Posts Tagged ‘Andrew Beccue’

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Interviews: How to Master a Phone Interview

March 27th, 2011

By Andrew Beccue

Until recently, job seekers would often breeze through most phone interviews in 10 minutes or less by answering a few general questions. Little preparation was necessary, and most people could expect to be invited for a face-to-face interview before the conversation was over. But since the economy has been in a downturn, the phone interview has evolved into a much bigger ordeal. In an effort to save time and money, many employers are using the phone interview to pose the kinds of in-depth questions previously reserved for face-to-face interview sessions. Because of the growing importance of the phone interview, it is crucial for job seekers to learn how to master a phone interview in order to get to the next level- the sit-down interview.

1.     Use your “telephone voice”!

  • We live in a busy world where recruiters are more likely to get a hold of your voicemail before they get to talk to you personally. Therefore it’s important to have a professional voice message that leaves a good first impression.
  • Don’t speak too quickly and DON’T interrupt. If you have something you want to say, write it down and wait for an opening. » Read more: Interviews: How to Master a Phone Interview

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Career Tips: Birthing Leaders

January 17th, 2011

By Andrew Beccue

In his wildly popular stories about leadership, John Maxwell talks recounts a story from one of his seminars. Maxwell is a well known leadership guru who authored The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership which speaks directly to the needs of leaders in life.  At a seminar where he was speaking about such leadership virtues, a young and eager gentleman approaches Maxwell about leadership. The young man says, “John, what is the one thing I need to know about leadership?” Maxwell very calmly replies, “the one thing you need to know about leadership is that there is more than one thing you need to know about leadership.”

How true is this type of statement in our daily lives? Everyone wants to become an expert at something, but we all want it at microwave speeds. Maxwell argues that being microwaved is the Americanized version, where we all want it n-o-w. His argument is that we need to be “heated” in a crock pot. By taking the time to do things right and to learn along the way, we’ll all be better off.

When it comes to finding a job, everyone touts “the need for leadership”. Employers want proven leaders; employees search for jobs where they can show their ability to lead. But leadership is not a learned skill that comes overnight. It comes from diligence, hard work and the willingness to listen. But most importantly it comes from managing yourself. You have to learn to be a follower before you can be a leader. You have to learn to listen to the needs of others before you can relay your own demands. » Read more: Career Tips: Birthing Leaders

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Networking: Networking mistakes

December 22nd, 2010

By Andrew Beccue

Many professionals have been challenged by the downturn in the economy and are looking for ways to improve and expand their networking. However, in their overzealous effort to sell themselves, they often overlook the importance of networking etiquette as well as the consequences that result from networking mistakes.

The “what can I get?” Attitude:

Networking amateurs risk damaging their relationships and their reputation, thanks to off-putting behaviors that range from the slightly annoying to the truly heinous. First impressions are extremely important and, by having a momentary lapse in good judgment, can drastically undermine networking efforts.

Persistently calling contacts, solely for the purpose of getting something from them, is a bad approach that won’t be long-lasting. People like to help those who facilitate a 2-way system of networking, where both contacts benefit from the relationship.  Remember that networking entails working with actual people, and going out with a “what can I get?” attitude is going to sink efforts before they begin. What a true networker should do is look for ways to facilitate important introductions for others first! » Read more: Networking: Networking mistakes

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