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Career Advice to Help You Make the Most of Spring Hiring Season

Spring-Cleaning[3]As spring continues to warm up, so do companies’ plans to hire. Check out new listings, and read these new career-advice articles to help you turn up the heat on your job search.

  1. Reframe the way you think about failure.

Next time you fail at something, remember it’s a stepping stone to success. Everyone fails sometimes, even the most successful people. “I think our resilience is dramatically improved when we trust that often out of the biggest heartbreaks come the best things in our lives.”

2. Job seekers can look forward to more perks and benefits, and maybe returning to former employers.

What’s in the cards for hiring in 2016? More perks and benefits, recruiting via social media and workplace flexibility.

3. Here’s how to power your job search with social media.

We’re sure you know that social is where it’s at for job searching, but you might not be taking advantage of all the tools out there to learn about companies, career arcs and trends. Get yourself up to speed with the latest tips and tricks.

4. Hey interviewees: If your question for the interviewer isn’t about the job or your performance of the job, don’t ask it.

In the interview, asking “How many sick days do I get?” will more than likely turn off the hiring manager—and that’s not all that can ruin your chances of that sweet potential gig. For a complete list of what to avoid asking come interview day.

5. Toss the to-do list, carry a notebook and make it home for dinner.

Ultra-successful people are different from you and me: They’ve got their daily routines and behaviors mastered. Learn from their secrets, and use them to power your job search, with this LinkedIn article.

6. Job search stalled? Get back in gear with this career advice.

The process of applying for jobs is, unfortunately, much more involved than just turning in applications. Learn fool-proof ways to maximize your chances of getting a job offer with help from a professional coach.

7. Here are the companies where millennials want to work.

Do you dream of getting an offer from Google, Netflix or Apple? You’re not alone: These are among the 10 companies at which workers ages 18 to 34 would love to land, according to YouGov.

8. Use keywords, keep your profile up to date and get ready for your video interview closeup.

Including keywords in your applications, keeping your socials current, being camera-ready for video interviews and looking for an inside connection: They’re all part of the latest techniques outline.

9. Hey, employers: Guess who’s to blame for that interview crashing and burning?

Interviewers who go through the motions and stick to a script instead of having a human conversation can scuttle what should be a key point of contact with a candidate.

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3 Reasons Why ‘Take Whatever Job You Can Get’ Is The Worst Advice Ever

0_0_0_0_146_146_csupload_66547857I still have warm memories of my college graduation. The weather was perfect, my cap stayed on my head and I managed to score a seat near my friends even though the graduating class was huge.

Then came the hammer from our commencement speaker, who told us that because the job market was so bad, we should all take whatever company would hire us. Maybe it was because I didn’t want to live with my parents forever, or maybe it’s because I’m susceptible to anyone speaking into a microphone, but I took that advice to heart and quickly ended up working at a place I didn’t like.

Sure, I made just enough money to move out on my own, but I quickly learned that “take what you can get” is really bad job advice. And because I’d hate for you to settle so fast, here are three reasons why I think you should wait for the right position, even when it feels like your search has taken forever, even when you hate your current position and even when you’ve been laid off.

  1. You’ll Rush Every Part Of The Job Search

Sometimes, things fall into place, and your dream gig will just land in your lap. But if you’re anything like me, your job search will take a little while. And that’s OK, which is hard to believe when everyone around you is resigned to the idea that you should just take whatever you can get. I fell into this trap, too. In fact, I fell so hard into this trap that I sped up my first search out of college and accepted a position of in the middle of an interview, didn’t negotiate salary and worst of all I left that day knowing I’d probably hate it.

What To Do Instead

Aside from taking a deep breath and thinking carefully about each offer you get, it’s important to ask yourself a few questions before you dive into your search. Maybe there’s an industry you want to break into, or maybe you’ll discover you still don’t know what you want to do with your life. The good news is that there are no wrong answers, but when you do figure out where you currently stand, you’ll be able to create a plan that’ll help you avoid applying for jobs that you might feel pressured to accept, even though you know you wouldn’t enjoy the work.

  1. You’ll Take Some Bad Advice Along The Way

There’s one universal truth about every single person you’ll ever meet: They all have an opinion on your choices. Some will offer good suggestions, and some will tell you that you jump into a career in finance even though you want to be a writer. It’s OK to listen to the advice people give you, but you should also listen to your gut. You know what’s best for you (at least, most of the time).

What To Do Instead

Here’s something I found to be helpful during my last hunt: Bring a notepad with you whenever you attend a networking event, job fair or even meet someone in your network for coffee and jot down whatever advice you want to consider later. When you get home, go back to the notepad and reevaluate the tips you received. You’ll find that some make sense, and some should be crossed out with the thickest Sharpie pen you have on your desk. Best of all, you’ll get in the habit of not acting on any bad advice you receive on the spot.

  1. You Could End Up Doing Something You Hate For A Long Time

I learned very early in my career that saying “at least I’m getting a paycheck” is an excellent sign that you should start looking for a new job. And yet, even though I was in a position I didn’t enjoy, I stayed for a few years. Why? Because I had moved out of my house to pursue a career I didn’t love, and suddenly I had bills to pay. And because schlepping all my things back to my parents’ house wasn’t an option, those responsibilities weren’t going away.

What To Do Instead

Whenever you’re offered a gig, graciously accept and ask for some time to consider the whole package. And in that time, don’t be afraid to run your list of pros and cons by people you trust (as long as they’re not the same people telling you to take what you can get). Often, even saying the things you’re thinking can shed a lot of light on whether or not you should accept it.

It’s tough not to listen to people who are telling you that no job offer is a bad job offer. After all, it comes from a good place. Those people are just trying to make sure you don’t starve, which is obviously a nice sentiment. However, just because the search might be tricky at times doesn’t mean you should feel obligated to jump at the first opportunity. You know what you’re looking for in your next (or even first) job, so trust yourself and don’t be afraid to wait for the right opportunity.

 

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Job Search in Your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s

e036361d5fffaf0d3a7e615af321e0f2[1]As you age, you will want to change the types of jobs you seek, the personal brand you introduce, even the way you present your resume.

Whether you are 22 or 62, a job search may be in your future. But the 20-something’s job search strategy should look very different than the 60-something’s — and so should everyone’s in between.

Especially in this economy, people of all ages are in the market for a new job. Some people are looking to improve their pay or title, some want to change their career paths and some have been involuntarily plunged into a job search due to downsizing. No matter what the catalyst, a job search should be carefully calculated and cultivated, with a great many factors taken into account. One of the most important, but often overlooked, is the impact the job seeker’s age can and should have on the process.

20s: Getting a Foot in the Door

Job seekers in their 20s are long on enthusiasm and education but short on experience. Family and financial responsibilities tend to be limited, so it’s a good time to take chances. It’s also a period during which you can take some time to figure out the ways in which your talents and skills can best be applied.

“Seek out positions where you can learn from others, but be a valuable resource through your fresh perspective, youthful exuberance and the fact you have minimal responsibilities to tie you down.

One of the biggest mistakes 20-somethings make is waiting to start their job search until after they have graduated from college. A job search should start once you have declared your major. This is when you should begin to build a professional network in the way of professional societies, relationships with key professors and with possible employment opportunities through internships.

In the end, there are few things that trump experience, and younger job searchers may have the luxury of being able to gain that experience by working for less or even no pay — at least for a while.

“Having your college degree is great, but experience gets your foot in the door. Do volunteer work within your field. Seek internships, paid or unpaid, if you have to.

30s: Shaping Up

In your 30s, you need to be thinking long-term. At this point, each job is shaping your career.

Think about the next job on your resume. Does it make sense in your career path? If it doesn’t, don’t make that move. Your resume tells a story.

You also may have started a family at this point, so benefits and the demands of the job — not just wages — will be more of a consideration.

Unlike your 20s experience is less important than demonstrating your skills, but there’s still room to take risks.

In your 30s, you’ve built up confidence in your skills and should look for roles that showcase your abilities and allow you to take some professional risks. At the same time, however, you’ll want to scrutinize your work/life balance since you probably have more personal responsibilities in your 30s. You may also want to consider the kind of work you’ll be doing and how your contributions will make a difference with the employer. The benchmark at this stage is to establish respect in your abilities and begin branding yourself as an expert.

40s: What Does Your Career Story Say?

In your 40s, you have laid a firm career foundation. Now is the time to think about your impact and legacy.

A key driver for a voluntary job search in your 40s is often the degree of job satisfaction and personal and professional recognition coming from your current position. For the 40s and beyond, I think you start looking for a job that has impact. By 40, you start defining yourself not just by who you are but also by what you do. This increases as you get older.

At this point in your career, you need to be able to show potential employers that you have effectively managed your career.

Look at the arc of your career over 20 years, and hopefully you see a forward progression of accomplishment and bigger roles. Companies have 20 years of data on you, so they will be looking at this arc, as well. You are getting more expensive; are you worth the cost?

At this point in your career you need to invest more in your job search tools — your resume, personal brand and interviewing skills — to ensure all tell the correct story of your career progression and demonstrate you are worth the price you request.

50s: Find Meaning

As many can attest, looking for a new job in your 50s is not easy.

Job seekers in their 50s may be seen as too expensive. Going for a lower-titled, lower-paying position may be seen as a way to get their foot in the door, but employers often hesitate to hire overqualified candidates for fear that their hearts won’t be in the job or that they will leave the company the minute something better comes along.

Even with these challenges, there are several strategies that can be used to counteract some of the bias against older workers. First and foremost, emphasize accomplishments and experience while de-emphasizing age. Leave the year you graduated from college off your resume and, unless relevant to the job you’re applying for, only show an employment history for the last 15 to 20 years.

For job seekers in their 50s, first-hand experience with age discrimination moves from potential and theoretical to real and immediate. The 50-something job seeker has a professional lifetime of experience to offer a potential employer. And, if circumstances allow, this is the time to be thinking about taking on a position that has real meaning.

Fifty-plus is a time when … what you do has to have meaning — not necessarily a big title but actual ‘meaning. [A new job] should be interesting enough so that you learn something and challenging enough so that it calls on all the skills and experience you’ve acquired. By this time, the rewards are more in the work than in the paycheck.

60s: Be Flexible

Baby boomers who thought they were going to retire at 59½ to 62 are now dealing with the aftermath of the collapse of their job security and the collapse of their retirement funds and are saying, ‘Now I have to work ’til 68 or maybe 70. “But employers aren’t interested in that.”

When it comes to 60-somethings, employers have fears related to potential length of service, technological obsolescence and skyrocketing insurance costs.

At this stage in your career you must use your personal brand to combat those perceptions, but be flexible to different working arrangements like consulting and part-time work. Career experts say job seekers in this age category should be proactive, emphasizing the experience and work ethic that come with age, while demonstrating the flexibility and hunger to succeed that are often attributed more to younger workers.

Speaking of flexibility, experts add that 60-somethings should have it in spades and should demonstrate their willingness to be flexible in their personal brand and resume. Consider consulting, part-time work or freelancing, as opposed to a traditional full-time, benefited position. Pursue consulting work now, and adding those titles and positions to your resume will help.

In your 60s, it’s a whole different ballgame. “This may be about part-time work more than full-time work. You’ve been there and done that.”

Experts added that it’s key for older job seekers to emphasize the experience, wisdom and dependability that (usually) come with age.

Companies value institutional knowledge and deep industry expertise. Do you have this? Use the gray-hair factor as a selling point.

Whether you are 22 or 62, a job search may be in your future. But the 20-something’s job search strategy should look very different than the 60-something’s — and so should everyone’s in between.

Especially in this economy, people of all ages are in the market for a new job. Some people are looking to improve their pay or title, some want to change their career paths and some have been involuntarily plunged into a job search due to downsizing. No matter what the catalyst, a job search should be carefully calculated and cultivated, with a great many factors taken into account. One of the most important, but often overlooked, is the impact the job seeker’s age can and should have on the process.

by- Debra Donston-Miller

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4 Reasons You’re Scared To Start The Job Search (And Why You’re Looking At Them All Wrong)

careers-advice-puzzle-shows-employment-guidance-advising-ass-showing-assistance-[1]I should’ve been job searching during my final semester of college. And I did—a little. But the whole process really intimidated me. I scanned the sites for openings and threw myself into the ring for a few random positions, but for the most part, I kept pretending it wasn’t on my to-do list.

And then I decided, “Well, I’m not sure what I want to do after college, so, I’ll go to grad school!” I applied to one school, got in and then—surprise, surprise—went through the same exact dilemma two years later when I graduated. Sure, I had three more letters after my name—Abby Wolfe, MPH, woohoo!—but, unfortunately, my grad school curriculum didn’t include “Job Searching 101.”

Don’t get me wrong. Grad school was great. I learned a lot and met a lot of awesome people. But the reason I chose to pursue my master’s degree was not. I was prolonging my entrance into the “real world” because I was good at being a student, but not good at being a graduate. After all, every other time I graduated in my life I just moved on to more schooling (and yes, I count kindergarten graduation).

Going through this at any point in your life can be scary for multiple reasons. But, alas, you can’t escape it. So instead of putting it off any longer, let’s look at your four biggest fears square in the eyes and face them together.

Fear #1: You’ll Have To Spend All Your Free Time Doing It

You’re right. This process can be quite time consuming. First, you need to sift through the many postings to find opportunities that actually fit you and your interests. Then, you have to dedicate time to putting together a solid application, which can include a resume, cover letter, references, writing samples and more. And then, if you get an interview, you have to spend time prepping. You get the picture—it’s not just one click of a button.

But here’s the good news—there are ways in which you can optimize your time spent searching. Block off specific times in your week to sit down and focus solely on this process. And when I say specific times, I don’t mean “I will work on this over the weekend.” Instead, I’m thinking more along the lines of “I will do this on Wednesday night from 7 to 9 p.m.” And then at 9 p.m., you’re done, you’re free.

Once you choose times, assign goals to each session. These could be along the lines of:

  • Find three positions to apply to
  • Write cover letter for X position at X company
  • Revise resume

Without designated times and specific goals, you’re likely to just keep prolonging the process. Because, admit it: If you just troll openings while you’re watching the latest episode of The Walking Dead, you’ll most likely get distracted by the creepy drone of the zombies. Additionally, you’ll probably spend many a minute scrolling through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Amazon.com—choose your poison, you know you have one.

 

Fear #2: You Aren’t Qualified For Anything

An open position grabs your attention and you get really excited. But when you get to the list of requirements at the end of the page, that excitement quickly fades. “I have to have how many years of experience? And be proficient in all of those systems?”

You’re not the only person’s who’s asked yourself, “How am I supposed to gain experience if I can’t fulfill the requirements to get a job in which I will gain experience?”

Some requirements are listed because they ‘sound good. Furthermore, when companies are writing these blurbs, they often tailor them to describe who their “dream applicant” would be.

But truthfully, Companies aren’t going to stall the hiring process until the dream applicant saunters in—solid, qualified applicants (like you!) get interviews, too. So, if there is a dumping ground of desired skills at the end of the description, see them as bonus skills and focus your application on all of the core skills you do have.

But keep in mind, while you’re probably more qualified than you give yourself credit for, you’re not right for everything. As long as you’ve ruled all the “definite nos” out and you aren’t applying to be, say, an orthopedic surgeon when you went to school for art therapy, apply away.

Fear #3: You Won’t Stand Out

It can be awfully daunting to apply for a job when you know the recruiter probably already has a mountain of resumes on his desk. And it can be really easy to start doubting yourself and your chances of getting picked out of that pile. But if you’re trying for a position you’re qualified for, you deserve just as much of a chance as the other faceless applications—and maybe even more.

But here’s the kicker—you’re not done once you hit “send.” It’s only just begun. If you want to stand out, you have to take action and go above and beyond. You should never hesitate to go the extra mile, show some initiative and share some other materials that a potential employer might care about. Go ahead and send them a link to your portfolio or personal blog. Anything that helps them to get a better sense of who you are as a candidate will benefit you!”

Going the extra mile doesn’t have to be fancy, though. In fact, it can be quite simple. One quick and easy way to be noticed is with an untraditional cover letter opening (i.e., saying something other than “Hi, I’m writing to express my interest in this position”).

“It’s always a treat when a candidate starts with a fun fact, a memorable anecdote or a clever line. By doing this, you immediately have my attention.” Take note, though: Your creative kickoff should relate to the position in question to some extent. Completely random tidbits are fun, but will leave the hiring manager feeling very confused: “I’m really happy that you’ve tasted every cheese in Wisconsin, but can you remind me how that makes you a good software engineer?”

There are many other ways to stand out, such as creating a portfolio of your work, thoroughly researching the company and connecting with individuals at the companies you’re applying to (and I mean more than just pressing “Connect” on LinkedIn).

 

Fear #4: You’ll Hate The Job You Get

When looking for a new gig (or your first one), there are bound to be many thoughts rushing through your mind. “But what if I hate it? What if I’m absolutely miserable? What if this isn’t even the right field for me?”

You’ll be spending a lot of time at work—if you aren’t happy there (for the most part) it’ll start to negatively affect your whole life. So you definitely don’t want to settle.

But before you let this fear make you turn around and run, consider the following:

Just as there’s no guarantee that you’ll love it, there’s also no guarantee that you’ll hate it. The only actual guarantee is that you have no idea how the future will pan out. (Unless you are a psychic—are you?) One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received is: Don’t make something a problem before it’s actually a problem. Pursue jobs you believe are a great fit for you. If—if!—the one you end up with turns out to be the worst ever, you can deal with it then.

Nothing is permanent. (Well, most things aren’t.) If you end up absolutely loathing the company—guess what? You can start to look for something else. I know, going through the process again? But that’s the reality—you’re not signing your life away. With that being said, this doesn’t mean you should take just any position just because you know you can leave. That’s a recipe for disaster.

It’s normal to fear this process. But at the end of the day, it’s also an opportunity for you to start (or continue) shaping your future. Determine what’s holding you back from searching, then tackle that fear head on. Good luck!

Contributor-Mus

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Refresh the Job Search and Get Hired This Spring

Spring-Cleaning[3]Snap out of hibernation and get applying with these tips

With spring finally here and the gloom of winter behind us, there’s a sense of new beginnings in the air. And with that comes the possibility of a new job to propel your career forward.

“When the weather starts to warm up, both employers and job seekers shake off the winter blues and the job market starts to come out of hibernation.”

So, to help you break out of the winter slump and into a productive job hunt, here are three steps to get you defrosted and back in the game.

1. Reflect on Your Process

Now’s a great time to look back at which resume and cover letter hailed a reply from a hiring manager, and which ones disappeared into the great unknown. “Paraphrasing a wise philosopher,” says Twersky, “we should remember the past lest we repeat its mistakes.”

If you’ve been keeping a list of your job search—which, hey, you should do—mark all the jobs you didn’t hear back from. If you still have the resumes and covers for those positions, take a look and see if you can spot why a hiring manager may have passed.

Repeat this process with the companies that you did hear back from to see what you did there to grab their eye.

This is a great way to do a quick self-assessment, and you might actually glean some valuable information for moving forward in your search.

2. Purge and Update the Resumes

Now that you’ve assessed your old resumes and cover letters, it’s time to toss them.

Get rid of the outdated resumes that clutter your desktop, keeping only your most up-to-date ones. And if it’s been awhile since you’ve updated your resume, remember it only needs to cover the past 10 to 15 years.

If you think your resume might be the thing that’s been holding back your job search, well, now’s the time to do something about it. Either take some serious time to really make your resume stand out, or hire a pro, to get some expert help.

And if you’re not already using Google Docs to manage your resumes, consider giving it a shot. With all your application materials stored on the Cloud, you’ll still be able to access all your latest resumes and apply for a job even when you’re not at your home computer.

3. Get Interview Ready

If a company called you for an interview tomorrow, would you be ready? Many times, a job-seeker who hasn’t had a lot of bites might get a little too comfortable in their job search, and not actually be prepared for the most important part—the interview.

There is some truth to the cliché “clothes make the person,” Twersky says. “When we look the part, whether it’s a smart wardrobe that fits our perception of the corporate culture where we are interviewing, or a sharp haircut or suitably applied makeup,” he says, “having a positive self-image, which should be aided by your aesthetics though not entirely defined by them, is a proven confidence-booster.”

Of course, it’s also important to remember that, in an interview, “style will rarely trump substance,” says Twersky.

To make sure you’re interview ready, go over this checklist and make sure everything’s good to go, so in case you do get a call today, you’ll be ready to crush the interview tomorrow:

by John Lombard

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4 Tips to Spring Clean Your Job Search

PrintSpring arrived last week, and if you’re a job seeker, your spring cleaning assignment should be your job search. Forget dusting and scrubbing your house, when you are searching for a job, your biggest priority is that search. We especially love job search spring cleaning because it gives us a good excuse to avoid dusting and scrubbing our houses! So without further hesitation, follow these steps to spring clean your job search.

 

Shake out your resume and cover letters. You shouldn’t be sending the same stale resume and letters for each job application. Take a little time to update your resume, including any new accomplishments, skills, etc. Remove old, outdated, or irrelevant information. And create a few resumes to match the different types of jobs or industries you’re searching for. Having customized resumes goes a long way to show an employer why you’re the candidate they’ve been hoping for.

 

Dust off your professional network. It might have been a while since you were in touch with your professional contacts, but spring is a great excuse to say hello. Your get-back-in-touch email or phone call can simply be to say hello, see how their winter went, and wish them a Happy Spring. A good excuse as any to reconnect with helpful people. And don’t forget — the biggest rule for networking is that the more you give, the more you get. Before you ask for people’s help, ask them if they could use any of yours.

 

Shine up your interview wardrobe. Has it been a while since you had your suits laundered? Or polished your shoes? Tackle those activities now, before you are rushing to attend a hastily scheduled job interview, and while you’re at it, spiff up your interview skills as well. Practice answering interview questions out-loud in front of a mirror. Or ask a friend to interview you and give you feedback. Read up on our tips for interviewing:

 

Organize your job search tactics. Job searching can take up a lot of time, and it’s important that you use your time wisely. Make a schedule for yourself so that you’re spending time on all the important job search tactics: job searching, resume and cover letter writing, company research, networking, and application follow up. By organizing your job search now, you’ll set yourself up for success.

Contributor- Brie Weiler Reynolds

 

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3 Game-Changing Career Lessons You’ll Learn If You Work With A Coach

Whether you’re trying to land a new job, looking for a total career change or thinking that you need a second pair of eyes to spruce up your resume—you’re at the point in the process that you know you could benefit from hiring a career coach.

But, the thought of spending money on something you’re pretty sure you should be able to do yourself still makes you a bit wary. After all, it’s a big investment—and your bank account aside, you’re not sure where you’re even going to find the time. Plus, there are so many resources online, so you go back and forth weighing the pros and cons.

While I completely understand where you’re coming from (especially because I love solving problems on my own), I also know there’s a lot you can learn from a coach—not even including what you’re hiring him or her to help you do.

For example, here are just three of the lessons you might pick up that would make it worth it.

  1. You’ve Got So Many More Skills Than You Realize

You do a lot every day at your job—no matter what that is. But for some reason, translating your daily responsibilities to a jam-packed skills section on your resume feels impossible. This is where a coach can step in—especially for those people changing careers who can’t figure out how to make the connection between their current industry and the one they want to move into.

Your coach will be a third party who can thread together your past experiences with your future opportunities. Don’t think that your recruiting experience will help you get a job in software sales? Think again! This person will be able to listen to your journey thus far and identify all skills (hard and soft) you’ve developed so that you’ll shine on your application and in future interviews.

Remember: You always have a story to tell. Sometimes you just need the right person to help you figure out the best way to say it.

  1. You’re Missing Out On Some Great Companies

Finding a job that fits your skill set can be hard. That search pales in comparison to the hunt for your dream company one where you’ll mesh with the culture, believe in the mission and just love the leadership. With so many companies out there, how do you even know if you’re pursuing the right one? Or, to step back even more, how do you know who’s even hiring right now? Yes, most organizations post listings publicly—but many don’t do this formally, meaning there could be opportunities right under your nose that you’re missing.

Coaches are talking to lots of folks in many different industries every day. They live and breathe careers, hiring, the latest tools, trends and companies. It’s literally their job to do all that. While working together, he or she may have some suggestions of places to check out—maybe a few you’ve heard of but never thought to work for, or organizations you never knew existed, or even popular companies using unique job titles to fill a role you’re actually qualified for. No, they’re not recruiters, but they’re definitely more aware than the average person about what’s going on.

Think about it this way: You might not be landing your dream job because you are missing out on your dream company.

  1. You’re Your Own Worst Enemy

The job search process can be really overwhelming. In fact, it can kind of be like an emotional rollercoaster. You put so much time and effort into updating your resume, researching companies and honing your interviewing skills that when you don’t land a new gig, it can be really discouraging. Then the problem becomes one of negative thought patterns, a defeatist attitude and a bruised ego.

So, the most underrated aspect of hiring a career coach? This person’s going to be your biggest advocate and cheerleader. He or she can see the greatness in you and also bring to light the things that are holding you back.

Often times, people get stuck in a career rut not because they aren’t marketable, but because of the mental barriers that get in their way. Whether it be your lack of confidence or clarity or unrelated stressful factors like relationships and health—your coach will be able to help you see that you can be your own worst enemy. And once that’s out of the way, the sky’s the limit. Corny? Sure. True? Also yes. More often than not, you’re in a much better place than you think when it comes to your job search, and there’s no shame in hiring someone who can help you see that.

So whether you’re looking for an accountability partner, a cheerleader or a career connoisseur, a coach will help catapult your career in ways you couldn’t even imagine!

Contributor- the Muse

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Leaders Must Develop 6 Competencies To Avoid Causing Chaos

1361913275_3248_leadershipIt’s become a universal truth that there is a lack of leadership in both the public and private sectors. In fact, many would believe that leadership is quickly becoming extinct. Given the cultural demographic shift, most leaders lack the readiness to see diversity and inclusion as a profit center rather than a traditional cost center. Let’s face it, today’s business climate is telling us that it is becoming less about the business defining the individual and more about the individual defining the business. What does this mean? Leaders are becoming less relevant because their businesses are losing their competitive advantage. Instead of committing to understand how to serve the unique needs of their employees and customers, they focus solely on what they believe (assume) is in their best interests.

Many of today’s leaders represent a library of rhetoric. Lots of fancy words and inspirational catch phrases that attempt to impress us instead create confusion along the way. Employees and customers alike have grown tired of false promises and as the political climate in America has shown us, anger, frustration and dissatisfaction has risen to the surface. It has become clear that today’s leaders are no longer a courageous as they once were – and as a result – they lack the vulnerability to genuinely connect with those they serve and thus find it difficult to earn trust and build meaningful relationships. Rather than strengthen their competencies to lead more effectively, many leaders are in search of short-cuts while leveraging their authority/title to get by. The outcome: The chaos that comes with widening gaps in their performance, missed opportunities they cannot see, and the inability to anticipate uncertainty and manage change before circumstances force their hand.

Recently, I spoke to a group of CEOs about the widening gaps in leadership. One of the growing trends I shared is that leaders are becoming more and more complacent. Rather than turn the spotlight of accountability on themselves, there was a tendency to shine the light of accountability on others.   Leaders must take greater ownership to remain relevant for the organizations and industries they serve. Being an effective leader is hard work; harder than ever before, because it requires continuous reinvention. And who wants to adopt a new mindset that must welcome change in order to evolve? For many, it’s not easy. As a leader, you must have the stamina for the fight to let go of the old ways of doing things to be significant again. And for those leaders that remain complacent, they put their organizations, employees and customers they serve at risk. Complacent leaders fail in their primary responsibility of enabling the full potential  in people and the organizations they serve and are at risk of becoming irrelevant if they don’t evolve how they lead so that the business can grow and compete in the 21st century.

People see through the words of a leader who is not authentic and has not earned their trust. Words ring hollow when you are just paying lip service to your audience. The words that leaders use have lost their meaning and in the process – the value they once had. The political climate in America reminds us of the consequences when leaders use words irresponsibly. When there is a lack of clarity and understanding around the words that leaders use – confusion, silos and tension abound – and in the process, performance gaps widen. For example, the word “accountability” has lost its meaning and value. At its core, accountability is when a leader can be relied upon to have the backs of those they serve. And in today’s workplace and marketplace, this means that leaders must be more self-aware about understanding and knowing how to serve the unique differences and needs of their employees and customers. The word accountability requires leaders to work with a generous purpose and sustain high levels of reciprocity in an effort to be more intimate with their customers and employees –to stay 5-10 steps ahead of the curve to assure that their organization is never blindsided. Accountability demands that a leader take ownership of their actions to assure the marketplace never passes them by. The result if they don’t is that they will quickly lose their impact and influence, and whatever momentum they have gained will just as quickly be gone.

To stop unknowingly creating chaos and avoid enabling a workplace that is unproductive and runs the risk of losing top talent and customer loyalty in the marketplace – leaders must develop the following six leadership competencies:

 

  1. Originality

Many leaders continue to manage by the templates of old and cannot evolve to be the leaders their company needs. Those templates have stripped them of their identities and left them uncertain about who they are and how to face change. We must anticipate the unexpected to welcome change in order to evolve. Leaders need to stop mimicking others and create their own distinction – they must become more original in their thinking.

Brad Lea, Founder/CEO of LightSpeedVT, has built a successful business model around originality. Original leaders are pure thinkers that are passionate about converting differences into opportunities,” he explains. “They are fueled by the common sense that most people lack; what makes them uncommon is also what makes them exceptionally impactful. When you come right down to it, originality is about being yourself – and encouraging others to be fearless enough to be themselves too.”

  1. Consistently Courageous

Most leaders would rather talk about what needs to change or improve, rather than roll-up their sleeves and take action. We must learn to commit to being more vulnerable in order to be more courageous to take action. We must be passionate in our pursuits to explore endless possibilities.

Your courage as a leader will be measured not only by the path you create for yourself, but by the wisdom you share to help others along their own path. Courageous leaders teach others how to be courageous themselves – to fight through the uncertainties in business and in life with perspectives they can relate to from the past that will see them through their own journeys.

  1. Diversity Of Thought

Too many leaders gravitate toward like-mindedness rather than invite fresh perspectives to strengthen outcomes and unveil possibilities previously unseen. As leaders, we must guide the creation of an inclusive environment that communicates our organization’s core beliefs and values; we must evolve the culture and set the right tone toward maximizing the full potential of everything we influence. Leaders must embrace diversity of thought to unite people and through our influence – bring others along and value their unique contributions and differences to make the organization stronger. Being intimate with the business elevates our self-awareness and broadens our observations to see opportunity in everything; opportunities previously unseen.

  1. Embrace A New Mindset

Leaders that lack the ability to reinvent themselves are those that get caught in the traps of complacency. What leaders need is a new mindset. A mindset that takes them from melting pot to mosaic, from substitutional to evolutionary thinking, from knowledge to wisdom, and from survival to reinvention. Leaders must embrace an entrepreneurial spirit to maximize the utilization of resources and form relationships with our employees and customers with a mindset that creates stronger alignment and builds momentum.

  1. Take Ownership

As leaders, we must turn the spotlight of accountability on ourselves to strive for excellence – to help guide the evolution of the organization’s future and that of our employees and customers. Leaders must focus less on playing it safe to do the right thing versus making themselves more accountable to solve for the right things. Time is so precious, yet too many leaders are not willing to take on a new level of accountability that requires them to roll-up their sleeves and  get their hands dirty.

The most important ingredient to great management is accountability. Without accountability, the ability to manage doesn’t exist.  Great management is holding yourself and those around you accountable to deliver results. In the end, managers are accountable to be accountable. The reason most people don’t succeed in work or in life is that they are not accountable enough to themselves or to those whom they serve.

  1. Legacy-Minded

Leaders talk about the importance of sustainability, but how can you sustain anything without being legacy minded? For many leaders, leaving a legacy is associated with the end rather than the beginning of their career. But your leadership is not shaped and your legacy is not defined at the end of the road but rather by the moments shared, the decisions made, the actions taken, and even the mistakes overcome throughout the many phases of your career. At each stage of your career, you learn how to keep creating sustainable impact and influence.

The best leadership legacies are a consequence of success coming to those who are surrounded by people that want their success to continue. When you can inspire those around you to take a leap of faith with you, you are creating a legacy defining moment in your leadership career that ultimately defines the path towards success and significance in your career and the legacy you leave behind for the associates and customers you serve.

Developing these six competencies will enable leaders with a fresh identity, a leadership identity that will provide clarity and understanding of how we can best solve for the requirements to evolve (ourselves, our teams, and our customers). Our leadership identity defines how we can most authentically and effectively influence business outcomes. We must trust ourselves to share our leadership identity with a generous purpose to improve our well-being and elevate our overall satisfaction at work for the betterment of our employees and customers.

Glenn Llopis, Contributor

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7 apps to help you perform better at work

0_0_0_0_112_112_csupload_66547857Your smartphone isn’t just a distraction at work — utilize these 7 web-based and mobile apps to help you perform more efficiently! 

There never seems to be enough time during the workday! In today’s technology-oriented, fast-paced society (with an even more competitive job market!) professionals are expected to juggle multiple tasks daily – like projects, business campaigns, meetings and pitching ideas to supervisors – all while staying connected and active on email, mobile devices and social media.

However, technology is also our friend – the right mobile apps and web tools can drastically simplify your life in this tech-driven workforce. With relevant apps, you’ll not only get your work done faster and more easily, but the end result will be even better. (And, you’ll seem like quite the innovator and problem-solver among your team, teaching others how to work smarter, not harder, too!)

So if you’re constantly seeking new ways to do more in less time, there are multitudes of online resources to help you become more productive. Here is a list of effective productivity apps that you can use at work.

  1. Boomerang

Contacting people via email can be tricky – it’s easy for one message to get lost among the dozens of spam messages and newsletters most professionals receive daily. This problem worsens when you’re unable to send a message at the appropriate time, when you think the receiver is available to read and respond. But sometimes there isn’t enough time in the day to compose and send an email at a reasonable hour!

But the Gmail app, Boomerang, solves this problem for you by allowing users to schedule emails for later. You can send, view and act on emails on your most convenient time – so your colleague can see your email pop up at 9 a.m., even though you sent it at 9 p.m. in front of the TV. By clicking the ‘Send Later‘ button, you can choose between sending the message at a set interval or at a specific date and time. The app also gives you the ability to postpone messages you have received in your inbox.

  1. Doodle

Doodle is a free, online calendar well-suited for companies. It helps you coordinate meetings among several busy individuals, making scheduling virtually effortless. With Doodle, you can create surveys which indicate the days and times people are available to meet. Even if your colleagues aren’t on a unified calendar scheduling app, Doodle will email those you invited, polling their availability as well.

  1. 3. Pocket

Looking for an app to capture and store content, articles and information from the web? Pocket is your new best friend. You can save any links, news and files into your device using this app and read it later when you’re free. Even without internet connection, you can still view your saved items.

  1. Resumesplanet

There are tons of proposal drafts piled on your desk and you still have no time to finish all of it. The expert business writer and editor at Resumesplanet can help! They can assist you in constructing strategic plans, and even ensure that every document is flawlessly written.

  1. Phlo

Phlo is known for its all-in-one search feature which speeds up the process of web browsing. It comes with a large database of search engines, and users can easily add or remove their preferred search browsers. This time-saving application is responsive and lightning-fast in delivering results.

  1. Focus Booster

Harness your focus and get more done at work by using Focus Booster, an app that is designed based on the principles of the Pomodoro technique. This basically involves doing a particular task in a 25-minute time frame, with a five-minute break between each. Taking regular breaks will keep your focus sharp. This type of management system allows you to practice expanding your attention span without going overboard.

  1. Evernote

Evernote is a must-have item in your productivity toolbox. This multipurpose app allows you to write notes and to-do lists that sync across all devices. It is loaded with incredibly useful organization, formatting and sharing options. Also, obtaining business cards has never been easier with Evernote’s scanning feature.

If you’re constantly feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number tasks looming over your head each workday, try one of these apps you think will simplify your to-do list. The apps listed above to are specifically designed to help you accomplish more work in less time – and, consequently, avoid getting left behind on your deadlines. You can work more efficiently when you have the proper technology at your disposal – and know how to use it!

. By Amber Stanley

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How To Rebuild Your Confidence To Re-Enter The Workplace

thCVU8L1PLLooking to rebuild your confidence? Check out these tips. 

Many people tie their self-worth to being employed. Jobs give meaning and purpose and offer a sense of belonging and value. This explains why finding yourself unemployed sometimes damages your confidence. It can feel as though you no longer have an identity.

As you seek to re-enter the workplace, start by acknowledging the fact that your confidence has been injured and needs to be rebuilt.

Take time to re-evaluate what you want out of your career.

Take a step back and look at the big picture. Create a list of your priorities, interests and values. These can change over time; it’s important to know where you currently stand. Do you value workplace flexibility or higher base pay? Are you willing to work 100 hours a week or do you want to be home for dinner? Do you want to remain in the same industry? Be willing to ask yourself the hard questions. Take time to reflect and determine what you want out of your career.

Take inventory and draft a plan.

Once you have taken the time to evaluate your priorities and interests, take inventory of your skills, experiences, and relationships. Do you know someone that has your ideal job? If so, pursue him/her on LinkedIn and learn more about your ideal position. Identify the jobs/companies that appeal to you and determine if you know anyone within the company whom you can contact. Once you have taken inventory, draft a plan. Begin by updating your resume and identifying where you want to send it. Put it against your calendar and decide what day of the week you are going to submit your resume. Create a personal plan to put things into action.

Write your story.

Return to the journey that helped you begin your career. Connect everything you have learned in the past to what is relevant for the future. Use it as an internal document to help prepare for potential interview questions or scripting your pitch when you go to a job fair. Why did you leave your last firm? What brings you here today? What do you want out of your career? Writing your story helps pinpoint the experiences that have brought you where you are today and raises your courage to present it.

Don’t do it alone. 

As much as we would like to will ourselves to feel confident again, it usually takes the support of another to help us along our way. You will need the support of someone beyond yourself, someone you can use as a sounding board, to launch and conduct a more effective job search.

  • You need someone to react to your interview answers.
  • You need others to shepherd your resume within their organizations.
  • You need someone to hold you accountable and ensure that your expectations don’t dip.

When your confidence is low, take advantage of someone else’s confidence and ask for his/her help. Rebuilding your confidence to re-enter the workplace is absolutely possible but unlikely to happen if done alone.

 By Melissa Llarena

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