Latinos@Work

Job Search Questions Latinos Can Ask About Potential Employers

 

Do you want to increase your chances of landing an interview and securing a job offer with a company that is committed to the success of Latino employees? 

When conducting your research on a potential employer there are additional questions that Latinos can ask of company representatives at a diversity career fair, Latino contacts at the company, the corporation's in-house Hispanic Employee Resource Group, Hispanic professional associations or other knowledgeable members of your network. These sources are often open to providing the critical information you need to achieve success in your job search. 

Assessing the Company Culture 

Your basic questions are "What makes your company an employer of choice for Latinos?" and "What do Latinos need to know about your company to determine if it is the right fit for them?" 

It is often best to ask some personal questions to start a dialog such as:

• What do you enjoy most about working for the company?
• Why did you apply for a job with the company?
• Why have you continued your employment with the company?
• What do you see for your future with the company?  

You may need to ask follow-up questions including: 

• What is the work environment for Latinos?
• How many Latinos are in the company, at what levels, and specifically work in the department that you are applying for?
• What characteristics do successful Latinos in this company seem to share?
• What support systems does your company have for new Latino employees (orientation, onboarding, training, mentors)?  
• What support systems does your company have for the retention, development and advancement of Latino employees (professional development, educational benefits, special assignments/rotations, career tracks, mentors, employee networks)?
• What is the retention rate of Latinos vs. others in the position for which I am interviewing?
  Identifying Company Access Contacts / Strategy
• Your basic question is "What are the best strategies for Latinos to get their résumé reviewed by the right people and secure an interview in your company?"

 Some sample follow-up questions are:

• Who can I contact in your company to get my résumé reviewed and secure an interview (such as actual hiring official, Division Manager, Latino/Diversity Recruiters, Chief Diversity Officer, Latino Managers or employee groups)?
• What is the best way to initiate contact and follow-up with these individuals?
• Can I use your name as the person who suggested I communicate with these contacts?
• Preparing for the Interview
• Your basic question is "What do I need to know about your interview process to be selected for employment?"

You may need to ask follow-up questions such as:

• What types of interview formats are used for the position I am applying for (individual, panel, sequential, behavioral, case)?
• What characteristics are the interviewers looking for in a candidate for this position?
• What do the interviewers look for from Latino candidates?
• How do you assess Spanish speaking and writing proficiency?
• Should I bring my career portfolio to the interview and what should it contain?
• Do you have other recommendations for preparing for the interview?

It is up to you to determine whether a particular employer is aligned with your core values, beliefs and career goals. Performing your due diligence on the corporate culture and selection process of potential employers can help you find a great career match.

 

¡BUENA SUERTE!

 

Posted by Murray A. Mann and Rose Mary Bombela-Tobias

Principals, Global Diversity Solutions Group LLC and MulticulturalResumes.com

Authors, Barron’s The Complete Job Search Guide for Latinos 

Leverage Hispanic/Latino Professional Associations in Your Job Search and Career Management

 

Hispanic/Latino professional associations can play a pivotal role in maximizing career opportunities for Latinos. Many organizations sponsor career centers, job postings, career fairs, professional development, mentoring, networking, professional and student chapters, scholarships, research, advocacy, profession related resources, benefits programs, and social functions. The groups often maintain strategic partnerships with employers that hire from their member's specialized career fields.

A few national organizations, like the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE), serve Latino professionals and students from all industries and often joint venture programs with other Hispanic professional groups.  

 Below is a sample list of industry-specific professional associations and some steps you can take to maximize the organizations' resources:

• Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA)
• Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA)
• Latinos in Social Media (LATISM)
• National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives, Inc. (NAHFE)
• National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN)
• National Association of Puerto Rican and Hispanic Social Workers (NAPRHSW)
• National Hispanic Sales Network (NHSN)
• National Latino Police Officers Association (NLPOA)
• National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA)
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

A comprehensive list of Latino professional associations with background summaries, service listings and contact information will be added to the Latinos@Work blog.

Action Steps

• Review the organization’s website thoroughly for services and member benefits.
• Identify a chapter in your local area.
• Sign up for the group’s electronic newsletters, eList and mailing list (check privacy policies).
• Search current job postings and check out companies that support the association.
• Submit your resume to the organization’s resume database or job matching system. (Check privacy policies)
• Establish a networking relationship with appropriate staff contacts and members. Use the associations networking tools to initiate contacts with members.
• Participate in the organization’s message boards, forums and blogs for information gathering and networking.
• Attend onsite or online organization events, professional development activities and career fairs/conferences.
• Identify mentorships, student chapters, scholarships, and internships.
• Volunteer if you can.

 ¡BUENA SUERTE!

 

Posted by Murray A. Mann and Rose Mary Bombela-Tobias

Principals, Global Diversity Solutions Group LLC and MulticulturalResumes.com

Authors, Barron’s The Complete Job Search Guide for Latinos 

 

Maximize Your Culture and Language Skills in Your Job Interview

 

In our turbulent economy, U.S. companies are aggressively seeking competitive advantages in the increasingly diverse local and global marketplaces. It is a matter of not only growth, but for many, survival. These companies are not likely to be successful unless they understand the cultures and languages of their customers and employees. Multicultural experiences and/or language skills are very critical business assets employers are seeking in order to thrive in this new business landscape.

How can you communicate your multicultural experiences and/or language skills as an asset? Some of us, we must first embrace that these attributes are advantageous and worthy of consideration.

Therese Droste, a Washington D.C. based career columnist, suggests writing a list of the benefits you bring to the workplace. Below are few examples that have appeared on lists developed by clients and our readers: 

• My language skills will be used to resolve cultural or language conflicts or problems between customers and colleagues.
• Being multicultural or multilingual demonstrates I can adjust my style to different people and situations. 
• Being multicultural or multilingual indicates I have experienced looking at problems and opportunities from different perspectives.
• Being multicultural or multilingual indicates I think before I act.
• Being multicultural or multilingual means I know how it feels to be misunderstood, and I also know what it takes to reverse misunderstandings.
• My accent will be seen as an additional competence that helps me communicate better with colleagues and customers from diverse backgrounds.
• I understand leadership and creative solutions within the context of my diversity 

The next step is to take your list and match them with positive experiences in your life in which your multicultural background or multilingual abilities helped you resolve a problem or communicate better with another person. It’s similar to creating a life resume. Yet because so many of our life experiences become distant memories, you have to ponder the past, target such situations and write them down. Your multicultural assets must be presented in a manner that proves that you can help drive a company’s business goals.

Let’s say you’re asked in an interview how you would deal with a problem situation with a colleague or customer. You could preface your answer with: “Partly because I know how it feels to have the shoe on the other foot…” and then fill in the rest with a specific example of how your background helped you solve a similar problem. Simply put, you provide the employer with an example of how you used your experiences as a multicultural and / or multilingual person to solve a past business problem or show how your skills helped you in a previous job. We suggest you read Be the S.T.A.R. of Your Next Job Interview and use the article’s worksheet to prepare your answers.

Once you’ve identified and embraced the value your culture and language bring to the workplace, you will articulate them better and gain an employer’s confidence.

¡BUENA SUERTE!

 Posted by Murray A. Mann and Rose Mary Bombela-Tobias

Principals, Global Diversity Solutions Group LLC and MulticulturalResumes.com

Authors, Barron’s The Complete Job Search Guide for Latinos 

Be The S.T.A.R. of Your Next Job Interview or Performance Review - Article and Worksheet

For generations Latino families have passed on stories that teach us about our history, culture, values, and life-lessons. It is this powerful gift of story telling that our parents and abuelos bestowed on us that can make the difference in whether we succeed during our next job interview or performance review. 

Susan Whitcomb, author of Interview Magic and 30-Day Job Promotion, explains that employers are looking for candidates who can do the job, will do the job, and fit into the corporate culture, thus adding value to the company. Value can be woven into your responses to virtually every interview question via story telling. This is your opportunity to create your own chisme and land a job offer. 

Three methods of conveying value are: 

   1.  Linking your past successes and future solutions to employer’s needs.

   2.  Demonstrating a return on investment (ROI).

   3.  Emphasizing the benefits (instead of the features) of your qualifications.

Many employers prefer that you deliver your responses via behavioral or competency based interviews that asks you to outline the given problem or challenge, explain how you handled it, and describe the results of your actions. Try using the S.T.A.R. story technique – Situation, Task, Action, Results when answering these questions.

A S.T.A.R. story will allow you to craft your responses with a targeted beginning, a brief explanatory middle, and a strong ending that provides the interviewer with details that demonstrate what you can do for them. Using this format allows you to neatly link your response to employer’s behavioral or competency question and focus the conversation on how you can do the job.

S.T.A.R. stories should be concise and compelling as outlined below.

SITUATION: Define the situation or “set the stage”:

Example: I was assigned as an account manager to take over an underperforming sales territory – #92 out of 100 districts.

TASK: Identify the key objective / task performed:

Example: Our goal was to increase sales 20% and boost customer base 10%.

ACTION: Describe the action you took or initiated. This response should illustrate the specific skills you used in completing the task.

Example: I (my team or the team that I lead)

1. Conducted a market analysis and customer service survey;

2.  Identified untapped multicultural markets;

1. Developed a business plan that focused on value-added service, sales incentives, multicultural brand adoption and a referral bonus program to benefit customers;
2. Rolled out a 3-level marketing strategy to implement the plan.

 RESULT: Summarize the outcome.

 Our district ranking improved to #9 in the region within a year;

1. Store sales increased 37%; net profit margin per sale improved 7%; and  commercial customer base grew 18%.
2. My business plan was adapted for use by all account managers in the region.
3. Earned Account Manager of the Year Award.

We recommend that you prepare several S.T.A.R. stories to address various aspects of the position you are interviewing for. Your inventory of stories can represent everything from simple improvements to major achievements. They can represent individual successes or team contributions. In short, your S.T.A.R. stories will not only help you feel more confident and better prepared for interviews, but will improve your perceived value in the eyes of your potential and current employers. 

You can read out more about S.T.A.R. stories in Barron's Complete Job Search Guide for Latinos. Another great source is Katherine Hansen's, Tell Me About Yourself: Storytelling to Get Jobs and Propel Your Career.  Dr. Hansen demonstrates how storytelling is also the key to excelling in other job search activities, such as writing resumes and cover letters, networking, creating portfolios, and developing you personal brand. She takes the reader through the steps for executing each of these crucial tasks impressively and successfully. The book also focuses on on-the-job storytelling that enables you to capitalize on opportunities to advance.

Below is a S.T.A.R Story Worksheet to assist you in building powerful responses to job interview and performance evaluation questions.

¡BUENA SUERTE!

Posted by Murray A. Mann and Rose Mary Bombela-Tobias

Principals, Global Diversity Solutions Group LLC and MulticulturalResumes.com

Authors, Barron’s The Complete Job Search Guide for Latinos 

S.T.A.R. Story Worksheet

 S = Situation          T = Task           A = Actions you took            R = Results delivered

 SITUATION:

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

HISPANIC Résumé Checklist

In the post HISPANIC Résumés Generate Job Interviews, we discussed the how to craft your résumé to rise above your competition and be selected for consideration by an employer. Below is a checklist to guide you in this process.

• Is my résumé crafted to be read from the hiring official's perspective and does it address the employer's needs?
• Is my résumé focused on a specific job target or theme?
• Does my résumé contain a Professional Profile or Qualifications Summary that communicates my Personal Career Brand – who I am, what I can do, and the value I bring to an organization?
• Does my résumé contain keywords that highlight specific industry, job-target related, bilingual and/or bicultural skills?
• Does it include Latino-specific key words -- Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and 
Accounting (ALPFA),Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE), Latinos in Social Media (LATISM), National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA),  officer, member, volunteer . . .?
• Does my résumé emphasize my quantifiable / qualifiable accomplishments and skills?
• Does my résumé illustrate how I can handle the job? That I have positive work attitudes, solid interpersonal skills and a willingness to go above and beyond what is expected?
• Is my résumé inviting to read? Does the layout look professional? Is there adequate white space? Are the fonts readable? Is the résumé printed on quality paper?
• Does my résumé demonstrate soft and transferable skills such as verbal and written communication, organization, leadership, planning, aptitude for learning, adaptability, creativity, resourcefulness, problem solving and work ethic?
• Does my résumé include plenty of active verbs (managed, coordinated, planned, implemented, directed, initiated, conducted, completed, recommended, . . .)?
• Is my writing clear, action-oriented, and well organized?
• Are my claims believable, backed up by examples, and measurable results?
• Have I (and others) proofread my résumé for typos, grammar, consistent formatting, and readability?
• Does my résumé contain dedicated professional contact information including an job search only email address? Examples: Marisol.Sosa@isp.com (a different service such as gmail), JorgeDiaz_MBA@isp.com, Rosa@RosaMartinez.com
• Have I tested the plain text or ASCII version of my résumé to ensure its internet functionality?
• Will my résumé make it passed a 15 to 60 second initial screening?
• Will my résumé pass the recruiter or hiring official's detailed scrutiny?
• Does my résumé provide the framework for an exceptional interview?

 ¡BUENA SUERTE!

 Posted by Murray A. Mann and Rose Mary Bombela-Tobias

Principals, Global Diversity Solutions Group LLC and MulticulturalResumes.com

Authors, Barron’s The Complete Job Search Guide for Latinos 

HISPANIC Resumes Generate Job Interviews

 

HISPANIC résumés are persuasive career marketing tools that set you apart from the competition in today's tough job market.

HISPANIC résumés are dynamic and honest portraits of "Brand YOU." 

HISPANIC résumés are crafted to be read from the hiring official's perspective. Companies are seeking employees to satisfy some kind need: The need to be more competitive, expand business, make or save money, improve productivity, save time, attract or retain customers, build relationships, solve problems, and so on.  

Seven Key Factors of a HISPANIC Résumé:

High-impact summaries of measurable achievements: Your résumé should focus on contributions, core competencies, and skills, with emphasis on what you can accomplish and how you can contribute to the bottom line. 

Illustrate your capabilities: Examples of personal and work attributes -- like detail orientation, communication abilities, team working skills, and the ability to multitask -- should be added to the résumé in context to illustrate your competence and ability to contribute to the bottom line. 

Strategically aim toward your job target: Your résumé should demonstrate your ability to perform the job by focusing on relevant keyword skills and industry buzzwords. If you are seeking employment in more than one industry, or at more than one level, prepare different versions of your résumé. 

Professional in appearance: A good résumé should be eye appealing and have plenty of white space to invite readability and emphasize critical points. The format should also be well organized and designed in a style that is appropriate for the job target.  

Actively advocate and sell your candidacy: A Professional Profile or Qualifications Summary at the beginning of the résumé is crucial to advocating your candidacy and capturing readers' interest. It provides a quick overview of your experience and expertise, and establishes who you are, what you can do, and how you can benefit the organization. 

No errors: In résumé writing, attention to detail reflects your professionalism and commitment to excellence. To ensure accuracy, the résumé should be proofed several times (by yourself and others) for typos, correct grammar use, formatting consistency, and readability. Even one typo can doom your résumé to the recycling bin.  

Internet savvy and keyword loaded: The résumé processing systems used by the majority of employers search for keywords to determine whether you are a match for job vacancies. Without the proper keywords, your résumé will sit unnoticed in a company's database. To ensure that your résumé has the right keywords, research your job target to determine the most important hard skills, soft skills, work experience, and industry terminology for your field.  

Compelling and Inviting: If you do a good job of writing and formatting your résumé, stressing the right keywords and accomplishments -- and making readability a priority -- hiring officials are much more likely to see you as a "must interview".

Check out the HISPANIC Résumé Checklist in our next post.

¡BUENA SUERTE!

 

Posted by Murray A. Mann and Rose Mary Bombela-Tobias

Principals, Global Diversity Solutions Group LLC and MulticulturalResumes.com

Authors, Barron’s The Complete Job Search Guide for Latinos 

Seeking HR-Diversity-Career Management Professionals to Assist at 2011 National Society of Hispanic MBAs Career Expo - Career Management Center

The National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) is recruiting HR, diversity and career professionals to volunteer to critique résumés, conduct mock interviews and provide career coaching at the 2011 Annual Conference and Career Expo - Career Management Center. The event will be held from October 13th-15th at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
 

This year’s conference is expected to attract more than 8,000 attendees and over 250 corporate and academic exhibitors.

NSHMBA is known as one of the premier Hispanic organizations in the country and works to prepare Hispanics for leadership positions throughout the U.S so that they can provide the cultural awareness and sensitivity vital in the management of the nation’s diverse workforce.

Colleagues who have participated in previous national conferences have called this event one of the best volunteer opportunities they have experienced providing not only an opportunity to build pro bono hours but also to work with top talent at an exciting and vibrant event.

To learn more about the 2011 NSHMBA National Conference and Career Management Center, click on the following links:

http://www.nshmba.org/2011_conference/attendee and http://www.nshmba.org/2011_conference/career_management_center

You can volunteer directly online through our dedicated career expert registration system at: http://www.nshmba.org/conference/CMC-Volunteer. The system will allow you to secure your free registration, conference badge, benefits, set-up your volunteer schedule and identify your coaching preferences, including target audience.

CAREER MANAGEMENT CENTER HOURS / VOLUNTEER SLOTS

You may volunteer for hourly, half-day or full day slots for any of the following days:

• Thursday, October 13: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, October 14: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Saturday, October 15: 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 

VOLUNTEER BENEFITS
 

We want to make this experience a win-win for all our volunteers.  As part of this effort half and full-day volunteers will be provided with:

• Extended refreshments or Lunch
• Parking
• Entrance to the Career Expo
• Access to Professional Development Day workshops
• General receptions and networking events during all three days of the conference
 

Additional Volunteer Benefits

Volunteers with 12 or more hours will have access to invitation only sessions and events.

Career experts may prepare a one-page handout with résumé or career tips and business contact information for distribution.

CAREER MANAGEMENT CENTER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

You may volunteer for one or more of the following areas.

• Résumé Clinic: HR and career management experts will spend approximately 10 to 15 minutes critiquing a job seekers résumé.
 
• Mock Interview Clinic: Formal interviews are scheduled for 20 to 30 minutes. Interviewers will be provided with interview questions and critique form.
 
• Elevator Speech Clinic: Coaches will spend 5 -10 minutes assisting individuals with their introductions for networking, Career Expo booths and formal onsite interviews.
 
• Job Search Clinic: Coaches will spend approximately 15 to 20 minutes assisting participants on their specific job search needs.
 
• Career Management for Professionals and Executives: Coaches will spend approximately 20 to 30 minutes assisting working professionals on their specific career management needs.
• Entrepreneurial Coaching: Coaches will spend approximately 20-30 minutes assisting individuals who are preparing to start their own business or seeking assistance in growing their businesses.

The Center will also have a computer center for editing and reproducing résumés.

We will provide you with onsite instructions and resource material for each of the above services when you volunteer.

If you have any questions, contact Murray A. Mann or Rose Mary Bombela-Tobias at CareerCoach@nshmba.org and 312-404-3108.

On July 4th Declare Your Career Independence

 

Tu Eres El Arquitecto De Tu Propio Destino -

You Are The Architect Of Your Own Destiny

  

 

July 4 is a perfect time to declare your career independence. 

Yasmin Davidds, international best-selling author and empowerment  specialist, often expresses the following quotation in her presentations:

“Personal power comes from within and when you embrace it, you feel as though there is nothing in the world that you cannot handle. It helps you recognize that everything in your life is a choice, and it reinforces the truth that you have complete control over each and every one of those choices. While we may not have control over the events that occur in our lives, we have control over how we react to these events. You, alone, are in control of your destiny.”

How does this apply to your career? As we stated in our post, Tweve Characteristics of Latino Career Success:

• Trust that you are the most important person in your career.

• Embrace your personal power to fuel your career power.

• Activate your career power so you can be proactive in your job search, manage the process and to respond well, rather than react, to the events you cannot control.

 

                                ¡BUENA SUERTE!

 

Posted by Murray A. Mann and Rose Mary Bombela-Tobias

Principals, Global Diversity Solutions Group
Authors, Barron’s The Complete Job Search Guide for Latinos
Also at http://twitter.com/LatinosAtWork   

 

Remembering our Latino Heroes on Memorial Day

Millions of Latinos have served with distinction in the U.S. military, yet their significant contributions and sacrifices are relatively unknown. Their heroism helped forge this nation and preserved our freedom.

Latinos have received awards for valor and bravery far in excess to their proportion of the population. Forty-three Latinos have won our nation’s highest award, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Major initiatives are underway to ensure that the proud legacy of Latino military service be accurately preserved and woven into our national consciousness. We will continue this discussion in future posts.

 Below are two articles to begin our conversation.

A Tribute to the Forgotten Force by Jim Estrada

U.S. Latino Patriots: From the American Revolution to Afghanistan, An Overview by Refugio I. Rochin and Lionel Fernandez 

This Memorial Day, as we commemorate all U.S. men and women who have died in military service to this country let's be sure to remember the Latinos among them and thank them for their service.

 

Posted by Murray A. Mann and Rose Mary Bombela-Tobias

Principals, Global Diversity Solutions Group

Authors, Barron’s The Complete Job Search Guide for Latinos

Also at http://twitter.com/LatinosAtWork

Contact: murray@GlobalDiversitySolutions.com or rmb@GlobalDiversitySolutions.com

Twelve Characteristics of Latino Career Success

In the course of writing Barron's The Complete Job Search Guide for Latinos, we interviewed several successful Latinos from all walks of life and asked for opinions on a variety of topics, including the characteristics needed for success. We compiled their answers, added our own experiences, and created twelve factors for a successful career -- a career that successfully coexists with a fulfilled life, uses your talents and skills to their full potential, and maximizes your opportunities and growth.

 

 You are the Architect of Your Own Destiny                        Tu Eres El Arquitecto De Tu Propio Destino

• Life and career success can only be defined by you for you.
• Taking the time to develop your definition of success is essential to achieving career satisfaction.

 

The following are twelve characteristics you should master if you want to achieve career success:

 

Know Yourself

• Evaluate your interests, values, knowledge, skills, abilities, contributions, accomplishments, uniqueness and worthiness.
• Understand your cultural programming, if any, and how to transform those gifts into career assets.
• Embrace your attributes, family history and culture.
• Craft your combined attributes into a foundation to launch or grow your career.

 

Develop a Goal that Inspires You

• Develop a vision of what you want to accomplish in life and your career.
• Arouse your passion and desire to be successful at whatever you do.
• Allow your goals to be courageous to drive your career forward. Your objectives should not be self-limiting.
• Make sure your goals, no matter how large or small, contribute value to others.

 

Believe in Your Personal Power

• Trust that you are the most important person in your career.
• Embrace your personal power to fuel your career power.
• Activate your career power so you can be proactive in your job search, manage the process and to respond well, rather than react, to the events you cannot control.
• Learn to adapt and transform any self-limiting cultural programming into power centers.

 

Learn to Dance in Both Worlds

• Recognize that adapting to an employer's workplace culture is neither selling out nor changing your cultural identity.
• Build a cultural bridge that crosses from one environment to the other that we can walk on and help others to cross.
• Know your culture and share it gently.

 

Create Opportunities and be Prepared to Take Advantage of Them