DO YOU WANT TO BE A SUPERVISOR

Taking on that first supervisory position is always a challenge – especially if you are assuming managerial responsibility for former peers. Such challenges are well met by people who truly aspire to leadership and apply their talents in that direction. Some things to consider:

Be yourself
Don’t try to be your predecessor or to emphasize your difference from your predecessor.

Start slowly
Don’t be a “new broom” that immediately tries to sweep away all previous procedures. Keep it "business as usual" until you get a clearer idea of what is needed.

Gather information
Observe, ask questions, be a good listener, solicit input.

Be visible
Move around among your staff. Find ways to get to know them and establish good two-way communication.

Review written materials and policies early
Don’t depend on others to give you information that is already available to you.

Emphasize teamwork
Early on, your staff probably knows more than you about many aspects of the job. While you will need to establish your authority, also empower your staff as members of the team.

Be evenhanded and fair
Discover for yourself the strengths and weaknesses of your staff.

Provide good communication in both directions
Let your staff know that you will keep them informed whenever possible, and build trust. Let your staff know you care about them, and that when they speak with you they are heard.

Make your own decisions
You are the new kid on the block, and people may expect to influence you. Be clear that when you seek information and advice, you aren’t handing over the reins. You’re gathering data for use in your decision-making process.

PREPARE FOR YOUR INTERVIEW

Preparation
Homework: It's not Only for School

The interview date is set and your resume is done. Now it is time to get ready with some preparation drills.

Understand the role
Never interview for a job you know nothing about. Do your homework on the opportunity—the experience, education and skills required, responsibilities and work environment.


Know the company
Carefully research the company to understand business direction, competitors, products/services and major news announcements.


Practice your story
Develop "PAR" stories to highlight your achievements:
Problem: situation or project
Action in response to situation/project
Results measured or company benefits.


Confirm can do/will do
Know your capabilities and limits in advance. Will you travel? How much? Do you mind long hours? Have a clear idea of what you want from a job before the interview.


Perform interview question drills
While you can’t predict all the questions you will be asked, you can guess quite a few. Formulate answers to typical interview questions and prepare creative, clever responses. Practice out loud to increase your poise and reduce anxiety.


Prepare for tough questions
Be ready to address reasons for job change (better opportunity, more challenge, etc.)


Bring extra resumes
Bring three to four copies in the event that you are asked to meet with additional company representatives.


Dress “one level above”
Based on company dress code, dress one level above company policy. Example – if company environment is “business casual”, wear dress slacks/skirt.

EMPLOYMENT TRENDS FIRST QUARTER 2006

Economic Trends

Job Growth Better Than Expected

U.S.employers added 211,000 jobs to
their payrolls in March,higher than the
190,000 economists had forecast.
In addition,the unemployment rate
dropped to 4.7%in March,down from
4.8%in February.This is the lowest level
reported in five years.

“I think the job market is on a roll,” said Bill
Cheney,chief economist at John Hancock
Financial Services in an Associated Press
article.“Businesses are doing pretty well
these days.Profits are growing nicely.I
think businesses are at a point where they
feel more comfortable adding people.”
Job gains in March were concentrated in
the services industry,specifically in pro-
fessional and business services and leisure
and hospitality.

The economy has created 2.1 million in
the past year,averaging 174,000 jobs a
month.

HOW PROMOTABLE ARE YOU?

To assess your readiness for an internal job change, consider each of the following statements that applies to you and see what your boss is looking at.


I consistently outperform my peers.
Others consider me a team player.
I serve as a mentor to others.
I work just as hard when I am not being observed.
I avoid criticizing others behind their backs.
I offer appropriate recognition to others.

I take responsibility for problems and work to solve them.
I willingly follow company policies and procedures.
I rarely have personality conflicts with others.
I do not allow personal problems to undermine my productivity at work.
I motivate others.
I have a good working relationship with my boss.

I demonstrate flexibility in the face of organizational change.
I maintain an enthusiastic, positive attitude.
I look for ways to meet budgets and reduce costs.
I can be relied on to meet my deadlines.
I am a good listener.
I communicate clearly and in a timely fashion.

I regard my performance reviews as vital opportunities for learning and growth.
I am willing to take reasonable risks.
I do what I say I'm going to do.
I use common sense when making decisions.
I look for opportunities to "go the extra mile."

I make a regular effort to familiarize myself with the big
picture, understanding the needs and problems of other departments besides my own.

Rather than focusing on what my boss can do for me, I look for ways that I can
help him or her. For example, instead of merely pointing out problems, I work to come up with possible solutions.

MOVING?

Have you visited the new work site?

Do you know whether it is a rural or urban area?

Do you know how many miles it is from your new home to your new job?

Have you contacted the Chamber of Commerce for detailed information about the area, such as maps and resource directories of amenities, attractions and events?

Have you told your friends and family you are relocating?

Do you know if the new area offers the community organizations you desire, such as religious organizations, Girl Scouts or sports clubs?

Do you know how the cost of living in the new area compares to your current location?

Do you know what the climate is like?

Have you contacted realtors regarding your current home and future home prospects?

Are you excited about the new position?

RESUMES - PLAN BEFORE YOU WRITE

Plan before you write

Use the following outline for your resume:

1. Contact heading
(name, address, phone, e-mail address)

2. Career objective
(clear, brief, specific)

3. Summary statement
(a bulleted list of your key skills and qualifications)

Example: Public Relations/Community Relations professional

Diversified background in internal and external communications and fund-raising and development
Experience includes: designing and implementing educational programs for public, hospital personnel and medical communities; and marketing hospital services, guest relations services, media campaigns, and in-house publications

4. Work history
(include specific results for which you were personally responsible, with supporting data)

Use action verbs and quantify your experience as much as possible.
Cite sales goals achieved, production volumes increased, lines of code debugged, number of employees managed, revenues increased.

5. Education
(college degrees, relevant courses or workshops, list of internal or corporate training courses completed)

6. Optional information
(relevant memberships, awards, publications, certificates, etc.)

7. Personal statement
(an overview of the personal characteristics that make you an excellent candidate for the job)

THANK YOU LETTERS

Last impressions: As important as the first

The perfect final touch to an interview is a sincere thank-you letter. Just a brief note of appreciation to your interviewer for sharing their time and knowledge can do wonders. It reminds the interviewer of who you are and demonstrates exceptional professionalism. Follow these simple guidelines to write thank-you letters that will make you hard to forget.

Make a statement of appreciation
Thank your interviewer for his/her time.

Recall the interview
Make reference to at least one topic of discussion during your visit to demonstrate your interest in the conversation and the company.

Connect yourself to the job
Remind the interviewer of how your qualifications meet the needs of the company and emphasize your interest in the job.

Indicate next contact
Let the interviewer know that you look forward to speaking with her/him soon about the job opportunity.

Proofread your note
Be sure your letter is flawless. Do not tarnish a great interview with poor spelling or grammar in the follow-up letter.