Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Ramp up your job search during the holiday season: Part 1

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pumpkin.pie.305417643_cdfa0079e2_mIf you are unemployed, are you dreading the holiday season? The inevitable question, “What do you do?” and the awkward silence while you think of a good reply? If that sounds like you – take heart!

Or, maybe you have a job, but it’s time to find a new one? You think the holidays are not a good time to get started looking? I hope this series on job hunting during the holidays can change your mind! (Stay tuned for more advice on the subject!)

Turn this holiday season around and try to think of it as an opportunity to jump start your job search if you have come to a rolling stop and to rev up your plans if you haven’t even begun, but know that the time is coming. (It’s here!)

Yes – you can conduct job search networking over turkey, stuffing and pie or champagne and cookies! Any time that you have a chance to meet new people and expand your circle, there’s a possibility that you will speak to someone who can significantly alter your job search’s course.

Do not waste this time of the year. This is actually the PERFECT time to job hunt, and there are a lot of reasons why. (Many of which I will detail in this series.)

For starters, it is unlikely that you will be very successful with your job hunt unless you network well. Networking is a huge topic, and I have tons to say on the subject, but let’s start here:

If you’re going to a party or holiday get-together, you will probably have an opportunity to meet some new people.

How can you introduce yourself with an eye toward seeing if there is a potential career link with your new acquaintance?  Ask someone if they have special plans for the holidays…Strike up some conversations that have NOTHING to do with your job search.

You never know where you’ll meet the professional connection that will link you to a new opportunity.

Bring your A-game to the party. First up – decide what to say when asked what you do. I’ve said it before and I will say it again: If you sound like Debbie Downer or Tired Tom, it’s unlikely anyone will want to spend much time chatting, let alone become a possible resource for you.

You need to bring your pitch – call it your elevator pitch, your escalator pitch – your “twit pitch” – whatever you call it, you need to have it. Follow THIS LINK for tips on how to create a proactive introduction that helps people recognize who you are and what you offer.

I highly recommend that job seekers take a look at Katharine Hansen’s book, Tell Me About Yourself: Storytelling to Get Jobs and Propel Your Career. Read my review HERE. I don’t know of another resource that outlines the importance of being able to tell your story as it relates to your job hunt. Because, let’s face it – you need to know (and be able to share) your own story.

I wrote an ebook on the subject of how to optimize your networking for holidays (or anytime, really). Subscribe to receive my blog via email and receive a copy for free! Click here to subscribe and receive a free ebook.

Stay tuned for more information and resources. Please share your stories and ideas about job search during the holidays in the comments.

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching? If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by jamesyu

How having a blog can help you get a job

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blog.licenseA.2089328125_42a4fbd7ae_mI am so excited to share news from a client who just landed a great job. In and of itself, a client landing a job isn’t extraordinary – that is the point of  hiring me to help, after all! What is special about this client is that she was in a transitional search. She was finding that there were not a lot of opportunities in her field, so she needed to make a change. She was looking for jobs doing things she had not done before.

Anyone who talks to me about transitioning knows that this is a tough time to make a career change. While I would never discourage someone from trying, with the economy being what it is, employers tend to have a choice of people who have ALREADY done EXACTLY the thing the job requires. Many people are willing to take a step back for a job and are overqualified. In either case, employers have their pick of people who can just step right into the job. Taking a chance on someone who can learn isn’t typical.

In this case, a targeted resume is key – job seekers need to make a clear case that shows their skills and accomplishments as they relate to the desired job. However, there is so much more to success than just the resume, as my client demonstrated!

Previously a copy editor, she landed a job as a development coordinator, involving social media, fundraising and grant writing. None of those items were things she had been paid to do in the past.

She noted, “The hiring manager told me she initially wasn’t going to interview anyone without grant writing experience but was so impressed with my writing skills (on my cover letter, resume and blog; don’t know if she checked out my Twitter feed or LinkedIn profile) that she brought me in just to see. Turns out she liked me, her boss liked me during the second interview, and they decided to take a chance on me! Out of six candidates, I was the one chosen. So the blog definitely helped. Go tell your job seekers that.”

There is more to this story…Stay tuned!

Please share what YOU have done differently that led to success in your job search!

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by Hawaii

Intuition and your job hunt

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intuition.2677121177_d81cbe81d8_mIntuition is the apparent ability to acquire knowledge without inference or the use of reason.[1] “The word ‘intuition’ comes from the Latin word ‘intueri’, which is often roughly translated as meaning ‘to look inside’ or ‘to contemplate’.”[2] Intuition provides us with beliefs that we cannot necessarily justify. For this reason, it has been the subject of study in psychology, as well as a topic of interest in the supernatural. The “right brain” is popularly associated with intuitive processes such as aesthetic abilities.[3][4][5] Some scientists have contended that intuition is associated with innovation in scientific discovery.[6]

– Wikipedia

I’ve been thinking a lot about intuition and the job hunt. A lot of people who contact me have been looking for a job for a long time before they seek help. They realize that something isn’t working and hope that getting help will – help! But, why does it take so long? Why doesn’t intuition kick in sooner?

Which begs the question: Is intuition a skill we acquire or a talent we refine? The question, posed on LinkedIn and responded to by many people, is probably key. Clearly, some people have a stronger sense of intuition than others – about their job hunts and everything else!

So, I did a Google search for intuition in the job hunt. Not surprisingly, the first result was written by Kathy Hansen from Quint Careers, a giant in online career search resources.

Kathy shares “tips to sharpen your intuition and use it for making career choices.”(Bold from Kathy, commentary is my own.)

 

  • Accept your gut feelings. Do you remember someone once telling you to “go with your first choice” on a standardized test? While “your first choice” is not necessarily the best one for all of life’s concerns, it is important to recognize that you have a “gut instinct.” Think about it and use it when you are navigating your job hunt..

 

  • Know yourself. Think about it. Who knows you better than you do? Take advantage of what you know and let it guide you.

 

  • Journal your thoughts about career choices. This is a useful way to track information you otherwise might ignore.

 

  • Seek a calm, quiet place to ruminate on your intuitive thoughts. Kathy says, “It’s OK to wait for the insight you need to make a choice.” I agree totally – rushing to judge and acting impulsively are unlikely to help you with your job hunt. (Note the difference between “impulsivity” and “intuition,” per wikipedia:

Impulsivity (or impulsiveness) is a type of human behavior characterized by the inclination of an individual to act on impulse rather than thought.[1] Although part of the normal behavior, impulsivity also plays a role in many mental illnesses.

  • Take baby steps. You probably want to rush. Getting a job is important. Going slowly is okay.
  • It’s OK to use both intuition and rational, analytical thinking to make career choices, especially if you are not highly intuitive. Kathy suggests, “Use reason to test your hunches. Once you think you’ve made an intuitive choice, ask yourself the logical questions that draw on your powers of reason. You can also visualize possible outcomes of your decision.”
  • Be positive and assume you have the resources to make a good choice. You can’t really underestimate the importance of having a positive attitude.
  • Ask the right questions. What are the right questions? I’d suggest – “What brought me to this point, and what, if anything, do I want/need to change?” Also – “What steps can I take to bring me closer to my goal?

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by lefiaf.geo

 

 

How to find out what job you should do next

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leapAre you doing what you SHOULD be doing? Does you job fill you with excitement and passion? (Not THAT kind!) Do you REALLY enjoy your work, or is it just a means to an end?

When job seekers contact me and don’t know what they want to do next, I tell them I can’t help them. Actually, that’s not exactly what I tell them. I do explain that I only work with people who know their next target job. I don’t write “general resumes,” nor do I do what I call “find your bliss” coaching. If clients need help figuring out their next steps, I can offer some suggestions about how to go about finding jobs you might not even know existed (maybe a topic for a future post), but otherwise, I will refer those clients to work with a trusted colleague and advise them to come back to me when they are ready to focus on a job search.

So, I don’t usually write about the topic of “figuring out your next step.” A few recent occurences have made me think about this, though…

A friend of mine, who has been running her own business for the better part of the last several years, recently took an opportunity to do some work that was very similar to what she used to do before her current gig. The money was too good, so she couldn’t pass it up. Unfortunately, she admitted to me how BORED she is with the work. Remembering her talk about her previous job, it never occurred to me that she had disliked it, so I pressed her to explain.

It turns out that she had really LOVED this job in the old days. It felt challenging, different every day – even thrilling at times. Now, that same work is so boring, she can hardly get anything done without something running in the background.

What changed? She realized where her TRUE passions lie in the interim. It’s a different type of work, a different type of interaction with people  that excites her now. If the money were not so good, she would not even consider going back. Maybe, some would say, she should STILL not go back, even for the money, but I’m about practicality, so I’m not one of those voices!

Coincidentally, I recently had the opportunity to meet Rick Smith, author of 5 Patterns of Extraordinary Careers and The Leap. Rick’s focus is on showing people that “3 simple changes can propel your career from good to great.” He launched what he calls his “primary colors” assessment, which he says helps people identify where their passions should take them. In fact, he believes that working to find your passions (or your “primary color“) and then working to move in the direction of that passion is the first step to success (p. 192).

Rick’s personal story (basically, he was laid off from his recruiting job and wound up founding an elite senior executive networking organization) and those of the people profiled in his book can certainly inspire anyone to take that “leap” into doing something different. What I really like about Rick’s idea is that the “leap” does not necessarily need to be into entrepreneurship. It is perfectly reasonable to assume that people who recognize what they love doing will be able to direct their job search in the right direction.

I enjoyed The Leap…If you are struggling with your next step, I think you will, too. (Be sure to watch Rick’s video. It is pretty inspiring!) Learn more about Rick and his book HERE.

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

An interview story to remember, Part VII

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comedy-of-errors2This is a post from last year. I think it is worth re-telling, as it fits our theme of “horror job search stories,” with a funny twist!

Sometimes, even the best laid plans don’t go as planned…

Case in point, a new client of mine whose job search is in full swing. His resume is top-notch, cover letters targeted and linkedin profile updated. He has started being invited for a lot of interviews, which is very exciting (for him and for me!)

Having worked in one place for his entire (lengthy) career, the interview is a stress point, and we have discussed and prepared to face this very important bridge between the opportunity for a job and actually getting a job!

He knows what to do to prepare. Sometimes it just doesn’t go as planned. For example, a recent interview:

  • The shirt he was planning to wear didn’t fit. Luckily, he had an extra one handy.
  • His well-thought out portfolio was waiting on the kitchen table. Unfortunately, he forgot it there and only realized it when he reached his interview destination.
  • His GPS didn’t have the company’s address in its system, so locating the interview spot was a bit tricky.
  • Sitting down for the interview, his phone rang. Forgetting the cardinal rule about not answering your phone during an interview, he answered it. Who was calling? A very high-profile recruiting firm asking him to schedule an interview!

There are several lessons to be learned from this story, but the most important lesson is the one I haven’t shared with you – this client’s reaction to the whole mess:

I was not angry with myself…Have a giggle with me not at me, all I can see is the funny side of what happened today.

You can’t buy a great attitude like that! Next time, he’ll triple-check that he has his portfolio and he’ll NEVER answer his phone in an interview. All of these are lessons that are easily learned. The ability to see the humor in a comedy of errors isn’t something you can teach. It’s a “soft” skill that will serve him well in his job hunt and as an employee for the lucky employer who hires him!

Further proving this client is a true math guy – he estimates the statistical probablility of all of these things happening at once: 10 trillion to one. So, don’t worry too much that your interview experience will be similar!

Don’t miss Part I, II and III, IV,  V and VI.

What is your story? Tell it in the comments section!

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by GotMeAMuse