A few months ago I received a surprising email from R. William (Bill) Holland. Bill reached out to tell me about his upcoming book, Cracking the New Job Market: The 7 Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy, and we also reminisced about our shared connection.
Bill’s son was a classmate of mine in elementary school and his lovely wife was my assistant teacher in 2nd grade! He and his family moved away from my hometown in Connecticut and soon after that and we lost touch. Now, thanks to LinkedIn, we were able to reconnect and discover we both have a passion for helping people find jobs and advance their careers.
Bill sent me a copy of his excellent book and also agreed to answer some questions for my blog. Enjoy!
Q. So much has been written about the most effective way to write a resume.
What makes your approach unique and particularly effective for Generation Y?
A. When you use my “value-infused” method, two things happen: First, it prepares you for other phases of the job search including interviewing, networking and negotiating offers. Your focus is on what the employer wants from the person they choose to fill the position. We tell our clients that your resume is not about you—it is about what others want from you. Employers are impressed by candidates who understand their needs and are responsive to them.
Second, and more important, my methodology facilitates the change in mindset necessary to thrive in the new economy. Efficient and cost effective value creation is one of the primary requirements for participation in the new economy whether you are a traditional or non-traditional worker or an entrepreneur. My method is the beginning step to get you into a value creation mindset.
Q. Would you offer some pointers to help Gen Y candidates prepare for job interviews?
A. We tell our clients that once you have prepared and tweaked your resume for a particular job opening, you have made the interview preparation much easier. The answer to all interview questions is essentially the same. Interviews are opportunities to talk about things of interest to the employer. You know what those are because you prepared your resume in response to them. Now, as with your resume, the interview is not about you—it’s about what the employer wants from you if you are the successful candidate.
Q. Many millennial professionals—employed and unemployed—are contemplating changing careers. You give the uncommon advice not to follow their passion as a guide for making a career choice. Why?
A. Avoid relying solely on your passion for making a career choice. If you are passionate about something that someone is willing to pay you for, you are ahead of the game. But the operative word here is “pay” not “passion.” Besides, when we rely solely on our passion there is a tendency to get the process backwards. Substantial numbers of people become passionate about their contribution once they bask in the glory of positive feedback. Those who develop the mindset to create value in all they do are better positioned to take advantage of serendipity when it shows up.
Q. You also challenge conventional wisdom about the critical importance of face-to-face networking.
A. Face-to-face networking is important. But it is limited and limiting. Social networking, on the other hand, allows any of us—including those who dislike face-to-face networking—to reach out across thousands of networks and connect with a limitless number of people and situations. Face-to-face networking should be seen for what it is—an appendage to social networking, not a substitute for it.
