Accelerate Your Search™ Now

At the end of the week we, in the United States, will celebrate July 4th — our Declaration of Independence in 1776.

What will you celebrate on July 4th?

Will it be freedom, independence, awareness or . . .

How will you celebrate?  A concert, parade, picnic or . . .

Have you given thought on how to really enjoy this day?

Will you be reviewing the past, reflecting on history and past experiences?  Or, will you be looking to the future, perhaps to a July vacation or your next amazing position?

I will be present and celebrate the freedom I have as a citizen of the USA and of the world.  I am grateful to be an American and to also celebrate an “Independence Day” of my own journey of freedom.

July marks when I first realized the power and freedom of being present — intentionally being attuned to the current moment. I recognized that the past holds history, experiences, and memories and that the uncertainty of the future will never arrive.

Awareness of NOW guarantees freedom, choice, joy, and much more.  Whatever and however you celebrate at the end of the week, may you have the blessings of celebrating each minute in the present.

Have an amazing 4th of July!

“Make each minute count!” – Dave Edwards

There is much collective wisdom about interviewing for your next position.  Wisdom will be shared by:  job seekers, coaches, HR professionals, mentors, hiring managers, recruiters and, of course, friends and family.

The quote above is not simply about interviewing or even working.  It is one I learned from a leader and COO that I admire.  It is known by all in his organization and by those touched by the organization.

I have shared this quote before and, odds are, I will share it again.  Why?  It is not only a quote about a method of leadership or running a business, but a quote about a way of life.  It is four little words that bring focus to what is important right now.

I share it now because it is central to embracing the secrets of interviewing — secrets that are rarely shared and even when known, often overlooked.

If a client tells me, “I get interviews, but I don’t get hired,” my first questions, as a coach, are about interview preparation.

The secrets to interview preparation that are often not shared and even less often practiced are:

• Knowing and understanding how you are feel about yourself, the interviewer and the particular position.
• Knowing how your personal energy and power radiates and then using that energy and power to your advantage.  The four key times to leverage this secret are:  the day before the interview, during the interview, in the minutes after the interview ends and the day after the interview.
• Being open and aware of the guidance and information provided during the interview.

If you are struggling to move into your desired position or land a second interview and feel you are well prepared and qualified for interviews, you may be overlooking these secrets.

Realize that leveraging your experience, skills and collective wisdom might not be enough.  You may need to pause and review how you prepare for interviews.

“Make each minute count!”  By using the secrets minute-by-minute you will land a new position faster and with less stress.

If something isn’t working, pause, reflect and adjust.  If you need help with pausing and reflecting, seek some support and guidance.  One of the fastest ways to avoid the pain and disappointment of repeated failed interviews is to discover quickly what to adjust.

It need not take you months of heartbreak and stress and mulitple job interviews to discover what to adjust.  Often small changes can make big differences.

One option to consider is to have a focused dialogue with a coach to help you see what you might be missing.  A small tweak or simple technique may be all you need to transform your next interview into an offer and a job you love.

Do you have a question or comment?  Post it below or give me a call.  I am happy to help you find the answers to your questions.

Ready to transform your next interview?  

Do you dislike networking?  Why is that?

Do you lack skill in this area or is something else holding you back?

Do you want to be a more effective networker?

Often professionals considering a career move or seeking a new position ask how important networking is to success.  My reply?  “Networking is critical to your career.”

When I inquire as to why they are asking, their answers vary.  Here are the most common replies from my clients:

“I am not a skilled networker.”

“Making small talk is not my thing, that’s why I don’t like to network.”

“Starting a one-on-one conversation is frightening.  I just can’t do it.”

“I find silence dreadful.”

“Networking seems like a waste of my time.”

“If networking is what it takes to get a promotion, I am worried about being promoted.”

Do any of these sound like you?

Professionals need networking skills.  At work, and in the world, you need to be able to effectively connect, engage and communicate with different people in various settings.  One of the best ways to develop networking skills is repeated practice of solid techniques.

Though, for many of my clients the challenge of effective networking is not totally about skill.  The actual issues can range from less than effective venues to support their goals to the type of networking they have selected to poor networking techniques.  Any of these issues can result in time invested with limited results leaving your feeling like networking is just a waste of your time.

For other clients, the challenges revolve around fears or beliefs about networking.  The big fears that show up for my clients are:

• Fear of starting a conversation
• Fear of not knowing what to say
• Fear of saying the wrong thing
• Fear of trying something outside of your comfort zone

Here is a quick assignment to help you see what you need to tackle first.  Jot down your answers to the following questions:

• What do you dislike about networking?
• What do you believe about networking?
• Do you want to improve your networking skills and/or networking venues?
• Are you happy and content with your current level of networking success?

Now that you have noted your answers, you will know what to tackle first.  Your answers will also help you determine if skill, fear or some combination is your biggest challenge.

Your next step is simple.  Decide what, if anything, you want to change.  Is this an area worth tackling?  You can start today and be networking more effectively by the end of the week.  You can discover more about tackling your challenges <here>.

Do you have a question or comment?  Post it below or give me a call.  I am happy answer your questions.

In 2012, I posted the article Did you get career advice from your mother? about the some of the career advice I had received from my mother early in my career.

As Mother’s Day approaches and I reflect on how to honor and celebrate my mother, I could not help but reflect on the fact that my mother’s advice continues to bless my life.  I appreciate her years of wisdom and experience and her more recent advice, too.

I hope you get to honor your mother as Mother’s Day nears.

This is my mother . . .

What was the best career advice you received from your mother or another special women in your life?  Will you share?  Post your comments below.

Here the gems of my mother’s advice:

Don’t work too late.  Days can be long sometimes.  Late one day, my mother, in her kindest voice, shared, “I think you should quit for today and quit early more often.”

Good advice.  Stop, bring the day to close and be grateful for all you have accomplished and for those you served on that day.

Relationships count.  Building and nurturing relationships in your life and in your career matters.  See and understand the point-of-view of others, learn about other people, and know what they like and dislike.

Then, find a way to make a connection and build a relationship– doing so is a skill and an art form.  Honing your relationship building skills is valuable and critical to building a sustainable career.

Service matters and, when done gladly, all the better.  The minimum is just that and less than average.  Always do your best and then something extra.  My mother always adds the extra thing.  It is part of her personal branding.

Delivery of what’s expected meets the standard, it gets the job done.  It completes the job and just covers the basics.

Adding something highlights your brand and increases the perceived value of your work.  Over time, your added value does set you apart from the crowd.  Something of extra significance can:  bring a smile, help you gain favorable attention, encourages referrals, and repeat business.  All these items enhance your stock value and helps sustain your career.

Enjoy Mother’s Day on Sunday as you celebrate in whatever special way fits you!

To my mother — Happy Mother’s Day – thank you for being a coach, a mentor, a role model, a friend and a wonderful mother. 

See you soon.  Cindy

Finding yourself without a job and in a job search can be fun, exciting and full of adventure.  It can also be filled with fear, questions and be a very unproductive time.

Our jobs, families, and communities go at a frantic pace.  Western culture, especially in the U.S., seems to call out, in a very loud voice, that success means doing more, being busy, and dashing here and there with not “enough” time.  Days are full, 8 -10 hours of work, a commute, and taking family members to this and that.

Often the impact of being the family member without a job is additional new expectations and tasks. Tasks like carpool, shopping, picking up the dry cleaning, and walking the dog.  Then there is the “fix-it” list and the forgotten jobs like cleaning the basement that hasn’t been cleared in years.  No one item is bad, nor an unrealistic expectation if the same is expected of you when you are working.

However, if this is a shift due to your unemployment, use caution and quickly set up a job search schedule.  Your schedule should include the average number of hours you intend on working once employed and one that follows you own internal rhythms.  For example, if you are a morning person, do critical thinking tasks in the morning hours so that you are able to fully step into your power.

Then, add your new tasks and activities into your search schedule at a time when you are not searching for work.  Don’t allow non-employment tasks to rule your schedule — just as these things would not be done on your employers’s time when you are working in your new job.

If, after looking at your skills, the labor market and your bank account, you assess you will be okay if your job search takes about a year, you may have just set a goal in your mind that you need a job in a year.

Telling yourself you have a year to find your next position and then taking action to make that happen is great.  However, if you decide can can do any number of things in lieu of putting all your time, effort and energy into your current job — finding a new job — I will bet you lunch that you just extended the time you will be out of work.

It’s healthy to add fun, relaxing new projects into your life — even if the project is simply relaxing.  I do caution you that if you allow these things to take the place of meaningful work, your days will be filed with tasks and activities that leave little or no room for a new job.

Add valuable career-focused actions and practices to your day to accelerate your search.  Here is a practice I created for myself and my clients after reading Deepak Chopra’s book Seven Spiritual Laws of Success:

1. Daily, set aside time for quiet meditation or reflection.
2. Start with 3 – 5 minutes of sitting still, taking in a deep breath and listening to the sounds in the room.
3. Pause, write down what you heard and felt.  Then write down what you are grateful for from the prior day and in your job search.
4. Set down you pen, take 3 deep breaths.
5. Pause, expand your awareness, and be open to possibilities, new ideas, and flashes of insight.
6. Be still for as long as you wish, then set an intention for the day, take 3 deep breaths.

Suggestion: add a few minutes to your practice until you can meditate at least 10 minutes a day.

Don’t sweat the process.  It is okay for your mind to wander.  Don’t worry if you find it difficult to relax when starting out. Ten full minutes is a long time at first.  Work up to it and if you don’t get to 10 minutes, that it is okay, too.  There is magic and benefits found in even a few minutes.  Try it and do what works for you.

According to a study conducted by the Kyoto Convention Bureau, those who meditated at least 10 minutes prior to a meeting were better at focusing, listening, retaining information and completing projects [Source: Deepak Chopra post, EliteDaily.com].  My clients who have never done meditation are always amazed at the results.  Clients often share that after beginning this practice they were able to complete a nagging project or were able to the connect with someone new thanks to an idea that came to them in quiet reflection.

Do you have a reflection or meditation practice?  Post a comment and share what works for you.

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

“Do what you love.  Lead with vision and passion; use your strengths and offer unique value, the market will notice and reward you.” ~ Cindy Key

Tomorrow is April 1^st – April Fool’s day!  And, at least in the Western world, a day of light-hearted fun and for me a sure sign Spring is near.  The days are growing longer and that means more time to be outside.

I will enjoy the day, the FUN it brings and even being called a “fool” if I fall for some of the day’s pranks.  I have been called a fool more than once, including for the quote above and my career advice of “Do what you love and money follows.”  If I am a fool for helping others find work they enjoy and serving the world with my gifts, then the title of “fool” is fine with me.

The lightness of April 1^st reminds us life is a trade-off.  You don’t get what you deserve.  In life and in business, you get what you engage in, work for and ask for.

You get paid for doing what you love because you are willing to do what it takes to succeed — whether you love every aspect of your job or not.

When you do what you love and you enjoy your job, you are likely to use your talents to be the best you can be.  You don’t mind the trade-offs and will adjust to such items as part of the deal.  For example, if you don’t love living in the big city where the wages are higher, you may decide that living in a small town and driving further to work is worth it.  The commute is your trade-off.

Trade-offs in work and life come in many forms.

For years, I was willing to work the graveyard shift to gain different experience, earn more money, do work I enjoyed, and have my days free.  Working the night shift was my trade-off to achieve my goals.

May you be so blessed by doing what you love that all the trade-offs will feel very inconsequential.

In case you feel fooled, it works this way too:  “Love the work you’re doing and opportunities will follow.”  If you find yourself in a work situation that has changed and you no longer love it as you once did, find something new to love and be grateful for your new understanding.  Open yourself up to the possibilities around you and the world will notice and reward you with other opportunities to do the work you love.

Do you have a question about your job search?  Post your question or comment below or look to the right and sign up for the next Q & A session.

Have an amazing April Fool’s Day!

A few weeks ago I was with an amazing group of colleagues who share my passion for helping others move their careers forward.  This group, The Institute for Career Transitions (ICT), is deeply concerned and passionate about the long-term unemployed.

We want to impact long-term unemployment with facts, data, and compassion.  We want to bring light to the concerns and issues of talented professionals who experience long-term unemployment.  We want to determine, via research, if coaching support does or does not help professionals who have been out of work more than six months improve their well being and/or return to work.  The group’s founder Ofer Sharone, Assistant Professor in the MIT Sloan School of Management, is someone who understands the importance of both courage and support.

Our conversations are always robust.  One recent discussion included the concerns and questions many talented professionals deal with when unemployed for six months or more.  Rising to the top, was how to discuss, share and/or explain what you have been doing for the period of time since your last job.

Among the top questions I receive as a coach is, “How do I explain being out of world for a long time?”  This question is almost always asked with a high level of fear or trepidation.  Odds are you will be faced with the question, “What have you been doing?”  Whether asked in an interview or while networking, does this question strike you with fear or puzzlement?

The time between jobs is often referred to as “the gap” — and I have a unique way of dealing with “the gap.”

I began using a phrase to help clients, workshop attendees and people in general to understand a simple process to help you move away from all that fear, concern and puzzlement — it’s called “mining the gap.”

Mining is, in its simplest definition, the process of looking for gold, silver and gems. And, “mining the gap” is the process of unlocking the gems you uncover during your gap, your time of unemployment.

This concept came to me several years ago after visiting an abandoned silver mine.  I got a few feet into the mine and froze.  Had my guide not noticed my fear I would have missed an amazing experience.

My guide offered support, information, and asked questions.  The support and questions helped me determine my options and select a direction.  His support insured me I was not alone.  It allowed me to reach inside myself, decide want I wanted and find the courage to step deeper into the mine.

I was so grateful for his care and concern that day.  The experience is one I will never forget.

The experience was so much more than just learning what silver ore looks like and how its beauty is brought to the surface to be unlocked and transformed into amazing products — it also provided a way to put all the days’ sights, smells and emotions into context.  It also provided a community to share the experience.

My silver mine guide offered me the same thing that career coaches and coaching communities offer clients — care, concern, guidance and somewhere to turn when we are unsure how to move forward.

I love silver and every time I look at pieces of silver jewelry or other useful everyday items, I think of that day, that community and those connections.

It took courage for that guide to help me.  It took courage for me to step into the mine, to see and to share the experience.  I could not have found courage on that day (or many other days) alone.  I believe we are hard-wired to connect, to support one another and to journey together.

Someone stepped close, saw my fear and did not exploit or criticize me.  That someone offered support, asked questions, and let me chose what was best for me.

If you are looking for support in your job search, or in anything you do, look around, odds are support is within reach.

Here are 3 tips for tapping support as you are “mining the gap:”

1.  Have the courage to be honest with yourself about the fear, the emotions, the concern or puzzlement you feel.  Say your fears, concerns, or emotions out loud and write them down.

2.   Ask and answer, “What is it I that want?”  Do you want:  help or support, answers to your questions, information, or someone to listen to your concerns/emotions?  Whatever you want, ask for it out loud and write it down.

3.   Look around for what your want.  It is within reach.  If you ask for help or support, listen, say thank you and then decide what you will do.  Take the best action for you.  Results come from action.

Whether the gap you need to mine is comprised of what you have been doing since your last job or your gap is a career you want to transform, take action.  The action you take by stepping in and “mining the gap” will be an amazing experience.

Do you have a job search question or a question about “mining the gap?”  Post your question or comments below or give me a call.