Career Talk: Job Interview Hair Styles

Summer is here and lots of peeps seem to be in the mood to explore career opportunities.  I have received loads of resumes lately so I wanted to visit some career talk.

The toughest part of the interview planning is probably the outfit.  Need some ideas? Check out my {previous post} for some outfits less than $100.  Once you have the outfit, next comes hair.  This can be tricky.  The necklines on your outfit will give you some guidance and what your hair feels like doing the morning of can be hard to plan for, but let's just say all goes well.....here are some safe choices.

For short hair....nothing too slicked back.  A soft, loose style is sure to appeal.  A 1.25" curling iron will give a loose wave and a couple bobby pins can polish the look.

Medium hair has lots of options.  Down or half up.  Be sure not to have hair covering your eyes.  This can be a distraction for you and the people interviewing you.  You want to eliminate anything that can make you nervous.  For those that can pull off the center-part, this is a polished look.  You want to look put together but not pageant.  

Long hair ladies have great job interview hairstyle options too.  Again, polish is key.  Put together but not too fussy.  Pretty but authoritative.  Here are some great interview (and day-to-day) options.

Want more career tips?  Check out this section {on my blog} 

10 traveling (for work) essentials

I have had a very busy couple weeks.  Work is really busy and I have been on the road more than usual.
Last week was the whirlwind of day trips, working in five separate cities in five days.  I did some driving and some flying and by week's end, I was a packing pro.  Here are some essentials for career travel:

1.  A tote large enough to carry your essentials is helpful.  It is a little annoying to have to carry multiple bags.

2.  My ipad mini is perfect for travel.  I don't need to use it often but it's light and compact and slides right into my bag, should I need it.

3.  Lotion is a must.  I like Crabtree & Evelyn.  It is a super luxe lotion that absorbs nicely.

4.  TicTacs are an everyday essential.

5.  I don't leave home without my Burt's Bees.

6.  I keep composition notebooks on hand for note taking.  I especially like these notebooks because the pages stay in place.  It's also a great size to slide in a tote.

7.  I have chargers in my car, at home and at my office.  I receive at least 100 emails a day so extending my battery keeps me on task.

8.  I learned about #8 the hard way.  I was with someone that is a "late eater".  It was 1:00 and he hadn't even mentioned lunch.  Granola bars are a light snack to keep on hand until you can stop for a bite to eat.

9.  Refill, refill, refill.  

10.Last week I flew two hours north and the temperature was 20+ degrees cooler.  I didn't even think to check before we left.  I looked for rain but didn't check the temps.  A neutral blazer is also perfect if your colleagues decide to grab a drink after a long day at the office.  

Tacky Christmas Sweater Contest

We had our annual Tacky Sweater contest at work Monday and I am happy to say I did not win.  I was out of town this weekend and didn't have much time to get my outfit ready so I grabbed my sweater from last year's contest, got out the hot glue gun and added a few more touches to upgrade the tackiness.  

Melissa, on the far left was this year's winner and Teri, second from the left was runner-up.  

We also had our annual office luncheon and instead of exchanging gifts, we decided about five years ago to donate toys to local families in need.  It's a great way to celebrate the holidays together.  

What are your workplace traditions?  

Career Talk: Resume References

If you are on a hunt for a new job, employers will first judge you based on your resume.  Your references are a key ingredient in your resume.  I recommend providing references when you send in your resume.  If you opt against that, I would bring them with me to the interview.  Make it easier for the employer to consider bringing you onto the team.  

First, who do you add as a reference?  Former employers are an obvious choice.  This includes supervisors and colleagues.  If you are part of a professional or trade organization and are known by business associates there, they would be a suitable choice. 

Avoid family members.  Friends would be okay in my opinion, but only as a last resort.  You are looking for individuals that can confirm specific skills that will be used in the job you are in pursuit for. 

How should you format references on your resume?  I found this graphic which shows a simple but effective format.  Remember, if these are coming in on a second sheet of paper remember to label your personal information at the top of the page, consistent with your resume.  You don't want your references to get lost in a stack and be unidentifiable.  

      

Extra points:  I recently hired for a position and the candidate that got the job not only had references that gave great feedback to verify skills but had online reviews on her personal LinkedIn profile.  While this wasn't a deciding factor for offering employment, it certainly made her stand out above the rest.  

Speaking of LinkedIn, if you have personal information online, keep it updated.  I can tell you with certainty that employers are looking online to see what they can find out about you.  

Tell the truth:  This speaks for itself.  Major employers will do a thorough background check and verify your resume information.  Don't stretch the truth.  Credentials are important.  Personal skills and characteristics are more important.

Above and beyond:  Looking for a modern way to wow employers.  Check this out.  A QR code (quick response) with a video testimonial of a reference.  

Have job search questions?  Send them my way.  I have interviewed more than 100 candidates and seen hundreds of resumes.  Happy Job Hunting!

Read about {Business Casual Interview Outfits}

Not getting call backs? Here are {5 Reasons they won't hire you}

Career Talk: Use your calendar to get a raise

October means we are in the homestretch of 2013.  You've worked hard all year and employee reviews are on the horizon.  Now is the time to start preparing for your 2014 goals.

Depending on what you are reaching for; whether it is a higher salary, a different position, a more flexible schedule or anything else, follow these tips are you are well on your way.

You can become a top member of your team by changing one simple thing.  Don't just follow-up, follow through.  There is a big difference between the two and if you can master follow through, relentless follow through, you will immediately start writing your own paychecks.

Follow up means to pursue.  Follow through means you will see the task through to the end.  See a task to the end and you will become one of your organization's most valuable employees.

I work for a homebuilder.  I oversee a team of about 20, plus more than 100 trade partners and suppliers and nearly 100 homes under construction.  If you've built a new home before you know how emotional it can be.  You are living in your current home, working, raising a family and oh yeah....also building another home. We can't tell our buyers exactly when the home will be ready for move-in and they are trying to plan their lives.  Will they be in the new house for Thanksgiving?  Christmas?  Next, add three months straight of rain and now a government shutdown, which has halted loans closing.  Now imagine all that and multiply by 100 because each of our 100 buyers what to know what is happening NOW.

Seeing a task to the end means calls, emails and more calls and emails.  Calling once to follow up isn't good enough. "I called her but she hasn't called back" doesn't cut it for top performers.  Call today, call again tomorrow and call again the next day until you get the job done.  I have a really great team but my top performing superstars all have the same mindset, follow through.  Relentless follow through.  Your Outlook calendar or your cell phone calendar is the key to making this happen.  Make yourself a reminder to follow up and make another step towards getting the task done.  

If you call on Tuesday, make a reminder to call again on Thursday.  Then, depending on what happens Thursday, decide what to do next.  After the call, send an email.  The key is to keep the conversation moving.  There is no way you can remember to do all of your follow through without some sort of reminder system.  I love my iphone calendar.  I have my default reminder to happen 15 minutes before my event.  No matter what the day brings, I can get back on track with my reminder popping up.

Take this approach with each of your tasks and you will be one of your team's most valuable members and it's those most valuable members that get the raise, get the promotion, and get to control their own destiny.  
  

What to wear on casual Friday

My office wear is business casual but on Friday we can wear jeans.  Since I am on the short side, I have found that ankle-length is a good choice so I can wear flats and not worry about the legs being too long.  I wear a modern straight leg and I love a dark rinse.
Since denim is on the super casual side, I like to wear a cute top like this lace one and some cute accessories.  I am a scarf lover so I am especially excited fall is here.  I will be in scarves non-stop.

Casual Friday by eporter-217 featuring a black bedding

Career Talk: Are you a leader or a manager?

By definition, a leader leads or commands a group, organization, or country.  Meanwhile, a manager is a person responsible for controlling or administering all or part of a company or similar organization.

If you have a team working under your supervision, this is one of the most common topics and can be a tricky role to figure out.  

Author Warren Bennis composed a list of the differences as this:

The manager administers; the leader innovates.

The manager is a copy; the leader is an original.

The manager maintains; the leader develops.

The manager focuses on systems and structure; the leader focuses on people.

The manager relies on control; the leader inspires trust.

The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective.

The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why.

The manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; the leader’s eye is on the horizon.

The manager imitates; the leader originates.

The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it.

The manager is the classic good soldier; the leader is his or her own person.

The manager does things right; the leader does the right thing.

Pretty inspiring huh, I agree.  Although I have been at the same employer for more than a decade, I am always working to sharpen my skills.  I do a lot of reading and training to lead my team at the level they deserve.  
Working at maximum efficiency isn't good enough.  It might work in the short term but until you invest your time in your team, they won't be around long.  What are your employee's personal goals?  Does their job today fit in with that?  How can you help them reach their goals?
            Figure that out and you have the recipe for success.  

When things are not going right, more times than not we have people problems.  Maybe it was a bad hire.  Maybe you hired for your need and not theirs.  Or, maybe they had great potential and you didn't invest enough time to develop it.  You might have gotten distracted because they seem to be "low maintenance" and don't ask for much help.  Trust me, they all need your time but when you only have eight hours a day, you have to choose who deserves your time. They may not "need it" as much as some others on your team but they deserve it based on how they fit in the team.  That is how you should choose to spend your time.  

Managers think about today. Leaders think about tomorrow.  
Are you thinking about next year?  You should be.  This year is almost over.  You either are on track to meet your goals or you're not and there's not much time to make major changes.  
Who do you want on your team?  Start there and build up.  That's the key to success.  When they are going the extra mile, are happy and are reaching their personal goals you are doin' it right.

See you at the top! :)      

Business Casual Interview Outfits Under $100

My office dress code is business casual.  We are not a suit and tie kinda company but we are a dress nice-enough-to-meet-a-customer and comfy enough so your wardrobe isn't a distraction kinda company.
I do a lot of interviewing with potential candidates.  When we post a job opening, it is not uncommon to receive 50-100 applicants.  Your first impression is your resume.  Employers have no way to judge you except your resume.  (read my interview tips)
If you make it through that, your next test is the in-person interview.  The reality is, we are judged from how we act, what we say and how we dress.  Knowing that you even made it to an interview is a victory in itself.  There is something in your credentials that says you could be hired for this job. Don't miss your opportunity by missing the mark with your appearance.  
An interview is not the time to wear your new platform heels.  Leave 'em at home.  Jeans? No way! Do the best with what you have and borrow from a friend if necessary.  Starch and ironing can go a long way to make some inexpensive slacks look more high end.

I found some great options, less than $100 that I think would be good looks for office-casual environments.  I love the dress shown.  Polished and approachable, the perfect look.  Like the pictures show, I would lean towards a closed-toe heel or a peep-toe for interviews and daily office wear. Pair the dress with some simple earrings from your jewelry box and a neutral bag and you are sure to make a great first impression.
My other three combinations are blouses with skirts.  Skirts and slacks are worth a good investment, you'll get years of wear from them.  Tops I tend to spend a little less on so I can buy for each season and trend without draining my bank account.
These tops shown are perfectly polished, giving a sweet feminine look without the need to reveal much skin.  Tops and blouses from LOFT average $40-$60 and they often have sales so you can save as you spend.
My jewelry showing wasn't in my $100 budget but they were too cute not to post.

A few more tips for making a great first impression:

• Clean and polish your shoes and remove scuff marks as much as possible  
• Carry a neutral, clean handbag and place it on the floor, not on the top of the desk
• Keep jewelry simple and nails polished
• Pantyhose are only necessary for executive positions, unless otherwise stated.  Business casual is okay with tights or bare skin.
• When in doubt, add a blazer.  A blazer will always take your outfit up a notch.  A good fitting blazer is key.  Worry about fit, not brand. 

Good luck! You can do it!

Business Casual Interview Outfits Under $100 by eporter-217 featuring a long knit skirt

5 Reasons They Won't Hire You

I have been with my current employer, Adams Homes since 2001.  I started as a commissioned sales associate, selling new homes in a model home.  Over the years, I have journeyed through management, first as a Sales Manager and now as a General Manager.
During my years as a manager I have seen hundreds and hundreds of resumes.  I have interviewed or met with more than 100 potential team members.  I have had really great interviews with prospective employees and some really bad ones too.

Here are the top five really really simple things to avoid when trying to impress your next potential employer.

1.  Get a professional email address.  elizabeth.porter@aamail.com works. eporter@aamail.com works.  Spicykitty@aamail.com, party247@aamail.com and sexychic123@aamail.com are really bad choices to post on your resume.  Most of us have had the same email address for years and years.  I am not saying delete your current email address but don't use it for job hunting.  Get a free account with yahoo, gmail or hotmail and come up with something simple and in professional taste.
  
2. Stop using "Revised Resume" as the name of the resume you send out.  Seriously???!!  Revised? Edited Resume?  People send me these ALL THE TIME.  Stop it!  First name, last name or last name, first name.  Porter, Elizabeth Resume or Elizabeth Porter Resume.  Don't use multiple "edited" resumes based on what you are applying for and if you are, stop announcing it.

3.  It's a resume, not a novel.  The more you type, the less I will read.  Keep your resume limited to one page.  You can have a couple attachments like letters of recommendation or awards but please, keep your stats on one sheet.

4. Send your references.  Whoever started "References Upon Request" really made resume reviewing annoying.  You are trying to sell your employer, your employer is not trying to sell YOU.  Include your references.  Add them at the bottom of your resume or on page two.  When an employer posts an ad, you can bet they get at least 50-100 applicants, maybe more.  Stop adding extra work.  Send your references and don't forget to add your name and contact info on every page.  When I am sending 50 resumes to the printer, don't take the chance I will get your papers mixed up with someone else.

5. Keep track of where you apply.  I have called countless people to set up either a telephone interview or in-person interview and they say, "Who is this?  What is the position for?"  Really??  Keep track.  It sounds so unprofessional.  Stop blasting your resume to every fax number or email you can find.  Go after a job in the field you are a fit for.
If you are lucky enough to get a call back, asking for an address of the location you will be interviewing is fine.  Full-on turn by turn directions is not.  Look it up.  Be assertive.  Google will show you the outside of the building and give you exact directions whether you are driving or walking.

Remember, there are so many applicants that employers are going through the elimination process, not the hiring process.  Once they eliminate enough candidates, they will move closer towards hiring.  Don't be eliminated for being annoying and unprepared.    

Doing the Harlem Shake

Work has been super busy lately but every office needs a little time-out to keep balance.  One of our superintendents had the idea of doing the Harlem Shake.  I had to get an education because I was out of the loop on the latest dance craze but after a little YouTube searching I found lots and lots of videos.

When I talked to my co-workers they were so excited and we got right to planning.  The video is hilarious.  We had a videographer do our edits and it came out so funny.  Too funny not to share.

Here are a few pictures from us getting ready.  That is me in the wedding dress.  I don't have many costumes around the house and was excited to put my dress on again, after nearly 12 years.  My veil was slipping off during my dancing but other than that, all went as planned.

and here is our video.......

Hello Book Worm

So I have been working on a side project in my spare time and have made enough progress to share with the world.  I am excited to show a peek.
My title is High Ambition in High Heels.  My target reader is the young professional female in her 20's to mid 30's.  It will be the first in a series of books filled with success tips based on the things I've learned along the way.  I am still working on edits for the front and back cover but this will show the overall look I decided on.

I used a company I found online, www.99designs.com.  I received more than 200 designs from artists all around the world and used a couple polls to get opinions from friends and family.  It was a fun process and I am pleased with how it came out. 

See ya at the bookstore! :)

  

Model home decorating: A little old, a little new

Working for a new home builder means building new model homes for visitors to tour.  We usually add a few new model homes each year and last month we finished the first new model home of 2013.
We owned some of the furniture and added some new pieces from Ashley Furniture.

The Adams Homes 2,430. 4 beds + 3 baths 

We owned everything in the guest bedrooms.  

The master bedroom is mostly new from Ashley Furniture.  

The formal living room is all new.  We opted for an upholstered bench instead of a traditional coffee table.  We owned the formal dining room set and added an accent wine rack to keep it modern.

Both seating areas ended up with new furniture and both got a neutral sofa with a mix of floral and striped pillows.  We chose an oatmeal colored sofa set but mixed and matched the end tables so it wasn't too matchy-matchy.  

We combined modern and traditional in the kitchen accessories to keep with the flow of the adjoining formal living room and family room.

I just ordered new furniture for a new model home in Sebastian and we'll be moving in the next couple of weeks.  I'll post some more pictures once we get it put together.