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Four Zones Of Career Search

January 29, 2014 by voiceofthebox

Matt Crevin, Founder of Voice of the Box says there are four zones, or development stages, in the evolution of a career search. Here they are, along with his advice for how to progress through each.

 Zone 1: The focus is on yourself – because you’re terrified! You’re worried about how you look in an interview, whether you’re dressed OK, and whether the interviewer likes you. “If you’re in Zone 1, there’s no shame in that,” Crevin says. “You’re in there trying to overcome your fears, so good for you!” Matt’s tip: Think about normal conversations you have every day and how you handle typical questions in an informal setting.  If you relax, don’t over think anything and be yourself, the results will follow. Maybe even practice basic mock interviews so you’re in the most comfortable situation possible as you enter the live interview.

Zone 2: The focus is on your content. You’re self-confident about how you look and your ability to answer questions, and you know that content is king, (offering solid answers to interview questions) so you’re simply going to tell the hiring manager what you think (opposed to what you think they want to hear).  In Zone 2, the job candidate knows his or her material and delivers it through carefully constructed talking points, usually while seated across from the manager.  There’s no effort to engage the manager or to tell them how and why you can bring value to their company. Matt’s tip:Give real examples of the value you bring, be authentic and conversational, not overly rehearsed.  Don’t try to provide just the “perfect” answer but speak from your gut on how and why you would make a difference to the company if you were in the role.  In normal conversation, we communicate through our movements, facial expressions, even eye contact.  This body language will also enhance your interviews, so work on adding it to your delivery. It will also help communicate your desire to share something of value – people don’t care what you know until they know that you care.

Zone 3: The focus is on providing something of value. The job candidate is fully confident and knows his or her interview strategy as well as the companies true needs inside out. He or she frames it as something the manager could find beneficial and around solving some the current needs (additional sales, experienced customer service, project management, etc)  “People will often leave a Zone 3 stage saying, ‘I really enjoyed meeting you, thank you for your time” Crevin says. “But they don’t leave the hiring manager with the inspiration or knowledge that they are the right candidate that can be a problem solver.” Matt’s tip: Engage the hiring manager by asking questions about what they hope to leave the interview with. Do they want to learn just about your background?  How about leave them with how your background, experience, skill sets and personality can mesh nicely with their existing team and that you are ready to deliver results. By understanding the companies’ goals, you can create a conversation during your interview that helps them achieve what they really are looking for.

Zone 4: The focus is on developing rapport with the hiring manager and internal contacts.  Most candidates know that they must do something in the first 90 to 120 seconds to engage the interviewer. Asking open-ended questions is one tool; telling the brief story of how you were drawn to the current opening is another. You can quickly scan the office you are in to find a topic to use as an icebreaker.  (I see you like to fish, I’m curious, what’s been your favorite location to fish?) Observe the manager and look for signals on how far to take this light approach to banter.  Most important in my mind is leaving with the knowledge of what the interviewer is looking for in a successful hire.  (Simply ask in the process what he/she is looking for and at the end of the interview rephrase it and position that towards your background and skill set with what you now know will most satisfy them. “People in Zone 4 have arrived, usually through practice and having had interviews before,” Crevin says. “They know the do’s and don’ts. They will keep the interview as real and conversational as possible.  They understand the managers true needs and do the best possible job of mapping the companies’ needs to their core skill set and practical experiences.  Lastly, the candidate will take a multi-dimensional approach to addressing how their background is a fit, the value they bring that will ultimately resolve the true needs of why they are hiring in the first place.  Anyone can tell a hiring manager about their background, previous results, awards, (the Who they are, what they do, etc)…few can tell a manager, in a compelling way, why they are a good fit for the role and why they are good at what they do.

A career search process, like anything else, is a “progression of expertise,” Crevin says. So no matter which zone you fall into, with practice and help from a career coach with experience, you can improve.

For more: contact Matt Crevin at matt@voiceofthebox.comm

Filed Under: Matt's Blog Tagged With: career coaching, Matt Crevin, voice of the box, work in sports

Almost 60 Days Until New Years Resolutions

October 30, 2013 by voiceofthebox

When was the last time you invested some quality time (even a small amount) towards your professional or career development? Imagine how valuable it would be to have a game plan for your career search.  A strategy in place to help you stay focused and moving forward opposed to all over the place and getting overwhelmed.

Having a career search strategy as well as a process in place is truly the key. Having a piece of mind that not only do you have a roadmap but methods on how to execute that plan.  That’s exactly what happens when you work with Voice of the Box.

If you’re considering investing some time into your career search and professional development, please do two things:

1. Send an e-mail to: matt@voiceofthebox.comm

2. Find a 10-minute time slot for a call to learn more about how we can help.

Also, below are a few testimonials of folks who have worked with Voice of the Box:

Dear Matt, 

Thanks for doing the webinar yesterday. It was extremely insightful. We actually met briefly last year when you came to speak to the Sports Business Association at Arizona State University. I really enjoyed hearing you speak on both occasions.  I am extremely excited to begin what I hope to be a long and successful career in the sports industry.  Thank you again for taking the time to inspire people and for believing in a new generation of aspiring sports professionals. 

— – – – – – –

“When I first met Matt I was a college student looking to get into the sports industry. He was instrumental in helping me understand the value of networking, and helped me build a network of my own with other sports professionals. Now that I work in the sports industry full-time, I can fully appreciate the lessons he shared and realize the positive impact he had on my career.”

————-

I truly feel your coaching sessions were the catalyst in landing a position with a NFL Franchise. I appreciate all you have helped me with advice wise and networking wise.

 

I hope to work with you to get you “in the game.”

Matt

Founder- Voice of the Box, LLC

 

Filed Under: Matt's Blog Tagged With: career coaching, Matt Crevin, sports industry, sports jobs, voice of the box, work in sports

Happy Spring from Voice of the Box

May 2, 2013 by voiceofthebox

Spring has arrived! This is the time of year we often find ourselves cleaning out our closets, making room for new opportunities, and asking ourselves how to refresh our lives and perspectives. We at Voice of the Box truly enjoy helping people alter their careers and start anew. Coaching our clients to success is our commitment.

In the spirit of Spring time cleaning and starting anew we wanted to share how we can help you enhance and bolster your career search process.

First, and most important,  it starts with having a strategy…nothing can happen unless you have a solid plan in place and that is where we start with all our coaching clients.  We help you create a game plan that you can go out and execute.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO BREAK INTO A CAREER IN SPORTS…

All it takes is 3 things:

1) Proven strategies,

2) Dedication

3) And a little personal attention from someone who has already gotten the results you’re after.

I’m here to help you “Get in the Game.”

Matt

Founder of Voice of the Box, LLC

Filed Under: Matt's Blog Tagged With: career coaching, Matt Crevin, sports careers, sports industry, sports media, voice of the box, work in sports

Game Plan For Success

April 9, 2013 by Matt Crevin

The new book by Career Coach Matt Crevin – Get In The Game – is on sale now! Buy it here.

As is the case with most endeavors, there is rarely one magic bullet, one piece of advice or one thing to share in terms of what would help others break into the sports industry. For the most part it is a series of events that must take place and an action plan put in place (and implemented) that will help secure the job of anyone’s dreams.

There is so much that goes into an effective career search for any dream job that is very tough to narrow it down to one suggestion.  Here is what I would suggest to anyone:

It is one answer broken down into several parts

Have a game plan:

Successful teams as well as businesses have strategies in place to achieve goals, in both the short and the long-term. Job searching and networking is no different.

  • Combine your passion with a specific technical aptitude to find your niche.
  • Make sure you position yourself and your message to the specific market(s) you are going after.
  • Surround yourself with people you can learn from and be available to return the favor in the years ahead.
  • Continually build an industry specific network and leverage your network effectively to eventually have your own “advisory board” that you can rely on and utilize for years to come.

A big key is to be seen. Like successful marketing plans and branding strategies there needs to be a differentiation aspect to you as a person and a professional. What is it that seperates YOU from EVERYONE else??? A skill, a degree, an experience? Whatever it is, it must be not only improved on daily, but also perfected.

If you really pushed me to provide one thing that would ensure anyone to have a successful career search…BE AUTHENTIC

What does that mean?

It means to go about your career search with passion, integrity and professionalism but first and foremost be yourself and let that be your guiding principle. Too many people try too hard to be someone they are not and get caught eventually.

Why not show your true colors and be genuine right from the start. It will help you differentiate yourself and also it will set realistic expectations because at the end of the day, people hire people.  Sure you need all the traditional information to support your case (resume, cover letter, (positioning statement) but when given the opportunity to meet/interview with someone, be authentic!

The new book by Career Coach Matt Crevin – Get In The Game – is on sale now! Buy it here.

Filed Under: Matt's Blog Tagged With: career coaching, careers, Matt Crevin, sports careers, sports jobs, sports management, sports marketing, voice of the box, work in sports

How To Win In Your Job Interview

March 12, 2013 by Matt Crevin

Whether I am on college campuses or talking on the phone with coaching clients, I’m asked for advice on how to break into the sports industry all the time. I really enjoy when some little bit of advice really resonates for someone and makes a difference in his or her search –

The consistently best bit of advice I offer, that has come back to me time and again, is this:

When it gets to that part of the live interview with your future boss where they ask, “well, do you have any questions for me?”, say yes, and ask:

“How do I help YOU get a great review next year?”

This bit of advice has helped more people in more interviews than any other bit of advice I’ve shared over the years.

Why?

Well, the interview process lends itself to self-absorption. We spend so much of the time talking about ourselves that we forget that we sound like one of those people who only talks about themselves.

People typically ask all sorts of questions about the job and reporting structure and how it fits in with the company’s five-year plan and so on. We get so obsessed with the details of the job that we forget about the work.

Working together and being a good addition to the team means being concerned with how you are making the team successful. And that means being concerned with how much you are helping to make your boss successful.

Asking this question shows that you have empathy. It shows that you have an interest in your boss’ career and future success. It shows that you are not just a self-absorbed “what’s-in-it-for-me” kind of person. And it shows that you know you are there to “give” as much as you are there to “get”.

The “get a great review” question is an easy tip to implement in your job search: it’s easy to do, easy to understand, and it’s easy to measure.

And that makes it my best bit of career advice ever.

Are you ready to get in the game?

The new book by Career Coach Matt Crevin – Get In The Game – is on sale now! Buy it here.

Filed Under: Matt's Blog Tagged With: job interviews, Matt Crevin, sports careers, sports jobs, voice of the box, work in sports

Meet Marco Cerino

February 27, 2013 by Matt Crevin

This week on Beyond The Game our Sports Insider Series features Marco Cerino, Sales Representative for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Marco begin his career launching a sports network at the University of Penn which helped open a role with Comcast.  Afterwards, Marco  moved to the Federal Hockey League as a part of the player personnel, and then moved into a larger League with the Cape Cod Blue Fins. Eventually Marco scored an interview with the Philadelphia Eagles organization joining the sales department selling premium seat ticket packages.

Beyond The Game is a weekly sports talk broadcast that can be heard online or various outlets across North America.  Join us each Tuesday night at 9PM EST and go BEYOND THE GAME!  Listener Call In Lines:  (866) 417-4359 or (646) 716-8609.

[button link=”http://www.spreaker.com/show/beyond_the_game_sports_talk” newwindow=”yes”] Podcast[/button]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: marco cerino, Matt Crevin, sports insiders, voice of the box, work in sports

Informational Interviews

February 4, 2013 by Matt Crevin

HOW THEY CAN BE A BIG PART OF YOUR STRATEGY

An informational interview is not a job interview.  Therefore, your expectations should be genuine and your objective should be to gain insights and information into the profession, not to be offered a job.  Since you scheduled the meeting, you will want to be prepared to conduct the meeting and have a set of questions to ask. You will want to bring a copy of your resume and be prepared to share it with them if they ask. Do not provide them with a resume if they do not ask for one.  Arrive early, dress professionally, and be prepared.

Format

As you enter the meeting, you will want to do your best to stay on track:

Introduction – Introduce yourself and graciously thank them for meeting you. Some small talk might be appropriate to break the ice.

Tell Them Why You Wanted To See Them – Be honest and let them know that you want to know more about the industry and their role (as well as periphery roles they may be familiar with).  Everyone likes to talk about themselves and this a good chance to ask some good open ended questions about how they started in the sports industry and what steps, series of events and actions they took to get to where they are now.

Tell Them About Yourself – This is a chance to mildly sell yourself by sharing your story (your Positioning statement).  Be mindful of the 4 C’s of communication at this stage:

Be CLEAR

Be CONFIDENT

Be CONCISE

Have a CALL TO ACTION

Ask Questions – Make sure you are prepared for your meeting and that you have a list of questions to ask.  Have a pen and paper, and take good notes.

Ask For Referrals – Because he/she has met with you, you have now earned the right to ask your new contact if they are open to connecting you with any appropriate contacts of theirs.  As he or she provides you with names, ask them if you can mention their name as the one who recommended that you contact them.

Thank Them – Being careful not to abuse their time, graciously thank them for their time, and ask if they would mind if you stayed in touch with them.  (a nice CALL TO ACTION)

Follow-up – Send a thank you letter to them and personalize it from the notes you took at the meeting.  Continue to stay in contact with them (even a short note) every three to four months.

The insight you can gain from these meetings can been invaluable, and can yield great results from proper follow-up after the meetings.  Start the process of being an active networker within the profession.   Remember, ultimately the job will go to the candidate who is prepared and who effectively executes the basics of the job interview process. In all you do, you will want to EXECUTE FOR SUCCESS!

The new book by Career Coach Matt Crevin – Get In The Game – is on sale now! Buy it here.

Filed Under: Matt's Blog Tagged With: career coaching, career search, career services, get in the game, job interviews, Matt Crevin, sports jobs, voice of the box, work in sports, workinsports

Meet Jake Vernon

January 23, 2013 by Matt Crevin

This week on Beyond The Game our Sports Insider Series features Jake Vernon, President of Get Real Sport Sales.

Jake started his own company; Get Real Sport Sales after beginning his career with a minor league baseball team, then with the Indiana Pacers.  Jake made his mark with a 12 year stint as the VP of Ticket Sales for the Pacers. Get Real Sport Sales specializes in providing professional and collegiate sports teams with an experienced and highly trained sales staff.

Beyond The Game is a weekly sports talk broadcast that can be heard online or various outlets across North America.  Join us each Tuesday night at 9PM EST and go BEYOND THE GAME!  Listener Call In Lines:  (866) 417-4359 or (646) 716-8609.

[button link=”http://www.spreaker.com/show/beyond_the_game_sports_talk” newwindow=”yes”] Podcast[/button]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: beyond the game, get real sport sales, jake vernon, Matt Crevin, voice of the box

Use Your Resources

January 17, 2013 by Matt Crevin

As we move into 2013, many of us are looking for work or for new employment opportunities.  This time of year leaves brings feelings of renewed energy and motivation to better our lives and increase the heat in job searching and other pursuits.  That being said, I thought it would be a good time to pass on a few things I have learned from my own job search thus far.

Job search websites have become the number one way in which new jobs are listed.  Navigating these websites can be exhausting and tricky, but there are numerous databases specifically aimed at helping those looking for jobs in sports that are very easy to use.  One website I’ve found particularly useful is workinsports.com.  Creating an account on the website is free.  After selecting your desired sector of the sports industry (I chose Sports Management/Operations/Analyst) you can receive emails when jobs are posted in your field at your desired frequency.  I find this feature extremely convenient.

This is just one example of a useful job search website relative to finding a job or career in the sports industry.  Other useful databases for sports jobs include athletestobusiness.com, jobsinsports.com, and teamworkonline.com.  I’d recommend checking out all of the listed website to see as many job openings as possible.

When it comes to finding job openings in sports, USE YOUR RESOURCES.  Hopefully these sites will help, but make sure to have a good cover letter and résumé ready to send to these teams.  You can’t get a job in sports until you start submitting those applications!  Good luck, and until next time, take care!

Jacob Kemmerer

More on Jacob: The Journey Begins / Jacob Joins VOTB / @kemmerer11

Filed Under: VOTB Guests Tagged With: jacob kemmerer, sports jobs, voice of the box, work in sports

Meet Alicia Mora

January 16, 2013 by Matt Crevin

This week on Beyond The Game our Sports Insider Series features Alicia Mora, sports, brand & entertainment marketing specialist with Peter A. Mayer Advertising.

Alicia is a woman on a mission. Starting in LA on Behind The Music she worked her way through the business and found her way into the sports world as a producer for Beyond The Glory. After working a busy six years at Nike, Alicia landed as a Senior Project Manager for Peter Mayer in New Orleans.

Beyond The Game is a weekly sports talk broadcast that can be heard online or various outlets across North America.  Join us each Tuesday night at 9PM EST and go BEYOND THE GAME!  Listener Call In Lines:  (866) 417-4359 or (646) 716-8609.

[button link=”http://www.spreaker.com/show/beyond_the_game_sports_talk” newwindow=”yes”] Podcast[/button]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: alicia mora, Matt Crevin, peter a. mayer, peter mayer advertising, sports insiders, voice of the box

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