Blog | Pollock Spark

Be prepared for the next chapter of your life story

None of us ever know where we are in our own “life story”; the challenge of today may lead to the glory of tomorrow…life pushes us around in unexpected ways; one path disappears just as another reveals itself.

(This observation comes from the directors of Fiasco Theater’s truly brilliant production of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, pictured above. See it if you can – it’s lots of fun.)

We know not what new paths will reveal themselves for each of us in 2012, but we may as well get prepared. This busy season, I offer you just a few questions to mull over with the wine. They should give you some ammunition for advancing your own life story towards glory – when you’ve recovered from your New Year’s festivities. Here goes:

*When you go into an interview, how much do you know about the person you are meeting and what they are looking for?

*When you are asked what you do, what do you say?

*When you work with a client, how much are you thinking “I have to sell what I have”, and how much are you thinking “How can help her?”

*When you send out your resume, do you believe in it? Are you proud of it?

*When you look at your career so far, can you picture all the things you’ve done that you are really proud of – large or small?

*When you have a hard time getting started on a new project, is it because you have made it too hard for yourself?

*Are you keeping good records on all the people you work with, work for, meet – who might someday be the connector you need to the job you want?

*Are you aware of what competitors in your field are doing?

*Do you make a point of finding out what other people do and who they work for?

*Are you able to express why you are unique – how your professional life story is unlike anyone else’s?

I am excited for all of us to see how life will push us around next year and what new paths will appear for us to take. Onwards to the glory of tomorrow!

All the best for a terrific holiday season and a fantastic 2012.

Michael Pollock

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Posted on December 21, 2011 in Uncategorized

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Career Q+A: Job changes, Resume updates

CYNOPSIS CLASSIFIED ADVANTAGE
~ ASK THE EXPERTS ~
Questions from our Readers
Answered by Michael Pollock

Q: How many jobs changes can one have before a red flag goes up?

A: No given number if otherwise your story makes sense. But too many changes could make the reader’s head spin as she tries to figure you out. As a hirer I would want to see that you have progressed. I would want to see the relevance, the narrative, in your choices. If it just looks like a lot of lateral, random or desperate moving I would probably reach for that red flag. If I am hiring for the long haul, and you do seem to be the right choice for me, I will want to know why all the moves, and your story had better be good. Not just from you but from references from your previous managers.

Q: I haven’t had to update my resume in 10 years. What has changed?

A: A lot has changed there’s lots to learn. It is not just the resumes that have changed, but the job titles, channels and systems. If you are in the media and entertainment sector, then almost everything has changed in the business, so you will probably have to describe your results, skills and experience in a different way from your 2001 resume.

The experience that was relevant 10 years ago may not be so today so revisit all those old job descriptions and successes and reframe them to address the current conditions. If they are about buggy whips or carbon paper, consider dropping them.

Put your resume on LinkedIn. Investigate and understand the way search engines have changed the recruiting and resume field before you update. They will be searching for key words and titles and brands, so make sure they are in there.

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Posted on December 21, 2011 in Career Q+A, career transition, resumes

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First person or third person in resumes

First published in Cynopsis Classified Advantage

OK this is a controversial one. Goodness me a lot of hot air and opinion and conformity and so-called best practice rules and heaven knows what else surround the topic of resumes. But still there are so many dreary, uniform, uninformative and obfuscatory resumes in the world.

I know, I know, you want to optimize your resume for search engines – well go ahead and do that and let the matching begin – good luck with that. Let me know how it goes.
But when there is going to be a human being involved, appeal to their humanity. Most often they are looking not just for someone who can do the job but also for someone they can face running into at the salad bar.

They are looking for a person who can rock the job. So be a person. Show some humanity in your resume so that the reader will think – this person has such great energy and passion. They should get a feeling that you like what you do and are proud of your achievements. They should want to meet you. Wouldn’t that be nice?!

I’ve been asked whether it’s acceptable to write a summary for one’s resume in the first person or should it be in the third. As far as I’m concerned the answer is whatever makes sense, feels comfortable and communicates what you want to communicate. Here is the response I recently gave a senior executive who asked if it was acceptable for him to use the first person:
“It is acceptable to me. I believe it is more engaging to a reader – implies more passion and commitment on your part. After all you are presenting yourself. It makes it more active = less passive. Makes me feel there’s a person in there.”

The response from that executive was: “I think you nailed the issue: how will it be perceived? Historically i have always looked at it from the perspective that it’s just business, not personal. So I’ve always removed that kind of stuff…but then I haven’t been hitting it out of the park lately so it’s time to try something different.”

So don’t give in to conformity if that doesn’t convey who you are. And do remember that if there is a person reading the resume then they are likely to be seeing very many almost identical resumes – all conforming to some imaginary set of rules. Be the standout: whether in the first person or third, be the person who moves them to action.

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Posted on December 21, 2011 in career transition, job search, resumes

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Getting through the holidays

I had this exchange today – thought it might be helpful to share it:

Q: Its been two years since I was “reorganized” out of my job. I have been freelancing, but the holidays/ end of year is tough to get through. Any words of wisdom to keep your spirits up now and get motivated for 2012?
Help!

A: Many years ago when I was in a corporate position I asked a freelance friend what was the hardest part of that life. She told me “learning to go to the beach. Once I had figured out how to do that things were much better.”
By going to the beach she meant taking time off – not thinking about the networking and the next gig – truly taking a break. Just like vacations from a job job. So I suggest that right now you declare 2011 to be over as far as work is concerned. It’s done. Put a date in your calendar for early January when you will get back to it refreshed and with renewed vigor – and now sit back and enjoy the holidays.
Easy for me to say I know – but give it a try.

And the response: Awesome! Thank you so much for putting things into the proper perspective.
Much needed- thanks for getting back so promptly also- I’m a fan.
Happy Holidays and cheers to the New Year.

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Posted on December 21, 2011 in Uncategorized

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Watch films – think about careers!

I have watched three docs and a narrative film in the last couple of weeks that gave under-the-skin-views of careers and callings and money and success and passion and art and creativity. I recommend them to provoke your own thinking.

Page One: Inside The New York Times

Get past Michael Kinsley’s awful review in the New York Times itself, and relish the passion and authenticity and smarts of David Carr who features largely in thisdocumentary. You’ll be all the more impressed when you hear how he pulled himself out of addiction and off the streets to become the NYTimes leading media business writer. His deep convictions and his fervently held point of view are astounding. And then there’s his angry exchange about international reporting with the Vice Magazine folk (right across the street from where I sit) – a tad over the top, but fun to see. Oh and by the way this movie is a lot about where print journalism is headed.

Bill Cunningham New York

“We all get dressed for Bill Cunningham;” says Anna Wintour, Vogue editrix. The French gave him the Legion D’Honneur. This single-minded and obsessed street fashion photographer lives only for his solitary craft. You have possibly seen him snapping the fashionable on the corner of 57th and 5th or ducking his camera through gilded lobbies at high society benefits. Every week his carefully selected photo montages give us his point of view on the latest wearable fashion. The great and the near great know what he does, but who he actually is has been a mystery. He’s made some intense life choices – all for the sake of his work. Is this really what it takes to be the best?

Herb and Dorothy

And here are Herb and Dorothy Vogel, the best-known couple on the New York art scene. By day Herb was a postal worker, Dorothy a librarian. But nights and weekends they go to artists’ studios and gallery openings. And they buy. They filled their tiny rent-controlled apartment with conceptual and minimalist art, building one of the most significant contemporary collections. 4782 pieces were under their bed, in the bathroom and covering the walls and ceilings. They’ve given much of their collection to the National Gallery – and yet more is being passed out as 50 works of art for 50 states. I loved seeing Herb’ s poppy eyes discover the work and grill the artists. Not for him the overwrought verbal constructions of the sophisticated collector or curator – just watch him lean forward and stare and stare at a piece and then simply say “It works.”

Margin Call

This is the odd one out in this list. First off it is narrative fiction. Second it is about the finance biz. But it’s a brilliant piece of writing, casting, directing – and so very timely – these characters packaging worthless mortgage securities and making so very much money must be the 1%. Here are engineers who used to build bridges and design rockets who forsook their calling to go work where the money was big – well actually, huge. How does this work out for them? How do they feel about making money not things? What drives them to work? How important is the money anyway? Among the moments to enjoy: Stanley Tucci’s speech about the value of his bringe, Jeremy Irons’ gleeful determination as he faces down disaster and Kevin Spacey telling his analyst underlings that he actually has no idea what they do.

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Posted on November 29, 2011 in creative process, success, vision

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Courage and moving forwards

“All is in a man’s hands and he lets it slip from cowardice, that’s an axiom. It would be interesting to know what it is men are most afraid of. Taking a new step, uttering a new word is what they fear most…But I am talking too much. It’s because I chatter that I do nothing. Or perhaps it is that I chatter because I do nothing.”
Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky.

I’ve met so many creative people who tell me about their wonderful ideas for projects or for career moves: they know they are good but they don’t execute them. What is it that keeps them from moving forward? What is it about that job that we are sure we would be brilliant at but don’t go after? That film we don’t make, the book we don’t write, the business we don’t start? Is it, as Dostoevsky suggests, cowardice? We love to chatter of our ambitions and what we are about to start. What are we afraid of? It often seems that we would prefer to carry on with our low level of dissatisfaction than take a flyer on something we know to be good. Perhaps we are afraid of it not turning out the way we imagined – notice I don’t say “failing” – but I have written before about Edison and what he can teach us here.

I know, I know, you need to keep your job – the job you don’t love so much. The rent has to be paid. But when you sitting in your rent-paid house or apartment are you sitting there being vaguely unhappy, or worse?

Do not fear. Work at not fearing. Probably you do not actually have to make a choice between the status quo and whatever adventure is next. This is black-and-white thinking. If there is some job you are interested in or some project that is clearly worth doing – do you really have to throw everything up to get on the track? Almost certainly not. Once you have a vision or a sense of what it is you are going after – break down the little steps you have to take to get there. What is that first easy step? Is it some research? Is it an email to someone who can help you? Is it setting an hour aside to do a shitty first draft of a business plan? Almost certainly there is some small step that you can take to get on the road, and still not jeopardize the current situation that you..er..value so highly.

I know you have the ideas and can see the greener grass. Creative people always do. Stop chattering about it. Address the fear and take a small step to outflank it. Get going on it and give yourself something to look forward to.

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Posted on October 19, 2011 in career transition, change, goals

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See yourself as others see you

What you think really doesn’t matter when you’re pitching yourself for a job. What matters is what the recipient of the pitch thinks: the hirer. What you need to be doing is intuiting what they are looking for and what they are worrying about, so that when they meet you they feel better, they feel that their problems will be taken care of.

So what should they feel when they look at you? Think about it, she is just a person with a job to do and problems to solve, whether she’s in HR or the manager you’d be working for; though in each case their problems will be slightly different. Do this exercise before you write to them or go into the interview: ask yourself “what do they hope they will see in me? What problem or worry do they have that I can help them with?”

Put yourself in their shoes. Forget for a moment about your qualifications and think about her needs. Your predictions might include: I can trust her, I want someone who has worked on projects like mine, I want someone who understands the category, I want someone who will fit in with the team, I want someone who has proven results. This kind of thing. So which of these are the likely triggers for your particular hirer? Which can you support best? Ask yourself these questions and then look at your resume and cover letter and decide whether they are framed to give the right impression.

To do this you need to have a good sense of what you have to offer. You need to understand which of your experiences and skills are relevant to their needs – which ones are important. There is often a difference between important and interesting. Focus on the “important” – and then color it with a little “interesting.” But don’t put so much interesting in that your reader loses sight of the important parts – she is not going to give it that much time before she moves on. And don’t make them work to discover the important parts. Put them up front – tell them what you bring them and then prove it in your chronology or the cases you cite. Don’t make them search for it. Why should they? Surely there is no job in the creative business where effective, powerful presentation of ideas is not important. So show them with your own pitch for yourself that you have that mastered.

So what will they see when they see your resume – or meet you at interview? Will they see a list of qualifications and clients and dates and advancements? Or will they see the answer to their problem? Which would you prefer they see?

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Posted on October 19, 2011 in career transition, interview, job search

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Executive Coaching: doubts and benefits

I received this note this morning from a client shortly after our session together. It speaks for itself.

I want to tell you how truly helpful our time was this morning. I was having a “what the heck am I doing here” moment and even berating myself, this is the painfully honest part, for spending my hard earned money to learn something I probably could have figured out for myself.

BUT, today’s session re-motivated me and put me back on track. More than the specifics of the actual project, you knew where I was emotionally and confronted it head on. You helped me remember why I started with this in the first place and reignited my excitement (which you helped to create in our first couple of calls, by the way.) Who knows where the journey will lead but I don’t think I was ready for it to end yet so I’m grateful for your support in helping me to take one more little step forward.

Thanks, Michael.

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Posted on September 27, 2011 in coaching

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Career Q+A: On including objectives and professional advancement in your resume

As seen in Cynopsis Classified Advantage
~ ASK THE EXPERTS ~
Questions from our Readers
Answered by Michael Pollock

Including professional advancement on your resume

Q: Is it really important to put professional advancement or interests on your resume? If so, should it be detailed or brief so you can talk to it in the interview?

A: The purpose of your resume is to get you the interview, so if your professional advancement activities are of good quality and relevant to the position, then you should absolutely include them. The knowledge that you are keen enough to improve your skills is a plus to a discriminating hirer and can set you apart. It demonstrates that you are engaged with your own development and the development of her industry.

As for your interests insofar as they add breadth and color to the picture you are painting of yourself these can be helpful in separating you from the pack of similarly qualified candidates. But your interests must be consistent with the image of yourself that you want to convey. If you are positioned as an effective team leader for example you will not want to mention your macrame or your stamp collection! On the other hand if you are the captain of a racing yacht that could add a very strong credential.

Detailed or brief, you ask. “Brevity is the soul of wit,” they say. Don’t bog it down in too much detail; it’s not your autobiography. It’s the trailer that you are carefully designing to get you the interview.

Including your objective on the resume

Q: I see some resume’s with objectives, what is your take on including them or not in a resume? Thank you so much for your help.

A: A brief opening statement on your resume is most important but please do not frame it in terms of your objectives. The hirer is not interested in your objectives nearly as much as he is interested in his own. Your resume must persuade him that you are the perfect solution to his problem, not so much that he is the solution to yours.

Express in two or three sentences how you are exactly the right person to fill his position, and let him know of the unique value you will bring to his company. If your opening salvo hits the nail on the head, he will be enticed to read on to the supporting evidence. But remember, he is not approaching your resume with an interest in meeting your objectives he is completely focused on his own.

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Posted on September 20, 2011 in Career Q+A, job search, resumes

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What to do if you are on the wrong career track

Are you wondering whether the job you are in is the right one?

Are you climbing the ladder of promotion and going through the motions but wondering what happens when you reach the top? Is the ladder leaning against the right wall?

It is easy to question whether you are on the right path, but not always so easy to identify what the right path might be. The search for inspiration can be an exhilarating one. I recommend it.

Start with friends and colleagues. Ask them what they do, what keeps them up at night, what a typical day is like, what they are proud of. Be constantly making yourself notice what potentially is exciting to you.

Read magazines to see what is going on that you may not have been aware of. Read Fast Company, Wired, Inc. for example. I like to read them on paper, putting those little arrow stickies on the edge of pages where there is something that catches my fancy so I can come back to it. But you can also do this online with the same mags and TED Talks and the almost infinite number of industry blogs. There are many ways of tagging things online that strike you; I have recently been trying Evernote, which lets me capture and store all sorts of references including my own voice and access them later on my various devices.

Go to networking events – and not just ones that are specific to your industry. Ask your new acquaintances the same questions you’ve been asking your friends. You will be amazed how many employers and lines of work you’ve never heard of. Use the tidbits you’ve picked up to provoke conversations asking perhaps if they know anything about this thing you just read in Wired. Be open to delving into things that seem even just a bit interesting. The way the media business is going, everything is a part of it – so it can only make you smarter.

Make this an ongoing project. It will energize you. It will expand your horizons. It will lead you to interesting people and experiences and it will inform your search for the right wall to prop your next ladder against. Bon voyage.

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Posted on September 19, 2011 in career transition, goals

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