Greater Milwaukee Jobs

2 GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS • September 11, 2014 • Gain some relevant expe- rience. While college is the best time to gain some expe- rience that's relevant to your field, that does not mean you can't still earn an internship now that you have donned your cap and gown and received your diploma. Many businesses look to recent graduates to fill their intern- ships, as recent grads have years of study under their belts and, because they are no longer enrolled in classes, more flexibility than current students. If the job market in your chosen field is tepid, start looking for internships. These can be a great way to start making some profes- sional contacts, and many people find themselves ulti- mately working full-time for the company where they first landed an internship. • Establish an online pres- ence. Another way for recent graduates to get noticed is to establish a positive online presence. Something as simple as creating a profile on the professional network- ing site LinkedIn can help recent graduates get noticed by prospective employers. Even if you have little or no relevant professional experi- ence, create a profile that includes your education his- tory, interests, accolades or awards you earned while in school and even a brief sum- mary of your career goals. Another way to establish an online presence is to begin a blog. The blog should not be used as a tool to discuss your personal life, but rather to express your thoughts on topics relevant to the career you hope to pursue. Demon- strating an understanding or even just a passion for the industry can be a great way to show prospective employ- ers that you are looking for a career and not just a job. • Join a professional organ- ization. Other options to net- work and improve your chances of landing your first job can be attained by join- ing a professional organiza- tion. Many such organiza- tions welcome new mem- bers, even those with rela- tively little or even no profes- sional experience. Your uni- versity may even sponsor such an organization and host regularly scheduled forums relevant to your industry. Such forums often feature lectures or talk ses- sions with already estab- lished professionals who can provide advice on landing a first job or internship or fur- nish grads with industry con- tacts who might offer similar see HELPFUL HINTS . . . page 6 Helpful hints . . . from page1 A publication of Conley Media Distributed by: Conley Distribution 262-513-2646 ©2004 by Conley Media, LLC Waukesha County Independent and Locally Owned GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS is published weekly by Conley Media – Waukesha County, 801 N. Barstow St., Waukesha, WI 53186. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS assumes no liability for any error in copy or content. It is the advertiser's responsibility to be aware of the laws pertaining to employment advertising. Subscriptions are available for $34 (non-refundable) for a 6-month subscription. Call 262-513-2698 for information. Call Center Director: Cindy Shaske 262-306-5016 cshaske@conleynet.com Account Executive: Donna Armstrong 262-513-2698 darmstrong@conleynet.com Story Coordinator: Dwayne Butler 262-513-2626 dbutler@conleynet.com Production: Patricia Scheel 262-513-2690 GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS Volume 17 • Number 1 September 11, 2014 To place an ad: Call us at 262-513-2698 or fax us at 262-542-6082 deadline: Noon on Wednesdays Liz Reyer is a credentialed coach with more than 20 years of business experience. Her company, Reyer Coaching & Consulting, offers services for organizations of all sizes. Submit questions or comments about this column at www.deliverchange.com/coachscorner or email her at lizdeliverchange.com. How to really listen to your colleagues By Liz Reyer Star Tribune (Minneapolis) & A Q Q. I just received feedback that colleagues don't think I pay attention to what they say and that I'm dismissive of their needs. I pride myself on my listening skills, but often they want things that aren't possible. What do I do about this impasse? A. Take this feedback as a gift, and focus on understanding their perspectives. THE INNER GAME It can be hard to accept when there is a disconnect between your self-image and the feedback you receive from others. However, this can provide insight that opens up an entirely new level of person- al development and self-awareness. This can only occur if you keep your mind open about what your colleagues are telling you. Start by setting aside your resistance to their feedback.After all, what if you decide that they're right and you really aren't hearing them? For someone who values listen- ing as a skill, ignoring feedback is the ultimate contradiction. Also consider their motivation; they likely are providing these com- ments as a genuine reflection of a desire for a successful working relationship. Get outside yourself, and imagine interactions with you from a col- league's perspective. Notice your body language. Are you open or closed? Do you interrupt? Do you make good eye contact and engage verbally in a way that shows that you are taking in the other person's point? Also seek more detailed feed- back from your boss or a trusted colleague. It'll be much easier to adapt your behavior if you under- stand specifically where the issues are. THE OUTER GAME Become a person who listens to understand. When a colleague comes to you with an issue, it's OK not to have the answer. In fact, if you rush to solutions, you may be causing the problematic out- come you're experiencing. Instead, draw them out about the topic at hand."Tell me more" is the easiest way to start, because it works in virtually every situation. It also gives you the opportunity to hear what's going on below the surface. Once the issue is more fully clar- ified, explore what his or her desired outcome is. For example, he or she may say that he or she wants a newsletter developed. Rather than saying there isn't a budget for that, ask about his or her goals for the newsletter.Then you can jointly explore other ways to get his or her need met. Continue to solicit feedback, per- haps asking your boss to do a mini 360 review on just that topic.You could also ask a trusted co-worker to keep an eye on this aspect of your behavior to notice your progress. Don't be afraid to let people know you're trying to change this, too. It'll be appreciated, and the support you get will make it easier. You could make a game of it with people who are close to you – maybe putting a dollar in a lunch fund each time you slip or giving them a humorous way to call you on it if you're ignoring their point of view. And don't forget to cele- brate your successes! THE LAST WORD Bringing along your listening skills will help you in ways you can't even imagine, building your per- sonal and professional success. Among the lowest forms of life on the planet are scam artists who prey on job hunters. Job hunters tell me they're afraid to fill out required application forms that ask for their Social Security numbers. They've read about identity theft and don't want to surrender their numbers, no matter how much they want the job. I've also heard from people who have received phone calls, supposedly from job recruiters, who raised their hopes - along with asking for their nine digits. Some smelled trouble and hung up; one said she got suspicious too late and fears her number will be used fraudulently. Security experts wish hiring protocols would work this way: Employers ask for a prospective employee's Social Security number only after a conditional job offer is made, when it's time to do a thorough background check. Sadly, that isn't happening, and no one is holding employers' feet to the fire to change. That leaves the field ripe for scammers who figure that job hunters are so used to revealing their personal information that no red flags go up. Many human resource consultants and employment law attorneys advise employers to ask for Social Security numbers only when they're ready to investigate select, viable job candidates. But that advice is sacrificed in favor of expediency. Hirers say it's quicker and easier to get the information in initial applications. No system is guaranteed safe, but job hunters generally can trust company- specific online application forms. Look for the closed-lock security icon on the screen. Other prejob offer requests for your personal info should be treated with care. Phone call or email requests for your number should be declined. Say that you want the job but will share your number when you are a finalist for hire. Then share it directly with the employer in a mutually secure way. Identity thieves prey on job hunters By Diane Stafford The Kansas City Star

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