Category Archives: career

5 Essentials For a Successful Networking Experience

Leave a reply

20130512-203651.jpg

Please excuse any formatting randomness; this post is brought to you by the WordPress iOS app.

Whether you are attending a general social mixer, networking event, or a conference, these are five things you must bring along for a great experience:

1. Business Cards- Always have a way for others to follow up and contact you. Even if you have a brand new startup or are unemployed, get some cards made before the big event.

2. Your Smartphone- If you want to get others’ contact info into your phone right away (or make a reminder to follow up with a new connection), remember to bring a fully-charged phone with you. If you are at a conference, you also beed your phone if you want to partake in the event hashtag via social media.

3. A Strong Pitch- Have a strong pitch practiced and ready so it will be a breeze introducing yourself to others. Boil the pitch down to around 30-45 seconds. My pitch usually includes my name, my title and my company, and an explanation of what my company TAOpivot does.

4. Suitable Bag/Tote- Always good to have something to carry all the cards, brochures, etc. you may get at an event. I always make sure to have a spacious bag in case there’s schwag handed out; frees up my hands!

5. An Open Mind- You might talk with a few people who have differing views than you do on current events, the economy, etc. Don’t get into an argument with others! That’s embarrassing for you and may soil the whole experience. Listen to others and take what you will from their words and your interactions. If you feel the connection isn’t a good fit, then leave it at that. No follow-up is needed.

Of course, none of the above is required (well, besides the open mind!), but I have found that having all these things handy has helped me maximize my success at networking events and conferences. Hope these help you, too.

3 Steps to Exit a Company Gracefully

Leave a reply
My last day at work in 2010; got flowers for my departure. :)

My last day at work in 2010; got flowers for my departure. :)

From my work history, I know the anxiety all too well of leaving one job for another one, or just to leave and start out on my own. Have you ever wondered how to exit gracefully? These are the steps I took when I was about to leave each of my previous jobs:

  1. Notify in-person and in writing when you will be leaving – Talk to your manager about your impending departure but also put it in writing. Best to let your manager know a month or two weeks in advance (I recommend one month). The written notice will be good for both your records and for the business’s records.
  2. Offer help in finding your replacement – Depending on the size of the company, you may be able to help out HR by offering to sift through incoming resumes for your position. I volunteered to do this at my last job in San Francisco, and it helped cut down on all the noise for the director. If your manager refuses help from you, then that’s fine–let it be.
  3. Stay polite & leave on the best terms possible – As your days wind down at the company, make sure to maintain good relations with your co-workers and supervisors. Contain your excitement for your next move if others do not inquire about your decision. Who knows–maybe on the last day you’re at the company, you’ll get a surprise from your co-workers and supervisors (like I did; see above).

Even if you had a less-than-stellar time at the job you’re leaving, it’s always best to keep things polite between you and the company. You never know; might need a favor from them later on.

3 Reasons Entry-Level Work Does Not Exist Anymore

1 Reply
All these people are lined up for a conference, or lined up looking for work...or both.

All these people are lined up for a conference, or lined up looking for work…or both.

Alternate Title: Why Employers are Being Unfair with Their HR Methods

Lately, this topic seems to come up a lot among my peers and my clients at TAOpivot: “Why do I have to have years of experience when it is an entry-level job?” “Why can’t I get paid for my worth?” “Why can’t I get a job out there with benefits, health insurance, etc.?” and on and on.

All very valid questions and I completely understand the frustration; I experienced this in my own job search after I got my Bachelors degree. I moved to San Francisco, naively thinking that, despite no relevant work experience I was sure to land something entry-level.

I did and I did not: I was left with a lot of the same questions I listed above. The catch-22 of a job-seeker with little to no work experience: how to gain experience if nobody is willing to hire and train me?

I believe these days, entry-level work does not exist anymore. Three reasons why:

  1. Company staff are running lean; they do not have the time or money to have a staff member train a new employee, especially one without experience. The company must focus on how to utilize their available staffing in the most versatile way.
  2. Because companies are running lean, they feel that inexperienced candidates would only cost the company more (time, money). These companies may or may not have perpetual “interns” who end up doing too much of the slush work.
  3. Saying “entry-level” in a job posting plus “5+ years of experience” will certainly lure someone more experienced to be paid at an entry-level position…..because everyone falls for that, right?

The three reasons may all sound the same, and they pretty much boil down to one main point: the economy is still pretty crappy. The way businesses are run is changing in this new landscape where no longer do people stay at one job all their life: they may end up job-hopping a lot before they find a job that they will stick with. Employers are not happy with this kind of landscape because they could lose valuable talent right away if a better offer comes along.

But, these reasons should not cause for employers and HR managers to shy away from adapting to the new environment. And, most certainly, I find when job postings state both “entry-level” AND “requires 5+ years of experience”, that that is just unethical.

I know that companies are running lean; even my own startup is lean. But at the same time, I believe that the many jobless job-seekers out there can really help the economy if a few more employers actually played fair and were open to taking on entry-level/newly graduated job candidates and pay them their proper share.

The economy is not going to fix itself with a magic wand. We must make incremental changes in our own mindsets and how businesses are run in order to give our fellow Americans work and allow them to help alongside and fix our economy.

4 Steps to Having Effective Business Cards

1 Reply
My two business cards: one for TAOpivot, the other for just me.

My two business cards: one for TAOpivot, the other for just me.

No matter what career you are in, you need a business card to represent you and your brand. In the past couple weeks, I’ve been to a wide variety of networking events: creative small businesses, tech startups, nonprofits, etc. At every event though, there was at least one person who did not bring their business card/did not have a business card period. I know, I know, not everyone has their cards on them all the time, but we should start implementing this as a habit, a norm.

If you’re a job-seeker, small-business owner/entrepreneur, or freelancer, here are some steps to getting your own cards for your next social/networking event.

  1. Visit Vistaprint or MOO to order business cards - (NOTE: These are completely un-sponsored recommendations). Vistaprint almost always has deals for first-time buyers; MOO is good for high-quality card stock and flashier design templates. I have ordered from both companies before and I am satisfied with both (see my cards above for examples from both companies). With Vistaprint, you do get more bang for your buck though, so keep that in mind if you want to buy your business cards in bulk (500+ cards).
  2. Decide if you want double-sided or one-sided cards – This is all based on personal preference: I ordered double-sided cards for both my business and for myself; I just sifted through my pile of cards from colleagues and seems that more and more folks are embracing both sides of the business card. If you are on the fence about this, just ask yourself: Can I fit all my information on one side? Do I want a flashy design? Do I have a logo for myself that I want to use?
  3. Decide if you want regular-shaped cards or something ‘out-of-the-box’ – Most people go for the regular-shaped cards. Some like MOO’s mini-cards or even circular cards. I would stay clear of going for odd-shaped cards, though; sure, these may make great impressions on others, but it may also be cumbersome since it won’t fit properly in a business card holder.
  4. Include all relevant contact information on your card – Last but not least, make sure when you’re planning out your card that you remember to include the important details! Generally, a business card should have: your name, your phone number, your email address. If you have a website that can be used as your portfolio, include that as well. Other information to consider: your job title (if available), social media profiles, logo (if available).

There! Now you have your business cards ready for the next networking event in town!

Having business cards will give you an extra layer of confidence when mingling with others: after all, if you meet a possible business connection/employer, you will be able to give them your card (and they can do the same). Follow-up will be much easier so you both remember where you met and what you plan to collaborate on.

Even though I met some people without business cards these past few weeks, I gave them my card. Whether they will follow up or not is a question I have on my mind…and, since I do not have their cards, I won’t be able to follow up with them myself.

What Society Dictates For Your Life

1 Reply
Hey, I can paint, too! ;)

Hey, I can paint, too! ;)

A vague title as I sit here and try to figure out what’s the best way to talk about this topic. Do you get what I mean? Do you feel like the society our ancestors (ok, maybe not MY ancestors, but…you know…) have built in the U.S. is stifling to some degree? Especially in this changing world.

About two years ago, I had this exact suffocating feeling when I first started my B-school program. I walked into my classes and felt that, as groupthink, many of my classmates wanted to be nothing more than hardcore businesspeople. I struggled during that time, trying to figure out “Am I only just a hardcore businessperson myself? But what about my creativity? Can I be both a writer and a businessperson?”

Even though nobody was outright telling me I couldn’t be both (and more), I felt strongly that society wants us to be in silos: you’re either a creative person or you’re not. You’re either in finance or you’re in painting; NOT BOTH.

Fast forward to the present, and I still see this prevalent in how the media portrays current events/etc. Have you heard about our former President George W. Bush and his paintings? There seems to be a lot of shock and awe over his newfound talent and pastime. As I read over the article linked above, seems that the media (and the general public) assumes that “He was our President. He can’t also be a painter.”

It’s this kind of mindset that keeps us in shackles throughout our lives. I was fairly upset trying to compromise my life during business school…until finally I decided, enough is enough. I CAN be a writer AND a businessperson. I CAN knit and also do business strategies. I CAN be more than what society would want to box me into!

From that point forward, I felt liberated. Sure, sometimes I still get the reactions of “Wait, what do you do? You do that AND this?” and I end up getting self-conscious for a moment as I get this innocent yet pointed question from others. But, in the end, I know that I must take those shackles off from my mind, my life. I don’t have to be just one profession.

And you don’t either. You, too, can break free and know that, whether you write poetry and play rugby, or you draw caricatures and do PR…you can be whoever you want to be. You don’t have to be in a box. We weren’t meant to live this way anyway.

5 Questions to Help You Discover Your Personal Brand

Leave a reply
My father, my hero.

My father, my hero.

In the past month, I have been asked by others about how I came about with my personal brand. Maybe you, too, are wondering how I did so; I wish I could give you a short answer, but honestly, I cannot. However, as I talked through my long answer with others over the course of the month, I realized there were a few things that helped me along in my journey. So here are those defining moments, presented to you in questions:

  1. What are you passionate about? – Think about what you can never give up in your life, even if you had to retire. For me, I cannot dream of giving up art, or the need to create with my hands–whether for work, play, etc., I always need art to keep me going along. There were times in the past decade where I suppressed my need to create with my hands, and those were times when I felt distressed and lost. Only in the past 2-3 years have I eased back into the world of art and creating with my hands — and that has helped me gain confidence and freedom in my thoughts.
  2. When you were a child, what did you you want to be when you grew up? – We were all asked this question when we were children. I remember I told adults that I wanted to grow up to be an artist…and then that changed into a writer…and then that changed into a musician (I was a trumpet player in high school). Still, at the root of all these aspirations is the fact that I knew I wanted to do art of some form. What did you want to grow up to be? Does it still resonate with you in the present? Even though my profession is not clearly based in creative arts, I say my career has roots in the arts and gives me leverage in a world of analytics with creative thinking.
  3. What are you afraid of? – If you have watched my Ignite Denver talks, you may be surprised to have me tell you that I was once very, very afraid of public speaking and presentations. I remember in high school and undergrad, when I would stand in front of my classmates with index cards, shaky hands, and eyes down, hoping for the dreaded talk to be over with right away. Yes, I used to fear presentations. I was not confident with how I presented myself. What changed? I faced my fears in the past few years by volunteering for events like Ignite. I read loads of articles about how to present better and watched how my grad school classmates presented. And, with time and practice, I have improved. These days, I am even asking for people to book me for speaking engagements. All because I was once deathly afraid of public speaking…and then I faced that fear.
  4. When have you experienced a pivot in your life? What happened? – You may or may not have experienced something big, life-changing. How do you know when to change course? If you have been following my blog for some time, you may know about how I almost died on my 25th birthday. Morbid to say, but in hindsight, that incident needed to happen in my life. I know that, leading up to that ill-fated moment, I was very unhappy with how my life was in San Francisco. I wanted to do more with my life, but I did not know where to turn. Then, that car hit me. And, that forced me to change course in life — to decide I had to really fight for what I yearned for (my own business). Since that accident, there had been a couple other ‘pivots’ in my life to where change just erupted–and now, I see why those moments had to come into my life. Perhaps your pivot moments are not as huge and dramatic as mine were; but still, what moments in your life do you feel define who you are?
  5. Who is your all-time hero? – Who have you always looked up to? Some people say rock stars, athletes, public figures, etc. Somebody in those realms. My hero is my father and not just because he’s my father: he is an inspiration to many. He escaped mainland China during the 1970s because he wanted a better life for the next generation. He came to the U.S. with little to no English skills and worked many jobs before he founded his restaurant in Virginia. He and my mother worked often-24 hour days during the infancy of the restaurant, just to make sure we children had enough to live on and have a good life. My parents have taught me a lot of values in my life, and only after I got out of my angsty, know-it-all phase from the teen years, have I been able to fully appreciate how my father and mother have molded me into who I am today.

I am of course in no way “finished” with my branding. I don’t feel like anyone ever will be; your personal brand can change over the course of your life. Just be prepared to polish your brand here and there.

And, understandably, these questions are deep. You can’t just answer them in five minutes and then, voila!, figure out your personal brand. It takes time, as I mentioned at the beginning of the post; it has taken me close to ten years to really carve away at myself, to really know who I am, what I am capable of, and what I can share with the world. Maybe for you, with these questions, you will be able to discover your true, personal brand sooner than later.

3 Reasons Why You’re Not Getting Any Job Offers

Leave a reply
Think outside of the donut bite bowl.

Think outside of the donut bite bowl.

Spring is here, and I know many colleagues, friends, students, etc. are on the hunt for a full-time job post-graduation. Every year around this time, employers are inundated with many hopeful grads looking to land their dream job right out of graduation. Many applications will be sent out; few will be read by human eyes.

Are you feeling like you’re not getting enough call-backs or interview enquiries, even though you’ve sent out over 50 applications during this school term? Here are three reasons why you may not be getting interviews, job offers, etc. and how to fix the situation:

  1. You use the same cover letter and resume for every position you’re applying for – Most younger job candidates do not know that customization is key in terms of their paperwork to employers: if you use the same cover letter and resume for every kind of job you apply for, employers can see through to that. It is especially obvious when you add an objective to your resume (which, in my opinion, is not necessary and takes up precious space). Research the company you’re applying for, and figure out ways to customize your cover letter for each position you apply for. Example: Say you’re applying to financial services company X which claims on their website they “put customers above and beyond crunching numbers”. If this value also resonates with you, talk about that in the cover letter and how you can uphold that value for that company.
  2. You use only one method for your job search: online job boards – Time and again, I notice this same dilemma occurring for job seekers of all ages: they become very dependent on skimming through Craigslist or Indeed.com and ONLY use those websites as their only way to get exposure to job openings. There are many other outlets out there for find a job, though: first, check in with your network of friends, family, colleagues, etc. Most people find jobs through their own connections and not through job boards. Check job postings at your local coffee shop; search on LinkedIn or through other social media outlets. Just remember to cast a wider net for a higher chance of getting a call-back.
  3. You shy away from networking events because you ‘hate networking’ – A lot of job seekers tend to avoid networking events, it seems. Why? I’ve heard many say that networking events are ‘boring’ or ‘networking isn’t my thing’. When you are out looking for a job, doing business with other companies, etc. networking is a skill you must master. Forget about the cliche that networking is ‘impersonal’; networking can be as personable as you make of it. My tactic for networking is to meet a few good people and get to know them as well as the time allots for us. I don’t toss my business cards at anybody I run into; I take the time to talk with a few people instead. Need more motivation to go out and network? Check out 7 Tips to Succeed in Networking.

Now, these three reasons may seem overly simplistic and obvious to most of us. But, when you get into the mindset of job-searching, at times you need a gentle nudge to think outside of the box again. Hope the tips included will help you move forward in your job search; and remember, keep at it! Keep the momentum going.