Recently by Kelly Moeller

Scene:  Me sitting in an interview.  In walks my interviewer who slightly resembles Steve Guttenberg from Police Academy - except my guy has a lazy eye.  And the questions begin:

1:  Do I sing in the Shower? 
(Ummmm.. Anyone who claims to have NOT attempted Beyonce's "Single Ladies" in the shower at least once is a liar.  Don't deny it). 

2:  If I could be a barnyard animal what kind would I be? 
What kind of questions are these!!?  Can I file an HR claim without having been hired because these seem a little strange and personal - perhaps even a little out of line.  And why JUST barnyard animals?  No love for sea creatures?

As I was escorted from the building I pondered how I might have answered each question differently.  And then it occurred to me - perhaps these questions are super beneficial to the hiring process?  And as usual upon doing some intense research (Wikipedia), I discovered that the behavioral interview question and the stress interview question have become the "go to" method for a lot of companies in determining the ability to think under pressure, personality/cultural fit, moral compass, etc. 

Nerve wracking?  HECK YEAH.... But my friends the ugly truth is:

YOU SHOULD (read must) PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THESE TYPES OF QUESTIONS. 

Here are a few to get your blood pumping:
•    What is your most memorable purchase and why did it make you feel good?
•    Do you sing in the Shower?  (Read above - Beyonce, Journey, and I do a mean Janis Joplin)
•    If you were a type of food, what type of food would you be? (I've been dying to say sea cucumber just to gauge the response)
•    If you had only six months left to live, what would you do with the time? (Obviously interviewing is at the top of the list since I'm sitting here with you)
•    If you could compare yourself with any animal, which would it be and why?
•    If you could have dinner with a famous historical figure, who would it be?  (Is Elvis considered a historical figure?)
•    If you were a car, what type would you be?  (If I say limo with a driver, is that still considered "a car").
•    If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?  (The power to erase my answers from your memory?)
•    See this pen? You have 5 minutes to sell it to me.  (You already own the pen!!  Why don't you tell me why you bought it!).

Ok - so obviously my answers are merely for entertainment value, but we must face it friends.  These questions could crop up and I simply want you to be prepared as your advocate and Headhuntress.  Perhaps throw them a curveball and ask them if they could star in any Bill Murray movie - what would it be?  (If it's Meatballs - RUN!!)

I LOVE the movie "Office Space" - a lot (seriously - why are fax machines so tricky??).  And let's face it - it can be easy to slump ourselves into work letting the world around us take over.  And why shouldn't we be sad/mopey/sleepy (or any of the other 7 dwarfs) - just turn on the television.  Tiger Woods - bad guy.  Healthcare - not reformed.  Unemployment - still pretty bad.  Job hunting - pretty brutal.    

Case in point:  One of my dearest friends this week made a video reel to apply to a job - apparently we're "there" in terms of competition and difficulty.  But I have to hand it to her - it was inventive and she was taking BYOBM to the next level and beyond!  And to top it off - she had a blast.  

I will say this:  There is nothing worse than a sad, frustrated co-worker/friend/family member.  It brings everyone down.  So - Here are my tips for keeping your sanity during the winter months.  And be prepared - these are not the normal "imagine yourself on a beach" tips:

1.    Start each day by listening to a commercial from Bud Light's Real Men of Genius campaigns.  I listen to one everyday and have to say - I DIE LAUGHING.

2.    Watch this commercial.

3.    Make your FAVORITE breakfast before work.  Yes you'll have to get up early but seriously - chocolate chip pancakes ALWAYS put me in a good mood.  (Or on the flipside - bring your favorite lunch to work - it will make your morning fly by - Thanksgiving Sandwich anyone?)

4.    Watch a little kid walk down the street.  There is always something uplifting about watching a kid attempting not to step on cracks while wearing GIGANTIC winter boots that makes me chuckle to myself.

5.    If you're a woman, wear a headband to work.  You'd be surprised how many compliments you receive.  Really want to up your game?   Wear a new shade of lipgloss AND a headband.  WATCH OUT WORLD!

6.    If you're a man, wear a brightly colored shirt that you typically wouldn't wear - again - you'd be surprised how many people walk up to you and say "hmmmm.. something is different today."

7.    Attempt a game of Wii boxing before work.  It's hilarious and will get your heart rate up.  Did I mention hilarious?  

8.    Sing along loudly to a Billy Joel song (or Black Eyed Peas.... Or Lady Gaga - my 6 month old nephew LOVES Poker Face) while in your car and don't quiet down or stop when you see someone watching.  You will chuckle about it all day.  Want to up your game?  Wink at your audience and hold out your imaginary thumb microphone as if to say "Want to be my backup singer?"

We'll get through it - seasons change.  Jobs will get better.  And if we can have a laugh or enjoy ourselves more in the interim I say - What do you have to lose?

Recruiter.  Headhunter.  Staffing Consultant.  Placement Specialist.  Talent Acquisition and Retention Specialist.  BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!  Let's call it what it really is - we are your Agent.  OH YES - think Jerry Maguire "Show ME THE MONEY" Cuba Gooding yelling in the bathroom kind of agent.  And no - I will not scream into the phone for you.  I love you - but that just seems weird and it's been done already.  

I've realized recently that candidates typically fall into one of two categories:

•    The first camp, we shall call them the "I don't believe in your value" team - call Recruiters when they are in dire straits and send half-done resume updates/portfolio samples because let's face it - they are at the end of their rope and don't see the value that we (THE AGENT) can bring.

•    The 2nd group, I shall call them the "I TOTALLY GET IT and will CERTAINLY partner with you to make magic happen" team - they are responsive, helpful, updates resumes AND portfolios accordingly and view us  (THE AGENT) as a valued partner and resource in helping them secure their next engagement (I know - it's not a movie but we can't all live in the world of Mark Wahlberg (HELLO!  ENTOURAGE MUCH) and Rene Zellweger).  

So the tough question (DUM DUM DUM....) - how do we shift the court of public opinion in group one to join the happily ever after of group two?  

It's simple - change the mindset.  Build the relationship.  Court a little.  In this land of speed dating and internet match making - the same cannot be applied to creating a valuable agent/talent relationship.  So let's get back to basics people!  Get to know one another and the things that make each member of the partnership awesome.  And for the love of god recruiters - DO NOT EVER USE THE WORDS "TOUCH BASE."  Would you want your girlfriend/spouse/family to call to "touch base?"  I don't think so.  

September 30th I attended MoMo Boston held at the Boston Harbor Hotel where there was the usual meet and greet of some of the finest minds in America but also a great panel discussion regarding mobile advertising, mobile platforms, the best types of phones, etc.  Needless to say, out of a room of 200, there were probably 11 women.  Oh well - it meant more white wine for me.  And NO!  I do not JUST go for the open bar - Jeez.  

My reason for attending was compounded by the fact that one of the speakers was a young lad I watched accept an award with MITX for his brainchild - SCVNGR.  SCVNGR is a revolutionary online mobile game for large scavenger hunts.  Seth Priebatsch, the 20 year old CEO (dropped out of Princeton to start the company) fielded questions regarding the state of mobile along with fellow panelists from Getjar, Runkeeper, and Quattro Wireless.  

The consensus:
•    There are a LOT of mobile applications - some who last only days before being tossed aside by users.  
•    Mobile advertising is the future of the market.
•    There are a lot of new styles of android phone coming out - 35 to be exact - but that means the need for strong UI/UX is HUGE.  
•    And the smart phone is here to stay.  

Everyone is obsessed with smart phone technology.  To prove this point - a lot has been written about iPhone addictions.  There are even YouTube clips and hilarious blogs about it.  However - I have first hand knowledge.  OH YES friends.  I have been given the "iphone shoulder."  Recently I was at a party and 4 out of the 6 participants in a card game not only sent continual text messages but all 4 whipped out their iphones to compare apps - this one downloaded a really cool way to scan his gym membership.  And this one found a great way to keep track of his diet.  ETC.  ETC.  ETC.  ETC.  ETC.  All the while, none realized that they couldn't even "unplug" for a 30 minute card game.  Now if it was Monopoly, it could be forgiven.  That game lasts for days!

Back to Momo:  Worldwide there is some discrepancy regarding which platform is best.  But the big take away - MOBILE ADVERTISING.  I walked away from the event with some new knowledge regarding some AWESOME technology partnerships coming out - ie. You're doing an online mobile event, and you haven't eaten - well..... wouldn't you know it.  Your phone just sent you 3 restaurants within walking distance.  GENIUS!  Or you're seeing a movie, and you use Goby.com to create your next adventure by quickly searching the vast expanses of the Internet from your phone.  This could make living life spontaneously far more tolerable.  

Did I leave feeling slightly less intelligent?  You betcha.  
Am I tempted to buy an iPhone - I plead the 5th.    

"The same things win. It doesn't matter where you coach them. The game's the same." Mike DuBose
"If you're bored with life - you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things - you don't have enough goals."  Lou Holtz
"Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence."  Vince Lombardi
"You have to perform at a consistently higher level than others. That's the mark of a true professional."  Joe Paterno
"You can't get much done in life if you only work when you feel good."  Jerry West

Recently in a role-play, during the critique portion, my facilitator pauses and says to me "Do you realize how often you coach during a recruiting call?"  At first I thought "OH CRAP.. is that bad??"  She assured me it was not and expanded by stating that by coaching - I'm adding value to the conversation,  giving something to the candidate, and overall, building rapport, trust, and becoming partners in the process.    And I realized - business coaching and sports coaching  - potato potato.  My forte is resume revision and portfolio review - I LOVE helping the talent create something that on paper - accurately helps reflect their work.  Let's be honest - you only get one chance to make a first impression.  

How often are we recruiters/agents/head hunters out there "coaching" our talent.  How often are we helping them realize their strengths, helping them realize how best to showcase those strengths, etc?  

What are your best coaching tips/tricks?

As a talent/candidate, what types of coaching would you enjoy or would you find beneficial?

Time management - oh the words sound so simple but are yet so darn tricky. How else are there several books, infomercials, classes, and seminars dedicated to this very topic? How often do we feel like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland singing badly along to "I'm late for a very important date..." while frantically staring at our pocket watch? We learn and adjust to suit the obstacles we face. But every so often I can swear I hear the blare of the Ringmaster's megaphone announcing me as the next act and wouldn't you know it - I'm on the tightrope.

As many of you know I started a new job at a "GREAT company and I have to say - I am probably the busiest at work I've ever been which is a GREAT sign for the market. And as many of you experience every day I usually have two periods of panic - typically 11am and 2:30pm where I am so amazingly busy that I feel as though I'm spinning plates - but they aren't next to each other to allow for maximum spin potential. OH NO.... They are actually each on a different floor of the building. And the elevator is broken... and the stairs are filled with smoke. ok... The stairs aren't really full of smoke - by law I would have to evacuate the building and wait for the go ahead to come back in from the fire department. But you get the jist.

Here are my 10 tips for managing your day and time.

1. At the end of every day plan out the next day. Sounds tedious yes but what time is better to figure out what you couldn't get to today and what you should focus on tomorrow. And let's face it you're excited to be headed home so you're usually in a good mood, more relaxed, and putting those tasks down for several hours from now isn't so hard. Create a template, print out a copy every day and fill in the blanks.

2. Make your day manageable. Plan out time for each task. Do you have to devote time to training or is there something else you need to get done but can never seem to get to? Schedule it in and then DISCONNECT. Don't read your email or answer your phone. Impossible you say? Just try it once. Trust me.

3. Put the things you like doing the least, first on your list and TACKLE them.. head on. The rest of your day will be a breeze without those issues looming over your head.

4. Always plan in 30 minutes to an hour for administrative tasks - returning emails, checking the status of a report, filing papers, etc. at the end of the day. It's much easier to start your day and tackle number 3 if you've already gotten yourself caught up on the things that seem to take a long time while juggling plates. Trust me - if you try to file while plate spinning, it will take you much longer versus dedicating that time.

5. The things you don't get to - move to the next day. It will get done. Now if it's an urgent matter and your boss just said "Bob this needs to be done in an hour", please don't print this blog and hand it to him and say "I'm sorry Sir but The Headhuntress told me not to." :) Case by case basis please.

6. Take a BREAK already. It's a proven fact that people who do not take a few minutes for themselves to move around, get some water, grab a smoke with the Ringmaster, etc. are less productive overall. It's ok to walk away for a few minutes and let me tell you - that 5-minute breather will add a lot more productivity on in the end. I schedule in a 3pm peanut butter cup break every day - boy do I look forward to those.

7. Multitasking is no longer viewed as awesome. To a lot of employers multitasking simply means doing a few things half as well as you would have if you devoted your full attention to it. So schedule it out - 1 hour of phone calls, 1 hour of research, 1 hour of (insert task here) - versus trying to do it all at once.

8. Stick to your plan. Perhaps enlist an office buddy who is also trying the planning strategy and play police for the other.

9. Schedule out of office appointments first thing in the morning or at the very end of the day. There is nothing more difficult than getting back from a 1pm appointment and trying to refocus and get back on track.

10. Write it down!! How often are we scrambling to get a few things done at the end of the day that we forgot to do earlier - if you write it down, it's much easier to tackle, remember, check off when complete, etc.

In our pursuit of work, life, balance we often become overwhelmed by the pure amount of work we have to do. I liken it to tightrope walking and plate spinning but overall the message is still the same. If you're overwhelmed and often hallucinate the sounds of the circus (you know the song I'm talking about) and there just aren't enough hours in the day - try managing your time differently.