Career Tools

How To Transfer Between States/Industries - Part 2

mauzenne — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:07:59 -0500

This cast concludes our conversation on how to change jobs between states, countries or industries.

How To Transfer Between States/Industries - Part 1

mauzenne — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:03:24 -0500

This cast explains how to change jobs between states, countries or industries.

Portable Messaging Basics - Part 2

mauzenne — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:19:30 -0500

This cast concludes our Career Tools' recommendations for textual communications on portable devices.

Portable Messaging Basics - Part 1

mauzenne — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:43:28 -0500

This cast describes Career Tools' recommendations for textual communications on portable devices.

Admitting Mistakes - Part 2

mauzenne — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:18:26 -0500

This cast concludes our conversation on recommendations for what to do when you make a mistake.

Admitting Mistakes - Part 1

mauzenne — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:08:06 -0500

This cast describes Career Tools' recommendations for what to do when you make a mistake.

Yes, Go To Work Sick

mauzenne — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 23:24:53 -0500

This cast describes Career Tools' recommendations about going to work when you're sick.

How To Answer Questions About Career History - Part 2

mauzenne — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:10:58 -0500

This cast concludes Career Tool's recommendations for answering questions about your career history.

How To Answer Questions About Career History - Part 1

mauzenne — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:22:06 -0500

This cast describes Career Tool's recommendations for answering questions about your career history.

External Interviews and Careers - Chapter 1

mauzenne — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:37:13 -0500

This cast describes the importance of external interviewing in career management, and how to begin to handle the interview.

Presentations - The Right Chart, Part 2

mauzenne — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:49:28 -0500

This cast concludes our conversation on how to choose the right chart for your data and message in a presentation.

Presentations - The Right Chart, Part 1

mauzenne — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:30:51 -0500

This cast describes how to choose the right chart for your data and message in a presentation.

How To Be Successful At Career Fairs - Part 2

mauzenne — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:20:49 -0500

In this cast, we conclude our recommendations for being effective at a Career Fair.

Career Fairs - Part 1

mauzenne — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:17:41 -0500

This cast describes Career Tools' general recommendations for being effective at a Career Fair.

Disagreeing With Your Boss - Part 2

mauzenne — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:20:46 -0400

This cast concludes our conversation on when it's okay to disagree with your boss, and how to do it.

Disagreeing With Your Boss - Part 1

mauzenne — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:27:07 -0400

This cast describes when it's okay to disagree with your boss, and how to do it.

Confidentiality With Bosses

mauzenne — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:52:59 -0400

This cast describes what to expect of our bosses when it comes to confidentiality of our communications with them.

Presentation Attire - Part 2

mauzenne — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:18:37 -0400

This cast concludes our conversation on how to dress when giving presentations.

Presentation Attire - Part 1

mauzenne — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:36:36 -0400

This cast recommends how to dress when giving presentations.

What Is Your Salary Expectation?

mauzenne — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:37:44 -0400

This cast is another in the series of how to answer the big 4 questions that recruiters ask.

What Are You Looking For?

mauzenne — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:21:34 -0400

This cast continues the series of the four questions recruiters will ask you with the second question: "what are you looking for?"

Meetings Breaks - Part 2

mauzenne — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:01:23 -0400

The conclusion of our discussion on how to effectively conduct Meeting Breaks.

Meeting Breaks - Part 1

mauzenne — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:52:16 -0400

This cast describes how to schedule and how to action breaks in meetings.

The Delta File

mauzenne — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:40:34 -0400

This cast recommends keeping an ongoing Delta File of changes you will make in the future.

Generation Y Careers #1: Parents Unwelcome

mauzenne — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:21:02 -0400

This cast recommends that Generation Y professionals keep their parents out of their careers.

What Is Your Current Situation?

mauzenne — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:09:11 -0400

This cast describes how to effectively answer the "What's your current situation?" question from a recruiter.

Airline Travel Basics #1 – Part 2

mauzenne — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:35:28 -0400

Part 2 of our conversation on the basics of Airline Travel.

Airline Travel Basics #1 - Part 1

mauzenne — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:28:19 -0400

This cast makes some basic recommendations regarding airline travel for professionals.

Midyear Goals Review - Part 2

mauzenne — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:57:06 -0400

This cast concludes our conversation on the Midyear Goals Review.

Midyear Goals Review - Part 1

mauzenne — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:47:10 -0400

This cast recommends reviewing our annual performance goals at midyear.

Travel - Airline Seats

mauzenne — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:45:00 -0400

This cast describes how to manage your seating on airlines, because it matters.

Handling An Inherited Audience

mauzenne — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:40:29 -0400

This cast describes how to be effective when you are one of several speakers to a larger audience.

2009 – Downturn - Annual Resume Update

mauzenne — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:10:22 -0400

This cast recommends changes to resumes based on the 2009 hiring market and beyond.

The Rule of 50

mauzenne — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:44:26 -0400

This cast explains a simple way to stay in touch with your professional network.

Greetings in DiSC

mauzenne — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:26:47 -0400

This cast explains a simple application of DiSC Behavior on greeting others.

Effective Layoff Announcement Response

mauzenne — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:48:49 -0400

This cast explains how to respond to the announcement of impending layoffs at your firm. This is a long overdue cast, based on comments we get by email and on the forums. Far too many of us respond POORLY to an announcement or rumor of impending layoffs where we work. In fact, it's worse than that . . . MOST of us respond TERRIBLY, and HURT OUR CAREERS in doing so. But there's a better way, and there's a playbook to follow, and guess what? Career Tools has it, and that's what this cast shares.

360 Reviews - Providing Input

mauzenne — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:20:09 -0400

This cast explains how to respond to requests for 360 degree input. 360 reviews are a powerful – and growing – part of the Human Resources toolbox. They help leadership teams find out what managers and other professionals "really" are like based on input from the people most likely to "know" them: their boss, their peers, and their directs (if they have any), and in some cases other related personnel. Why NOT ask the consumers of a manager's behaviors whether or not he is a good manager? Unfortunately, 360 reviews, as powerful as they are – and done well Manager Tools strongly recommends them – they are fraught with danger. Here's how to navigate them successfully.

Press Relations - Part 2

mauzenne — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:27:22 -0400

This cast concludes our conversation on Press Relations.

Press Relations - Part 1

mauzenne — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:16:51 -0400

The Internet and the explosion of communication media and media forms and software have changed the way most of us in our careers will interact with the press. All of us need some simple guidelines for our relationships with the press, if for no other reason than risk mitigation. We have a lot of straightforward ideas to share, some of which will surprise many of our listeners. Think about that: simple straightforward guidance that surprises...a clear indication that attention must be paid.

Audio Visual Equipment Use - Part 2

mauzenne — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:29:46 -0400

The conclusion of our conversation on Audio Visual Equipment Use.

Audio Visual Equipment Use

mauzenne — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:57:47 -0400

In this cast, we're going to describe how to use the two most common audio-visual tools: slides and flip charts.

Handling Exit Interviews

mauzenne — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:50:28 -0400

This cast explains how to handle exit interviews.

Attention Management – Distractions, Part 3

mauzenne — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:12:03 -0400

Part 3, and the conclusion, of our series on Attention Management - Distractions.

Attention Management – Distractions, Part 2

mauzenne — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:20:26 -0400

Part 2 of our series on Attention Management - Distractions.

Attention Management – Distractions, Part 1

mauzenne — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:46:19 -0400

Most of us do a poor job of managing our time - whoops, that's managing our priorities. None of us actually manage time, right? Time can't be managed. But what we DO with our time we CAN manage. One way we manage our priorities is we choose to schedule those things that we believe are in line with our priorities. An example of that is putting meetings on our calendars that help us accomplish our projects and responsibilities. Makes sense. When we schedule a meeting, we're saying, this is worthy of my attention. We're managing what we attend to, we're managing our attention. But unfortunately many of us, no matter how good we are at scheduling those things to which we wish to attend, also are terrible at managing those things that distract us from our priorities. But if we're going to have plenty of time for what we want to accomplish, we better not only schedule things well, but we ought to avoid distractions. And most of us are terrible at that. This cast recommends specific actions to take to reduce the pain of distractions on our effectiveness.

Responding To An Internal Interview Request

mauzenne — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:20:08 -0400

It seems that a lot of people still don't realize that we're all managing our own careers now. Yes, your organization has some say and power in the equation. But that ability to influence our choices is often misunderstood as managing what job we're in, why we're in it, and what other jobs we can have. And one of the situations that confuses us is when our organization asks us to interview for a job without us applying for it. Maybe we really want the job, maybe we would have never considered it. But when they ask US - when the COMPANY seems to know more than we do, and we don't know what the invite MEANS ... it's confusing. And that's why Career Tools is here: to explain what to do and why.

Bad Boss #1 - The Angry and Demeaning Boss, Part 5

mauzenne — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:24:36 -0400

In this cast, we finish our conversation on how to work with an angry and demeaning boss.

Bad Boss #1 - The Angry and Demeaning Boss, Part 4

mauzenne — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:01:41 -0400

In this cast, we continue with part 4 of our conversation on how to work with an angry and demeaning boss.

Bad Boss #1 - The Angry and Demeaning Boss, Part 3

mauzenne — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:14:03 -0500

In this cast, we continue with part 3 of our conversation on how to work with an angry and demeaning boss.

Bad Boss #1 - The Angry and Demeaning Boss, Part 2

mauzenne — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:21:20 -0500

In this cast, we continue our conversation on how to work with an angry and demeaning boss.

In case you missed it, here is part 1 of the series: Bad Boss #1 - The Angry and Demeaning Boss, Part 1

Bad Boss #1 - The Angry and Demeaning Boss, Part 1

mauzenne — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:09:41 -0500

This cast explains how to work with an angry and demeaning boss.

We wish we didn’t have to do casts like this, but angry and demeaning bosses are a fact of life. And, for most of us, it doesn’t matter how great a boss WE are if we WORK FOR someone who is angry, demeaning, and generally unprofessional. Despite our recommendations to focus on your team, because that’s where the leverage is, OUR boss still exists. And if she’s a jerk, we’ve got to adapt. Here’s how.

New Job Day One - Do It Yourself

mauzenne — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:49:35 -0500

This cast recommends a simple approach to speed up your fitting in to a new organization and role.

An Especially Important Relationship In A Downturn

mauzenne — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:25:57 -0500

This cast explains how to improve an especially important relationship during economic downturns: your boss's peers.

Gossip Avoidance

mauzenne — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:58:13 -0500

This cast explains how to handle gossip in the workplace.

The Dangle

mauzenne — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:51:32 -0500

This cast describes a recruiting “technique” called the “Dangle”, and how to combat it.

The 2nd Rule of Effective Project Team Members

mauzenne — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:03:57 -0500

This cast explains the SECOND most important behavior or habit to ensure your success as a project team member.

It’s one thing to manage a project. But far more of us are ON projects, not managing them. How can we do this while still getting “all of our real work done”?

We have a series of recommendations – this is the second one. ;-)

Maintaining Recruiter Relationships

mauzenne — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:44:05 -0500

This cast explains an effective way to maintain relationships with professional recruiters.

In today’s slow economy, we don’t want to NEED a recruiter and then discover none of them remember us. Almost no one but smart senior executives reach out proactively – but you can do it too. Here’s how.

The Downturn Rite of Passage

mauzenne — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:13:09 -0500

This cast describes the reasons why leaving your company or industry in a downturn CAN be a bad idea, and recommends options to consider in those situations.

Too many professionals fail to realize that leaving their company or industry during a downturn has a long-term consequence – executives are expected to have experience navigating all the way through a slowdown.

Career Tools Cast #3: What Do You Want To Do?

mauzenne — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:21:06 -0500

This cast explains an important career search question, and how to answer it: "What do you want to do, and where do you want to do it?" You're going to be asked this question, and you have to know how to answer it, without limiting yourself. It's one of those fleeting career moments whose outcome is defined likely BEFORE the moment arrives.

Career Tools Cast #2: The First Rule of Higher Education - Get Good Grades

mauzenne — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:33:11 +0000

This cast makes the case for the most important thing you do at the beginning of your professional life: get good grades in College/University.

This is the first in a series of what surely will be many Career Tools casts about college and university as preparation for one’s professional adult life. As with so many other things in one’s career, too often we find out what’s important AFTER we can do anything about it. And if you’ve graduated, think about having your children listen. ;‐)

Career Tools Cast #1: How to Handle Location in an Interview

mauzenne — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:23:14 +0000

This cast describes a simple way to handle the interviewing question, “What’s your location
preference?”

Many people lose great job opportunities because they don’t know how to talk about WHERE they
want to work without scaring the recruiter. There’s a right way to do it. It’s okay to prefer a certain location … but you’ve also got to reassure the recruiter that your choice isn’t ONLY about location.

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Career Crisis Email

mauzenne — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:28:44 +0000

This cast describes your initial communications with a friend or associate whose career is at risk, for whatever reason.

We read in the Wall Street Journal this week about a bank failure in the US due to the mortgage/debt crisis the markets are facing. As it turns out, we have several Manager Tools members there, one of whom is a good friend of ours. Mark sent a quick email to this executive.

When Mark mentioned to another member that he had done so, the member said, “I didn’t want to intrude, so I didn’t say anything.” As Mark asked around some more, he discovered that others felt similarly.

“Didn’t want him to be embarrassed that I knew.”

“Didn’t know what to say.”

“Didn’t think I could help.”

Well, they won’t be embarrassed, here’s what to say, and you CAN help.

And, this cast has a nice surprise ending.

FREE Career Crisis Skills Conference - NYC, 18 October

Mark Horstman — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 05:45:18 +0000

Manager Tools will present a FREE, one day Career Crisis Skills Conference, on 18 October, to help those affected by the financial and credit market troubles.

We will conduct the training/seminar at the Marriott East Side in Manhattan (map, sw corner 49th and Lex), from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There will be room for 300 attendees on a first come, first served basis. We apologize for the limitations, but we couldn’t get bigger space for a reasonable price fast enough.

This conference will be FREE. We won’t be trying to sell anything in the back of the ballroom. We’re doing this training free to address many of our listeners and members who have called and emailed asking, “What do I do?”

If you yourself can’t make it, please share this information with anyone who might need this free help in the greater NYC area.

We will cover 4 major topics:

Your Resume - The one’s we’ve seen in the last 1-2 weeks needed LOTS of help.

Your Preparation - How to get ready to interview (and improve your resume).

Your Search - Things you can do now, and how to do them.

Your Interviews - All five parts of every interview, what’s going to happen and what to do in each step.

Again, this training is FREE. We’re doing this to help members and other professionals affected by the difficulties in the financial industries recently.

5 Ways to Master Horstman’s 3rd Law of Interviewing (Part 1)

mauzenne — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:28:50 +0000

Lately, we’ve gotten lots of questions from our 28,000+ members about our interviewing series. Because of the uncertainties many are facing today, we thought it might be helpful to return to our guidance on interviewing.

Horstman’s 3rd Law of Interviewing: We’ll Take 90% Less Ability for 10% More Attitude Every Day of the Week.

When the market is tighter than normal (it’s mostly supply‐driven and not demand‐ based right now), organizations are even more particular about hiring the very best they can find. Sure, hiring companies want great backgrounds, with great accomplishments. But if you’re interviewing in the next six months, what ability do you have to change your accomplishments?

What you can change is your preparation, and your attitude of energy and enthusiasm in the interview.

As we like to say, here’s how.

I Hate My New Job

mauzenne — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:16:14 +0000

This cast describes steps to take when you realize early in a job that you don’t like it.

One of the things that has changed as individuals have had to take over their own career management is more mistakes made by younger professionals. Years ago, larger organizations had a more complete HR approach, and managed their employees’ careers. No longer. Now, younger associates don’t have an HR advisor to turn to, or if they do the advisor is unlikely to have solid recommendations for them (or worse, they tell several people of the problem). More experienced managers and executives are often caught off-guard by the mistakes of their junior team members.

So, what to do? Well, first, we recommend you shut up about it.

Feel, Felt, Found

mauzenne — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:32:41 +0000

This cast describes a simple verbal tool for addressing tension, conflict or other ineffective emotions in the workplace.

Mark has finally gotten around to writing this cast down! Every time Mark teaches this technique to an executive or manager, he turns to Mike and says, “we gotta make this a cast.” And then he doesn’t. When you see this work the first time, you’ll be surprised. In almost any situation, you’ll see a noticeable lessening of the tension. You’ll probably also feel better at moving forward PAST the frustration or difficulties that are being discussed. When you use this with your directs, it often helps begin the process of solution finding.

And to our good friend Rich Ruh, who told Mark this past week at our San Antonio conference that after reading Peter Drucker he was more comfortable around Mark because he realized all these great ideas weren’t Mark’s alone . . . Mark didn’t make this one up either. ;‐)

Business Travel - Packing

mauzenne — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:00:31 +0000

For years pundits have been predicting that technology (videoconferencing, etc.) will lead to the decline and death of business travel. We here at Manager Tools don’t agree. We’re human, and humans do better with face to face connections to ensure a complex project does well. Technology has led to the globalization of business, but that has INCREASED the need for getting on an airplane.

And getting on an airplane means packing a bag. And based on what Mark sees in his travels, no one seems to have gotten the memo about the right way to do it.

How easy is it? How about a 23 day, 5 country trip without checking a bag? Yep, you read that right.

For premium subscribers, we have the normal shownotes (though the notes have a bonus in them) and slides, PLUS a special set of slides showing How Mark Packs for a Week Long Trip. Step by step pictures: what he packs, how he uses dry cleaning bags, how it all fits (easily). If you’re not premium, this is a cast that might make it worth it!

For Premium Members only, we’ve posted a video of Mark going through his packing routine. One of many more videos to come!

John Lucht Interview - Part 3 of 3

mauzenne — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:01:01 +0000

In this cast, we cover part 3 of our conversation with John Lucht, premier executive recruiter and author of “Rites of Passage”.

Note: John’s website can be found here: RiteSite.com

John Lucht Interview - Part 2 of 3

mauzenne — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:53:46 +0000

In this cast, we cover part 2 of our conversation with John Lucht, premier executive recruiter and author of “Rites of Passage”.

Note: John’s website can be found here: RiteSite.com

The MySpace Cast - Part 2 of 2

mauzenne — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:45:23 +0000

In today’s cast, we conclude our conversation on Myspace and social networks. As always, if you’re new to Manager Tools and haven’t listened to the first part, you may wish to go back and listen to that first.

John Lucht Interview - Part 1 of 3

mauzenne — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:56:38 +0000

We have a special treat for you … as a matter of fact, today we’re publishing the very first podcast with someone other than Mark and Mike. Mark and Mike recently had an opportunity to meet with John Lucht. In this show, you get to hear the first part of the 90 minute interview.

If you aren’t familiar with John’s work, you’re missing something special. John Lucht, the author of Rites of Passage, has been an executive recruiter for the past three decades. And when it comes to advice on the ins and outs of job searching, there is none better. Mark and Mike have been huge fans of John’s work for over a decade — listen in to find out why!

Note: John’s website can be found here: RiteSite.com

The MySpace Cast - Part 1 of 2

mauzenne — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:13:11 +0000

This cast gives guidance for managers’ use of Social Networking Sites like MySpace and FaceBook.

If you’re one of our younger listeners, members, or premium subscribers, with less than 5 years in the workforce, chances are you have a MySpace or a FaceBook page. You stay in touch with friends, let people know what you’re doing, share photos, put yourself out there.

And you may have trouble, too.

OR … you’re a manager with one of those people working for you.

And you may have trouble too.

Learn how to get out of trouble in this cast.

Sharing Your References

mauzenne — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:39:54 +0000

This cast tells you how to handle requests for your references when engaged in a job search.

Even though “References Available Upon Request” is no longer a good idea, reference CHECKING is on the rise and will only increase in the coming years. It seems like since resumes don’t include the age-old line — the why of which we’ll share — somehow far too many job seekers are caught off-guard by reference requests. Ahh, Horstman’s Christmas Rule!

We’ll tell you how to manage and share your references in this cast. And hey, if you’re maintaining your network, this one is EASY!

Effective Meetings Behavior Part 5 - Posture

mauzenne — Mon, 26 May 2008 22:29:51 +0000

We’re all in meetings all the time, right? So how come there’s not an instruction manual? We all complain about them. But no one seems able or willing to do something about it. We will.

We shared - 3 years ago - our recommendations on how to RUN an Effective Meeting. What about our recommendations for how to behave when you’re NOT running the meeting?

We have a series of recommendations, because meetings take up so much of our professional lives. In this cast, #5 in a series we’ll build up over time, we talk about how to be a participant once the meeting gets started.

How to Remember Names

mauzenne — Mon, 12 May 2008 05:00:53 +0000

This show describes a couple of simple techniques to help you remember people’s names.

Whether we like it or not, other people are part of our professional lives. And, as Dale Carnegie sagely noted, “A person’s name, to that person, is the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”

But how to remember them? It vexes the best of us.

And one of the keys: you really don’t have to.

PLEASE NOTE: If you downloaded this show and got part 2 of the Meal Interviews series, I’m sorry. I’ve since corrected the problem. You should now get the correct show.

May 12, 2008 Update: iTunes still showing links to the wrong audio file. Hopefully, iTunes will soon reload the RSS feed and point to the correct file.

May 12, 2008 13:48 GMT Update: iTunes has now refreshed the feed. If you downloaded the wrong show (sorry), you may delete the show within iTunes, refresh the podcast list (alt/option click the disclosure triangle next to the Manager Tools podcast), then download the podcast again by selecting the “Get” button next to the latest show. Sorry for the troubles!

Meal Interviews (Part 2 of 2)

mauzenne — Sun, 04 May 2008 22:59:40 +0000

This podcast is the second of two on the subtleties associated with being interviewed during a meal.

Meal Interviews (Part 1 of 2)

mauzenne — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:31:37 +0000

This podcast details all the subtleties associated with being interviewed during a meal.

We have NO EXCUSE for why we didn’t do this podcast 2 years ago. We get this question all the time, so much so that we’re making it part of the standard weekly show rather than restricting it to the interview tool. Meal interviews are becoming more and more common, even as they become ever less intelligent as a tool.

The cast is really just a long list of small tips – there is very little overarching strategy to share. The STRATEGY is clear, though, right? It’s an INTERVIEW!

Resume Update 2008

mauzenne — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:57:33 +0000

This cast updates one of our most popular casts Your Resume Stinks [October 31, 2005] with learnings from our community and some timely recommendations regarding recent trends.

And, in this cast, we make a very exciting New Product Announcement!

The Link: Manager Tools Resume Service Description

How to Introduce People

mauzenne — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:57:21 +0000

This cast explains how to introduce one person to another in social and business settings.

We surprised some of our members a couple of years ago when we included podcasts on how to attend a party, and how to introduce oneself to someone else. Some saw this as “etiquette”, which the modern business world had, in a sense, done away with. And certainly the world of commerce has changed how people interact, making much of our lives less formal than perhaps they were before.

But at the same time, we’ve also noticed that the blurring of work and family time means more of us are exposed, AT WORK, to situations that call on basic rules of social courtesy. Those managers who do well in these situations are seen as more polished and as better communicators - in short, better future executives.

So, don’t think of this cast as one about “etiquette”. It’s not. It’s about courtesy … and getting promoted.

The Annual Layoff Immunization (Part 2 of 2)

mauzenne — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:00:16 +0000

This week, we conclude our conversation on the Manager Tools Annual Layoff Immunization Guidelines.

The Annual Layoff Immunization (Part 1 of 2)

mauzenne — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:00:00 +0000

We received lots of comments and email regarding our show regarding the first rule of layoffs. While our recommendation struck some folks the wrong way - “finances rule??” - those who HAD been laid off told us we were dead solid perfect.

The fact is, we did not expect three years ago to get such positive responses to our casts and advice on careers and career management. We SHOULD have seen it, but we didn’t (and you’ll learn why in this week’s cast). But we are listening, and thus this week’s cast.

In the same way that “Finances Rule” when it comes to being laid off, PREPARATION makes the entire process so much easier. Both of these recommendations stem from a simple principle: decisions of import made under pressure are dangerous.

So, this week: our Annual Layoff Immunization Guidelines.

How to Handle a Group Interview

mauzenne — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:45:10 +0000

This cast describes a simple way to handle a group interview.

Interviewing is one of the real tragedies in most companies. It’s so easy to do it well (once you get over the Horstman Curve), but so few are willing to take the time. Oh, sure, everyone wants to complain about lousy output (low retention, poor performance, attitude difficulties, etc.), but no one seems to be willing to think systemically about the problems.

Come to think of it, there are thousands of companies who never get to the idea that turnover, low morale, and poor performance might just be the output of a broken process: interviewing.

And one of the worst ideas in interviewing is GROUP interviews.

But, since you may very well get one at some point, we have a simple (three key points!) set of suggestions to help you make it through.

Getting Laid Off - Finances Rule

mauzenne — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 07:50:57 +0000

This cast reveals the most important concept a laid off manager must know: Finances Rule. it is the first in a series designed to help both prepare for and navigate through a layoff.

Most of us fear being laid off. It’s a good fear to have, frankly - being laid off is a difficult passage for anyone. The fear of being re-employed, the fear of loss of status, the loss of income, risk to one’s family. All good reasons to be scared.

And yet, those who have been laid off express very different emotions than those of us who have not. When those who have been laid off are asked about it, it becomes clear why. It’s not JUST that they’ve, “been through it once and I made it.” It’s what they THEN say: “I’m ready this time.”

And that’s why you’re scared: you’re not ready.

This cast tells you how to start getting ready. And, our entire series about layoffs will be geared to helping everyone get prepared, and helping those that DO get laid off make it through successfully.

How to Leave a Voicemail

mauzenne — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 07:17:05 +0000

This cast describes how to leave an effective voicemail.

If you’ve ever gotten a voicemail which sounded like, “[your name], this is [their name], call me,” you know why we’re doing this cast.

Phone manners have been steadily decreasing for decades. When boys used to call for Mark’s daughter Kate, they would slouch verbally through, “Is Kate there?” and Mark would answer, “Yes,” and hang up. He safely assumed that any person who asked that question was a boy, and not enough of a gentleman to be allowed to speak with her. (At first she rolled her eyes, but later she liked the hurdle that Mark’s demand created: those boys that never got it ended up being…well, boys.)

What about at work? The “Bob this is Joe call me” is only one example. It ranks right up there with “saw that you called, what’s up?” answered with, “did you, errrrr…listen to my voicemail?”

In this cast, we have recommendations for how to leave a voicemail. We think of this as the first cast on phone skills…out of several hundred to come.

How to Answer the Leadership Style Question

mauzenne — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:25:37 +0000

This cast describes how to answer the interviewing question, “Describe Your Leadership Style.”

This is perhaps the third most important interviewing question, after, “Tell me about yourself,” and behavioral questions. It can be a tough one if you haven’t done some thinking about how you lead and motivate others, and why others perform well when you are leading them.

In this cast, we walk through how to prepare to answer, and how to deliver an impressive answer. Finally, at the end of the show, we share a crucial test that your answer must pass. While you already know the answer to the test, it still catches most people off guard.

Horstman’s Wager (Part 2 of 2)

mauzenne — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:42:12 +0000

Today, we cover the 2nd in a two-part series on Horstman’s Wager.

Last week we covered the basics as to why “Playing the Game” doesn’t work … today we get into the details of the dreaded Horstman’s Wager MATRIX.

During the show, we refer to the printed matrix included in the slides for this series. Although the slides are typically only available to premium members, given how much easier having the slides can make following this particular podcast, we’ve made this week’s slides available to everyone … enjoy!

Horstman’s Wager (Part 1 of 2)

mauzenne — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 04:01:34 +0000

This cast is about interview preparation, and the need for ethics and candor during the process.

We’ve been pleased by the demand for our interviewing product - close to 1,000 purchases so far, and the early feedback has been quite powerful. If you would like to read what folks are saying, you can see that here. And, if you’d like to order, you can do that here.

One of the tenets that distinguishes the casts is its emphasis on preparation. One of the Forum posts actually suggests that folks buy before they think they need it, because many of our suggestions require time to implement (it can take months, done right).

BUT… there are those who disagree. There are interviewees who believe that the key to interviewing is to “play the game”. Many of these folks will tell you that the way to prepare is learn about the company (false, and proven so in Lesson #1), so that one can “be what the company wants”.

Those who have suggested that to Mark meet with his famous response: “you’ve never seen Horstman’s Wager, have you?”

In this cast, we’ll discuss Horstman’s Wager: why “playing the game” is the kiss of death in interviewing.

How to Handle Pre-employment Testing

mauzenne — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 04:21:11 +0000

More and more, companies are using psychological and behavioral tests as pre-employment screening devices. They supplement their interviewing processes in order to ensure less false-positives.This is wise, in our judgment, based on what we see of interviewing. Too many companies don’t screen rigorously enough, and have started enlisting more cerebral and/or technical techniques to be certain of new hires.

Even if you haven’t experienced one yet, it’s becoming more and more likely.

What does this mean for you? What’s the best way to approach and be successful at pre-employment tests? This is Manager Tools, and we’ll walk you through it.

How to Take Notes

mauzenne — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:01:02 +0000

This cast describes an effective way to take notes.

If you go to meetings all the time… no, wait. BECAUSE you go to meetings all the time, you need an effective way to take notes. There are certainly a LOT of different ways to do so, but if you ask a hundred or so executives, some common themes emerge about what works and why. For most of us, we write too much, and get too little value, for all the wrong reasons.

We figure, at 10 meetings a week - and we KNOW you go to more than that, it ends up being 5,000 meetings every decade… so maybe 25,000 meetings CONSERVATIVELY in your professional career.

In other words, whether you realize it or not, you need to be good at taking and using your notes.

How to Write a Thank You Note

mauzenne — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 04:01:28 +0000

We’ve talked about thank you notes hundreds of times. They are fast becoming a nearly lost art. That’s too bad, because they are always appreciated. We know too many managers and professionals who keep them for years! Mark often talks about the basket under his desk full of cards, which he reads when he’s having a bad day. It reminds him things are not so bad.

“Many a friendship — long, loyal, and self-sacrificing — rested at first upon no thicker a foundation than a kind word.”

Frederick W. Faber

We consider thank you notes a part of every manager’s career and management toolkit. Here’s how to write them.

Additional Note: For those of you not close to a stationer or prefer the web, we recommend Crane’s, Dempsey & Carroll, and Mrs. John L. Strong. Crane’s is the classic American stationary provider, famous for their paper quality. Further, a quick suggestion: a higher rag or cotton content in your nicer stationery makes all the difference.

How to Handle the Interview Weakness Question

mauzenne — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 00:38:18 +0000

Mark recently blogged about the crazy advice being given - by the Wall Street Journal! - about how to handle the perennial interviewing question, “Tell me about a weakness.” He was stunned by how wrong some of the suggestions were, as well as the implication that a clever interviewee could trick the interviewing manager into accepting a non-responsive answer. We think it’s funny how many folks think that “they” can fool “their” interviewer, but of course, if “they” were the one “interviewing”, why, “that would be different”.

Yeah right.

In this cast, we share one of the best interviewing answer templates you’ll ever hear. It’s simple, elegant, easy to deliver, and surprise, surprise: it directly answers the question.

How to Politely Become Part of a Group

mauzenne — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 07:11:37 +0000

We’ve talked about the importance of interpersonal skills before, with casts on handshakes and meal etiquette. While for many, they might not sound like managerial subjects, the fact is that career management skills are part of the modern manager’s repertoire. And, as surely you’ve read, business gets done at dinner, at parties, at conferences, at conventions, at product launch events, at annual meetings, on the golf course, and at non-profit fund raisers.

So what do you when you walk into a party and you don’t seem to know anyone there?

In this cast, we walk through a simple technique for introducing yourself into a small group in an unobtrusive, polite fashion. Everyone can do it … of course, the question is, will you? Are you willing to stand in the corner and have everyone think you painfully shy, and therefore surely not managerial or executive material?

Interviews - The Introduction

mauzenne — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 04:01:38 +0000

Well, once again, we’re barely getting this out in time to call it an October cast. But, I think you’ll find it worth the wait. This month, Mark and I want to share a cast from our upcoming Interviewing techniques product. This particular cast is one out of 14 casts on Interviewing.

In this cast, you’ll learn how to handle the crucial first five to ten minutes of any interview - Introductions. It is absolutely true that this is a critical part of the interview - first impressions are being formed, and I’d bet 75% of interviewers have a strong indication of how it’s going to go by the time this portion is done. That translates into our gut feeling that this is where 75% of technical interviewees fail. It’s THAT important.

There are essentially four parts to the Introduction:

Immediate Preparation
Entering the Room
Your Greeting
The Introductory Conversation

Do YOU Need to Apologize?

Michael Auzenne — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 05:21:12 +0000

You’re a manager, and that makes you human. You’re human, and that makes you mess up. You mess up, and that means you apologize.

It’s really that simple. So how come no one seems to apologize anymore?

Unfortunately, for all kinds of reasons, the art of apologizing has fallen from favor. We think the primary reason is about power - most people mistakenly believe that when they apologize, they’re admitting weakness. In fact, an apology is almost considered to be an incredible show of strength. If you’re apologizing, then you and the recipient must both know that you’ve made a mistake, or created an awkward situation. You’re already in the dog house. Failing to apologize doesn’t say it didn’t happen. it says you don’t think it’s a big deal. And if your boss or associate or team member thinks it IS a big deal, you have - YOU have - just made your first mistake into a double header.

And another reason is that managers don’t know how to apologize, and that’s why Manager Tools is here.

In this cast, we share an elegant three and a half step apology, and talk about some of the misconceptions and glaring errors associated with saying one regrets one’s error. There are three parts:

What Not To Do
The Right Mindset
What to Say And How To Say It

Regretlessly,

Mark and Mike

Contacting Recruiters

Michael Auzenne — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 07:40:47 +0000

In a previous cast, we talked about how many managers don’t understand the importance of taking recruiters’ calls, and walked through step by step (hey, this is Manager Tools) how to handle those calls. What to say, and what to learn, and how to proceed.

But there’s another side to the recruiting relationship, isn’t there? What if you want to contact a recruiter, without waiting for them to call you? Maybe you’re recognizing a change in opportunities where you are, or you want to move in a different direction, or perhaps it’s as simple as suddenly inheriting a terrible boss, and alarm bells are going off in your head.

How does one contact a recruiter? What are the basics to consider, and how does one approach them when you’re going to initiate contact? It’s easy if you do it step by step, the Manager Tools way!

Note: During the show, we mentioned we would post a couple of links to some recruiter resources. Hunt-Scanlon is a provider of information about the executive recruiting business - great resource for access to recruiters. Kennedy is a well known technology executive recruiting firm.

Accomplishments - Connecting Resumes and Interviews

Michael Auzenne — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 04:01:51 +0000

Most folks just don’t realize HOW important resumes are, and not just as pieces of paper.

In our Resume Cast, we talked about the PURPOSE of resumes: to create an interview. Now just imagine…wouldn’t it be great if its value didn’t end there? It doesn’t! yes, the resume itself gets you the chance to sell yourself, but buried in the resume are the PERFECT seeds of success, if you’ve followed our guidance.

Listen in to an interesting cast about how your resume and your interviews can be perfectly connected.

Meal Etiquette (Part 2 of 2)

Michael Auzenne — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 05:24:37 +0000

Can there possibly be anything more to say about business meal etiquette?

Yep! Today we conclude our 2-part series on Meal Etiquette.

Meal Etiquette (Part 1 of 2)

Michael Auzenne — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 05:16:09 +0000

Good business practice demands good relationships - with customers, suppliers, team members, and bosses. And good relationships usually means breaking bread together. So, are you up to speed on how to have a business meal? Or even worse, HOST the meal yourself?

You are? GOOD! Then you already know when to start talking business, and whether it’s different at breakfast, lunch and dinner. You know how much alcohol to drink, and how many glasses of wine there are in a bottle. And the ideal way to pay for a meal, or what to do when the check comes. If you know all THAT, then we bet you also know where to seat your guests, and yourself, whether there are 2 or three of you. And, of course, what to order, and what NOT to order. Soup, you say? NO.

And if you’re not sure… that’s why there’s a Manager Tools podcast covering all that and more.

Preparing For Your Review (Part 2 of 2)

Michael Auzenne — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:42:09 +0000

Today we cover the 2nd part of our series on Preparing For Your Review. After you’ve listened to the podcast, I think you’ll agree that if you follow this simple process you will be in a position to not only get the best possible review possible this year, you will also have all the information you need to improve your performance (and your next review!) over the coming year.

And, as a reminder, you’ll find a number of documents to assist you in this process in the Tools section under Preparing for Your Review Documents.

A complete transcript of the entire show
A Powerpoint presentation (in PDF form) with a detailed outline of the review preparation process
A detailed note-taking form to guide you through the process.

How to Resign (Part 3 of 3)

Administrator — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 20:22:32 +0000

Today’s show is the third and final part of our series on resigning. If you have to resign, distinguish yourself my resigning professionally. With the completion of this series, you now know how!

Preparing for YOUR Review (Part 1 of 2)

Michael Auzenne — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 14:46:52 +0000

We spent a lot of time at the end of last year talking about how to write someone else’s review.

What should you do to prepare for your own?

Think of it this way. Suppose you had three folks working for you, and one of the three spent a couple of hours over the previous months preparing for their time with you. They had reviewed the entire year, prepared better information for you for their review, and had taken their time writing their self-evaluation, including specific data to support their points.

Wouldn’t that be impressive? If there were a close call to be made, might it go in your direction?

In this cast, we walk you through everything YOU need to do to prepare for YOUR review with YOUR boss.

And if you think it’s too early, think again – the timeline is THREE MONTHS!

And, by the way, during the show we promised a couple of things. You’ll find all of these in the Manager Tools website under Tools section under Preparing for Your Review Documents.

A complete transcript of the entire show
A Powerpoint presentation (in PDF form) with a detailed outline of the review preparation process
A detailed note-taking form to guide you through the process.

Folks, no note-taking required … we’ve done all the work for you. As we discussed on the discussion boards, these are examples of what you’ll get with our premium membership program … which will be announced shortly!

Note: So everyone can get a look at the documents associated with this podcast, we’re making this month’s member-only cast available to ALL listeners. Enjoy!

How to Resign (Part 2 of 3)

Michael Auzenne — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 03:49:15 +0000

Today, we follow-up with part 2 of our 3-part series on Resigning. Usually not a lot of fun contemplating, and certainly no more fun executing. However, IF you have to do it, there IS a professional way to resign. You CAN leave your job and feel good about HOW you did it, AND leave a great impression on the way out. Now, how often does that happen in your workplace today?

How to Resign (Part 1 of 3)

Michael Auzenne — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 04:01:36 +0000

Today’s show is an interesting one … At least once in your career, and perhaps as many as five times, you’re going to have to resign from a position. And this is another one of those tasks or responsibilities that no one talks about, no one knows how to do, and therefore many do it poorly.

It’s not hard to do well, and in this series of casts, we make it a simple step by step process. If you’re thinking that you already know how, consider that we recommend you need SIX WEEKS to do it well.

Basics of Mentoring - Part 2 of 2

Michael Auzenne — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 08:04:22 +0000

Today we cover the second in our 2-part series on mentoring. As a reminder, our 7 simple guidelines for mentoring are:

Whom Should I Ask?
How Long Should It Last?
You Make the Ask
How Does It Work?
You Run It
The First Meeting is Critical - Script It
Be Ready For Feedback

Also, June 26th represents the 1-year Anniversary of Manager Tools. We previously discussed having a special second part of today’s podcast where we would discuss our thoughts about this last year, as well as discuss our plans for the coming year. Unfortunately, the “discussion” was an hour long! So, rather than bundle it with this podcast and create an incredibly large download, we will release an additional podcast in the next day or two with that discussion. Look for it in your podcast player of choice shortly!

Basics of Mentoring - Part 1 of 2

Michael Auzenne — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 08:55:59 +0000

Every week, we get questions about people’s resumes on the discussion boards. Our resume casts are some of the most wanted of all our work. It’s pretty obvious that more and more folks are tuned into their own careers, and how to manage them. That’s a good thing, as we’ve said before, because no one else is managing it for you. And, because so few people manage their careers at all, it only takes a little to get a competitive advantage.

We thought we’d address a career management topic that also leverages our recent cast about building your network. We want to discuss the basics of Mentoring.

There’s a lot of different aspects of mentoring. In fact, we have a future show scheduled on how to use mentoring as part of an organizational talent management and development and succession planning program. Believe us, we’re not big fans of corporate plans..but there is a way to do it that is easy and very powerful. Stay tuned for that cast.

This week (and next), though, it’s just the basics. After we talk some big picture stuff, we’ll give you some basic guidelines. In our traditional manner, we’ll cover 7 simple guidelines:

Whom Should I Ask?
How Long Should It Last?
You Make the Ask
How Does It Work?
You Run It
The First Meeting is Critical - Script It
Be Ready For Feedback

Building a Network

Michael Auzenne — Tue, 09 May 2006 06:15:29 +0000

If you’re a manager, don’t think for a moment that someone else is managing your career. Those days are long gone. YOU are managing your career. What you do - not only in job skills, but also in what we call “Transition Skills” - will be the primary determinant of your career success. You’re not going to have the richest, most rewarding series of roles and opportunities by allowing someone in HR to know enough about you to get you where you need to be. And succession planning won’t save you either.

And one of the most important of the Transition Skills is Building And Maintaining Your Network. Most people are terrible at it. We know this because they have no network.

Now, notice that we did NOT say that the skill was “networking”. That term conjures up schmoozing, and cocktail parties, and too many people don’t like it. So, we’re not suggesting you do that.

We’re suggesting you Build and Maintain Your Network. It only takes THREE SIMPLE SKILLS, and we’ll walk through them.

Oh, yeah … and there’s a blooper in the show. Did you catch it?

Secrets of a Great Handshake

Michael Auzenne — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 04:34:42 +0000

The hand shake is the most important professional greetings in the world today. There are many cultures in the world, and there are places to bow, and places to hug, and places where cheek-kissing is perfectly appropriate. The handshake, though is the preferred greeting for most of our audience.

If you’re going to do business in the world, or if you’re a manager at a multi-national corporation, you need to know how to shake hands. This cast will teach you in excruciating (grin) detail.

The Ten Steps to a Great Handshake

Make Eye Contact
Smile
Move Forward
Left Foot Forward
Elbow IN!
Web to Web
Push Them Back
Grip the Bat
1-2 Pumps Only
Let Go

Some No-Nos

No double handed grips
No shoulder clasp
Do NOT move your hand side to side in any way
No pulling

I am sure it makes me seem terribly nerdy to break a handshake down this way… but it works, and we know lots of folks want to know, but don’t know where to go. This is one case where if you go to the world wide web, you’ll be reminded of why we started Manager Tools. What passes for training or guidance is almost always irreproducible.

How To Handle Headhunters - Part 2

Michael Auzenne — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 23:27:38 +0000

Last week, we discussed some basic things you need to know about recruiters and specifically how to handle the first call from the recruiter. Today, we discuss the key questions to ask them, as well as how to address their specific request. Additionally, we discuss what you can do to maintain a good relationship with them going forward. Would it surprise you that it looks a lot like maintaining ANY relationship?

We’ve also included on the website an Executive Recruiter Cheat Sheet. Print this sheet out and keep it handy in your desk … it will help you remember how to handle that initial call (what to say, what to ask) and assist you in ensuring that the first call from the recruiter isn’t the LAST call. You’ll find the cheat sheet here.

Join in and discuss this topic in the discussion boards here.

How To Handle Headhunters (Executive Recruiters)

Administrator — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 02:08:04 +0000

We hate to use the name headhunters rather than recruiters, because Mark never liked that term when it was applied to him. But it’s a pretty common nickname for a group that is playing an increasingly important role in career management today. The World is Flat has taught us that no job is safe (note even fast food order takers!). Companies are no longer taking responsibility for your career. Tom Peters believes in a Brand Called “You”. Your career and its transitions are IN YOUR HANDS. You can’t call yourself a smart manager if you don’t know how to create the right relationship with recruiters in your industry.

Over the next two shows, we’ll tell you EXACTLY how to handle it when a recruiter calls you. There’s a right way to do this, and over NINETY PERCENT of managers fail at miserably. It’s not hard, and we lay it all out here. We’ll tell you some basic things you need to know about recruiters, the guidelines for the first call, and the key questions to ask THEM. As well, we share how to actually address their specific request, and then how to maintain a relationship with them after the call if you care to.

November Member-only Podcast: Self Development

Administrator — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 00:56:28 +0000

In this special podcast for our registered subscribers, we’re going to share our first set of recommendations in self-development. We believe that you cannot consider yourself an effective, professional manager unless you engage in regular reading. To that end, we have a suite of recommended reading, both periodicals and books, and some suggestions on how to fit them into your schedule.

We do have one caveat as we start. While both of us have been overseas to many places, our business careers have been decidedly American. We can’t make solid recommendations for our overseas subscribers, other than we think highly of the Economist. On the other hand, we would be happy to hear from our community about THEIR recommendations. if you’re wondering why your favorite isn’t on our list, let us know - we’ll tell you or read it and evaluate it.

We’ll start with periodicals, and then talk about some books we feel strongly about. Lastly, we’ll recommend some steps you can take to help you find the time for these important developmental efforts.

You’ll find a list of the books we discuss (and couple other of our favorites), and links to Amazon, on our Favorite Books page. Be warned, if you purchase through the Amazon link, we’ll actually get a few pennies for your trouble. First one to purchase a book and send us an email that you did so, get’s a special prize for helping make us our first 5 cents at podcasting! Woo-hooo!