Category: Job Search Process

You are your only competition

Every one of us… is a unique mixture of experience & knowledge… and we lessen the importance of what we offer – not only to a potential Employer… but to our profession… when we allow ourselves to become an “applicant.” If you are going to be what you believe you can be, the thought process must be first turned INTERNAL.
I have a great honor every day to be able to speak with some truly outstanding men & women representing the Investigative, Security, Surveillance, Risk Management, and Loss Prevention industry. The #1 response to my question of “What do you think is keeping you from finding the job you want?” is the same. Can you guess what that answer is?
If you have found yourself looking for a job or looking to advance in your career then you already know the answer: Speaking to a decision maker.
With all of the technological advancements since posting job openings in newspapers “help wanted” section – for us, it was the Chicago Tribune – it to actually getting to speak with someone “in charge.” With technological improvements, this has only gotten more difficult.
What you need to realize Mr. or Ms. Job Seeker, the easier it is to “send” your resume, the more resumes an organization received. Yours becomes just another message in the inbox.
Differentiate the approach.

Character will give you respect

Let us not forget, yes you in the under 40ish crowd, 3 No matter what your managers told you or you “learned” in your higher learning institutions, YOU are responsible for more than the numbers on the P& L, the staff’s productivity or how many widgets you sell. 

The TRUE leaders are the ones that make a lasting impact on others within their circle of influence, through the VALUE they provide during THEIR career. 

“Knowledge will give you power but character will give you respect.”

America was once the greatest country in the world BECAUSE of our vision, our grit, our determination & the ability of the leaders to turn around & offer a hand to those climbing the ladder with them. As we “industrialized” we got off that path instead searching for wealth & higher profits. The fact remains, we can do BOTH!

We need to get back to the core that made AMERICA the country EVERYONE wanted to go to. We have to expose those in power who step on the necks of the people that are actually the ones doing the work, representing the companies & protecting the brand. BECOME the financially successful “leaders” we see publicized. 

We can build EMPIRES with an ARMY of highly paid, highly educated, highly qualified and highly competent teams around us… (Psst… it makes the teams highly LOYAL as well).    

How to build a life you don’t need a Vacation from

“….Build a life that I don’t need a vacation from.” There it was again.  The term “vacation from” kept going around and around in my head.  Then I realized this phrase came up in passing during THREE conversations last week alone, but what was the takeaway during my customary “week in review?”  In my profession, people are usually on their best behavior.  They dress to impress, have focused engagement, ask challenging questions and care to listen to my responses to their inquiries. 

The people I work with see me as “useful” in some way to their long-term success.  Does that mean I am not seeing who they really are? Quite the contrary.  I am seeing who they should be more often. The good part of my career choice is most people are happy to talk to me and can I feel that coming through the phone or during a Skype call.  See they understand that my job is not that of a “traditional” Recruiter.  My goal is to support people in the Investigative & Security profession make informed decisions about their career development and trajectory, using all the available tools – first impressions, résumés, LinkedIn profiles and even simple reminders to have certain questions prepared to interview the interviewer – anything that is needed to meet their career goals.

Why does this matter in context to finding an answer to our question on how to build a life you don’t need a vacation from?  Simple, because I have done it.  While there are difficult conversations and times where people are in desperate need and finding them an opportunity is providing difficult, the people I am calling usually pick up the phone when I call and when I need to leave a message, I don’t even have the thought in my head that I won’t get a call back in a reasonable timeframe.  From that perspective, I have been successful building my life and my career. But it hasn’t always been that way.

The difference between good and great is attetnion to detail.

Because of my investigative training, when I hear things multiple times from seemingly unconnected sources, my mind picks up on it.  Associations, phrases, places, people, and tie-ins fairly quickly make me curious. That’s why I was perplexed when I couldn’t quite put my finger on where this phrase from or why it popped in these conversations.  I know I have heard it before, but why does it seem to be gaining traction now? Has it become a buzz word on social media, the news, or on some online content?

I am an avid reader, but sometimes I must admit, I don’t always remember all the great sayings, phrases, quotes, one-liners, zingers, advice, and words of wisdom from the business and thought leaders that one comes across in a lifetime, let alone from all of recorded history. This one, however, was sitting on the edge of my subconscious toying with me. So while I had a few minutes before a meeting, I decided to perform a meditation I was taught called Brain Bouncing.

Let’s review the concept.  If you are having trouble with some detail, a fact, a place, a reference point or something more elaborate, the first thing to do is quiet the mind. Despite popular opinion, Brain Bouncing is not repeatedly bouncing you head off a hard surface in frustration as often depicted in satire.  Brain Bouncing is a way to allow our over-stimulated monkey brain to focus attention specifically on the inputs you released.  Think of it like a pinball machine and the thought you want to focus on is the steel ball.  The goal of the steel ball, continuing with the analogy, is to allow the full attention of your experiences and sub-conscience mind to make the associations and for you to focus on simply listening.

This works better if everything else in your surroundings is quiet as well. So turn off the music, turn off your ringer, silence the notifications from your computer and if you are driving, don’t be an idiot…pull over and park.  You can think while driving, but Brain Bouncing takes you much deeper. You might look weird if people walk by and you’re doing this in your car, but screw them, it’s not about them – it’s about you.  You have nothing to prove to anyone, so stop worrying about the external. Focus on the goal.

After you start to quiet your mind, let it wander. Don’t try to control it.  It will take you here and there with what you have to do later, what you didn’t do earlier but soon it will stop pinballing around from thought to thought when it runs low on stimulation. The trick is to not add stimulus and whatever you do, don’t add fuel to the fire as your brain attempts to provoke you into feeding your neurotransmitters. Now, when you have begun to capture the first signs of control of your thoughts, you will begin to pick up stimulation from wherever you are. The sounds outside, the engine if you left it running, the ticking of your watch, birds, the air conditioning unit in your office, the buzz of the fluorescent lights.  When you notice that feeling, I find it most beneficial to give a little smirk, the mind is now under your control.

Now the only thing you need to do is offer your mind a question for it to play with. Break down the thoughts that you are looking for clarification on into smaller more digestible parts. For me, this instruction on “Brain Bouncing” has helped me jar memories and quite literally get the riddle solved.  Start with the first question that comes to mind on the topic you were thinking about.  “Is having a job you look forward to doing every day asking too much?”  Let your inner voice continue to bounce it around and to follow any line of questioning that comes to mind. “What type of  job would make the 40 or more hours fly by?” “How much money would be enough per hour for someone to do something they couldn’t stand doing anyway?”  “Is it a job taken out of necessity or does the person feel like they are not good enough at doing something to ask for more pay?” “When did you feel this way?” “What was the last trip you took where you felt the need to take a vacation from work?”  “Could someone that is always looking forward to the next trip lack the transferable skills to make a career transition so they can get into a field that better suits their personality or passions?” “How do you build a life that you don’t need a vacation from…” and I started to see the follically challenged best selling author in my head (no, not Tim Ferriss, the other one) – Seth Godin.

“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape.” Seth Godin

At the same time, I realized something else of importance, life is a combination of things that need to be done for an exchange of money and relationships and interactions with others.  The feeling of escape can arise from any part the life that’s been built so far – the job choices made, the external negative or positive stimulation (noise) or from relationships – those people that come in contact with us on a daily basis that make our daily tasks unbearable.  That’s the tie-in.

We are being bombarded with ignorant, arrogant, uneducated, greedy, rude, and self-aggrandizing blowhards.  They are everywhere. Although it was right there in front of me the whole time, it took me a while to see how the slow escalation of our inability to say what we feel or feel that there would be negative repercussions, lead us to develop an entirely new method of communication-based on soft symbolism.  Therefore a life in which one does not need to “take a vacation from” is an example of a new school of thought that is replacing previously used and outdated catchphrases and expressions such as “I am a hard worker,” “team player” or “track record.”

The new school way is much more subtle and it has been inspired by thought leaders who are saying, in most instances, what has been failed to be clearly expressed for years: it all matters. In one of Seth’s books, The Dip, he looks to teach readers “when to quit and when to stick.”  How could I have missed the breadcrumbs? During many previous conversations with clients, they were not just telling me that they were dedicated, hard-working, honest, motivated employees, they were telling me that they can be more, desire to be more, and are reaching for more. They have, even after all the turmoil and chaos in their sector of our industry, they have decided to “stick” and continue to dedicate their time and efforts to making themselves and by default their industry better.

The Investigations, Security, Risk Managment & Loss Prevention industry is filled with amazing, hard-working, dedicated professionals, who invest their time, energy, and passion into making positive long-term impacts on a part of the world that is being negatively affected by those in the society that has a broken moral compass. Too often they are doing this at a rate of compensation that is below the value they bring. The tide has been slowly changing.  While AI and robotics are on course to have a monumental impact on the security and investigative profession, the job seekers that are focused on constant improvement, and are dedicated to a self-directed career management objective will never become obsolete.

Finding a career that you don’t want a vacation from

Life requires different actions depending on your challenges. I hope that these techniques and concepts will help you “stick” in our industry. There is no doubt that you are needed. Give yourself permission to experiment with new things in order to find out what works for you. What works will vary depending on your circumstances. Never give up working on yourself.

Are you fulfilled in your current role? Do you look forward to going to work? Are you ever shocked that hours went by but it only felt like minutes? Do you find yourself always reading materials or listening to podcasts related to your profession? How about at work? Are you in a position that excites you with its ever-changing flow? Are you surrounded by a great team of like-minded professionals?  Are you paid at or above for the duties you perform?

If you or someone you know within YOUR trusted network needs a more fulfilling, challenging, financially rewarding job – please contact me or send me your Résumé and I work to facilitate an introduction to an Employer that can help you reach your true potential.

You can also learn more about me, read more blog posts, or download tips to create a career and life you love in the investigative, Security, Risk Management or Loss Prevention industry.

14 Smart Questions to Ask Before Your Next Job Interview Ends

Here is a list of 14 smart questions to ask the interviewer before your next job interview ends, that will not only make you look more intelligent but allow you to uncover more of the intel you need about the inner workings of a prospective company and uncover details that you might not have otherwise unveiled. Sound similar to duties within the Investigation & Security industry? It should.

The specific topic that we are addressing today revolves around what you need to do now that you’ve landed the interview. We are going to walk you through a few of the most common stumbling blocks, pitfalls, and traps that might keep you from advancing your career and how certain questions should trigger you to provide the responses you have been anticipating addressing.

This preparation includes not only researching the potential employer before agreeing to the sit-down interview, but you should always use the results of your research that will allow you to have a few questions prepared to go into any job interview. It’s the best way for you to determine if you would be happy working for this employer and whether your goals are aligned.

Yes, you are going to be gathering intelligence before, during and after the interview, so we recommend you be methodical and diligent. Both are the unwritten and unexpressed job requirements if you are going to represent the Investigative and Security industry, so get to know them intimately. Yes, there are similarities to the industry you represent, even in the initial job search stages, so if you are going to do it right, you should start off right.

While this article will provide insight, the greatest thing that you can take from this is one simple concept; you are not the only one being interviewed. No, we are not referencing the other potential candidates that the Interviewer might have scheduled for that day or to be interviewed for the same position. You, as the manager of your own career, are interviewing the employer just as much as they are interviewing you.

This meeting is your chance to discover if the job and the company to determine if this position and this company are right for you. Asking questions will give you the ability to discover some very important answers that will help you make the best career decisions in the short and long term. The very process of allowing you the ability to ask questions completely changes the dynamic of the interview and the hiring manager’s perception of you.

To be most effective, we need to start from the beginning. Stop looking at these interviews as a Job Interview and start seeing them as Career Advancement Interviews. The sooner you do, the sooner you will change not only how you conduct them, but the results you obtain. The goal is to have both you and the interviewer convinced that the job would be a great fit. To achieve this goal, for right now our focus must be on your proactive questions and not just answering the reactive ones.

So when the tables are turned and the interviewer asks, “Do you have any questions for me?” take advantage of this opportunity. This question is no longer an HR formality, it’s expected that you provide at least two questions. You are being tested. Yep, everything is said and every interaction point is a test. If you are not prepared with questions at this point you will appear disinterested in the job and the company.

If a candidate doesn’t have questions for me, it’s a huge red flag. Been in all three of the roles we are discussing; the interviewed, the interviewer and a neutral third party Recruiter, questions make or break the chances of a successful outcome in an Investigative or Security Interview.

We suggest having at minimum four questions prepared in case your original two are answered through the course of the interview. If you come across anything but engaged, I mean fully engaged, you will appear less intelligent, passionate, less of a team player and will be seen as not a good fit. To benefit from them, you need to think carefully about what you want to ask. Asking engaging questions is vital. Don’t’ ask questions for the sake of asking questions. Your questions can make or break your chances and if they’re not thoughtful or if you ask something that has already been addressed, you can hurt your chances more than it can help.

At the end, the interviewer will more than likely ask you the same question they have asked all the candidates before you… “Do you have any questions?” It’s an obvious question that you would be expecting and if it sounds canned, that’s because it is. There is a very good reason for this question. The very best interviewers in the Investigation & Security profession know not only to ask quality questions but how to ask questions. Many Human Resource professionals are just as adept at the investigative process as their field counterparts so don’t make any assumptions here.

Here are some smart questions to choose from – if they were not already addressed and answered to your satisfaction – to help you get a better overview of the role and the company. If presented correctly they will allow you to leave the interview with a positive and lasting impression. Use this list to make sure you’ve covered all your bases and with the understanding that no all questions will be appropriate for all positions or for all levels of career advance you are applying to.

The questions have already been formulated in the order that would produce the most advantageous results.

Question 1: Have I answered all your questions?

We suggest that before you begin asking your questions, using this as the first question “an open the door” and to transition into taking more of control of the conversation. To do this effectively you need to find out if there’s anything they’d like you to elaborate on.

You can do this by saying something like: “Yes, I do have a few questions for you — but before we get into those, I am wondering if I’ve sufficiently answered all of your questions?”

The interviewer will not only appreciate the offer, but it will give you a chance to gauge how well you’re doing. After you ask this question, keep quiet and look for verbal clues even if you feel that there is a long pause and your inner voice wants to fill the void with conversation. Give them the chance to respond.

If they say, “No, you answered all of my questions,” then take a reading of the non-verbal clues as well. This may tell you-you’re in good shape or if you need to drill down a little farther. If the interviewer responds with respond with, “Actually, could you tell me more about X?” or “Would you be able to clarify what you meant when you said Y?” this is your chance to add clarification. Don’t underestimate the value of this ability.

Question 2: How do I compare with the ideal candidate for this position?

This is a quick way to figure out whether your skills align with what the company and what they are currently looking for. If they don’t match up, then continuing to consider this opportunity is a waste of your time. Move to the “What’s your timeline for making a decision, and when can I expect to hear back from you” question, wait for their response, thank them for their time, and make your exit.

Question 3: What do you like most about working for this company?

What you are trying to do here is to find out the unadvertised advantages and to create a sense of camaraderie. This question gives you a chance to get an insider’s view of the best parts about working for the employer and the interviewer has extensive knowledge of the daily operations of the organization so there is no one better to ask at this stage.

Beyond the hard skills required to successfully perform this job, what soft skills would serve the company and position best?

Knowing what the interviewer knows about the skills the company thinks are important will give you more insight into its culture and management values. After the interview, you can evaluate whether you would fit in. The fit is just as important as the ability to complete job-related tasks.

Question 4: If you were to hire me, what might I expect on a typical day?

Starting the question off with the word “if” allows the interviewer to compare you with other candidates he or she has met with mentally. It also shows that you are not making an assumption about your qualifications and fit within the organization. It also gives you a better idea of what the job would be like on a daily basis so you can decide whether you have the skills to be successful in it and want to continue pursuing it.

Question 5: Do you have any hesitations about my qualifications?

You are intentionally putting yourself in a vulnerable position. It shows that you are confident enough in your skills and abilities to openly bring up and discuss your weaknesses. It also gives you another chance to look for verbal clues to how you are doing. Give them the chance to respond. Whatever the answer, don’t be defensive; you have been given a gift. Accept it graciously.

Question 6: Can you tell me what steps need to be completed before your company can generate an offer?

This is crucial. You need to know these details as they have an impact on you directly. Asking about an offer rather than a decision will give you a better sense of the timeline. Choosing to ask the interviewer about a “decision” is too subjective. We suggest using the word that reflects what you really want to know when asking the question: an offer.

Question 7: What are the challenges of this position?

Every job will have its challenges. What you are looking for here is honesty. If the interviewer says, “There aren’t any,” or talks in generalities to skate around the answer, you need to proceed with caution.

Question 8: What type of employee tends to succeed here and what are the qualities most important for doing well and advancing here?

Make a statement, while asking your question. Shows the interviewer that you care about your future at the company. This is also another question that is geared to help you decide if you’re a good fit for the position. When listing to the response, the individual they are describing should sound a lot like you.

Question 9: Is there anyone else I need to meet with or that would like me to meet with me?

This question will give you insight into how much the company values building team synergy. Yes, we like the word synergy at EyeRecruit, Inc. In addition, if the interviewer tells you additional information about the hiring process at this stage, you’ve gained a better sense of the hiring timeline.

Question 10: Will I have an opportunity to meet those who would be part of my team (or my manager) during the interview process?

This depends greatly on the level of position you are applying for. Getting the chance to meet with potential teammates or managers is essential to any professional interview process and will help you assess your position within the organizational structure.

Question 11: How do you evaluate success here?

The ability to know if the Employer’s values align with your own and how a company measures its employees’ success is important. The interviewer’s answer will help you understand what it would take to advance in your career working there.

Question 12: Is there anything we haven’t covered that you think is important to know about working here?

We suggest this as one of the first wrap-up questions and it will give you a break from doing all the talking. The goal here is to get an answer you didn’t even know to ask but is essential.

Question 13: What’s your timeline for making a decision, and when can I expect to hear back from you?

We use this as the suggested second to last wrap up question. This question tells the interviewer you’re interested in the role (if that is, in fact, correct) and eager to find out about their decision. After you have determined your fit for the position and culture, knowing a company’s hiring timeline should become your ultimate goal. The answer to this question will help you determine when and how to follow up, and how long you should wait before moving on.

Question 14: Is there anything else I can provide to help you make your decision?

This is the final wrap up question. This simple question will give you peace of mind that you’ve covered all your bases. This is what we refer to as a “proper” closing question. Presented correctly shows eagerness to help and be a team player, but does it with character and style.

 

 

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Don’t look back

Every week, I speak to someone in our industry about career management who talks about their past in a negative context. I shut them up right away with the question “What did you learn?”  The answer should be what they should have done.  No excuses, no complaining and no placing of blame so should a part of the response.  It’s not an error, a career negative “mark” or something holding you back from achieving your goals.

Don’t look back – you’re not going that way. 

Survey what happened right after your internal voice let’s you know something wasn’t right and address it then an there.  Listen to yourself.  2018 – stop the negative self talk.  Determine what would have been the best thing to have done and tell yourself “now you know.”  Learn everyday.  Don’t internalize it. Don’t use negative speech internally. Your career is based on experience.  Experience is both good and not so good.  The goal is to make it more good everyday.

Some of the very best Investigators & Security Specialists I have even met freely admit that they made mistakes, screwed up, could have handled something better or wished they had made a better decision previously in their life / career.  As I got to know them better… those were the EXACT times that their career started to launch into amazing heights!

What I look for – and what all the Hiring Managers | CEO’s | Board of Directors in my network look for – isn’t just the problems you had, but how you handled yourself, what you learned from the experience and how all the experiences have brought you to this exact point in your career.  From there we look for cultural fit and your ability to achieve success within the position you are being considered for.  Is looking back more than reflection?