How To Be A Good Job-Shadow Host - The Muse

How To Be A Good Job-Shadow Host - The MuseHow To Be A Good Job-Shadow HostIts 1015 AM, and the professional whos graciously agreed to let me shadow zu sich for the day has just finished answering my questions about her career path, what she likes and dislikes about the job, and how to break into her industry. Now she is staring at me. I smile back. The panic that plays across her face as she realizes she has no idea what to do with me for the next six hours and 45 minutes is painfully obvious.Um, so, Im just going to do some stuff on my computer now. She says awkwardly. Do you want to just piste out in my office?Im a current college student and enthusiastic job-shadower, and Id say that this sort of thing happens with three out of every five people I follow around. Its leid that I dont appreciate these people giving up their valuable time to help me, but those days are not the educational experiences Im shooting for. In fact, theyre not really productive (or fun) for either party.If youre generous enough to let someone shadow you, heres how to make it worth both you and your shadows time. Who knows- you may just find your companys next recruit.Pick the Appointment StrategicallyAs a job-shadow, Im hoping for a day in your schedule when you have enough unstructured time to walk me around, thoroughly explain everything, and answer questions. But I also want to watch you complete some typical duties, like join a brainstorming session or meet a client. In other words, choose a day when you have some interesting things going on, but not one thats back-to-back meetings.Also, if the prospect of giving up a whole eight hours to host makes you reach for your stress ball, propose a half-day instead. (This is also a good strategy if your job is pretty repetitive on any given day.) Saying, Id love to show you what I do and where I work. Lets keep it to a half-day to ensure you get something out of the experience, will keep your shadow and your to-do list happy.Involve Your Colleagues- or at Least Warn ThemAt every place I visit, there are usually four or five employees besides the one Im trailing who I would also love to sit down and talk to. When I toured The Boston Globe, the writer who was hosting me actually asked six editors in advance if they each had 15 minutes for me. It was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my shadowing career.Arranging something like this for your shadow is enormously helpful- and can buy you at least an hour of time to get some real work done. However, if your co-workers are too busy to pow-wow, you should still tell them you have a guest they can always give a brief spiel to your shadow as you two walk around the office.Oh, and for obvious reasons, you should ask your boss if its okay for you to have a visitor. Do Some Final PrepWhile you dont need an intense, every-minute-mapped out plan, having a general idea of each hours activities will help you avoid the 1015 and already done scenario. Consider sending the agendas highlights to your shadow so he or she knows what to expect- its a touch Ive always really appreciated.Youll also want to give instructions on dress code, directions to your office, parking info, and what he or she should bring (a computer, lunch, and the like) ahead of time.First ThingWhen Im job-shadowing someone I dont know well (or at all), theres an easy way to make the day much less awkward Right after I arrive, the professional starts by telling me her professional background, where she went to college, why she chose the field, and other basics. Im normally pretty nervous in the beginning, so this gives me a chance to relax and nod my head a lot. After this, were both warmed up, and Im ready to start asking questions. This is also a great time to give your shadow a tour of the workplace. I personally enjoy hearing about how the office is organized, what the typical atmosphere is, what hours people work, and the name and title of each person were passing.If youre having your shadow chat with other employees, feel free to incorporate that information into the tour.Lunch TimeOne of my favorite parts about job-shadowing someone is eating lunch- not because food is the best, but because it gives us a chance to more fully discuss everything Im getting introduced to. At this point in the day, both of us feel pretty comfortable and can get beyond Whats your major? into Why are you interested in this job? Usually I can get the best feel of whether a career or company will be right for me during the lunch.If your shadow isnt that talkative, do your best to draw him out. Ask about his strengths, interests, classes, and other questions not just related to why the job or company.Lastly, dont be afraid to highlight the positives and negatives of your career. Showing a little bit of vulnerability and honesty about your job will likely get your shadow more talkative as well.In the AfternoonIts always valuable when the professional Im with gives me a couple of his or h er assignments to help with. For example, knowing that I love to write, the director of a charity foundation asked me to compose a thank-you letter to last years sponsors. A local politician gave me a bundle of documents related to a proposed solar project and asked me if I thought his boss should advocate or oppose it.Another way to help your shadow test-drive the job is to walk him or her through one of your primary responsibilities. As long as its important to what you do, I wouldnt worry about trying to choose something really exciting- after all, as a shadow, I actually want to know if Id be bored by a task Id regularly have to complete. I have also sat in on meetings and listened to client calls, both of which have given me a great feel for the type of people Id be working with. If its feasible, Id encourage you to do one or both with your shadow.At the End of the DayNow is your time to play Yoda Ask your shadow what she learned from the experience, what misconceptions she had , what she liked and what she wasnt so enthusiastic about, and if she has any questions.I also once had a professional challenge me to come up with a list of goals. He said that he hoped our day together had influenced me, either to pursue that career or to look into something else, and that I should come up with some actions to reflect my takeaways. Major bonus pointsWith some planning, job-shadowing can be a highly rewarding experience. Obviously your shadow benefits, but you get the satisfaction of shaping someones future. Pretty darn cool.

Build a Relationship with a Brand New Boss

Build a Relationship with a Brand New BossBuild a Relationship with a Brand New BossBuild a Relationship with a Brand New BossGet in good with the head honcho, right off the bat.So, youre answering to someone new. Wouldnt it be nice if you can get onand stay ongood terms?TopResumes career advice expert, Amanda Augustine, recently shared with Money.com some ways to get in good with your new boss.She says, When confronted with a new boss, the first and most important step is to get a clear understanding of the best ways you and your new boss can work togetzu sich successfully, including your new managers communication preferences.Its not rocket sciencethere are a few simple ways to build a good relationship with your superiorGet on the saatkorn wavelength.Hopefully, your new manager will set aside time to meet with you and explain their expectations, such as how to request PTO, when and how you should contact her or him outside regular business hours and the way she or he likes to comm unicate best (i.e. Slack, email or phone).If your boss does not coordinate a meeting, the onus is on you to ask these questions. You cant meet your managers expectations if you dont know what they are.Do some asking around.If yourefinding it a challenge to get on the same page as your boss, seek out one of your managers former direct reports, and ask for their pearls of wisdom. No one will have better insights to share than someone who worked under your bosss leadership. If your boss is also new, dont hesitate to ask for an introduction to a former colleague or direct report. Say something likeId love to speak with someone whom youve previously managed who could help me better understand your management style and ensure Im providing everything you need to succeed. Would you mind introducing me to one of your former direct reports?This will help you to more quickly understand and meet your managers expectations. Not to mention, it will demonstrate your ability to take initiative.Touc h base, face-to-face.If you prefer face-to-face meetings and your boss favors email, dont be afraid to say so. Let her or him know that meeting face-to-faceeven if its only for 15 minutes weekly or biweeklywould help you stay on task and stay confident in your work.Theres nothing wrong with explaining how you work best, and proposing a compromise that works for both of you. Regardless of your boss communication preferences, make a point to document her or his decisions and directions via email, so you always have a record for future reference.So, start off on the right foot and establish a great working relationship with your boss. It can only make your life that much easierNeed help writing your resume? Our TopResume writers can help

The Dos and Donts of Working With Recruiters

The Dos and Donts of Working With RecruitersThe Dos and Donts of Working With RecruitersThe Dos and Donts of Working With RecruitersIn order to work effectively with a recruiter, you need to know how to communicate with them.Many job seekers discuss networking as being a critical component to a successful job search. While the majority recognizes the importance of building the right relationships, few know how to establish a rapport with a key group headhunters. The ability to gestalt ongoing relationships with influential recruiters can prove mora critical to your career success than any other networking outlet. In order to influence a headhunter, you must know how to interact with them. Working with recruiters can have a wide variety of benefits.To assist you, weve listed important communication dos and donts of working with a recruiter. Understanding the importance of recruiter relationships.Why is it so beneficial to learn how to speak with executive search professionals and work with recruiters effectively? Over time, alliances with the right staffing agents can aid you in several different ways. Competent recruiters can do the followingOpen up additional job opportunities you didnt know about.Provide key insight into the job market.Help negotiate higher compensation packages.Provide critical resume and job-search advice.The dos and donts of recruiter communication.Since your goal is to have lasting relationships with headhunters, its imperative to understand how to work with recruiters effectively and communicate well. Here is what you should be doingDo clearly convey your career goals.Often, job seekers complain about being pressured to interview for jobs that they are not interested in nor qualified for. This results in them making a badeanstalt impression during the interview which, in turn, hurts their ongoing relationship with that recruiting agent.However, you can prevent this by clearly conveying your professional goals to the recruiter. When a hea dhunter knows exactly what youre looking for, they can more accurately make career suggestions without putting you in an awkward spot. If you are approached for a job you are not interested in, its best that you politely decline, thank the recruiter for their consideration, and tell them what interests you.RelatedPersonal Branding is Critical to Your Careers Future. Heres WhyDont be indecisive.Dont interview just to get in the recruiters good graces. Doing so will not strengthen the relationship, and will ultimately come back to hurt you. Whether you interview well and dont accept a job, or dont receive an offer, its a lose-lose situation.Do allow the recruiter to call the shots.One of the best ways to get on the good side of a recruiter is to simply allow them to do their job. On occasion, job applicants have trouble not being in control of the hiring process. Anxiousness forces them to take certain actions which can be perceived as stepping on the toes of the recruiter.For instanc e, when working with a recruiter, its in your best interest to ask them permission (as well as their opinion), or keep them in the loop with any client contact. This includes sending thank you notes to interviewers with the individual ccd, all the way to negotiating salary through the headhunter unless directed otherwise. The rule of thumb is if you dont know the way a staffing professional likes to work, its best to ask. Inquiring about their preferences and being compliant with those requests builds trust and fosters long-term relationships.Do remain cordial and professional even if you do not get the job.Another great way to get into a recruiters good graces is to be gracious upon losing an offer. Sometimes, applicants will bad mouth the hiring manager which makes them look petty and unprofessional. This is not to mention that they are talking poorly about the recruiters clients. How you behave when things dont go your way is just as important as how you behave when they do.By th anking the recruiter for their time and informing them youd be interested in anything similar that comes along leaves the door open to you working again with the individual.Dont be a sore loser.Recruiters find the sour grapes mentality very off-putting and complaining has no benefit to you. Sometimes you get the job, sometimes you dont. However, never lose your composure when things dont go your way.In the end.If played correctly, working with a recruiter will do nothing but benefit your career. Whether or not you end up a taking a job today is not as important as whether or not youll be considered in the future.Ken Sundheim is the CEO of KAS Placement, an executive search firm based out of New York City specializing in sales and marketing recruitment of all levels.Need help with your resume? Take advantage of our free resume review todayRecommended ReadingHow to Choose the Right Recruiter for Your Job SearchWhat Recruiters Want Straight Talk From a Sales and Marketing RecruiterHow to Brag on Your Resume Without Sounding Like a Jerk