4100weeks

Goal Setting that Works!

You're feeling fresh and new, buoyant with energy from the New Year! This year is going to be different! This year you're going to follow through and make the changes in your life you've been talking about for ages.  You're going to get that new job, shed those extra pounds, find a new relationship, start that novel, take some classes, go on that dream holiday (oh, wait...is this last one a goal or is it a reward?  More on this later).
 
But how many of us have set goals or made New Year's resolutions only to find ourselves quickly going back to old habits, reneging on our promises to ourselves or just plain giving up? I know I have! Until I came up with this process.  I use this every year for myself and my clients with great results!

Read the rest here.

You're Only Looking for One (Job)

A participant in last week's free call on Career Management and Job Search issues has been out of work for awhile and I asked her what she'd been doing to find a job.  She replied by saying that there were 'no jobs in (her) industry!' I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 

I wanted to laugh because there are always jobs available.  No matter how bad the economy is, people are being hired every day.  Cry because this is the prevailing attitude of so many people I see.  And as a result, they just give up.  And the saddest thing I've ever seen, is someone who has given up: given up on themselves.  Given up on their resourcefulness. 

I've worked with people professionally for over 30 years.  First as a waitress (Red Lobster and Swensens), then as a Front Desk Clerk in a hotel (The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville), then an Accountant with with a Big 4 CPA firm (pauses for flashbacks), then as a Recruiter with several firms and finally as a Career Coach, Speaker and Trainer.

If there's one thing I've learned from 30 years of working with people it's that they are endlessly resourceful once they put their mind to something.

And, in this economy resourcefulness is just what's needed.

So think of your job search as a target.  Your Bulls Eye is obviously a role in the same industry you've worked in.  But let's say that's not available to you.  Your particular function is being phased out for some reason.  Go to the first circle away from the bullseye.

What other functions can you do within your industry?  No job is strictly one dimensional.  People have been asked to do more with less and have been actively cross training for the last 20 years.  What other skills could you bring to the table doing something that is needed in this economy?

No ideas?  Okay, let's say for arguments sake, that there really are NO jobs in your industry.  For some reason, your particular field was made completely obsolete overnight by some new fangled invention that just hit the market.  That's actually the ONLY way that there would be NO jobs available, by the way.  There may be fewer jobs and they may be in different geographies, but there are always SOME jobs.  You may need to employ different strategies to find them, but they are out there.

Then what?  Time to move to the second circle around the Bulls Eye.  What other industry would LOVE to hire someone with your skills?

Still no options there?  I find that extremely difficult to believe, but okay I'll run with it.  Maybe it's time to think about what you would you have done had you not trained to do what you've spend the last X years doing?  Is that an option now?

How about owning your own business?  Statistics  show that more start up SUCCEED in a down economy than a buoyant one. 

Seriously, the target actually doesn't have to get that big to find a niche you can slide into if you are flexible, persistent and use multiple strategies to source work.  

So, if something isn't working (job search strategies, industries or functions you are targeting) try something else.  And if that doesn't work try something else.  And if that doesn't work, try something else.  See where I'm going with this?

I will always remember the advice I was given as a young accountant (pauses for more hideous flashbacks) looking for my first role outside of the Big 4.  I had applied for a job with Coca Cola. I remember being so excited when I got a call from the recruiter handling the role.  I put on my pin stripe suit and little silk bow tie (hey, it was 1991!) and went to meet him.

He informed me that I was one of 400 people that had applied for the same job and was probably one of the least qualified to do it.  My face just dropped. 

Then he looked at me and said the words I will never forget.  'Don't worry, it doesn't matter how many hundreds of people are looking for jobs.  You're only looking for one.  You may not get this one, but as long as you don't give up, you'll find one that's meant just for you.' 

I found my job within a month.  Those words changed my life because they changed my attitude.  And attitude is everything.  

So don't give up.  Get flexible and stay persistent.  Resourcefulness will prevail.

How to Write a Killer Resume

What is a killer resume? I have a sample resume with do's and don'ts by section on my website. Feel free to download it. But first a few thoughts. A killer resume is a resume that gets you an interview. Period. It may not be the flashiest, fanciest, most unusual or best designed resume. But it has the best content because it concisely, articulately and
succinctly demonstrates that you can solve the hiring manager’s problem or add value to the company.

But how do you know what that problem is or what value they need? Here is where the proverbial rubber meets the road. It’s up to you to find this out and then to tailor your resume (at least somewhat) to demonstrate this for each job you apply to. But what if you can’t find this information out? What if you are simply answering a blind ad on a job site? Then you make your best guess.

Securing an interview is the ONLY reason to create a resume. And the only way to secure the interview is to demonstrate the above.

And you have 15 seconds tops to do that in. Huh? That’s right. The BEST of resumes are only read for an average of 15 seconds? That’s what the statistics say. Now, look at your watch - measure 15 seconds. Not a lot of time is it?

How can you possibly portray your experience, qualifications, achievements, personality, etc. in 15 seconds? You can. And if you want an interview, you must.

To help you, I’ve put together a list of Top 10 Tips. If you follow these you’re sure to make your ’15 seconds of fame’ count (and you may even get an interview out of it.) In fact, many of my clients report going from not receiving a call for an interview in months to receiving multiple calls per day once they reformat their resume using these tips.

Go ahead. I dare you. You have nothing to lose, and if my clients’ past experience is any indication, everything to gain.

So, in ascending order of importance:

10.) How far is too far?
The only reason to go back more than 10 years is to demonstrate that you have experience that is beneficial to the job you are applying for, that you have not done in recent times. Otherwise, there is no need. Would you really want to do a job you did 10 years ago?

9.) The company does what?
Itʼs very important to let the reader know what your previous employers do, especially if youʼre in a position of responsibility,. A sentence or two on the size of the company, the companyʼs products and any other relevant information helps the hiring manager understand your background in more depth.

8.) Donʼt look like a job hopper when youʼre not!
Many candidates list different positions within 1 company as completely separate jobs, repeating the company name, etc. Interviewers are basically lazy (and you would be too if you had the number of resumes to read that they do at the moment). At first glance they may not realize that youʼve been promoted every 18 months to 2 years (which is a good thing). They may interpret your format to mean that youʼve changed jobs every 18 months to 2 years (not such a good thing). The proper
format is to list the company name and details once and make it stand out (larger font, Bold and Underlined, etc). Then list each position underneath and make it obvious that they are positions within the same company.

7.) How long is too long?
Remember the 15 second rule? Resumes should be from 1 - 2 pages in the United States and up to 4 (at the most!) pages elsewhere in the world, depending on your level of experience. Less is more, as long as itʼs impactful. The only exception to this is a traditional Curriculum Vitae, which would be used in academia or scientific fields.

6.) A picture tells 1,000 words.
Except on resumes. The rule of thumb here is never including your picture on your resume. Ever. Full stop. Period. The end.

5.) Ditto
In regards to including your age, marital status, children or pets names (donʼt laugh, Iʼve seen more than 1!) see #6.

4.) Form over substance.
Again, remember the 15 second rule? Make it easy for the interviewer to read your resume and keep it from the bin. Use lots of white space, put paragraphs into bullet points, donʼt use a lot of different fonts, standardize your presentation and be concise and articulate in your descriptions.

3.) Once is never enough.
One standard resume is generally not sufficient to apply for every role you look at. I encourage my candidates to have 2 - 3 resumes highlighting different areas of expertise. But always, always always customize your resume to the job you are applying for.

2.) Iʼll call you.
Make sure that you have your contact details (name, phone number and email are sufficient these days) in your header or at least on the top of your first page. Donʼt make the interviewer struggle to figure out how to contact you or they may just say, “next!” Also, make sure that you have voice mail turned on if youʼre actively looking (with an appropriate message). And nowadays itʼs perfectly appropriate to include your Linkedin Profile in your contact details as well.

1.) Substance over form
The most important thing on your resume is not your duties and responsibilities, not your education, awards or qualifications. The most important thing on your resume is your achievements. Your achievements should be specific accomplishments that are a result of your doing your job or (preferably) going above and beyond your job description. They are what separates you from others with the same experience.

Having specific, quantifiable, robust achievements will do more to differentiate your resume from the hundreds of other applying for the same roles than anything else. Get this right and you will have hiring
managers calling you within hours to set up interviews.

Achievements are:
The end result of a project
A demonstration of your going ‘above and beyond’
An accolade or award
Typically quantifiable

Achievements are NOT:
A process procedure
Part of your job description
Expected as a routine part of your daily work

Bonus: I know I shouldnʼt have to say this but I must, given the number of spelling and grammatical errors I see on resumes. Spell check!!! Itʼs easy enough to do with todayʼs software. Itʼs also a good idea to have at least 3 people look it over, including at least one person that has no idea what you actually do. Many human resources people do the first screen on roles that they are not that familiar with. Having someone unfamiliar with what you do ensures that anyone can follow your resume.

Your resume doesnʼt need to win awards. What it does need to do is keep the reader engaged long enough to have him or her say, “I need to call this person for an interview.”

By following these simple steps you will come one step closer to hearing those words you long for, “Youʼre hired!”

Labor Day Weekend and Spring Has Sprung! Huh?

One of the hardest things that I've had to get my head around living 'in the land Down Under' is the reversal of seasons.  I totally dig New Years day at the beach, but Christmas?  That's just wrong! 

This time of year is especially confusing.  With Labor Day Weekend and the start of football (Buckeyes for College, Packers in the NFL) I, like most of the rest of the world, start start thinking about unpacking sweaters and cooler temperatures.  But the thermometer has other ideas and the sweaters (or jumpers as they are referred to here) are in the closet and well worn. 

For reasons unbeknownst to me, this part of the world celebrates the change of seasons on the first day of the month that the solar events actually take place.  So although the Autumnal Equinox (traditionally the first day of Fall) is actually the 23rd of September, Spring officially began here on 1/9.  Yes, that's right 1/9.  Not 9/1.  Another reversal of things known and comfortable.

And sure enough, just like clockwork, the temperatures in Sydney have started to rise (thankfully - it's been the coldest winter in many years here and I'm over it!)

My brain always goes into a bit of a spasm about this.  I want to cling to my old ways.  I find myself making hot tea even though the temperatures this weekend have risen to 75. 

Someone once told me that you can't appreciate the distant shore if your focused on the harbor you've left behind and I think that's good advice (although I have to remind myself of it from time to time) 

Change in today's world is inevitable.  Cling to the old ways and the world will pass us by.  We'll miss opportunities to grow and prosper (just ask the music, publishing or newspaper industries).

In order to really thrive in today's world we need to embrace change and figure out our place in it. 

There is no sense denying the inevitable.  It's like asking the sun to stop turning.  So I can continue to cook my turkey at Christmas and be hot as hell, stuck in my kitchen in the middle of summer.  Or I can put on my bathers and head to the beach for a barbie.

The power of positive reinforcement

 

Me in India - When I first learned to ride my scooter.

I drive a scooter.  I never thought of myself as someone who would drive a motorbike.  They always scared me.  But after riding one in India I thought, 'how bad can Sydney be?' I love the convenience of it.  And the inner environmentalist in me loves the fact that it uses very little petrol.

But getting a drivers license in New South Wales is not easy.  Especially a motorbike license.  First there is a 2 half day course followed by a written test (which I failed the first time...I don't think I've ever failed anything in my life before taking the NSW drivers test!).  Then 3 - 12 months later you go back to the riders testing center for a full day course followed by a practical exam to get your provisional license (or 'P's' as it's known here). 

It was pouring down rain the first time I did my course and I fell off the bike during the quick stop part of the practical.  It turns out that they frown on you actually falling off of the bike during the test.  Needless to say I did not pass.  And I waited almost until I was out of time to take the test again.  But I finally screwed up the courage to do so and did it yesterday.

And guess what?  It was raining again!!!  We've had beautiful weather in Sydney almost since the day of my first test...until this week.  I was not happy!

But what happened served to remind me of the power of positive reinforcement.  Despite all of my own positive affirmations, visualisations and positive self talk I really wasn't sure I could pass it. I was scared.

But I had two people who believed I could do it and they made all the difference.  First, my boyfriend David who came with me and kept telling me how easy it was going to be and what a capable person I was. 

Then the instructor who said to me, 'This is a wet weather course.  You probably failed it the first time because it was dry.'  Ha!  Nice try!  I told him it was wet and that's why I fell off.  Then he told me that I couldn't fall on this course because it had a special grippy surface due to the metal flecks they put into the concrete.  Huh?  Well, I did see something shiny, so I chose to believe it.  :)

Unfortunately I was the lucky last of our group of 9 to go.  Unlike the last time I took the test (where 5 of the 7 of us failed) the first 8 passed!  And I know why. 

When it was time to take my test I drove my bike onto the course and the positive reassurance started right away from the instructor.  The first few skills are easy and I passed with flying colours, despite my pounding heart.  The last two are the killers.  But from the moment I drove onto the course the instructor, who's name I now wish I remembered, treated me like I was the best rider he'd ever seen.  I got so much encouragement (without him compromising the test) like I felt I couldn't not pass the last two skills, even when I had to repeat them both.  I knew I'd pass...it just wasn't an issue.

That started me thinking of all the people in my life that believed in me when I had questions and doubts and what a difference they've made to my life through the years.

The human brain is an amazing thing, it believes what it hears (either internally or externally).  Who has made a difference in your life by believing in you when you didn't believe in yourself? 

Conversely, are you giving positive reinforcement to yourself and those around you?  Or are you giving them a different message?  And what impact are you having that you may not even be aware of? 

Something to think about... 

Job Search 101

I know a lot of people in the US are looking for work right now.  I wanted to take this opportunity to share some strategies that will help - dramatically.  Even if they've been unemployed for a long time. 

So if you know anyone who is struggling to find a job please pass this post along.  It's something I'm passionate about. I know they work.

Using robust and multiple job search strategies will make all the difference in how long you look for a new job, especially if you are unemployed.

Many people simply rely on recruiters to find them a job. They believe that recruiters will act as their talent agents and simply sit back, letting others control their job search.

This approach is extremely problematic! Why? Think about who actually pays recruiters? The client company. Their service is free to you, the candidate. This distinction is subtle, but very very important. Recruiters are paid to find talent to fill roles. They are not paid to find roles for candidates. The best recruiters do act as a quasi talent agent for the best candidates, certainly. But it’s a little known secret that even the best recruiters can only place 1 in 8 to 1 in 10 candidates. Many roles are filled through the company’s own network before they ever hit a recruiter’s desk.

Job search preparation

So, what other strategies can you use to find a new job? Plenty! But first need to develop a couple of tools.

The most important tool in this process is your “Value Statement”. This is your 30 second elevator pitch that not only helps you remember and articulate the value that you can add to a prospective employer, it changes your mindset from one of, “Please Mr. Employer give me a job” to “You are one of several people I’m talking to in the market place. I’m here to see if there is any synergy between what you are looking for and what I have to offer.” See my previous post on how to develop a Value Statement.

Incredible mind set shift and one that has led to more than one of my previous clients successfully finding work quickly after struggling for months (and in one case years).

The second tool you need is an achievement based resume. Statistics show that the best of resumes are only read for 15 seconds. Don’t take any chances with yours! Download my free resume format. I’ve had many many people tell me that they started getting calls for interviews within hours after submitting their resume using my format, even if they hadn’t been called for months previously. It works.

Job search strategies

So, you’ve got a great value statement and a killer resume. You’re now ready to go out and find your next job. What’s next?

Certainly, work with recruiters. Good ones are worth their weight in gold. But make sure they do never send your resume out without your prior permission.

But in addition to recruiters you need to be prepared to market yourself online, use your own network of contacts and approach companies directly.

Online marketing

I LOVE social media. It’s such a great tool! And you can use it to find your next job. If you’re not on Linkedin sign up today. It’s interviewing while you sleep. There are lots of resources available to help you set up a profile and make sure people find you. Google them. I’ve also got a free PDF with top level bullet points on the Career / Job Search Tools section of my website.

But Linkedin isn’t the only online job search tool. Almost every job site has a resume database. Make sure your resume is online. There are also several independent resume databases coming online now. Google them and get listed.

Use Twitter. Here are a couple of really good articles on this:
http://www.loveforbiz.com/using-twitter-for-business-networking-and-even-finding-a-job
http://mashable.com/2009/03/13/twitter-jobs/
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1903083,00.html

Take the direct approach

Make a target list of companies that you want to work for that have the types of roles that you want to do.

Monitor their websites regularly to look for open jobs and apply immediately.

• Make a list of absolutely everyone you know in your local area.
• Former supervisors
• Former subordinates
• Former Peers
• Former classmates
• Friends
• People from your church, child's school or other community organisations that you are involved in
• Acquaintances

Cross reference the two lists above. Who do you know that can make introductions to people within the companies on your target list? Develop a calling plan and start to contact them.

Call the other people on your list to find out who they might know that they can introduce you to who will help you find a job.

Network, network, network

Where do the hiring managers who hire for your roles hang out? Are there any groups or organisations that they may join? If so attend their meetings. Better yet, get involved in their organisations to develop deeper relationships with people of influence.

Treat finding a job like having a job

If you are unemployed it’s extremely important to have discipline around this area. Go to "work" every day; keep regular office hours, set aside some place in your house just for "work", dress like you're going to the office.

And finally, treat your job search like a project with KPI's; set a goal for a certain number of outbound phone calls, coffee catch ups, roles applied for, etc. Then manage yourself to achieve those goals and reward yourself when you do.

Order business cards with your contact details on one side and the types of jobs you are searching for on the other.

Keep mentally fit

And finally, keep mentally fit. You will project what you feel in an interview so make sure you feel great! One of the most fun and effective tools I use with my clients is to create an “I Rock!” file. A physical file of evidence reminding themselves that they do rock! Cards, notes, letters, or maybe just memories. All kept in once place and frequently referred to. It's actually my "Tool of the Week" this week.

If you follow these steps rigorously I guarantee that you won’t be unemployed for long.

Take at least as much time to plan your career as you do your next vacation!

I’ve worked with literally thousands of people during my 15 years in recruitment and in the last 16 months as a Career and Executive Coach, Trainer and Speaker.  And one thing constantly surprised me: the lack of focus and planning that people put on their careers.  It’s astounding!  Your career is the biggest part of your life, outside of your family.  But I estimate that only about 5% of the over 10,000 candidates that I worked with knew where they were headed professionally.  Most of them simply walked through the doors that were opened.  

And the saddest part about this is seeing very capable and talented people walk through doors that they should not have gone through.  These are the people that plateau in their career.  Or worse!  They actually start to slide backwards as they reach higher and higher levels.  

Then there are the people who don’t walk through the doors that might have led them to greater opportunity, satisfaction and fulfillment in their careers.  Why does this happen?  Because they have not been taught how to manage their careers: how to think strategically about where they are going and how to get there! 

So I became passionate about helping people do just that.

The model that I use to explain this is called The Critical Path to Career Management and it consists of 4 steps essential to good career management.  I guarantee that if you follow these 4 steps you will be able to go anywhere you want to go in your career: whether that’s the Board Room or being able to manage career around family or developing a career that gives you an exciting life of travel and diverse experiences.  

Set Your Course

The first and most important step in Critical Path Career Management is to “Set Your Course”.  It is essential to determine where you are heading in the next 3 - 5 years.  

I find that most people simply focus on their next job because they have become unhappy where they are or want additional opportunity or more responsibility.  Rarely do they ask themselves the bigger questions.  Questions like who do you want to be?  Where do you want to go?  What do you want to accomplish?  How does your professional life fit into your personal life.

I believe that’s a bit like planning a holiday and trying to decide whether to take a bus, a train, or an airplane to your destination, without really asking yourself if your chosen destination is REALLY where you want to go.

Make Your Mark

The next step in Critical Path Career Management is to make your mark.  What do I mean by that?  Figure out what your unique value proposition is and exploit that.  You will not only become indispensable to your employer, you will become so sought after that you’ll never have to worry about looking for a job again.  

Master Your Skills

The skills that I’m talking about here actually fall into three categories: career transition skills, job search skills and the 4 critical, non-technical skills that everyone, regardless of function, must master to continue to climb the career ladder.

First career transition skills.  These are the strategies you need to master to get noticed and to continuously set yourself up for promotion.  They also encompass mastering the technical skills you need to develop to keep your options open as you climb the career ladder.

Secondly job search skills.  Most people rely on recruiters to find their next job.  But recruiters only place between 1 in 8 and 1 in 10 people.  See the problem?  In order to really manage your career you will need to learn how to create a value statement (your 30 second elevator pitch), possibly write a killer resume (although, if you truly understand and live your unique value proposition you will never need a resume again) and you will definitely need to learn how to network (virtually and in real life) and potentially how to approach companies directly.  

Then there are the 4 critical, non-technical (i.e. not related to your particular function or role) skills.  My experience in working with thousands of people taught me that everyone, and I mean everyone, needs to become proficient at these 4 skills to maintain an upward career trajectory throughout their life.  The 4 skills include technology (as it relates to your function), communication skills, managerial skills (people, time, resources, etc.) and most importantly, the ability to think strategically and solve problems.  

Manage Mental Fitness

Every career will have setbacks.  Times where things don’t go to plan or happen as quickly as you’d like.  Companies are bought and sold, go out of business, relocate.  Market conditions change.  Your own personal circumstances change.  Your ability to pick yourself up and dust yourself off will, in many cases, be the ultimate test for how high you can climb or how happy and fulfilled you will be, both personally and professionally.  So, it’s essential to be able to manage your mental fitness.  This isn’t about keeping a positive attitude, it’s about having a robust set of psychological strategies to be able to handle anything that comes your way.

In my next several posts I'll be exploring each of these steps more deeply.  But in the mean time, I challenge you to sit down and really think about what you want out of life.  Then start thinking about the various vehicles you can use to get there.

If you need some more help go to my website and download the Career Values Cards.  They're free.  And they are brilliant!  I can say that because I didn't actually develop them. 

This is a deck of 52 cards that will really help you get clear on what you value most in your career and how that career fits into your life.  http://www.mycriticalpath.com/career-management-tools/

There are also a couple of spreadsheets there that can help you decide between options, as well as some goals setting tools and other great resources.  

So, until next time...happy planning!