ORCMS Career Blog

Leonardo DaVinci was the ORIGINAL Renaissance Man.  Below is a copy of Leonardo’s letter to the House of Sforza (his resume) that he sent over 600 years ago.  Modern day job seekers can learn a lot from Leonardo!

“Most illustrious Lord, having now sufficiently seen and considered the proofs of all those who count themselves master and inventors of instruments of war, and finding that their invention and use of the said instruments does not differ in any respect from those in common practice, I am emboldened without prejudice to anyone else to put myself in communication with your Excellency, in order to acquaint you with my secrets, thereafter offering myself at your pleasure effectually to demonstrate at any convenient time all those matters which are in part briefly recorded below,

1. I have plans for bridges, very light and strong and suitable for carrying very easily…
2. When a place is besieged I know how to cut off water from the trenches, and how to construct an infinite number of…scaling ladders and other instruments…
3. If because of the height of the embankment, and the strength of the place of its site, it should be impossible to reduce it by bombardment, I know methods of destroying any citadel or fortress, even if it is built on rock.
4. I have plans for making cannon, very convenient and easy of transport, with which to hurl small stones in the manner almost of hail…
5. And it is should happen that the engagement is at sea, I have plans for construction many engines most suitable for attack or defense, and ships which can resist the fire of all the heaviest cannon, and powder and smoke.
6. Also I have ways of arriving at a certain fixed spot by caverns and secret winding passages made without any noise even though it may be necessary to pass underneath…a river.
7. Also I can make covered cards, safe and unassailable, which will enter the serried ranks of the enemy with artillery, and there is no company of men at arms so great as not to be broken by it. And behind these the infantry will be able to follow quite unharmed and without any opposition.
8. 8. Also, if need shall arise, I can make cannon, mortars and light ordnance, of very beautiful and useful shapes, quite different from those in common use.
9. Where it is not possible to employ cannon, I can supply catapults, mangonels, traps and other engines of wonderful efficacy not in general issue. In short, as the variety of circumstances shall necessitate, I can supply an infinite number of different engines of attack and defense.
10. In time of peace I believe that I can give you as complete satisfaction as anyone else in architecture, in the construction of buildings both public and private, and in conducting water from one place to another.
11. Also I can execute sculpture in marble, bronze, or clay and also painting, in which my work will stand comparison with that of anyone else whoever he may be.
12. Moreover, I would undertake the work of the bronze horse, which shall endure with immortal glory and eternal honor the auspicious memory of the Prince of your father and of the illustrious house of Sforza”

What strikes me as most impressive (and perhaps most instructive for job seekers) is the way in which Leonardo highlighted his talents to meet the needs of his potential employer(s).  Leonardo most enjoyed painting and scupting — it’s what he is MOST known for these days (think of the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper.”)  However, he doesn’t mention that until # 11 in his list!  That’s because he knew Sforza was looking for someone who could provide assistance with his military and building affairs.

Did it work?  Go to Milan, Italy and you will see that Leo did indeed get the job!  What can YOU learn about your job search from Leonardo DaVinci?

A study conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), concludes that “employees are clearly not benefiting from management efforts to support their careers.”  (From 2000 HR Trendbook)  Out of 1000 employees interviewed, nearly half said their employer’s approach to career development failed to meet their needs.

Here are some of the statistics:

• 44% said their career aspirations are supported by a system for career development through their employers.
• Nearly half (38%) felt that their employers are only concerned about the career development of their “high potential” employees.
• 30% feel their employer is not committed to helping them achieve personal career goals.

Why does this matter?

Well, it matters for both employers and employees.  The coming years will see a shortage of talent in the workforce due to retirement of Baby Boomers.  Most companies have not yet developed a succession plan (42%) or only have an informal plan in place (29%) to meet their needs.  If employees are not given assistance to enhance their career within their current companies, they may find it necessary to move to a different company that provides these services.  Failing to provide programs for retaining and developing employees is a clear case of myopia.  Companies who do not step up to this challenge will find it difficult to keep their brightest and best employees.

It matters to employees, because in today’s work environment you can plan on changing careers every three to 5 years.  You are responsible for “You, Inc.”  Nobody else will manage your company (”You, Inc.”) for you, so the smart money is on managing your own career development.

There are several things YOU, as an employee, can do to enhance your own career from both inside and outside the organization.  Here are a few great suggestions:
1 - Consult your HR or Training department to find out what is offered through your current company. SHRM says that “a lot of unhappiness over career development programs is a communication issue.”
2 - Look elsewhere for career development opportunities.  Check out the local chapter of your professional organization to see what certification or continuing education classes are offered.
3 - Get a degree.  Your employer may offer some form of tuition assistance for this.  Check your employee manual or ask your HR department.
4 - Change companies.  Chances are good that your company’s competitors care more about their employees than yours does.  Why not take a look at working for them?

Are you one of the 44% of employees who feel their employers do not support your career development needs?  If so, what will you do to enhance your own career goals?

Tom Peters talks about the importance of self-branding. In the era of the Internet you CAN brand yourself — perhaps even make a run on the Whitehouse. The following isn’t true. . . but what if it COULD happen?

My mother used to caution me about the people I hung out with.  If their character was “questionable,” she would warn me that I was destined to become like them — because our friends, and those we spend time with make an impression on our own character.  I used to think she was just being a “naggy-old-mom”, but then I realized she was right!  Our friends DO influence who we become!

If that’s true for you, then the question is: “are you spending enough time with the people you want to become?”  If you are an Architect you need to spend time with others who share your passion for drafting and building buildings.  If you are a marketing professional, you should spend time around other marketing professionals.  If you are an engineer you will want to be around people who speak your same language and read the books, articles and blogs you need to read in order to grow in your professionalism.

But what if you are new to the profession and you know only a few people in your field?  Where can you go to find others?  Where do people in your field hang out and how can you meet them?

One of the best ways to meet people in your specific field is through a professional organization.  Most professions have them.  In fact, some require membership in order to maintain a license or  qualify for career advancement.  I recommend you find out which ones are most important to your field by talking to someone who has been in that profession for longer than 10 years.  Another option is to conduct a web search to find out what is available.  Most groups will allow you to sign up through their website and many have student rates if you are still in school or a recent graduate.  A lot of these professional organizations hold monthly events, and some have smaller group sessions for networking and professional development.  You will also find that most of them have a job board of some sort for people in your field who are looking to make a career change.

A great way to make a name for yourself in your profession is to volunteer in your professional organization!  In every organization their is an 80/20 rule at work — 20 percent of the people do 80 percent of the work.  You can take advantage of the 80/20 rule by volunteering.  Being part of the 20 percent will put you front and center of the organization where you will meet important leaders, other professionals, and potential employers.  YOU should be part of the 20!

There are many reasons to join a professional organization:  you will brand yourself as a professional in your field, you will grow in your knowledge and skill-set, and you will meet some people who could influence the direction of your career.

Every company these days has a website.  They are as necessary as an ad in the Yellow Pages once was.  You can learn a lot about a company from its website:

• owners
• mission, vision and values
• core competencies
• organizational structure and key players
• key products and services
• the list goes on. . .

The website is where you would send someone to learn about your company. For many businesses it is also a place clients can go to make purchase, get assistance, and learn more about the products and/or services the company offers. Websites are used for marketing, public relations, customer service, sales and technical support.When is the last time you read  your company’s website?  If it has been a while, what are you missing?  I am frequently surprised by the information that people inside the company DON’ know that can be found on the company website.

Keeping up on your company by reading the website (or the company blog) is a good way to improve your career.

When you have completed the search for yourself on the Internet you may need to clean up anything that doesn’t fit your “personal brand identity.” If there are pictures on your MySpace or Facebook account that you would not want an employer to see, take them down. If your pictures on Google Images isn’t what you want, get them removed. If you have any articles written by or about you that don’t serve to promote you AS YOU INTEND TO BE PRESENTED, it’s time to take some serious action!

There are two potentially negative options for what you may find on your personal Google search:  a) nothing (this is bad!), or b) negative (this is damaging!).  I once worked with a supervisor who was demoted because of her pictures on MySpace.  We worked for a rather conservative company, and the pictures of her drinking with friends (obviously drunk) did not fit the corporate image they wanted to portray.  Can they do that?  I’m not sure of the legalities (I’m no Lawyer), but my recommendation is that it is better to be safe than sorry.  It’s not just the “rich and famous” who need to be aware of their public presence.  It’s ALL of us!

Here are some questions that will help you make your Internet presence match your desired target:

• What is your Unique Selling Proposition?  (Your USP)
• Can you state it in 10 words? (If not, it’s probably not focused enough)
• Does your Internet presence clearly portray your USP?
• What (specifically) do you need to add?
• What (specifically) do you need to delete?
• Who will help you do these things?

When is the last time you conducted an Internet search for yourself?  My kids tell me it’s kind of a tacky thing to do, but I HIGHLY recommend it! In fact, take a minute right now and pull up Google or Yahoo (or whichever search engine you prefer) and type in your name.  Look for publications, pictures, videos, webpages, and anything else that will inform someone about YOU.

What did you find? Does it describe the person you want your current and future employer to know?  At this point there are three possible answers:  1) “yes”, 2) “I can’t be found”, or 3) “NO, this is not good!  I KNEW I shouldn’t have allowed those pictures to be taken in Cancun!”

If your Internet presence is exactly as you wish it to be, go ahead and move on to the next tip.  For those of you who, like me, need to make some improvements . . . read on.

In 1997 TomPeters wrote an article for Fast Company titled “A Brand Called You.”  In that article he argued, “Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You.”

The article was written a decade ago, but is more important now than ever!  The Internet has made it possible for us to become our own “brand”.  Remember, a brand is a “promise” of what can be expected from the product or service offered by a specific company.

What is YOUR brand?  What is YOUR promise?  When you conduct an Internet search on yourself, does what you find enhance and promote your brand?  Does it accurately portray YOUR promise?  If not, you had better take the time to improve your internet presence in order to make it do so.

Business is about the bottom line. What EVERY business owner REALLY cares about is how you can help her/him make money or save money. No matter how charitable the organization, owners and managers need to focus (at least in part) on the financial side of their company. One of the realities of living in the 21st century is that without cash, the company will not be around very long. Knowing this will allow you to improve your career by doing very little extra work. Here’s how.

You already have successes. You show up and do your job. You do it well. You have volunteered for special projects, which you have completed successfully and on time. You know the chief concerns of your boss (and her boss).  You are able to anticipate (and solve) problems before they arise. You have already distinguished yourself from your coworkers.

The next step is to track and measure your successes. Here is a simple, 5-step plan you can follow to do so:

1. Keep a “Brag Folder”. Include in it a copy of any “atta-boy” and “kudo” emails you receive from up the food chain. Also be sure to include any letters of commendation or gratitude from clients and customers.
2. In the front of the folder, include a “tally sheet” where you can keep a brief, running commentary on the contents of the folder.
3. Don’t forget to document any other successes you might have as well — quarterly sales numbers, targets met or exceeded, your role in any special projects, etc.
4. Solicit recommendations from co-workers and customers. When someone tells you how much they appreciate what you have done for them, ask for a written confirmation of it. Many will be happy to give it to you.
5. Quantify as much as possible — “How much?” “How many?” “How long?” Put a hard number to your successes. Second to a hard number is a percentage, but remember that percentages don’t mean much without the actual figures attached.

By keeping track of the successes you ALREADY HAVE, you will be able to better make your case for a promotion or a raise. Be sure to take the “Brag Folder” with you to your next annual review. You’ll find it helps make your boss’ job much easier, as it gives him/her the fuel they need to show that YOU are an asset to the company.

By now you should know that we recommend blogging for job seekers, because blogs will help you increase your ranking on search engines. 80% of all hiring managers have said that they will do a Google search prior to talking to a candidate. They simply want to know what the Internet says about you BEFORE they invest any more time talking to you. If the Internet presents you as an “expert” in your field it is much more likely they will take the time to talk to you. Blogging can help you be seen as an expert in your field — so long as your blogging enhances you “brand”.

Unfortunately blogging is a real commitment. If you aren’t going to commit to blogging at least once a week, then you really shouldn’t start a blog. It will be a waste of time.

We don’t all have the time or commitment level to keep up a blog, however, there ARE ways that you can use blogs to enhance your Internet presence and increase your search engine rankings without making the commitment to write a blog. Here are 5 things we recommend:

1. Comment on popular blogs related to your area of expertise — be sure to leave your name and email address in the post so others can find you
2. Find a Bulletin Board or list serve relating to your target industry or profession and become an active participant
3. Become an expert on LinkedIn by answering pertinent questions
4. Ask to write a guest post for your favorite blog — this helps you and the blogger!
5. Read lots of blogs and forward appropriate info and links to other networking partners (”I just read this post and was thinking of you” — while it won’t specifically jump your rankings on Google, it WILL help your colleagues know you are serious about helping them.)

Finally, and I’m sure I don’t really have to mention this, be 100% CERTAIN that in every posting you make online extends and enhances your “brand”. Otherwise, your Internet presence may be more confusing that helpful to your potential employer.

We see it all the time. People with 5 to 10 years of business experience as an individual contributor go to graduate school with the intent of getting a degree and moving into management. The problem is, when they come out of their program their resume basically looks the same as when it went in — with the addition of a year or two of graduate school. When they use this resume to apply for a position, they find they are basically qualified for the job they left in order to go to graduate school. What to do???

When we work with graduate students we try to get them to focus on what they want to BECOME, rather than on what they HAVE BEEN. They must re-focus their “unique selling proposition” in order to reposition themselves for the NEXT gig, rather than the one they just left. Here are a few tips we recommend:

1. As much as possible, choose school projects that help you focus on your next career.
2. Try to get an internship in your new area of expertise.
3. Quantify your results as much as possible.
4. Network. MANY professional organizations offer a student discount. Join if you can. This will help you re-position yourself in the new area.
5. Volunteer. It’s a great way to gain experience and network.

With a little bit of strategic planning several things can be done to help you leverage your graduate degree.