Jul
21

Do you trust yourself & others?

Cindy Key Career Management, Mindset, Personal Branding Add your comment

trust“You can trust people, trust them to be exactly who they are every time” – Mastin Kipp

Do you trust yourself?  Why not?

The quote above has become a favorite of mine.  I like the truth in it.

I think it was Kerri Konik who first introduced me to this Mastin Kipp quote.  Thanks Kerri!

People are who they are.  People are worthy, funny and insightful.

All people have gifts and talents unique to them.  People are resilient, graceful, and caring.  People are amazing!  All people have an essence unique to them.

Yes, this is my point-of-view and I realize it is often not a popular point of view.  Over time, many have shared with me how wrong I am on this point.  Others protest and disagree with me, stating they cannot support my point of view.  I understand.

The world is full of different points-of-view, so much so that often people begin to believe that just being themselves is not enough.

Yes, there are days when I am not focused and not aware of the essence of every person around me.  Yet, I do trust that I can pause and, with a moment of focus, am able to capture a person’s essence and, usually, the person’s unique gifts.

People are flexible and adapt.  Some people work hard to change, adapt, and adjust who they are for various reasons, needs or concerns.  Some people move away from their essence if they feel they need to do so to survive or maintain the status quo.  Some people live in the present, being who they are in a conscious manner.

Perhaps those who disagree with me view people differently.  That is okay.  Seeing who people are, at least for me, requires being present and trusting myself first.  Then I can see and trust people for who they believe they are now.

What circumstances, thoughts or beliefs shape your trust of others?  Of yourself?  What needs shape your trust when you look in the mirror each morning?

Do you trust yourself?

Do you communicate trust in yourself?

Trust is critical in hiring and finding a job.  People hire and do business with people they know, like and trust.

Does your brand allow you to build and to shape your know, like and trust factor?

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May
19

Is your resume ready to work for you?

Cindy Key Career Management, Personal Branding, Resume Add your comment

Resume Help CIndy KeyA friend, business associate, or recruiter calls you with a great job opportunity.  They ask you to send your resume TODAY.  Yes, NOW, right now.  Are you ready to leverage this opportunity?

I regularly get calls where the caller says, “Cindy, this is Joe XX.  My friend, Dan XX referred me to you and I need a resume today. Can you help?”  I both love and hate these calls.  I love that the caller is a referral from a client/former client and I love to serve and help people.  I hate the call because often I am busy and I know my key referral partners are busy, too.  Most of all, I hate these calls because I can hear the panic in the caller’s voice as she describes a great position only to have a resume that is not updated, not ready to send.  Then, when I ask about her LinkedIn profile, the stress I hear doubles.

On this issue, here is my one suggestion:  act like a Boy Scout and “Always Be Prepared.”

If you have not looked at your resume in the last 6 months, it is time to give it an update.  Do it before you need it.

Business owners, this goes for you, too.  Banks, investors and strategic partners might ask you for your resume.

Also, if you are looking for a new position or seeking a promotion and you have been in the market for the last 90 days and are not landing interviews, it is time to take a serious look at your resume.  Your resume may well need an update.

Here are just a couple of reasons why you should update your resume:

  • The studies, research and technology that will be used in addition to a human looking at your resume have changed.  There have been many changes in just the last six months.
  • Many changes were implemented during the Great Recession and even more has changed since it ended.  With the growth of ‘Big Data’ there is even more information you can leverage to help give your resume more IMPACT and help you land an interview.  There is data on everything from eye-tracking studies, to keyword usage, to word count studies — confirming every word on your resume does indeed count.  New research is released all the time.

A recent study by Modestino et. al highlights what the study calls ‘upskilling’ by employers.  It paints a clear picture that employers are not looking for the same skills today that they were seeking in 2007, 2010 or 2012.   If you have not updated your resume to reflect your new skills, you might miss a good opportunity.

The study notes that employers have raised the skill requirements within specific types of jobs.  Understanding these changes in the market place, as well as the impact of time to hire for top professionals like you, is important.  Should you be working with a coach or other HR professional who keeps up with what employers are doing and what they are seeking in the candidates they want to hire?

I understand you are busy.  Most days it is tough just keeping up with your areas of expertise.  That is why I ‘keep up’ for my clients, past and present.  Don’t wait for the phone call to update your resume.  That added stress to your life is completely unnecessary — unless, of course, you are a stress junkie.  Update your resume regularly.  Do so on your time frame, not someone else’s.   If you are looking for information and resources on updating your resume, check <here>.

Even in a tighter labor market (think declining unemployment rates), employers continue to search for highly skilled workers for many different positions.  Employers call it ‘raising the bar.’

If it is time to you to update your resume, we are ready to help you.  If you are a do-it-yourself person, you might find these resources <link to the word “resources”> helpful.

If you want to avoid missing an opportunity that only comes along once in awhile, update your resume this month.  You can leverage your most recent experience, insure your resume is ready to go and communicate your unique value at a moments notice.  Go <here> to take advantage of one-on-one support with our May only special.

Summer’s coming — be ready for fun, relaxation and to take advantage of opportunities.  Avoid the run-of-the-mill update that looks like you haphazardly plugged in your last job and attached it to an email with little or no thought.  When you land the interview you may be scrambling to explain why your resume looks tossed together.

If you aren’t ready for the call when it comes, you may miss out on increased earnings, a great culture, and the launch pad for your next 5 to 10 years of success.  Employers who are seeking to hire professionals with relatively high skills expect you to be ready.  Are you?

Ditch the stress of missing out on something you want to do.  Ditch the stress of staying up all night to update your resume (you are not a college co-ed these days and paychecks of that size are, thankfully, gone). Get help now and be ready to land the job you want at the salary your desire FAST and with less stress.

Do you have a question or comment?  Post it below or give me a call.

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May
05

A mother’s career advice . . .

Cindy Key Career Management, Mindset, Personal Branding 8 comments

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 adMother's Dayvice 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

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Mar
17

Mining the Gap – telling the story of your part-time job

Cindy Key Action Tips, Interviewing, Mindset, Personal Branding, Resume 5 comments
mining 2 A common question I hear is, “How do I add a part-time job to my resume and/or LinkedIn profile?” 

The deeper, often not asked, questions are:

What will people THINK?

Will this hurt my reputation [personal brand]?

If you are “mining the gap” and hesitate to tell the story of your part-time job, ask yourself WHY?

Does it feel too risky?  Or just too vulnerable?  It’s okay, I get it.

First, I recommend reading the body of work by Brene Brown or at least watching her TED talks.  She is an author, speaker, researcher and Texan.  Yes, that final fact would make her cool in my book, even if her body of work was not amazing!

Brown’s research is on connection, vulnerability and shame.  Tough topics, right?

My bet is you will come to a new understanding of your feelings and concerns about telling the story of your part-time job by watching the TED talk “Listening to Shame”.  Stop and invest 20 minutes in yourself right now.

Second, for most of us, telling our story is hard.  And, when the story is not unfolding as you planned or wished, it is HARDER.

At least that’s the way it was for me for years, and sometimes still is.  It is also what I hear over and over again from my clients who are seeking a new job and the road gets a little bumpy.

You see, I deal in facts first.  Then, I sort out my feelings, which come from my thoughts.  I own my feelings and feel I am accountable for those feelings.  I don’t (at least I try not to) play the blame or shame game.  This was not always the way it was for me.  It is how I choose to live my life now and I love life that way.

I grew up with the “What will people THINK?” question.  It was a question I learned to ask myself out of habit.

The habit, by the way, included asking the question and then not bothering to find out what people really thought.  Instead, I answered the question with my own thoughts.  If you wonder what people are going to think — go ask them!  That way you will actually know what they think.

If you can’t, or don’t want to ask people, here is a process to help shift the feeling of “OH MY GOSH!  What will people THINK?” to something more positive:  think of what questions an interviewer might want to know about your part-time job.  Questions such as:

  • Why this part-time job is important to you?
  • How does the job align with your goals and values?
  • What problems do you solve on this job that connect to problem the potential employer needs solved?

Finally, I think the easiest way to “mine the gap” and tell the story of your part-time job is to look at the data, sort out your thoughts and emotions and decide how to tell your story.

Telling your career story is sharing your data and your soul, and that can be and feel vulnerable.  Stories are merely data with a soul.

Facts alone don’t always paint the whole picture.  When people read or hear ‘just the facts,’ questions may come up, allowing data to show its soul within a story, helping answer the unanswered questions.  Bottom line?  A story helps bring the data alive and helps create a connection — a human connection.

Sometimes the connection will be positive, sometimes not. When you are able to understand your feelings, you will be better able to listen to what the interviewer is THINKING about and you have a better chance to connect.

Understanding your feelings and why you took the part-time job, as well as how and what it says about you, will help you tell the story.  Ask yourself the tough questions.  Your answers will help you tell your story.

Post the story of your part-time job or comments below.  If you need help to tell your story contact me.

 

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Feb
03

Ditch Boring, Create WOW & Be Remembered

Cindy Key Action Tips, Ditch Dare Do, Networking, Personal Branding 9 comments

wow  Do your networking results need help?

Yes?  Then it is time to ditch boring and dull!  It is time to create and share your WOW personal  branded introduction (or Elevator Speech).  It is your branded commercial, serving as your introduction to so many — and, frankly, a necessity.

Use it when you meet and greet (both online and off), understanding it answers the question, “Tell me about yourself.”

An Elevator Speech or your WOW personal branded introduction is a marketing pitch, customized to the people and situations in which you want to secure a conversation.  A conversation is step one, and begins to build or further a relationship.  If you do not WOW people when you first meet, chances are there will be no next conversation, no opportunity to foster a relationship.

In today’s digital, fast-paced world getting lost or forgotten in a sea of information is easy.  Having a WOW personal branded introduction is critical in helping you stand out and be remembered (favorably).

What is the WOW in your branded introduction?

WOW stands for your Worth (what you do and the impact of it), the Opportunities you are seeking, and What you can do for the person (or someone they know) experiencing your message.

Your WOW makes you memorable, helps others connect with you and understand why they should care about what you have to say.   If the WOW is missing, odds are you will be forgotten or the conversation will fizzle quickly.  Without a strong WOW your brand awareness is diminished and it takes longer to have influence in any situation.

Remember, you only have seconds to connect, set the stage and share your WOW.  Your first impression is vital — make it count or you will be forgotten!

Ditch your boring introduction.  Be relevant.  Gain favorable attention.  Ensure that when you meet someone they understand what you do and the impact you have.

Ready to ditch boring and add WOW?

There are thousands of formulas for an elevator speech — pick any formula you like, and then draft your initial speech.

Then slice it, dice it, edit it, and make it yours.  Deb Dib co-author of “Ditch Dare Do!”  recommends being ruthless when editing — every word counts!

Hone your personal branded introduction.  Practice it.  Use it.  Change it as you grow.  You need to be comfortable delivering it, yet if it sounds canned it will impact the impression you make.

This formula will get you started:  “I <what you do> <the problem you solve> and the <results you produce>.

As you grow you will want your WOW introduction to evolve.  As it evolves, update your online social profiles to reflect your updates.

If your WOW personal branded introduction or social media profiles need attention, get help.  If I can help, feel free to contact me.

In 15+ words you can share a great deal about your brand and what you do.  You can go from boring to having conversations that build relationships and land opportunities faster than you think.  With focus and some editing you can create an amazing WOW statement.

You get the idea — ditch boring (and the extra words), create WOW, and be remembered.

Does your Elevator Speech have WOW?   Is it on brand, clear and to the point?  Does it tell your brand story?

Have a comment or thought?  Post it below.

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Dec
09

Do you believe in the clatter of reindeer hooves?

Cindy Key Career Management, Mindset, Personal Branding 9 comments
hooves

Recently, a wise 8-year-old set me straight about reindeer hooves.  She shared, “I hope you know this talk of reindeer on rooftops is REALLY a myth.  The purpose of telling kids about reindeer hooves on the roof is to hide the fact that parents dragging stuff around are noisy.  Only kids who don’t pay attention to the world believe that myth.”

WOW!  What insight!  When you understand, at 8-years-old, the need to pay attention, nothing will stop you — as long as you maintain that awareness.

As a coach, I thought, what fun she will be to coach at 18, 28, or 48!  My wish for her this season is that she always maintains that level of awareness.

Of course, the clatter of reindeer hooves have little to do with personal branding and building a sustainable career –but — the wisdom of this eight year old certainly does.  Awareness is a key to leveraging many of life’s situations.

Building and sustaining a great career does not just happen.  It requires knowledge, the awareness and willingness to apply that knowledge, and knowing what you want.  Couple this with making key decisions and taking actions and you are on your way to a rewarding career.

Yes, the world and labor market are ever-changing and providing different opportunities.  And, while I do not have a crystal ball to see what the new year holds, I do know that it is easier to build your personal brand and create opportunities, than it is to convince a smart 8-year-old that reindeer can fly and land on rooftops!

Are you ready for your career to shine?

Yes?  Then, let’s talk.

If you want to take a serious look at whether or not your personal brand is attracting positive attention and helping you connect with people and opportunities, then my holiday season gift awaits you — just give me a call.

Sharing your unique gifts with the world requires willingness and awareness.  If you supply the willingness and awareness, I will help you build the career you want in the new year.  I will help you with the “how’s.”

Yes, you can leverage your personal brand with less stress, without just adding another thing to your “To Do” list!  Those who cut through the clatter, find the value is crystal clear.

Effectively sharing who you are, what you do, and what makes you unique makes employers take notice, hire, and promote you.  Call me by December 21st and I  will give you a coaching session to review your brand and give you 3 action steps to take before January 1st.  What a wonderful way to enjoy the season and launch the new year!

Have an amazing holiday season!

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Nov
25

How do you market yourself using LinkedIn?

Cindy Key Career Management, LinkedIn, Personal Branding Add your comment
linkedin

This post was first shared in March 2012 and although LinkedIn has changed (with more changes on the way), one thing remains constant — if you want more opportunities you must market yourself.  LinkedIn is a key marketing tool and the tips below are still very timely — making this post worth revisiting:

LinkedIn, a business-oriented social networking service, helps leverage your brand.  Once your LinkedIn foundation is in place and you have started to add connections, it is time market yourself and your LinkedIn profile to your target audience and all who need to know you.

Do have your critical five pillars in place?

The critical five pillars are: Name, Headline, Photo, Personalized URL and Experience.

If they are in place, it’s time to add your personal contact information to your profile and make it visible.  During a job search it is critical that you can be found easily.  Before entering contact information into your profile decide how you want others in your network to reach you.  Phone?  Email?  Mail?

Then, share with your network, and the other users of LinkedIn, the types of connections and communications to which you are open.  Do you want job leads?  Are you open to introductions?  Or business ventures?

Next, make use of your Personalized URL.  Your Personalized URL gives you a web presence.  Add your URL to your email signature block, your business card and your résumé.  Mention how to find you on LinkedIn and, if you are interested in connecting, invite others to connect with you at appropriate times.

Now, enhance your brand with a strong summary.  Use your summary to tell your story.  Who are you?  What do you do?  What are your accomplishments and specific results?  Ensure it is readable, not too long and tedious, or filled with jargon.  Allow your personality to shine in your summary and share your unique value.  Be authentic.

Last, augment your profile and your brand by adding your specialties, unique brand attributes, leadership skills and a bit about your interests beyond work.  Do you collect and renew classic cars?  Build houses with Habitat for Humanity or volunteer for a special organization?  Did you receive a special award or honor in your last job?

Used appropriately, these are the areas that can boost your brand.  What will you do this week to market yourself on LinkedIn?

Need help with LinkedIn?  Call and schedule a one-on-one appointment.

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Nov
11

Is Your Career On AUTOPILOT?

Cindy Key Action Tips, Career Management, Personal Branding 2 comments

“You are never a loser until you quit trying.” ~ Mike Ditka

cruiseAUTOPILOT, cruise control and other automated systems are great tools.  I highly recommend them.  Putting systems in place allows you prioritize your schedule, giving you the time needed to complete the important and time-consuming tasks.

My life — and long drives — would not be the same without these tools.  I encourage you to seek out and use as many great tools as you can to help automate and streamline your life and career.  However, there is one caution I would share.

Mike Ditka got it right; I don’t believe you fail at anything unless you stop trying.  Don’t believe you can set the cruise control and assume you can stop trying.  You are still in charge of the wheel!  Using automation tools does not let you off the hook for the important work that needs to be done.  You must continue to identity and manage the high value tasks.

What are some of those high value tasks?

  • Put the time and effort into ensuring key people know your goals.
  • Be sure you know your next ideal step.
  • Communicate your goals to your network and your boss.
  • Keep a list of key people looking to hire people who do what you do.
  • Be a seeker of “opportunities.”
  • Grow and hone your skills.
  • Talk to people monthly who do what you want to do next.
  • Watch trends and the market.
  • Create a pipeline of opportunities.
  • Build relationships in various segments of your profession and industry.

And, how do you go about managing those high value tasks?

  1. Set up systems to reach out and stay in touch with key people.
  2. Schedule specific activities.  Example: Call EVP, schedule lunch, share quarterly results and upcoming personal goals.
  3. Create a specific plan for achieving your next career step.
  4. Execute one important, focused task each week.

Doing these four things will make you feel like your career is on autopilot.  It will ensure you know what you are doing each week, month, and year, to continue to move your career forward and to get the important things done without undue stress.

AUTOPILOT is a great tool — just be sure you apply the brakes (at least weekly) to slow down and take action.  You will love the results.

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Nov
04

Stop being plain vanilla

Cindy Key Action Tips, Job Search Focus, Personal Branding 6 comments
vanillaEvery person on earth is unique.  You have talents and skills that lead you to do things in a way that no else can replicate.Embrace who you are.  Stop being plain vanilla.

So many of the people I work with or connect with at workshops make it their goal to simply blend in.  Why?

Blending in will not get you hired or change your career situation.  It will not help you soar, be satisfied, or earn the paycheck you desire.  No risk means no reward.

Why are you choosing the safe route?  What is holding you back?  Is it something you don’t know?  Is it support?  Are you more concerned with the risk or the reward?

If you are creating a resume, bio, LinkedIn profile or webpage it can feel risky to be anything but plain vanilla.  Honestly, sharing my unique value felt uncomfortable to me for a very long time.  After all, telling your story puts you out there in the world.  It opens you to judgment and rejection.  Yes, it makes you vulnerable.

What will people say or think?  Questions will pop up.  Here are some that popped up for me:

  • What if they think I am bragging?
  • What if no one hires me?
  • Will I be among the long-term unemployed?
  • What if I can’t find a job except for flipping burgers?
  • What will happen to my family? My home?  My pride?  My value?

Yes, telling your story is scary.  But . . . telling your story (and being vulnerable) ALSO created powerful connections.  It helps you share and realize your unique value.

So, what is your story?  How do you share your unique value?

Are you like my client whose “special sauce” is finding substantial ways to reduce expenses while still building a more reliable fleet of trucks?  When he was finally ready to share how his unique experiences shaped his integrity, work ethic and budgeting prowess, he was no longer just another candidate, he was the person the hiring managers wanted to interview.

Yes, sharing information has risks.  Yes, it means being vulnerable.  Yes, it can lead to great reward — personally and professionally.

Still on the fence about personal branding and sharing who you are?  Not sure about branding your resume, bio and online profiles?  Firm that you want to remain in your comfort zone, continuing to be plain vanilla, allowing you and your resume to blend into the pile of 80-100 resumes all seeking the position you desire?

Do me a favor — take these three actions, then decide.  Deal?

  1. Ponder this quote by Brené Brown, author of Daring Greatly:

  “Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”

  1. Watch this Ted Talk by Brené Brown:  The power of vulnerability
  1. Make a list of 3 things:
  • The two worst things that could happen if you stopped being plain vanilla.
  • The one good thing that could happen if you shared your story and your unique value with a potential employer or recruiter.

If you are ready to stop being plain vanilla, let’s talk.  If you need help or support contact me.  Or if you’re ready to brand your resume get started now.

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Sep
30

90 Days and Counting . . .

Cindy Key Action Tips, Career Management, Personal Branding 13 comments

4qThe fourth quarter is upon us.  And, in just 92 days the new year begins.  Are you ready for a successful final quarter of the year?

Below are four essential (albeit, a little unglamorous) tasks to help you improve your personal marketing for fourth quarter and create a solid foundation for a sustainable career in 2015:

1. Be present in the marketplace.  Get out from behind your computer and demonstrate your unique and compelling value in the marketplace.  Connect with others and offer your expertise to a person or organization who needs it.

2. Know your prospects.  Are you effectively marketing to those people who need what you offer?  Who is in your funnel?  Target 10-15 companies who could use your skills and talents.

3. Add to your value.   How will you become more valuable in 2015?  What skills could you add to your offerings?  Seek out opportunities to learn new tech skills or productivity tools.

4. Up-level your image.  Nothing stays the same.  Sustaining success means evolving over time. Review your professionalism and self-management skills and pick an item to up-level this quarter.  Perhaps you could update your business cards or resume?

Consistent focus in these four areas is key and easy to achieve by simply adding them to your calendar.  A year from now you will be glad you invested the time today.

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