Career Management Can Be Fun!

Career Management Can Be Fun! I remember going to lunch with John. He was an executive in transition and it seemed he scheduled about five meals a day with people. He didnt eat much in any of them but he loved networking with people and realized that once you get someone at a restaurant, you typically have their undivided attention for a good thirty to sixty minutes. One of the most memorable things he said to me is This is so much fun! Heres a guy who had his executive-level income on pause, and he was having FUN! It would be more fun to do this with a salary and benefits, I thought. But yeah, I was right there with him. Even as an introvert I was having fun. I loved meeting with people, understanding them and what they needed, and figuring out how I could give and serve and add value to them. With no strings attached. With a simple belief that if I helped people, they would maybe help me. If they didnt, no big deal. It felt great to help others. I will say that the job search is not necessarily fun. There are too many emotions attached, and there is too much on the line. Waiting to hear back from employers, hoping that your network pulls through for you, wondering if youre networking enough, and all of the tiny things that mere mortals dont have to worry about, like a typo on a resume. Too. Much. Stress. Once you let go of thinking that everything depends on every thing you do or say or see, and you relax a bit, then seriously, start enjoying the job search. Enjoy meeting new people. Enjoy setting your own schedule. Enjoy the freedom to take care of your health. Enjoy not commuting. Enjoy this time because soon enough it will end. And youll be too busy and tired to network, and be healthy, and have time to yourself. This is YOUR time! Career Management Can Be Fun! I remember going to lunch with John. He was an executive in transition and it seemed he scheduled about five meals a day with people. He didnt eat much in any of them but he loved networking with people and realized that once you get someone at a restaurant, you typically have their undivided attention for a good thirty to sixty minutes. One of the most memorable things he said to me is This is so much fun! Heres a guy who had his executive-level income on pause, and he was having FUN! It would be more fun to do this with a salary and benefits, I thought. But yeah, I was right there with him. Even as an introvert I was having fun. I loved meeting with people, understanding them and what they needed, and figuring out how I could give and serve and add value to them. With no strings attached. With a simple belief that if I helped people, they would maybe help me. If they didnt, no big deal. It felt great to help others. I will say that the job search is not necessarily fun. There are too many emotions attached, and there is too much on the line. Waiting to hear back from employers, hoping that your network pulls through for you, wondering if youre networking enough, and all of the tiny things that mere mortals dont have to worry about, like a typo on a resume. Too. Much. Stress. Once you let go of thinking that everything depends on every thing you do or say or see, and you relax a bit, then seriously, start enjoying the job search. Enjoy meeting new people. Enjoy setting your own schedule. Enjoy the freedom to take care of your health. Enjoy not commuting. Enjoy this time because soon enough it will end. And youll be too busy and tired to network, and be healthy, and have time to yourself. This is YOUR time!

7 Kinds of On-the-Job Training to Look for in a Job

7 Kinds of On-the-Job Training to Look for in a Job Your job doesn’t just come with a list of responsibilities â€" it should have a few benefits for you, too. Aside from healthcare and vacation time, though, there should also be an opportunity to train on the job. That way, you can do better work for your company and gain the valuable skills you need to move forward in your career. So, as you look for a new position, keep your eye out for opportunities to learn while you’re working. Here are seven types of training that will help you in your quest to be the best employee you can be. Mentorship You’re not the boss â€" yet. Signing up for a mentorship with one of your superiors will show you the skills and attitude required to reach the level to which you aspire. Chances are good you’ll hone a few of your pre-existing traits along the way. Your mentor will likely flourish through your partnership, too. If they can train you to work as they do, you might even be considered when it’s time to fill their role in the future. While you wait for that upgrade, you’ll experience additional benefits of your mentorship. Those who have participated in such programs report higher levels of job satisfaction and a stronger sense of employee engagement. Job Rotation Although you work in a specific department, you’ll undoubtedly have to interact with employees in different areas. But without any experience in that field, you might not be a sympathetic and helpful employee when an issue or delay arises. Job rotation makes everyone better because it gives employees a chance to see how other departments function. Afterward, you’ll experience the responsibilities that other people have and vice-versa, thus creating a more understanding environment. And, of course, you can carry this attitude with you into any new position in the future. Virtual Training Not all training can â€" or has to â€" take place in-person. Instead, your company might offer virtual training programs that allow you to log on and learn more when you have free time. The opportunities for virtual training vary, so don’t count out your industry’s potential for an online course or skills boost. Simulations can be used to make complicated equipment, systems and areas into a virtual training course. Even if your company doesn’t necessarily provide online resources, you can find some on your own. Everything from webinars to full-on training courses exist online. Ask if your employer will pay for you to cover any fees associated with this skill-building elective. Book Club You might be involved in a book club outside of work or otherwise aware of how these types of groups work. Just in case you’re not: your company can gather its employees to read and discuss a book each month. The piece they choose could provide readers with work-related skills and a group conversation afterward could reinforce the learning point contained within the literature. If there isn’t a book club, you could pioneer one in the workplace, too. Coaching Coaching has some similarities with a mentorship, but ultimately it puts you on a different path to skill-building. Your coach will help you build a plan for self-improvement. They might also create an overarching plan for everyone in your department or company. Depending on the size of the business, there might be an on-staff coach or they might bring in an outsider to lead the charge. Brown Bag Lunches Fortunately, this type of on-the-job training has nothing to do with your culinary skills â€"  or lack thereof. Instead, brown bag lunches bring employees together over their midday meal to learn something together. Speakers might come from within the company to share news about an important project. Or, your employer might bring an outsider in to speak on a relatable topic or teach a new skill. Either way, you’re sure to deepen your understanding of your industry while eating your lunch as you would anyway. It’s a great way to multitask. Lateral Moves If you find yourself feeling stagnant in your job, ask your manager if there are any opportunities for a lateral move. You won’t get a promotion or earn more money. Instead, you’ll be taking on a new job on the same level as yours is now. You’ll get to develop new skills and deepen your knowledge of your industry, but you’ll also be doing something different than you expected. It might end up being the catalyst you need to keep growing and learning. Get What You Deserve Of course, all of this possibility for on-the-job training starts with the company for which you will work. As such, make a point in your next interview to ask about these types of training opportunities â€"  if they’re unavailable, you might want to continue your search for the right position. If you’re already gainfully employed, find ways to get even more from your job. Ask your bosses and other managers how you can improve your skills while you work or if there are any opportunities for training. Soon, you’ll be an even greater resource to your colleagues, which will put you in good stead for promotions, raises and more. But most importantly, you’ll be more confident in your skills and ready to conquer whatever the job throws at you.

Youre In Control of Your Brain - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Youre In Control of Your Brain - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Powerful Lessons from Two Four-Year Olds My grandniece had a rough day at home. She’d soiled the heat vents in her room, roughed up her little sister’s toys, spoke some new and inappropriate words, all resulting in extended “time out” in her room.  At dinner in between conversation with her parents about the day, she said, “Even though you made me spend time in my room for what I did, you didn’t break my day.” You didn’t break my day  is a perfect approach up for all of us. Bad things routinely happen day in and day out, but it’s important to make sure mistakes you made or reactions from others about those mistakes don’t break your day. My friend, Elizabeth’s grand daughter taught us both another lesson.  She was jealous that her older brother ended up with more toys from the store than she got that day. It was her brother’s birthday but she didn’t see the justification for his bigger pile compared to hers. She was a little mopey and Elizabeth asked why and she answered that she was jealous.  Elizabeth reminded her it was his birthday, and pointed out how many things she did get, and that being jealous was not a good thing to do, even using a bible reference.  The granddaughter was silent for a long time and when Elizabeth checked on her to see her attitude after explaining about the destructiveness of her jealous feelings, her granddaughter looked at her with a smile, “Mimi, I fought it off.” That’s what you and I need to do too when people at work give us cause to be jealous, angry, or any other negative emotion, “fight it off” and “don’t let it break your day. Like they say, “out of the mouths of babes”….

10 Factors to Weigh When Defining Your DREAM Job - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Factors to Weigh When Defining Your DREAM Job - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Ask most people to define what their DREAM job would look like and you’re likely to get answers such as these: “I would make more money and get a significant promotion.” “I would work for a company that gives me considerably more responsibility and authority and my skills and talents would be genuinely appreciated. “My ideal company would be far more respectful of its employees and their contributions than my current company.” While more money, greater responsibility and authority and how employees are treated are certainly key factors to consider when either defining your dream job or considering other employers, they are hardly the only factors to be considered. While by no means an exhaustive list, here are TEN key factors to seriously weigh when defining your DREAM job and/or considering a new employer*: Company Size. What size company is the best fit for you, based upon current or previous experience? Are you most comfortable being a BIG fish in a little pond or satisfied being a little fish in a BIG pond? Or, would you actually prefer something in between, i.e., a medium-sized company. There are both advantages and disadvantages to all sizes of companies. Larger companies generally tend to offer more and greater career opportunities, but they can also be stodgy and slow moving. Smaller companies can be more nimble and more innovative, but salaries and benefits can also lag behind the larger companies. Company Culture. Every company, no matter the size, has its own distinct culture, and if for some reason you don’t fit in to that culture, your work days can indeed become long and tedious! If you are someone who tends to be rather quite and reserved at work, you probably won’t feel very comfortable in a company that has a “rah-rah” sales-oriented environment. Similarly, if you thrive in such a super-charged sales-oriented environment, you probably won’t fit in very well at all in, say, an accounting firm! Pace and Tempo of Company. Do you sometimes feel like the proverbial racehorse tied to a plow in your current job? Or, conversely, does the pace at your current job often leave you feeling anxious, overwhelmed and sometimes depressed because of your inability (or unwillingness) to keep up? Make sure that the pace and tempo at any company you may consider for future employment match your preference and are a good fit for both your personality and your work style. Company’s Competitive Position within its Industry. Everyone likes to be associated with a winner, and usually, though certainly not always, the winner in any industry and/or business segment is the one that has the most market share, or at least is among, say, the Top Ten. And typically, market leaders tend to be more innovative and more creative than the also-ran companies within the same industry. If you’re currently employed by one of the also-rans, how is this affecting your morale, your desire to be innovative and/or creative? Company’s Financial Stability. Many companies, including some market leaders, were adversely affected by deteriorating economic conditions during the Great Recession. Thankfully, most have regained (or are steadily regaining) a sound economic footing in recent yearsâ€"but not all! Make sure that any company you may be considering for future career opportunities is economically sound. If it’s a public company, research current and long-term stock prices. Read annual reports. Research third-party articles in the financial news for clues. While you may not be completely satisfied with your current position, few things in your career could be more disastrous than leaving an economically sound company to join a company that is essentially a sinking (or even a listing!) ship. Company’s Salaries and Benefits. Rare indeed would it be for an employee, any employee, to say that they are being paid what they are “worth.” Plus, many men and women have little or no awareness of the value of their current employee benefits as part of a total compensation package. Indeed, the grass almost always seems greener on the other side of the fence! But is it indeedactually greener? Don’t make that assessment based strictly on “gut feel.” Do your homework and research to accurately determine if, in fact, you are not now being paid a fair and competitive salary or that your benefits are inadequate or not competitive in the current job market. A good place to begin your research is at www.salary.com. Company’s Management Team (including your boss). You could currently be working for a GREAT company, but if the man or woman who is your direct supervisor, leaves something to be desired from a leadership standpoint, you probably are considerably dissatisfied with your current job. Make sure that any man or woman you interview with (if that person would be your new boss) when considering new career opportunities doesn’t have the potential of becoming merely a carbon copy of your current boss! And remember this: Bad bosses rarely exist and operate in a vacuum. Top management has to allow such an environment to exist in a company either because they don’t care how employees are treated, or they tacitly approve of such behavior by line supervisors or managers. Geographic Locale of Company. Where one lives and works can have a tremendous, dramatic effect on both quality of life and overall job satisfaction. Not surprisingly, and as a general rule, the more populous an area the greater the number and variety of jobs, the higher the salaries, the better the benefits, etc. The trade-off, however, can be a higher crime rate, more traffic, a higher cost of living, etc. If single, the trade-off may be at least tolerable; if married with children, not so much. Your personal background can also be very influential when it comes to choosing the locale of your dream job. If, for example, you grew up in a medium-sized city in the Midwest and you are considering a position in New York City, you should be prepared for significant culture shock! Likewise, though, if you are a New York City guy or gal, you may experience similar culture shock if you’re considering a position in a medium-sized city in the Midwest! Work-life Balance. Very few people, when they are approaching the end of their life, are likely to regret not having spent more time at the office or on the job. To be sure, in order to survive in today’s still challenging job market, one usually has to put in more than the “normal” eight-hour days. Still, there is a reasonable limit and you should determine what that means to you. After all, every hour (or weekend or holiday or special occasion) spent at the job is an hour you cannot spending with family and friends! Career Growth Potential. Almost no job offers virtually unlimited career opportunities. Eventually, everyone reaches his/her career ceiling, as the result of being at the top of a pay grade, for example, or simply as the result of there being no place within the organization to move, in order to have the opportunity to advance to the next level. Make sure that you accurately read the career landscape, and your potential place in it, of any companies you might consider for future employment. Otherwise, you risk trading one set of chains for another! If you are one of the tens of millions of men and women who say they are yearning for the right opportunity to advance their careers, there hasn’t been a better time since 2007 to do precisely that! And that’s particularly true if you can count yourself among the TOP job candidates in the market today. But, as I’ve shown you in this post, you need to carefully weigh any and all relevant factors involved in potential career opportunities you may explore. Make sure they are indeed the best fit for you as a unique individual! *An excellent source to begin learning a great deal about potential employers isGlassDoor.com. This site includes candid reviews from current and former employees of a wide variety of companies in numerous industries. _____________________________ This post is an excerpt from Career Stalled? How to Get YOUR Career Back in HIGH Gear and Land the Job You Deserveâ€"Your DREAM Job!, Skip’s latest book in the “Headhunter” Hiring Secrets Series of Career Development/Management Publications. _____________________________ Going on a job interview soon? Know someone who is? Download Skips FREEHow to ACE the Job Interview! publication by clicking HERE. Learn how to interview the way Superstars do!

From High-Tech Training to High School Teacher, and Why I Left. [Podcast] - Career Pivot

From High-Tech Training to High School Teacher, and Why I Left. [Podcast] - Career Pivot Episode 40 â€" Marc discusses the pivot that took him to an inner-city high school, and how he decided that his career pivot was not yet over. Description: Copyright: razvanphoto / 123RF Stock Photo Marc discusses his career changes and the traumatic events and job conditions that led him to resign, and turn to teaching high school. That pivot taught him a number of things, most of which were different than what he had convinced himself about his motivation. He explains how he got into teaching, how it changed him, and how he got out of it. Listen in for a look at a career pivot that turned South quickly, and caused a major rethinking of a life. Key Takeaways: [2:37] Marc begins his story of going from high-tech training to teaching high school math in the inner city, and why he returned after 18 months. Marc was very successful but seduced himself into thinking he was something he was not. [2:56] In 1990, while working for IBM, Marc moved to a technology transfer group, to prepare for selling a leading-edge product, by developing curriculum, and delivering it to over 1,000 salespeople and sales engineers. Marc did that for three years and was really good at it. He spent the rest of the decade presenting. [3:36] Marc had transformed himself from being an introvert to appearing to be an extrovert. In the late 1990s, IBM started layoffs. After a bad pension deal, Marc left in 2000 to be a trainer for a startup. He developed curriculum, had a small team, and taught leading-edge router and communication companies how to use a network chip. Download Link |iTunes|Stitcher Radio|Google Podcast|Podbean|TuneIn|Overcast [4:26] The team developed very sophisticated curriculum and taught the class about twice a month. Marc spent much more time preparing than he did delivering. He is a much better curriculum developer than a presenter. After the dot-com boom, he flew to Asia regularly to meet with manufacturers. [5:28] On July 11, 2002, Marc was riding with his bicycle club on a difficult route. Going at 25 mph downhill, around a blind turn, Marc found himself slamming head-on into a ‘96 Toyota Corolla. His body and bicycle totalled the car. Marc was taken to the emergency room. He spent five days in the trauma center with various injuries. [6:30] Marc was walking on crutches in three days, and back on a bicycle in 10 weeks, and flying back to China in four months, right into the SARS epidemic. Marc wondered what he was doing! The company was bought, and his stock options were worthless, but he received six-figure retention bonuses, and paid off his house and debts. [7:26] Marc decided he would teach high school math. This was his MSU moment. In 2003 the company was laying off, and Marc was pursuing teaching certifications. He went for the alternative certification for teaching, and saw several signs he didn’t quite fit the mold of the ideal candidate, but he proceeded. [10:29] He took the THEA test in English, and had to write a 600-word essay in pencil and paper. He hadn’t written with pencil in 25 years. While he was going for his certification, Marc volunteered to take a layoff, and got a severance. Then he got his rejection letter from Region 13 of the Texas Higher Education Assessment. [11:08] Marc wondered what next. He saw Austin Community College was launching an alternative certification program. Marc applied and was accepted. The programs was of low quality, and didn’t prepare him to teach math. He took the test anyway, and passed. Then he, and other men over 40 with the certification, found they couldn’t get interviews. [12:56] The schools didn’t want guys over 40 because they don’t do what they’re told. However, one week before school started, an opportunity came up at Akins High School, and he applied and was hired. His five-day new teacher orientation was useless. For a week he couldn’t access the attendance system. [14:13] Marc was assigned two sections of Algebra 2 and three sections of Algebra 1. That put him ‘on stage’ for 25 hours a week, which was exhausting. As a first-year teacher, every lesson was new to him, so he spent hours prepping. By Thanksgiving his morale was low. Marc found out, he does not get his energy from being ‘on.’ [15:46] Marc got lesson plans for Algebra 1 from the lead teacher, and that helped. Algebra 2 lesson plans were harder. He borrowed from another teacher, staying two days behind her. Then, he was challenged by students that were nothing like him, by background culture, or financial class. Most were poor, and many had probation officers. [17:49] Marc had never dealt with a culture of poverty. He finished his first year exhausted. He had about 100 people that he emailed every week about the classes, and one student, Julio, who was a hard worker. People wrote him back like a fan club. [20:01] Marc spent the summer preparing for the next year, with about 10 weeks of lesson plans. When the year started, he got in and got going, with five sections of Algebra 2. Marc has a lot of stories, but the year was really sad. Grace was pregnant, kicked out of her home, and her baby was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. [20:56] Marc went downhill fast. Once the time changed in October, it got worse for him. He discovered that being ‘on’ just wore him out. He’s not an extrovert, and he doesn’t get energy from presenting. He was really struggling, and moderately depressed. He turned in his resignation in early December, for the end of the semester. [22:02] The school accepted his resignation. By the way, the first year, all but one of his junior students passed their exit TAKS test in one or two tries. The school average was 30%. No one noticed. [22:50] Marc has learned by reflecting back and realizing how much he had conned himself into believing he was something he was not. It took six months after leaving teaching for Marc to feel normal again, it so wore him out. [23:14] How are you really different than what you think you are? Marc is a closet introvert. He was a very shy kid. Seeing him on stage, it does not show. He will be on, on stage, then walk off and collapse, almost exhausted. Who Marc is, is not what he appears. Think about that for yourself. [24:07] Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should. In 2016 Marc wrote a post, “What Skills Will You Use in the Second Half of Life?” Read that post to consider what skills you want to carry forward, and, more importantly, what skills do you want to leave behind? [24:38] Please pick up a copy of Marc’s book, and write an honest review on Amazon.com. He is working on the audio version next. Marc is also working on the Career Pivot Community membership website. Watch for updates in the coming months. Mentioned in This Episode: Careerpivot.com Repurpose Your Career: A Practical Guide for the 2nd Half of Life, by Marc Miller and Susan Lahey The paperback and e-book formats are available now. Marc is recording the audio version of the book, and he plans to have it available in September 2017. Marc is taking on new clients. Contact Marc, and ask questions at Careerpivot.com/contact-me or call at 512-693-9132, and leave a message with your email address. Marc will respond with a link to his calendar, to find a time to talk. IBM Lucent Austin Community College Akins High School “What Skills Will You Use in the Second Half of Life?”, blog by Marc Miller on LinkedIn Take a moment â€" go to iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play. Give this podcast a review and subscribe! If you’re not sure how to leave a review, please go to CareerPivot.com/review, and read the detailed instructions there. Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

Interview Preparation How To Spend The Night Before

Interview Preparation How To Spend The Night Before The night before an interview is a confusing and difficult time. While most people understand that the night before their interview is an essential part of the interview preparation process, many of them just don’t understand how to use the final night to their advantage. Whether they are nervous and try to cram too much knowledge in, or too relaxed and fail to prepare at all, this is a huge hurdle for candidates to overcome. In this blog, we’ll give you our top 4 interview preparation tips on how to spend the night before your interview.Interview Preparation TipsTip Number 1: Get plenty of sleepThis is extremely obvious, but remains our number 1 interview preparation tip. Without the right amount of sleep, you will struggle to impress the interviewers. The more rest you get, the more information you can retain and the better you can convey this information to the employer. Although it might sound superficial, appearance also makes a difference in an interview. If you turn up to the interview with huge bags under your eyes, clearly tired, it will be noticeable to the interview and they will likely judge you accordingly. By all means conduct your interview preparation as best as you can, but don’t sacrifice sleep to do it.Tip Number 2: ResearchBy the time of the night before, you should have spent a great deal of time already going over your answers. Now, it’s time to conduct some thorough research. You might have already done this, but take it one step further and go out of your way to find out as much about the company as possible. Look into any awards that they’ve won or anything they’ve been nominated for, and work out how this links with your own values and motivations. Employers will be flattered by your interest, and this will show that you really care about working for them rather than just wanting money.Tip Number 3: Think of some questions If you’ve read our other blogs on interview preparation, you’ll know that the period at the end of an interview, when the interviewer asks, ‘do you have any questions for me?’ is extremely important. A failure to ask questions will show a distinct lack of interest, and risks putting the employer off you altogether. With this mind, it’s vital that you have a selection of 4 or 5 questions that you can fall back on, in case any of your initial questions are already covered during the interview. Don’t be afraid of asking bold or leading questions either, the employer will appreciate your interest. Some good examples of questions that you can ask are:Do you have any concerns over my ability to do this job?What opportunities are there for progression within this company?Will on-the-job training be provided?During my interview preparation, I saw that you won/were nominated for *award*. This is really impressive to me. Can you tell me more about that?Tip Number 4: Work out what you are wearing Again, this might seem superficial, but the fact is that when it comes to an interview â€" appearance matters. You cannot afford to be scruffy, and in line with this, you cannot afford to be late. Organisation is more than just having your things in the right place at the right time, it’s a state of mind. If you are running around the house looking for the last clean sock, all in a desperate attempt to make it to the interview barely on time, then it stands to reason that you won’t be calm or composed during the interview. In contrast, if you know exactly what you are wearing and where everything is when you get up in the morning, you won’t have to rush and you’ll attend the interview in a much clearer and more relaxed frame of mind. You’ll come across as confident, and stand more chance of getting the job.For more top interview tips and advice, check out our YouTube Interview Channel! This entry was posted in Interviews. Bookmark the permalink. Jordan Cooke Supermarket Jobs: The UK Selection ProcessHow To Pass The Police Interview 2016

Blast off towards your ideal career... - Hallie Crawford

Blast off towards your ideal career... Are you lost about what you want to do in your career? Are there so many career ideas in your head that you can’t choose just one? Do you feel stuck where you are? Would you like to have a career youre passionate about? Then sign up today for our brand new group coaching program! Its called Identify Your Ideal Career Path, and it covers the exact same 5 step program that we use with our individual clients at a fraction of the cost! In this group you will: Uncover your values and priorities Define what would be most fulfilling for you in a career Explore the 6 things you need to consider in your search for your ideal career path Learn how to combine these and put them into action Discover how to overcome the obstacles that hold you back from defining your ideal career Create and implement a transition plan to land your ideal job The benefits of group coaching? You save money! Plus youll receive support and feedback from 3 different sources your coach, other class members, and your group buddy. Well all be there to help you through your transition. And the best part? You get all this for only $150/month for 6 months less than half of our individual coaching rate! Go here to read more and to sign up for the complimentary introductory call on January 22nd. The coaching program begins on February 5th and is over the phone so you can participate from absolutely anywhere. Rock on! Have a great weekend! Atlanta