The Career Puzzle: Fitting the Pieces Together

Our Next Lesson

2011-06-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

I was daydreaming the other day. I was thinking back to my education, the day I sat down in my Career Development class at the University of San Diego. It was summer, an evening class, so I was completely exhausted. I had just finished a full work day, stayed up the night before to write a paper, and was in the building that didn’t have any access to coffee. My concern that day was simple- avoid drooling and/or snoring after my head crashed to the desk. That was until Ms. Haddock began her class. Fifteen minutes into her introduction, I knew my life would never be the same.

I entered my counseling program with the intent to go into School Counseling. I didn’t know there was such a thing as “career development” let alone a degree in which you could specialize. My views of careers changed that day. The direction of my career changed that day. At the end of the semester, I switched to the Career Development specialty. I had never felt that passionate about anything. I loved that class. I read every word, took notes on everything and read every additional resource that was recommended. That class sparked something in me and completely changed the path my career, and life, would take. I am grateful everyday that the program had a few basic requirements we had to fulfill. The Career Development class was one of those requirements. If it hadn’t been, you would be reading something else right now.

Since the subject is career development, I want to connect my story to yours. I have had my own experiences where the classroom has brought me things I never expected and taken me in a direction I never imagined. That is why I wanted to share this post, in hopes that it will spark something for you, even if it is something that doesn't relate to your career.

We can get easily caught up in the day to day- maybe we are even caught up in the minute to minute. When do we have time to evaluate our plan, or direction? Usually it is the day that one job has ended and we need to find a new one. It is important to revisit our plan before we are in a job search. We need to check in with ourselves right now to get a sense of where we are in our career and our work. Not just to find employment, but to develop our careers. There are many reasons for this. We will focus on three.

1. We never know when we will be searching for a new career or job. You want to be continually going through the process or evaluation and self-exploration so you don’t have to “start over” when you begin a job search.

2. You want to check in with yourself to be sure you still want to do what you have been doing. Is this still the right direction for your career? Have your interests changed? Have your passions and values changed?

3. If you enjoy what you are doing, there is always more you can do to improve and continue to develop in the role. Do you love your job, but think there is something else you would like to learn to make it even better? Competition is great out there, you want to do what you can to keep growing and remain competitive in the job or the organization.

Right now is a good time to stop and take notice. Is there something you have always been curious about? Is there a skill you have always wanted to learn? If so, find a class. Sign yourself up. Learn something new. You never know, learning could spark something in you that will change the trajectory of your career and your life.

There are many places you can look to find ways to learn. It doesn’t have to cost a lot, in fact in some cases, it might not cost anything. Part of the task of pursuing education is knowing what is available- and how to access it. For example, a wonderful colleague of mine recommended I add myself to a Human Resources list serv to make myself aware of things going on in the field. I am new to HR, so it has been incredibly beneficial for me to get emails about trainings and workshops available in the community. I even learned about an HR Book Club. So, when thinking about taking a class, learning something new, it doesn’t have to be expensive or time intensive. If you have the money or have the time, maybe you can do more- a continuing education class or a degree at a college or university. If you can’t afford that, or don’t have the time, then a $10 workshop or $20 speaker series/networking event might be just the thing you need to get your dose of learning. There are many places to look for these opportunities. Here are a few:

• Colleges and Universities offer many different types of Continuing Education courses and certifications. They offer cooking classes, grant writing courses or for someone like me, and HR certificate would benefit my employer and myself. Maybe you want your career to go in a totally new direction, but can’t commit to a full degree program. Look into Continuing Education, they might have something for you.

• Professional Organizations are a great way to stay connected to learning and new developments in your field. If you are happy with what you are doing, but want to add something to your skill set, or are in need of a new project, there are many new learning opportunities. These groups are also incredible opportunities for networking. This site is a place to get started if you aren’t aware of organizations in your field. http://www.asaecenter.org/Community/Directories/AssociationSearch.cfm

• If you don’t currently have a lot of time to invest, there are many ways to get information. You can explore podcasts on a topic that interests you. Or perhaps you have an hour or so and could purchase an online Learning Annex class (most cost less than a dollar). I wanted to a course before mentioning it, so I did. It was titled “How to make money with your blog.” I have inserted a virtual tip jar below. (Just kidding!) I did learn some great techniques about marketing my blog, and a lot of great resources out there. So, for me, it was well worth the $3.99. These quick learning opportunities are sometimes just what you need to get motivated or simply to satisfy your desire to learn. Many podcasts, through iTunes are free, so are TED Talks.

Here are some websites to check out.

http://www.learningannex.com/

http://www.ted.com/talks

Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself. - John Dewey

Our careers are ever-evolving, and as many of us know can change in the blink of an eye. By learning more, we increase our skills, create new and innovative ideas and most importantly feed our soul. Can you remember the last time you learned something new about a topic or hobby that you love? Just writing this brings back the excitement of my Career Development class and all the ways it impacted me. In my case, John Dewey’s quote was true. That class was not preparation for my life- it was my life- it shaped me and my career journey. My hope is that something you learn touches you in a similar way. Here’s to our next lesson.

If you are interested in learning more about John Dewey: http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-dewey.htm

Gratitude... it's contagious and (hopefully) airborne

2010-11-21T14:40:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had one of those days? You are fighting illness. Everything is out of your control. Nothing goes right. Everything you spent the whole week doing comes undone in minutes. You leave the office behind in your work, knowing you will start the next week already behind. You are late for a commitment. You are tired and just want to crawl in bed. That moment hits when all similar days pile up, and the weight of all of those days finally knocks us down. Sound familiar? I had that day last week. I went to bed feeling pretty exhausted and worn down. I woke up with one thought that not only lead me to this post, but also feeling optimistic that there are things I can do to avoid a repeat of a similar day. My thought was- my attitude and then, gratitude. Now it is a few days before Thanksgiving so it is not crazy that a word like that would come to my mind. However, all the more reason I am embarrassed that it took so long for the word to come to my mind. My attitude was the problem. My point of view. I was looking only at what I didn’t have. I didn’t have enough time. I didn’t feel well. I didn’t have any control. I didn’t get it done. I didn’t, I didn’t, I didn’t. My attitude crippled me. Until… I paused for one moment, in my self-pity, to think about how lucky I was. It was not the holiday that made me think of it, but the spirit of the holiday which showed itself through the people around me.

When I got out of my negative fog, some things occurred to me. I had people in my office to turn to for support. I had friends that listened to me and offered positive and productive ideas. I had a friend who took time on her 5 year anniversary to share motivation and a smile with me. I have spent the whole weekend changing my attitude. How? I have focused solely on what I have. I am grateful. I am not grateful for that lousy day. I am grateful for the opportunity to recognize my role in that day and to change my outlook. I appreciate the support I received while not being at my personal best and the gift of a new day- to give it another go. My challenge is to figure out a way to make this mindset permanent. Here’s my first thought. Gratitude is contagious. So, I will try to “infect” myself with it every day, every minute if I have to, until it comes so naturally that my attitude is constantly pushing me forward, instead of holding me back. My overall success depends on it.

Generally when I think of gratitude, as it relates to careers, I think of things like thank you notes after an interview. A phone call or email to someone who has spent time with you in an informational interview. Thanking a colleague for going above and beyond to help you. I used to beg my students to write thank you notes. I bought a box of 100 thank you cards to have in my office. Students who came in to talk about interviews/informational interviews never left the office without one. Those are the basics. I never went too far beyond the basics with my students, or myself. The basics are important, but gratitude can go deeper. When speaking about careers, whether employed, unemployed, job searching, career searching or starting/running a business, gratitude is a state of mind- a contagious one at that. Why isn’t it more of a focus in career development? I even hesitated writing this blog, thinking that people would say “Oh great, she is going all Oprah on us.” Which may be the evidence that this topic should be addressed?

Here’s the thing. Gratitude is powerful, and plays an incredibly important role in our mindset, and ultimately our career. They made a national holiday to celebrate it, so why don’t we put more value on it in our career development? Valerie Young, a coach for www.changingcourse.com (a career change website) explains why she believes those who help people with careers don’t always focus on gratitude. “We're in the business of helping facilitate people moving from where they are to where they'd rather be. Changing your work and life are by definition all about the future. Gratitude on the other hand is very much about the present.”

So, let’s focus on the present. Right now it is easy to find things that we don’t have. There isn’t much we can control. Despite our best efforts, things won’t always go the way we expect. So, what is there in life for which we should be grateful? A high unemployment rate. Limited jobs. Guilt felt by those who are employed after mass layoffs. Many who are sitting in front of the computer, submitting yet another application/resume, wondering if an opportunity will ever come their way. Growing concern that our economy will never recover. Another year without a raise and/or bonus.

Feeling low yet?

See what I just did? Contagious, right? How hopeful do you feel right now? How optimistic? How motivated are you at this moment to do… well… anything? How easy is it to give up when we hear those things? What’s the point?

In reading I found the term, the “scarcity myth”. It is the idea that we don’t have and will never have… enough. The way our society is set up, new things, toys, gadgets are released every day. Many of these new things we can’t afford and feel inadequate because we don’t have them. So, we are constantly striving for more, forgetting to revel in all that we have right now. Some celebrity is spending $500,000 on their 14th birthday party. Some other guy is getting the job we want. Another opportunity passed us by. Wow, now we are all feeling pretty low, right? When we focus on the present, is easy to focus immediately on what we don’t have. “Our focus on what’s missing keeps us from seeing what we have, creating a kind of gratitude blindness” (Craig and Marc Kielburger, “From me to We”). It is so easy to get caught in this mindset- very easy to get stuck in this mindset. What are our chances for making great advances in our situation if all we focus on is that which we don’t have?

Robert Quillen said, “If you count all of your assets, you always show profit.” If we see all that we have and constantly see our “profits” we are motivated, open and able to give because we feel that we have enough and we want to share. Now, not only do we have enough, but we are contributing to someone else. Maybe contributing to their life in some way, and possibly making them feel grateful to you. Now, I understand, gratitude doesn’t immediately put food on the table, or get you the job you want. However, it is one thing we can control in the present. It creates opportunities for action that we can take right now toward creating improvement or change. Plus, it feels a heck of a lot better!

So here’s the challenge. It is super easy to identify the things we don’t have. It is incredibly simple to focus on the things that make our life or our job harder. So, let’s flip it. Identify the things we have. Pin point the things that help us in our job or our job search. If you are searching and feeling hopeless, start simple. Make a list of the things that are helping you right now. A supportive spouse? A new lead? A new group on LinkedIn that is providing resources? Maybe start even more basic, and just be grateful that you have access to the Internet to conduct your search. We don’t have to look far to be grateful for something. We just have to be open to identifying it. It doesn’t mean that problems go away. Gratitude won’t immediately create solutions, but it helps re frame thinking about possibility and abundance. It is establishing resistance to the “scarcity myth” that the Kielburgers talk about in “Me to We.” When we start to think of what we have, we are more inclined to share with others and open ourselves up to opportunity. That starts to feel good, so we take it to the next step. We start to feel like we have a lot. Now we feel like we have a lot share. Suddenly we have so much that we don’t know what to be grateful for first. Seriously, just try it. You don’t have to make a gratitude journal (although it is really a wonderful tool if you are so inclined) but make a mental list. Look around the room in your home. There is evidence of abundance all over. If you are feeling really low and can’t identify anything right now- start with gratitude for the roof over your head. It is all about changing our mindset to see things in abundance and focus on what is there rather than what is not.

I wanted to do my part to help apply gratitude to our career development in the present. I have read what others recommended and tried it, so now, feeling like I have a lot of ideas, I want to share them (look at that, it is happening already). Make a list of those in your life who have done something to help you. Even go so far as thanking them again, reminding them how they helped you. Think about resources online that you appreciate. Reflect on the knowledge you have gained in your search, or if employed, knowledge gained in your job. What was a project or a task that you enjoyed? Is there an opportunity to do it again- or something like it? Did you offer counsel or support to someone? Is there someone out there that can benefit from your advice or knowledge? Is there something you can focus on right now that you already have? Whether it be a great skill, something you said that made someone smile, or a contribution you made to your friends or workplace. Gratitude is contagious. We will find a lot of it this week. Will it stick around the week after when everyone is fighting over the flat screen TV that is on sale? I don’t know. Maybe not, but that is out of my control. What can I control? Me. I can control how I go to work in the morning tomorrow and long after Thanksgiving. I have my list of things for which I am grateful. I am going to add to the list everyday this week and the week after. Then I am going to evaluate where I am. Did that open my mind to new ways to contribute? Did it simply make me a more pleasant team member? Am I happier in general? Did it cause me to find ways I can help others?

Here’s a start to my list. I am grateful that I have a computer, access to resources, and people who care enough about me to read what I write. I am grateful that I have a job where I have the opportunity to learn and grow. I am grateful that I am surrounded by an astonishing caliber of people, who have welcomed me onto their team. I am grateful for those colleagues who support me and care enough to offer solutions. I am so grateful I have friends and family who support me at every turn. I am grateful for the possibility of tomorrow. I have the capability and tools to bring a positive approach to my tasks. I have the chance to bring my A-game and rock this week! I am so grateful that by the end of today I will have many more items to add to my gratitude list. For that and for all of you, I am most thankful.

Feeling better yet?

It's About the Journey

2009-11-15T14:16:00.000-08:00

It's the journey, not the destination. We have all heard that, right? I have heard it multiple times the last two months. I silently remind myself of it every day. Normally in my blog posts I like to share with you what I am reading and learning from experts in the field as well as sharing what I have learned and experienced as a career development professional. This post is a little more personal. I hope still useful, but more personal because this is my experience. I am not sharing with you one of my students questions or concerns- this is me, on the other side, trying to practice what I preach. I am working to counsel myself in a new role, in a new company, and a new city. Starting a new job is difficult. I don't know everything. To wish one year away so I can know everything is a waste- that time in-between is important (which I say to myself everyday). So, here it goes. I am going to reflect on the experience and try to benefit from the journey.

Statistics say that people will have multiple careers in their lifetime. The last number I heard was seven. People have seven different careers, not jobs. That is a lot of transition. During my time helping students the conversation revolved mostly around getting the job. We did workshops, trainings, meetings with students all around finding and getting a job. Then what? We have the job, now what do we do? Most of us are transitioning right now. With the economy in flux, people will be starting and finishing careers frequently. So, how can we be successful? What are the keys to making it? According to Fortune Online, in 2006 "About one-quarter of all new hires won't make it through their first year, according to research from the Employment Policy Foundation, and that may be a conservative estimate: “Almost half - 46% - of rookies wash out in the first 18 months,” found Leadership IQ, a training firm that studied 20,000 newly hired employees over three years." That was 2006. For someone who just uprooted their entire life for a job, those numbers are scary. Even if your new job is five blocks away, it is scary. So, what are those people doing wrong? How we can avoid being part of that statistic? I have been looking into it, because like I said, I don’t just have to know for others now, I have to apply it to guaruntee my own success.

You don't know everything, so don't act like you do.

Multiple articles and many of my new managers have shared this with me. People are willing to help. Particularly if they have been somewhere for a while they have expertise and they want to share it. Ask questions. Learn about people and the company. Observe. The most powerful thing I have learned is that I am the only person that expects me to be perfect and all-knowing. No one else does. I wasted eight hours a while back and countless amounts of energy searching for something that my manager already had. All I had to do was ask. I didn’t want to ask because I didn’t want to appear incompetent. Three days into the job! Of course I wouldn’t know. Now I realize that what made me look incompetent is that I wasted time and energy. A mistake I will not repeat. We are tempted as new people to come in and prove ourselves. We want to show everyone we deserve to be there. Often times this is misinterpreted as arrogance to employees that are already in the job. They didn’t know everything in the first few weeks, so acting as if you do is insulting to them. Go to your colleagues. Ask them questions. Ask them what has helped them to be successful. The people around you are amazing resources. You already have the job. You don’t have to prove you deserved the position. Now you have to prove you deserve to keep it!

Take time. Observe. There is plenty of time to give your input.

A great mentor of mine gave me amazing advice that I followed in my last job and will continue to follow in this one. Spend time getting to know the surroundings, the environment, and the culture. See who the key players are. Find out the areas where there is strength and areas which can be developed. However, don't be rushed to judge processes, operations and decisions. The people involved in those processes, operations and decisions have been there every day and they were put in place for a reason. Don't question them as it is a personal judgment on the people involved. Wait until you are familiar and involved and maybe even wait until you are asked. Barging in with new ideas and criticisms doesn't help you advance with your manager and colleagues. It will often alienate them. Don't assume your way is a new way. They might have tried it before and it didn't work. Write your ideas down. Figure out how you would apply them. When the time is right, make your contributions. My mentor said, give it six months. That may be a short time, it may be too long it depends on your situation. However, you will know what feels right. Just make sure it is enough time that you know for certain your opinions, judgments and ideas will be well-received.

Be yourself.

I think the 'dress the part' advice and the 'play nice with others' suggestions are a little unnecessary for my sophisticated audience, but I don't think it ever hurts to be reminded to be you. Be who you are from day one. It might mean it's not a fit (gasp!). It might mean that you are exactly where you are meant to be. We will never know unless we stay true to who we are and why we are there. I was hired for who I am. That is the person I need to continue to be. That is the best I can do- to wake up every day as myself and do the best I can do as me. Doing my best includes things like, asking questions, clarifying when I don't understand and making sure to NEVER assume. It is better to annoy someone by asking to clarify than it is to annoy someone by messing up because you have assumed wrong. Again, perhaps obvious, but I needed that reminder the last few weeks, so I figure it might do someone else some good too.

People first.

If I could guess, based on my personal experience with myself and my former students- it is not the work itself that has created those sad statistics mentioned above, but the people involved in the work. We get caught up in the new duties that we forget people are the most important resource and asset of the workplace. The other day I asked my manager who his key people are and who he would like me to know. Now I have list of 5 people I have to take to coffee so I can get to know their role and get them to know me. They are important to my manager. Therefore, it is important to know them so they are comfortable with me. They are people with whom I can learn, to make myself better at my job, so it is a win-win for all. I talk about networking all the time. Usually this is in reference to finding a job. I have said this before- networking doesn't have a start and end point. After I meet with those five individuals, I need to make sure and ask for a list of five more. I can find out what I can do for them, how we can work together and what I can learn from their experience. In a new job or career- make it about the people. The rest will follow.

So, it is about the journey. You might be at a different place on your journey. Maybe you are still searching for a job or a new career. That is great! One day very soon this information will be applicable to you. Maybe you are employed. Check in with some of these things and see where you might be able to apply them and the areas where you are doing well. Wherever you are on the journey, it never ends so keep moving, keep changing it up. We can apply good practices at any stage in our career.

My friend told me recently to appreciate the time. To appreciate being new in this job. It is a time to learn and experience. She said to be glad I have time to read and learn and to be sure to use the time wisely. I am in such a rush to be a pro at everything I am forgetting to appreciate the lessons learned and the wisdom I can gain. I need to put one foot in front of the other on this journey. We all need to take one step at a time. The fact is that I hope I don't reach a destination because that means I will stop. I will have nowhere else to go. What fun would that be? I know every few steps I take I will fall. Then I will get back up. I can't fear the fall. I will try to embrace the fall, learn from it and know not to repeat the steps that knocked me down. Then I will fall again and learn something else. It's about the journey, the steps we take. I share my experience in hopes that it gets you excited to keep going forward, keep changing direction. Never stop moving and be sure to remember to enjoy the journey.

The Sweet Spot

2009-05-22T08:15:00.000-07:00

A term commonly used in sports is the “sweet spot.” It refers to a lot of various things in the world of sports. Specifically, there is a sweet spot on an instrument like a golf club, baseball bat or tennis racquet, an ideal spot to hit the ball.

“The baseball bat (for instance) will rebound, but there is a location along the bat where this force is completely balanced out by turning force of the bat.” (Wikepedia).

The clearest non-sports related definition I could find came from www.pcmag.com. “Sweet spot refers to almost anything that embodies an optimum combination of characteristics and qualities.”

From a career perspective others have coined the phrase sweet spot to mean something similar. Dr. Lara Honos-Webb has a website called “The Sweet Spot Podcasts.” Her definition of sweet spot is, “where your passion meets your purpose.” http://psychjourney_blogs.typepad.com/sweet_spot_podcasts/motivation/.

Faith Ralston wrote about the motivational sweet spot, “When your best talents align with the needs of the business.” Simply, the sweet spot is where all the stars align; every factor plays out perfectly creating cohesion and a positive outcome.

Our goal in our career is to find the sweet spot. To discover what we have to offer, what we are passionate about, and where those things might be most needed and most utilized.

At some point in our career we think about changing jobs, have been laid off, fired, or otherwise find ourselves unemployed. Maybe we have hit a dead end in our position and mobility is essential to the life of our career. So, the task is upon us to make a change. One common question I hear is, “where do I start?” The first step is often the hardest step in any task. Many will start with their resume. Logical- but I would challenge you to back up one step before the resume.

Before you start your search, do some work to find your sweet spot. Instead of figuring out where to start, figure out what your finish line- the end goal, the dream job is- and work backward. If the sweet spot depends on aligning all the factors, we need to know what we bring and where it is needed in order to create the opportunity to bring it all together.

How do we figure out the pieces of the sweet spot puzzle? The best place to start is assessment. We should always assess two things when identifying a career goal. Assess ourselves and then assess the industry or career path. This entry will be in two parts. First we will start with personal assessment and then the next entry will explore ways to match that up with industries, careers and jobs. First, let’s look at ourselves.

What are our skills? What do we value? What type of personality do we have? What are our interests? These things are critical in deciding our career path. Those aspects of who we are will play such a role in our satisfaction within our career. If you are working in an environment that is constantly going against your values or doesn’t utilize your skills, work will feel like just that- work!

I always explain to students that it is similar to having a writing preference. I am right handed. If I wrote with my left hand for eight hours a day I would be tired, frustrated and my work would be about 10% of what it could be if I was using my right hand. The goal is to start writing with your preferred hand, so to speak.

There are multiple options for assessment. If you have a degree from any college, community college or university, they should have an alumni career services program. More than likely they will offer assessment for one third of the price you would pay working with a private counselor or coach. If you would prefer to work with someone in private practice, that would be excellent and beneficial as well.

Some assessments to investigate are the Myers Briggs Type Indicator which looks at personality, Strong Interest Inventory, and StrengthsQuest. Those are my personal favorites. For values assessment, there are card-sort exercises for instance, Values Driven Work. If you would like to utilize a free option to identify skills, there is a wonderful site, O Net, which provides a quick analysis of skills and matches it to particular jobs to explore.

This is fun, easy, quick and can be very informative. http://online.onetcenter.org/skills/

These are a few of the formalized assessments you can do to start to identify your sweet spot. You can also start right now. Start making lists or brain maps or pictures, however you most successfully process information. Start adding things you want and things you don’t want. Add to that things you are good at that you enjoy. Don’t add the things you are good at that you don’t enjoy. You want to focus on strength areas you would like to continue to utilize. Make a list of the things you would do if money was not a concern.

If you could do anything- no barriers, no boundaries, what would you do?

Another way to explore you is to ask yourself probing questions.

It is Saturday and you have nothing to do, no one to care for, you have plenty of money and no timeframe. What would you do? Where would you go? In what activities would you participate?

If you had to read a 1,000 page book what topic would you want the book to cover?

If money/prestige didn’t matter what career would you choose?

Assess yourself. Remind yourself of your passions, your skills, your values and see how they can weave together to create your sweet spot. If all items have to be aligned to create the sweet spot, start by identifying which items need to connect. The next step will be to take those items and finding a place in which they fit.

To be continued…

Director of Brand Management: The Brand? Well… Me…

2009-04-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

What is in a brand or a brand name? I was listening to the radio and heard an advertisement for canned vegetables, on sale. They said their vegetables were the “same quality as the name brands.” This statement was repeated four times during the commercial. It got me to think about name brands. Where does that come from? Who decides what a name brand is? Not the consumer, it is the group that is designing, creating and selling the product. We just continue to promote the brand by buying the products, wearing the names on our shoes, clothes or serving them at gatherings. So, the initial creation and branding of a product, sports team, restaurant, etc. comes from the producers of the product themselves. In our careers we need to follow this example. Our brand originates from us. We need to be the creator of our brand and be our own Brand Managers.

Although we all have different job responsibilities and titles and work for various organizations we all work as our own Brand Manager. Not for our company, our non profit organization or even our own business, we are a Brand Manager for ourselves. Have you ever thought of yourself as a brand? If not, my hope is to motivate you to do so. You are your own brand; CEO of, well…you.

David Andrusia and Rick Haskins, co-authors of “Brand Yourself: How to create an identity for a brilliant career,” define a brand as:
“A way of encapsulating and communicating a products power, pitch and position in the most succinct way, the combination of one name and visual image-a personality- that anyone, anywhere will recognize and interpret in precisely the same way. “

This description makes it easy to see how we can manage ourselves as a brand. Just think of people you admire or follow, maybe celebrities, or successful people. They follow this format in creating themselves as a brand. So what makes up our brand? We brand ourselves in the way we speak, the way we write, our actions, our work product all that we do is part of our brand. If you think about it, this concept is very liberating, especially with the economy fluctuating, and unemployment rates rising. When we leave a job, for whatever reason, we take our product with us. The best parts of our work go with us to the next endeavor.

A while back I had a friend who lost his job. Now, I deal with this all day, but when it is personal it’s different. I didn’t know what to say; so, I Googled it. Surprisingly there were a lot of items that came up under my search, “what do I say to a friend who lost his job?” One of the answers struck me and changed my view of the situation. It said not to tell the person “I am sorry you lost your job.” The words we choose can be so powerful! That statement implies two things. First that you lost your job. (Now if you got fired, maybe that is true. If you were laid off, you didn’t lose it, circumstances forced you out). Second, the statement implies that it was your job to lose. The fact is this job was never yours. You filled the position and you brought unique qualities to that position. When you leave the job it is filled by someone else who makes their unique contribution. This is reassuring because you are not losing something that was yours. Everything that belongs to you follows you to the next job! All of the qualities of your brand can continue on. The challenge is to make sure that it does.

So, think about your favorite brand. What makes it different than all of the others? What makes it better than all the others? That is what we are striving for- a uniqueness; a quality that makes us stand out above the rest. Thomas Nehren of Richter7, a marketing/advertising firm in Utah, wrote an article on the importance of branding in a recession. He was referring to corporate branding and spoke of how companies try to avoid "THE DILEMMA OF SAMENESS.” This term can be applied to us. We don’t want to fall into the dilemma of blending into the crowd. When I wrote earlier about strengths, this is what I mean. Those strengths are those things that will help us to stand out. The workforce is declining because there are more educated people, more companies merging and developments in automation continue to put people out of work. So, we are dealing with more competition and less jobs. How do we stand out? The old saying actions speak louder than words is relevant here. Our actions dictate our brand. Even less important than what we say is what we do, and then even more important how it makes others feel. If someone feels you are abrasive or arrogant it doesn’t matter how you try to convince them you are not. That is your brand to them. So even if you are arrogant or abrasive- own it! Don’t let your mouth be saying yes while you are shaking your head no. Be yourself. Be consistent in your brand. If you don’t want to be arrogant or abrasive, work to change it, but recognize your actions are doing a lot more to further your brand than the words you are speaking.

So what are some characteristics of a quality brand?
David F. D’Alessandro, author of “Career Warfare” says the goal is to brand you through the following qualities.

*Earn the organization money
Tell the truth
Be discreet
Keep your promises
Make people want to work for you

*I don’t work for an organization where I can make them money. So, think big on this one. For my job, the money I make is in students. If a student comes into my office and then they like the service I provide and come back, or refer a friend, I have made a little “money” for the college. I play a role in the retention and overall satisfaction of the student, which makes the college money. So, think about what your money is. If you are in sales, it’s obvious. If it isn’t so obvious, think about how your contributions earn the organization money.

The qualities mentioned above are a good place to start. Another place to look to is your boss. Whether you like it or not, your boss determines your brand (at this particular job). If you own your own business, then your focus is managing your brand. If you have a boss, how they see your brand is very important. David D’Alessandro says that bosses want three things. Knowing these things could help your brand.

The boss wants:
Loyalty
Good Advice
To have their personal brand polished

So, if the boss is helping to manage your brand, help them to help you. What I mean is that if you know what your boss is looking for- make it happen. Not for them, for you. Go the extra mile; create something new, again, for you, not them. Of course this makes them look good; it helps to polish their brand. Again, though, when you leave, you take that accomplishment, that thing you created, with you on your resume, to the interview and in the projects, assignments that follow.
We can’t be stagnant. Our brand is developed and managed by the things we do. So, we need to create, produce, contribute- all of those wonderful things that we talk about during the hiring process. The important thing is to think about them NOW. Not when we are looking for a job, not after we have been laid off, not after- RIGHT NOW. We can take action now to develop our brand. Is there a project you have been meaning to get to? Perhaps there is something that interests you that you would like to bring to your group, team or organization. Make time for it; schedule it into your day. Stay up late and do it! The importance of this is thinking about our career in the present tense. What can we do for us right now to show the quality and uniqueness of our brand? Even if your boss never acknowledges that you did it, so what! You created it. It exists. Perhaps somewhere some group is going to need what you have created and you will find your brand to be the only one they want. Do it for yourself. Do it for your brand. Remember we take our product with us wherever we go. We can strive for uniqueness, a divergence from the “dilemma of sameness.” We can always keep moving to make ourselves the best product, better than any of the name brands out there.

If you would like to read more on this subject I would highly recommend the book
“Creating You & Co.” by William Bridges.

The Interview: It's All Mental

2009-03-25T17:23:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up I loved basketball. My coach Louie (even more importantly, my dad) always told me that it was “all mental.” I lost my cool sometimes and I would miss my shots over and over again because my head wasn’t in the game. I would then think of the last game, and more negativity would arise. Before I knew it I was carrying around frustration from this game and the last. Of course I found that my frustration bred a continued decline in my performance and my attitude. I was not an ideal teammate then. That negativity affected my play and my role on the team. Looking back, my dad taught me the best lesson for basketball and for life. “It’s all mental.” This same statement applies to our career development. We can be at the top of our game in performance, but if our mental game is off, we can run into a lot of problems in the job search and how potential employers see us as a member of the team. When it comes to the interview, it is all mental. Our state of mind, our past history and our most recent experiences will make their way into the interview. It is good to plan for that, to know it ahead of time, so that it is our true self, not our past experiences that come through.

For example, I recently had a student who was laid off from his job. He has been searching for jobs for months now. He is feeling down, stressed out and it is coming out in his interviews. Which of course, then makes it harder for him to get a job. It is the domino effect and it builds and builds if we don't grab hold of it. The problem is real. We all have baggage from our past jobs. Not every situation ends well- and sometimes, if we are not aware it will creep up into our job search and create a barrier to our success. Here are some tips to make sure your past job isn’t going to make an appearance in your present interview.

Beware of the traps you could fall into:

More than likely you can expect to hear a question that sounds similar to, “What do you think of your present/former boss?” Now I know you want to tell the truth and unload on them about your past boss. Don’t do it! That will only paint a negative impression of you. Be honest, find the one thing you can compliment your boss on and move on. For example if he/she is very knowledgeable with technology, express how you are constantly impressed with their use of technology and how it contributes to the goals of the organization. They have to have one positive thing you can say- focus on that one thing, be brief and move on. Negativity does not reflect poorly on your boss, it will be used against you, so keep it neutral.

How to avoid the trap: Practice

There are ways to avoid the trap. Practice is the best way to ensure comfort when this question comes up. First, practice your true answer, the one you would never dream of telling an interviewer. Sit in a room with a friend or significant other and have them ask you the question. Do this ahead of time and then again the night before. Unload everything you really want to say. Get it off your chest. Then, rehearse, a few times, the very clear and neutral answer you will give in the interview. Prepare ahead of time if you think this could be a trap you would fall into. This practice goes for anything that might be lingering from your career past. Anger, frustration and disappointment translate to negativity for the interviewer. Again, practice an unfiltered interview with a trusted friend or person that knows your situation. Tell them exactly what you would like to say to relieve the burden. Then go into the interview and focus only on what you have to offer.

The art of transforming the negative to positive

So how do you go about saying good things about a bad job or situation? “The key is to focus on yourself rather than the employer.” (Robert Holton, Making a Negative Sound Positive). Don’t worry about the past company; this is your chance to focus on you. What did you accomplish while you were there? What impact did you make? That is all the employer wants to hear because that dictates your future performance. Show them that you are the solution to their problem. Focus on your outcomes, your personal accomplishments; this is your time to shine. So in reality you don’t have to talk about a past job at all or the fact that you were laid off/fired/quit. What you can focus on is what you personally did with the time you had there.
This suggestion in no way implies to ignore your feelings. They are true and real and it is important to evaluate them, accept them and process them. When you deal with the concerns you may have you will slowly begin to let them go. My point is to stress that this process should be done before the interview. Know your potential barriers. Know the tough questions they might ask. If you have a long block of time where you are unemployed, expect to be asked about it. Be honest, be brief and don’t get personal. If you were laid off and it is taking you a while to find a job, find a neutral way to present that. However, try not to be caught off-guard. Be ready for it, you know it is coming.

Below are some questions to help you process your thoughts and feelings. Instead of reinventing the wheel, I pulled questions from “Acing the Interview: How to Ask and Answer the Questions That Will Get You the Job.” by Tony Beshara. These are questions you can ask yourself to focus on your strengths, your areas you can develop and liabilities:

What are my professional strengths?

Can and do I explain my experience, background and previous positions clearly and concisely?
How can I demonstrate that my strengths have been benefits to the people I’ve worked for in the past?

What are two or three of the most important features of my background that will be benefits to a company that I might be interviewing with?

How will I clearly communicate myself and my benefits to a prospective employer?
What are the facts or issues in my background or experience that might be perceived as liabilities to a perspective employer?

How am I going to offset, minimize or mitigate these perceived liabilities?

Can I turn these perceived liabilities into advantages to a prospective employer?

How can I avoid being defensive about the mistakes that I’ve made in the past? How can I make them positives?

The interview is all mental because it is about your attitude, your presence and your ability to articulate your potential for success in this position. Attitude is everything in the interview just as it was in basketball. I could shoot and shoot all night, but until my head was in the game I always failed to get the ball in the hoop. Enthusiasm, smiles, good feelings and positive energy are all things that attract an employer. That comes from you feeling good about the situation and about you. Your head will be in the interview game if you process your thoughts ahead of time and go in with a game plan. Show up with your best, most genuine , unburdened self and your positive energy will radiate from you even before you say a word.

You have to sell yourself; no one will do it for you

2009-03-10T07:48:00.001-07:00

I have met with multiple students in the last two weeks who were comfortable talking with me until I ask them about their strengths. I asked, “What were you really good at in your job?” They stare back at me with a blank face as if I just asked them to split the atom. “I don’t know” is the standard response. I figure I would be a really bad career counselor if I let it go at that. I tell them we have to figure it out- and quick! Knowing our strengths is the only way we can promote ourselves as strong candidates and make it clear to the potential employer that we are the only one for the job. It is our responsibility not to sell ourselves short.

Marcus Buckingham, author of, “Now Discover your Strengths” spoke in a workshop to a group of professionals on television. He told a story of his son, who was incredibly bad at math, and kept bringing home bad grades. The rest of the report card was wonderful. His son was excelling in every other area. He found himself focusing entirely on the bad grade. He started to wonder why. The truth is we learn to focus on that which we can’t do instead of continuing to develop the skills we naturally possess. When Mr. Buckingham decided to focus on the areas where his son did well, he saw that his son was happier. He continued to thrive in other areas of his education. His message was- focus on the areas you excel and continue to develop them. When we focus on strengthening those areas, the potential is limitless.

So, my message would be FIRST: WE HAVE TO KNOW THE AREAS IN WHICH WE EXCEL! Second we have to continue to develop them and be comfortable articulating them in our career. The potential employer can guess and guess what our strengths are, but they are not mind readers, if we don’t tell them, how will they ever know?

Has a supervisor or colleague ever told you something they think you do well? In your performance evaluation are you constantly recognized for something you bring to the position? When your friends compliment you, what do they say? It takes some investigation into you. Don’t be afraid to look closer! You will be amazed at what you discover. Don’t be afraid to ask. Those who care about you will enjoy getting to play a part in your career development.

I met with a student who came in with a resume that was half a page. He said, “Brianna I don’t know how I am going to get an internship, I have nothing to put on my resume.” That is when I remember why I am here. I am fortunate enough to be able to help this person build their resume, and it is my responsibility to work with him to develop the document. So, we did. It took some probing for sure, but he left with a full resume and an excitement about the possibilities. The beauty was that I had nothing to do with it. It came from him. It was his insight into himself, and his accomplishments. I just asked the questions. He felt proud because he was able to recall all of the wonderful things he had done. He was getting a nice view of himself from the inside.

Here are some of the questions I asked him:

What are you most proud of?

What are you really good at?

If you weren’t at that particular job, how would the company/organization be different?

What did your colleagues/customers say about you?

After a little investigation we were able to uncover a great amount of valuable experience, skills and qualities he could bring to his desired internship. So, ask yourself the questions above. Even if you are not currently in a job search, it is a valuable exercise. If you have trouble, talk with someone. Ask them how they would describe your strengths and your accomplishments.

Laurie Edwards, Director of Learner and Workplace Services for Novia Scotia Community College, promotes her term of “Radical Careering.” She has eliminated her questions to students about weaknesses. “We want clients to think about their gifts and talents. Instead of trying to teach students how to overcome what they can’t do, let’s get them to focus on their natural talents.”

Two of her questions are:

How will you make a difference?

Tell me about a time when you operated at your best? What were you doing? What skills or talents were you using?

After you ask yourself these questions start making a list of your strengths, of the accomplishments and products of your work. Put it down on paper. Then translate that to your resume. Results get a resume read. Outcomes get you in the door. Show them, don’t tell them. Show them through examples of your strengths. Remember to be specific. Practice being proud of what you have accomplished and willing to make it known. Pat yourself on the back or ask a loved one to pat you on the back and say, “nice work.” After you have a nice laugh, take it seriously. When a potential employer asks you about your accomplishments, be ready. When you are asked a question about contributions you have made, don’t only be ready, but get excited! This is your chance to show who you are, what you have to offer, and the impact that you will make. Show enthusiasm for what you have accomplished. I know about the desire to remain humble. I get it. I respect it. However in this case we need to get over it. Sharing our strengths is not being arrogant. Being arrogant is different than being specific and enthusiastic. If you are genuine and proud to present yourself you will not come off as arrogant. If you are afraid to tell them what you are good at you will find yourself frustrated by the job search process and the interview. Know your strengths. Share what you can contribute and you will find those interviews quickly changing to career possibilities.

A New Approach to Networking

2009-03-09T14:26:00.000-07:00

Not always immediate results
Networking is something that happens over time. You have to establish a relationship and the benefits of networking will reveal themselves to you. Networking is a two-way relationship. It takes time for a person to get to know you, your strengths and the extent of your abilities. Enter into networking for the long-term, the payoffs will be great and you will develop meaningful, beneficial relationships.

Every person you meet is in your network
The person in front of you in line is in your network. Your classmates, your faculty, your mechanic and your stylist are all valuable members of your network. Engage with people; tell them about you and ask about them. You never know who you will meet in an airport, in a coffee shop or waiting for your car to be serviced. Be open to meeting many individuals and be prepared to present to them who you are and what you hope to accomplish.

Take time to listen
For those who feel networking is a daunting or insincere task, this is for you! Networking is a relationship. That means every time you talk you should be listening twice as much. Ask questions and really hear people. Try not to be nervous and worry about what you are going to say. If you are thinking about what to say next, you are not listening. Truly be present and listen you will find that the conversation flows easily. You can learn a lot from those around you and they can learn from you. Make sure your networking consists of valuable conversations, and if you feel as if you are talking too much, you probably are.

Write thank you notes
One of the forgotten arts of networking and etiquette is writing a hand-written thank you note. If someone shares time with you, write them a note to thank them for taking time out of their busy day. If they show you around their office, write a note. If they introduce you to someone who can help you in your career, write a note. Write a hand written note. Email doesn’t provide the same effect. Buy a package of thank-you notes and keep them handy!

Organize a list of your network
It is much easier to keep track of your network if their names, email addresses and phone numbers are all in one place. Where do they work? How do you know them? Where did you meet? Keep a record of your interactions. Jot it down if you send a card. Keep track of how you are keeping in touch. This helps you avoid double contact or forgetting who a person is or how they fit into your network. Make it easy on yourself; the career journey is hard enough.

Request information, not a job
Networking is not about asking for a job. You want to make sure you are asking for information. “Is there someone you know that I could speak with about careers in Finance?” Find out how they got to where they are. Ask what they like about their job. Ask them if they have ideas about your career plans. What do they suggest? The more they know about you, the more they can help. Asking for a job is a dead end. Ask questions that will keep the communication flowing.

Know what you need to accomplish
Focus on your objective. Make every meeting, every conversation count. Prepare questions in advance. Research the person or their company before you meet. If you are attending a networking event, decide what you hope to accomplish. You know who to meet and you won’t feel as if you are wandering aimlessly. Having a focus will ensure you are maximizing your time and the time of those you meet.

A tough economy and the job search: What’s a new grad to do?

2008-11-24T16:34:00.000-08:00

Fall 2008

As a career counselor it is hard to see students return after graduation because they have spent months on the job search and are still unemployed. It is even harder to get a graduating class excited about the future when the unemployment rate is high and companies are scaling back on their workforce. For those of you graduating in December and May- get excited! The job search is not impossible, there are opportunities out there. It is important to make sure you conduct your job search in a smart, focused way. Finding a job will not happen over night. It is important to lay a foundation through connections, research, patience and perseverance. As they say it is not about working harder, just smarter.
Here are some suggestions on how to search smart:
Network, Network, Network
In a tough job market you are more likely to find out about opportunities through your network. Who defines your network? Family, friends, faculty, the Career Resource Center on campus, Westminster alumni, your peers, supervisors, those who have worked with you during your volunteer activities, and anyone you know involved in the same extra curricular activities, all are members of your network. Do not rely on your resume only. Meeting people and staying in touch will produce more leads and more activity than your resume alone.
Communicate with your network about what you are working on in your last semester and what types of opportunities you look forward to after graduation. You are not asking for a job, just keeping in touch.
Attend as many types of events as possible. You never know who you will meet. The person sitting next to you at the event might prove to be a great connection. Get to know people, learn about their experiences and tell them about yours.
Break out of the networking mold! If you have tried a couple of networking activities- change it up, try something new. Join a professional organization and get to know a new group of individuals with similar interests. Most organizations offer a discount rate for student members.
Take advantage of the great things happening on campus! There are so many great networking opportunities sponsored by clubs or programs on campus. Everyday there is an opportunity to learn something new and meet new people outside your classroom. Try attending one new event this month. See who you meet!
Volunteering is a great way to network and get involved. You will have an opportunity to work on projects that are important to you, gain new skills and meet new individuals. This is a great way to showcase and develop your skills and organizations are always in need of extra help.
Don’t lower your expectations, manage your expectations
Remember that a college degree never guarantees a job after you graduate- especially in a struggling economy. That is not to say that you should just accept anything nor should you feel desperate. However, you are better able to ensure your success if your expectations are reasonable. For example, don’t expect to come out of school with a degree and job offer in-hand. It takes work, it takes time and it takes discipline. In other words- plan ahead! Start now! A quality job search will take months, not days, so don’t wait until you are desperate for money and will take anything to cover your expenses. Get your resume together now. Practice for interviews. Start doing research on potential companies and positions which are of interest to you.
Another way to manage expectations is to realize this will not be your only job. This will be your first job and it is important to get the experience. Money is important of course, but experience is far more valuable at this stage of your career. You don’t start at the top; you have to work your way up. If you want to work at a specific company, get a job where you can and work hard to gain mobility. You will also gain experience, get to know people and take on various projects which can propel you in the direction you want to go. Your career is a journey with many stops along the way. You won’t start at your destination. Again, don’t wait until you are desperate and go after jobs that aren’t right for you. Employers can sense desperation- you want to be calm, collected and confident in your search. So get started early!
Stay positive. Employers want to hire, excited, positive people. When you share information with your network- keep it positive. Let the words you share be filled with optimism and excitement. You don’t want them to know if you are having a difficult time in your search. People are much more inclined to refer positive, upbeat individuals.
Focus on what you want
In order to conduct a successful search you have to know two things. The first is you have to know yourself. What are your interests, skills and values? What do you enjoy? What do you hope to gain from a career? What type of organization or industry appeals to you? These are important questions to ask yourself. Your objective statement at the top of the resume is a statement of intent. Your objective is to obtain a specific job with a specific company. You have to know your goal before you can go after it. Know what you want, then begin your focused search.
In order to reach your goals it is important to be informed. Do your research. Get to know companies and organizations that are out there. When you find one you like get to know them. Find out their mission, their vision for the future and understand as much as you can how your desired position fits into that vision. All employers are looking to fill a need when they hire someone. They have identified something that they need and seek to find someone to fill it. You want to show the employer you are the best person to fill that need. You accomplish that by doing research. Find out what areas they are looking to develop and emphasize your skills that would help in that area. Come up with a plan to present addressing how they can overcome an area of difficulty. If they are looking to expand their sales in a certain region, prepare a list of leads to bring with you to a meeting or an interview. The more you know about the organization the more you know about how you can benefit them. In a slow economy, employers want to know you will be creative, proactive and invested- research will allow you to bring to their attention that which you know will be invaluable to them.
Graduating from college is a transition. Getting a job is transition. When you are doing both simultaneously there is bound to be some stress. Add a struggling economy to that mix and stress can quickly turn to anxiety. There are ways to prevent anxiety. This process is not impossible, just perhaps more challenging. To overcome those challenges it will take a bit more creativity, more energy and more focus. Remember to give yourself plenty of time to be creative and to get focused. Most importantly remember to stay positive. The search might be a bit longer than you planned, but it is possible, you just have to work smart.

Your Online Presence

2008-11-23T16:37:00.000-08:00

There are many ways you can help your job search. Using the Career Resource Center on campus to have a resume reviewed, do a mock interview, or utilize any other of the many services are great ways to enhance your career. One important step in your job search might be less obvious, but no less important- managing your online presence. In addition to keeping up your reputation in the classroom and elsewhere, it is vital to represent yourself online in the best way possible. Employers and graduate schools have commonly searched Google, Yahoo! and other search engines to find out more about potential candidates. A new wave of background search is now being done through online communities. Your Facebook or MySpace account is at risk of being evaluated by a potential employer. Although there are questions as to whether this practice is ethical or acceptable, the fact remains that 35% of hiring managers use Google to do online background checks on job candidates, and 23% look people up on social networking sites according to a survey done in March 2007 by the Ponemon Institute, a privacy think tank. About one-third of those Web searches lead to rejections according to the same survey.
Although there is no need to immediately cancel all of your accounts there is some action you should take to manage your online presence. The first step is to use your common sense. Yes, this is a free country and yes, these are your private accounts. However, the simple fact is that people have access to your information when you post it on the World Wide Web. It is important to be cognizant of the fact that the internet is not private, nor do you have control over what ends up available for the world to see. Manage your reputation by doing a search of your name. Be aware of what comes up in Google, Yahoo! or any other search engine. Edit your “wall” or your “comments” section of your page making sure what your friends say is not inappropriate. Do not use violent, racist or demeaning comments in blogs, profiles or personal pages. Even if you are not serious, these comments can negatively affect your job search. Also, make sure you set your profile to the highest security settings possible.
The bottom line is that every day we are trying to manage our reputations. It is important to remember that the image we present in cyberspace often tells more about who we are than our resumes or graduate school applications. Recruiters are under pressure to find quality candidates and they do not want to be responsible for tarnishing their company or schools reputation- or their own. “The term they’ve (employers) used over and over is red flags,” said Trudy Steinfeld, executive director of New York Universities Center for Career Development. “Is there something about their lifestyle that we might find questionable or that we might find goes against the core values of our corporation?” Remember two things and you can’t go wrong; integrity and good judgment. Both are vital qualities recruiters look for in a candidate for any position. If you are having a hard time figuring out what would be acceptable on your personal page, consider if it is something you would be comfortable sharing with your grandmother. For more information on managing your online profile please contact the Career Resource Center at (801)832-2590.
References:
Job Candidates get tripped up by Facebook. MSNBC. August 14, 2007. (MSNBC.com)
What you say online can haunt you. USA TODAY. 2007. (USATODAY.com)
For some, online persona undermines a resume. The New York Times, June 11, 2006. (nytimes.com)