Accelerate Your Search™ Now

Oftentimes, it is easier to listen to the voices of doubt and sit still than it is to have the courage to listen to your REAL call to action and move forward with faith, completing what you really need to do.

Everyone desires success and wants life to be easy.  Me too!   I would love it if I could just wait by the phone or my Inbox and clients would come flooding in.  However, without continuous and innovative marketing and networking, I don’t land the job — and neither will you.

You can’t just keep fussing with your résumé of filling out online applications and expect someone to call you.  Unfortunately, time is not on your side.  Being out of work for a period of time does impact your value in the market.

If you are ready to stop making excuses and be back to work soon, it is time to take action!

Where to start?

First, you must BELIEVE!  Believe that results will come as a result of your actions.  Have faith that you are enough.  By nurturing and believing in your vision you become a magnet for success and prosperity.

Next, feel CONFIDENT in your values, skills and the job you perform.  Be aware of your doubts and negative feelings or you may miss out on available opportunities.

Then you must ACT!

Begin by assessing your network.  Take inventory of the people you know.  Do you need to grow and nurture your current network?  As in any business, inventory is an asset and impacts your bottom line.

Create a plan to connect and stay connected.  Who knows you?  Who likes you?  Who trusts you?  What is the best way to connect?  How will you stay connected?

Execute your plan.  Who will you call this week?  Pick up the phone.  Connect with people.  If you don’t have opportunities for a job in your pipeline you need to expand your network.

At the end of the day, stop listening to your doubts, decide what results you want and take action to achieve it!

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.  If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

Happy Thanksgiving!

In the U.S., many are making plans for Thanksgiving Day!  May your celebration be special and include time for quiet reflection, gratitude for your blessings and simple moments of appreciation for all you have been given.

With Thanksgiving, the holiday season is officially underway.  It is a great time to expand your network and to Accelerate Your Search.  Holiday and family gatherings provide opportunities to connect and nurture relationships within your network.

Here are four tips to maximize each gathering during the holiday season:

1. Give.  Be prepared to give something to everyone you meet.  A smile, a kind word, a connection or your time — these are wonderful gifts.
2. Ask questions and listen.  Ask others questions about what they enjoy about the season or what exciting things are happening in their lives.  Listen carefully and ask follow-up questions.  Avoid offering helpful suggestions/ideas unless specifically asked.
3. Market yourself.  But, don’t beg for a job or oversell!  Be prepared to answer the question “What do you do?”  Avoid saying, “I am unemployed” or “I am looking for a job.”  Instead share what you do and how you add value.  Exchange business cards when appropriate and don’t forget to follow up.
4. Manners Matter. Take your manners and a positive attitude to each event. Be sure to thank the event host.  Yes — even Aunt Sally — your less than favorite person.  Show appreciation for the work and effort put into planning and hosting the event.  When appropriate,  prepare and deliver simple, unique and fun gifts to the host.

Go network, enjoy and have fun!  Avoid negative comments or conversations.  Be open to the opportunities before you and maintain an attitude of gratitude and appreciation.  Your upbeat attitude will prove contagious and you will expand your network and Accelerate Your Search.

Does your résumé set you apart and encourage your next boss to call you?  That’s great.  When your résumé is strong and communicates your unique value it serves as a key to open locked doors.  If your materials  are not helping you stand out in the sea of other résumés, you may not get the opportunity to interview for the position.

Today, more than ever, organizations are proactively looking for the skills and experience they seek.  Being reactive in your search is not the most effective marketing strategy.  I see hundreds of résumés each week and coach clients on the necessity of tailoring their résumé and message to your target audience.

Being focused on the position you want and clearly communicating your message to your target audience helps you stand out in a crowd of other qualified candidates.  Ensure your résumé is authentic and has clarity of purpose.   Show how you can help your future boss and organization achieve their goals.  These simple steps, overlooked by the majority of job seekers, help you “leap off the page.”

Action exercise:

1.  Write a brief job description of your ideal job.

2.  Then, just as if you are applying for the position, put your résumé and the job description side by side.  Highlight the needs and wants of the employer for your ideal job.

3.  Next, use the highlighter to highlight the keywords and information in your résumé that are applicable to the needs and wants of the employer.

Use this same exercise  before you react to a job posting.  Look for the unique ways you solve an employer’s problem or address the needs and wants expressed.  If your résumé is lacking,  fix it, or it may never seen by your future boss.

In the world of online sourcing and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems), résumés that don’t match slip into the darkness and are never seen again.

Tomorrow is Halloween in the USA.  Many youth will dress in costumes and go door to door seeking candy or healthy snacks.  As each door opens they say ‘Trick ‘or Treat’ hoping to receive a treat in lieu of having to perform a trick.  If you want your résumé to be treated to human eyes, tailor it to match the job you are seeking and add style  and be sure it stands out. 

Happy Halloween!  Check out my Halloween treat for you.

“Write injuries in sand, kindnesses in marble.” ~ French Proverb

The quote above was shared with me at a time I was stuck and having a hard time moving forward.  It provided me with the fresh perspective I needed.

Wind, rain and many other factors move sand around easily.   Think of a sandcastle at the beach.  One minute it adorns the landscape, then a wave comes in and it is gone.

In business, organizations make decisions for thousands of reasons and sometimes those decisions are poorly planned, communicated and executed.  The outcome of some of these decisions is dramatic and immediate and the outcome of other decisions may take months or years to be seen.

When an organization decides to reduce or layoff staff or change employee job functions,  people are deeply impacted.  For some professionals the end of a job is a powerful force that moves them forward at once to the next great adventure.  For others, the blow is dramatic, personal and stops them in their tracks.

It is not always easy to “move on.”  If you are asking, “Why did this happen?”  Sometimes you need to stop and do something different.

If a change in your career has you currently focused on the hurt, write the “hurt” in the  sand or build a sandcastle.  Then visualize a wave washing over the sand.

Now, ask yourself different questions in order to move on. 

Ask yourself:

What do I want to do next?

What am I afraid of doing?

What would happen if I did what I am most afraid of doing?

What would I do if I knew I could not fail?

What work would be fun or I would do without pay?

What am I most interested in doing?

What do I want my legacy to be?

Try a different questions.  Write down your answers.  Ponder your answers and be open to your answers.

Does it matter if you write messages in sand or marble?  I think so.  If you need help asking different questions or moving your search forward, look to the right and sign up for the next (no charge) Q & A session and let me know how I can help you.

Last week, I offered tips on how to stay proactive with your personal marketing.  This week, we address Blind Spot #2:

Not returning a call or responding to an email

Here is a scenario I run across all to often:

An opportunity that is perfect for you came across my desk.  I went to LinkedIn to find your contact information, but you hadn’t updated your profile for three years (Blind Spot #1)!

So, I had to hunt through old emails and a stack of three year-old business cards to find your email address and phone number.  I continued on because this job really is ideal for you!

Once I located your information, I sent you an email asking you if you were interested.   But then – no contact, weeks past, no word from you, not a call or an email.

I understand.  I too have lost, overlooked, or fail to respond to email or a phone call when I was busy, overwhelmed or life just got crazy.  But, it doesn’t have to be this way.  You do not need to miss opportunities.

How do you make sure nothing falls through the cracks?

Action Tip: 

Create 30 minutes of “follow up” time each and every week.  Use that time to return calls, check in with your network or thank people on your team for their work.  It doesn’t matter how busy you are — schedule the time.

Without scheduling these tasks right into your calendar, time gets away from you.  Don’t wait until you need a job  to “follow up” — people remember who stayed in touch and who didn’t.   Don’t miss great opportunities that might knock on your door.   Some of your contacts won’t be there anymore or they won’t be willing to find time for you if you don’t find time for them.

Isn’t your career worth 3o minutes a week?

Is your career managing you or are you managing it?  If you are ready for better results in your career?  Give me call.  And, don’t forget about my monthly Q&A calls — you can sign up in the box to the right.

Today is my sister’s birthday.  Happy Birthday Sonja!

Sonja is one of those people who sees her own blind spots and fixes them.  Not everyone does that.  In her honor I decided to share some career management blind spots and tips to overcome them.  Today, we focus on Blind Spot #1:

Abandoning your personal marketing.

Your LinkedIn profile still lists what you were doing in 2009 and the photo is clearly a seasonal one – the background is a winter scene.

This makes it appear as if you have checked out for the last three years and never came back. Employers are always concerned with the productivity of their employees.  The last thing you want to do is advertise that you are a person who “checks out.”

You worked really hard DURING your job search, making sure everything stayed up-to-date, but after you land the job you want, you still need to proactively market yourself.  Let me give you an example.  Just a few weeks ago a recruiter contacted me about a position (not yet posted) to see if I knew someone perfect for the position.  I did — you!  While on the phone I jumped on LinkedIn to share your contact info and guess what – NO update since 2009!  I still wanted to refer you so I told the recruiter I would contact you to see if you are interested and call him back.   I had to stall because your marketing materials were not up-to-date.   Not a good ongoing career management plan.

Action Tips:

Post a new photo or a seasonal photo each season, if you like.  Add specifics to your new position description.  Show your growth by posting a new accomplishment each quarter.  Reach out to someone in your network each week.  At the end of the year you would touch 52 people in your network.

You can do all of these things in less than 15 minutes a week.  Make an appointment with yourself each week.  Take those 15 minutes to log into your LinkedIn account, read your mail, respond to invitations, update one item and make one new contact.

By doing this weekly you create a habit. And, you’ll never have to scramble getting things updated when an opportunity arises.

Look for next week’s post where I discuss Blind Spot #2 – failing to respond to a call or email.

Are you ready for better results in your current position or looking to make your next career move?  Give me call or connect on LinkedIn.

It saddens me when people are stuck.  Sometimes they are so stuck they can’t see a way out.

I have the privilege to interact with and provide career search assistance to, sometimes, hundreds of people a week.  This allows me to help people create amazing results, and, it also allows me to witness some truly sad situations where talented individuals have lost thousands of dollars, their homes, their friends and great career opportunities — just by failing to see their blind spots.

Below is a list of the two most common blind spots I see.  If either of these sound familiar, stop and address them now, before you miss out on key opportunities and the job you’ve been waiting for!

Are either of the following showing up in your life?

1)  You won’t take action on what you know.

If you are saying “I already know that” — STOP.  If you know following up after an interview, a referral or a phone screening is what you need to do — JUST DO IT!  If you know writing a thank you letter after an interview is the right thing to do — DO IT!

There is a difference between knowing and doing. If you know what to do, take the action.  Knowledge is great.  Yet, knowledge without action will not garner results.

Action Tip #1:

Stop saying “I know that” and JUST DO IT.

2)  You’ve made it hard for people to help you.

If you asked for help, it is time to stop taking and listen.

Stop telling people all about your drama and how much you know.  Everyone has drama – their drama is just different than yours.

Instead, if you just want someone to listen to you, ask, “Will you listen to me for a few minutes?”  You’ll be surprised at how many people will say okay and give you their time so you can whine, cry or just share your drama.  You’ll feel better and be ready to move on.

Option 2: You can go to the park and talk, whine or cry to the birds or the squirrels. Both are good listeners and they rarely talk back!

If you ask for help and someone’s time, be kind and respectful enough to listen to what they say.  Believe it or not most people get it, and the odds are they too have been without a job at one time or another.

Next, ask for something specific, don’t beat around the bush.  State what you need and ask if they have an idea as to how to solve the problem.  Listen and take notes.  When someone is generous with their time, ideas or network contacts — listen.  Don’t judge the reply, evaluate it or offer a reason why the suggestion will not work.

Action Tip #2:

Listen and write.

If someone offers an idea you’ve already tried and it didn’t work for you – you might say “I did x, y and z.  How do you recommend I modify x, y and z to get better results?”

Working on these two things will go a long way to Accelerating Your Search!

Interested in more tips to Accelerate Your Search?   Give me call.

Or look to the right and sign up for next Q & A call, join the session and ask your question.

This is a day with many and varied meanings.  First and foremost for me, it is my sister Renee’s birthday.

Happy Birthday Renee!

It is also a day that brings memories of friends in Washington DC, New Jersey and New York City, and of course the events in those areas eleven years ago.  Memories of both joy and of great sadness.  It is a day that changed lives in seconds.

9-11 taught me, among other things, that everything counts!   What you do, what you say, where you go and how you serve — it all matters and makes a difference.

The world changes fast.  September is one of the times of the year where we see those changes all around us.  A few weeks ago Dick Durrance, photographer and speaker, published one of his great photos and the quote below:

“Just as the seasons bring about change in the world outside of us, so the adventure of living creates change inside of us.  The trick, I am finding, is to somehow transform those changes into opportunities to grow.”

I believe Dick Durrance is spot on.  The trick is learning how to embrace the changes in our lives and to find the opportunities each change brings.

We all face change — a new boss, losing a job, downsizing,  or just learning new ways of doing the things we have always done.

Are you feeling lost, frustrated, or confused as you attempt to find the opportunities within a career transition?  If so, here is an Action Tip for you.

Grab a piece of paper and make a list of all the things you have been able to do because of this time of transition.  Maybe it is finally making the time for a daily walk, or taking your child or grandchild to his first day of school, or to have coffee in the morning with your spouse.

Make the list.  Be grateful for all the opportunities in this change.  It does all matter and make a difference.

Are you ready for better results?  Do you need help to Accelerate Your Search?   Give me call.  Or look to the right and sign up for next Q & A session and get your search-related question answered.

Well if you are on the Gulf Coast or anywhere Isaac is having an impact you may be doing just that.  Be safe, prepare and do change directions as needed as the hurricane conditions merit.

My years on the Gulf Coast and August hurricane taught me to stay aware, use new information quickly and adjust to the changing and sometime dramatic conditions that even a tropical storm might bring.

Managing the changes in social media that can impact your personal brand and your job search does not always require the same speed as storm watching. However, it does require you to stay aware and current on emerging technology, to have a plan and to take action on a regular basis.

Is your LinkedIn profile helping you or harming you, your search and your career?

Do you have questions about setting up your LinkedIn profile and keeping it on brand?

If so, join me on Wednesday for a LinkedIn Q & A session.  The session may not be quiet as much fun as a hurricane party – it will be fun, informative and you can join the session and ask your any question you may have about your LinkedIn profile or your job search.

Look to the right and sign up for next Q & A session and I will “see” you on the phone line on Wednesday.

Strategic tips for managing your career – if you are – or seek to be – a paddler…

8. Always be open and able to change direction.

Business changes at a dramatic pace. Your career soon can be outdated or obsolete due to shifts in market conditions, changes in consumer preferences, and emerging technology. Coaching opens minds, creates awareness, helps you use new information quickly, and sparks the creativity within you.

Career opportunities abound, if you are open to seeing them and willing to take control of your career.  One of the best coaches, mentors and friends taught me much about being open and able to change directions.  Louis Emond was a professional executive coach, a Retired Officer in the US Air Force, and an International Marketing executive and industry consultant.  He understood and shared the value of not only the need to be open to change but the willingness to change direction.

What I learned from Louis is managing your business and your career, is about taking personal responsibility, demonstrating leadership, planning for success, and when you need to change directions by all means change directions.

Execute a change, don’t ponder, worry or think, EXECUTE.  As I celebrate my birthday today, I am also thinking about Louis citing Vince Lombardi’s dictum of, “If it is to be, it’s up to me,” – Louis thanks for being my mentor, for practicing what you preached and for giving many insights to recall, and use.

My friend and mentor Louis Emond, died in May 2012.  I miss his friendship and wisdom.  I am also very thankful for all he taught me about being open and willing to change direction as needed.  Rest in peace always Louis.

Action Tip:

This tip is from Louis. He often cited Vince Lombardi’s dictum of, “If it is to be, it’s up to me”, if you seek to be a paddler it is up to you.   Identify your purpose, be open to change, grow, and change direction as needed.  You can manage your career, your business and your life alone.  Or you can find a coach, learn and do it faster.  The odds are you will also have a lot more fun learning along the way.

Do you have a question about applying this action tip to your search? Look to the right and sign up for next Q & A session, join the session and ask your question.