Reinke Faces Life

http://hellomynameisscott.blogspot.com/2007/05/why-you-need-cool-company-name.html

http://tinyurl.com/2rk6lm

Why you need a cool company name

***Begin Quote***

SECOND, you articulate your company’s value.

Your USP. Your value statement. Your positioning statement.

Make sure it’s clear, concise and emotional. No more than ten words. Leave no doubt in the other person’s mind what you do and how your company delivers value.

Consider the formula described in John Jansch’s Duct Tape Marketing:

Action Verb (what you actually do)
+
Noun (target market you do it for)
+
Benefit (the result of what you do)

For example, “I teach nurse practitioners how to provide more empathetic patient care.”

JUST REMEMBER: Surprise attracts attention, but only interest keeps attention.

***End Quote***

It’s a good model for the seeker’s UVP. I think a USP is about how you sell that UVP and to whom. But that’s a minor quibble.

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FROM AN EMAIL EXCHANGE WITH A “LANDED” TURKEY

***Begin Quote***

From: A Landed Turkey
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 8:44 AM
To: His Turkeyness
Subject: Landed!

FJohn,

Well, this turkey didn’t quite die of old age.

Landed about 2 weeks ago – company immediately flew me to Belgium for the week, for the annual European distributor meeting.

Will be moving to Michigan as soon as I can sell my (gorgeous) condo in Atlanta. Know anyone in the market?

Take care,

***End Quote***

Dear surviving turkey XXXXXXX,,

Mozel Tov. Great News. Vunderbar!

I have some networking contacts in Atlanta. Why not make up a one pager about it and I’ll float it to them.

I assume that you have already rewritten your resume and networking profile, update the myriad of sites, fixed LinkedIn & Plaxo, updated your professional blog, and notified the 9 gazillion of your closest networking buds.

In Roman times and Papal coronations, “Sic Gloria Transit Mundi” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sic_transit_gloria_mundi, so permit me to be the slave behind you.

I find that newly landed Turkeys, wanting to put all the bad times behind them, as if it was an aberration, promptly forget all the “lessons learned” and “people met” during the ordeal. Maybe it’s natural. Several “turkey masters” believe that it’s not ingratitude but a reaction to a reminder of “bad times”. I’m very mellow about that. I don’t need anything but the pleasure of a “turkey well landed’.

But, please don’t make the mistake to think “it can’t happen again”. I’ve seen turkeys back out after as little as five weeks. One fellow — clearly an aberration — was nuked the day he showed up for work after relocating his family internationally — they paid him off, but he still hasn’t recovered.

I don’t remember and don’t have time to look it up but are you an execunet member? A jibber jobber member? If not, consider it. Between the two, it’s a few buck a month. Think of it as you own personal unemployment insurance.

Yell if I can help in some way,
Fjohn
the big fat old turkey hisself

# # #

Execunet http://www.execunet.com

JibberJobber http://www.jobberjobber.com

And, I forgot to nag about a website with a personal professional email as is offered by my WSP http://www.1and1.com/?k_id=9113251

# # #

Note: While I am happy, there are more turkeys to help. Hence, this blog post for all of the complacent soon to be axed turkeys out there. “The Grim Farmer Is Coming For You NEXT! Be afraid, be very afraid.”

(Have to keep up the turkey metaphor. What else does a turkey fear but the farmer’s axe?)

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FROM EMAIL WITH A FELLOW TURKEY

*** begin quote ***

Spent a few minutes on this tonight, tell me what you think. Be brutal, I can handle it.

“I am an information technology leader who delivers high quality business solutions to support the growth and cost effectiveness of a company’s objectives. Providing experience in application development, staff retention, and strategic technology direction are only a subset of the skills I add to an organization”

*** end quote ***

“I am” NOT my job. I don’t like that type of self talk.

“an information technology leader” I get the image of the drum major strutting from the parade. You do work for a living.

“delivers” good word

“high quality business solutions” Yeah, so what. Who says. What about “results”? “Solutions” solve but do the make money?

“to support” a yada word.

“the growth and cost effectiveness of a company’s objectives”. “barbara streisand” Are you growing objectives? Are the “company’s objectives” “cost effective”? No, it’s confused imho.

“Providing experience in” So you’re old! And, anyone can see you’re old, listen to old stories, and you serve as an object lesson not to grow old. What does it DO for the listener?

“application development, staff retention” Lipstick on the pig? Maybe if you said RAPID APP DEV, or JOINT APP DEV, or even USER FOCUSED APP DEV, I might care.

“strategic technology direction” That I can buy from McKinsey! Why are you my strat tech director? Direct me something?

” are only a subset of the skills” Not “my” skills. Not “important” skills. Not “vast inventory of skills and tools”. Who cares if you can speak URDU?

“I add to an organization” Yada. Where’s the excitement? Where’s the synergy? Where’s the earth shaking rapid movement to the buried treasure.

No, I’ve read it, studied it, analyzed it, struggled over it — twice. In two different sessions. And, IMHO, it’s not you. You have more passion in some blog posts than exudes from this elevator speech.

Make it short, energetic, every word costs a million bucks. Does each phrase or word have an ROI?

MY “elevator speech” statement is “I help enterprises, solve tough business and technical problems, in large scale global infrastructures.”

I think it’s spot on for me. What do you think? The commas are important. :-) Followed by silence and active listening. (I hope)

How about recasting yours into:

I can lead an information technology effort to deliver business solutions. That makes growth, profitability, and “fun” happen. It takes skills from a – applications development to z – zest to make it happen. When I get my opportunities to shine, I’m a star.

Does that help?

In retrospect maybe:

I can lead an information technology effort to deliver business solutions. That makes growth, profitability, and “fun” happen. It takes ALL my skills from a – applications development to z – zest to make it happen.

Yup, that’s it. It’s how I see you. But the real question is how do you see you? It’s like a ghost written resume or using some one else’s UVP. You have to be comfortable in your own skin. You have to be YOUR uvp.

fwiw ymmv faiwwypfi

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Last year, I gave a turkey what I thought was a “great idea”.

Most seekers, without a degree, even with fantastic credentials, are self-conscious about the “lack”. Bill Gates didn’t graduate. In certain fields, like sales, having a degree is no advantage. And, might be a detriment when compared to four years of relevant experience. In parts of the information technology field, like programming, having a degree is not a fatal flaw. In fact, technical credentials (i.e., DeVry; certifications; demonstrations) may carry more weight.

So, I suggested that he create the University of Hard Knocks alumni society. It was very “Sun Tzu” type advice. Sort of “where you’re weak, appear strong” and “where strong, appear weak”.

You can’t “know” that a hiring manager doesn’t have a degree unless you’re a great researcher, tipped off, or “parade” you lack of a degree. By becoming the leader of the University of Hard Knocks alumni society, you can make a joke out of what you perceive as a defect. You may be able to draw a granfalloon of undegreed people to you.

I was even wondering, out loud, what one would have to do to register the domain name uhk dot edu! Using an email address of reinkefj dot alumni dot uhk dot edu, might be mildly deceptive. But I bet it would slide by a careless HR screener.

In any event, you can steal this idea if it fits and suits you. On the condition, that you make me an honorary alumni.

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http://home.comcast.net/~v2y2r0n27rhj6y/TURKEY/index.htm

Is my opus on job seeking and my “help” to anyone “transitioning” from unemployment to earning status. fwiw. What an ego to think I can show anyone anything, but I have “miles on the old odometer of life” and the scars of unemployments past to show for it. You may learn from my mistakes.

http://hfcn.blogspot.com/2007/05/tips-for-managing-pink-slip-sabbatical.html

HFCN – Helping Friends Career Network ~ Job Leads, Career Success and Transformation

Blogging professional career development issues. Helping Friends Career Network (HFCN) has successfully assisted thousands of professionals to make positive career change- in finding or identifying new jobs– it is all about finding inspiration and getting positive career results. We explore career resources, celebrate success, job opportunities, and more.
22 May 2007
Tips for managing a Pink Slip Sabbatical

***Begin Quote***

From time to time, I am asked to share the hints for facing the challenges of layoff. If there are particular resources we can blog in depth for you, let us know or join us and ask questions on the Helping Friends Career Network — Career Transformation Talk Group!

Proactive:

1. Network and job search from your email, don’t depend on your employer’s email.

***End Quote***

I was astonished to have one of my posts identified as the #1 Proactive step in the job hints.

It tickled me silly to share that with a ton of people I don’t know. Will never know.

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FROM AN EMAIL TO A FELLOW TURKEY:

>actively job hunting in XXXXX, preferably something financial. Please feel free to look over my profile.

Hello,

I read your post in XXXXXXXXXXXX and was moved.

Moved to tell you that you missed a great opportunity to express your Unique Value Equation.

By way of background, I’m a big fat old turkey, who counsels fat old white guys on how to find a job. I do it as a way of repaying all the people who have helped me in the past with my transitions. And, Intelligent Designer forbid, build up a wealth of Karma for my next transition.

I have some resources that I offer to seekers over at my turkey farm.

Go directly to the “turkey farm”
http://home.comcast.net/~v2y2r0n27rhj6y/TURKEY/index.htm
http://tinyurl.com/lxu93

I urge you not to be “actively job hunting”, but to express what you are going to do for someone that will unlock value for the both of you.

So if you had said something like:

*** begin quote ***

I’m seeking my next opportunity where I will count beans for someone, as one spammer said “most excellently”. Preferably in Gotham City, Alaska area, but I’m open to a relo. Preferable as a full-time employee, but I am flexible. I’m not rich, so I’ll need compensation. There to I’m flexible.”.

*** end quote ***

See the diff?

You get the idea. Give people something to hang their hat on. I prefer informal and funny. You have to get them to read it, remember it, and act on it.

I use the Big Fat Turkey as a funny hook in people’s mind. (Hey, what was the name of that lunatic who thought he should be a CTO of an G50 firm. We’ve got the perfect position as a WalMart greeter for him. What a turkey he was. Yeah that’s it. Big Fat Turkey. Let me google that.) Hey it works for Coke, Ford, and Victoria’s Secret. Why not for a big fat old turkey. Guarantee you’ll think of me some thanksgiving, and say what a bird brain! If you don’t swear off turkey altogether.

Or course, you can connect to me on LinkedIn (reinke reinke reinke reinke), but I’m out of invites. Actually, I’m saving my last 100 for my own “next transition”.

I have job search and LinkedIn tips on my blog all categorized for easy reading.

Hope this helps.

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Note:

https://reinkefj.wordpress.com/tag/jobsearch/ has all the jobsearch items 170+ for “easy” reading.

https://reinkefj.wordpress.com/tag/linkedin/ has my LinkedIn tips (only 15+ but some very good ones imho)

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http://www.moneysmartlife.com/
10-lies-big-companies-tell-their-employees/

10 Lies Big Companies Tell Their Employees

***Begin Quote***

1. We’re Working On It
2. Its Only Temporary
3. I Don’t Know
4. Its Company Policy
5. More Money Won’t Make You Happy
6. We Want You to Have a Life Outside Work
7. The Customer is Always Right
8. We Reward Excellence
9. Our Salaries are Competitive in the Market
10. Hope You Enjoy Your Vacation

***End Quote***

I’d add a few “Your job is safe”, “Your performance is excellent”, and … … taaa daaa … … “This survey is anonymous”!

Sorry, but in this day and age, nothing is safe, excellent as long as it can’t be done cheaper in Bangladesh, and “we have ways of making that paper talk”.

For example, an anonymous survey conducted at work captures the ip address from whence it came. It’s trivial to work one’s way back to who it is from. Even paper can be “serialized” with dots invisible to the naked eye. SO don’t make an issue out of it. Don’t be honest if you need or want your job.

http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/yourlife/31830

http://tinyurl.com/2ueyjq

A Few Lessons from the Road
by Ben Stein
Posted on Friday, May 11, 2007, 12:00AM

***Begin Quote***

What’s the lesson here? Learn skills that can’t be defeated by foreign competition. The doctors in Detroit still make money. The finance people who manage the doctors’ offices still make money. And the people there who have substantial savings invested all over the world are doing fine, too.

More brutal than that lesson is that capitalism requires flexibility. Autoworkers who were being paid $50 an hour are getting laid off, it’s true. But in Indian Wells and Palm Desert, Calif., men and women who can lay tile or install plantation shutters or plumb toilets are getting $50 an hour and can’t keep up with demand.

***End Quote***

Remember the four part strategy: ruthless financial discipline, white collar job, blue collar skill, and a web biz.

Capitalism may require flexibility according to Senor Stein. But, the seeker “fighting” under today’s rules of engagement better have their own version of “flexibility” in mind.

Use your spare time wisely. Learn a language. There are things that are timeless and competition-proof. I’ve never met a poor plumber!

interbiznet presents The Bugler
May 15, 2007

***Begin Quote***

Gurutosis

The three most powerful words anyone can use are “I don’t know.” In an instant, the playing field gets leveled and the problem can be addressed without agenda. Center stage attention shifts and leaves an opening for the best local expertise to emerge. The very essence of leadership is knowing what to do when you don’t know.

***End Quote***

A well said piece of advice for seekers being interviewed. When candidates I was interviewing tried to bluff their way thru on a point, I’d hit the ‘eject button”.

No one knows everything, not even me!

It’s what you do when you can or can’t see the boundary. It’s how you test if there’s a hidden boundary there. It’s about your system for protecting against runaways, under runs, and stoppages.

It’s realizing that, you don’t know, what you don’t know.

The toughest boss I ever had used to asks for results, and then would ask how he was supposed to know that the results were true. At the time, I didn’t understand. But what he was asking was not just the answer to a problem, but to see the work that got to the answer. He wanted evidence and confidence. Just like in school.

So in your interview prep, be sure you have a legend (i.e., an elevator speech about something that you can pop out when needed) that presents a situation where either you couldn’t know the answer or you were wrong. In your legend, show how you always set up a “frame” so that you can never spin endless away. Visualize the spaceman’s wrench spinning off into deep space, until it reaches the end of the tether rope, and gets reeled back in. That’s the frame. Your frame can be time (i.e., I set a kitchen time, worked on the problem for an hour, and then I asked for help), feedback (i.e., a Colleague always checks my project plan for over commitments because I like to please people), or milestones (if.eat., I always have a project plan for anything I promise that has many moving parts).

Always demonstrate your framing!