3D Juggling 481: My secret celebrity obsession
Su writes: I am secretly celebrity obsessed. I love it: the scandal, the outrage, the excitement. I google and find out the dirt. I am a mine of useless information about Cheryl/ Brangelina/ past and present members of Take That. Love it, love it, love it!!!
There. I’ve said it now.
You’ve made a decision about me on the basis of that statement:
1. You secretly understand and share this . You feel slightly better disposed toward me.
2. You can’t understand: this celebrity-obsessed culture is harmful and wrong. What a waste of time and energy. I must be a waste of time and energy.
3. You don’t really care either way.
When you write a CV, think about what the recipient needs to know. Do they need to know everything about you, including your celebrity-obsession, your fox-hunting hobby or the football team you support? There is a chance that this will make the recipient less well-disposed to you. However objective the short-lister or interviewer tries to be, there are some things that will rankle with them. As a result, they subconsciously start looking for more evidence to support why you aren’t right for the job.
Do they really need to know that you are interested in cooking, socialising and team sports? Is this really going to get you the job? You might assume this says good things about you – but does it tell the shortlister or interviewer anything that aids their decision on why you are right for this job? If their last Data Controller/ IT Specialist was a fly-half that had to take three months off work with a back injury they may well be less willing to give you a go. In your head, socialising means dinner parties with friends: in the future employer’s head it’s binge drinking every weekend.
Traditionally, CVs had a heading called “Hobbies and Interests”. Look at your CV. Consider removing it and instead including more evidence about your effectiveness at work. Help the future employer by giving them useful evidence on why they should offer you a job rather than appealing to their personal bias."
Love this? If you need some help in your organisation for people looking for new roles, come out for a cup of coffee with us to talk about how we can help you. We'll pay!
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2010 3D Coaching Ltd
May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
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Showing posts with label cv. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cv. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
3D Juggling 461: Invisible orchids
If you enjoy what you read in 3D Juggling, do pass it on to colleagues or put a link to our website from yours. All we ask is that you retain contact details. This week's Juggling can be found in the library
There is one final space on Thursday's Action Learning Set Facilitator Training in London. Make us an offer if you'd like to come by calling Sue on 0845 458 0154.
Claire writes: 'The orchid we were given as an office warming present lost its flowers after a few weeks and has sat sadly on the window ledge for months looking decidedly dead. I trust that one or other of us has watered it from time to time. I have also considered consigning it to the bin. After all, what does a dead flower say about an organisation!
This morning I was listening to a client celebrate some significant changes in the culture of her organisation. It was great to hear as I can remember many conversations which were less positive. As a senior manager, she has influenced in many quiet ways and was taking stock of the changes. Others have noticed a shift in culture and are unaware that it came from her. Like the orchid, the organisation hasn't been dramatically pruned or heavily watered. Quiet patience and a nudge here and there have taken it to the point where change is clearly visible. I moved a stake on the orchid this morning so that it can manage the weight of its new flowers. That will be our celebration of a living flower! My client has plans to celebrate what she has done in her team.
Some leaders are visible. Some leave a legacy that survives them. Some have done drastic pruning and some have elegant leaving dos when they move on but a year on, little of their legacy is left. Often it's the invisible influencers who leave the biggest impact because the team say 'We have done it ourselves'. The challenge, of course, is how to communicate that on your CV!"
Want to know more? Contact info@3dcoaching.com
Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who you believe to be an invisible influencer.
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2010 3D Coaching Ltd
May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
Follow us on Twitter 3dclaire
Facebook 3D Coaching
Coming Soon:
21st January Action Learning Set Facilitator Training - London
If you enjoy what you read in 3D Juggling, do pass it on to colleagues or put a link to our website from yours. All we ask is that you retain contact details. This week's Juggling can be found in the library
There is one final space on Thursday's Action Learning Set Facilitator Training in London. Make us an offer if you'd like to come by calling Sue on 0845 458 0154.
Claire writes: 'The orchid we were given as an office warming present lost its flowers after a few weeks and has sat sadly on the window ledge for months looking decidedly dead. I trust that one or other of us has watered it from time to time. I have also considered consigning it to the bin. After all, what does a dead flower say about an organisation!
This morning I was listening to a client celebrate some significant changes in the culture of her organisation. It was great to hear as I can remember many conversations which were less positive. As a senior manager, she has influenced in many quiet ways and was taking stock of the changes. Others have noticed a shift in culture and are unaware that it came from her. Like the orchid, the organisation hasn't been dramatically pruned or heavily watered. Quiet patience and a nudge here and there have taken it to the point where change is clearly visible. I moved a stake on the orchid this morning so that it can manage the weight of its new flowers. That will be our celebration of a living flower! My client has plans to celebrate what she has done in her team.
Some leaders are visible. Some leave a legacy that survives them. Some have done drastic pruning and some have elegant leaving dos when they move on but a year on, little of their legacy is left. Often it's the invisible influencers who leave the biggest impact because the team say 'We have done it ourselves'. The challenge, of course, is how to communicate that on your CV!"
Want to know more? Contact info@3dcoaching.com
Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who you believe to be an invisible influencer.
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2010 3D Coaching Ltd
May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
Follow us on Twitter 3dclaire
Facebook 3D Coaching
Coming Soon:
21st January Action Learning Set Facilitator Training - London
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
3D Juggling 443: Take cover
Claire writes: 'I'm back to work after 5 weeks off when Lynn and Jane have been covering all the goings on at 3D. When other people cover, it's a great way of noticing whether or not your systems are working - does everyone know what they need to know? It's also a good test of delegation. If you've just come back from holiday, is there anything that you don't need to take back? And are there different ways you need to share information which will make things easier in the future?
Covering for others is also a great way of exploring whether or not there is appeal in a post like theirs, and a chance to stretch your skills into new areas which can really help your CV and future job applications. So if you've been covering for someone else, what can you do now that you couldn't do before? Make sure you get that down on your CV.
Apart from relief, what do you need to remember from your experience of cover over the holiday period?'
Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who needs to read it!
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2009 3D Coaching Ltd May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
Claire writes: 'I'm back to work after 5 weeks off when Lynn and Jane have been covering all the goings on at 3D. When other people cover, it's a great way of noticing whether or not your systems are working - does everyone know what they need to know? It's also a good test of delegation. If you've just come back from holiday, is there anything that you don't need to take back? And are there different ways you need to share information which will make things easier in the future?
Covering for others is also a great way of exploring whether or not there is appeal in a post like theirs, and a chance to stretch your skills into new areas which can really help your CV and future job applications. So if you've been covering for someone else, what can you do now that you couldn't do before? Make sure you get that down on your CV.
Apart from relief, what do you need to remember from your experience of cover over the holiday period?'
Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who needs to read it!
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2009 3D Coaching Ltd May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
Friday, April 03, 2009
3D Juggling 424: Them and me
Claire writes: "Someone came for a Career Makeover yesterday who we had met at One Life. He thinks he has a boring job, and wanted to be able to unpick the skills he is using so that he can communicate them clearly to get a completely different kind of job. Leadership may be a skill, like customer service - but until you can describe clearly how you lead or support customers, you're only giving half the story. And it's how you use your skills that is your unique selling point, or your Magic Seats.
So if you're stuck and struggling to communicate, try this: Imagine that you are sitting next to someone who does exactly the same job as you and has a very similar background. The difference is that you are really good at your job, and they are not! Now describe your skills - and make sure that you distinguish yourself from them."
Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who is underselling their skills.Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2009 3D Coaching Ltd May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: http://www.3dcoaching.com/ and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
Claire writes: "Someone came for a Career Makeover yesterday who we had met at One Life. He thinks he has a boring job, and wanted to be able to unpick the skills he is using so that he can communicate them clearly to get a completely different kind of job. Leadership may be a skill, like customer service - but until you can describe clearly how you lead or support customers, you're only giving half the story. And it's how you use your skills that is your unique selling point, or your Magic Seats.
So if you're stuck and struggling to communicate, try this: Imagine that you are sitting next to someone who does exactly the same job as you and has a very similar background. The difference is that you are really good at your job, and they are not! Now describe your skills - and make sure that you distinguish yourself from them."
Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who is underselling their skills.Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2009 3D Coaching Ltd May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: http://www.3dcoaching.com/ and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
Friday, February 06, 2009
3D Juggling 416: “...and, tell me, what do you do?”
Jeremy writes: "I am sure in all the social and business gatherings of the past month you have been asked this question a few times! It is fascinating that many familiar, everyday questions are not answered in the words in which they are asked. The usual answer to this question is often more of a throwaway line:
'Oh, I’m an accountant''I don’t work, I’m just a housewife' (note the just!)'For my sins, I work at the council offices''I used to be a nurse but I’m a full-time mum (or dad) now''I’m not anything at the moment, I’ve been made redundant from the bank actually...'
The question uses a verb (do) and the answer is bundled up by an all embracing noun e.g. accountant or nurse. It is as if (in this shorthand) the questioner is supposed to know that because I am an accountant, you can work out for yourself what I do (i.e count ?).
The problem with this sort of exchange in the job market, a vitally important market for many at the moment, is that it is unhelpful and often misleading. Good accountants do much more than count. The recruitment consultant or prospective employer or networking contact actually wants to know what you do (use lots of flowing, active verbs), not your job title(s) and appointments (very dried-up, well-worn nouns). Most jobs contain a wide variety of tasks, relationships and ways of working which are inadequately described by “I am a nurse”.
Think about what you do now, and what you really want to do, and how you set about your work in general, and learn to describe it all concisely with lots of verbs describing your activities, character and modus operandi. That will lead to all sorts of questions and conversation.
The answer 'I’m just an (anything)' doesn’t lead anywhere!"
Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who is more than their job title.
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2009 3D Coaching Ltd May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
Jeremy writes: "I am sure in all the social and business gatherings of the past month you have been asked this question a few times! It is fascinating that many familiar, everyday questions are not answered in the words in which they are asked. The usual answer to this question is often more of a throwaway line:
'Oh, I’m an accountant''I don’t work, I’m just a housewife' (note the just!)'For my sins, I work at the council offices''I used to be a nurse but I’m a full-time mum (or dad) now''I’m not anything at the moment, I’ve been made redundant from the bank actually...'
The question uses a verb (do) and the answer is bundled up by an all embracing noun e.g. accountant or nurse. It is as if (in this shorthand) the questioner is supposed to know that because I am an accountant, you can work out for yourself what I do (i.e count ?).
The problem with this sort of exchange in the job market, a vitally important market for many at the moment, is that it is unhelpful and often misleading. Good accountants do much more than count. The recruitment consultant or prospective employer or networking contact actually wants to know what you do (use lots of flowing, active verbs), not your job title(s) and appointments (very dried-up, well-worn nouns). Most jobs contain a wide variety of tasks, relationships and ways of working which are inadequately described by “I am a nurse”.
Think about what you do now, and what you really want to do, and how you set about your work in general, and learn to describe it all concisely with lots of verbs describing your activities, character and modus operandi. That will lead to all sorts of questions and conversation.
The answer 'I’m just an (anything)' doesn’t lead anywhere!"
Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who is more than their job title.
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2009 3D Coaching Ltd May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
Friday, January 16, 2009
Juggling in 3D 413: Landscape Gardening
Claire writes: "In Lee Child's 'The Visitor', Gary - one of the crime profilers used to be a landscape gardener. In an off the cuff comment, another character notices that was a strange move. Gary responds: "It was relevant. It teaches you to see the big picture. To be patient."
Our skills are as transferable as we allow them to be... and then it's all in the marketing and how we communicate that to a potential employer. Take the helicopter view: If you were observing someone doing your job - from a distance - describe the skills which you use in a generic way. Once you are convinced they are transferable you will be able to convince someone else."
Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who is looking for a complete change of direction.
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2009 3D Coaching Ltd May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
Claire writes: "In Lee Child's 'The Visitor', Gary - one of the crime profilers used to be a landscape gardener. In an off the cuff comment, another character notices that was a strange move. Gary responds: "It was relevant. It teaches you to see the big picture. To be patient."
Our skills are as transferable as we allow them to be... and then it's all in the marketing and how we communicate that to a potential employer. Take the helicopter view: If you were observing someone doing your job - from a distance - describe the skills which you use in a generic way. Once you are convinced they are transferable you will be able to convince someone else."
Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who is looking for a complete change of direction.
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2009 3D Coaching Ltd May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
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