whew...

Looking back over my last six years, it would be easy to ask,
“what if…?” “why did I…?” or say, “wish I would have…”

Did you ever play 3 Flies Up as a kid? It can be played with either a football or a ball and bat. I remember this one kid on our street who would always yell, “Do-over!” if the game didn’t go exactly his way. The rest of us would all yell, “No do-overs!”

There are no do-overs in life.  We do not get a second chance to say something different, to take an alternate path, to respond in a better or more mature way.

What we do get is an opportunity to learn from the past, from our experiences, good or bad.  The great Henry Ford, known not only for his brilliant innovation, but also his wisdom, said: “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again intelligently.”   Wisdom comes in all forms, and unfortunately, sometimes the form taken is failure.  Sometimes, it’s watching others struggle or fail.  Sometimes, it’s being a part of a collective failure.  Wouldn’t it be great if all experiences were categorized, Dewey-decimalized, google-ized, and made available to a needing-to-learn-an-easier-way public?

Four and a half years ago, I found myself in a job that was headed toward elimination.  Hiring within the start-up where I worked was beginning to slow  and other early signs of collapse loomed ugly over our heads.  Reluctantly, I began my own job search. My various thoughts: I should have never taken this job. I should have never left my other comfortable job of five years. What could I have done differently to prevent the current situation? Did I bring all these people to a company doomed for failure? What signs should I have seen early on?

Whatever was to be my ultimate outcome, I knew then what a great learning experience it had been. What I gained was far more valuable than what I lost. As a result of being in that position, I had been encouraged by my CEO to go back to school and get my business degree – the company would subsidize my tuition based on  my grades.  How could I pass up that opportunity?

I signed up at a private university only a few miles from my office.  Fall semester went off without a hitch, 12 units – four classes, straight  A’s.  But when I submitted my grades for reimbursement, a check never found it’s way back to me.  I submitted again, now they were avoiding me… The realization set in.  I was out of luck and going to have to figure out how to pay my tuition bill on my own.  Thank goodness for student loans.   This also meant, I knew I for sure had to leave, the company was in trouble.

I did finish my business degree in less than two years.  And though the job ended sourly, were it not for that job I would not have gone down that new path.  An admirable woman, Mother Theresa, said, “I know the Lord will never give me more than I can handle, I just wish he didn’t have so much faith in me.”

It was tough. It was the hardest thing I have ever accomplished, but I did it and I have no intention of ever yelling, “Do-over!”

Rayanne Thorn, @ray_anne is the Marketing Director for the online recruiting software company, Broadbean Technology.  She is also a proud mother of four residing in Laguna Beach, California, and a contributor for Blogging4Jobs.  Connect with her on LinkedIn.  

Several years ago, I faced a very difficult time. I had left a long-time position as an executive recruiter but was soon working as an in-house recruiting manager and recognized rather quickly that I wanted more for myself. I had tampered with completing my business degree but was so caught up in my work and family that I just couldn’t see how I could possibly find the time. How could I possibly squeeze one more thing into my already crammed day?

As a corporate recruiter in a start-up, I didn’t have a lot to offer jobseekers by way of salary or company brand, but one of the initiatives that aided me in the recruitment process was the extensive business training that was offered to and actually required of each new hire. It was touted as a mini-MBA and was very intensive. Multiple business books were required reading, including “The Fifth Discipline” and “Diffusions of Innovation” – not exactly light reading. However, we were also expected to read such delightful fare as “The Fred Factor” and “The Purple Cow.”

One book was entitled No Excuse Leadership by Brace Barber. It related stories from the Army Ranger School and the trials and evils faced by participants there. As I read through the pages with images of men and women struggling to finish a mud run or climb through a barbed wire obstacle course, I realized my days of fighting traffic on the 55 and piles of laundry were really nothing compared to mud up my nose and days without sleep. If these leaders-in-the-making could survive their training – facing fear and war, then so could I.

I made the decision right then and was registered for fall classes by the next afternoon. Throughout that time, I was often cranky, exhausted, felt like I couldn’t think one more thought or write one more line but I never regretted my decision or toyed with the idea of dropping a course or excusing myself from the whole, tiring process. For indeed, it was grueling but that was no excuse and nothing felt so good as accepting a diploma for something I had worked so hard to achieve.

Leadership requires one to let go of preconceived notions of how to listen and guide. This is a distinct difference from management, which requires structure and discipline and tends to be separate and independent of the recognition that each participant brings something unique and wonderful to a team. Management is the letter of the law, whereas leadership is the spirit of the law. We often disregard the impact others may have on our actions or choices, citing sovereign thought and procedure. Be quick to recognize that reasons stand behind every aspect of life, from decisions to what just is. Reasons, yes. Excuses, no.

Rayanne Thorn, @ray_anne is the Marketing Director for the online recruiting software company, Broadbean Technology.  She is also a proud mother of four residing in Laguna Beach, California, and a contributor for Blogging4Jobs.  Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Colleges and universities are working hard to find new ways to engage, embrace, and educate students on the how to’s surrounding finding a job.  I was humbled to be asked to attend Oklahoma’s Association for Career and Employment Services (called OKACE) as a speaker.  It’s no secret that the job search is tough these days and uber competitive.  A career service department is working hard to do just that.

There were many topics, discussions, and conversations surrounding the future of employment services and how companies and universities can work together.  I feel this is key in teaching our future employees and recent graduates especially since communication is of the essence.  The overwhelming response from the audience was that communication was important and the number current challenge.  With the increase of texting, twitter, and social media as a increasingly popular form of communication.  According to Career Services, the fine art of face to face communication is being lost.

• Communication. In the business word this is essential.  The written word can be interpreted so many different ways and in this electronic word face to face interaction is even more important.  Career Service departments and Universities should provide additional training and instruction on how and why verbal communication is a must.  This could be in the form of company testimonials or workshops.  This is a problem that is not going away and by working together we can help to provide mentorship and examples of how and why communication is important.

• Leveraging Social Media. This is becoming a must in our new media world.  The concept of social recruiting is becoming an important topic among recruiters and businesses who are looking to adapt to the world of FaceBook & Twitter.  Companies like Best Buy are no longer relying on job boards and traditional forms of advertisements using social media and texting to drive candidates to apply for openings.  Social Media is more than just a FaceBook Like Page and Twitter.  It’s about engagement and being available to your audience whenever and wherever they are.  Social Media does that.

• Twitter Lists. The University of Oklahoma Career Services department shared with me that companies are asking students to engage them on Twitter and follow them to learn about jobs and internships instead of advertising openings with colleges and job boards.  Career Services can help educate students on this new media world while also encouraging them to engage companies on social media through Twitter lists.  Career Services can create lists and categorize companies and jobs using this tool allowing for students to easily follow companies with the click of a mouse.

• The Real World. The University and College system does not always mirror reality for students and university employees.  I encourage Career Service departments to get out there and experience the work environment of both the private and public sectors.  This could include attending events and groups outside of the traditional norm, job or company shadowing and having a constant and open dialogue with companies and businesses.  This includes speaking with hiring managers, human resource professionals, line managers, resume writers, and everyone associated with the hiring and decision making process.  These conversations although they seem time consuming are key in helping CS evaluate if they are meeting the needs of the student and business populations in which they serve.

Photo Credit Tree Hugger.

Companies and collegiate job seekers look to social networking as a way to attract and develop relationships online and offline during and after their college experience.  Companies use blogs, social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace, and job boards to attract job seekers and develop an online brand and image. Affinity networking websites can offer companies a unique opportunities to build and solidify a personal relationship with students and alumni.

Online affinity community networking are targeted websites provide forums for job seekers to network with other job seekers within their university, geographic, or interest and also engage companies in a comfortable, controlled, and casual atmosphere.  Businesses can use podcasts, YouTube videos, testimonials, and other tools to establish relationships and connections.  Job seekers can create profiles similar to those on LinkedIn to connect with companies that are targeted their candidate search as well as establish or build new relationships with other affinity group members.

MyWorkster.com is a collegiate networking site launched earlier this year that allowed for interactive profiles that offer integrated social networking features that work with Bebo, Skype, among others.  Companies can engage students and alumni within their designated university group or outside.  University Career Service departments can promote the networking site for free for basic services while employer costs are subscription based.  Alumni and students can engage others within the network using user profiles or community groups.

Another specialty affinity networking group that caters to current and former student is Career Athletes. Career Athletes provides companies a way to engage alumni and student athletes who have demonstrated leadership, teamwork, and competitive behaviors that can easily be translated to the professional business world.  Businesses can use videos, testimonials, and email campaigns to reach candidates using their athlete database or targeted university, community advertising, or by participating in their campus visit program.   Student and alumni can build relationships with one another by participating in their mentor program as well as developing relationships on community message boards.

As social media networking platforms membership and popularity continues to grow, niche affinity networking groups will continue to be an important way to engage members with commonalities or of similar group interests or backgrounds.  The courting candidate process especially for competitive industries continues to grow in importance as companies seek to gain a competitive advantage from a student’s freshman year and as an experienced professional and alumni.

Recent college grads learn very quickly that the job search process can be long, drawn out, confusing, and uncertain. Students often graduate from college without a clear understanding of what their future plans are or how their college degree will play into their professional future. I speak from personal experience. I graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Anthropology and a minor in Business. I will admit I had no idea of the job I wanted to do or the field or industry I wanted to work in. I was fortunate enough to receive a job offer several months prior to graduation with Target as a retail manager and eventually fell into the Human Resource profession. However, not every recent grad is so lucky.

1. Set yourself apart from the rest. As a college student, every person in your degree program should be considered your competition in your job search. It’s important to differentiate yourself from your competition through internships, part time jobs, and other clubs and activities.

2. Get your marketing materials together. It’s never too early to put together a professional resume or portfolio. I recommend ordering professional business cards for yourself to hand out as you meet new contacts at job fairs, college, and networking events. Never miss an opportunity to make a life long professional connection.

3. Join organizations and networking groups outside of your college and university. Spread your wings and get out there in the real world. Join local organizations specific to your degree program like Women in Communication or Society for Human Resource Management. Don’t be afraid to join local organizations outside of your degree program like Toastmasters or the Chamber of Commerce.

4. Internships & volunteer work are essential. These are becoming more and more important for valuable experience and networking. Use your networking to your advantage to gain unadvertised internships. Volunteer for extra projects and ask for more. Don’t be afraid to talk to someone within the organization you are interning with about career opportunities upon graduation at their company or any they recommend.

5. Create your own destiny. Don’t just sit on the sidelines. Start your own company or ask for more responsibilities and experience at your current company. Let the company you work for or volunteer with know that you are available for future projects in your degree field. For example while in college, I started my own residential and commercial cleaning business allowing me to gain valuable business, accounting, and marketing skills that I continue to use to this day.

6. Get a mentor. Develop a relationship with a professional in your field of professional interest. Ask for their advice and assistance in professional decisions like attending graduate school or internships.

7. Do your research. Read articles, attend seminiars, meet with professors and professionals in your field of interest. Don’t be afraid to ask companies you are interested in to schedule an “Informational Interview.” These interviews allow you to gain valuable insight into what qualities and qualifications specific companies are looking for.

Your professional job search should begin months or even years before you actually graduate. Stay focused and keep your goal in mind in everything you do and say. Be creative, take risks, and don’t be satisifed with the norm.