National Council Leadership Program to Eliminate Health Disparities July 18, 2011 Washington D.C. Planning for Career Transitions Dr. Stuart Meyers, President The Meyers Group, Executive Search Consultants
YOU will make a difference in the lives of thousands while on this career path. welcome aboard! Why this is a truly special opportunity A headhunter s perspective on developing a successful career plan 1
Talent alone won t make you a success. Neither will being in the right place at the right time.unless you are ready. The most important question is: are you ready? - Johnny Carson 2
Before everything else, getting ready is the secret to success. - Henry Ford 3
Question: Who is in charge of your career? > Your boss? > Your spouse or significant other? > The economy? > Your therapist? > Your recruiter? > All of the above? > None of the above? 4
Real Answer: None of the above.it is YOU! Everything and everyone else influences how you manage your career, but only one person cares enough to really manage it to take charge of it. 5
Some Words of Wisdom If we would first know where we are and where we are tending, we could then better judge what to do and how to do it -- Abraham Lincoln We get too soon old and too late smart -- Source unknown Since we can t start yesterday, let s start now -- Source also unknown He who does not look ahead, remains behind -- Eastern Proverb There is no coming to consciousness without pain -- Carl Jung 6
And one more quote.for now. Fear of change, especially a career change, blocks us from taking creative control of our work lives. -- Helen Harkness (The Career Chase) 7
Back to Preparation..where do you begin? > So.Who are you? > Where have you been? > Where are you going? > Why does it matter? > Who else cares? 8
The world around you: > Your family > Your community (Demographic shifts) > Your organization (it s values & commitments) > Your industry (e.g. integration) > Public Policy.local and national > (Health Care Reform) 9
Your Job: > Job description > Supervisor expectations > Your expectations > Peer/Colleague expectations > Am I happy.satisfied excited? > Am I learning every day? 10
How do I demonstrate Value Added? > Humility > Curiosity > Walk the Talk > Take the Initiative > Attitude > Take some risks > Become the go to person > How do I make others look good? 11
A word about Emotional Intelligence.just how bright are you? What correlates best with success in senior management positions? > Self Regard > Happiness > Interpersonal Relationship > Reality Testing > Self Actualization 12
Some basics of career building 1. Do what you are supposed to do so well that it hurts. Excellence does matter. 2. Stretch outside of your area of prime responsibility; diversify; become a cross-functional resource. ( I want your best athletes ) -- A current client 3. Become indispensable 4 Increase your visibility both in and outside of your organization; get involved 5. What goes around, comes around be a decent person; genuine, respectful, and always with honesty and integrity 6. Become literate in what is coming..read, ask questions, listen 13
Above all, regardless of their almost limitless diversity of style, the effective leaders know how to ask questions the right questions. They start out asking what needs to be done and then they ask what can I do to make a difference -- Peter Drucker 14
So let s start out with the most important very first step in the process: - Commitment to self-assessment; do a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats). Ask for honest input from others - What do I really want? What will make me happy.meet most of my needs? - Develop an Action Plan 15
If you haven t the strength to impose your own terms upon life, you must accept the terms it offers you. -- T.S. Eliot Hell is to drift..heaven is to steer -- George Bernard Shaw 16
Action Plan > Attitude > Self-Assessment > Strengths > Areas for Improvement > Identity (your brand ) > Career Interests > Family Needs > Location > Your network; who do you know? > Who should you know? 17
What s out there? Career Opportunities? Industry Trends Where to look? > Social Networking > Trade Journals > Conferences > Internet > Trade Associations, Groups > Colleagues, friends, employers > Cold Calls > Find a Mentor > Coursework.read, read, read 18
The art and science of job interviews > to increase your understanding of the art and science of a job interview > what you need to do to excel in an interview > what the hiring authority is looking for during the interview > why preparation is the key to success > why 1st impressions mean so much > why honesty is the best policy 19
The art and science of job interviews (continued) > anticipating the questions you ll be asked > understanding the format, structure, & setting of the interview > the no-no s of a job interview > the importance of the close > why the joining up process really begins with your job application > the actual stages of a job interview > the ultimate goal of that interview 20
The Obvious be early dress appropriately do your homework (that preparation thing) body language honesty listening skills the importance of brevity and specificity humor.personality what was your name? follow-up 21
Be prepared to listen; listen to be prepared. -- Source Unknown 22
Preparation > What do you know about the organization? > What do you know about the people you will meet? > How will the interview be structured? > What does your resume & cover letter say about you? (1 st impression) > Understand why this position is a good fit > Why are you value added? 23
Preparation (continued) > What do you want to know? > How to handle compensation issues > What questions will you be asked? > Contact information (just in case) > Stuart s control theory why it is relevant 24
You never get a 2nd chance to make a first impression. -- Source Unknown 25
This is what I tell people: just ask to meet me. Confidence is my strongest asset. I know this because my hair is black right now. A month ago, I was a redhead, and a blonde a month before that. I'm willing to take chances. - Cover letter, Michelle, currently two-tone brunette/blonde 26
First Impressions > Pre-interview: Resume and Cover letter > Arrive early > The waiting room (you d be surprised!) > Cell phones > The presence thing > Non-verbal cues > Opening Questions > Attitude shows > Perfume/cologne > Humor 27
The Top 20 questions you will likely be asked 1. Tell me about yourself (be relevant) 2. What would you say is your greatest strength? (give an example of how it served you well) 3. What is your area for growth? How have you worked to address this? 4. Why are you interested in this position? 5. Why are you considering leaving your current position? What did you like least in that role? 6. What was your favorite job, and what role did your supervisor play in making it successful? 28
The Top 20 questions you will likely be asked 7. How do you perform under pressure? 8. What accomplishment of yours makes you most proud? 9. What have you done to grow professionally over the past year? 10. What do you know about our organization? 11. How would your co-workers describe you? Your supervisor? 12. What do you think of your boss? 13. What was the hardest thing you ever had to do in your career? 14. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 29
The Top 20 questions you will likely be asked 15. What would you say is your most career defining accomplishment? 16. What other roles/companies are you considering? 17. What are the 3 things most important to you in a job? 18. How would you describe your ideal job? 19. What kind of salary are you looking for? 20. Why should we hire you? 30
The Joining Up Process & Psychological Contracting Why is this so very very important?? 31
What are the questions you need to ask? And why these questions? 1. Why is this position open? 2. How would you define success in this role? 3. What challenges would need to be overcome in the 1st 30-60 days? 4. How will my performance be evaluated? 5. What makes this organization a great place to work in today? In the next 3-5 years? 6. What opportunities for growth exist in the next 3-5 years? 7. How do you see the fit between me and the role based on what you have learned during this interview? 32
What are the 5 most important things you want the interviewers to know about you and the job fit? (The Close ) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 33
Job Interview No-No s No matter how "important" the interviewer makes him/herself out to be, refuse to talk to that person, saying you want the "head honcho" only. 34
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Some Interview No-No s 1. Refer back to The Obvious 2. Vague Answers seek clarity for vague questions 3. Don t be overly familiar 4. Don t ramble (watch for body language) 5. Be truthful (including resume) 6. Don t express resentment or be critical of previous boss or company 7. bragging (the art of selling with humility) 8. lack of preparation (this is fatal) 9. wanting the job.too much! 10. When is it I vs. we in answering questions? 11. Failure to close the last 3 minutes 36
A word about behavioral job interviews: > What are they? > How to prepare > Why they are so frequently used > Tips on how to be honest & hit a homerun > The importance of dialogue 37
Compensation Issues > How to think about this issue > How to prepare > How to address compensation if raised during an interview > What is the employer thinking? What are his/her needs? > No harm in asking > Know your thresholds 38
The Close How to be sure the interview ends on a high note 39
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Q & A 42