Career Goals: Are You Willing To Change?

When I coach clients in the area career advancement, one of the first things we talk about is their willingness. That is, do they know what it takes to reach their ultimatecareer goals and are they willing to do what it takes to get there?

This is usually a good reality check to ensure the career goal is meaningful and realistic. Sometimes after they explore what is required, they are not so sure that career goal is the right one for them because some of the sacrifices are too great.

One client discovered she would need to be willing to relocate several times in the next five-six years to advance to the higher level position she desired. This was not something she was willing to do at this stage of her life (with young children at home). This is really a key question we all must ask ourselves as we think about pursuing our career goals and our dreams: Are you willing?

I heard an audio recording of Fabienne Frederickson, Client Attraction Mentor and owner of ClientAttraction.com, asking a group of the entrepreneurs whom she mentors the same question: Are you willing? She asked them the following series of questions which I found quite profound and also applicable to those who are assessing their career goals and aspirations. Her questions were as follows…

To turn your goal into an every day reality, are you willing:

• To make sizable investments in yourself?
• To go where you have to?
• To do what you have to do?
• To change what you have to change?
• To let go of what has to go?
• To move where you have to move?
• To study what must be studied?
• To take direction when it is required?
• To continue in the face of failures?
• To commit yourself 100% to your dream?
• To possibly even receive ridicule, humiliation or rejection as part of the price to win?

How To Mention Unrelated Work Experience On Your Resume

Many candidates who come to us for resume help have the same question. They have years of professional work experience, but a lot of it isn’t relevant to the position they’re currently seeking. On the one hand, they don’t want to waste resume space detailing work that doesn’t relate to their application. On the other hand, they don’t want to omit years of work that developed them as a professional.

The Right Phrase

I use a magic phrase to address this issue: “additional experience includes.” It’s perfectly all right to sum up large portions of your career in one sentence that lists previous employers or positions. If you spent the first 10 years of your marketing career performing lower-level tasks, you could say: “Additional experience includes marketing positions with ABC, DEF, and XYZ (1990-2000).” If your previous work was in an unrelated field, you can simply list the companies: “Additional experience includes positions with ABC, DEF, and XYZ.”

The Age Game

This technique can also be very helpful to those who are concerned about age discrimination. I summarized the first 15 years of one candidate’s career into one sentence to downplay the fact that she was 55. Because her experience was relevant to her field, removing it from her resume entirely would have been a disservice, but we did not include the years that experience encompassed.

The Experience Issue

I recently worked with another candidate who used this technique to show she was a more experienced professional than her education suggested. This woman had worked for 10 years before going back to complete her bachelor’s degree. From looking at her graduation dates, you would assume she was in her 20s. In fact, she was an experienced manager in her 30s—a fact that was important to show for the level of job she was seeking.

Many of us have work experience that doesn’t fit neatly with our current goals and objectives. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving it off your resume altogether, using the phrase “additional experience includes” can help you mention the experience quickly without wasting precious resume space.

3 Steps To Genuine Productivity At Work

How do you know when you need to increase productivity at work?

Does this sound familiar? You’re making the rounds at work, checking in on your employees and trying to make sure that everything is running smoothly. Everybody looks super busy, typing away at computers, talking to potential clients, so on.

Then, as you get closer you realize that your employees are, for lack of a better term, “faking it.” This is something that needs to be fixed. The truth is that asking your employees to be productive at work is just as much for their own health and wellness as it is for your profitability.

Problem 1: Slacking Off Online In Spite Of A Full Workload

The easiest way to curb this type of fake productivity is to block certain sites on the employee network. Of course, this gets tricky if you have people working for you whose jobs are to monitor your company’s reputation online. The better way to curb this activity is to install monitoring software on all of the office computers.

If you set it up as an “I’ll trust you until you give me a reason not to” environment (as opposed to “I refuse to trust anybody because a few bad apples ruined it for the whole bunch”), your employees will be encouraged to stay on task and their productivity will go up.

Problem #2: Slacking Off Because They Don’t Have Enough To Do

Sometimes an employee will start to slack off not because he doesn’t care about getting the job done but because he’s already gotten the job done and has nothing else to do.

The first thing you need to do is get to the bottom of why he has free time. Is he waiting on someone else? Is he simply a good worker who works faster than the others in his team?

The “fix” for both of these scenarios is to elevate your employee. Give him more responsibility. Make him the leader of the next team project so that he’s motivated to keep the people he is waiting for to be more productive. Offer him more duties (with a raise in pay, of course) for which you want him to be responsible. More will get done and your employee will feel emboldened by the trust you have in him to carry more on his shoulders.

Problem #3: Office Politics And Office Gossip

Nobody wants to be a part of a sales meeting that devolves into gossip about someone else or feel like they need to kiss up to one employee to make another work relationship smoother. Office gossip and politics are a real pain in the… you know.

The best way to deal with this is to foster an atmosphere of openness. Encourage employees to speak up when they feel uncomfortable—not just to you but to each other. Encourage an environment where nobody gets shut out simply because they won’t join in on the mocking of another employee (or that they get mocked themselves).

Encourage team work. This is a lot easier if you work hard to hire employees who seem compatible personality and work-style-wise.

A productive work force is a healthy and satisfied work force. Try using these suggestions to get your employees in shape.

Article Author: Amanda Green

Would I Hire Me If I Were You?

As an HR professional, I cannot tell you how many resumes I have received from candidates that were so unqualified, so out of reach, so uninteresting to me as a hiring manager that I had to look twice to see if I was putting them in the right pile for the right job.

Introspection is a critical part of your job search. Before you send your resume to every opening you find, you should sit quietly and ask yourself whether YOU would hire YOU if YOU were the hiring manager. If you feel like you are close, than go ahead and submit, otherwise…

Does My Background Meet Your Needs?

As I consider my credentials, I look at the job description to determine if my background represents a good fit for the position. According to the description provided by your company, it seems (at least on paper) that my qualifications fit. I possess the core competencies, which include leading a large team, managing complex projects, and drafting processes and procedures to streamline the operation.

My efforts have been instrumental in adding a new revenue stream for my employer, which is also highly important and relevant. Having been recognized with industry awards, I demonstrated excellence in my field. From the looks of things, my background is a clear match; so I expect that, once I submit my resume and cover letter, I will be invited in for an interview.

Do I Have Experience In Your Industry?

I have applied my skills in a few industries. I spent some time in manufacturing; but it was several years ago. I have utilized my talents in financial services and retail – all with great success. I am confident that my previous industry experience complemented by my other work will enable me to make a contribution.

Since I understand how many companies and industries operate, I can use a diverse set of skills to drive change for your company. I will sell myself to you  – believe me. Even though my direct relationship with your industry is somewhat dated, it’s there. I will highlight those relevant experiences toward the top of my resume so you see them immediately. Also, my history of being promoted will definitely show you that I am more than capable of doing the job.

Do I Show Commitment?

I am sure that, during an interview, I will clearly demonstrate my level of commitment to my position, staff, and employers. But, since we have not yet scheduled a meeting, I will go with “Yes!” Yes, I show commitment.

How you ask? Well, my promotion in each of my roles to positions of increased levels of responsibility is one example. I have also indicated that I am focused on the growth of my staff. Many of the people that have worked under me have also been promoted, and several of them have worked for me at more than one company by their own volition; I am known for providing exceptional training, and supporting the development of others.

Do I Demonstrate An Interest In My Community?

I have a family and other personal responsibilities, so while I would like to say unequivocally yes, I cannot. I do volunteer some of my time to a local shelter where I dispense meals to the needy during the holidays. I really enjoy the work and being able to help others; of course if my time allows I would be more than willing to do other things to give back to the community. In the past, I have raised money for charitable causes, including cancer research.

I look at this letter and think, yes; I would definitely interview this candidate. If he is as good in person as he looks to be on paper, then perhaps we have a winner! It is very difficult to identify, attract and hire the right candidate.

In part, this is because people apply for things that they are not qualified for; they submit resumes and cover letters for opportunities that are completely outside the scope of their experience. If you take the time to really evaluate your own credentials and that of the position for which you are applying, your job search would be more focused and more fruitful.

10 Ways To Turn Your Job Search Into A Full-Time Job

Well-known fact: Job search and unemployment can be some of the most discouraging and ego-smashing things a person could ever experience. Rejection is common, and there is a tendency to end up in a very unhappy place.

Then, there’s the chaos. If you’ve previously been working for most of your career in a full-time position, you’re used to having structure and routine to each day. Being out of work, you find yourself in a drifting miasma of “What do I do today?”

How To Turn Your Job Search Into A Full-Time Job

Someone once told me, “Looking for a job IS a full-time job. You need to adopt that mentality.” Here are some suggestions on how to chart your course, add some structure to your day, and give yourself definable goals to give you that sense of order you had within the workplace:

1. Appoint A Job Search ‘Buddy’

This person will be someone you report to on a weekly basis. This person will hold you accountable and be your ‘cheerleader’ at the same time. NOTE: Make sure that this person is someone who is a friend, mentor, or colleague. Don’t rely on someone in your household… this could be a potential sticky wicket with family relationships if you somehow fall off the bandwagon and could lead to arguments!

2. Read Articles Weekly

When you are unemployed or out of work, it is easy to feel you are getting left behind on industry trends and issues. It’s amazing when you have a clear command of what’s going on in the world how easy it is to find opportunities to talk about what you’ve read or learned.

3. Attend Networking Events Weekly

Shy? Get over it. The ocean is full of sharks right now, and you need to be one of them. That means getting out of the house, and getting out to networking events. Take a completely different approach: my friend Cleon Cox, who is the founder of the Portland Job Finders Support Group, has this mantra (which is perfect): Meet people, learn something, and have fun.

4. Attend Educational Events Monthly

When you are not working, again, there is the fear you are getting ‘off the merry-go-round’ and losing ground to competitors. But smart job searchers realize that there is a huge opportunity to be gained during this time: go take classes. This could be a great way to help catapult you into a new career, enhance your professional credentials, or hone your skills.

5. Volunteer Regularly

Volunteering can provide exceptional opportunities to network, learn new skills, become a known quantity within an organization and even find out about industry or company job openings before they are even posted. Plus, you’ll feel good while doing it!

6. Join Member Organizations

If you have a target industry, chances are that there is some kind of related trade association or membership organization that you could join. The benefit of these organizations is that your involvement can add ‘gravitas’ to your credentials.

7. Attend Informational Interviews A Few Times Per Week

Part of the ‘getting out of the house’ aspect of this job search plan is to meet people… one-on-one in informational interviews. Many people mistakenly believe and take the approach that informational interviews are all about finding jobs. WRONG! Informational interviews are precisely about finding INFORMATION.

The best part about informational interviews is if you treat the person right who took the time to meet with you, they can become a great internal advocate for you. ALWAYS thank interviewees for their time by mailing a hand-written note.

8. Talk To Friends Regularly

Who do friends know? People. Employed people. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your entire network. The key is to tap into your social circle and ‘refresh’ your connections. You never know what might happen.

9. Follow Up On Sent Applications

One of the biggest failures of job seekers is they are constantly looking forward for the next job opening to apply for that they don’t go back and follow up on the positions for which they’ve already applied. Sometimes, the position opening didn’t turn out to be the right fit for your skills. But if you treat the hiring manager or the human resource representative right, you could impress them in a very good way. That could put you on the “A” list for other jobs that come open.

10. Focus Your Resume On Key Themes

You probably have several different theme areas you could develop separate resumes for based on your background. Explore how you might have different incarnations of your resume, and take the time to develop these fully. You might be pleasantly surprised at how you can reinvent yourself and create new flexibility in your employment search.

My blog seems like, wow, a whole lot of homework, but the goal is to provide structure, stability and goals to you in a time where there is a lot of chaos, unclear objectives, and confusion. By structuring yourself and your time while unemployed, this will give you the sense of purpose you need and also a boost to feeling productive.

10 Secrets To Control Your Boss

We all wish we could have control over our boss. That way, we could ensure we’d get what we want (at the very least, never be considered for a layoff). Well good news, there are things you can do to build a relationship with your manager that will give you some power. Here are 10 tips to help you:

1. Make Your Boss’s Professional Goals Your Personal Agenda

A happy boss is one whose staff understands and supports what they are trying to accomplish. Every manager has a particular goal they want to achieve that they’ll be able to showcase as a professional accomplishment. Learn what your manager is trying to make happen and then do what you can to assist them.

2. Compliment Your Boss On His/Her Greatest Strengths

Managers like praise, too! Show them respect by pointing out what they are good at. Compliment them on how knowledgeable they are or how well they communicate with clients. When you praise them for specific skills actions, you are actually showing them you understand what it takes to be successful in their role. That recognition will not be forgotten!

3. Go The Extra Inch (Not Mile!) On Every Request

When your manager gives you a project or task, don’t just complete it on time and to specification, take it just a bit further by getting in done early or adding some finishing touches. This shows you want to please your manager, but you are mindful of not wasting your time going overboard.

4. Enthusiastically Volunteer For The Crappy Projects

Nothing says, “I’m a team player,” more than volunteering to do some aspect of the job that is no fun. Managers love people who are willing to take a headache off their plate and they NEVER forget the employee who saved them from having to force someone to do a job that wasn’t fun.

5. Be Your Boss’s “Vacation Salvation”

Manager’s often call in multiple times and end up working while on vacation. As soon as your boss announces he/she is taking time off, set a meeting and tell them you would love to cover for them. Offer to be the point person in the office for a daily call. Also offer to send an update e-mail at the end of every day they can check at their leisure.

When the manager calls in, reassure him/her that everything is going just fine and you have everything under control. Knowing there is someone there watching over things as they would makes their vacation enjoyable and their appreciation for you as their employee skyrocket.

6. Never Point Out A Problem Without A Solution To Go With It

Problems always arise your manager needs to know about. Don’t be the barer of bad news without bringing some good news, too. Always present the problem and then suggest three options for solving it. Even if you don’t have the right solution, the fact you came prepared with ideas shows how much you want to help your boss solve it quickly and effectively.

Plus, if one of your ideas is the right idea, you’ll earn respect from your boss as someone who knows how to take charge and fix things. That’s the kind of person a manager likes to keep on their team.

7. Understand Your Role Is To Either Save And/Or Make Money

Given the current economy, there isn’t a manager out there who hasn’t had to consider who’d they would let go if required to make cuts. When they evaluate staff, it’s always based on who provides the most value. If you can’t more than justify your salary with the work you do, you are at risk. Make sure you boss clearly sees the correlation between your work and profitability for your department.

8. Avoid Surprising Your Boss At All Costs

Unexpected needs for time off, sudden problems you can’t handle, and out-of-the-blue requests for tools and resources are a real turn-off to managers. Like you, they hate surprises. Do whatever you can to avoid catching your boss off-guard. They’ll appreciate your consistency and respect greatly your reliability. Plus, on the rare occasion you do surprise them, they’ll remember it is the exception not the rule.

9. Remember Your Boss Is A Human Being

Like you, managers have bad days, problems with family, and financial woes. Just because they are the manager, make more money than you (sometimes they don’t!), or have some power, isn’t a reason to forget they have feelings.

Be sensitive to your boss when he/she is having an off-day and don’t be afraid to close the door and say, “I sense you are stressed today. Is there anything I can do?” While they probably will brush it off and say, “I’m fine,” they will not forget you cared enough to ask. Employees who care about their manager are employees a manager wants to keep around long-term.

10. Always Make Your Boss Feel Like The Boss

Your manager has the lead role. It comes with added responsibility and pressures that you do not have. Be mindful of how hard your boss’s job must be and make sure you articulate your respect for the job he/she has agreed to take on. While you may not like everything your boss does, and perhaps even you think you could do the job better, show your respect for the fact he/she is the one doing the job.

Even if your boss is the type that says he/she sees you as equals and wants you to feel like you have as much say as they do, the simple reality is it’s his/her reputation at stake if something goes wrong. So, be sure to say or do something on a regular basis that proves to your boss you appreciate his/her willingness to include you, but that you still know he/she is in charge.

The 3 “Musts” Before Every Interview

The top three things you should do before an interview are: Anticipate, prepare, and practice. As a recruiter and career coach, I cannot emphasize this enough. You got the interview, which means the hiring manager has obviously agreed that you appear to be a fit for the role on paper, and now the interview requires that you back it up in person. If you don’t prepare, you might just negate all the hard work you’ve done on this job searchby blowing this opportunity.

I always tell candidates to go into an interview as if the job is the only role you want. Then, it’s ultimately your decision whether to take the job or not. If you seem ambiguous or lack enthusiasm, it will be their decision and their answer will most likely be no. One of the best ways to show your interest and enthusiasm for the position is to prepare: Know the role, the company, and be ready to explain how hiring you is a smart “return on investment” for your prospective employer.

We all know that no one can possibly anticipate every possible interview question. Case in point: I have a client who likes to ask prospective salespeople to “name 10 things you can do with a pencil that doesn’t involve writing or erasing” in under a minute. Obviously, this is not the norm – but there are more standard interview questions that are frequently asked. You should practice concise answers to those common questions, and wherever possible, quantify your achievements.

Some examples might include: “Tell me about yourself,” “Walk me though your resume,” “Why did you leave your last position?” and “Why should we hire you?” Also, “What are your greatest strengths?” “Weaknesses?” “Work accomplishments?” And so on.

You can be sure they will ask you for specific examples of where and when you had the experience they require for the role in question. Since you have the job description, the “role-specific” questions can be anticipated and your answers practiced.

As a recruiter, I look for “strong-fit” resumes and conduct a thorough screening process to confirm the match before presenting them to my client companies. If the company is interested and schedules an interview, I supply my candidates with a “prep packet” and conduct a mock interview with them before their interview with my client.

It is always disappointing when it is obvious that the candidate has not done the necessary practice and preparation and it is something you simply can’t fake. You only have one chance to make a first impression, so make it count. Prepare and practice. Give yourself the best chance for getting that job offer!