Accelerate Your Search™ Now

The folks at LinkedIn have been busy!  By now you have experienced the homepage make-over, the changes to company pages and the endorsement features.  You may also have noticed a drop in your completeness percentage — mine recently dropped 5%.  And, most recently, you’ve been given the opportunity to connect with “Influencers” — a select panel of 150 thought leaders to follow right from your homepage.

LinkedIn is a great tool.  It is important not only to use it, but also learn about the new features and leverage the ones that  improve your results.  Consistently managing your profile will enhance your personal brand and further your career goals.

So, how do you maximize your profile and all the new changes?

1.  Use your homepage to connect with and to be valuable and visible to your network.  The LinkedIn homepage recommends news of interest to you, shows new status updates and provides an easy way to directly engage with your network from those updates.  You can comment or send a message in seconds.  You can filter and customize the view of the page.

2.  Take advantage of the new streamlined design of Company Pages.  Company updates and connections are easier to locate and are now available on your phone.  Navigation and career opportunities are more engaging and the company can personalize the experience if they wish to do so.

3.  Make the most of the new Endorsements feature.  LinkedIn is touting this newest feature as “Kudos with Just One Click.”   Though the jury is still out on the value of this feature, the premise is that anyone can recognize someone’s skills or expertise with just one quick click.  When you visit a profile, a pop-up box will appear asking, “Pssst, Cindy – Does John have expertise in these areas?  Click the Skill button to endorse them!”  I think it is a bit cheesy — time will tell if this feature truly adds value or not.  This feature may help you if your profile is on-brand and focused.  If not, it may cause confusion and harm if you have 50 skill items listed (i.e., no clear focus).

4.  Finally, as I noted above, you may have noticed a drop in your profile completeness.  I would encourage you to manage your profile and not allow LinkedIn to pressure you to do what is good for their data collection efforts.  When you see their gentle nudges, ask yourself, “Is this good for my brand?” and “Does it help my target audience?”  If the answer is “no,” move on.

If you are interested in more information on all the recent changes, the LinkedIn blog topics tagged with ‘new LinkedIn Features’ have more details and tips.

Remember, a quality profile is critical to your personal brand, career management and your career opportunities. You can leverage LinkedIn and its power with focus and about 15 minutes a week. If you need some help with your LinkedIn Profile let’s talk about a Fast Track solution for your LinkedIn challenge.

In today’s world of employee sourcing, staying connected and getting a referral is more important than ever before.  So, Blind Spot #3 is critical to your success.

#3:  I can’t refer you, if I can’t reach you.

Here’s the thing about me.  I’m one of those people who keeps track of people and business needs and services.  I tell the world about people and businesses that I value, use, and trust to be a match for current or future needs.  People often call me and say,  “I recall you told me about … can I have the details again.”

I enjoy being of service, it is part of who I am.  I am passionate about connecting people who could do business together — and — I go to great lengths to do so.

When a recruiter contacts me or I discover an opportunity — I act!

The bottom line is without your current contact information I can’t make the connection.  It’s a total downer.  You created an obstacle.    You are a skilled, talented person who would be great for this opportunity, yet you will miss out on this referral because I can’t reach you.

Additionally, I can’t rely on you to get back to me.  This experience stands to impact future opportunities as well.  Your online information is not current, so it is not just me who can’t reach you.  If I refer you and someone else can’t reach you, it reflects on me.  What would you do?

Some things will slip through the cracks, it happens to us all every now and then, that is life. Yet, your blind spots not only show how you manage your career, they demonstrate how you will manage the affairs of an employer.

I truly like you and hope all is going well for you.  Maybe you will be among the few who never need to seek another job.  Maybe you forgot how long it takes to put things in place to generate interest or opportunities within your network.

I share this on my blog with compassion, care and concern.  I have been there too, overwhelmed, barely holding it together, and just managing to keep up day to day.  It is a scary place.

It only takes a little time and energy each week to manage your career.  Make a decision to do it. 

Your career is one of your most important assets.  Simple steps and small amounts of time each week will transform your career and immediately improve your results.

And, if you missed Blind Spot #1 and #2, head to the blog, check them out and complete the Action Tips!

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.

Hope your Labor Day weekend was wonderful!  My weekend was great and so was last week.

Labor Day celebrates – work and workers – I love my work.  I help talented professionals land the job they want and advance a career they enjoy.  It is amazing to see the results.  I know the processes and methods I share work, yet I never get tired of hearing the success stories.

I am always delighted when someone I am working with tells me just how they added themselves to a tip, technique, tactic or a strategy and presto … like the magician who pulls the white rabbit out of his top hat with skill and a smile … the tip shared becomes theirs, the result theirs too and it is dead on prefect!

Last week was one of those great weeks.  By Thursday, the fourth day of the week I that heard from four people that I had been working with that they had job offers – that does not happen every week.

Here is part of one of the messages I got last week:

“… I have wonderful news to share with you. I got an offer from the job interview! … This is to reinforce how important it is to …. I didn’t do it for a previous phone screening interview and, of course, nothing followed. This time, I was determined to … and I did, and I’m glad I did. Thank you for emphasizing the importance of … in your career workshops!!! It really could mean getting hired or NOT getting hired….Thank you Cindy, for all your professional help! … Both my husband and I are very lucky to have worked with you! …”

So often it is a little thing or a simple fine turning that changes the result very quickly.  Doing one small thing better or different can be the difference between being hired and not being selected for the job.

I can’t lie I love getting notes and updates on the success others are creating in their careers.  See, I’m a bit unusual and bizarrely passionate about people succeeding and having the job and career they want and love.

Are you ready for better results? Do you need help to Accelerate Your Search?  Give me call; I’d love to help you be successful too!

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.

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

7. Keep your skills current at all times.

To be successful at managing your career, you must constantly upgrade and enhance your abilities. Seek out continuing education—learn new skills, methods, techniques, strategies, and tactics to stay at the leading edge of your field.

Whether you’re an executive chef, senior manager, or an individual contributor, you must be as good as you can be—there’s always a competitor one step behind you.  Fall is near, school starts for all children soon, and this is a great time to think about what skills you need to update or what new skills you need.

Spending 30 minutes a day you on your strengths or a skill, just five days a week will net you 130 hours of focus a year.  That is a small investment of time and will create solid mastery.  What skill do you need to hone?

Action Tip:

Identify a skill to update.  Write down why it is important to you to update this skill.  Now, develop a plan to hone or update your skill.

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.