The HR Guide to Getting and Crushing Your Dream Job

The HR Guide to Getting and Crushing Your Dream Job

By Tim Toterhi

Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

The HR Guide to Getting and Crushing Your Dream Job

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Copyright © 2018 Tim Toterhi

Cover Design by Stephannie Beman, StephannieBeman.com

Cover Photography by mixmagic of Dreamstime.com

Edited by Keith Miller

Published by Plotline Leadership

Print ISBN: 978-0-9860646-8-5

eBook ISBN: 978-0-9860646-7-8

Table of Contents

THE HR GUIDE TO GETTING AND CRUSHING YOUR DREAM JOB

Preface: Being Unemployed Sucks

How to Use This Book

Additional Support

PHASE 1: GETTING THE JOB

Introduction

Part 1: Resume

Part 2: Networking

Part 3: Interviewing

Part 4: Negotiation

PHASE 2: CRUSHING THE JOB

Introduction

Part 1: Keys to Rock-Star Performance

Part 2: Keys to Rock-Star Performance as a Manager

Part 3: Secrets of Work–Life Balance (WLB)

Part 4: Master Self-development

Part 5: How to Advance on the Job

Part 6: Managing Career Next Steps

PHASE 3: BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

Special Situations—Experienced Staff

Special Situations—Early Talent

Three Ways to Be an Awesome Human

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT PLOTLINE LEADERSHIP

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The HR Guide to Getting and Crushing Your Dream Job

Preface: Being Unemployed Sucks

Being unemployed or underemployed is the worst. I know. I’ve been there. I’ve languished in jobs I couldn’t stand and I’ve suffered subpar managers simply because I needed to pay the rent. And I’ve been fired.

They called it a corporate restructuring, the hot phrasing at the time. A blue-haired woman from Personnel sat beside my cartoonishly slick manager and assured me that it wasn’t my fault. The whole department had to go—it was nothing personal, just business. But when you’re on the receiving end of the bad news it always feels personal . . . because it is. And let’s face it: though people say that misery loves company, the company of an out-of-work department offers competition not comfort.

It doesn’t matter if you’re single or have a family depending on you; even the smartest, bravest, and most talented among us will get a lump in the throat when the paychecks stop coming. The thought of being unable to pay bills, secure quality healthcare, or save for the future would scare anyone. And believe me, I was scared.

Things worked out, as they usually do, but the transition was challenging. At the time I had no idea I would go into Human Resources (HR), but when I started that journey I vowed to be smarter, to see the signs sooner, and never to be caught in that situation again. I’m twenty years into the new career, and so far luck and skill have aligned in my favor. Still, I’m consistently aware of the shifting nature of corporate pronouns. One day it’s we did this and we did that. The next it’s they fired me.

The experience left a mark and made me watchful—for myself, of course, but also as a service to others facing this situation. That’s where this book comes in. It leverages my practical experience navigating the effects of downsizing, corporate restructurings, job eliminations, redundancies, and even mergers and acquisitions—any event that kicks you to the curb—and turns it into a guide for getting back on your feet and staying there. See, HR isn’t evil after all!

How to Use This Book

People wrongly assume that you have an abundance of free time when you’re job hunting. They figure that if you’re out of work, you’re either phoning it in at a current employer or channel surfing in a bathrobe. The truth is, however, that searching for a new gig takes an enormous amount of time and energy. Do it right and it’s a full-time role in itself. And life doesn’t stop because you’re unemployed.

You’re busy. Believe me, I get it. And so this book is designed to make the best use of your time. While you can certainly read it cover to cover, the table of contents allows you to home in on the specific phase, topic, or question you are facing at the moment. For example, if you have an interview tomorrow and are worried about answering the classic Tell me about yourself question without sounding like you’re speed dating, head over to Phase 1, Part 3. Love your current job, but want tips on asking for a raise? See Phase 2, Part 5.

xxThe HR Guide to Getting and Crushing Your Dream Job leverages two decades of thought leadership and practical experience. It is packed with over a hundred stories and exercises that will help you make the most of your career. Each section concludes with a specific action that you can take right away. It is designed to provide quick, easily applied advice in three key areas:

1. Getting the Job: Resume excellence, networking, interviewing, and negotiation.

2. Crushing the Job: Keys to rock-star performance as a manager or independent contributor, work–life balance, development, and advancement.

3. Special Situations: Career next steps, what if situations, and tailored advice for both new and experienced workers.

Bonus: Three ways to simply be an awesome human!

As an HR professional with plenty of experience in a variety of industries, companies, and countries, I’ve seen the effectiveness of these tools firsthand. Wherever you are in your career—fresh graduate or experienced professional—this book can help you take it to the next level.

Additional Support

The HR Guide to Getting and Crushing Your Dream Job contains practical insights from seasoned recruiters and hiring managers, as well as a no-nonsense explanation of how HR really operates from point of view of the chief human resource officer. The anecdotes and advice provided will increase your chances of landing your ideal position and succeeding once you’re there.

If you’re unsure about your ideal job and want a self-assessment to help you narrow the options, or if you need tactical advice on how to design a resume for different career objectives, check out my book The Introvert’s Guide to Job Hunting. Whether you’re an off-the-charts introvert, an extrovert, or somewhere in the middle, the book provides step-by-step guides on how to prepare for and launch your job search.

If you’re interested in personalized coaching or training, visit www.plotlineleadership.com to learn more about the following services:

 Career Coaching: My clients have the opportunity to complete a self-assessment that tailors a program to their specific needs. Concepts can be presented in discussion format over the phone or via individualized in-person coaching sessions.

 Group Training: The concepts presented in this and my other books are also available in traditional instructor-led format. Customized agendas and formats are available.

Regardless of the additional support selected, my goal is to ensure each participant completes the engagement with a clear, achievable career action plan.

Phase 1: Getting the Job

Purpose

Getting the job of your dreams requires the optimal blend of planning and doing. In these pages, we’ll explore target research, resume preparation, and hiring assessments; however, the book is weighted heavily toward action.

Doing a self-assessment, researching companies, and designing a fitting resume are all necessary, but landing the job takes action and interaction with others. Phase 1 provides details on actions you should and should not take to expedite your job search.

Description

This phase is designed to help you get the job. While it’s crafted for those seeking to pursue an opportunity at another organization, many of the techniques provided can be used at your current company with HR or the hiring manager. Specifically, Phase 1 will help you:

 Craft an age-proof, winning resume

 Disregard bad advice and resume-related time wasters

 Network effectively, even as an introvert

 Use social media wisely

 Answer tough interview questions

 Navigate interview landmines

 Negotiate compensation and benefits like a pro

 Play hardball without being a hard head

Introduction

If you’re not careful about your present,

someday in the future

the past will come back and bite you in the ass.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin your job search. If you’re out of work, you probably don’t have that luxury anyway, but if you’re looking to level up your career by taking a new role at a new company, beginning the search before you’re fully ready is a smart move and an easy way to beat procrastination.

That said, you should have a general idea of what your next step should be. Too often, job seekers approach the process opportunistically instead of strategically. While the former can get you placed quicker, the role you land is often more of a career Band-Aid than a smart move that will lead to future growth.

There’s no judgment here. We all need to pay the electricity bill. I’m just suggesting that as you set out secure a new position, you have an ideal in mind. It would be tragic if you expended a tremendous amount of energy only to capture a job you never wanted in the first place.

Each step leads us to the next. And no walk is as long and lonely as trudging back to the starting line, so be deliberate in your choices when you come to the proverbial fork in the road.

Phase 1 of this book is all about getting the job of your dreams. It includes practical advice and real-world strategies created by HR professionals and used by hiring managers in organizations of all sizes across a multitude of industries. Here’s what it covers:

 Part 1: Resume will help you save time and design a document that captures attention without being flaky.

 Part 2: Networking will help you create powerful connections online and offline without seeming creepy or desperate.

 Part 3: Interviewing will help you handle any question with poise, and create a lasting, offer-scoring impression.

 Part 4 Negotiation will ensure you get the best possible offer without seeming pushy.

Part 1: Resume

This book assumes that you already have a resume and that it is in relatively decent shape. If you’re new to the workforce, haven’t had to search for a job in several years, or are simply uncertain as to the quality of your document, pick up a copy of The Introvert’s Guide to Job Hunting for samples and a step-by-step guide to resume design. The guide also has a self-assessment for those who need to take a step back and explore career options.

If your resume is already in great shape, congratulations! You’re one-fourth of the way to getting the job of your dreams. But before we pop open the champagne, let’s do a reality check and vet the document against a few HR best practices. And while we’re at it, we’ll sidestep a few time sucks that can cost a pretty penny.

How to Write a Persuasive Professional Summary

Career HR professionals, hiring managers, and recruiters can spot a novice job applicant in a millisecond. All it takes is the word objective at the top of your resume, followed by some generic, space-wasting statement about how you want to utilize your skills at an exciting company that will . . . (sorry, did I doze off?).

Unless you’re two days removed from staffing the corner lemonade stand, ditch the objective statement and opt for a comprehensive professional summary that illustrates precisely who you are and what you have to offer. A professional summary is a powerful tool that can dramatically influence the way the resume reader perceives you. Done well, it becomes the lens through which they view the rest of your resume. Here’s an example of a stellar professional summary:

A strategic marketing professional with over five years of experience managing people, projects, and programs for small to mid-sized clients. An effective communicator who transforms client concepts to actionable campaigns. A certified [insert credential]who takes a metrics-based approach to delivering value.

Well-crafted summaries briefly highlight relevant skills, experiences, and Xfactor items in a way that makes it easy for the prospective employer to picture you in the open role. Savvy job seekers design a future-focused summary that is supported by metric-based examples within the body of the resume.

Action 1: Most recruiters spend less than thirty seconds on your resume, so you have to quickly capture their attention. Think of your professional summary as the printed version of your elevator speech.If someone asked How would you describe yourself? what answer would you provide? Take a moment right now to describe yourself in a few short sentences. Be sure to note what is important to you and how that might fit with what the company needs. Share your answer with your coach, colleagues, or close confidants to test its appeal. Adjust as needed.

How to Fix a Lazy Resume

There are many signs of a poor resume. These include awkward formatting, inappropriate content, misspellings, too much or too little information, and a professional summary that is either nonexistent or fails to connect with the hiring manager’s need. Make these missteps and you’ll guarantee a place in the circular file.

In today’s competitive job market, having a professionally designed, factually correct resume is simply not enough to earn an interview. Everyone, or at least everyone worth a moment of consideration, can pass that test. These attributes are the cost of entry. If all you offer is a chronological listing of job titles and basic responsibilities, you’re being lazy.

To make it out of a recruiter’s maybe pile you need to up your game. Instead of simply crafting a position-focused resume, you need to design a document that highlights your Xfactor—the proof points that indicate you can do the job better than the rest of the applicants.

The process is simple. For example, if you are an administrative assistant there are a series of common responsibilities that come with the position. Providing an overview of these is expected. To stand apart, you must share your key accomplishments in the role. Most admins provide travel scheduling, email management, and meeting coordination, but let’s say you exceeded expectations in your last role by providing support for global virtual meetings, redesigning your manager’s project tracker, or designing an online team site to enhance collaboration. These examples, especially when backed up by quantitative benefits, can rocket you to the top of the pile.

Let’s face it. People with canned, Brand X resumes can expect to get canned, Brand X consideration. To be successful you have to briefly demonstrate what you did in your prior roles and how you exceeded expectations and outpaced the achievements of others in similar positions. This speaks to potential return on investment and earmarks you as a good hire. Demonstrate that, and you’ll earn the hiring manager’s attention.

Action 2: Check your resume. Do you clearly articulate what sets you apart from others in the same role? If not, make a list of ways you went above the requirements of the job description in your last position.

Five Things to Remove from Your Resume Right Now

Some career coaches will advise that your resume be no longer than two pages. Their rationale is that recruiters and hiring managers are busy people who lack the time to peruse a lengthier document. This counsel makes sense if you’re a recent grad or early career candidate, but if you’re a seasoned professional, you’ll likely find it difficult to pack a decade or two of experience into a couple of pages without cutting key content or selecting a microscopic font size.

Brevity is always appreciated, but be sure not to lose the essence of your career story in those edits. If you’re looking for areas to cut, consider the following fluff content.

1. References available upon request: This is amateurish, filler language that doesn’t tell the reader anything. 

2. A generic objective statement: Everyone wants to use their experiences at an innovative company. Such statements are a waste of space. Replace with a professional summary that showcases your brand and the value you can bring to an organization.

3. Dates of graduation: Even seasoned