Jan M. Smith - Inland Management Group

Are You Fit for the Interview?

2011-03-08T07:21:00.000-08:00

FIT

“A round man cannot be expected to fit in a square hole right away. He must have time to modify his shape.” ~ Mark Twain

Sometimes you have to get in the thick of things to see what is really happening, and that’s what I’ve been doing the past few weeks for a new local start up organization. Interviewing…and interviewing some more, for 20 new positions.

What I am about to share with you reconfirms what I have written about in the past. The issue is FIT. I’ve always advocated figuring out what you are good at; the skills, attributes and expertise you can bring to the table, and then going after job opportunities by applying to positions you 1) currently have qualifications for, or 2) you have a desire to do.

I often hear, “I can’t apply for that, because I don’t have the experience” or “They will never interview me, because they are looking for someone who has done that before.”, or “I’m certain someone will be a better fit.”

I’m hear to tell you that the people hired for the position I was interviewing these past few weeks, were a mixed bag….and almost all of them did NOT have the experience listed in the job posting!

How did they get hired? They were interesting, informed, presentable, and passionate about the job and industry they were interviewing for and it showed up big time in the interview. They talked about their travels and life experiences, and how their knowledge could help them be more effective in the position. Most of all, each one of the applicants had a vision for where the opportunity could take them, and they were not afraid to share this vision with the recruiter. Did I mention they were interesting????

The moral to this story is to not worry today if you are not an absolute “fit” for a job posting. If you want the job, apply. Stop setting self-imposed limitations, and you might be surprised what will open up for you. Don’t worry if you don’t fit every single element of the job description. Just go for it, but only go for it if you can profess a passion for the position in the interview.

GOOD NEWS: The news on the job front is positive for the month of February. Straight growth in lower unemployment and higher number of job openings (remember, I have just filled nearly 20). Growth is happening and continues to move forward in small steps, but forward nonetheless. Continue to seek out opportunities on aggregate sites like http://www.simplyhired.com/ or http://www.indeed.com/.

CONGRATULATIONS: Heard from a couple of you about interviews set for last week and the upcoming week. Good luck and please let me know how things go.

BACTS FACT: “Come to the interview with amazing confidence to demonstrate that you are the one for the job and make the recruiter forget you are missing elements of the job posting!” ~J. Smith

THAT'S IT: So often we see ourselves in one way and one way only and don’t open our minds to the possibility that others will see us differently. It’s not until you can offer alternatives to yourself that others might agree with you! Expand your job search. Enter terms on online job searches for jobs you have a passion for (but haven’t done before) and see what the search offers.

“Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities.” ~ Terry Josephson

Good luck on the job search this week,

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
http://www.inlandmgtgroup.com/
http://www.janmsmith.com/
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

AMBITION

2011-02-23T15:51:00.000-08:00

“Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.” ~ Bill Bradley

I wrote this BACTS Update this weekend from a secret little corner of a convention center in Las Vegas that grants some reprieve from the constant torrent of sound from a thousand volleyball girls, parents, and whistles echoing in unison.

This weekend is all about ambitious young women trying to get noticed by college coaches. They have worked hard to perfect their athletic skills and have used this weekend as a showcase to network with college coaches to “show their stuff.” I relate this whole weekend recruiting experience to what all of you are going through. You’ve perfected your skills, and you want to be noticed too. The question is: How ambitious are you? What are you doing to get noticed?

The prospective college athlete does their homework. They research the colleges of interest, find the email address for the coach and write them, include a skills video (their version of a resume), and then follow up routinely with multiple emails and calls. Their ambition is undeniable. They know there is much competition between players and schools. They find a way to get on the radar of the college and coach they are interested in.

Similarly, the competition between candidates and available positions remain stiff. Here are a few tips to help increase your odds for getting on the radar of the company you are interested in working for.

· Identify 10 companies you have interest in that you have not contacted.

· Get the name of the hiring manager (for your department of interest) either on the website, or call the main switchboard and ask for this information. Do not rely on Human Resources to completely understand the match between your expertise /resume and the match for the position. Email the hiring manager directly.

· Do some research on this person through LinkedIn or Google. Find out if you have anything in common (i.e. schools, previous industry or company. connection, or something of a personal nature such as both of you are tri-athletes, or are both soccer coaches…) Use this information somehow creatively in your cover letter.

· Look carefully at your cover letter and resume. I mean REALLY look at it. Is it concise, precise and to the point? Does it tell the recruiter what you did in your last position and how it positively affected the company’s bottom line? Is it easy to follow and understand? As mentioned above, try to creatively connect with the hiring manager with the wording and content in your cover letter. Let’s say you find out you both have some sport association. Mention something along the lines of, “As a long time soccer coach, I understand the importance of building a team and creating a vision for success…”

Act like a prospective college athlete, who follows up with the school of interest. Do the same and follow up via email or LinkedIn to the Hiring Manager to keep your name circulating within the organization. Use LinkedIn to also find out what connections you may have with the hiring manager, and use your network to help get you noticed!

GOOD NEWS: A good friend and colleague has just started as an Independent Distributor of Life Vantage,

www.lifevantage.com/billseltzer and is looking to work with others who have interest in this product. For more information contact Bill Seltzer at (951) 326-0161.

CONGRATULATIONS: To Amy B., who recently took a position with a brand new Educational startup company in the Temecula area. Amy writes, “I would like to encourage the rest of the group to keep their personal relationships with contacts alive. This opportunity came completely out of left field and only happened because I was friends with specific people.”

BACTS FACT: “I can spot an ambitious candidate a mile away…they are the ones who have a clear view of their future.” ~J. Smith

THAT'S IT: “It’s not easy being green”…at least that’s what Kermit the Frog from the Muppet’s routinely says. It’s also not easy being unemployed in this marketplace. The game of recruitment is not for the faint of heart. For many of you, it’s been way too long and your stamina is weakening. Find a way to renew your ambition to find a job. No one is going to champion you but yourself.

“The very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.” ~Shakespeare. The college bound athlete knows how to hold on to their desired dream and they push through with such persistence until they reach their goal. I hope you can persist as well.

Good luck on the job search this week,

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

HEART

2011-02-14T17:08:00.000-08:00

“To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to.” ~ Kahlil Gibran

Happy Valentine’s Day to you! Regardless if you have a significant other or not, each of you should be celebrating this day because as an unemployed individual, you are the one who has heart.

You get up each morning and face the day unlike those who head off to work. You have figured out how to live on less, yet you still try to stay positive and committed to your job search. Each day brings new opportunities to meet someone who might be the lead to your next job.

You step out of your comfort zone and attend a networking meeting with a sea of others you do not know (I applaud you for this…) Many of you will get ready today for an interview, and pull out of your gut that ounce of confidence that is still there. (again, I applaud you because I know this isn’t easy).

You are the ones who need to be celebrated on a day like today. You have heart, spirit, fortitude, bravery, and courage like no other group of individuals I have ever met.

Here’s to you, the unemployed! Go out and celebrate your situation today. Yes, celebrate it…it’s been handed to you for a reason, and hopefully soon, when you are in a new career or job, you will look back and understand why.

GOOD NEWS: Twitter is being utilized by more and more recruiters as a tool to find YOU! If you are not involved with this job site yet, please take a look at this opportunity to find more “hidden” jobs. I will be holding a Twitter for Your Job Search workshop in the very near future…stay tuned for more information, but until then, here is a good article to read and get started: 7 Categories of Who to Follow on Twitter for Your Job Search. http://tinyurl.com/4nv3ubz

CONGRATULATIONS: I have heard that many of you have interviews this week. Please let me know if you are offered a position. Good luck!

BACTS FACT: “Go in to an interview with the heart of a champion and you will surely be remembered by the recruiter.” ~ Jan Smith

THAT'S IT: “Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.” ~ Confucius

Start off this week with the resolve to do something positive for your job search. Just keep moving forward!

Good luck on the job search this week,
Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

ADVERTISING

2011-02-07T17:18:00.000-08:00

Advertising

“Good advertising does not just circulate information. It penetrates the public mind with desires and belief.” ~Leo Burnett

If you watched the Super Bowl yesterday afternoon, you were not alone. It’s estimated over 106 million people joined you. I watched, but not the football (not a fan) rather, the commercials. Funny, sad, crazy, intelligent, and misunderstood advertising that cost a mere 3 million dollars for a 30 second spot!

For sure, the money was well spent, as those who watched these commercials won’t soon forget Doritos, ETrade, PepsiMax, Audi, Chevrolet, Snickers, Budweiser, Bridgestone Tires, Coke and several others. Advertisers hope their sales will increase in exchange for their advertising efforts.

You are a job seeker trying to vie for the attention of a recruiter. Consider yourself the product and accept that you need to get the product (you) to market (recruiters), which required a dedication to advertising.

It’s a proven fact.

Do everything you can to self-promote and advertise yourself via Networking, professional exposure on LinkedIn, Twitter, blogs, and other Social Media connections such as FaceBook, Tweet Ups and Networking groups. Extend your reach to those employed who might have connections. Call previous co-workers and supervisors and ask them who they know you can connect with to discuss job leads.

Advocate for, and champion yourself. You don’t even have to pay to do it. The tools are all available for you on your computer and telephone.

“Advertising is the ‘wonder’ in Wonder Bread.” ~ Jef Richards

GOOD NEWS: The Temecula Chamber of Commerce now has a link on their site to local job listings for and other job seeking information. Here is the link: http://www.temecula.org/jobs.html.

CONGRATULATIONS: To Carol N. who recently accepted an Account Manager’s position!

BACTS FACT: “You need to advertise your job candidacy to ensure recruiters will identify you as a potential for their job opening.” ~ Jan Smith

THAT'S IT: “Advertising is what you do when you can’t go see somebody. That’s all it is.” ~Fairfax Cone

All day today people are still talking about the Super Bowl commercials. I bet work production was slowed down a bit because of all the discussion! Good news is that the advertising campaign these companies committed to actually worked, as the commercials created a buzz about their product.

Don’t forget that you have to create a buzz around you, the job seeker. Spend some time thinking about how you can do this for yourself this week.

Good luck on the job search this week,
Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

SABOTAGING YOUR JOB SEARCH

2011-01-31T15:44:00.000-08:00

SABOTAGE

“Self-sabotage is when we say we want something and then go about making sure it doesn’t happen.” ~ Alyce P. Co

“What is she doing pouring Sweet ‘N Low all over her cheese bread?” I asked myself as I lunched with a friend and watched her “sweeten” a slice of her cheese bread. I didn’t say a word, but all through lunch I wondered why she did it.

It wasn’t until we were finished and the server came to collect the dishes and looked at my friend and said just two words, “Weight Watchers?” Apparently the server knew what was going on.

Seeing my lack of understanding, my friend explained that she deliberately sabotaged half of the cheese bread delivered with her meal so that she wouldn’t eat it.

My friend’s act of deliberately ruining her bread made me think that sabotage can be used for both good and bad purposes. Too often though, people deliberately ruin chances for success, regardless of what it is…a job search, a new client, a marriage, a promotion…or cheese bread!

I recently came across an article on the 3 Signs You Are Sabotaging Your Job Search, by Jessica Holbrook Hernandez. She suggests you might be sabotaging your job search success by:

1. Thinking you can do it alone.
Make sure you have someone take a look at your resume and help you with interviewing skills if either is tripping you up. You can’t really proof read your own resume, or evaluate your own interview, so consider getting help.

2. Turning down offers.
If you have been out of work for any length of time, you should have a very compelling reason for turning down a job that’s offered to you. If it’s an issue of money, ask your friends who are still working if they are working ideal hours, doing more than one person’s job, making less than they’d prefer. You will find that they are…It’s better to take a job that offers 85% of what you are looking for than to hold out for a perfect job that may or may not come along.

3. Talking about your job search too little or too much.
It’s not a great idea to broadcast on your Facebook page each day that you are still out of work. If you have been out of work for a long time, this type of communication could work against you. On the other hand, many who have been out of work for a long time are embarrassed by their unemployment, and they never say a word to anyone. This lack of communication will definitely negate the possibility of receiving help from networks. Take a moment to consider whether you are appropriately asking others for help.

I’ll add to this section that you should find a balance of communication, carefully scrutinize your social networking entries, yet use social networks to definitely make the valuable contacts necessary to find hidden job opportunities.

It’s time to break the cycle of self-sabotage when it comes to your job search. Forget the “I don’t have what it takes”, “They are looking for someone younger, older, smarter, more degreed…”, “I can’t do that….”, “No one is going to want me because I’ve been out of work so long…” These are scripts that many of you say to yourself in the process of your job search.

Instead refocus your search by seeing your goal of finding the right job. Don’t be your own worst enemy when it comes to finding a new opportunity.

There is a great article on self-sabotage at this link. The 5 elements mentioned will get you thinking and get you on track this year for your job search:

http://www.greatest-inspirational-quotes.com/self-sabotage.html

GOOD NEWS: New Year = new opportunities for Job Fairs… Saturday, February 12, a Healthcare/Health Services job fair in Temecula. I haven’t been able to find out which organization this is for in our area, but it’s worth sending your resume for these jobs (see link below for job titles). By invitation only, and you must submit your resume by February 4th. (use link below). Over 15 jobs are available.
http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?job_did=J8D41B68L0L4KH1XLFC

CONGRATULATIONS: To Sue D. who recently started a new position with the Bureau Veritias organization, a previous employer. Sue shared, “I do believe that staying in touch and networking with your peers is one of the best things one can do to obtain a position.”

BACTS FACT: “The most rewarding exchange in an interview is with someone who is positive and sees their unemployment as an opportunity for growth versus a prison sentence.” ~ Jan Smith

“I have never been incarcerated except for my own prison.” ~ Mary Evans

THAT'S IT: So hopefully the vision of a ruined piece of cheese bread sprinkled with Sweet ‘N Low stays with you this week. Don’t sabotage your job search, work hard to tell yourself you are worthy of any job opportunity, and most of all stay in the search this week!

Good luck on the job search this week,
Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483

www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

SPARK

2011-01-24T17:52:00.000-08:00

SPARK

“Do you know that there's still a chance for you, cause there's a spark in you.” ~ Katy Perry

OK, so I will admit it: sometimes I listen to my teenage daughter’s radio station. Sometimes by choice, but more often not! There’s one song in particular that is getting a lot of play time. The song, Firework, by Katy Perry, has some great lyrics that can be translated to your predicament of unemployment. I have listed the lyrics below. I want you to read them over a few times and absorb them. The message is that you have a chance this year to put some spark and sizzle in your job search through your resume, interviewing, and presentation.

Firework, Katy Perry

“Do you ever feel like a plastic bag, drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin, like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?

Do you ever feel already buried deep, six feet under scream, but no one seems to hear a thing?Do you know that there's still a chance for you, cause there's a spark in you?

You just gotta ignite the light, and let it shine, just own the night, like the Fourth of July.

Cause baby you're a firework, come on show 'em what your worth, make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!", as you shoot across the sky.

Baby you're a firework, come on let your colors burst, make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!",You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down.

You don't have to feel like a waste of space, you're original, cannot be replaced, if you only knew what the future holds, after a hurricane comes a rainbow.

Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed, so you can open one that leads you to the perfect road, like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow, and when it's time, you'll know.”

Find that spark in you today. Ignite it and make this an amazing job search week.

GOOD NEWS: Another week of increased openings being listed with new classifications of jobs available. This again, represents another week of confidence from business owners to start opening positions. There also seems to be a trend in temp hiring which should remain strong this year. Consider starting out as a temp and transitioning into a regular position within a company.

CONGRATULATIONS: To Mike S. who recently accepted a sales position and mentioned the key factors that helped him find his position were good presentation, networking, and selling himself. Mike shared:

Presentation:
By presentation I mean the first impression given by your resume and dressing appropriately for the interview.

Networking:
I printed up business cards with some basic experience and skills along with my picture and contact information. I gave these out to everyone I knew or talked to in our industry… that was the best forty dollars I’ve spent since I was laid off. Lastly I attended trade shows to meet old business contacts and meet new people. I would give everyone about five cards and tell them they are officially on “Team Hire Mike”. They would invariably laugh and let me know that they would let me know if they heard of anything. I did get on Linked In and quickly had over 100 contacts, mostly from the industry where I have my experience.

I found out about this position from a former employee that knew I was looking for work. If it wouldn’t have been for this lead I wouldn’t have known about this unpublished opportunity.

Selling Yourself:
This one was easy for me since I am in sales but for your other people that don’t have sales careers it’s critical that they can answer the question, “Why should I hire you?” In fact in my interview the CEO put it just that way. He said, “We normally hire one of two types of people and you don’t fit either of those two types so why should I hire you?”

“When the world brings you lemons a motivated person will make lemonade, but a really smart person will find a way to make margaritas.” ~Mike S.

BACTS FACT: “What's the difference between a stepping stone and a stumbling block? Answer: It's how high you step." ~Shared by BACTS member, Howard Cunningham

THAT'S IT: “You don't have to feel like a waste of space, you're original, cannot be replaced, if you only knew what the future holds, after a hurricane comes a rainbow.” ~ Katy Perry, Firework

No one knows what the future brings, but you CAN effect change in your situation. Do something this week towards connecting with a potential employer. Expand your network through social networking (LinkedIn, Twitter or even Facebook professional pages), take a really hard look at your resume to make sure it fits the job you are applying to (does it contain “key words” from the job posting), and make some personal calls to contacts to remind them you are still looking for work.

Good luck on the job search this week,

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

BOOKENDS

2011-01-17T12:43:00.000-08:00

BOOKENDS

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort & convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

It would be hard for any of you to not be aware of the tragedy in Tucson a week ago Saturday. It’s hard not to be shaken to the core when you hear about a story like this. The reality that at any time, our life as we know it, can be changed in a single moment, is sobering.

For the Green family, a single moment resulted in the loss of their young daughter, Christina. Her dad said something very impacting: “The fact she entered into the world on 9/11/01, and left in another act of nationally-covered violence, are only “bookends” to her joyful life.” The dad asked that the bookends didn’t define Christina’s life.

Most of you have already experienced a life changing single moment with the words, “You are being laid off.” So I ask you, are you allowing your unemployment to define your life or are you making use of this time off to do something towards bettering yourself, your family, or your community?

Don’t let your unemployment be the last bookend of your life. Your unemployment is temporary. You started out in your professional career at one point where you have an initial bookend. You are still defining who and what you are…you know, all the “stuff, or the guts” that goes between the bookends of your life.

Remember to believe in yourself, and see yourself still creating your future. Each of you only has one bookend so far…start filling it up this week with things you would love to include in the legacy of your life.

GOOD NEWS: More and more jobs are being listed daily that represent new classifications of jobs available. This represents a confidence from business owners to start hiring people.

CONGRATULATIONS: To those of you who reported having interviews last week and this upcoming week. Please let me know how your interviews go and if you end up with a job offer!

BACTS FACT: “When I interview a candidate who has been out of work for any length of time, I always ask, ‘What have you been doing with your time’. Make sure you have something interesting and positive to say to this type of interview question.” ~J. Smith

THAT'S IT: “There is no sense in crying over spilt milk. Why bewail what is done and cannot be recalled?" ~Sophocles

Just remember you are still in the process of creating what will one day be the filler between the bookends of your life. Go after interesting opportunities while you are off work, volunteer in your field of interest, expand your job search into positions that are out of the box from your “normal” search. Explore your career assets to see what you can offer the world!

Good luck on the job search this week,
Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

MOMENTUM

2011-01-10T09:36:00.000-08:00

MOMENTUM
“If you're coasting, you're either losing momentum or else you're headed downhill.” ~ Joan Welsh

We’ve had some interesting weather this past month. A lot of rain and cold offered a beautiful blanket of snow in the local mountains. Most everyone loves a good snowball fight, and those pitched and missed often roll downhill to a place unknown.

Question #1: Have you ever watched a snowball roll downhill? What starts as a little ball gains momentum and with each roll gathers both size and speed. Left to roll, a snowball will keep moving unless another force stops it or slows it down.

Question #2: What’s the momentum of your job search?
• Are you just coasting?
• Is it stalled?
• Is it rolling?

It should be rolling right along as we start this New Year. Momentum for your job search can be achieved through:
• A revised resume
• A resolve to attend a few networking opportunities each week (check with Chamber of Commerce to see what is available locally)
• Signing up for, and using LinkedIn and Twitter, to make contacts and search job openings
• Target 10 companies you would like to work for and research who the department head is
• Call direct to this person, or use Social Networking, (LinkedIn/Twitter) to contact this person
• Look daily at the aggregate sites (i.e. indeed.com, simplyhired.com) for new job openings (p.s. new jobs get posted over the weekend too).
• Set Google “Alerts” with key words that will generate information to you daily via Google’s search engine (i.e. Temecula Jobs, San Diego Jobs, Engineering Jobs, Human Resource Jobs, etc.) Go into Google and search out “Alerts” and you can follow the prompts to set the “alert”
These are all elements that will help your job search gain momentum this year. There is momentum in the current economic environment. The job numbers are still improving. Momentum…things are moving forward. Are you, or are YOU the force that stops it or slows it down?

GOOD NEWS: The San Diego area has been named as one of the top 20 best places for jobs in 2011. Most job openings were in technology, followed by sales, engineering and marketing. Be encouraged!

CONGRATULATIONS: To Barbara E. who has started her own business, SweetDreamsByBarb. com. Barbara has designed and created baby items and has her first of two websites up. Congratulations to Barbara and her desire to create her own momentum for work.

BACTS FACT: “There is this odd momentum phenomenon that occurs with job seekers who are actively pursuing work, that once an offer comes in, others quickly follow.” ~J. Smith

THAT'S IT: Momentum: The tendency of a moving object to keep moving unless another force stops it or slows it down. Try and keep moving forward on the job search. Work hard this week to build some momentum.

“One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals.” ~ Michael Korda

Good luck on the job search this week,
Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

START

2011-01-06T09:01:00.000-08:00

"You do not have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great."
~Les Brown

Many of you will remember my marathon story from the BACTS workshop where I shared my story of deciding to run my first marathon before I was 30. Mind you, I wasn’t really a runner. I jogged a few miles every now and then, but 26 miles…no, that was something I had never done.

While working for the Walt Disney Company, we were required to volunteer and I picked an assignment with the Los Angeles Marathon. My job was to scream as loud as I could and encourage the runners on the 25th mile…just a mile from the finish line. As I watched the worn, battered, tired and sore runners come down the street, I noticed a resolve on their faces…They WERE going to finish the race and it didn’t matter what they had endured to get there.

One of the “runners” that day made an everlasting impression on me. The vision of his resolve to do whatever it took to reach his goal to finish the race often encourages me in times when I need it most. This “runner”, Bob Wieland, who lost both legs during the Vietnam War, crossed the finish line on his hands. It was that moment that I decided if this man can do it, certainly I can run this crazy race...and I did!

His first several times running the LA Marathon took him over 70 hours to complete. Each year he decreased his finish time. He never thought to stop running, just because it took him so long to complete…he just kept going.

Heck, even Thomas Edison didn’t stop trying to get to his goal to develop a light bulb… “I have not failed; I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

So it’s a new year, and a lot of what you did to find and secure a job didn’t work last year. The mantra for 2011 is to “keep moving forward” and “know that something great is going to happen to you this year”. Set your goal on finding a job this year and don’t stop at anything to get it.

It’s a fresh start to get this job search on track. I’m excited for all of you this year. It should be a good one!

GOOD NEWS: All news points to new job growth in 2011, and if some of the aggregate sites like http://www.simplyhired.com/ or http://www.indeed.com/, are any indication this week, then I would say things are going to be good for job seekers this year!

CONGRATULATIONS: To Tom S. who after nearly 2 years, recently accepted a position at PHS in Temecula. Tom wrote, “Tell the BACTS group to hang in there , don't give up, think positive and network.” I also want to share something that happened during Tom’s interview process. He had the chance to interview months ago. He thought the interview went well, and after meeting several people in the company, he thought he might get an offer. The communication from the company seemed to go cold after the interview, yet Tom knew this was the right job for him. Tom was persistent in talking with the department head and Human Resources. All of this networking and persistence paid off!

BACTS FACT: “One of the strongest applicants is someone who has a clear idea of what they want and how they are going to get it.” ~J. Smith

THAT'S IT: Just to be clear about 2010….I’m glad it’s over, and I welcome in 2011 with wide open arms, as each tomorrow is fresh with much opportunity. It’s a fresh new year for all of us to make our goals a reality.

“Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities.” ~ Terry Josephson

Good luck on the job search this week,
Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
http://www.inlandmgtgroup.com/
http://www.janmsmith.com/
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

NEW YEAR NEW JOB

2010-12-28T08:12:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.” ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce

What an amazing thought- you get this clean slate, an unpolluted opportunity to recreate yourself, begin again, wake up on New Year’s Day considering the possibilities, and envisioning 2011 to be your year for success.

Bundle up all the unfair, awful, sad, uncomfortable, unsure, and angry feelings and experiences and toss them in the trash with the uneaten fruitcake, and wake up on Sunday January 1st to give yourself a pat on the back for making it through 2010.

As the famous Nike advertisement says, “Just do it”.

Then take a deep breath and thank God you are alive and have the opportunity to start anew in the New Year. Fresh, Optimistic, Encouraged, Promised, Persistent, Determined, Confident, Fortunate, Free, Affirmed, Tenacious, Hopeful, and Grateful, with a vision to push forward on this journey to find a job.

Remember, the job search is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay the course. Put one foot ahead of the next and keep walking towards the finish line. You’ll make it…

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” ~Oprah Winfrey

Here’s to getting out of life what you vision it to be in 2011~

GOOD NEWS: “In 2010, the economy rebounded fitfully from the Great Recession, starting strong, wobbling at midyear, but showing enough vigor by year's end to quell fears of a second recession.” (Associated Press) There were new jobs posted this week, and unemployment claims were down for last 4 weeks in a row.

CONGRATULATIONS: To Jeanne C., who recently accepted a position with the Orange County YMCA organization overseeing the after school program. Jeanne found this position by her continued networking and it was actually a friend who works for the company that connected her to this job opportunity.

BACTS FACT: “There is a “soul mate” of a job awaiting you…go find it with pure resolve.” ~ Jan Smith

THAT'S IT: Goodbye 2010…and don’t let the door hit you on the way out! I know it’s what many of you are thinking. Just don’t let the defeat of not finding work this year follow you into 2011. Why drag it forward?

Start today seeing yourself in a job next year. Get prepared with everything I have suggested this year (resume, networking, social networking, interviewing skills, etc.)

Good luck to each of you in 2011. Let me know of your success. Email me if you have job-related questions next year. If you hear of job openings, networking opportunities, or job fairs, please let me know so I can share with the rest of the BACTS group. Don’t forget to check the BACTS group on LinkedIn, as I try to post information there throughout the month.

“Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go.” ~Brooks Atkinson

Good luck on your job search this week, and Happy New Year to you!

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483

www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

SEASONS

2010-12-20T08:17:00.000-08:00

SEASONS

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend.”~Ecclesiastes 3

Seasons are made up of many things…time, weather, environment, circumstances, and they come and go. It is my hope that you have been able to process the seasons of unemployment this year so you can move on in 2011:
· Shock/Denial (this isn't happening to me!)
· Anger (why is this happening to me?)
· Bargaining (I promise I'll be a better person if...)
· Depression/Reflection/Loneliness (I don't care anymore)
· Hope/Acceptance (I'm ready for whatever comes)

I encourage you to be ready for whatever comes next --BECAUSE, there is something around the corner for you! The signs of improvement are all around us. Be ready to accept that something good can happen to you. Don’t be a naysayer and discount the possibility of success. It’s possible for you to find a job in 2011 even if you have been off work for a long time, found a job and lost a job this year, or didn’t even get an interview this year.

GOOD NEWS: The trend of more job openings continues even though it is the traditional “quiet” period for recruiting. Major companies in our area have multiple jobs listed on their websites. Continue looking this week at your job listing sites. Submit resumes this week and next as well.

CONGRATULATIONS: To those who are interviewing this week, I wish you much success!

BACTS FACT: “Be ready for that next phone call, as it might be a phone screen interview!” ~Jan Smith

THAT'S IT: “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant. If we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” ~Anne Bradstreet

As we approach this week of Christmas, I want to wish all of you the best possible holiday with you and your family. For those of you struggling over gifts under the tree, remember, it is your family and health that really make you wealthy.

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” ~Calvin Coolidge

Good luck on the job search this week and Merry Christmas!

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

IMAGINE

2010-12-14T11:54:00.000-08:00

IMAGINE

“We are what we imagine ourselves to be"~ Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

This past week marked the 30th anniversary of John Lennon's passing. There were constant reminders of his most popular song, Imagine, on all the radio stations and seemingly every store I visited last week!

Walt Disney once said, “If you can imagine it, you can do it”. Imagination is so powerful and describes infinite possibilities to envision your future the way you wish it to be. Consider this: without imagination, there would be no Disneyland, landing on the moon, vaccines, Internet, or iPods!

If you allow yourself to imagine the possibility of your personal success, you can design a future to look exactly how you want it to be.

Imagine it, because it can happen. Just ask one of your fellow BACTS participants, Leonard B, who after sending out 256 resumes (he kept track of all of them), he got a chance to interview, and was finally made an offer for a great position. He never stopped imagining that one day all of his efforts would be successful.

The question is, “Have you lost your imagination?” If your answer is yes, it's time to get it back and start envisioning what you want out of the New Year. Redefine your future success.

GOOD NEWS: December is shaping up to be another month where new jobs are being posted every day online on www.simplyhired.com and other aggregate sites.

CONGRATULATIONS: To Leonard B., who recently accepted a QC Inspector position after being out of work for 19 months. He wrote, “There were times I started to loose my confidence and wondered if I would ever get a job, but I refused to give up.” Leonard extended his search to include Orange County, which helped to open up his search and find a new opportunity.

BACTS FACT: “Never ever give up.” ~ Jan Smith

THAT'S IT: “You imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions” ~ Albert Einstein. There's no reason now to give up imagining yourself in whatever you want to do.
The idea is to:
· Imagine sending off a resume in response to a job posting
· Imagine envisioning it reaching the hands of a recruiter
· Imagine the recruiter being wowed
· Imagine being called for an interview
· Imagine walking through the door of the company for the interview and it going well
· Imagine getting a call from the recruiter, "I'd like to make you an offer to join our company."

Picture it, imagine it, and let it tumble around in your head for awhile…Feels pretty good, right?

Keep your eyes on this scenario and tell yourself, “It’s going to happen to me because I can imagine it happening.”

Make this your mantra for the rest of the year.

“Live out your imagination, not your history” ~ Stephen Covey

Good luck on the job search this week,

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

THANKFUL

2010-11-22T08:24:00.000-08:00

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." ~ Epictetus

Seasonably speaking....it's predicable this BACTS Update addresses the subject of gratitude or thankfulness. Every day, if you really look carefully, you'll see countless examples reminding us to be grateful regardless of being unemployed, underemployed, or gloriously employed. Everyone should be able to find something to be thankful for this week.

Maybe it's one of you who:
* Hated the job you were in and after months of unemployment decided to start your own business sharing your passion for cooking, or
* Hung in there after months of unemployment only to be rehired back into the original company and given a bridge of service years to boot, or
* Got to spend more time with the kids during this period of unemployment, after working through countless years of missing most of their school activities, or
* Almost uprooted and relocated their entire family to another state but decided at the last minute to go it alone, and once there realized the job situation was not going to work, allowing for a return to CA and a family still in tack, or
* After years of wanting to switch careers finally had the guts to move in another direction and is now flourishing wonderfully in a new career.

There are plenty of stories this year to be thankful for, and even for those of you who haven't connected with the right job quite yet, you are still breathing, getting to experience life, growing personally, visiting with family and friends, hanging on by a thread, and the truth is you WILL have some wonderful position that will come your way soon. Just don't' forget to keep your eyes open wide for it, so you don't blink and miss the opportunity.

"Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation" ~Brian Tracy

GOOD NEWS: The Press Enterprise Sunday front page opens with "Area's jobless rate drops." This is great news, and for those of you who have taken seasonal jobs, be encouraged they might turn into full time opportunities after the holidays.

CONGRATULATIONS: To those of you who had interviews this week. Stay encouraged, and be thankful for the opportunity to make a connection and have the opportunity to interview, regardless of the outcome!

BACTS FACT: "If given a chance, be grateful for a job opportunity even if it is not exactly what you had wished for. Each opportunity is another step towards realizing your desired job" ~J. Smith

THAT'S IT: Even though it's a holiday week, don't let up... continue to check online for new openings (there are new positions posted this morning!), continue this week to submit resumes, make a few calls and send a few follow up emails. Wish people a Happy Thanksgiving. Recruiters included. People remember this exchange of gratitude.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God "~ Philippians 4:6

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you and good luck on the job search this week.

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

CHOICES

2010-11-03T22:49:00.000-07:00

“Life is a sum of all your choices” ~ Albert Camus

Choice: We all saw how important this word was yesterday as we had a choice to vote or not, and who to vote for if we did. We are faced with choices on different levels all the time. “Choice” is a powerful decision, and it affects how our path in life will be on a particular day.

Choice: Each morning, you probably start out the same way: get up, switch on the TV or go online and see what the latest news is, what new jobs are posted, etc. Answer a few emails, respond to a few job leads, and send off a few resumes. Then another choice to get dressed, go out and network or stay at home instead. You also choose to approach the day positively or negatively. “Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.” ~ Wayne Dyer

Each day that goes by without a job wears on you, I get that. What I know for sure is that you can’t easily move forward with a broken attitude. I have talked with several job seekers lately who are tired of being unemployed and are finding it hard to stay positive.

I can only suggest you reach deep inside of yourself and find the single positive bone left in your body and hold on to that during this time of job seeking. Here’s why:
· Negativity is very transparent in an interview
· Downtrodden attitudes suck the life out of you, and you need as much energy for this marathon of job seeking as you can get!

Do something, anything, to get back in the game. If you are concerned how “temp” work will affect your unemployment, talk with the EDD office and determine how this will work for you. When you get back into the work mode, your personal sense of value increases and this will help as you look for your desired full time job.

You might even encounter a customer or co-worker and begin a conversation (networking) that will lead you to a job opportunity. Don’t discount this…it’s happened to me, and can for you too. It’s can’t happen when you are at home.

“The remarkable thing is, we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.” ~ Charles Swindoll

GOOD NEWS: Local retailers are continuing to hire temporary seasonal positions. Many of these positions end up being full time regular positions after the holiday, with benefits, so it might be worth it to consider a seasonal position. Check out Sears, JC Penny, Macy’s websites.

CONGRATULATIONS: I’m happy to report that Mark T. recently accepted a position at Life Technologies, Henry B. just accepted a teaching position in San Diego, and Benita B. started her own company, Mattie & Co eyewear accessories. Congratulations to all!

BACTS FACT: “Every day is a fresh clean slate. It’s your choice what you are going to write on it!”~Jan Smith

THAT'S IT: I made a choice back in 2008 to help the local unemployed with career transition services. I never imagined so many of you would need the help, and certainly didn’t expect the economy to remain as it has for so long. I know there are others like yourself that still need transition assistance. I’d like to continue to provide this and am still searching out a sponsor. I was fortunate to be interviewed recently by the Press Enterprise about the BACTS program. Please read the story. If you feel compelled, you can write the reporter with your opinion at: jhorseman@pe.com. I suspect if the Press Enterprise gets enough response they might continue with the story which will keep the BACTS program in the news and eventually might end up with the program being able to continue! Thanks!
Here’s the link to the story: http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_semployment31.310b402.html

The election results yesterday made a statement that regardless of your political affiliation, people in our country are tired of high unemployment, lack of jobs, and the situation of our economy.

It’s my choice to see the results from the midterm elections yesterday as a positive move in the right direction. I hope you choose to see the same.

“It’s choice - not chance - that determines your destiny.” Jean Niedtch

Good luck on your job search this week,

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

Persistence

2010-10-27T10:11:00.000-07:00

“When life knocks you down you have two choices- stay down or get up.” ~Tom Krause

PERSISTENCE

In Greek Mythology, the consequence for crimes committed by Sisyphus, was to roll a huge boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this throughout eternity.

The good news for you is that your name is not Sisyphus, you are not a king, and you didn’t commit any crimes! You do not have to look at your unemployment and efforts to find a job as something you will have to do forever. It’s a temporary space and time that you are experiencing during this period of unemployment.

You might though feel like Sisyphus, fighting the uphill battle to find employment with countless hours online searching jobs, sending out resumes, networking, calling, and interviewing. Then when you feel you almost reach the top of the hill with a great interview, and do not receive an offer, it feels like you are back to the bottom of the hill to start all over again. So it is…but I repeat…it is not forever.

One thing you should avoid is the urge to give up and stop pushing forward. My suggestion is to look at what you have been doing for the past 6 months, and if you can honestly say you have given it your all, then reassess your search process.

Are you using a combination of several processes to get noticed, such as:
· Social Networking (LinkedIn and Twitter)
· Traditional Networking (Face-to-face)
· Direct contacts to companies you have targeted
· Responding to job postings online and in the paper
· Volunteering

Remember, as I have always said, finding work is a marathon, not a sprint. Just keep pushing upwards and be persistent in your job search, and your day will come when you reach the top of the hill and land a new job!

GOOD NEWS: Sorry about this late notice: Today, Wednesday, October 27 · 5:00pm - 9:00pm, Ontario Convention Center, 2000 E. Convention Center Way, Ontario. Mixer admission: $20 per person at the door (no credit cards or checks). The Largest Mixer® is open to the entire business community. No Registration Necessary. Parking: Largest Mixer® Special Discounted Rate - $5

CONGRATULATIONS: For those of you who had interviews last week, I hope to hear you have been offered a position. Please let me know if you have accepted a new job this week.

BACTS FACT: “When you feel you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on for dear life!”~Jan Smith

THAT'S IT: “The good news is the majority of your job search preparation should be done by now:
· Resume
· Business cards
· Development of “elevator speech”
· Selection of networking activities
· Development and use of new LinkedIn and Twitter accounts
· Research on industries and companies of interest
· Resumes circulated and contacts being made

From here on out, it’s all about persistence. Not giving in or checking out. Just keep pressing forward with faith the right job is around the corner.

“To make our way, we must have firm resolve, persistence, tenacity. We must gear ourselves to work hard all the way. We can never let up. “ ~ Ralph Bunche

Good luck on your job search this week,

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

HOPE

2010-10-18T11:52:00.000-07:00

“Once you choose hope, anything's possible.” ~Christopher Reeve

ESPERANZA
(Hope)
That is what a newborn baby girl was named on September 14th, 2010, in honor of her father, a trapped miner in Copiapo, Chile.

HOPE, what would anyone do without it? What would the miners have done? On day 1 or day 69…they were still hoping against all odds they would be set free from their underground cell. They never ever considered that they would be abandoned and as a job seeker, you need to know you are not abandoned either. There is help out there for your job search with various local networking groups, Internet resources and you can always email me with your questions!

“Hope never abandons you, you abandon it.” ~George Weinberg
Even so, many of you feel “trapped”, and can’t figure out how to sustain yourself during your time of joblessness. You are hoping someone will lower a rescue capsule and bring you up from the bowels of unemployment. It will happen, and like the miners, you will need to continue to be patient. However, once you find work, you too will celebrate to the cheers and hugs of your loved ones!

Certainly these trapped miners had to endure conditions that had all the cards stacked against them, yet, they remained hopeful. You too must have HOPE! Don’t accept that you will never be rescued from this unemployment predicament you are in.

Have the confidence to reach out to someone who can help you connect with a company representative, or offer job search skills advice. Meet with networking groups of others who are on a job search as well, and learn from their experiences. Use your talents and abilities to volunteer in the industry you are interested in and one of these volunteer opportunities might turn into a job offer in the near future.

For 17 long days, the world did not know if the miners were alive or not. On a small piece of paper which was attached to a drill bit came the words, “All 33 of us are alive and well”. From that point forward, the energy of the world found a way to give hope to these men that they would be rescued. Create your own “notification” to the world that you are still an active job seeker. Jumpstart your search again this week!

You need to create this energy of hope for yourself. Ask your loved ones, friends, and previous colleagues to offer up a word of hope each day for you. Believe in your soul you are worth hiring…because you are.

GOOD NEWS: Murrieta Job Fair will be held TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 19th from 9:00am - 1:00pm at the Murrieta Community Center, 41810 Juniper Street. Over 20 employers will be discussing job openings in the Healthcare, Medical equipment manufacturing, Solar Energy, Retail, and Lodging industries. Dress for success and bring along several copies of your updated resume. Here’s a link to the California’s article: http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/murrieta/article_0607cc4a-f4d0-53ea-8c97-93c8260ef323.html

CONGRATULATIONS: For those of you who had interviews last week, I hope to hear you have been offered a position. Please let me know if you have accepted a new job this week.

BACTS FACT: “Each of you should have hope that this will be the week you will find a lead, get an interview, and a job offer…why not hope for the best, it’s better than the alternative!” ~J. Smith

THAT'S IT: “The road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination. “ ~Marian Zimmer Bradley

Please make a decision this week to no longer feel “trapped” in unemployment. Get on the road this week and head in a direction of hope for a wonderful future.

Good luck on your job search this week,

Jan

IDENTITY

2010-10-15T16:23:00.000-07:00

"Work is an essential part of being alive. Your work is your identity." ~ Kay Stepkin

I had a discussion with an unemployed colleague and asked what the hardest part of her job search has been. She answered, "Losing my identity". I was surprised, as this individual appears to continually take her unemployment in stride and projects a strong persona and overt confidence. I thought maybe she misunderstood what I had asked, so I asked the question in a different way, "What are you finding most difficult about obtaining employment?" The answer was the same, "Losing my identity".

It's possible you have experienced this same feeling. There isn't a time frame on how long it will take to make you feel as if you still have an identity. The good news is this:

You are the person you were before your job loss.
You are just jobless.
You still have the talents, expertise and professionalism you had before your unemployment.
You are still valuable.
You are not identity-less!

"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do." ~Epictetus.
This philosopher believed that all external events are determined by fate, and are thus beyond our control, but we can accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. He believed that suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power.

You have the power within to regain your sense of self. You have to get up each morning and be self-disciplined in your search for employment. Each day, commit to:

Reaching out to 1 contact via phone, email, social networking or connecting one-on-one.
Send out 5 updated and specifically refined and targeted resumes to job postings that make sense.
Target 1 company you would like to work for.
Research the name of the Hiring Manager or Director of Human Resources, and try and locate their email. You can often find these individuals on LinkedIn or even in the company directory on their company website.
Send a "snail" mail (US Postal) cover letter and resume addressed to the specific person, if you are unable to locate email address.

The minute you allow yourself to do nothing, you will miss a moment that could make a difference in your job search.

GOOD NEWS: Yea! A local job fair is coming up in Murrieta next Tuesday, October 19th from 9:00am - 1:00pm at the Murrieta Community Center, 41810 Juniper Street. You may remember how busy this job fair was at this location last year, so make sure to get in line EARLY! There will be a lot of employers and thousands of job seekers. Dress for success and bring along several copies of your updated resume.

CONGRATULATIONS: To Brenda C. who recently accepted a position with North County Times in Temecula. Brenda found this position on HotJobs.com, but said she found a lot of other leads via www.indeed.com and www.simplyhired.com. Congrat's Brenda!

BACTS FACT: "Try and establish a focus for your future before you meet with a recruiter. Your sense of purpose and definition will be noticed." ~ Jan Smith

THAT'S IT: "To be idle requires a strong sense of personal identity" ~ Robert Louis Stevenson.
I know it is hard to not have the life you once had. It is not a forever situation, unless you decide that's how it will be. You get to create your identity the way you want it to be. Start with your vision of what job you want and continue the effort to connect with a company or a recruiter who can help you achieve your goal.

It's up to you. You can wander aimlessly or take some control. It's time to wrestle back your identity. You were someone with much promise and talent before you were unemployed. The amazing thing is those same attributes still exist in you!

Good luck on the job search this week.

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

KNOW THYSELF

2010-10-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

"Know thyself means this, that you get acquainted with what you know, and what you can do." ~ Menander

Watching the new CBS show, Undercover Boss, I thought about how interesting the difference is between how we see ourself, and how others actually see us.

The premise of the show is an owner or CEO of a company goes "undercover" in their own organization to see what is really going on; how the company employees really perceive the company. If you did this for your own organization, "Me Inc.", what would you find out about yourself that you didn't naturally see, or know?

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." ~Aristotle

Prior to an interview, it's critical for your success, to know how you are perceived. One way to do this before an interview is to work with a trusted friend, colleague or coach, who can conduct a mock interview and give you honest feedback about how you are viewed as an interviewee.

You may think you are doing a fabulous job of interviewing but you didn't realize you never made eye contact with the interviewer, or you annoyingly crossed your legs a hundred times during the interview, or twisted your hair, all of which can easily distract an interviewer's attention away from the focus of your experience and expertise.

So often our actions in an interview make or break the successful opportunity to move forward in the recruiting process. Once you are aware of these "unconscious" behaviors, you can be on your best behavior to nail the interview. Pull out that camcorder and film a mock interview and you will learn a lot about what the person across the desk in an interview sees during an interview with you!

GOOD NEWS: Jobs, jobs, jobs...more listed everyday on the various online sites. Be encouraged! Here's a new site I just came across from someone who each Monday posts new job openings. You can get on the distribution list by going to this site, and can also view the jobs he posted this week at: http://www.jeff-chase.com/job-links/
Job Fair Info: American General Life and Accident (AGLA) is holding a "Hiring Drive" this Wednesday, 10/6. The drive will be in Los Angeles to solicit on-site applications! Both entry-level and experienced candidates are encouraged to attend the event and apply. Link to info: http://hiringheroes.com/itinerary/

CONGRATULATIONS: To Dave C. who was recently hired by International Rectifier. Dave shared that he worked for this company for a long time and was part of a RIF several years ago. He pursued many jobs but was unemployed for a long while. He had heard about openings with IR and found out that Apple One was hiring contractors for this organization. He applied and was hired on contract, which eventually transitioned into a full time position as an employee, not contractor. The lesson here is to be in contact with your previous employer, because as our economy picks up, your previous employer will start hiring again, and if you start the conversation now with your previous manager, or Human Resources, you will be remembered when they are hiring!

BACTS FACT: "A recruiter will always know if you have prepared and practiced for the interview - and that's a good thing!" ~ Jan Smith

THAT'S IT: As a seasoned recruiter, it's evident when I interview someone who has no idea what position they are interviewing for. I once asked someone why they were interested in the position, and they replied, "I'm interviewing for anything and everything". This type of answer won't benefit you in the interview, instead, answer something along the lines of, "I've done some research on this position, and although I have never held this position before, my strong organizational and managerial skills will be an asset to this position and your company."

See the difference? Know Thy Self... understand what you can bring to the table. Be convincing, and be secure with yourself and your expertise and you will ace the interview!

"Make it thy business to know thyself, which is the most difficult lesson in the world." ~ Miguel de Cervantes

Good luck on the job search this week.

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

K.I.S.S.

2010-09-30T15:34:00.000-07:00

K.I.S.S.
Keep It Simple Service

How often do you anticipate getting great service at a restaurant, winery, resort, casino, retail store, or other type of hospitality business, and the actual experience misses the mark due to less than expected service? More often than not? If you answer yes, then you are in the company of many consumers who wonder, “Why can’t I get better service?”

In his book, Setting the Table, Danny Meyer states, “Hospitality is present when something happens for you. It is absent when something happens to you.”

How many of your service employees are giving your customer the gift of hospitality? Are they missing the opportunity to create loyal fans of your business?

The line in the sand is often drawn between great and unacceptable service when the employee takes their eye off the reason for representing your business in the first place: To serve.

Let’s look at a recent exchange between a service salesclerk and a customer at a specialty children’s retail store:

A customer at purchased tights and shorts for her granddaughter, and asked if the items could be returned if they didn’t fit. The salesclerk said they could. When the grandmother returned the same day to exchange the items, she approached the salesclerk who helped her earlier and was refused the return. The customer reminded the salesclerk that earlier in the day, she was told the items could be returned, but the salesclerk held her ground and refused to accommodate the customer. At some point in the conversation, the customer asked to talk with a manager and the salesclerk refused. The exchange went on for a few minutes and in a moment of frustration, the customer threw the package of clothing on the counter, which ended up hitting the salesclerk, who promptly called the police and had the customer placed under a citizen’s arrest. The customer was taken away in handcuffs, and when the manager was finally reached, he stated, “of course the items could have been returned”. What makes this situation so detrimental to the store is that the customer is a local business woman with strong ties to the community, and whose granddaughter attends a local, well known school with fellow students and parents who frequent the store.

No doubt this story has been told and retold several times, with the name of the store exposed. Who knows how this situation will impact this company, but without a doubt the bad press will. Obviously, unacceptable service, as in this example, will never help you secure loyal customers. The sad part is the salesclerk could have made a simple decision to accommodate the customer and the outcome would have been completely different.

Share the acronym; K.I.S.S. (“Keep It Simple Service”) with your employees to help promote sustainable service standards in your hospitality organization. The truth is, providing great service is not overly complicated. If you really break it down, great service can be consistently achieved by paying attention to 3 elements:

1. The Greeting/Welcome
2. Anticipation and Execution of Customer Needs
3. A Sincere Farewell

3 elements! That shouldn’t be too hard to achieve! But often it is, and the one thing you can do as a business owner is to always set the bar high for your service standards and hold your employees accountable. Take a “non-negotiable” approach to providing great service!

If you don’t already do so, start wandering around your organization to “inspect what you expect” with regard to customer service, and hopefully, you’ll catch your employees perfecting the K.I.S.S.

The following “SERVICE” acronym can be shared with your staff to help illustrate the 3 elements of great service: Greeting/Welcome, Anticipation and Execution of Customer Needs, and A Sincere Farewell.

Sincerity - Offer genuine and intentional service, because you enjoy and desire to satisfy the customer.
Enthusiasm - Passionately serve the customer. Make sure it comes from your heart.
Respect - Treat each customer with reverence. They are the cornerstone of your job.
Vision - Commit to anticipating and recognizing what the customer will need, before they communicate it.
Intervention - Immediately resolve customer problems with grace and professionalism. You're empowered to ensure customer is happy before they leave the property.
Care - Be accountable and responsible to provide consistent sustained service levels.
Enjoyment - Enjoy your customers and your workplace, as your mood is contagious to those around you.

Help your employees create a memorable experience for guests visiting Southern California Wine Country, by offering warm, gracious, and definitive guest service, inspiring our guests to visit again!

Jan M. Smith is the Founder and Principal of Inland Management Group, a Human Resource Consultancy located in Temecula, specializing in the Hospitality and Entertainment industry. You can contact Jan at (951) 302-6483, email at jsmith@inlandmgtgroup.com, http://www.inlandmgtgroup.com/, or follow her on Twitter at Temecula_HR, and Facebook: Inland Management Group

Permission to reprint allowed, with credit given to my name as author.

"You're a Survivor..."

2010-09-28T08:13:00.000-07:00

"Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind." ~ Bruce Lee

It’s that time again for season premieres, and one of the favorites around our home is the show, Survivor. 16 different people with varied personalities thrown together in a unique environment for up to 39 days makes for some crazy TV drama!

The unemployed are a lot like the participants of this reality show. Both groups are put in a position of giving up the life they once knew. Both are expected to keep a shelter over their heads and figure out how to survive with few resources. Both groups are challenged for endurance, strength, agility, problem solving, teamwork, dexterity, and most of all WILL POWER.

Being unemployed, you work hard to find your next job, and your “reward” is an interview or contract work. You might even find the "hidden immunity" and get a job offer. Some of you will feel like you have been sent to "Exile Island" and will feel alone or abandoned by your "team". Others of you will end up at the "tribal council" and you will have to make some hard decisions about where your family will live, potentially giving up your home, or taking a position or pay cut that is not what you really want. Most of you though will be victorious by landing the right job, with the salary and benefits you expected.

Charles Darwin said, "It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”

To survive your unemployment, you have to hang tough, be flexible, never give up, and refuse to lose. You have made it this far, stay the course and you will eventually survive at this game of unemployment.

GOOD NEWS: One of your fellow BACTS participants, Carol N., forwarded the following list of local networking meetings. You must network to find job leads!
Temecunet - Is open to anyone in the SD, Riverside, Orange counties that is under or unemployed. The group meets in Temecula. Go to Linkedin groups to get more information.
Experience Unlimited - Any under or unemployed professional. Through the Workforce Development office through the EDD. Contact Hugo Casian, Employment Program Representative, 951-304-5753 for information required to join this group. The Murrieta office is located at 30135 Technology Drive, Murrieta, CA 92563.
Networking Unlimited - Any under or unemployed non-professionals or professionals. Contact Hugo Casian. Information is above.
Inlandnet - Primarily professionals that attend this group in Poway twice a month. Go to Linkedin groups to get more information.
The Temecula Under-Employed - Go to meetup.com to find this group. For professionals that are under or unemployed.
The FENG - Financial Executives Networking Group - Go to thefeng.org for information about this organization. You must be sponsored by a current member to join. They meet in San Diego once a month.
Accountants in Transition - Accounting & finance professionals in transition. Meets once per month in San Diego. Contact Judy Thompson at judy@thompsonsearch.com
Judy Thompson also emails a list of networking events in the San Diego area. To subscribe go to http://www.thompsonsearch.com/newsletter/sdevents.htm

CONGRATULATIONS: I'm still hearing that many of you are headed to the "Tribal Council" and awaiting the verdict about your interviews. Stay encouraged! Please let me know when you have accepted an offer!

BACTS FACT: "Recruiters today are looking for those with the survival instinct." ~ Jan Smith

THAT'S IT: It's important to remind yourself each day that you have strong qualities that are desired by organizations in your field of expertise. Remember, you were not laid off because of your performance; it was due to your company not performing, and you were part of the reorganization.

There is no room for self-doubt in this part of the game. If you are truly "playing your hardest" to find work, you will soon find success.

Survivor: That's you!

"One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive. No matter who you are or what your position is you must keep fighting for whatever it is you desire to achieve. ”~ George Allen

Good luck on the job search this week.

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

DESTINY

2010-09-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

"Whatever the universal nature assigns to any man at any time is for the good of that man at that time." ~ Marcus Aurelius

Destiny is defined as, "The inevitable or necessary fate to which a particular person or thing is destined and a predetermined course of events considered as something beyond human power or control".

Each of us is handed trials, tribulations and experiences because we are made to experience our destiny. It is not that we don"t have free will to affect the course of our life, because we do, but more importantly, nature takes it course with us regardless if we like it or not.

I do not believe your destiny is to be unemployed. You are in a space and time for one reason or another, that finds you without a job. You are being tested and tried, but you are also being strengthened, refined, molded, and crafted for something greater, that's for sure!

You might often wonder, "Why did I have to be the one let go?”, or "Why did that happen to me?”, right?

William Shakespeare said, "That, that is, is", and what more can you honestly say about destiny. I'd like to add something else to William's verse, and that is, "What is, doesn't always have to be!"

Don't accept that your destiny is to be unemployed and make a commitment it will end soon. I know it's hard to stay motivated week after week, but you need to try and do something EACH and EVERY day towards finding work. Take time to stop and ask yourself, "What is my destiny?", "What have these past months taught me about who and what I want to be?", "How do I go about finding my next job?"

"It's in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped." ~ Anthony Robbins.

GOOD NEWS: I love good news, don't you? Finally, the weekend news reports the job market shows signs of a slight turn around in the job market! Looks like August data shows hiring by the private sector has improved. Unemployment figures in the Inland area dropped slightly.

CONGRATULATIONS: To everyone who has written me to report they have been through first and/or second round interviews over the past few weeks, I hope to soon hear from you that you have accepted an offer!

BACTS FACT: “There is an unmistakable confidence, which is infectious, in a candidate who understands they can affect their destiny." ~ Jan Smith

THAT'S IT: The BACTS Update was not posted last week because I was at the hospital with my brother, who fell from a 30 foot scaffold and took a "swan dive" onto the concrete. He came home yesterday after a week in the hospital, and is on the mend. It is clear that his destiny was not to check out any time soon, as it could have had a different outcome if his fall was backwards instead of forward. Destiny... No doubt, my brother has wondered, "Why me", "If I had only done something different", "If I had only built the scaffolding another way...."

"There is no such thing as chance; and what seems to us merest accident springs from the deepest source of destiny. ~ Johann Friedrich Von Schiller

No one knows why things happen to us. It will always remain a mystery of nature. I do honestly believe that things happen for a reason in life. Maybe you are unemployed today because you didn't really like your previous job, the company, pay, ethics, manager, or industry. Maybe you are wondering if you had only worked harder, smarter, quicker, made more connections or friends, been more aggressive, or not as much, more technical, more contemporary, dressed better, been more social, or less, been more creative, interesting, promotable, or knowledgeable…the list probably goes on and on in your head. I’m not sure what you could have done differently, but destiny has instead put you in this place today.

Maybe you'll look at your unemployment and realize you need to be somewhere else geographically, or change your career, industry, position, to something you have always dreamed of doing, and the unemployment creates an opportunity for you to be where you want to be.

Many people find themselves in a rut and don't have the confidence to leave a job for something else; something better. You are the lucky ones…you have been given an opportunity to affect your destiny.

Destiny can create the confidence to move forward, if you allow it to.

Good luck on the job search this week.

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
http://www.inlandmgtgroup.com/
http://www.janmsmith.com/
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

Dig Yourself Out of That Hole...

2010-09-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

“The only job that stars at the top is when you are digging a hole.” ~ Anonymous

In the 1993 mystery, Holes, juvenile detainees at Camp Green Lake work camp must dig a hole 5 ft deep and 5 ft in diameter to "build character," despite the danger of the desert sun, rattlesnakes, and yellow-spotted lizards, which can kill. The digging is relentless and the warden is even worse, until one day, the camp's real reason for existence is discovered and the inmates are sent home. Without the aid of a persistent lawyer, the detainees would have continued day after day digging themselves into a deeper hole before finding a way to climb out.

I wonder if you guys feel like one of the movie’s main character’s, Armpit, who asks, “What are we diggin’ for man?”, and was answered by another character, X-Ray, who replied, “Like Mr. Sir said, we diggin’ to build some character.”

Most likely you feel that all you have done is dig and dig and dig for a job this year, and all you have to show for it is an empty hole. The truth is you have developed character during these days of unemployment! You are not the same person who was handed the proverbial pink slip. You can use that character to your advantage when networking and interviewing. You are a resilient soul who has fallen in a hole and is now reaching for the rim to lift yourself out. It’s time.

* Whatever it takes, find a way each day to be looking up, not down. Try one or all of these:
Make a few more calls to those you know who are working and ask them if they have heard of any openings in your field of interest.

* Look online at a job board you haven’t looked before and enter different search criteria to see what appears in the search. Interestingly, there is a difference in what you put in the search criteria and what a few word changes will net in the results.

* Target 5 companies you want to work for this week, and go online into their “career” or “jobs” link and apply directly. (As a bonus, seek out connections on LinkedIn who work in the company you are interested in, and ask if they can make a connection with the hiring manager, or Human Resources)

* Attend just ONE local networking event, and take your business cards (please, if you haven’t already obtained business cards, accomplish getting them THIS week)

“First law on holes - when you're in one, stop digging!” ~ Denis Healey

If what you are doing in your job search isn’t working, try something else!

GOOD NEWS: Over the weekend, there were several hundred jobs posted online on just one of the websites that I check regularly. This is during a holiday weekend period! Just keep turning over every rock, and hopefully, this will be the week you find a great connection.

CONGRATULATIONS: James W. who has accepted a Finance Manager position in Dallas, Texas. James shared, “You told us that we have to do what we have to do in searching for a job, including widening our job search area. I contacted my previous boss in Texas and he referred me to the sister company. It is the power of networking that landed me this job.”

BACTS FACT: “Whatever you are doing today, consider the person who crosses your path a potential networking partner.” ~J. Smith

THAT'S IT: Here’s my take on the news. Turn it off. Depending on the channel you watch, you are going to get a different slant on the job figures. Some of these news channels shovel a lot of you know what, and others are more on the mark. There is so much information (and mis-information) out there about the unemployment figures, none of it makes sense. The only thing you know is that you are still not employed.

In Holes, one of the movie’s characters, Mr. Pendanski, states, “D-I-G, what does that spell?” I know with the right tools in your hand you can dig yourself out of this hole you find yourself in. You’ve gone far enough into the ground. It’s time to find the sunlight.

I hope you all enjoy the week,

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

Hiring the Hospitality Gene

2010-08-31T07:43:00.000-07:00

Dining at one of my favorite restaurants in town last week, I mentioned to my husband that our server has “It”. He had no idea what I was talking about until I mentioned our server greeted us with a warm welcome, anticipated and fulfilled our needs, and sent us on our way with a positive opinion about the dining experience. Yep, she really did have “It”.

“It” is the Hospitality Gene, and it would be amazing if all service workers encountered at a restaurant, retail store, hotel, winery, or any other service organization in town, possessed it. Not everyone working in a service role has the innate ability to genuinely serve. You can picture in your minds the ones who curtly ask, “What do you want”, or those who make you feel like you have done something wrong in asking for help. However, there are those who have the Hospitality Gene. They are the ones who serve you authentically with a sparkle in their eye, engage you, and demonstrate a desire to accommodate you as a customer. These are the type of employees you want to represent your company.

Hospitality refers to the relationship process between a guest and a host, the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers, with kindness and genuine goodwill. As you look at your staff, identify those with the Hospitality Gene; those without it are your challenge.

You might wonder, “How do I hire one of these Hospitality Gene individuals?” According to The New Gold Standard, The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company by Joseph Michelli, “A thoughtful process for finding job candidates who are dedicated to service pays bountiful dividends…in employees who produce more, are happier, and stay longer.” It would make sense then, as a business owner, to place importance on the hiring process.

We often hire people because they can “fog a mirror”, that is, they are living, breathing individuals who happen in to your workplace just as your star employee has walked off the job. A few cursory inquiry questions later, and an offer is made. Hiring is often done in haste, leaving the company to repent in the long run.

No one loves to go through the recruiting process; job descriptions, job posting, resume reviewing, interviewing… who has time for this stuff anyway? Each time you interview a candidate you question, “How do I know this applicant can do the job?” or “How do I know if this person will fit in to my organization?” The wrong hire can be expensive to your organization, but the recruitment process doesn’t have to be risky. Follow these tips and your hiring will be more effective:

Tip #1: Prepare
Establish what Hospitality means to you and your service-related company. Organize your hiring practices for the best advantage to hire the Hospitality Gene.

* Prepare by developing job descriptions for each position, including the desired and required service criteria. This may not sound critical, but it is the only way to match required skills to the skill set of the applicant. At the very minimum, develop a list of skills necessary for each position and determine if the candidate’s skill set is sufficient, or if they can be trained.

Tip #2: Establish Rapport
Hire for attitude: Why focus on attitude? Skills can be taught. Attitude can’t… applicants are either born with the Hospitality Gene or they aren’t.
* Spend time making small talk with applicant before getting to the interview questions. This initial “breaking ice” moment gives you insight into the applicant’s hospitable style.

Tip #3: Gather and Provide Information
Use behavioral questions to evaluate if the applicant has the Hospitality Gene. Remember, just as important in asking the question, is listening to the applicant’s answer.
* Have you worked in the hospitality industry? Where? What did you do? What did you like (dislike) about this (these) job(s)? (Listen for relevant work experience and likes or dislikes that may or may not fit the job.)
* How would you go about helping a customer feel welcome? (Listen for accommodating style, knowledge of hospitality)
* How do you think you would handle a delicate or complicated request if you didn’t know what resources we could offer? (Listen for resourcefulness, creativity)
* Tell me about an example of how you turned around an initially bad customer exchange into a positive outcome. (Listen for knowledge of effective service recovery, independent thinking, accommodating style). * Describe what you would say if asked to talk about your service philosophy to a group of subordinates. (Listen for personal hospitality philosophy).
* What type of people do you like best? And least? Why? (Listen for openness and a lack of prejudice.)
* What do you think excellent customer service would be in our business? (Listen for service knowledge and values.) * Tell me about a time when someone failed to provide good service to you. Give me examples of what the person did poorly. How could he/she have improved? (Listen for service knowledge and values.)
* What do you think is most important in building long term, repeat customer business? (Listen for work ethic, service values, and willingness to serve.)
* Sooner or later, we all have to work with an unreasonable customer. What types of behavior would you find most frustrating? How would you respond under such a circumstance? (Listen for openness, tact and ability to handle difficult people.)

Tip #4: Evaluate and Select
Remember, past behavior tends to predict future behavior.
* Call applicant’s business references. Talk to business owner, describe your position, customer base, products and services… ask them if they believe the candidate would be qualified.

Make the right hiring choice. The real job of hiring for service-related positions is finding individuals who possess the Hospitality Gene!

Jan M. Smith is the Founder and Principal of Inland Management Group, a Human Resource Consultancy located in Temecula, specializing in the Hospitality and Entertainment industry. You can contact Jan at (951) 302-6483, email at jsmith@inlandmgtgroup.com, www.inlandmgtgroup.com, or follow her on Twitter at Temecula_HR, and Facebook: Inland Management Group

Connection

2010-08-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

Connection

Ever hear a song, smell a fragrance, look at a picture, or meet someone, and immediately connect it with something in your mind?

I do, especially when my Plumeria plant finally blooms. I take in the aroma, close my eyes and quickly connect to a warm sandy beach somewhere in Hawaii!

The point is, we are always connecting one thing to another in life and as a job seeker, you want to ensure that people associate you as a great candidate.

When someone looks at your resume, or meets you in a networking situation, do they immediately connect you with someone they want to interview, and eventually hire? You have the ability to change the course of your unemployment today. If what you have been doing to find work isn’t working, look introspectively and figure out what is going wrong. Find out where the “disconnect” is and turn it around.

It’s often the unexpected connections in life that surprise us the most. It might be someone you run into at the store, who shares with you the company they work for is hiring. Maybe it’s a parent of your child’s teammate who, in a casual conversation, discloses they own a company in town that is hiring. Or it could be someone you have met along your unemployment journey who hears of an opening and lets you know about it. Your “brand”, (expertise and personal presentation), is better served if you have a widespread network who can extend the reach of your job search.

As you continue to brand yourself in the marketplace as a candidate of choice, do things that will ready you for the time when a connection puts you in contact with a hiring individual. Look over your resume. Is it clear and concise? What about your social networks? Have you cleaned up your “digital dirt”? Are you connected online with those who will help you, both personally and professionally, and do either of these groups increase the likelihood of moving you forward with your job search? Have you tried to connect your skills and expertise to positions that are outside of your original search parameters?

“Regardless of how you make a connection, remember to always represent yourself in a positive and professional way.” ~ J. Smith

GOOD NEWS: Although the mainstream media reports high unemployment figures, I continually see BACTS participants interviewing and getting job offers. The July figures for national unemployment are being reported as the highest figures for the Inland Empire in years. If this is the case, why are there over 400 jobs listed today on www.simplyhired.com? There ARE jobs available. It’s up to you to connect to them.

BACTS FACT: “Connect with someone each day who can offer referrals and ideas to keep momentum in your job search.” ~J. Smith

THAT'S IT: It’s important to find a way to be a candidate of choice when interviewing. One way to do this is to ace the interview! You want the recruiter to connect the dots and see you as a perfect fit for the position. Here’s a great link to the Tough 64 Questions in an Interview, and it includes how to answer the questions. This is a must-look-at site for job seekers. http://dev.fyicenter.com/Interview-Questions/Sixty-Four/

Keep telling yourself you are a great candidate. I know it’s hard to do when you haven’t yet found the right job, but you need to be your own best advocate as a job seeker.

Have a great week everyone,

Jan

If You Don't Believe in Yourself, Who Will?

2010-08-11T14:42:00.000-07:00

"I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest."

~Muhammad Ali

Just returned from a week of vacation in beautiful Colorado where I saw some of the most beautiful roads, rivers and mountains! There's nothing like getting away to help clear your head, focus on the future, and affirm goals. During my week away, I read through Elizabeth Gilbert's book, Eat, Pray, Love. The story reminds me of the last BACTS Update I sent, where I asked that you keep "Believing" in yourself, your abilities, and affirm your success.

This week, I'd like to continue with the theme about how you must believe you will find work soon. Regardless of how long you have been off of work, you are either your own advocate or your worst enemy, by the words you choose to use to describe yourself. Affirmation is powerful, if used in the right direction! The choice is certainly yours, but as a job seeker, it would be best to be your own cheerleader and keep yourself pumped for the "marathon" of job searching.

There is a great quote in Eat, Pray, Love that describes how people repeat the same words over and over to themselves, and how these words so often have a negative affect. I have mentioned this before, about talking yourself up, not down, but I continue to speak with many unemployed who either are not getting interviews, or getting interviews but not getting offers. The conversation often leads to, "I guess I'm never going to get a job", or "I don't think anyone will hire me because....", "I can't take that job, it's too little pay", or "I won't apply for that position because it's a title I had 5 years ago"....

In the book, there is reference to how "All the pain of a human life is caused by words, as is all the joy. We create words to define our experience and those words bring emotions that jerk us around like dogs on a leash. We get seduced by our own mantras (I'm a failure...I'm lonely...I'm not employable...(I added this last one to this quote), and we become monuments to them. To stop talking for a while, then, is to attempt to strip away the power of words, to stop choking ourselves with words, to liberate ourselves from our suffocating mantras."

It's important for all of you to stop beating yourself up for not yet finding work. It doesn't do you any good. Be quiet for a while. When you are ready to start talking to yourself, say only positive things, with affirmations that you will be successful. Try it, and you will find that without the little voice in your head telling you that you can't... you just might be able to do what you want to do!

I know week after week, without employment, the "mantras" get louder, but please, try to silence them. Each one of you has potential to find work. Don't accept that you will be unemployed forever, because you will not.

"Affirmations are like seeds planted in soil. Poor soil, poor growth. Rich soil, abundant growth. The more you choose to think thoughts that make you feel good, the quicker the affirmations work." ~Louise L. Hay

BACTS FACT: "A recruiter is looking for the most confident, talented, personable, capable, and experienced candidate. That's you, right?"

THAT'S IT: In the last BACTS Update, I shared a thought about volunteering in the field you have interest in for full time work. I heard back from Bill S. who wrote, "I'm one of those still unemployed, but a very slow process a getting a job is closer. In your updates, you have mentioned to volunteer in the area of work interest. My neighbor told me of an opportunity and I have been volunteering twice a month since October, 2009. The reward is great, as the 7-14 men look forward to myself and others who come to see them, as they sit in their jail cells. About 4 months ago, I was asked to be a volunteer chaplain in the jail, which has now turned in to a 20 hours a week paid position, as they found some funds. Sometimes we are given hurdles to overcome, but remember there is a plan, that we may not see right away and we need to wait for His time."

Bill's story confirms my suggestion to not turn away an opportunity because it doesn't fit exactly what you had in mind, or what your MIND was telling you it HAD to be. Go after everything, with earnest, and hopefully, you'll be working soon.

“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve." ~Napoleon Hill

Have a great week everyone,

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
http://www.inlandmgtgroup.com/
http://www.janmsmith.com/
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

Retaining Your Top Talent, Where Do You Go from Here?

2010-08-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group

Barry Manilow’s song, “Looks Like We Made It” is blaring somewhere in the background as I eat my lunch at a local restaurant…

The song makes me think about how our hospitality community has made it through the first half of this year. That’s a decent accomplishment we should all be proud of! Part of making it can be attributed to your great employees; the service ambassadors for your organization.

As we enter the second half of 2010, I’d like to challenge you to think more about your employees. As we start to see a plateau in the economy, with most signs pointing up, a key issue for hospitality organizations will be the retention of key talent.

Battle-fatigued employees who have long felt underappreciated and underpaid are already starting to exit employers at record numbers in search of a better situation. Most have held tight to their jobs until the availability of others surface.

Each day, increased numbers of hospitality jobs are becoming available, so here are a couple of things to ponder:
· In a recent poll by Right Management, 60% of workers said they intended to leave their jobs when the market got better.
· This past May, the number of employees voluntarily quitting surpassed the number being fired or discharged for the first time since October 2008.

There has been a lot of talk recently about “Talent Wars,” where an increasingly competitive landscape for recruiting and retaining talented employees is starting to appear. It probably sounds crazy for an era with high unemployment figures, but the reality is YOUR talent might be already looking elsewhere and taking all the training, expertise, and knowledge you have provided them, as they skip over to your competitor. Yikes!

Here is a look at some important ways to keep your best talent:
· Re-engage & re-establish trust. Holding regular company-wide informational meetings and one-on-one “stay” interviews with employees where they can offer ideas, ask questions, and air grievances without fear of repercussion.

· Pay fairly & offer competitive benefits. Being cost-conscious and thrifty on salaries, health insurance, paid leaves, 401K plans and other benefits was necessary for many of you to keep your business going during the past several years, but this is a key reason valuable talent is moving on. Keep on top of regional salary averages and benefit packages.

· Recognize & reward good performance. Consider relaxing the noose on employee’s pay. Celebrate when major goals are reached. Bonuses are great for morale, and workers who feel appreciated work harder.

· Share Company mission. Communicate mission statement to help employee connection to the organization’s goals and keep employees mentally and emotionally tied to your company.

· Communicate openly. Allow employees to have a say in major decisions that affect them, such as the direction of the company and changes within their department. Listen to and respect their ideas and opinions with an open mind. When an employee has an “ownership mentality,” they are often more apt to stay with an organization and serve the guest more effectively.

· Provide perks. Offer company discounts, free product, and perks that make your company stand out over your competition. Be flexible about your employees' schedules whenever possible. Today's workers want a work/life balance. Flexible starting and ending times for shifts can help employees get important personal tasks done. They’ll appreciate it and may be more likely to stay with your company.

· Provide opportunities. Give employees a clear path of advancement. This will eliminate frustration as they will see a clear future for themselves at your company. Offer cross-training, workshops and presentations, and encourage mentoring within the company. Get managers involved to spend time coaching employees, helping good performers move to new positions and minimizing poor performance.

· Communicate expectations. It may seem basic, but often in companies, employees have a wide breadth of responsibilities. If they don’t know exactly what their jobs entail and what you need from them, they can’t perform up to standard, and morale can begin to dip.

· Give honest, constructive feedback. Good efforts should be commended, or employees may feel you haven't even noticed their hard work. If there's something you feel they can work on, let them know in a way that doesn't imply that they've done something wrong.

An increase in turnover can be costly for companies. The average cost of turnover for a minimum wage hospitality worker could be as high as $11,609.00. (based on research conducted by Cornell University)

So where do you go from here?

· Pay attention and get a pulse on your employee morale.
· Listen to what employees are saying about you and your organization.
· Ensure you offer the best pay, benefits, and opportunities.

There’s something to be said for retaining great employees who can absorb the brand and communicate it effectively. More then ever, as the economy starts to turn around, it will be essential to keep your talented and trained employees to exceed guest expectations.

Jan M. Smith is the Founder and Principal of Inland Management Group, a Human Resource Consultancy located in Temecula, specializing in the Hospitality and Entertainment industry. You can contact Jan at (951) 302-6483, email at jsmith@inlandmgtgroup.com, www.inlandmgtgroup.com, or follow her on Twitter at Temecula_HR, and Facebook: Inland Management Group

BELIEVE!

2010-07-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

"We are what we believe we are." ~ C.S. Lewis

Every day I am fortunate to talk with someone who is still unemployed and share job seeking ideas. There is a common thread that runs between those who have been unemployed for a long while. The thread is a diminished belief in themselves.

I want to encourage each of you to try and defeat the urge to stop believing in your passion, talent, ability, experience and expertise. You need to empower yourself to see your future as successful.

When doubt comes knocking, DON'T OPEN THE DOOR!

Each of you contributed some great things to your last employer. Don't lose sight of those accomplishments and capabilities. Remind yourself what projects, programs, creative successes you once had and keep your eye on the goal to return to a position where you can once again make a difference. While you are waiting for the right opportunity to seize, volunteer in one of the many organizations in our area who need people with your gifts, talents and compassion.

Not only will this give you a different perspective, it will help you resuscitate your belief in yourself. An additional by-product of volunteering is that your resume will be filled with something to discuss in the interview of what you have been doing to keep yourself busy during your unemployment.

Just pick a mantra to repeat each morning (good to do as you look at yourself in the mirror) and remind yourself: "I am amazing. I will be a treasure to an organization. They will be fortunate to have me. I BELIEVE IN MYSELF"

"Don't feed your mind with negative thoughts. If you do, you will come to believe them." ~Catherine Pulsifer

GOOD NEWS: According to TopJobsUSA.com, as of today there are: 168,081 overall jobs in California, 24,742 jobs within 50 miles of Temecula, and 1,499 jobs within 25 miles of Temecula. These figures are up beyond any other week since I've been tracking (24 months). Be encouraged!

CONGRATULATIONS: Michelle G. just accepted a position with Hemet Unified School District. Glad to see the local school districts are still hiring!

BACTS FACT: "Wear a suit of confidence to your next interview. It will indicate to the recruiter that you believe in yourself and you will appear remarkable and memorable."

THAT'S IT: Unemployment benefits were finally extended which, no doubt, has helped many of you this week. You need to step up your game in terms of job searching as there are now many workers who are voluntarily leaving their jobs to seek other employment. This puts you in competition with others who have been working. That's why I suggest to fill up your time with volunteering (during your job search), so you resume will remain competitive. Look again at the numbers of jobs within a half an hour from Temecula. Go after these jobs and believe that YOU ARE THE CANDIDATE OF CHOICE.

"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble, but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy." ~Norman Vincent Peale.

Have a good week everyone,

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

CHANCE

2010-07-19T20:53:00.000-07:00

"The successful man is the one who had the chance and took it." ~ Roger Babson

A “chance” may be defined as an opportunity; a possibility that comes due to a favorable combination of circumstances. It may also be defined as luck; an unpredictable and unknown phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another. It may also be defined as the possibility of taking a risk in lieu of some sort of a positive outcome.

Regardless of its definition, those who recognize they have been handed a chance need to take hold of it and see where it leads. If you remember from my "Networking" seminar, I mentioned that over 80% of you will find your next job via networking (or a chance meeting....remember my story of meeting someone in the post office line which resulted in a consulting assignment?)

Let me share with you a story of how powerful chance is...
Weeks ago, I took a chance and put out a call to action in one of the BACTS Updates asking if any of you were interested in participating in a new reality TV show, Life911. The basic concept of the show is to provide assistance to a deserving family. In my message, I asked you to respond if you were interested.

A couple of you did.

Actually, one response was from the wife of BACTS participant, Ken S. He must have felt compelled to share my message with his wife, who works for the American Heart Association. Ken lives near a family with two young children who, along with the mother, have severe life threatening heart conditions. Ken's wife took a chance and shared their story with the show's producer, and before long, the family she recommended was selected to be a potential for the pilot show.

Additionally, this family has already been a recipient of a recent Temecula fundraiser and will most likely be spotlighted on the new TV show. I want to thank Ken and his wife for grabbing the chance to make a difference in someone's life.

A response. A chance. A result.

"I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time." ~ Ecclesiastes 9:11

Please believe that your chance for a new job will come. Maybe it's this week or the next, but it WILL come!

GOOD NEWS: There are new jobs continually being posted on all of the major sites and aggregate sites. Keep searching out opportunities and responding to job postings.

CONGRATULATIONS: Heard from a few of you that you are getting call backs from initial interviews. Keep up the great work, and don't forget to let me know if you accept an offer!

BACTS FACT: "Consider every single person you come in contact with this week as a lucky encounter. You never know who they may know, and the person they might connect you with could be the lead to your next job."

THAT'S IT: Think back to all the opportunities you have had in the past. How did you get your last job? How about your last promotion? How did you meet your spouse? How did you find out about the BACTS program? All of these required a part chance, a part luck, and part preparation.

Just remember, there is no time in the history of the world, where there was a storm that didn't end. Be ready for your rainbow. If you really want to find work, be open to, and ready for, your chance.

"I will prepare and some day my chance will come." ~ Abraham Lincoln

Have a great week everyone,

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

Brand Yourself 4 Success

2010-07-13T08:07:00.000-07:00

"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 company: 'Me Inc.' To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You." - Tom Peters

I recently met with a friend at our local Coffee Bean to discuss her interest to re-enter the job market after years of raising her daughter. I pointed to the cup in my hand and used the analogy of how getting a job requires an individual to brand themselves like coffee houses brand their to-go cups .

As a major tea lover, I'm hitting up the majority of the coffee/tea houses wherever I go, and I see a lot of different cups. I often wonder why some of these places chose to use cups without any branding. Plain, vanilla, uninteresting, and often not memorable.

It's the logo, or cup design that we often identify with a particular organization. This is how it needs to be for you as a job seeker. You should be working on branding yourself for success. In this job market you have to stand out, and you can't be like the plain coffee cup, you must have a presence with the following:

Appearance: Do you have what it takes to present yourself with an attractive and interesting resume? Have you invested in your own professional appearance for the interview?
Personality: Can you "turn it on" in an interview to appear interesting and engaging, enough to be remarkable and memorable?
Offerings: Have you figured out how to communicate in the resume and interview what you can do differently than your competitor?
Definition: Why will a recruiter remember you after the interview? Will you be like a non-descript coffee cup or one with an interesting logo?

Stand out as a unique product. Your goal is to get the attention of the recruiter and get them to perceive your value to their organization.

CONGRATULATIONS: Heard from a few of you that you are getting call backs from initial interviews. Keep up the great work, and don't forget to let me know if you accept an offer!

BACTS FACT: "You can’t be ‘vanilla or plain’ as a job seeker today. You must find a way to stand out with an interesting brand that will allow decision makers in the company to remember who you are long after the interview."

THAT'S IT: What’s all this talk about the logo on a coffee cup and what does that have to do with me, the job seeker? Ask yourself, this question about your personal brand: “Why should anybody want to hire me?” Every day ask, “How can I communicate my unique value message today? “ This is about stepping up your game in this job seeking market.

Go out this week and make an impact on the job seeking world! You can do it. You each have something unique to share. Work on the few things that you need to pay attention to and you'll head in the right direction.

"When you brand yourself properly, the competition becomes irrelevant.” Dan Schawbel

Good luck everyone!
Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting & Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

FREEDOM

2010-07-06T08:31:00.000-07:00

"Freedom is the oxygen of the soul." ~Moshe Dayan

I hope all of you enjoyed a break from job-seeking yesterday and had a chance to just be in the moment on the July 4th Independence Day holiday. It's amazing how this day can remind us how important freedom is to us.

Today is a new day and we are officially halfway through 2010. I always like to look at the month of July as a second "New Year". Most of us wake up on January 1st, make goals and commitments, and six months later realize our goals have not been met.

If you have been unemployed since January 1st, look at this month as a second chance for financial freedom. Figure out what you have been doing which has proven to be productive and that which have not, in your job search. Set new goals to reach with regard to your job search.

A few things to do differently this "New Year"...

Spend a minimum of 1 hour each day on your job search. Do not let a day go by without doing something toward finding your next position.
Get on LinkedIn TODAY. Prepare your profile, and join the BACTS Group.
Attend a networking event this month.
Select 10 companies you want to work for, and look on their website. Find out if they are hiring. Look at LinkedIn to see if you are connected to anyone in these companies and make an introduction via LinkedIn.
Think of 5 other jobs other than what you have done in the past, and conduct a search for opportunities in these alternate positions.
Sign up for "Alerts" in www.simplyhired.com to get notifications of new jobs posted each day within selected criteria.
Obtain business cards and make a commitment to hand out 2 cards EVERY day to someone new.
Look at the job posting you are applying to and make sure key words appear on your submitted resume.
Look into training for technology you need to be up to speed in the job market.
Explore going back to school and find out if there is grant money available.

GOOD NEWS: Automobile Club of Southern California is holding a Direct Sales Agent Trainee Job Fair. Thursday, July 8th, 4:00pm – 7:00pm3333 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (Enter from South Coast Drive)Priority will be given to pre-registered applicants. To pre-register, please submit your resume at the Job Fair posting on our Website at https://autoclub.tms.hrdepartment.com/cgi-bin/a/highlightjob.cgi?jobid=7159&lcid=en-US . Orange County Job Fair coming up on Tuesday, July 13th, 10:30am - 2:00pm, Raddison Hotel, John Wayne Airport, Orange County. More information: http://www.choicecareerfairs.com/employers/.

I know many of you have attended these with mixed reviews, but it only takes one good contact at one of these "networking" events to strike gold! Remember, financial freedom is what you are seeking, and the first step is finding a job! Consider attending one or both of these "networking" events this month.

CONGRATULATIONS: To everyone who has persevered the first half of the year. To those of you who had interviews last week and this week: Good luck to you! Please let me know if you find a new position.

BACTS FACT: "Don't appear negative during the interview about the length of your job search. Any appearance of negativity will not be well received by Hiring Manager."

THAT'S IT: Freedom....we all want it...we all strive for the ability to have enough to pay our bills, to be able to something out of the ordinary and not worry about how to pay for it, to not be afraid of the mail in the mailbox, to feel productive, and to feel good about ourselves again. It's still within reach for all of you. You've come this far so don't give up. You are in the second half of this year and things are beginning to look up. Stay on track and keep freedom in eye sight. Please do not feel isolated or alone.

There are over 275 BACTS participants to reach out to via the BACTS LinkedIn Group or through my Facebook Fan Page, http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup. I'm working on a BACTS "Meet Up" to be held at a local business in August. Details to follow...If you are interested in more information on this networking event, please send me an email.

"I know but one freedom and that is the freedom of the mind. " ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I hope this new beginning of the second half of 2010 brings you much independence and freedom with a new job offer!

Jan

"Toot Your Own Horn", Self-Promotion is Necessary!

2010-06-24T16:54:00.000-07:00

"Hey, I don't mind if I toot my own horn. Toot, toot!" - Alex P. Keaton, Family Ties

Did anyone besides me wonder what the crazy buzzing noise was at the recent World Cup soccer matches? Love 'em or loathe 'em, the blaring plastic trumpets, or "Vuvuzelas", are now a hallmark of the matches! They are tooting the virtues of soccer, and have created a brand for the sport, that's for sure.

So I'll ask you, how good are you at tooting your own horn? The answer better be, "Great, wonderful, fantastic", or you run the risk as a job seeker of missing out on an important part of self-promotion in the job market. I know, most of you will say you don't like to sing your own praises, but it's necessary so the recruiter, executive or networking partner will remember you. It doesn't have to come off as conceited, just self-assured.

"If you're humble, it's hard to toot your own horn. I understand that. But during times like now, with the recession as thick as it is, you must step outside your comfort zone and try things that might make you feel, well, just a bit uncomfortable - even though they shouldn't. " ~ Michelle Kabele, Marketing Professional

Here are a few points to remember about tooting your own horn:

Determine what you have done exceptionally well over the last 5 years, and memorize in a way you can articulate, if asked.

List the top 3 accomplishments you are most proud of, and be ready to concisely describe them in a short statement.

Practice saying something great about yourself and your expertise. Do this with friends and family and ask their opinion of your presentation.

Use numbers and statistics, which help your confidence to "brag" a bit about yourself.

BACTS FACT: “Recruiters will look at your Facebook, My Space, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social network sites during the recruitment process. Be sure you are portraying (and tooting) the right message!"

THAT'S IT: “There is a difference between conceit and confidence. Conceit is bragging about yourself. Confidence means you believe you can get the job done.”~ Johnny Unitas

A good read for you if you don’t find it easy to “self-promote” is BRAG, The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn, Without Blowing It, by Peggy Klause. It’s filled with suggestions on how to be effective with self-promotion.

It’s time to be your own “Vuvuzelas" and make some noise about yourself this week in the job market. Let employers know you are ready to work!

Jan

Just a reminder that I am starting to list more information on my Facebook page, Inland Management Group, about job seeking. You can become a "Fan" of my page at: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup

No One Ever Washes a Rental Car!

2010-06-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

Nobody Ever Washes a Rental Car

Empowering Your Employees for Success!
Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group

Do you? Or would you admit to tossing gum wrappers on the floor and leaving your lunch remains on the passenger seat?

Do you care for that rental car like you would your own? Most people don’t.
Why should they? It’s not theirs to worry about. This is the same issue with employees who work for you. What would make them take care of your place of business as if it were their own?

Ian MacGregor, of The Lobster Place in New York City coined the phrase “Nobody ever washes a rental car” years ago when he was trying to understand the essence of employee ownership and empowerment in the workplace. Like so many hospitality managers, he was tired of his employees treating their jobs with little motivation, pride, or ownership.

According to MacGregor, “In order to reduce turnover and develop long-term employees with special qualifications that only time and training can give them, work every day to ensure your employees are empowered and connected. We all know that empowered employees - those who have a sense of ownership over their working lives, often generated through such things like giving them authorization to make decisions- not only perform better but are less likely to leave or steal. That means real savings in the employment column.”

With costly recruiting and emerging Talent Wars, (employees jumping ship with or without another job lined up), business owners might consider hiring and developing “ownership mentality” in employees. It could be useful to ask a question in the interview, “So tell me, do you ever wash a rental car?” The candidate might stare blankly, with a look of, “That’s a crazy question,” or, you may get someone who says, “I take care of my rental car as if it’s my own”. That may be the one who gets hired!

It’s actually possible to promote and foster this type of mentality by allowing your employees to take ownership of their specific area of responsibility in your company. Allow your employees to have some independent decision authority with regard to resolving customer issues. Help employees own their work and take responsibility for their results. Encourage employees to take pride of ownership in their job and ask them for their ideas to streamline operations or to provide service levels.

Following are tips to help empower your service employees:
Adapted from Susan M. Heathfield, Principles of Empowerment

1. Demonstrate You Value People
Your regard for people shines through in all of your actions and words. Your facial expression, body language, and words express what you are thinking about the people who report to you. Your goal is to demonstrate your appreciation for each person's unique value. No matter how an employee is performing on their current task, your value for the employee as a human being should never falter and always be visible.

2. Share Leadership Vision
Help people feel that they are part of something bigger than themselves and their individual job. Do this by making sure they know and have access to the organization's overall mission, vision, and strategic plans.

3. Share Goals and Direction
Share the most important goals and direction for your group. Where possible, either make progress on goals measurable and observable, or ascertain that you have shared your picture of a positive outcome with the people responsible for accomplishing the results.

4. Trust People
Trust the intentions of people to do the right thing, make the right decision, and make choices that, while maybe not exactly what you would decide, still work.

5. Provide Information for Decision Making
Make certain that you have given people, or made sure that they have access to, all the information they need to make thoughtful decisions.

6. Delegate Authority and Impact Opportunities, Not Just More Work
Don't just delegate the drudge work; delegate some of the fun stuff, too. Delegate the important meetings, the committee memberships that influence product development and decision making, and the projects that people and customers notice. The employee will grow and develop new skills. Your plate will be less full so you can concentrate on contribution. Your reporting staff will gratefully shine - and so will you.

7. Provide Frequent Feedback
Provide frequent feedback so that people know how they are doing. Sometimes, the purpose of feedback is reward and recognition. People deserve your constructive feedback too, so they can continue to develop their knowledge and skills.

8. Solve Problems: Don't Pinpoint Problem People
When a problem occurs, ask what is wrong with the system that caused the people to fail, not what is wrong with the people.

9. Listen to Learn and Ask Questions to Provide Guidance
Provide a space in which people will communicate by listening to them and asking them questions. Guide by asking questions, not by telling grown up people what to do. People generally know the right answers if they have the opportunity to produce them. When an employee brings you a problem to solve, ask, "What do you think you should do to solve this problem?" Or, ask, "What action steps do you recommend?" Employees can demonstrate what they know and grow in the process.

10. Help Employees Feel Rewarded and Recognized for Empowered Behavior
When employees feel under-compensated, under-titled for the responsibilities they take on, under-noticed, under-praised, and under-appreciated, don’t expect results from employee empowerment. The basic needs of employees must feel met for employees to give you their discretionary energy, that extra effort that people voluntarily invest in work.

Empowering your employees might just work to get them to take care of your place of business as if it were their own!

Jan M. Smith is the Founder and Principal of Inland Management Group, a Human Resource Consultancy located in Temecula, specializing in the Hospitality and Entertainment industry. You can contact Jan at (951) 302-6483,

www.inlandmgtgroup.com, email at jsmith@inlandmgtgroup.com, or follow her on Twitter at Temecula_HR, and become a Fan on Facebook at: Inland Management Group

Change

2010-06-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

CHANGE

"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly" - Richard Bach

As a job seeker today, you are in a sort of metamorphosis. You are all changing in ways you never asked for. But, like the butterfly, many of you have already transformed into something new and wonderful with your career decision and job attainment. For some, it’s the same type of work and for others; you have changed locations, industry, job titles. Like the butterfly, you are still beautiful no matter what you have ended up with, or if you are still unemployed.

Change isn’t all that easy for anyone, yet it is inevitable, just part of life. It’s often painful and mostly leads to a situation where you may even lose your old identity but at the same time it is rewarding and gives you wings and opens the door for something new.

The choice you have is between hanging on to the past and lamenting what's lost, or bracing for the road ahead and profiting from it. The decision is purely one's own and has to come from within!

“Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.”~ Carol Burnett

GOOD NEWS: There is so much help to be found online for job seekers. Don’t forget to join the BACTS LinkedIn group as I post new openings colleagues send to me and other important information for you, the job seeker. Additionally, I came across this article that will help you with a Cover Letter. http://michaelspiro.wordpress.com/

CONGRATULATIONS: To Cynthia A. who has recently accepted a position with the Guidance Center in Long Beach. She wrote: “I am happy to report that after almost a year of being unemployed (one year in July) I have received and accepted a job offer this morning. I realized that I had to expand my scope of thinking as to where I could and would work. Hard times call for extraordinary measures”.

BACTS FACT: “You will more than likely be asked in an interview, ‘What is your salary requirement’, make sure to know what your range is as well as your total benefit package expectation.”

THAT'S IT: “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

May this week ahead be wonderful for all of you!
Jan

Perserverance!

2010-06-08T17:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome to June!

"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all have confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained."- Madame Marie Curie

I try to share a quote with you each week, and when I find one that I think applies to your situation, I always look up the author if they are unknown, and always seem to learn something new! I'm inspired with this author, Marie Curie. She was the world’s most famous woman scientist and first female recipient of a Nobel Prize, and she didn't just achieve this once, but became the first and only woman to win a second Nobel Prize.

I think that each of us has something to offer this world, whether it's discovering the importance of radioactivity like Marie Curie, or contributing to this society in any given field. So many of you feel, after all of these months of unemployment, you do not have value...this couldn't be further from the truth. Here is the truth: You must believe in your own value, expertise, and talent, before any recruiter can.

Please, go online to http://www.simplyhired.com/ and look at the varied positions posted within the last 24 hours. New jobs are being listed each day. Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself you are worth it, and you can do the job. Look over your resume, drop in a few "key words" and forward it on. Check out LinkedIn to see if you are connected to anyone in the company you are applying to, and if so, use that contact to streamline the recruiting process. If you are uncertain how to do this, contact me via email.

You are gifted for something-- go attain it!

GOOD NEWS: Don't forget about the job fairs coming up, Sheraton Park Hotel, 1855 South Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, 11:00am – 2:00pm. http://oc.localhires.com/job_fairs/view/1256/Orange+County+Job+Fair+June+8%2C+2010
North County Career Fair, Wednesday, Jun 9th , 10am - 3pm, Inland Career Center - Escondido Library Satellite, Escondido and the Inland Empire Job Fair, Monday, June 7th 11am -2 pm, Hilton Ontario Airport Hotel, 700 N. Haven Avenue , Ontario.

CONGRATULATIONS: To all of you who reported last week that you have interviews this week. Good luck and I hope to hear great things from you!

BACTS FACT: “It is as clear as day for a seasoned recruiter to pick up on the fact you lack confidence in the interview. Work hard to prepare your interview attitude to appear positive and interesting."

THAT'S IT: "They do not dwell in remorse over the past, nor do they brood over the future: they abide in the present: therefore they are radiant. " -Buddhist discourse

Just a reminder that I am starting to list more information about job seeking ideas on my Facebook page, Inland Management Group. You can become a "Fan" of my page at: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup

Here's to a confident June!
Jan

Celebrating Service!

2010-06-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

"The purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others." - Albert Schweitzer

Celebrating Memorial Day yesterday was a day of honoring those who have served our country. A big Thank You goes out to those who are either Military or their family members.

I also want to thank many of you who are serving each other by assisting at local charities, as well as those of you who are helping at the local EDD office, Experience Unlimited groups, and other job-seeker gatherings. You are on your journey to find work, and are experiencing many different twists in the road; potholes and all. One of the greatest things you can do is to serve each other during this time by sharing your own experiences with fellow job-seekers.

If you are aware of job openings, or news on a job fair, interview tips, or feedback you have received that would be useful for other job-seekers, make sure you find a way to communicate by means of social networking or in-person meetings.

Serve: "To be of use, to be favorable, opportune, or convenient, to be worthy of reliance or trust..." You can help each other grow in this experience of unemployed, by serving as a trusted advisor.

GOOD NEWS: For readers who are local to the Inland Empire area, don't forget about the 2 job fairs coming up soon: North County Career Fair, Wednesday, Jun 9th, 10am - 3pm, Inland Career Center - Escondido Library Satellite, Escondido and the Inland Empire Job Fair, Monday, June 7th 11am -2 pm, Hilton Ontario Airport Hotel, 700 N. Haven Avenue, Ontario

BACTS FACT: “The Recruiter will only take 30 seconds to review your resume, that's about 15 seconds per page...make sure your resume is precise, concise, free from typo's, grammatical, or formatting errors."

THAT'S IT: "Everyone can be great because everyone can serve." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Serve yourself and others well this week!

Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group/Human Resource Consulting and Support to the Service Industry
(951) 302-6483
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Facebook: http://facebook.com/#!/InlandManagementGroup
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/janmsmith

Transformation!

2010-05-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday!

"The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and be greater than our suffering" - Ben Okri

TRANSFORMATION. To change in composition, structure, outward form or appearance, character or condition. I'll like to share how important this word is to you, the job seeker.

It's no secret that I am an American Idol fan. If someone were to tell me three months ago that Lee DeWyze would be in the finals, I would have doubted it. Although Lee has been working on his music for the last 8 years, his profession before Idol has been a paint sales clerk. Over the past several months, Lee has transformed himself from a soul with little confidence to someone who believes in himself (and his desired profession). He's also on the threshold of winning American Idol this week!

TRANSFORMATION: Changing your condition.

As you read this, you might be into your unemployment for another month, and maybe it's been over a year. Regardless of where you find yourself, you have the capacity to transform it to something different. The job market is looking up. Jobless rates fell again in SoCal this past month. Amazing new job classifications are being posted EVERY day. Not the routine jobs that have been listed before, but new, exciting positions.

It's time. Take an inventory of where you have been, what you are good at, where your passion lies, and create an opportunity for yourself.

GOOD NEWS: Stay on top of the new jobs listed on collective sites like http://www.simplyhired.com/. Make sure you have "Alerts" set with different zip codes so you can pick up openings near Temecula and other areas you are willing to commute to. 2 job fairs coming up on Saturday, June 5th : North County Career Fair, Jun 9, 10am - 3pm, Inland Career Center - Escondido Library Satellite, Escondido and Inland Empire Job Fair, 11am -2 pm, Hilton Ontario Airport Hotel, 700 N. Haven Avenue , Ontario.

CONGRATULATIONS: Laura M. has taken a consultant position within a division of Pechanga, with hopes that it will transform into a full time opportunity!

FEATURED NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES:
Production Supervisor, Cintas, Vista
Apply online: https://cintas.taleo.net/careersection/10000/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en

Service Supervisor, Milgard, Temecula
Apply online at: http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emilgard%2Ecom%2Fabout-milgard%2Fcareers%2Fcareer-portal%2Easp&urlhash=dtVK

Full Charge Bookkeeper/Office Manager, Temecula

Small independent construction company located in Rainbow.
Call (760) 728-8554 or send resume to: netderieux@gmail.com

Personnel Technician, Palomar College, San Marcos
Apply online: https://www.cccregistry.org/jobs/viewPosting.aspx?postingID=37138

BACTS FACT: “Just because you have experience in one industry, it doesn't mean you can't transfer the expertise to another industry." Decide what you want to do, and begin branding yourself for the new industry/job. Transform yourself into a hirable candidate.

THAT'S IT: "I have always believed, and I still believe, that whatever good or bad fortune may come our way, we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value." -Hermann Hesse.

It's time to start believing in yourself again. Each of you have amazing qualities and expertise that a company is going to be lucky to have. Transform yourself from doubt to confidence.

If you wonder if it is possible, watch Lee DeWyze on American Idol this week. Regardless if he wins or not, he will most likely never be selling paint again, only records!

Just a reminder, I am trying to post job seeker information and new jobs that I become aware of, on both the BACTS LinkedIn group page and also on my Facebook page, Inland Management Group. You can become a "Fan" of my page at: www.facebook.com/inlandmgtgroup.com to see more information.

Have a transforming week everyone!
Jan

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group
Human Resource Consulting and Support to the Service Industry
www.inlandmgtgroup.com
www.janmsmith.com
Twitter: @temecula_hr
Connect on Facebook: http://facebook.com/inlandmanagementgroup

Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/janmsmith

The Temecula Experience, A Concierge's Mindset

2010-05-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

The Temecula Experience, A Concierge's Mindset

Jan M. Smith

Inland Management Group

Your bags are packed, you've arranged a pet sitter, and put the daily newspaper on hold, and you are on your way to a city you haven't yet visited. But wait, you've forgotten to check the Web for activities, dining, and events when you arrive.

Today, over 50% of travelers use the Web to investigate and learn about their destination. That leaves the other half to figure it out on their own. Thankfully, hotels still employ Concierges to help a guest navigate the city, and provide a local opinion and suggestion for dining choices, family activities, entertainment, or shopping, although the Concierge mindset shouldn't be limited to hotel employees.

A local view is valuable, and generally will validate the research a guest has conducted online prior to their trip.

Guests who come to Temecula are looking for an experience. They patronize your hotel, winery, restaurant, retail, casino, transportation/tours, or hot air balloon company, and often ask about one of the other businesses in town. To provide the Temecula Experience, employees should be able to describe the other hospitality businesses and locations and encourage the guest to visit.

Provide the opportunity for your front line employees to have online access to business and calendar/event links. If a guest to a winery tasting room asks, "What is going on in Temecula tonight", make sure your employee can tell them, "Old Town has music at the following places, starting at 9:00pm", and have them name the locations. Having a map available to hand the guest is even better. The idea is to help our employees help our guests to want to stay beyond a day visit.

Expect your employees to know what is going on in the community outside of your four walls. Integrate into your new hire orientation a section, "I Know Temecula", and educate new hires (and existing staff) on what is offered for Dining, Shopping, Casino, Lodging, Sports, Recreation, Golf, Hot Air Ballooning, Horseback Riding, Camping, Transportation/Tours, Historic Old Town, Arts, Entertainment, and Public Services.

Paste the link to the Convention and Visitor's Bureau website (www.temeculacvb.com) near your cash register, so your employees can offer information (or research it) to provide Concierge service to the guest. There are currently over 20 different online event calendars containing valuable information on the activities in Temecula! Enough to make sure employees can be aware of what is going on around town.

A few are listed below: http://www.temeculacvb.com/visitors/calendar-of-events
http://www.cityoftemecula.org/Temecula/Visitors/Calendar.htm http://temecula.org/community_calendar.html
http://www.temeculawines.org/events/wine-country-calendar.php http://www.temeculacalifornia.com/Calendar_of_Events_for_Old_Tow/calendar_of_events_for_old_tow.html
http://www.promenadetemecula.com//go/displayhours.cfm?day=7&month=7&year=2009

The bottom line is knowledge is power and the more your employees know about the Temecula Experience, the better the guest will be served!

I would be happy to email you a comprehensive list of event calendars currently available online for the Temecula region. Please email your request.

Jan M. Smith is the Founder and Principal of Inland Management Group, a Human Resource Consultancy located in Temecula, specializing in the Hospitality and Entertainment industry. You can contact Jan at (951) 302-6483, www.inlandmgtgroup.com, email at jsmith@inlandmgtgroup.com, or follow her on Twitter at Temecula_hr and become a Fan on Facebook at: Inland Management Group

Instantaneous Critics, Identifying, Managing and Resolving Your Online and In-House Reputation.

2010-04-07T20:51:00.000-07:00

100. Back in the day this was the average number of people word-of-mouth networking would reach. A customer would tell 7 friends, who would share the story with another 7 friends, and exponentially 100 potential customers would hear about the experience.

1,596,270,108. This is the amount of people online (as of 12/31/09) who have the potential to read your customer’s broadcasted message. Today if a customer has a positive or negative experience in your organization, they can communicate an instantaneous and powerful message via social media that will reach numbers that will cause your head to spin! TripAdvisor alone sees over 322 million unique visitors to their site each month. That’s a lot of people checking out reviews about your brand.

So what is going on? Why should you be concerned? Consumers are having conversations about your brand regardless if you are listening. Social media is generated by consumers through blogs, message boards, product review sites, YouTube videos, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter; the list is ever evolving. Customers routinely use these sites to post great and not-so-great comments about your brand.

If you are doing most everything right in terms of customer service, social media will be an asset to you. If you are not, it could be damaging to your reputation. Today, the customer is finicky and fickle. They want what they want and they will complain when they don’t get it, or have a perception they have been wronged.

Today you have options to engage in a conversation with your customer to learn from their experience, and it is the resolution of the problem that can truly make a difference for your business.

When a customer is parting with their hard earned money, they expect great service, value and a positive experience. When these elements do not work in balance, or parts are missing, the customer will not hesitate to complain to their “virtual friends”.

Take for instance the following customer service story about a customer interaction with CompUSA customer and blogger Terry Heaton, who bought a digital camera from a store's liquidation sale only to find out at home that it was an empty box.

This is the actual series of events that took place online:
· June 2: Terry posts on his blog the response he got from the CEO's office about his empty box problem. A CompUSA exec tells Terry that he should have inspected the box before taking it home and all sales are final. (Never mind that Terry was a longtime CompUSA customer and had spent $3,500 that day at the liquidation sale).
· June 3: The Lost Remote blog writes about Terry's story. 211 people comment.
· June 4: The story is posted to Digg where it's digg'd 2,607 times with 210 comments and rises to the number 2 story in the Digg Business section.
· June 4: The story hits the front page of BoingBoing.
· June 4: CNET.com mentions the story in their video show "The Queue."
· June 4: Over 50 blogs write about Terry's story.
· June 5: Terry finally gets a call from CompUSA apologizing for the situation and promising a $300 gift certificate from the store.
· June 5: Terry's story is on the front page of FoxNews.com, with the caption "Image problem."
(Rock Research Marketing 2008)
All CompUSA had to do to eliminate this social media nightmare was to take care of the problem from the get go! Consumers are taking their frustrations directly to the web, and a lot of people are listening!

Additionally, the customer is evaluating, reviewing and comparing your product (i.e. restaurant, lodging, winery, gaming, retail, and other services) online to help with their purchasing decision.

Here’s some ideas to Identify, Manage and Resolve your online and in-house reputation:

Identify:
· Google your company name. See what is currently being said about your organization on various social media sites.
· Monitor the chatter via products like Tweetscan or GuestPulse to find out what conversations are going on right now on Twitter about your brand.

Manage:
· Take care of your customers and provide a positive guest experience in all that your organization offers.
· Assign someone from your company the crucial responsibility of daily monitoring of social media. Spend time daily on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Industry-specific sites and Blogs, etc.) and address comments immediately. Respond to every online complaint.
· Develop online relationships with your customers.

Resolve:
· Commit to recognizing on a timely basis, the complaint (or accolade). Procrastination is a kiss of death if you ignore or fail to respond/resolve issues raised by your customer.
· Respond publically via social media versus privately through email or letter. If you respond privately instead of publically, customers are going to only see the complaints and not the resolutions!
· Don’t be afraid to post your inadequacies in public, but do have a resolution process in place.

Social media has given a voice to the customer, and has empowered the customer in ways never seen before. The Hospitality industry can no longer dismiss social media as a passing fancy, rather a powerful tool to understand how the customer perceives your brand, service and consumer’s rating compared to your competition. More importantly, social media allows your organization to get on the radar of the consumer for little or no capital.

I’ll be sharing more ideas on how social media is changing the face of customer service at the next Business Success Forum for the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce on April 13th, 12:00 – 1:30pm.

The program, “Instantaneous Critics- Identifying, Managing and Resolving Your Online and In-house Reputation” is free to Chamber members, and lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Emily@temecula.org.

Jan M. Smith is the Founder and Principal of Inland Management Group, a Human Resource Consultancy located in Temecula, specializing in the Hospitality and Entertainment industry. You can contact Jan at (951) 302-6483, http://www.inlandmgtgroup.com/, email at jsmith@inlandmgtgroup.com, or follow her on Twitter at Temecula_HR, and become a Fan on Facebook at: Inland Management Group

The Temecula Experience

2010-02-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

The Temecula Experience
Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group

As we begin this new decade, it’s impossible not to look back and contemplate the past. History is good though, as it helps to see what we can do differently in the future. With this fresh New Year upon us, it’s a great time to define, (or redefine), your philosophy of customer service and share this with your employees. If you don’t have a strong sound vision of service, it might be a great time to consider formalizing your service standards. If you don’t, your employees will define them for you, and it might not be exactly what you envision.

2010 will bring certain challenges for the hospitality industry, yet we can all strive for something great; the opportunity to serve and the chance to offer The Temecula Experience.

The Temecula Experience is a consistent message throughout Temecula’s hospitality partners to create a memorable experience for guests visiting Southern California Wine Country, by offering warm, gracious and definitive guest service to inspire repeat visits.

Last year, the Temecula Valley Convention and Visitor’s Bureau implemented the inaugural Spotlight Service Award, which quarterly recognizes a representative from one of our hospitality partners, (lodging, winery, casino, restaurant, retail, aero-sports, and transportation), who provides exceptional customer service to our visiting guests. Joel Reece of Leonesse Winery and Ray Robinson of The GrapeLine, were recently recognized by their peers, management and fellow CVB partners at award presentations, and were recognized in the CVB’s quarterly newsletter. Additionally, the Spotlight Service Award recipients will be featured on the CVB’s new website.

The next phase of our recognition program begins on February 1st, 2010 with the “You’ve been noticed providing exceptional customer service” Card Recognition Program. CVB Board members will distribute recognition cards throughout the month to service individuals exhibiting exceptional customer service. The recognition cards instructs recipient to go online to http://www.thetemeculaexperience.com/ to register their nomination. Each month, one individual will be selected to join Joel and Ray in the CVB Customer Service Hall of Fame.

The criteria used to evaluate exceptional customer service include:
· Sincerity - Offers genuine and intentional service; enjoys and desires to satisfy the customer.
· Enthusiasm - Passionately serves the customer.
· Respect - Treats each customer with respect.
· Vision - Commits to anticipating and recognizing what the customer will need, before they

communicate it.
· Intervention - Immediately resolves customer problems with grace and professionalism.

Care - Accountable and responsible to provide consistent sustained service levels.
· Enjoyment - Enjoys customers and their workplace.

Here’s what you can do to prepare your employees for service greatness:
1. Provide the vision and philosophy of service to your employees. Make sure you have a top down, bottom up commitment to exceptional service, without compromise.
2. Communicate on a regular basis to your employees if service levels fall short. Inspect what you expect when it comes to consistent service levels.
3. Measure through secret shoppers and customer response cards if your service is meeting expectations. If it’s not, take care of it immediately, and repeat these steps until all employees buy into the company line on service levels.
4. Train your employees to facilitate great customer service. Help bring out the best in them, and coach them if they fall short.

If customer service is the single most important differentiator of success in business, why wouldn’t you want to offer The Temecula Experience?

Jan M. Smith is the Founder and Principal of Inland Management Group, a Human Resource Consultancy located in Temecula, specializing in the Hospitality and Entertainment industry. You can contact Jan at (951) 302-6483, www.inlandmgtgroup.com, email at jsmith@inlandmgtgroup.com, or follow her on Twitter at Temecula_hr.

20/20 Vision for 2010

2009-12-30T16:44:00.000-08:00

20/20 Service Vision for 2010
Jan M. Smith

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

My mom often used this axiom, “Shoulda, Coulda, Ifs Ands & Buts…” It was meant to describe what could have been, but wasn’t.

It’s a fitting description for a year that should have been different than it was. Don’t dismay though, because the second half of the adage was “there should be no regret for the past, instead, clarity to create the future.”

So we look backwards and say goodbye to a decade of mixed success, but more importantly, look forward with 20/20 vision for the New Year, and decade.

The upside to this year is you now have hindsight, which will help you move forward with:

Hoteliers to consider how to be more innovative, efficient, and progressive with marketing, pricing, and reduced staff levels, and continue to keep high levels of RevPAR and service.

Restaurateurs to evaluate how the customer wants to be served with friendly, courteous service, back-to-basics fresh and simple home-cooked style comfort food, and value pricing.

Gaming industry to continue to look at effective techniques and approaches to obtain and retain customers through exceptional service, promotions, programs, shows, and an exciting and fresh atmosphere.

Retail and Service companies to focus on product, pricing and service as alternatives to a diminished demand.

Interestingly, the operative word for a successful new decade in hospitality is: Service. It’s the one sustainable competitive advantage you can have over those who haven’t figured out how important service is to the success of their business.

The vision for 2010 should be filled with optimism and perseverance, and most importantly, elevated levels of customer service. Customers love those who love them. They sense a genuine and caring business. It’s fairly transparent to the customer if they are getting the type of service they expect (or feel they are entitled to), and let’s face it, they are the ones spending the money for your product or service, so there can’t be mistakes in service, not in 2010.

“Shoulda, Coulda, Ifs Ands & Buts…”, instead of using 20/20 hindsight to reflect on this difficult year, think of it as a tool to use for the future. Consider what you did right in 2009:

Weathered the economic storm

Likely streamlined your business operations

Re-engineered your organization, product and/or service

Tightened up your business practices

If you focus on what you did right to sustain your business through this year, and maximize your focus to look forward to 2010, you should have a good shot at hanging in there until this downturn shifts upwards once again.

Cheers, and Happy New Year!

Jan M. Smith is the Founder and Principal of Inland Management Group, a Human Resource Consultancy located in Temecula, specializing in the Hospitality and Entertainment industry. You can contact Jan at (951) 302-6483, www.inlandmgtgroup.com, or email at jsmith@inlandmgtgroup.com.

2009-11-26T10:24:00.000-08:00

Thankful Hospitality

The leaves have finally turned a wild shade of sunset hues in Wine Country. Harvest is past and winter is around the corner. Thanksgiving hangs in the air. Another cycle of seasons is nearing an end.

For those associated with tourism and hospitality, applaud yourselves for hanging in there amidst the trying times of 2009. It hasn’t been easy, but still, there is much to be thankful for.

Consider the meaning of thanksgiving; the act of giving thanks, and a prayer expressing gratitude. Here are a few examples of gratefulness to add to your Thanksgiving feast:

1) We live in one of the most wonderful cities, centrally located between mountains, ocean, desert and major cities, making it perfectly situated for tourism.

2) Temecula’s tourism partners still enjoy visitors to their restaurants, lodging, casinos, wineries, and retail operations, albeit a lower number, visitors still come to Temecula!

3) Temecula was selected this year as one of “America’s Top 100 Places to live”, according to Relocate-America.com. Criteria included outlook for future growth and ability to rebound, as well as how local government and the business leadership supports the City.

4) The Convention and Visitor’s Bureau rolled out a new website for members, increasing opportunities to develop their brand and drive tourism to our region.

5) Old Town business associations have collaborated on the future of area business. Tourism partners have learned this year the “doing business as usual” business plan no longer works, and alternative strategies and creative game plans have been implemented.

6) 2009 had some of the best travel opportunities in recent history, prompting tourism partners to get creative and collaborative with travel packages.

7) Thirty plus Temecula wineries produce award-winning wines and varietals. Wine quality, mirrored by high awards in major wine competitions, shows that Temecula Valley has become one of the preeminent wine grape-growing areas in California. One of our very own captured the coveted and distinguished, “Best Winery in California” for a second straight year. (Congratulations South Coast!)

8) Growth continues in Temecula’s hospitality arena with new wineries, restaurants, lodging, and retail (and mall expansion) opening this year.

9) Most tourism partners now utilize Social Media to promote their brand (and wet our appetite for what their business has to offer).

10) Tourism partners worked hard to upgrade their customer service, as it’s a known fact service is an important differentiator between themselves and their competition. Lodging, restaurant, winery, casino, and retail service staff know their jobs depend on gaining and maintaining loyal customers.

For most, the past years of lucrative times in the hospitality business has allowed for growth or initial introduction of your brand to Temecula. We can’t forget we had these great times and remember they’ll come again. Consider looking occasionally in the rear view mirror, so the road ahead looks clearer.

More than likely, you follow the PKF report forecasts which report an exceptionally robust recovery will come in 2011 and 2012. This leaves you to spend time in 2010 refining your product, service, and brand, and better understanding your customer.

Weathering this year, and knowing the prosperity you once enjoyed will return again, should be enough to just hold on and be thankful for the things that did go right this year.

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you!

Jan M. Smith is the Founder and Principal of Inland Management Group, a Human Resource Consultancy located in Temecula, specializing in the Hospitality and Entertainment industry. You can contact Jan at (951) 302-6483, http://www.inlandmgtgroup.com/, or email at jsmith@inlandmgtgroup.com.

2009-11-09T15:13:00.000-08:00

Inland Management Group (IMG)
Human Resource Spotlight Program

Now more than ever companies must insure compliance to the myriad of ever changing Human Resource laws and legislation. One small oversight and it could cost the business owner in time, money and productivity, not to mention legal representation. It seems easier to ignore issues relating to HR policies and procedures, but it's critical to implement a strong HR infrastructure to eliminate HR issues.

The IMG Human Resource Spotlight Program provides an evaluation of the client’s current Human Resource practices and policies.

Human Resource Audit:
The Human Resource Spotlight includes: An in-house interview with client’s Human Resource representative or designated company representative to conduct an abbreviated Human Resource Audit, to review, evaluate, and identify areas of compliance deficiencies and potential liability exposure.

Evaluation of the audit/interview and a comprehensive evaluation will be forwarded to the Client.

The Audit assesses the areas of greatest Human Resource exposure:
· The Hiring Process
· Record Management
· Wage & Hour
· Harassment Policies
· Posting Requirements

Human Resource Phone Consultation:
Included in the audit is a one-hour phone consultation with IMG Principal to review comprehensive evaluation report and discuss recommendations.

Please contact Jan M. Smith, Principal, Inland Management Group, (951) 302-6483, or jsmith@inlandmgtgroup.com for additional information.

Follow me on Twitter: Temecula_HR

Fire It Up For Your Employees!

2009-10-23T09:17:00.000-07:00

Fired-Up for Your Employees
Jan M. Smith

The familiar sound on my computer signals another email delivered to my inbox. I open, and view results of another survey. This one though peaks my interest. It imparts information about the current Fired-Up status of employees in the workplace.

Results are in:
· 41% very fired-up
· 45% of employees only marginally fired-up
· 14% are not fired-up at all

It’s no surprise the current work environment, with its lean and mean atmosphere is causing everyone to be a little on edge. Those employed are not immune to the concerns of job security, stress, increased workloads, and irritable co-workers and managers.

With less than half of the American worker today feeling fired-up or satisfied at work, companies might take a look at how to help ease this statistic in the workplace. There’s a reason business owners or managers may want to take notice because Job dissatisfaction can lead to multiple organizational problems, and has been associated with decreased levels of customer service.

Here’s a perfect example: I recently visited a local ice cream outlet and observed a supervisor harshly discipline an employee directly in front of customers. When I got to the front of the line, I asked the employee a question. I was met with a snarl and a coldness that matched the ice cream I was about to consume! It’s no wonder, the employee had been treated so badly minutes before by the supervisor, and the employee was redirecting the same behavior towards me, the customer.

When front line workers become dissatisfied with their positions, the end result is that their interactions with the customer become disconnected and unauthentic. This discontent with the job is very transparent to the customer, as in the example above.

Some managers have the outlook: “If they don’t like it here they can take a hike…” It’s a pervasive idea many business owners and managers share, considering there is a surplus of job seekers; if someone is unhappy at the workplace, “no big deal, we’ll just replace them with someone else.”

The trouble with this way of thinking is 1) it causes mistrust in the workplace, 2) there is a value in the employee who you have already invested in, and 3) the employee has a strong knowledge base of your organization’s product, processes and customer.

Sure, you replace the body, but it will take time and money to replace the knowledge.

If you can accept that your attitude towards your employees is a reflection of what your employees are going to be, it might help you to see how critical your behavior is on the outcome of your employee’s attitude towards the customer.

Everyone is walking the tightrope… owners are trying to keep their companies afloat, and employees are trying to keep their jobs. Working together during this time of business uncertainty is critical for everyone’s success.

October Service Tips:
· Look at the relationship between your supervisory staff and your employees. If it’s not

solid, the deficiency in the relationship can often become a catalyst to employee

dissatisfaction and ultimately, customer service issues.
· Listen to employee’s concerns.
· Understand you must give respect to get respect… it doesn’t come with a job title, it must

be earned.
· “Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly, and they will show

themselves great." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
· Listen to those who work for you, you might learn from them.
· Pay fairly, treat fairly, recognize fairly. All three hold critical status to employee morale.

Employees who are dissatisfied with their positions are a tremendous obstacle to developing customer loyalty and customer service. Get fired-up for your employees, and they’ll get fired-up for your organization!

Jan M. Smith is the Founder and Principal of Inland Management Group, a Human Resource Consultancy located in Temecula, specializing in the Hospitality and Entertainment industry. You can contact Jan at (951) 302-6483, www.inlandmgtgroup.com, or email at jsmith@inlandmgtgroup.com.

Temecula Offers Assistance for Job Seekers

2009-09-29T22:38:00.000-07:00

Temecula Offers Assistance to Job Seekers

I am one of the fortunate who live and work in the beautiful city of Temecula, California, located in the Southern California Wine Country.

When I moved from Los Angeles to Temecula in the late 90’s, I was enamored with the charm of the then 47,000 populated area. Although Temecula has more than doubled in size, it still maintains the feel of a community-centered environment.

One such example is a brand new City-sponsored program to assist local unemployed refine their job seeking skills.

Following is a recent Press Release:

The City of Temecula has partnered with the Temecula Sr. Executive HR Roundtable to provide free career transition services to Temecula and surrounding area unemployed.

The Begin Again, Career Transition Services (BACTS), kicks off with a full spectrum of career transition assistance workshops, including:
· Creating and Crafting a Successful Resume and Cover Letter
· Using Social Networking Tools To Research and Find Your Next Job
· How to be Remarkable and Memorable in an Interview
· Networking to Find Your Next Job
· Marketing Plan: How to Professionally Brand Your Expertise
· Career Assessment: Identifying Your Marketable Skills

The BACTS program will provide the knowledge, skills, and tools, to help the unemployed in our community get back to work”, says Jan M. Smith of Inland Management Group and BACTS program director. “Our neighbors, friends, colleagues, or family who are out of work, regardless of position or industry, will benefit from this free City resource.”

All workshops are free to the public and will be facilitated by local senior Human Resource executives.

Workshops will be held at the Temecula Community Center conference room, located at 28816 Pujoi Street, beginning October 15, 2009, and run for six consecutive Thursday mornings, from 9:30 – 11:00am.

For more information or to register for any of the workshops, please email
Jan M. Smith at jsmith@inlandmgtgroup.com, (951) 302-6483.

Detailed information regarding workshops: http://tinyurl.com/yet74pg

Good is the Enemy of Great

2009-08-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

GOOD IS THE ENEMY OF GREAT

Creating Exceptional Service
Jan Smith
Inland Management Group

Recently, a colleague of mine sent out a message on Twitter soliciting restaurant recommendations to celebrate her wedding anniversary. The criteria, simple: It must be in town and it must have exceptional customer service. Interestingly, there were very few responses. I tried to come up with a list of a couple of places to recommend, and kept getting stuck on the “exceptional” requirement.

If you were asked for a recommendation for any type of service organization that was:
· Exceptional
· Great
· Outstanding
· Remarkable
· Extraordinary
· Incomparable

Could you do it? Would your organization make the list?

If you haven’t recently done so, look online at the various social media sites where reviews are posted, (Twitter.com, Yelp.com, TripAdvisor.com, Dine.com, TemeculaRestaurants.com, and Boorah.com, etc.). See how your organization is being reviewed by guests. If the majority of comments state you operate a “good” or “mediocre” business, it’s time to step it up and turn things around. Providing only mediocre service will not give you the competitive edge, especially in this market.

As an owner or manager of a service organization, you should insist on exceptional service from your employee. The difference between mediocre and exceptional service is that exceptional service offers value to your guest, gives more than the guest expects, and often surprises them in the process!

General George Patton once said, “Always do more than is expected of you”. Treat your guest to exceptional service and they will return. Give them mediocre, or even worse, bad service, and they’ll continue on to one of your competitors.

In the book, A New Gold Standard, there’s a story about a gentleman who calls up to make a reservation at a Ritz Carlton Hotel. He states he is surprising his wife, who is pregnant, with a weekend away for their anniversary. When the couple checks in, they are greeted by the front desk representative with a warm welcome, and by name! Once they arrive in their room, they observe a beautiful bouquet of red roses and rose peddles spread across the bed. A bottle is chilling in a wine cooler with a note attached, “Mr. and Mrs. Jones, thank you for joining us for your anniversary”, signed by the General Manager.

The husband affirms his decision to stay at the Ritz Carlton. He lifts the bottle out of the wine cooler to open, and the two laugh when they look at the label. It’s sparkling water! The Ritz remembered the guest is pregnant!

Exceptional, Great, Outstanding, Remarkable, Extraordinary, and Incomparable service at its best! This type of exceptional service is why organizations like the Ritz Carlton thrive through the current economic climate.

Following are some tips to help create exceptional service….the type that keeps your guests loyal and committed to your organization.

Service Tips

1. Create a paradigm shift in service philosophy. Transform from mediocre to exceptional!
2. Talk with your service team and provide exceptional service standards. If you don’t have

them, create, and communicate them now.
3. Be passionate about serving your guest.
4. “Inspect what you expect” to insure your standards are being upheld.
5. Hold your service team accountable, and do not compromise on exceptional service

standards levels.
6. Anticipate your guest’s needs and expectations and give them a service experience they

will go away talking about in positive terms!

Many service workers think there is little reason to offer more than mediocre service. They know the guest tends to accept less than deserved, almost as if the guest has been conditioned and accustomed to bad service.

What would happen if every guest demands exceptional service? No tip unless exceptional service is given…I’d wager the service levels would rise. What if you only hired and retained staff who exhibited exceptional guest service? You’d likely see more tables and rooms filled, and more products purchased!

Don’t commit the sin of mediocrity, and remember that being good isn’t good enough. Good is the enemy of Great. It doesn’t take more effort to give exceptional service over mediocre service, yet the rewards are so much greater!

Jan M. Smith is the Founder and Principal of Inland Management Group, a Human Resource Consultancy located in Temecula, specializing in the Hospitality and Entertainment industry. You can contact Jan at (951) 302-6483, www.inlandmgtgroup.com, or email at jsmith@inlandmgtgroup.com.

Guest Experiences Gone Awry, What's Your Service Recovery Strategy?

2009-07-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

Jan M. Smith
Inland Management Group

Have you ever thought to be thankful for guest service experiences gone awry? A less than perfect guest experience can be an opportunity for excellence. If you embrace your guest’s candidness, raw emotion, and pure honesty, you can actually learn enough to ensure the situation doesn’t happen again. You should be rejoicing the guest is actually communicating the problem with you!

Here’s why:
96% of your guests do not complain to anyone who can help them.
95% of your guests will return if they feel their complaint was resolved quickly.
90% of your guests with unresolved complaints will never return.
(White House Office of Consumer Affairs)
Social Media sites like Twitter, FaceBook, My Space and blogs capture the immediate pleasure or displeasure of the guest’s experience. Often time, the guest is communicating their experience through social media avenues even before they leave your company!

Service Tips

Practice service recovery strategies with your employees to ensure they are ready and empowered to handle a guest service issue.

Tip 1: Acknowledge that the guest has been inconvenienced and apologize for it.
Don’t be defensive, and don’t shift the blame to the guest or fellow employee.
Often times just a simple genuine apology will help neutralize the situation.
“I’m sorry about your experience today. Let me see how I can make this better for you.”

Tip 2: Listen and empathize with the guest.
Listen carefully, and let the guest explain their point of view. Let them vent their frustrations.
Stay calm as the guest verbalizes their issue. It is important for the guest to be heard. Somewhere along the line their expectation of what they wanted, and the reality of what they received, did not sync, and it’s your job to show genuine care during the complaint.
Try to understand the guest’s perspective of the situation.

Tip #3: Step up to the plate and take care of the problem.
Personally take care of the issue. Don’t push it off on someone else.
The guest wants to feel that you have the ability to handle the problem, without having to escalate it to another level of company hierarchy.
Resolve to fix the problem in a timely fashion.

Tip #4: Offer some value-added compensation for the inconvenience.
Offer a token of goodwill, or something that symbolizes you are sorry for the service breakdown.
Empower front line service workers to appropriately compensate the guest for their inconvenience in a service breakdown situation.
True empowerment is about giving employees the freedom to act both creatively and responsibly to meet service recovery needs.

A colleague of mine, who I’ll call Kay, recently shared a story of visiting a local restaurant. Kay ordered a beef brisket sandwich and was instead served pork. She informed the server of the mistake, and the meal was removed. The server promptly returned with the same meal, stating the chef has checked it, and said it was the right order. Kay asked to speak with the chef, and in their tableside conversation, the chef debated about the order, and insisted it was right. With more insistence, Kay convinced the chef that there was a mistake. The chef went back to the kitchen and then returned, stating there was an apparent switch in the meat trays and Kay’s assessment was correct. The right meal was offered, but declined because the situation took too long to resolve. There was a slight apology by the server, but other than that, no other offer of service recovery.

What was the outcome of this guest experience gone awry? This restaurant is off my colleague’s list of places to patronize, however, she is more than willing to share her experience with anyone who will listen, including the social media blogs. This could have been an easy resolve, but no one at this restaurant thought to implement a service recovery for the situation.

All service recovery begins with the expectation of fairness from the guest’s perspective. Nine times out of ten, the guest is only looking for a reasonable resolution to the problem. Consider service recovery an opportunity to keep guests satisfied after the worst happens.

Remarkable service recovery means handling the service breakdown in a way that makes the guest even more devoted to your establishment after the issue has been properly resolved. Consider service gone awry an opportunity for excellence!

Jan M. Smith is the Founder and Principal of Inland Management Group, a Human Resource Consultancy located in Temecula, specializing in the Hospitality and Entertainment industry. You can contact Jan at (951) 302-6483, http://www.inlandmgtgroup.com/, or email at jsmith@inlandmgtgroup.com.

THE POWER OF A SMILE

2009-07-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

An estimated 1 billion people watched the recent Michael Jackson memorial. His brother Jermaine sang a compelling version of the well-known Charlie Chaplin song, “Smile”, which clearly, through the song’s title and lyrics, portrays a message of the absolute and defined power of a smile.

The business application of a smile can relate to front line employees and their potential impact with your customer. While most hospitality managers know the importance of first impressions, unfortunately, not all front line employees seriously consider this impact. Yet the truth is, the general consumer prefers to do business with friendly, open, accommodating, welcoming, and most importantly, smiling employees.

Previous experience working for The Walt Disney Company helped me to understand how all customer service positions work best when the employee understands they are “on-stage” when they are in front of the customer. Disney employees realize very quickly that regardless of how they are feeling, they must put all of their personal issues aside and get into “character”, appropriately representing the company with exceptional customer service. It’s not always easy to smile when you don’t feel like it…it’s just necessary, even critical, for a successful first impression of your company.

A smile can be seen as an invitation or a barrier. Greeted with a smile, you are being welcomed, greeted with a grin or scowl; you are being held at an arm’s distance.

What does your front line employee look like? Have you ever observed from the sidelines what type of greeting your customer first encounters? If you haven’t had the chance to do this, it’s a good time to think about this type of observation. The economy today dictates exceptional customer service in order to stay competitive and keep your customers loyal and engaged. If your front line employees do not connect to your customer (and this generally can be accomplished by greeting them with a smile), the potential sale may only be a one-time deal, or worse, no deal at all.

Consider observing potential candidates for your company. During the interview, take special note if they are smiling. If they aren’t during the interview, chances are they will not smile as a customer walks through your company’s door.

Hospitality managers should insist that all front line employees “wear” a smile. Remember, this simple gesture invites a relationship with the customer. Encourage this behavior with your employees. Create visual reminders to your employees such as something recently noticed at a local business. A small laminated card attached to the outside of a cash register, perfectly situated for both the employee and customer to see. It read:

JULY SERVICE TIP

A company’s front line employee often tells the customer exactly how they are feeling, by means of their non-verbal communication. What should be observed is something that reflects enthusiasm and appreciation that the customer has stepped in your front door.

The employee’s facial and body language should show excitement for the service, product or value your company has to offer. How can you expect a customer to shell out their hard earned (and closely kept) dollars if they are not connected through your front line service worker?

Consider observing your front line employees in an anonymous way; perhaps even contemplate using a shopping service to do this for you. Shopping services are used for a variety of reasons, including benchmarking service delivery levels prior to a training initiative. Additional information gained from a shopping service can help your company optimize operations, improve human resource management, develop and enhance brand image, and most importantly improve the customer experience.

When selecting a shopping service, be sure to:
• Carefully research the background and references of the shopping service.
• Ask to see sample reports and client/reference list.
• Speak with like-industry references and ask them what they found useful (and not useful) with the shopping service. Were they happy and confident with the service?
• Ensure the service understands your business processes well enough to critique your processes.
• Set the criteria to be observed and ensure the service watches for the initial first encounter they have with the employee…were they smiling?

I can see why Michael Jackson’s favorite song was ‘Smile.” The lyrics, “Smile though your heart is aching, smile even though it’s breaking…. Light up your face with gladness, Hide every trace of sadness…” are encouraging and necessary for all front line employees.

Remember, front line employees are continually “on-stage”, providing the most exceptional service necessary to retain your customers.

Jan M. Smith is the Founder and Principal of Inland Management Group, a Human Resource Consultancy located in Temecula, specializing in the Hospitality and Entertainment industry. You can contact Jan at (951) 302-6483, www.inlandmgtgroup.com, or email at jsmith@inlandmgtgroup.com.