives in case your laptop refuses to boot-up or run properly. Yes--we’ve all had that embarrassing moment. I’ll save the rest of the tech advice for another post.

About jewelry: Limit it to a nice, socially acceptable, conservative watch, wedding or engagement rings if you normally wear them and if you put things in your ears, keep them on the very conservative side. Studs with short hair; perhaps something more if you’re female and your hair is a bit longer. If you have the wrong jewelry in the wrong places—I’m at a loss. You’ll have to wing it. I just can’t help you with that.

By now, you may be saying to yourself “well, if they don’t like me for who I am, I don’t want to work there”. Let’s put this in perspective: How you look, and come across really does matter. Let’s turn things around and place YOU in the interviewer's shoes. If a candidate for an engineering position showed up with a slide rule for their professional accessory, carried an old-fashion top-loading "big mouth" briefcase, dressed in a double-breasted pin-striped suit, spats and fedora straight out of a 1930s Chicago gangster movie, would you want the responsibility of bringing them on board? Think about that—and extrapolate a bit.

Remember that I mentioned earlier that your new potential employer will start evaluating you when you pull into the parking lot? Please keep in mind that although it's (probably) not a fashion statement, your vehicle says a lot about you. Now, I'm not recommending you go out and buy a new car just for your interview, but I will suggest that you at least wash it and dung-out the interior in case someone on the hiring committee strolls past your ride during your extended interview.  (Oh, wait...they never do that!)  Nothing screams "disorganized!" like a dirty car full of crap. Even if your vehicle is a high-miler and a bit long in the tooth, people will notice your efforts. Please make sure no empty cans fall out when you open the door and that the nine weeks of newspaper recycling is gone from the back seat. Suggestion: If you're pinched for time, drop your vehicle off for a professional detailing.

I love lists. I hope you do as well. Here’s your cheat sheet on how to dress and what to bring or your interview. Note that there are exceptions to every rule; trust that your recruiter will share any he or she knows of.

Ladies first.  If you’re female:

It goes without saying that if you’re female, you’re going to be judged a bit more harshly than the guys in the style department. Double-ditto if there are women on the hiring committee. Since I’m a recruiter (and not in HR), I can say this and actually get away with it. If this is the first time you’ve been made aware of this fact and it bothers you, please don't shoot me--I'm just the messenger.

Here you go, girl:

• Wear a conservative, solid-color suit that works for you. Women have a bit more latitude when choosing colors than men, but navy and charcoal are generally good choices. Pants—or skirt? You decide. You should do some homework on what the women wear at your prospective employer. Think “contemporary professional”. If you’ve owned your outfit for a few years, it’s probably not going to work. Make sure it fits well. Most women are pretty good at this one. If you're not one of them, take one of your friends who is shopping with you.  If you value your time, pick a higher-end retailer (like Nordstrom); you'll receive better service and advice.  I would suggest watching what female news anchors wear, but the current trend for them includes loud, attention-grabbing colors and styles. If you live in a major metropolitan area, spend at least one lunch hour in the high-rent office district and pay attention to what the reasonably successful women are wearing. Remember--you won't always know who's going to be on the hiring committee; err on the side of "conservative" when choosing your outfits. Keep in mind that if you make a great first impression, you'll probably be called back for a second interview and you won't want to wear the same outfit twice.

• Blouse: A coordinated, crisp blouse that works with your suit. In the blouse department, think “conservative” because you’re (pointing finger at eyes) “up here”—right? You know what I mean.

• Moderate, conservative shoes that go well with your suit in both shape and color. No open toes, and reserve the 5” pumps for Friday night. In case you didn't know, red is not a conservative shoe color.

• Limited jewelry (see above). It’s safer to leave jewelry with religious, ethnic, or cult-like overtones at home. Err on the side of less bling. No Madeleine Albright brooches, unless you actually are Madeleine Albright.

• Hair: You probably know what you need to do for a “do”--a neat, professional, contemporary style. If your hair is long, you might choose a female news anchor that you vaguely resemble to emulate. Note: You don’t have to agree with her point of view, just her hair. If your hair style is from Mad Men, The Beverly Hillbillies, or The B-52s (unless you actually are Kate Pierson), you’ll need to work on that.

• Conservative hosiery, probably in lighter colors. You might want to consult with a style professional regarding colors that work well with your complexion and suit. Keep the fishnets with the 5” heels for another place and time.

• Perfume: None. You never know who has an aversion to scents. Many offices have semi-draconian rules on scents—and you don’t want to inflame the scent police.

• Nails: Very recently done. Keep them conservative in length and color.

• If you wear glasses, find some that are contemporary that compliment your features. Styles have changed a bit over the last little while. Seek professional help if you don’t know what I’m talking about. If you wear glasses, this is your homework assignment for today.

• Professional accessories: As above, according to your position requirements. Big bonus if they go with your outfit.

• Purse: Oh dear…it’s too hard. You’ll have to judge if you’re bringing it, or leaving it in the car but if you do bring it, it needs to be conservative and actually work with your outfit. Rule of thumb: If you’re slinging a laptop bag or a notepad, lose the purse; you’ll look like a pack mule. Organize any little extras you may need in the laptop bag.  Note:  There are some very nice women's laptop bags out there--now might be a good time to check them out.

• Makeup—keep it conservative while looking good. You should go with what works best in a conservative mode. Give me a break on this one; I’m just an observer. My take: Less (at least the perception of less) is often more in the makeup department. Remember—it’s an interview, not a photo shoot for Boston Proper or casting call for Moulin Rouge.

If you’re a guy:

I find a lot of guys who dress haphazardly at best that still think they fall under the accepted bell curve of professional workplace style. If you haven't had a fair amount of training (or a lot of experience) with dressing the part and looking good, you probably can use a tune-up. We all need a tune-up once in a while, because what worked style-wise five years ago will not work now. Shoot to dress towards the center for your respective industry. Err on the side of being conservative. If you’re wearing a suit for your interview (and I strongly suggest you do), think Barack Obama, Daniel Craig, or Bill O’Reilly (irrespective of your own acting ability or political bent)--for they wear them well. Your checklist:

• A conservative suit. I like my candidates in two-button, solid (no stripes), dark blue (navy), or charcoal suits. Note that “suit” means matching pants and jacket, of the same color and material. If this is new to you, I strongly suggest seeking some professional advice from an experienced customer service rep at your local men’s store. Note: Just because it’s on the cover of GQ, or in the Banana Republic catalog does not mean it’s going to work for your interview. Some of the trendy stuff is just plain weird and may in fact make you look like a moron. If you enjoy trendy fashion, save it for Friday night. The best material is wool.  Keep at least two suits in your wardrobe, because you probably don't want to wear the same suit to the second interview in case you're invited back.

• Long sleeved shirt. Be careful with the colors; white always works. Nothing too trendy in the fabric department; cotton is good.  If you’re wearing a color outside of white, make sure you consult with a style professional regarding it’s applicability with your suit. Note that different collar styles work better for some individuals than others and ask for some help with this. Buy shirts that fit.  Try them on before taking them home.  If you're a slim guy, buy fitted shirts so it doesn't look like you're swimming in them.  If you're bigger in the middle, it's doubly important that your shirts fit properly or you'll look like a buffoon no matter how much you spend.  Pick up a few shirts that work with your suit(s)—and send them out to be professionally cleaned and pressed. You’ll look a lot better and it’s one less thing to worry about on interview day.

• Tie: Think conservative. Get some help with this, for ties come and go every six months or so. Hint: Solid red, solid blue, or conservative stripes (if in style) usually work. All real ties are silk. A polyester tie is an abomination, as are clip-ons unless you’re a cop. Become good at tying a knot that works for you. You might review the following link: http://www.tie-a-tie.net/ .  The end of your tie should hit you at the belt buckle.  Myth: “If you keep a tie long enough, it will come back in style.”  No, it won’t.  Sidebar--start watching the mainstream evening news, note what the male news anchors are wearing--then go shopping. Contrary to popular belief, most women are not very good at choosing appropriate ties--unless they actually work in a men's store. Keep this in mind and pick up a couple of professionally recommended ties when you purchase your suit.

• Socks: Wear some new dress socks that match your suit within a shade or two. Socks must always closely match the color of your pants. Black socks don't work with a blue suit. Got it?

• Shoes: Probably black or burgundy/cordovan dress shoes to go with your blue suit. (Hint, hint.) New is good. Do not wear run-over shoes, or something from your ancestor’s closet. Your shoes must match your belt in color, texture, and material. They need to look sharp. Purchasing professionally recommended shoes and matching belts at the same time from the same store usually works.

• Very limited jewelry (see above). I like to see a nice, conservative, dress watch on a guy—makes me believe he values time. Clunky, trendy, or beat-up watches won't do much to improve your image. Bulova, Citizen, and Seiko make some nice, mid-priced professional looking men's dress watches; they also make some that are pretty wild, so please choose carefully and make sure it fits your wrist.  Watches with metal bands must always be adjusted to fit your wrist.  I suggest wearing a luxury/expensive watch only if your station in life actually affords such trappings. Don't show up with a Rolex Submariner on your wrist if you're driving a $100 car; makes you look like your priorities might be skewed. Yes--we all know that cell phones have a clock function--so the only real reason to wear a watch is to make a statement. Just 'sayin.

• Hair: Neat and professional. If yours is one of your nicer features, make it look like you take care of it. If you’re bald (like me), consider a #2, #1, or shorter length. Trust me, everyone already knows we're bald. If you’re bald on top, but can grow it luxuriously thick on the sides, be doubly careful as you may begin to resemble Bozo The Clown or Montgomery Burns if it starts getting a little long. Unlike most women, you may not really understand what works with your hair. If you don’t, seek some professional advice and clearly state "I want my hair to make me look very professional". This is actually your homework assignment for today.

• Cologne: None. The scent police are looking for you, too. A very light, unscented moisturizing aftershave is fine. You don't want to smell like you just took a shower out of a can.

• Nails: Neatly trimmed. Yep—do the best you can.

• Professional accessories: As above, according to the position requirements. You probably don’t need to worry about the purse. 

Will Baumann is a recruiter specializing in difficult to fill technical and leadership positions.

LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/willbaumann


Company site: http://www.anrgroupinc.com/

10 reasons you need a smartphone

I like the concept of “configuration management”. It’s a term I picked up in a past life as a provider of Navy engineering services. It’s quite elegant, really—it essentially means that the more you keep things the same, the easier it is to maintain them en bloc, especially in the areas of cost, parts interchangeability, and training.


I applied this same logic to the acquisition of cell phones for the family six years ago, which resulted in five Motorola Razrs in our collective hands. I liked the logic because they all used the same chargers and batteries, and it was easy to get everyone from 16 to 80 up to speed on them. A few of the Razrs died and were replaced with identical units over that time frame--and they served us well.


It was challenging to make the leap to something “smarter”. We recently did it with two of the five units—my sweetie and I now have iPhone 4s. I think my son (who drives over his cell phone fairly regularly with his crew cab 4x4 pickup), as well as grandma and grandpa will be with their Razrs for a little while longer, but the inevitable will soon occur.


In all honesty, having owned a smartphone now for about a month, it’s hard to imagine how I lived without one for so long. So here you go--the 10 reasons why you need one:


1. You will no longer be a slave to your PC for checking email. I’ve integrated my personal and business email accounts into one email exchange on my phone. I can check ALL my email before I get out of bed in the morning—and even check it between workout sets at the gym. Updates are instantaneous; email is now as simple as sending/receiving a phone text message. It works everywhere your phone has signal. I no longer sweat being away from my PC—and it’s far, far faster than using a laptop with an air card.


2. You will never be lost. (Well, almost never.) I downloaded the free MapQuest GPS app; I now have turn-by-turn voice navigation wherever I go (if I want it). You will no longer have the excuse of “I couldn’t find the location” when you miss your next important meeting or job interview.


3. You can do several things at once—and all of them well. You can talk to people while at the same time pulling up and viewing their LinkedIn profile (yes, there’s an app for that), a resume you’ve stored, plus any number of interesting and useful internet-based things.


4. You will never be bored. Farmville, Angry Birds, and various shoot-em-up games are always at your disposal in living color. I myself do not play the games. Honest.


5. You will never be at a loss over how much to tip at the restaurant, or how to figure base 10 logarithms in conjunction with y-to-the-x functions, or trigonometry. Yes—my iPhone has two (count ‘em) two calculators depending on how you hold the screen. Portrait screen gives you the good old standby keys; landscape gives you a fully-featured scientific calculator. If this doesn’t bring out the “geek” in you, nothing will. If only it would graph...


6. Instead of bringing the business-like black zippered portfolio to your next meeting, you can just bring your mobile device, because it has a note taking function that works as fast as your little thumbs will keystroke. You can even email your notes to your secretary when you’re done. The only downside I’ve found is that you look like a sixteen year old girl texting her boyfriend(s) while you’re taking notes. Oh well…


7. Voice memos. Yep, you can even talk to yourself. “A dozen eggs, creamer, two bell peppers and holy crap that Camry almost hit me”.


8. Steve Jobs needs more money. O.k.—not really a reason for you to own an iPhone (there are other manufacturers of these things and I came really, really close to buying a Windows phone from Bill Gates instead) but it does keep some jobs in America (the designers in Cupertino) and will help bring economic parity to a lot of skilled Chinese factory workers.


9. Face time chat. Yes—your sweetie can give you a “kiss” goodnight when you’re on the road. Requires that your phone be on wireless internet at the time (won’t work on 3G or 4G phone signal). Kind of like Dick Tracy’s TV watch—but be careful how you hold it or your significant other will get a great shot of the inside of your nose. TMI…


10. This is the big one: You look a lot smarter, and are in fact far more useful to your employer when you carry and can fully utilize a smartphone. The days of having to go back to the office to check your email are gone, as are the days of lugubriously slinging around a 25 pound sack of laptop gear while wasting 12 minutes booting it up and taking it down.


It’s about $200 for the 16-gig iPhone 4 at ATT as of this writing, plus $18 to activate and you’ll owe your soul to them for two years. Verizon offers similar numbers. If you want to use it as an iPod, consider the 32-gig unit for $300. I’m sure the prices will drop like a rock after the iPhone 5 becomes available around July (or whenever)—so my uber-geek friends tell me.


Will Baumann is a recruiter specializing in difficult to fill technical and leadership positions.

LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/willbaumann


Company site: http://www.anrgroupinc.com/

10 steps to a better LinkedIn profile--from a recruiter's perspective

The inside joke regarding LinkedIn is “hey—if you’re not on LinkedIn, you don’t exist”. Although a savvy recruiter has many other ways of finding a candidate, LinkedIn has become an important tool. An experienced recruiter (especially one with a top-notch research team) can find even the most buried candidate; however, not everyone tasked with sourcing new talent is an expert in complex search disciplines. They may be great engineers, accountants or HR professionals, but they don’t have the desire (or the time) to devote huge chunks of their day to running Boolean strings, or knocking on back doors to find you. Instead, they’ll reach for the low-hanging fruit: People with complete LinkedIn profiles.


Sad but true: If you don’t have a complete LinkedIn profile, you’re probably going to be passed by. In essence, no click for you; meaning somebody else gets the dream job. Life isn’t fair. Or—is it?


In the interest of altruism, I offer the following check-list and advice for those of you creating or editing your LinkedIn profile.


1. Add a professional photo. Do not post a photo that makes you look less professional than you really are.


2. Use your name. Yes—your real first and last names. LinkedIn profiles without names are generally a waste of time. Even James Bond has a name, and he’s not even real. Unless you work on an unmentionable program for an unmentionable agency, use your name. If your first name is William (as mine is) but you go by “Will”, use the name that most people know you by in your profile.


3. Complete your work history. LinkedIn has a function that will automatically import your resume. This is almost a no-brainer, but I still see many profiles with no work histories.


4. Get some connections. If you have very few connections (10 or less), it looks like you don’t take LinkedIn seriously—and probably wouldn’t respond to a message because you probably don’t check your account often enough or even care.


5. Check your account! If possible, have your LinkedIn messages sent to an email address you check every day. Better yet, see #6 below.


6. Post your contact information—especially your email. I post my work and cell phone numbers and my professional email address in my LinkedIn profile. Nobody calls me in the middle of the night, and I don’t receive any more spam than the next person. Why make it difficult for people to find you? Heck—in the worst case scenario, you can always ignore them.


7. If you don’t post your contact information, you can be contacted via precious, expensive LinkedIn “in mail”. Just so you know, the entry-level, $25 per month paying member of LinkedIn is allowed to send only three “in mails” per month. Think of them as silver bullets. When you receive one, be flattered that someone spent $8.33 to contact you.


8. Join some appropriate LinkedIn professional groups. Choose at least one that is very popular (like Linked Strategies—which will offer you tons of information on how LinkedIn really works) and also join some that are relevant to your professional field. This makes you look smart—and fellow group members can contact each other for free in the LinkedIn system.


9. Occasionally post something intelligent. I suggest sharing links from professional journals under “network activity” in your profile. You can also ask for some quality professional advice in group discussions, or better yet—respond to someone’s pressing need for direction. Avoid participating in mundane discussions (yes, there are some on LinkedIn); they make you look like you have too much free time.


10. Spell-check everything—twice.


Will Baumann is a recruiter specializing in difficult to fill technical and leadership positions.



LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/willbaumann


Company site: http://www.anrgroupinc.com/

Why the odds are stacked in favor of passive vs. active candidates

Definitions:


Passive candidate—a potential new hire who’s currently busy working for another firm and not really thinking about making a move, doesn’t know your position exists, and really doesn’t care…yet.


Active candidate—someone who’s looking for a new job (and typically unemployed).


O.k.—I know I’m going to take some hits on this post, so I’ll raise my metaphorical garbage can lid to shield the criticism when I admit that 95%+ of my candidates are passive, even in this somewhat “down” economy.


I know--I should feel badly about not assisting the unemployed; but let’s get real: The primary reason that an outside recruiter (me) receives a position to fill is because it’s a very challenging one. Typically, jobs that are less challenging to fill are handled by my client’s HR department. By the time I get them, they've probably been posted on various high-tech job boards for a while--and nobody qualified has responded. Qualified is the operative word here.


So far this year, of all the candidates I've found, screened, reference-checked and submitted, only one has been active and unemployed. Ironically, even he turned down my client's strong offer of a six-figure salary plus a nice signing bonus because he believed he could wait a little while and do even better down the street. That’s how tight the positions that I recruit for are right now. There are very few, if any people with strong, in-demand skills and experience who are unemployed--unless it's by choice.


Personally, I believe anyone who’s been out of work for six months or more and has been unsuccessful in their job search should plan on choosing an activity from the following list:


• Moving to a different market—the grass might actually be greener there.


• Reducing his or her price—stale merchandise is always marked down, before…well...umm...o.k. then.


• Finding a new field—hopefully not one that offers fries with that order; but hey—it’s America and all work is honorable.


• Moving to the beach to sip little umbrella drinks while reprising Michael Douglas's classic role as an unemployed defense contractor in Falling Down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eREiQhBDIk


Sorry to be the bearer of the Cold Hard Truth, but isn’t it time we collectively began to embrace this logic? Not the movie Falling Down, which is really the study of an unemployed guy (Michael Douglas) and his psychotic behavior vis-à-vis cause and effect--but the concept that long-term active candidates are usually still active for what are often pretty good reasons. There are exceptions to every rule, of course.


Perhaps instead of waiting for some fairy-tale stimulus package, long-term unemployed professionals should get back into the game by taking a job in their field that’s perhaps a step or two below where they were, or spend the time wisely to improve their skills to remain competitive. To me, both are viable options, especially when compared to irresponsibly shot gunning resumes to semi-matching job posts while collecting unemployment benefits. If you’re an unemployed engineer, perhaps it's time to get smarter on ANSYS http://www.ansys.com/instead of Halo http://www.halo.xbox.com/.


There’s a lot of buzz these days about active candidates and age discrimination; I hear it, but I don’t see it. Let’s not confuse the lack of technological competence with age discrimination. If you’re 40, 50, or 60+ and refuse to learn something new or worse yet “don’t really need it”, well—you’re plain and simply a dolt, just as someone in their 20s or 30s would be if they thought the same way.


Is it a stretch to wonder why nobody really wants people who can't use the latest, sharpest tools of the trade? It’s not age (or any other protected class)—it’s mindset. My take: This kind of thinking probably keeps people “active” in their job search for a lot longer than they're willing to admit. In fact, it may be why they're active now. Again, there are exceptions to every rule.


A near truism that I didn’t invent: Generally speaking, the best people get the best jobs. If they’re unemployed and seriously looking for about six months, they’re either “not the best” (meaning their skills are not competitive), or their entire field has simply downsized to the point they need a new career direction.


If you’re waiting for the Pony Express or Bronze Age to pick back up, I sympathize—but you might consider moving on to something else. Please stop crying because the need for certain aluminum CNC components has declined with the adoption of new carbon fiber assemblies, or that the demand for hand cranks on telephones is now somewhat weak.


Me—I have no problem with active candidates. If I find the right one and they pass the same phone screening and reference checks as anyone else I submit, I’m good with it. In fact, I'm elated. In the mean time, I’ll trust my instincts and dial-up someone who might be able to “help”.




Will Baumann is a recruiter specializing in difficult to fill technical and leadership positions.

LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/willbaumann

Company site: http://www.anrgroupinc.com/