Give to Get during Networking

Networking is an important part of the job search. We've all heard the statistics that 70% or more of jobs are found through networking. Whether it’s online networking or face-to-face networking, it’s important for job-seekers to give when networking. 

Many job-seekers have reported feeling uncomfortable asking someone for help. Does this sound like you? Do you feel you have nothing to give in return? To turn this around, I encourage you to first ask your networking contact how you can help him/her. This will give you an opportunity to add value to the relationship immediately. You could then provide a suggestion or a referral, whatever is appropriate. Once you have helped the contact, you will feel more comfortable asking the contact for help. Always ask the contact who else he/she knows that you should talk too. This will help to continue expanding your network. 

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Network into Your Next Job

A job search can feel overwhelming at times. You don't need to do it alone. Your network can help take some of the "work" out of your search.

Getting Clear

It's important to let your network know that you are in a job search. They can't help you if they don't know! And, without clearly defined job targets, i.e., specific positions, industries, and companies you are seeking, it can be even harder for your network to help. When asked what job(s) they are targeting, job-seekers often tell me, "I'm open. I'll work for any company or industry." While that may be true, the more focused you are, the better your job search, the easier you make it for others to help you.

Feedback

Your network can provide you feedback on your job search techniques and refer you to other individuals or organizations. They can also offer insight into a new position, field, or industry if you are contemplating a job or career change. And, your network can share with you what it's like to work at a particular company.

Hidden Job Market

Many job openings aren't advertised. Considered the "hidden job market," it's your job to uncover those leads. Employers oftentimes go to their employees for referrals when trying to fill an open position. Imagine if your name was recommended, it clearly puts you in front of other candidates. I encourage my clients to create a list of target companies and then do an advanced search on LinkedIn to identify contacts that work at those companies. Oftentimes it's your second level contacts that are going to be most helpful in your search. Ask your first level contacts to introduce you to your second level contacts that work at your target companies.

Volunteering

Harvey MacKay, business guru and author of Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door and Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty, encourages those just laid-ff to immediately start volunteering. Consider volunteering on a high-profile fundraising event for a local charity. Not only will it allow you the opportunity to develop or fine-tune your leadership, fundraising, and/or speaking skills, it will give you a chance to network with people in high places. It will also give you a reason to get out of the house and make you feel much better.

Are your Sundays Spent Dreading Mondays?

Do you enjoy your work? Are your Sundays spent dreading Mondays OR do you look forward to getting up each week day? Since yesterday was Labor Day, I thought this topic would be fitting.

On average we spend 40 to 46 years of our life working. With work consuming a large chunk of our day and our life, why not be doing something we enjoy? For many people, little thought was put into their career choice. Some may think that work is not supposed to be enjoyable, and yet others may have outgrown their career. With so much of your time devoted to work, why not find a career that brings you passion? The first step in finding work that works for you is a thorough self-assessment. This assessment includes looking at your personality, interests, skills, values, financial needs, and lifestyle.

What Type are You?

Various theorists believe there are sixteen different personality types. For each of these personality types, an individual has natural preferences (i.e., certain things just feel more natural or comfortable than others). For example, while one person may be more suited toward working alone, another may prefer working in a team environment. What one person may like doing, another might find boring. If you like expressing your creativity, sitting behind a desk answering phones all day may not match your personality style. It’s important to take stock of what type of work and work setting you prefer, and the type of people with which you prefer to interact.

Where Do Your Interests Lie?

What are your career interests? If you already have some ideas, great! Your next step is to determine which ones are in alignment with your personality, skills, and values and then research those options. If, however, you are unclear where your interests lie, you need to do your homework. One effective exercise involves thinking back over your life and choosing five activities you did well, enjoyed doing, and the time flew by while doing them. These are your success stories.  This exercise can include work and non-work related activities, including childhood experiences. These memories may uncover activities you may want to include in your next career. Perhaps you volunteered on an election campaign and thoroughly loved it. You might want to consider politics as one career avenue to explore.

Transferable Skills

Utilizing the skills that you are good at and enjoy are important considerations for career satisfaction. Don’t limit yourself to work-related skills. Throughout your life you have also gained new skills from hobbies, volunteer experiences, and internships. These skills are called transferable skills.  In other words, these skills can be transferred from one job to another and one career to another. Examples of such skills include implementing, supervising, planning and organizing, physical activity, and selling. If you like being active and are good at working with your hands, a construction job may be one option to explore.

Work Values

Another important factor in career satisfaction is compatible work values. Work values are those principles that are important to you in a job. They are valued so highly that they influence your life’s decisions or behaviors. Work values include advancement, status, security, and helping society. If you want your evenings and weekends free, a career as a corporate executive requiring extensive travel may not be a good fit.  Individuals early in their career may have valued advancement and status, successfully climbing the corporate ladder.  Now at mid-life, some of these same individuals are reassessing those values with either a desire to spend more time with their family and friends, or with an interest in leading a less hectic lifestyle.

Generating Career Options 

Once you have completed a comprehensive self-assessment, you are ready to generate possible career opportunities. Possibilities may include changing your career, a new commitment to your current position, or a lifestyle change. After you have compiled a list, you will research your options. Research can be accomplished by reading and conducting informational interviews. The next step is evaluating your options and deciding which one(s) to pursue. Finally, you can begin self-marketing through networking, resumes, cover letters, and interviewing. The career of your dreams can happen. Don’t give up!

How to Climb the Proverbial Career Ladder

If your goal is to climb the career ladder, you need to continuously market yourself. Successful marketing is necessary throughout your entire career. Never stop selling your skills, abilities, and accomplishments once you land a new job.

Lifelong Learning 

Moving ahead in your career requires you to continually update and enhance your skills. Be sure you keep a record of what you have accomplished. Research indicates that 50% of our skills become outdated in three to five years. With technological advancements growing by leaps and bounds, lifelong learning has become extremely important in maintaining your marketability in the workplace. Today’s fast paced technology requires you to keep your computer skills current. With downsizing, companies have removed their hierarchical layers. No longer can managers expect access to an administrative assistant to type their correspondence.

Take advantage of training that may be offered through your employer or take classes or seminars through a local community college. Volunteering is another good way to learn new skills, and it doesn’t cost anything. Perhaps you would like to gain some skills in the fundraising arena, consider volunteering for a non-profit. Maybe you would like to acquire some training experience, offer to teach a workshop at a non-profit. Document your skills so you can add them to your resume.

Get Noticed

Increase your visibility in your department and other departments within your company. Continue to network with others at work.

Get noticed at work by volunteering to work on a special project. Demonstrating effective leadership skills can help you climb up the next rung on the career ladder. Offer to chair a special committee or identify and fill a need that is not being addressed. Keep your manager apprised of your accomplishments. Don’t be afraid to 'toot your own horn.' If you don’t, who will?

Due to downsizing and restructuring, companies must now rely on teamwork to get the work done. To demonstrate you’re a team player, determine what contributions need to be made and how you can support the group in achieving its goals.

Go the Extra Mile

You won’t climb the career ladder by merely performing your job description duties. To get ahead you need to go the extra mile, displaying initiative and competence. Today’s marketplace requires you to think of yourself as a business. To be a successful business, you need to actively promote yourself throughout your career by selling your skills, abilities, and accomplishments to current and potential employers. 

Show it Off 

Showcase your accomplishments in a career portfolio that contains a sample collection of past work and achievements. Consider including in your portfolio the following: documentation of leadership experience, agendas from committees you’ve served on, and certificates from classes you’ve completed. Use your portfolio during performance evaluations and interviews. The career portfolio is a powerful tool, offering current and potential employers proof of what you’ve accomplished. Your portfolio can be in paper form and/or an online tool. Start climbing the ladder!

Factors for a Successful Career Choice

When exploring career options, it's important to take several factors into consideration, including your skills, interests, work values, personality, and lifestyle.

Skills - You're no doubt good at a lot of things, but what are you both good at AND enjoy doing? These are referred to as your motivated skills.

Interests - Are you interested in animals, helping people, the outdoors, or leading? Or maybe you're creative and enjoy making everything look beautiful or you love to paint or draw?

Work values - What's important to you in a work setting? Is it independence, money, a short commute, flexibility in schedule, or variety?

Personality - Do you need to be around people most of the time to feel energized? Or maybe you need a lot of down time in order to feel energized? Do you like to start and finish things? Or maybe you just like the starting part? Do you make decisions based on the feelings of others or are you more analytical?

Lifestyle - What kind of lifestyle do you want? Do you want a big home in an expensive part of the city? Or would you prefer a small home or townhome? Do you want to buy a new, expensive car every year or are you satisfied with an economical car that you drive for 5 to 10 years? Do you want to travel?

Once you've identified some careers that you want to explore further, conduct some informational interviews with folks working in those careers. Oftentimes we think we have a good idea of what a particular career is like, but talking with folks that are actually doing it, will help to paint a clear picture.

Climbing the Proverbial Career Ladder: Network Your Way to the Top

Want to advance to the next level? Networking can help you do just that!

How networking can help you….

1.     Be seen as an integral part of the company.

2.     Become well known within your industry.

3.     Be seen as a subject matter expert.

4.     Expand your network.

5.     Keep your network alive.

If you’re serious about your career and want to move up to the next level, networking can help make that happen! Let’s say you've noticed someone who has successfully advanced in their career. Ask that person if he or she will brainstorm with you for 15 minutes over the phone about how you can move up from your current position.

It’s not always about who you know, it’s about who knows you. Who are the movers and shakers in your industry? Career influencers are those people who can hire you or introduce you to others who could potentially hire you. They are those people who can champion you- past managers and past customers who know you are great! A career influencer can also be a mentor; someone who has a career path that you want and has the connections and experience needed to help you do the same.  Reach out to that person and say, “I’ve admired how you have transitioned into various roles and I would love to hear how you did it.”

How can you get on the radar screen of someone who can influence your career? What professional associations do they belong to? Join those associations and get involved. Don’t just merely be a member. Step up to the plate and volunteer to serve on a special committee. Volunteer to register members at the monthly meeting. This will help you start to put names to faces. Consider serving on the board. This will help you gain visibility and credibility within your industry and demonstrate your leadership skills. Create a presentation that would be beneficial to the members of this professional association and volunteer to be a speaker at a monthly meeting or special interest group.

Social media is a good strategy to position yourself as an expert in your field and convey your personal brand. It can also help you get noticed by recruiters and hiring managers. Join groups related to your field and industry. Post questions, respond to questions, and get on the radar screen of career influencers. But remember, social media today can be a source for companies to view your activity as well. Keep it positive and informative. And certainly, no fowl language.  Later you will learn tips on how to expand your network and keep your network alive.

Network to Keep Your Work!

Increase your visibility up, down, and across your current organization.

Networking can help you….

1.     Be seen as an integral part of the company.

2.     Become known as a subject matter expert.

3.     Expand your network.

     4.  Keep your network alive.

While some may reserve networking for times when they’re in a job search, others are continually working to build and maintain their network for career insurance- to keep their current job. How about you?

Networking can happen right at work! Network with those above you, below you, and those at your same level and with individuals from other departments and other divisions. Keep your network appraised of your accomplishments. Did you just

finish a big project? Let your boss and your boss’s boss know about it. Let’s say

you meet your boss’s boss in the elevator and she or he says, “Hi, how are you doing?” Rather than simply saying “fine” say, “I’m doing great, now that I just finished the Acme project two weeks ahead of schedule and under budget.” Toot your own horn! If you don’t, who will? It’s important for others to see you as an integral part of the company; someone who goes and above and beyond their job duties. Remember, your co-workers may have a family member or friend that is looking for a new job or a connection. Imagine there impression of you, when you can demonstrate that you can help them, even if it’s only an introduction or a tip.

Are you particularly knowledgeable about a certain area of your field? If so, make sure others at your company know that. If you’re not a subject matter expert, what can you do to become one? Do you need an advanced degree or a certification or maybe take a class? Once you've taken the steps to becoming a subject matter expert, let others at work know what you’re working toward.

Set up coffee or lunch dates with your peers and other colleagues. Later you will learn more tips for expanding your network and keeping it alive.

If you’re not already a member, join LinkedIn. Monitor activities of your network and when you see they've posted an update, ping them or call them. It can be as simple as “congratulations on the new promotion or new LinkedIn recommendation.”

If you were to lose your job today, who are the ten people you would reach out to for advice on your job search? Don’t wait until you are laid off to reach out to them. Contact them today! Set up a coffee or lunch date. 

Jump Start Your Job Search through Networking

Networking can help you….

1.     Get the word out that you are in a job search.

2.     Gain advice about your job search techniques.

3.     Uncover job leads in the “hidden job market.”

4.     Get referrals to other individuals or organizations that you’re targeting.

5.     Learn more about specific positions, fields, or industries.

6.     Gather information about specific companies.

7.     Expand your network.

8.     Keep your current network alive while meeting new people.

9.     Help others get what they want, even if it’s a warm introduction from you.

It’s important to let your network know that you are in a job search. They can’t help

you if they don’t know! And without clearly defined job targets, i.e., specific

positions, industries, and companies you are seeking, it can be even harder for your 

network to help. Job seekers often tell me, “I’m open. I’ll work for any company or 

industry.” While that may be true, the more focused you are, the better your job

search; the easier you make it for others to help you. 

Your network can provide you feedback on your job search techniques and refer you to other individuals or organizations. They can also offer insight into a new position, field, or industry if you are contemplating a job or career change. And, your network can share with you what it’s like to work at a particular company.

Many job openings aren't advertised. Considered the “hidden job market,” it’s your job to uncover those leads. Employers oftentimes go to their employees for referrals when trying to fill an open position. Imagine if your name was recommended. It clearly puts you in front of other candidates. I encourage my clients to create a list of target companies and then do an advanced search on LinkedIn to identify contacts that work at those companies. Oftentimes it’s your second or third level contacts that are going to be most helpful in your search. Ask your first level contacts to introduce you to your second level contacts that work at your target companies.

Harvey MacKay, business guru, and author of Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door and Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty, encourages those just laid-off to immediately start volunteering. Consider volunteering on a high-profile fundraising event for a local charity. Not only will it allow you the opportunity to develop or fine-tune your leadership, fundraising, and/or speaking skills, it will give you a chance to network with people in high places. It will also give you a reason to get out of the house, make you feel much better, PLUS, when you’re asked, and you will be asked “What have you been doing since your last job?” well, you have an opening line………”I’ve been volunteering…………..”

  

How to Respond to Salary Requirements

As a job-seeker, you may be asked salary requirements during the online application process, during a phone interview, at the first interview or anytime during the interview process. If asked, you could say, "I’d rather hold off salary talk until we’ve both decided this is a good fit.” The truth is you most likely haven't learned enough about the position in the early stages of the interview process. It's best to hold off salary talk until a job offer has been extended. However, the interviewer may not be satisfied with this response and require you to share his/her desired salary. To be prepared, it’s important that you have done the necessary homework beforehand so you know your market value. You can use sites such as Payscale.com and Salary.com and professional industry-related association websites to determine your market value in your geographic area.

If pressured to share your requirements, you could say something like, “I’m looking for a salary within the $50,000 to $65,000 range, depending upon the total compensation package.”  The last part is important to add because some companies may have a good benefits package while others may not. If the benefits are extremely good, you may find a slightly lower salary acceptable and vice versa.

Overcoming Social Media Stress

The job search has definitely changed drastically over the past few years. Gone are the days when you'd open the Sunday paper, find a job you like, mail in your resume, get an interview, and land the job! For folks that find themselves laid off after 20+ years with the same company, launching a job search today can feel scary and overwhelming.

Today the use of social media and applying online is an integral part of the job search. Stories of identity theft and the desire to maintain privacy can be very unsettling for some job-seekers. There are some privacy settings you can manage on social media. Facebook allows you some control over who sees what and you can decide who you accept as a "Friend." Be sure to check your privacy settings.

Since over 90% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates, it's imperative to have a LinkedIn profile. If you're not on LinkedIn, it's like you don't exist to recruiters and hiring managers. To help alleviate some of the fear, know that you do have the option of who you accept invitations to connect from.

Research Tools for Your Job Search

Are you trying to uncover a contact within one of your target companies? Or perhaps you're trying to discern what the culture is like within your target company? Or maybe you've got a job interview next week and you're wondering what kinds of questions to expect?

Glassdoor is a great resource for any of the above topics. Glassdoor consists of a database of six million company reviews, CEO approval ratings, salary reports, interview reviews and questions, and more. The cool thing about it is that the information is entirely shared by the employees.

When researching using Glassdoor, if you notice some unfavorable reviews on a target company, it may be from some disgruntled current or former employees. You may want to do further research using some other online tools to check for consistency. A couple of other tools you can use are:

Hoovers Online
Book of Lists
Business Journal
LinkedIn

Do your research to help you land your next job!

Positive Self-Talk & the Job Search

Mindset can positively impact a job-seekers success in landing a job or not and how fast.  Negative self-talk is a form of self-sabotage. It’s important to notice what messages you may be saying to yourself about yourself. If it’s negative, it’s important for you to change your thoughts. Positive thoughts can change how you feel and respond to a particular situation. This in turn will increase the likelihood of bolstering your self-confidence and having a positive outcome. Take a look at the following examples of negative self-talk on the left and on the right examples of positive self-talk. 

Negative Self-Talk Example:	Positive Self-Talk Example:
I’m being discriminated against because of my age.	I have a lot of skills and experience to offer an employer. Plus, my appearance looks up-to-date and I’m up-to-date with technology.
I don’t feel comfortable tooting my own horn.	I will state the facts about my accomplishments so the interviewer sees I’m the best candidate for the position.
I don’t want to get on LinkedIn. I'm not comfortable putting myself out there on social media. What negative self-talk are you saying to yourself? How could you reframe those messages into something positive?	Millions of people are on LinkedIn. If most recruiters seek candidates on LinkedIn, I need to be on LinkedIn.

Self-Sabotage & the Job Search

Job-seekers can unknowingly sabotage their job search. How does self-sabotage show up? 

• Not having a job target.
• Feeling desperate and going after every job that remotely matches your skills/experience.
• Spending the majority of your time going after advertised jobs.
• Isolating. Not getting out networking with others.
• Not getting up-to-date with current job search trends.
• Not customizing your resume and cover letter for each job target.
• Not keeping your network apprised of your job search.
• Not asking for introductions to contacts within your target companies.

Do you want to see more momentum in your job search? What negative behaviors do you need to shed?

Resume Keywords are King

Many companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to manage the large influx of resumes when a job opening is posted. How can you be sure your resume eventually ends up being read by a human? The key is KEYWORDS. You  need to ensure you have the correct keywords that are relevant for the job you are targeting and have enough of them sprinkled throughout your resume.

A couple of tools that can help you identify what keywords should be on your resume include:

Wordle.net - This tool will allow you to paste in a job description and you will be able to see which keywords are the most prominent.

Onetsocautocoder - With this tool, you paste in a job description to see how often particular keywords show up. You can use the results to customize your resume.

Here are a couple of articles on keywords that I think you will find helpful:

Guide to the Best Keywords for Your Job Search

List of Resume and Cover Letter Action Keywords

Finding the Perfect Thing to Say: Great email scripts for job-seekers

Are you in a job search? Do you struggle with what to say in an email to a recruiter or others who can help you in your search? I came across links to two content-rich articles with email scripts for job-seekers.

1. 13 helpful email templates you can use while job searching 

This link will give you a plethora of email scripts to use before and during your job search. Everything from 

• Letting your network know you're in a job search.
• Inquiring about the status of an application.
• Asking for an introduction to someone.
• Asking for a recommendation on LinkedIn. 

2. Reaching out to Recruiters: Sample Scripts

This link will give you email templates for the following situations:

• When a recruiter has looked at your LinkedIn page
• When you are connected to any recruiters (1st degree)
• When a friend refers you

Don't struggle with what to say any longer. Check these articles out today!

Conducting a Diversified Job Search Approach

Are you in a job search? Do you have a diversified job search approach or are you spending most of your time sitting behind a computer? If you want to jump start your job search, it's important to spend you time on several different strategies, as outline below:

1) Online Social & Professional Networking - You've probably heard it before- most jobs are found through networking. Why is that? Employers like to hire people they know and people that come referred to them. It's expensive to advertise and it's risky to hire an unknown. Be sure to have a keyword-rich LinkedIn profile; become active in LinkedIn groups; follow your target companies. Join and become active in industry-related professional associations.

2) Direct Contact - Do you have a list of companies you are targeting? If not, create one! Your next step is to identify who the hiring manager is for each company and send him/her a targeted cover letter and resume. Don't wait for an opening to be posted. Take the initiative and reach out. Do your research and check your network to find connections to the hiring manager. Ask if you could use his/her name in the cover letter.

3) Recruiters - It is important to identify recruiters for your field and industry. Ideally, if you have a well-crafted LinkedIn profile, recruiters will be seeking you out. Keep in mind that the client for the recruiter is the company seeking to fill a position. If their client is not looking for someone with your skills/experience, he/she won't be able to help you.

4) Online Job Boards - Another piece of the puzzle is online job boards. When applying online, be sure to identify contacts within the company. When possible, in addition to responding to an online job posting, submit a resume and cover letter directly to the hiring manager. This will require some digging on your part to identify that person.

If you're not already doing all of the above, I encourage you to start today! It could just shorten the amount of time you find yourself in a job search.

Storytelling Inspires Young Girls to Broaden Career Options

By now you've most likely heard of STEM, i.e., careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. There's another acronym that incorporates Arts into STEM and it's STE@M™. Co-authors Cari Lyn Vinci and Carleen MacKay have written a Playbook for TEENS in which young women of STE@M™ share their career-changing challenges, discoveries, actions and results. These young women prove that using knowledge of software or technology, engineering, art or math is required in almost all fields the new workplace demands.

Set aside endless graphs and tedious analytics. Instead, reflect upon the inspirational words and

imagery painted by powerful young women whose experiences foretell success at a time of great

workplace change. The story-tellers, successful pioneers in the new world of work, have written this beautifully illustrated book to – and for – you in your high school years. Their powerful words will inspire

the courageous, offer staying power to the ambitious and daring to those who have been held back

by misplaced fear the STE@M™ word sometime evokes.

For example, you’ll meet a young woman from a poor family whose parents did not encourage

thoughts of college and whose greatest ambition throughout much of her high school years was

to paint pictures on a pier in San Francisco. A teacher inspired her, mentored her and

encouraged her to explore the connections between science, art and life. She began to see other

options for her life. Unfortunately, life changing challenges in her family interfered with her

new-found ambitions. So, how did this young woman overcome life’s trials and find a new

direction filled with adventure, travel and exciting work? How did she become one of their real-life

models for today’s teens? How might she inspire you? Well…for those answers, you will

have to read the rest of her story. It’s in the book!

While the book is intended to inspire teens who are looking at preparing for a future unlike the

past; it is an equally important reading experience for teachers, parents and friends who are

travelers sharing the road to the future.

Top 5 Strategies for Moving Ahead

Are you looking for a promotion, but not getting anywhere? Try the strategies below to help you get up the next rung on the proverbial career ladder:

1. Find out what's going on and become part of it. What are the major trends affecting your industry, your organization, and your field? Join associations that relate to your field and industry to help you keep up with the changes in your company or job.
2. Manage your internal public relations campaign. Volunteer for your company's United Way or Blood Drive. This will help you be seen as a team player and allow you to meet people in other division and departments. Keep those above you apprised of your accomplishments.
3. Get the training you need. Do volunteer work, take courses, and learn a new technical skill to keep you marketable.
4. Develop a career plan for yourself, and gradually move in the right direction. Identify your long-term career goals so you can make career decisions that will help you achieve your goals.
5. Meet with your manager to get more mainstream assignments. Put together a list that includes in the left column, a list your job responsibilities. In the right-hand column, list your accomplishments on the job. For example, you could list that you have always been willing to take on extra work and help where it was needed. Let your boss know you are interested in getting some of the cutting edge assignments that are coming up.

Source: WorkSmarts: Be a Winner on the Job by Kate Wendleton and David Madison, Ph.D.

Getting Clear on Your Job Targets

Are you in a job search? What type of work are you seeking? The more focused your job target(s), the more effective your job search and the easier it will be for others to help you.

I've worked with many clients who aren't clear on what position(s) they would like to pursue or fear they will limit themselves if they narrow their focus. Actually, the opposite happens. Clearly identifying what position or function you want, the industry, the company size, and the geographic area will help you be more successful in your job search.

If you say, "I want to work in IT," that doesn't say enough. What position within IT? Let's say you want to work as a network administrator. What industry? IT is typically a field, not an industry. In what industry do you want to work as a network administrator? Let's say you want to work at a college. Is it a community college or a four-year college? Is it public or private? In what geographic area do you want to work? How far are you willing to commute? What companies are in the industries and within the geographic area in which you would like to work? Getting clear in each of these areas will help you market yourself better to your network, recruiters, and prospective hiring managers.

Your Two-Minute Pitch: The Keystone of Your Job Search

Earlier this week I delivered a presentation at a Twin-Cities based job transition group. My presentation was titled, "Your Two-Minute Pitch: The Keystone of Your Job Search." It's critically important to have a well-crafted, targeted two-minute pitch, aka your elevator pitch to use during your job search.

You'll use your Two-Minute Pitch, coined by the Five O'Clock Club, during networking situations and in job interviews when asked, "Tell me about yourself." However, before you develop your pitch, it's important to have clearly defined job targets. A job target consists of:

1) A position or function
2) Industry and/or company size
3) Geographic area

You may have several job targets which means you may need several pitches. Below are some questions to help you get started on developing or fine-tuning your pitch:

1. What is the most important thing I want this target to know about me? (This is where you position yourself. If they know nothing else about you, this is what you want them to know.)
2. What is the second most important thing I want this target to know about me? (This could support and/or broaden your introductory statement).
3. Key selling points: statements/accomplishments that support/prove the first two statements.
4. Statement of why they should be interested in me/what separates me from my competition:
5. Other key selling points applicable even indirectly to this industry or position:

Get started on developing your Two-Minute Pitch for your job target(s). Try it out with friends or family and get feedback before you start using it in the real world.

Lifetime Difference in Earnings: Traditional vs. Nontraditional Career

One of the big reasons females should consider a nontraditional career is the fact that they often pay 20 to 30% higher wages (and oftentimes more) than the traditional careers they typically pursue. The chart below illustrates this difference. The difference in earnings over the lifetime of a female as a childcare worker as opposed to an aircraft maintenance technician is over $1.3 million dollars. What a difference that can make in whether a female is economically self-sufficient or not!

Traditional vs. Nontraditional Career

Lifetime Difference in Earnings

Traditional Career	Nontraditional Career
Child Care Worker	Aircraft Maintenance Technician
$9.28/hour* $19,300/year	$25.59/hour* $53,220/year
$772,400 over 40 years	$2,128,800 over 40 years
*Median salary nationally - Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010

Below are the annual median salaries for some other nontraditional careers for women:

Computer software developer - $93,350*

HVAC Installer/Mechanic - $43,640*

Carpenter - $39,990*

Automotive Service Technician - $36,610*

Action Step: How can you share information on nontraditional careers with your female students, clients, daughters, nieces, etc.? Check out this link for Myths & Facts About Women in Nontraditional Occupations. How can you use this information with the females you know?

Source: Salary information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Putting myself in my clients' shoes

I feel like I am able to put myself in my clients' shoes on a regular basis. Being self-employed is like being in a job search every day. As a career coach I need to continually be on the look out for new opportunities, whether it's for an individual coaching client, a contract with an organization looking for independent coaches to provide services to their clients or candidates, or an opportunity to present a workshop.

One of the most important activities for job seekers and self-employed career coaches is networking. I know very well how important your network is to your success. I landed contracts with two outplacement agencies (who work with laid-off or down-sized employees) and two of the heavy hitters in the job board industry- both CareerBuilder and Monster- through my network. I also landed a lucrative speaking gig through my network.

Just like my clients, I need to be prepared to give my elevator pitch when in a networking situation or basically any situation. I also need to have business cards with me wherever I go, even my local YMCA. You just never know who you will run into and what opportunities you may uncover.

I feel comfortable when challenging a client to get out of his or her comfort zone and try something new, after all, I have probably done the same thing myself- and lived to talk about it.

High Wage, High Skill, High Demand Careers

Can you answer "Yes" to any of the following:

• You're getting ready to graduate from high school this year or next and not sure what career option to choose?
• You're mid-career and want to explore other options?
• You're career is getting off shored and you need to re-tool?

If you answered "Yes" to any of the above, you may want to consider a high wage, high skill, high demand career. Where can these careers be found? Many are in STEM fields, i.e., science, technology, engineering, and math.

A few examples of STEM careers include:

1. Drafter
2. Nutritionist
3. Mathematician
4. Electrical engineer
5. Computer programmer

Because the United States needs to remain globally competitive their are numerous initiatives nationwide aimed at increasing the number of females and males in STEM careers. Because women in STEM earn 33% more than women in non-STEM careers, many organizations are dedicated to increasing the number of women in STEM: Below are a few of those organizations:

girlstart

WEPAN

Stem Coalition

High-Tech High\Heels

National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity

According to an industry market trends article, "Through 2018, both research organizations forecast STEM occupations will grow by 17 percent, compared with slighly less than 10 percent growth for non-STEM occupations." The article also pointed out that "there will be 2.4 million job openings for STEM workers between 2008 and 2018."

Handling objections during your job search

I recently picked up a copy of "Knock 'em Dead: The Ultimate Job Search Guide 2014" by Martin Yate, CPC.  The book includes a section dedicated to handling objections, which many job seekers face. I picked a three of the ones I hear most often from my coaching clients:

Objection: "Why don't you send me a resume?"

Response: "Of course, Mr. Grant. Would you give me your exact title and your email address?" Thank you. So that I can be sure that my qualifications fit your needs, what skills are you looking for in this position?"
___________________________________________________

Objection: "You'll have to talk with Human Resources."

Response: "Of course, Mr. grant. Whom should I speak to in HR, and what specific position should I mention?"

Then...

"Good morning, Ms. Johnson. Cary Grant, over in marketing, suggested we should speak to arrange an interview for the open sales associate position."
___________________________________________________

Objection: "I really wanted someone with a degree."

Response: "Mr. Smith, I appreciate your viewpoint. It was necessary that I start earning a living early
in life. If we meet, I am certain you would recognize the value of my additional practical experience."

Try out the above responses if you encounter any of these objections.

Target your job search & get results!

Are you in a job search? What jobs are you targeting? If you say any of the following, you need to gain more clarity:

1) I'm open. I'll take anything.
2) I don't care what industry I work in.
3) I don't want to limit myself.

A lot of job seekers worry when asked, "What positions and industries are you targeting? They're afraid that if they are too specific they will limit their opportunities. Actually, the opposite happens. The more specific as far as positions/functions and industries you're targeting, the easier your job search. It's easier to focus on a few things than everything. It's easier for others to help you when you are clear in what you are targeting.

Think about it this way. Let's say someone comes up to you and says, "I'm targeting an HR Generalist position in the manufacturing industry and some specific companies I'm interested in are....." Sounds pretty focused, right? Let's say someone else comes up and says, "I'm looking for a job- any job." WOW! That's pretty big. It's hard for others to wrap their brain around that one. With the first example, you make it easy for others to scan their brain and possibly come up with someone they know that works in HR or works in manufacturing, or even works at some of your target companies. They can then introduce you to those contacts. The second example is just too open, too big.

Are You an Olympian in Your Career?

I always look forward to watching the Olympics and this year is no exception. I admire the passion and dedication the athletes have for their particular sport [career]. Are you passionate and dedicated about your career? If not, what steps can you take to become a career conqueror? The following will help you assess how effectively you are managing your career and what areas could use some work. Rate yourself in each area on a scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being high. Add up your score and see where you at in the scoring key below.

                  10 Keys to Becoming a Career Conqueror

Item	Rating (1-10 Scale)

1.  Vision:         (I have a system or conceptual framework that allows me to look forward and be open and available to intersect who I am with new opportunities. I know how I want to contribute to my corner of the world as a result of my work. I have sketched out goals that align with the current vision for my life. I regularly review this vision, modify it as new opportunities become apparent, and make choices to act in a manner that moves me forward in my work and life.)
2.  Brand:       (I am in tune with who I am and actively enlarging my perception of who I am becoming. My self-worth is not solely linked to my work but is rooted in living in harmony with my values and priorities. I am passionate about and well-known for a set of strengths, talents, and knowledge that are in market demand. There are role models in my work-life whom I admire, and, as appropriate, I emulate their attributes and actions that will be important to my ongoing success.)
3.  Networked:       (I have a healthy Rolodex/contact list and have a high level of trust with these people. I am on the radar screen of, and make meaningful contributions to, people who could be influential to my career. I attend association conferences and other events that will expand and reinforce my network.)
4.  ROI:         (I understand employer's needs for a return on investment [ROI] and act in a manner that contributes to that ROI. I track performance metrics and know the ROI I offer employers.)
5.  Lifelong Learning:         (I am continually adding new skills, knowledge, certifications, or degrees that enable me to contribute greater value to my employer, as well as keep me motivated and engaged. I stretch myself by asking for or accepting new projects that will increase my experience and value.)
6.  Emotional Intelligence:         (I communicate and relate exceptionally with supervisors, peers, employees, customers. I know the key players in my organization/industry and am considered a team player. I am aware of my "emotional intelligence" as it relates to perceiving, understanding, and managing emotions. I have a reputation as someone who is stable and doesn't need to be treated with "kid gloves.")
7.  Self-Accountable:          (I am personally in charge of inspiring myself, making change happen, staying positive, and taking action. No one/nothing keeps me from success, other than my own self-imposed beliefs, which I am committed to examining regularly and breaking through to reach higher heights!)
8.  Self-Initiated Training:          (I have created and am pursuing my own personal/professional development plan.)
9.  Time Management:          (I manage time and energy well. My time and thoughts are not consumed by activities that do not support my goals.)
10. Support:              (I surround myself with supportive people—coach, mentors, peers, friends—and carefully limit my contact with “energy-draining” people.)

©Career Coach Academy ▪.Pathways Career Success Strategies, LLC

Scoring Key:
If you scored....
90 - 100 - Your career is in great shape. And, if you needed to, you'd likely be able to find a new job within the next 60 days.
80 - 90   - You're well on your way to successfully managing your career - congratulations on your diligence to date.
70 - 80   -  You've probably got a lot of things in place that you can build on.
70 or below - You'd be amazed in the turnaround you can make even in the next 2-3 months by setting goals and creating action steps in the key areas that need work.

So,...what steps are you willing to take to become a career conqueror?

A Growth Mindset Can Increase Career Options for Females

Do you have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset? How about others you encounter, whether you're a parent, teacher, counselor, or career coach? Have you noticed if some are more open to trying new things than others?

What is a fixed mindset? According to Stanford University psychologist and author Carol Dweck, a fixed mindset occurs an individual believes intelligence is a fixed trait and are therefore more likely to avoid challenging tasks. Those with a growth mindset believe their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.

How can a fixed mindset negatively impact someone's success? A fixed mindset can prevent a student from enrolling in certain classes and programs and ultimately limit his or her career options as a result.

Negative stereotypes abound about female's math and science skills. How many times have you heard, "Boys are better at math and science than girls?" Many folks believe that either you have math and science ability or you don't. You're either born with it or you're not. You're either born with it or not. The fact is you can learn those skills! Studies have been conducted where before a math test a teacher tells the students that boys typically do better on math tests than females and studies where teachers don't tell students that before a test. When students are told that males typically do better at math tests, the female students don't do as well. When students aren't told that before a test, both males and females perform about the same on those math tests.

What can you do? Encourage your children and female students to explore classes they may not have considered. Help increase their confidence level by making them aware that math and science skills can be developed. Praise effort, not intelligence. Many studies have been done that show this simple act can greatly impact students in a positive way.

The Importance of Gender Diversity in the Workplace

Today I'm presenting a webinar for a community college in Virginia on how to increase recruitment and retention of males and females in classes/programs that prepare them for nontraditional careers. Nontraditional careers are those where one gender makes up less than 25% of those employed in that field or occupation. So why is gender diversity important?

Gender diversity helps build a diverse workforce. Females and males bring different talents, different ways of thinking and problem-solving to the workplace. All of these things are valuable to a company. Nontraditional careers typically pay 20 to 30% higher wages than the traditional jobs many women pursue which can help females achieve a high socioeconomic status. It's important to base career choice on interest and aptitude not gender stereotypes. For some males, a career in the service or helping field may bring greater career satisfaction. And, some females may find working in a nontraditional career a better fit for them.