WHERE ARE THEY NOW? JOSHUA HOLLAND MAKES HIS OWN PATH AS A DIGITAL STRATEGIST

Article Originally Published on COMMunity Building 

Joshua Holland graduated from the UW in 2009 with a degree in Communication and a minor in Diversity. During his undergraduate years, he was actively involved with Delta Lambda Phi and the United Greek Council. He also participated in an Exploration Seminar to Paris that was organized by the English Department. While there he researched and reported on the impacts of the city’s cultural sites on minority groups.

Here’s what he been doing since then and some advice to those soon-to-be graduating students:

What have you been up to since graduation? My career started at Nyhus Communications – a medium-sized public relations (PR) shop. While there I was a part of the agency’s creative services team where I focused on content strategy for the company, developing new media pitches and strategy for clients, and organizing special events. After a few months I was moved into the organization’s technology practice where I focused on traditional PR. Shortly after this transition I was laid off due to a lack of available work at the company.

During the downtime between Nyhus and my next employer, I traveled to Malaysia for 28 days. A majority of my time was spent in Kuala Lumpur – the country’s capital and home of thePetronas Twin Towers. During the trip I explored much of the city and met with a number of Malaysian businessmen to get a better understanding of the country’s business and culture. I also snuck in a fair amount of regional travel during my trip; I visited Malacca and Langkawi.

Following my trip I returned home and interviewed at Waggener Edstrom – a global PR firm which specializes in technology PR and is Microsoft’s agency of record. The interview was setup by a friend following a brief Twitter conversation we had about my job hunt. After the interview I was offered a position with the agency’s Developer Platform Evangelism team. I worked on a number of international events including TechEd Europe and Build 2012. Unfortunately after a few months I learned the world of high tech PR was not for me and missed my prior work with digital media and content strategy. At the end of 2012 I left the agency and started freelancing following the advice of a close friend/former boss.

I was a little unsure about my prospects during the beginning of my freelancing career but after some persistence and good networking I landed my first client, Citizen University – a civic engagement event held at Seattle Center. Following this initial win I hit a short streak and won business from Marx Foods – a specialty food shop in Lower Queen Anne, Tripcierge – a startup focused on trip planning, and Seattle Goodwill.  I’m currently looking for a full-time role.

In addition to my work life I’ve actively volunteered my time to a number of organizations over the years including the American Society for Public Administration, Delta Lambda Phi, and Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Seattle Career Jumpstart. I’m also an active networker and proponent of continuing education; you can often find me at local events or enrolled in some sort of class. In 2012 I participated in the Institute for Democratic Future, a political fellowship focused on learning the ins and outs of Washington State’s political system.

Describe your typical work day: In the summer of 2013 I began working extensively with Seattle Goodwill Industries as the organization’s temporary Digital Communications Coordinator. No day was ever the same. I worked closely with the Communication Manager to help distribute information about Seattle Goodwill to external audiences on our social media channels, managed web updates for seattlegoodwill.org, and created content for the blog and internal publications. Topics ranged daily as well. One day my team and I were focused on donations, another day we were working on retail collateral, and by the end of the week we may have worked on new internal programs for Seattle Goodwill employees.

How did you get the job you are doing now? After freelancing for almost a year in 2013 I reached out to Vitamin T – an international staffing agency, regarding a part-time position posted on LinkedIn. Following a series of interviews with Vitamin T and Seattle Goodwill, I started working part-time with the organization in the summer of 2013. My other contracts have been acquired through a mixture of networking and personal contacts.

Do you have any tips on finding a job for those still in school? Network. Job boards are a good start to any job search, but real success comes from creating a direct connection with people in the community and field you’re interested in working in. Shortly before graduating in June 2009, I utilized the Husky Career Network to reach out to UW alumni in the area and get advice about job hunting and general career tips.

This initial step helped me meet Anne Tillery, partner at Pyramid Communication. At the time her agency wasn’t hiring full-time for entry level positions but she offered to connect me with people in her network and helped me build out my basic network. To this day I still consider her one of my best mentors and a good friend. She also alerted me to the world of “secret job boards” and signed me up for the one she manages.

What is the single most important thing to do while in school to prepare for the real world? Intern. Real world experience will teach you so much about the field and help connect the dots between what you learn in class and practical application. It will also help you discover what type of work you want to do and the kind of work culture you fit best into.

Now that you’ve had some time to reflect on college, what advice had you wished you received while in school? Never stop learning and don’t be afraid to learn disciplines outside of the traditional scope of communication roles. The field of communication is always changing and employers are very eager to have someone on board who has a variety of skills in their wheel house. I skipped out on taking some of the UW’s free software classes and engaging with more technical concepts such as basic programing.

Where do you hope to be in five years? In five years I hope to have a master’s degree, be married to my fiancé, and working on issues related to urban planning.

Anything else you would like to add?

1) Never be afraid to ask someone to coffee, i.e. info interviews. As a new graduate info interviews are one of your most powerful resources during your job search.

2) Send thank you cards. A thank you card goes a long way in being remembered by a potential employer or business contact. Just remember, be sincere, short, and stay-in-touch.

3) Don’t be discouraged by missteps. Some of my best life experiences and learning moments have come from detouring from my “master” life plan.

Visit his website: http://www.joshuaholland.co/

Thinking Outside of Job Boards

There are many ways to obtain a job; searching job boards is just one of many solutions to consider. Networking is often the best strategy for finding a new position. The common adage, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” is becoming increasingly true in today’s competitive market. When considering candidates to hire, employers often reach out to their personal networks first and then resort to job boards if they are having difficulty filling the position.

While it may seem daunting, networking is easier than you think. To get started, take a moment and examine the personal relationships in your life. While often understated, we all wear a variety of hats which we interchange frequently depending on the situation. These roles include friend, club member, child, and neighbor to name just to name a few. Each role provides us with a different set of connections which can be used as a good starting point for networking.

After evaluating your own network you should meet with new people in order to expand your reach. A few good ways to do this include cold calling or emailing potential employers requesting an informational meeting to learn more about their organization or my personal favorite, networking events. Meetup,  Eventbrite, and community aggregated lists are great resources to find events matching your industry and interests.

Now that you've gotten over your initial fear of networking, it's time to dive in! When networking, it's important to keep a few basics in mind to ensure you leave new contacts with the right impression. 

When Meeting Someone for the First Time You Should:

• Look them directly in the eye
• Give a firm handshake - no "dead fish" or "test of strength! "Say your name slowly and confidently when introducing yourself
• Be friendly and smile often
• Ask for a business card after meeting for the first time. It will show your interest and provide a way for you to contact the person at the end of your encounter

Entering Conversations

• Wait for a natural break and then calmly introduce yourself to everyone in the group
• Establish eye contact with someone to  gain acknowledgment 
• Ease yourself slowly into new conversations

Leaving Conversations

• Wait for a natural break and then excuse yourself
• Two common lines to consider are "Thanks for your time. I'd like to catch-up more later. I'll shoot you a message via email/text" or "It was great speaking with you! I just saw someone I want to say hi to. I'll talk to you again later"

After a networking event pat yourself on the back. It's no small feat to put yourself out there and meet new people. Following your short celebration, it's time to make note of the people you met and reach out with any potential follow-up items. Also, be sure to add them on LinkedIn! 

[Photo courtesy of Flickr user CieraHolzenthal] 

Job Hunting Tips from Northwest HR Experts

While the Great Recession is quickly becoming a distant memory, a number of people are still caught up in its wake. Many still struggle to find balance and get back on their feet. Optimism is on the rebound however with new opportunities beginning to sprout up daily.

To help improve my own job hunting skills and get a better understanding of the market's conditions, I recently attended “Career Insights event: What Are Employers Looking for Today?” hosted by UW Professional & Continuing Education. The event was focused on empowering job seekers and equipping them with tools and advice to be successful in their job hunt. Below are a few key takeaways. 

Why Companies Hire?

From the hunting perspective this formula can often seem like rocket science but it’s actually a simple equation. It comes down to two key components.

1) Can the person do the job?

2) Is the candidate a cultural fit?

The first question is rather simple to answer; it’s about ticking off boxes related to the position. For example, if a job requires knowledge of Excel and HTML, you won't be considered for the role if you don't have these skills. In today's fast paced work environment employers are reluctant to hire employees who want to "learn on the job." Thanks to a plethora of traditional and online education options today, it’s expected that if you want a skill, you'll obtain and perfect it on your own.

The second question is a little harder to answer and is a bit more subjective. "Fit," as often termed by recruiters, is about how closely a candidate’s values align with the companies. “Values” is large bucket but usually contains issues such as work/life balance, source of professional satisfaction, and long term goals. These items aren't often apparent on the surface. Recruiters usually get these answers by asking candidates questions about “work preferences.” While there is not a check box per se. Eyes light up, stars align, and things just click when its present. In this regard, it's sort of like dating. If the spark is there, both the recruiter and candidate will know it.

Networking - Laying Tracks for Success

Ask a recruiter about job hunting tips and they’ll most likely share the golden rule, "Network." The web may have made the job application process easier but don't be fooled, hours spent in front of a computer submitting job applications is worth far less than a few minutes meeting a new or established contact to speak about your job hunting goals. A general rule of thumb to keep in mind during a full-time job hunt is to conduct 2 - 3 meetings a week. 

Networking is often misrepresented as people looking to quickly climb the career ladder without putting in "dues." While this is a definition you could use to describe the activity, I've found it’s a tad inaccurate; highlights the negative aspects of networking. When defined positively, networking is the act of meeting people (established or new contacts) in-person (ideal) or via communication tools - phone, video chat, or email (less ideal). These meetings should be focused on getting to know people you're generally interested in professionally. Think professional "blind date."

Discussion during the meeting can vary but it's best to bring questions to keep the conversation flowing. It’s also good to be prepared to talk about your professional goals and companies you'd like to work for. Many jobs are still found through  Six Degrees of Separation (arguably less thanks to social media). Your contact may not know someone but their friend's brother's coworker may be the executive assistant to the CEO of your dream company. Connections are hidden from direct view but easy to dig up when actively searching.

Show Me the Money!

Long held as a sacred topic to be excluded from dinner conversations and family gatherings, money is an inevitable topic during job hunting. Surprisingly during the event, the HR professionals laughed off the question and cited it as a minor component of the interview process.

"It's merely a data point," Anne-Marie Archer, CEO of Archer and Associates said. "We use the number to determine if you fit within the pay range we've established for the role." 

All the HR professionals at the event noted it’s important to exude confidence in your “ask” however. To get comfortable making the “ask” they recommended checking out government salary data or increasingly accurate tools such as Glassdoor or PayScale. This information will help you understand your market value.

After you’ve conducted research, they advised attendees to keep two numbers in mind. The first should be tied to how much money you NEED to pay your bills. While the second number should be ideal; it’s what you'd LIKE to make. The key difference being the first is tied to survival while the latter is more abstract and tied to increasing quality of life.

The compensation number is important for a variety of reasons but for the job hunter, it will later connect to job satisfaction and security. Ask for too little and you'll feel undervalued. Ask for too much and you may feel trapped without room to grow or leave because of fear of finding a similar salary elsewhere. There's no perfect formula but it’s important to do your research and understand your value.  

Finding Direction in Your Career

Often one of the most challenging aspects of career planning is determining direction. Unlike schooling which is affixed to a specific "rail," career paths have many spur lines and can take various turns. Determining the correct path can seem difficult, if not impossible at times but can be achieved with a bit of reflection. David Hardick, Director of Recruiting & HR at Context Relevant gave this advice for finding direction in your career and life in general.

"Often I ask clients to pause and review their life for guidance," David said. "Start in childhood and walk forward. What points do you notice the greatest feeling of joy and accomplishment? What moments created awkwardness or proved to be difficult? These moments will help you determine what your strengths are and where to focus." 

Surviving Unemployment

Easily one of the most difficult experiences for adults, unemployment can be challenging emotionally and mentally. It's not a situation to be entered into lightly; it has its own set of special challenges. When I entered the job market in the middle of 2009 during the end of the Great Recession, I quickly found myself confronted with this reality. While challenging, it’s possible to overcome the difficulties and come out stronger from the experience.

Below is some general advice shared by the HR professionals at the event relating to conducting a full-time job hunt.
"Network in the morning. Your energy will be higher than in the afternoon." "Act like your best days are ahead of you, not behind."
“Be an employer’s aspirin; present yourself as problem a solver.”
“Have four solid success stories you can talk about and adapt during an interview.”
“Quantify past job results.”
“Resume style is subjective; find one which works for you and make sure it has 0 errors.”

"It's not what you know but often who you know."

A family friend also shared an important tip I always keep in mind when job hunting.

"Unemployment is ultimately a game. There are a set of rules with a handful of financial parameters. It's up to you as a job seeker to determine how you spend your 'free time' - education, vacation, networking, job hunting, etc. You must keep in mind however that the clock will eventually run out; your job is to beat the clock. Find a job before you're mentally, physically, and financially exhausted. Life gets more difficult when the clock runs out." - Holland Family Friend  

Final Words

Kudos to UW Professional & Continuing Education for hosting “Career Insights event: What Are Employers Looking for Today?” The HR professionals provided a wealth of knowledge and tips on how job seekers can obtain work in the US' recovering economy. Be sure to check out its website for future events and educational opportunities. You can also relieve the event via the tweets I curated on Storify.

Job hunting is challenging but it's important to keep in mind it's possible to be successful when enough time and energy is devoted to the endeavor. I also can't stress this final point enough. After you land a job, #PayItForward! Help someone else. Pass on a job posting. Review a resume. Sit down for coffee with a stranger. The economy is a human invention. Don't let it lose its human connection.

[Photos courtesy of eriwst, cta_web, 401(K) 2013, tqhh, andjohan, and Kanu 101]

What Type Are You? Common Resume Formats

Despite being a rather standard document in the job hunting process, resumes come in a variety of different formats. To shed light on the subtle differences I’ve researched a few of the common types and provided a brief summary of each below.

Chronological Resume
Often thought of as the default style, the chronological resume lists your most recent experiences followed by the next most recent. This format is perfect for illustrating the evolution of your career. Recruiters prefer this style because it’s easy to read and gather information about applicants quickly. The chronological format isn’t for everyone however. It’s time bound layout can create difficulties for job seekers with lack of work experience and gaps in employment history. The chronological resume also is a poor choice for older workers because dates for education or employment can reveal age.

Example: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/927/03/ 

Functional Resume
If you’re a first-time job seeker, changing careers, or reentering the workforce, a functional resume might be a good fit. This resume style shines at highlighting specific skills over employment history. It also has the advantage of showcasing work experience which maybe important to a particular job posting. Functional resumes are great for in-person conversations such as networking or info interviews but are often received poorly by recruiters who have come to expect chronological resumes.

Example: https://www.k-state.edu/hr/funres.pdf

Combination Resume
For the bold and daring looking to shake things up, a combination resume might be a good fit. This type of resume presents skills and abilities gained from work in reverse chronological order. The format’s hybrid nature allows you to highlight specific skills while staying within a format recruiters are familiar with. If you use the combination style resume you have to carefully consider when to start your timeline. Going too far back could result in a document reaching two pages and possibly beyond.

Example: http://www.washington.edu/doit/Careers/comb_resume.html

Final Reminders
No matter what format you choose it’s important to target your resume for specific job postings. Employers frequently use software to manage job applications. Technology now allows them to scan through resumes quickly and search for keywords. If you don’t include the right terms or descriptions, your resume could end up in the recycling bin.

I’m currently using a version of the functional resume. Its versatility helps highlight my skill set. This resume format also allows me to easily customize it depending on the job post and is fantastic for info interviews. 

Copy of my resume for reference: http://joshuaholland.co/docs/joshuahollandresume.pdf 

For additional info about resume writing, checkout
http://www.wa.gov/esd/guides/resume/write/write_start.htm 
http://seakingwdc.emsicareercoach.com/resume/
http://careers.washington.edu/Alumni/Write-a-Resume-CV-or-Cover-Letter
http://www.law.seattleu.edu/careers/students/preparing-materials/resumes

[Photo Courtesy of woodleywonderworks]