Boston Career Counselor Blog

One of the participants took this picture. I'm the one in green!

The weather was mild, it didn’t rain and there were munchkins involved.  Who could ask for anymore more in a free outdoor cover letter workshop?  It was informal but informative, relaxed but productive.  I had a blast!

Stay tuned for a free outdoor resume workshop on AUGUST 26 at 7:00 pm on Boston Common.  Please contact me if you want more information or to RSVP!  bostoncareercounselor@gmail.com

And here’s what a couple of the participants had to say:

Debbie B. said: “I liked your concrete examples and answers so that we left with a sense of “we can do this.” I also like that there was no ambiguity. Sometimes people can leave a seminar or workshop and feel as if they are just as confused or more than before, and your workshop was very clear and helpful in those terms.”

And someone else said: “Thank you so much for today’s workshop al fresco. You hit just the right tone for the setting: professional and directed yet laid back and fun. You were very motivating…the workshop definitely gave me food for thought (and I’m not talking about the Munchkins) for once and future cover letters and resumes. The small-group setting–esp. hearing others’ questions and your answers–were very helpful and much more engaging than reading a guide or going to a conference.”

Thanks guys- I had fun too!

Okay, I know what you may be saying.  I’m a career counselor.  I’m supposed to recommend networking to help people find a job.  So enough already!

But here’s the great thing that many people may not realize about networking: Not only do you get better at it the more you do (many people will tell you this), but even better is that the more networking you do, the more FUN it gets!

I mean, think about it.  People pay lots of money, buy lots of drinks, stress themselves out to plan events and parties.   And why do they do it?  Because it’s fun to interact with friends AND potential friends.  Most parties are made up of people who know each other and some who don’t, but it’s enjoyable talking to old and new friends.

That’s the thing about networking, even networking as part of your job search.  It doesn’t end when you leave the official “Career Networking Group.”  The best networking is a mindset.  It’s an attitude toward all the interesting, potentially fascinating (and yes, potentially helpful on the career front) people around you all the time!

Go forth.  Talk to people.  Make new friends.  Have interesting conversations.  And, when the time is right, you should probably mention that you’re looking for a job, but that must be secondary for the most successful informal networking.  Connect with the person, and then of course feel free to confidently answer the question, “So what you do?” and see where it leads.  And even if you don’t get a job, you just met a pretty cool person.  Isn’t that great?!?

And that’s why I love networking!

What kind of  job are you looking for?

Anything!

“Anything” is about as engaging, passionate and interest-catching as a plate of plain, butterless toast.  It’s dry, flavorless and leaves the listener looking for alternative options.  Even if you ARE looking for just about “anything” available in the job market, it is never a good answer to this question!  And equally bad is answering “nothing” when an interviewer or prospective job contact asks what kinds of things you’re passionate about.  I mean, think about it.  Would YOU want to work with someone who isn’t passionate about or interested in anything?  And furthermore, I very much doubt that you’re as dry as plain toast.  You are most certainly a fascinating person with lots of value to add to any employer.  So make sure you let them know that!

But if you really are looking for just about anything in the job market (either because you need a job ASAP to pay the bills or don’t know what you want to do and have to start somewhere), what can you say without being dishonest?  (Lying to an interviewer is a BAD idea!)

I’d recommend something like this: “I’m looking for a job in business.  I have a wide variety of interests and am happy to consider a range of different areas including marketing and human resources.  I’m specifically interested in THIS job because…”

Obviously you would need to change the italicized words.  And yes, this means you have to have a small idea of what kind of job you’d like to do, but surely you’re not really interested in doing anything anything!

Another important thing is that if you’re talking to someone about a specific job (say in an interview), you must have a reason for wanting that job specifically.  “Just because you found the posting” is not an acceptable reason.  If you can’t think of any reason you’d want the job, the interviewer is not very likely to hire you.  And more importantly, you’re not likely to be happy in that job!

So avoid answering “anything” and focus on all the great fascinating things that make you you and you’ll be on your way to finding a good job!