ResuMAYDAY Blog | Resume, Job Hunting and Career Tips

January 12, 2021 By Lauren Milligan

Another New COVID Normal: Surprise House Guest, or Potential Employer?

A gutsy question…

When I’m coaching a client for an in-person job interview, I strongly encourage the candidate to ask, “May I have a tour of the office (or work site)?” It’s a gutsy question that enables the candidate to assess the work place and employees during the decision-making stage. It also gives the candidate a little extra face time with the interviewer to make a great impression. This question is intimidating to most candidates. You’ll stand out in a good way.

Flipping the Script…

Because of COVID-19, we all know that in-person interviews aren’t happening as much, while zoom interviews or remote interviews are booming. And so is the work! It’s projected that hundreds of thousands of jobs are transitioning to remote – something that was impossible to predict not that long ago. Because of this, it seems that employers have flipped the script. I’m hearing from job seekers and other coaches that employers are asking, during online interviews, to see the candidate’s home office. This means the employer expects, without warning, the candidate to turn their laptop around and literally give their potential employer a digital tour.

Most job seekers and career coaches in my network think this is horribly invasive. But is it really? I have a few thoughts on this subject.

A New Way of Thinking…

Every new thing in employment is awful, until it’s no longer new or awful. Here are few examples: I can’t tell you how many people I personally interacted with over the years who rejected LinkedIn until they simply couldn’t anymore. It’s undeniable that LinkedIn is an incredibly useful tool for job seekers and eschewing it means lost opportunities. On the employer side, there was a time that employers would have laughed at the notion of offering benefits beyond health insurance and a 401k. Today, employers pay for services such as on-site daycare; gyms; chefs; pet insurance; ID theft security services; genetic testing; fertility treatments; concert/event tickets and more. Why the change? ‘Vanity perks’ attract and retain talented employees. (Proven fact.) Employers have accepted and adjusted, albeit some more than others. Anything can be normalized if it happens enough, which is why I believe home office tours will become the norm during online interviews.

Who Owns the View?

During work hours, whose office is it? Is it yours, or your employer’s? In reality, it’s both. Because of that, doesn’t the employer have a right to ensure an appropriate environment for the work that’s to be done there? It’s acceptable that your employer requires an organized, tidy, and productive space. It’s unacceptable to require a specific design aesthetic.

Be Better Than Your Competition

The main reason I chose to explore this topic isn’t to deem it right or wrong. It’s merely to put the word out there. Candidates would be smart to prepare for this type of inspection. Before your next Zoom interview, tidy up your work area. Organize it and add a few touches that show a little personality. Create an area that you’re proud to show off, because you might have to do just that!

Save Some Time for Fun

I recently found a twitter page that has become one of my favorite guilty pleasures – Room Rater, or @RateMySkypeRoom. (Only look this up if you have time to spare. You’ve been warned.) The admins of the site scour the web for zoom/skype/remote interviews with politicians, celebrities and other VIPs. They score the interview subject’s background as the audience sees it on a scale from 1 to 10. And the politicians, celebrities and VIPs respond! Many of them, after getting a poor score (primarily for a lackluster background) will add a few touches and then respond as to when their next interview will be, so they can be re-rated. Most everyone takes it for what it is – a lot of fun and a much-needed diversion in an unusually tough time. There’s a good lesson here. Our new normal means that a lot of people will get a peek into our homes in a way that never happened before 2020. Take time to create a productive space that leaves a positive impression. It could mean all the difference in your job search. Cheers to a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2021!

To improve YOUR interview skills, contact us today at ResuMAYDAY.

July 29, 2020 By Lauren Milligan

Pedal to the Metal on Feminine Lane

I know, I know. I should have kept scrolling instead of responding. It’s just Facebook! But really…how can you NOT comment when someone you know writes a post in favor of a “doctor” who discusses demon dreams and alien DNA within the scope of her medical practice? C’mon. So I took the bait and commented. She responded to my comment, I responded to hers, and so one. At some point in our tempestuous exchange she remarked, “You were always a kind person but now you’re not being so kind.”

Huh.

You’d Be Prettier If…

I have a big problem with loaded statement. It’s on par with telling a woman she would look prettier if she smiled. My keyboard sparring partner was trying to do the same thing that men (and many women) do that stop women from claiming what they’ve earned, or standing up for themselves, or stating their opinions. Lobbing put-downs such as ‘unkind’ or ‘unpleasant’ or ‘shrill’ or ‘bossy’ or ‘bitchy’ is code for “you are here to make me comfortable, but now you’re making me uncomfortable”. It’s how women are told (in not so many words) to not ask for that raise or promotion, or not to speak up during an important meeting. It’s a way to make women doubt themselves, and ultimately change themselves to fit within the limiting expectations of others. In my case, this other person expected me to question myself. “Wait…am I being unkind? I should fix that.” Too bad for her that I have been calling out and brushing off this kind of gaslighting for the past 30 years. I am not writing this post for me. I’m writing this for women who have been taught, since a very early age, to prioritize pleasantness over self-expression; to demure instead of speaking up.

Katniss Everdeen weighs in…

In the past 10 years there have been numerous studies, polls, white papers, articles, and round-tables discussing the negative impact of keeping women in their ‘feminine lane’, mostly written and generated by corporate leaders and sociologists. Celebrities have also weighed in with their personal experiences. In 2015, actress Jennifer Lawrence penned an essay where she states, “All I hear and see all day are men speaking their opinions, and I give mine in the same exact manner, and you would have thought I had said something offensive. I’m over trying to find the “adorable” way to state my opinion and still be likable! F– that. I don’t think I’ve ever worked for a man in charge who spent time contemplating what angle he should use to have his voice heard.” Here is the entire essay, if you’re interested.

What You Can Do…

Now, I must apologize for this next part. I wish I were addressing the people who do this to others. They’re the ones who really need to adapt, but it’s not likely they’re seeking out this kind of information. So instead, I’ll speak directly to the person who is most likely reading this, again, with apologies. What can women do to stop this from happening to them? A few things. 1) Find a work or social ally. Team up with other women who experience this. Stick up for each other in meetings or on social media and call out bad behavior when it happens. 2) Find your voice at a pace (and volume) that works for you. At home, practice how you would have wanted to respond in those past situations. When they do happen again, because they will, remain calm and diplomatic. (I admit that I have not perfected this yet.) Practice, rinse, repeat. Why is this important? Because again, I’ve been dealing with crap like this for 30 years. The person doing this to you now will not be the last. The sooner you learn to shut it down, the better.
You got this.

April 23, 2020 By Lauren Milligan

Free Job Search vs. COVID-19 Webinar, 4/28

Join me for this free employment webinar on Tuesday, 4/28 at 9:30AM (CST), hosted by the St. Charles Library (St. Charles, IL). If you saw me on WGN Morning News on 4/23, I’ll build off of the few tips I shared during that segment.

Our topics will include:
Suggestions for identifying your transferable skills and then adding them to your resume.

What to do if you’re in an industry that has completely shut down (entertainment, hospitality, travel, etc…).

Other things to keep in mind when updating your resume, and other job search tips.

We’ll leave plenty of room for Q&A. Click HERE to access the library’s event page, with more details.

Hope to see you there! Let’s all turn ourselves into potatoes!

December 17, 2019 By Lauren Milligan

It’s not scary, it’s just networking!

A few days ago I was talking with one of my favorite clients (if you’re reading this, you’re also my favorite) about her job search. We’ll call her Sherri. Sherri mentioned a former boss that she loved working for, and wished she could find another working relationship like that. I asked Sherri when she last spoke with this manager; she admitted they hadn’t spoken since Sherri left that job.
Considering the title of this post, I’m sure you see where this is going.

Her ‘homework’ this week is to reconnect with this manager via LinkedIn. Why? Maybe there’s a timely opening in this manager’s department. Perhaps this manager knows of opportunities with other companies.
But forget job leads for a moment. I’m sure this manager can offer Sherri career advice, or just be another important advocate in Sherri’s corner. Before I could get any of these reasons out, Sherri audibly balked at the thought of making contact with someone who she hasn’t talked to in a few years. My response? “It’s not scary, it’s just networking.” I used the same tone a parent uses when a kid falls down, and the parent wants to convince the kid she isn’t hurt. I know that many people…probably the majority of people, think networking IS scary. That’s why I’m acclimating Sherri by having her start with people who she truly likes and respects. That way, if she does ‘fall down’ (which she won’t), she won’t be hurt. The conversation she has with her former manager will be genuine, and possibly even easy.
And I’m really hoping that in a few weeks, Sherri will be the one to say, “it’s not scary, it’s just networking!”

January 17, 2019 By Lauren Milligan

Low-Cost Job Search Classes for Older Workers

We’re happy to report there are a lot of low or no-cost resources for job seekers in the Chicagoland area. College of DuPage contributes to this bounty with their Plus 50 series of classes taught by local experts, including Lauren Milligan, of ResuMAYDAY. These classes are part of the Continuing Education curriculum, which means you don’t have to pay for credit hours. It’s all very simple and budget-friendly.

The upcoming classes are:

The ‘Career Readiness’ class is a 5-week series that includes resume writing, LinkedIn, interviewing skills, ageism in the workplace, and negotiating skills.

The ‘Self-Discovery’ class is a 3-week series full of self-assessments, writing exercises, group exercises, all geared towards helping you discover your most fulfilling path in your career or volunteer hours.

The ‘Job Search Websites’ class provides a whole catalog of great websites to utilize in your search, and also steers you away from the time-wasters.

Later in the year, the ‘Networking’ class and ‘Negotiation Skills for Women’ class will be added to the roster.

Here’s a screenshot of the catalog and schedule. For a better view, head over to page 33 of the College of DuPage Continuing Education catalog, here.