Minimalism Meets Pandemic Pandemonium

by -

IMG_7892 (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hubby and I picked a bad time to practice living with less, having sold our home of almost 2,800 square feet two years ago, downsizing to an apartment of approximately 750 square feet.

This temporary living arrangement, while fun when things are “normal”, could not have collided with a worse time in our history. The entire concept of downsizing – minimalism – pretty much dictates no stockpiling. In fact, it mandates tough decisions be made when it comes to keeping anything that we previously thought had value.

In order to make this work, we Marie-Kondo’d ourselves silly, selling or donating most of our furniture as well as mass quantities of other stuff. We had 3 strict rules:

  1. The item had to be so meaningful that we knew it would have a place in the new, smaller house we are building
  2. It would have a place in the tiny apartment OR we were willing to pay to store it
  3. We valued it enough to pay to move it – twice

Very few items made the cut.

Honestly, we’ve enjoyed the small apartment with minimal belongings. Having only one toilet has some serious drawbacks but we’ve managed.

Then came March 13th. Forced Social Distancing.

The first time we realized our minimalist lifestyle just might not mix with a pandemic. It was our “wheels off the bus” moment, or “Minimalism Meets Pandemic Pandemonium.”

That understanding of Hubby’s first “forced” work day from home, when his office was no longer accessible even if he begged to enter.

His innovative solution? Create a desk out of TV trays a mere 6’ from my desk.

Let’s just say the non-stop conference calls and interactive Zoom meetings were a lot for this creative writer who’s used to working at home. Alone.

If we were a Donny and Marie song it would be, “He’s a little bit noisy, I’m a little bit shut the F^%$ up”

Noise-cancelling headphones? Why would I have those? I’m usually the only one here.

Supplies on hand, like groceries? Have you seen an apartment-sized refrigerator? I’m positive ours could fit inside almost any home-sized refrigerator. That means we shop frequently, with a tape measure, carefully considering how much we can fit inside the “ice box.”

Imagine my shocked expression in the grocery store when I saw empty shelves for the first time. No meat, peanut butter or sliced bread. As I wandered the aisles racking my brain to think of recipes calling for beef, peanut butter and sliced bread, it occurred to me “This is why people need toilet paper!” That concoction would have me in the bathroom too.

Cleaning products? Puhlease. Why would I stock up for an apartment that takes me less than an hour to clean, even at its worst? Besides, where would I store that stuff? We are rationing the one canister of bleach wipes and using our right brains for creative cleaning solutions.  Honestly, the counters have never smelled so fruity and been so well-conditioned, as shampoo is soap, amiright?

One thing we do have stock of is toilet paper and paper towels. That’s because we are too lazy to remember to purchase these items on a regular basis and of course we don’t want to run out. Bulk-buying habit left-over from the house.

Take that, minimalism!

Face masks, which by themselves have nothing to do with minimalism, except now they are sold out everywhere and we are supposed to make them ourselves from items “found around the house”. I’m not one to prepare for a Zombie apocalypse and we hire painters so face masks are just not something we have on-hand.

But making them? The internet tells me it’s easy to make a face mask with hair ties or rubber bands and a scarf. Ha! My hair has been above-my-ears short since college and rubber bands were deemed “non-essential” when we moved. See the 3 rules mentioned earlier.

At one point we had real “Survivor” Buffs, the kind worn on the show. Of course, we can’t find them now and fear they may have been Marie-Kondo’d along with rest of our stuff.

Minimalism, I tell ya.

This pandemic is in direct conflict with our attempt at a minimalist lifestyle. We were doing so well at living with less, having weaned ourselves from senseless saving of items that just take up space. Now it seems like all of those hair ties from high school I finally threw in the garbage are haunting me. And I’m having flashbacks to those weeks when we cleaned out Every. Single. Drawer. and Cabinet, wondering if we tossed something that could be essential today.

What about the prom dress that I finally tossed, despite my joy at being able to still zip it up? Could that have been useful somehow?

Could we have MacGyvered Hubby’s fave cappuccino maker, the one with an inch of dust from sitting at the top of the pantry?

The big question: Is this the end of minimalism for us? Will we revert back to closets full of non-essential items “just in case we need them”, all because of this pandemic experience?

I certainly hope not.

The one thing that is certain: we will have separate offices.

How to Make the Most of Your Summer Internship

by -

woman-2773007_1920Congrats! With graduation looming, you’ve nabbed a sweet summer internship that you hope will provide the experience you need to entice prospective employers when interviewing for jobs.

What I love about internships is, they are ten-week try-it-before-you-buy-it opportunities. Meaning, students – and companies – get an inside look at the company, the industry, and the type of work the job entails. A peek behind the curtain.

It’s hard for many of you to hear this but for most students, it’s not as important what you’re doing as that you are doing something related to your field. The internship should be viewed as a resume builder, especially since most students lack experience in their field of study.

Something to consider is that the entire ten-week period is an interview and review for both you and the company. The company is interviewing and reviewing you. You are interviewing and reviewing the company.  Make no mistake, though: While you can decide not to work for the company after the internship, the company has the upper hand.

So how do you make the most of your summer internship? Here are steps you can take that will help both during your internship and later, when you update your resume.

Write About It

From the moment you step foot in the door, take notes. About every, single, project or thing to which you contribute.  If you’re company is highly organized with their internship program – and some are – you may be fortunate to receive a schedule or outline of what you will be doing during the internship. Keep it.

I cannot stress enough the importance of taking notes daily.  Trust me when I say you will not remember enough details if you wait a couple weeks or, heaven forbid, until the end of the internship, to write this information down.

Numbers Matter

Companies are in business to succeed, and as a result, employers want us to quantify our achievements. How many?  Increase or decrease? Savings? Highest sales?  You get the idea.

When given an assignment, look for ways to quantify your work and successes.  This goes for individual projects or group projects. Even if you have the dubious honor of cleaning and organizing the supply room (not kidding, this could be your task), take a moment to consider the before and after. Had it been neglected for months? Years?  How many people rely on this supply room to do their jobs? How many different items are stored in the supply room? Because of your contribution, was the company able to save money since you found a stash of long-lost supplies?

It’s All in The Details

Whatever it is you work on during your tenure, note the name.  Include number of people, other departments involved, your specific role, dollar amount of project, purpose of project/strategy/expected results, any presentations you contributed to, etc.  All of this can be used when preparing your resume and/or describing your work experience during an interview.

Keep a Secret

Some of this information may be confidential, such as the project name and the exact financials.  That said, you may speak in more general terms on your resume and still get the message across.  “Customer Relationship Management Project saw an 11% increase over expected results”

Connect – Cautiously

Your internship provides a great opportunity to connect with a lot of people in the organization.  Some of you may want to jump right in and schedule coffee with the CEO.  Not so fast.

Each company has its own culture. And it takes a while to understand the rules of that culture. Break a rule, and you’re an outcast.

Important to remember: your number one job is to do a great job as intern for the person to which you’re assigned. That person will be the one writing your performance review, and may influence whether or not you receive an offer of permanent employment.

Take cues from others around you. Ask your direct supervisor to make introductions if you would like to meet another executive, and explain why. Keep in mind people are busy; if you are lucky to land a meeting keep it brief and have serious questions prepared in advance.

Presentation

Early in my career I was told two valuable pieces of information that have served me well, both related to how I present myself.  The first, “Dress for the position you want, not the one you have” followed by, “It never hurts to be the best-dressed person in the room”.

Consider how you want others to think about you.  It may be jeans-Friday everyday at the office, yet there’s still room for creative professionalism. For me, I’d wear jeans with a jacket and fun heels to make a fashionable yet professional statement.

Build Your Network

Different from trying to connect with corporate mentors, you’ll have an opportunity to meet peers during your internship. These peers have been in your shoes recently and may be happy to provide insight and even help when you begin your job search.  Be sure to develop these relationships now vs. trying to do so after you leave the company, including connecting on LinkedIn.

Worst-Case

What if your internship isn’t what you expected?  Smile and be thankful it’s only ten-weeks, that you didn’t commit to a long-term job. That’s the beauty of an internship!   The good news is that this experience is teaching you what you don’t want.  And it’s still good for your resume – it’s still experience, right?

Putting it Altogether

An internship is a great opportunity to gain experience and add to your resume.  Remember to put your best-foot forward, taking copious notes along the way.  You’ll thank yourself later when you’re updating your resume.

 

 

 

Busting the Myth of Work-Life Balance

by -

Work life balanceI’m back! It’s good to be here. It’s been a longggg time. I’ve missed you, and this, working on my blog. So much has happened.

Let’s dive right in to something that’s been on my mind. You may be able to relate.

Work-life balance. Ever heard of it?

Maybe you read an article outlining how to achieve “work-life balance”. Or perhaps your job search goal was to find a position that would provide “work-life balance”.

I must tell you I seriously dislike the phrase, and here’s why:

Not only is it a myth; it’s a flat-out lie.

I think we – especially women – have been fed a line of bull when it comes to thinking we can somehow “have it all” in life.

Seriously. How is it possible to find true “balance” between career and home, at least by conventional standards?

Consider this: To have balance, two things must always be equal. All. The. Time.

Given that our work life and home life are not created equal to begin with, achieving balance between the two is doomed from the start.

Think about it: sometimes work will be crazy-busy, with a multi-million-dollar project and multiple deadlines. It will take every minute of every day, plus overtime to bring the project in on-time. You will do it because, well, that’s what it takes.

What about home?  The “balance pendulum” has shifted toward the office. There is no “balance” at home right now.

The good news is, the “balance pendulum” will swing back. That’s what a pendulum does; it swings back and forth.  At some point, home will require more of your attention and, mercifully, work will be calm enough to give you the time you need.

Pendulum shift, you know.

Some days it works beautifully. Others, not so much. On those days, it sucks.

If you call this, “work-life balance”, so be it.

I’d rather call this, “Work-Life Integration”.

It’s career and life. Not a balance, per se; more of an ebb and flow. Sometimes we focus more on career; sometimes we focus more on home. Most of the time, we try to weave both together to the best of our abilities.

Technology and flexible schedules provide for this work-life integration, making it easier to catch a child’s afternoon recital, assist aging parents, or meet with a home maintenance person. We can shift office productivity to after hours from virtually any location on our laptops. Again, integration vs. balance, since we’re still doing the work – and in many cases, actually working longer hours.

It’s important for each of us to recognize and understand that career and home are not equal. They will never be equal, on any given day or week.

As career women and men, together with our partners and spouses, we must determine how best to work through the ins and outs of integrating work with home; home with work.

The good news?

I believe it’s possible to be successful at work and at home. It’s not easy. It takes determination and hard work, as well as an understanding that personal compromises may have to happen both at home and on the career front.

Work-life integration. It’s not about balance. It’s about career and home simply working in tandem.

Stop Dreaming About Making a Career Change

by -

Dream vs PlanHow many times have you dreamed of doing something different with your career? Your life?

You stare out the window while the computer pings new messages. The office buzzes with sounds while your mind wanders as you think, “What if..?”

If I’ve learned one thing from my life and career so far, it’s that dreams are just that: dreams.

Nothing’s going to happen unless we take the steps to make it happen.

I can hear you now – or maybe it’s the voices in your head – crying some version of, “But how?”

Quite frankly, I don’t know how. That’s because I don’t know exactly what your dreaming about.

What I do know is this: there are endless possibilities out there for all of us, just waiting to happen. Pursuing these possibilities takes a few steps. Specifically, we need a plan to pursue our dreams. Or to see if it’s possible for the dream to become a reality.

Assuming you have a dream you want to pursue, consider the following:

Step 1:  Research your dream

For example, if you want to become a dog walker for a living, research the competition in your area. Visit with them. Determine the pay scale. Is the market saturated with dog walkers? Is the wage realistic for full-time work or is this a part-time gig?

Step 2: Develop a business plan

This includes any funding you might need, creative/marketing plans, legal work, etc.  Include metrics for success and time frames for accomplishing your goals.

Step 3: Share your plan with a TRUSTED partner

Not someone you just met at a bar who claims to know something about business. This person should be someone you know well and trust implicitly. Someone who also knows you very well, what you excel at, and what you don’t.  This person needs to provide constructive criticism and ideas and be strong enough to say, “No, this is not a good idea”.  You need to be strong enough to hear what this person has to say.

Step 4: Gain the support of your spouse/partner

Taking a leap of faith and leaving a salaried position, or taking on a part-time role affects the family. It’s always better if everyone is on board.

Step 5: Have an exit strategy; a Plan B.

What will you do if things don’t work out or you decide the “dream” is not what you expected?

Bottom line: I’m a firm believer in trying something new, especially when it comes to a well-thought-out career move.  So, wake-up, make a plan, and give it your best shot to turn your dream career into a reality.

No regrets, right?

Santa’s Advice for Finding Your Career Passion

by -

Santa small_LIRecently I had the chance to talk to the one and only Santa about a topic that’s near and dear to all of us: Finding our career passion.

We learned that, just like the rest of us, it took Santa awhile to discover his true calling. He actually started is Dream Career as a Side-Hustle.

If you missed Part 1 of my interview, you can read it here.

I asked Santa more about taking the plunge from full-time work to his passion job, and what advice he has for anyone who might be considering such a move.

Here’s Part 2 of my conversation with Santa, aka, Carl Anderson, a Psychologist from Austin, Texas.

Was there a point at which you realized you were more interested in a career as Santa than in your full-time job as Psychologist?

Yes, it did get to a point where I had to make a decision between being a full-time Psychologist and Santa.

In a way, Santa limited my Psychology career choices. I realized I could not go into private practice and continue my work as Santa – it was almost impossible to leave clients who may need me for 5-6 weeks over the holidays.  Whether you’re in my line of work or another job, it’s difficult to find employers willing to let you leave for six weeks.

What made your decision to pursue your dream job easier?

I had enough experience at both careers – Psychology and Santa – to know that I enjoyed the role of Santa more. This is a key point to keep in mind for anyone who might be considering a career change: Try it before you completely make the switch.

It’s also important to remember that I’d had success in both fields; I was not stepping out blindly.  NorthPark Center had been bringing me to Dallas, and I had some confidence in this arrangement.

What advice would you give to people who are considering leaving a full-time job to pursue a passion job or “Side-Hustle”?

Just like buying a new sleigh, it’s important to “test drive” the passion job first.  Initially I took on the role of Santa only to help pay for my graduate studies. Remember, I was amused by this interest in my resemblance to Santa Claus.  It was a great way for me to earn some money and ultimately determine if this was a role/job I enjoyed.  I found I enjoyed many aspects of it, including storytelling, which is a related skill and led to even more roles.

Note: Not only should you enjoy your Side Hustle, but the job needs to be financially sound before you leave your full-time job.  Do the math and make sure the dream job is sustainable.  If not, maybe it’s still something you enjoy doing on the side for extra money.

What would you tell someone who is struggling to find their passion when it comes to work?

Be open to other interests! When you were young, what did you imagine doing, but didn’t follow up on? Dust off that idea and see if there’s something to it, or even if you can use those skills towards an idea that’s relevant today.

More than anything, be willing to try something part-time while you’ve got other income to see what might be of interest. Look at skills you use in your current job and see what might transfer into a new field of interest. Many of our skills are transferable if we look at them.

Santa, that is so true! The hard part, of course is determining how to marry your interests and skills with another field of work.

Yes, that’s why it’s important to take time to consider all the possibilities.  Write down a list of current skills. Write down a list of things that interest you – going back to include those things from childhood I mentioned earlier.  Do some investigating or research to see how your skills and interests might intersect. Talk to others! Ask a trusted colleague what they see as your best skills.  Brainstorm possible ideas, with no idea being too outrageous.  Once again, the point is to be open to new ideas.  When you determine your interests, skills, and passions, you will start to understand how you might be able to use those towards a fulfilling career.

Look at me; in the beginning I was simply “amused” by the fact that people thought I resembled Santa. Once I explored the idea, a world of possibilities opened up and I discovered a new career that I love.

***

Great advice, Santa.  So inspiring; something we can put into practice right now.

And on that note, we’ll let Santa get back to work. The kids are waiting patiently for his arrival at NorthPark Center. It’s story time, you know.

Note: This conversation was not recorded, therefore quotes attributed to Santa/Carl are based on my notes and memory, and may not be 100% accurate.

 

How Santa Found His Side Hustle

by -

IMG_4867Have you ever wondered how Santa got his job?

I mean, was it his career dream to always wear a red suit and spend countless hours listening to children?

Or, as a young man, did Santa have different career aspirations?

Recently I’ve wondered if Santa started his gig – his “passion job”, if you will – as a side hustle.

That’s how many of us entrepreneurs got started, working a side-hustle until we could finally step away from the 9-5 career to pursue our passion full-time.

I spend a lot time talking about pursuing your passion with clients, students, and colleagues. Everyone has similar questions when it comes to following their dreams.

  • “How do I find my passion?”
  • “When do you know it’s the right time to switch from part-time to full-time?”
  • “What if I don’t know yet what I really want to do?”

These are questions every entrepreneur faces.

Even Santa, I assumed.

In a bit of a Christmas Miracle, I had the opportunity to meet with Santa over breakfast to talk about careers, and following your passion.

Santa was gracious and fun and open and honest, sharing so much about his career and advice to others.

A little about Santa, in case you didn’t know: AKA, Carl Anderson, a licensed psychologist from Austin, Texas.  This is his 34th year portraying Santa; his 28th year as Santa at NorthPark Center in Dallas. He’s co-authored a book, “All I Want For Christmas Is…”, a collection of letters by children to Santa.  A man of many talents, he’s also a professional speaker, monologist, and storyteller.   

Here’s Part 1 of my conversation with Santa:

Thanks for meeting me!

My pleasure.

For readers/clients who don’t know your story: aside from your uncanny resemblance to almost every known image of St. Nick, did you always aspire to be Santa? To work in this role?

I’ve always been amused that others saw the resemblance. Clearly the implications were there. Yet I didn’t set out to become Santa Claus.

My career goal – which I achieved – was to be a psychologist, earning degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. (Note: The fact that this interviewer is a die-hard Aggie was not an issue for Santa. Thank goodness!)

My professional psychology experience includes working in the Counseling Center at UT, as well as in Drug and Alcohol Abuse programs.  I’m also an adjunct professor at UT, teaching as needed.

How, then, did this Santa Side Hustle come about? 

As a graduate student I was always looking for jobs to make ends meet, even driving a bus. One Day I saw an ad that said, “White hair, rosy red cheeks, eyes that twinkle”.  Didn’t say, “Santa”, but clearly that’s what they wanted.

When I first called, I was told they were done looking. I interviewed anyway, and their interest was only lukewarm.  Once we started talking, they became so taken with my “natural look” they offered me a job.  Understand that at the time I was unique – there weren’t many natural-looking Santa’s around.

Were there other opportunities to embrace Santa in your career or even as a Side Hustle?

As I mentioned earlier, I was amused by my resemblance (which comes naturally from my Swedish father) and other’s fascination with it.  At one point, Radio Shack cast me as Santa for their holiday advertising.

I was intrigued enough that I decided to write my dissertation on “Children and Santa: What Happens When They No Longer Believe”.  I started working in children’s theater and even storytelling, which blends well with the Santa work.

When did you really consider embracing the role of Santa as more than just a job to make extra money?

I was walking across a downtown street, wearing regular clothes. A group of preschool children were walking in the same crosswalk towards me, holding onto a knotted rope for safety.  One of them looked at me, pointed and exclaimed, “Santa!”  They all dropped the rope and ran to me, hugging my legs.  At that point I realized this Santa thing might be something bigger that I imagined.

How did you manage your full-time job as a psychologist with your Santa Side Hustle, which became your passion?

My work as a psychologist – something I enjoyed – was as a counselor at places that understood my role as Santa. They were flexible with my holiday schedule, which allowed me to do both.

How did your experience as a psychologist prepare you to be a great Santa?

It prepared me in so many ways! It honed my listening skills and taught me to quickly understand a situation with short interaction with a client.  Having empathy and being intuitive is what drew me to psychology; it’s naturally who I am. These are also skills that I rely on as Santa – I have only a few minutes with each child to assess their situation, understand their needs/wants, and provide feedback that, hopefully, makes them walk away with a smile.

It’s difficult to respond sometimes, as Santa. You don’t want to disappoint, you know? Psychology helps me understand how to answer the tough questions.

***

And just like that, our time was up.  Santa had to get ready for Story Time, one of his favorite parts of his job.

That had to be the most fun I’ve ever had during an interview. With great information we can all use.

Thanks to Santa, I was reminded that sometimes the best jobs are right in front of us, if we are willing to embrace them.

Stay tuned for more from my conversation with Santa!

 

Note: This conversation was not recorded, therefore quotes attributed to Santa/Carl are based on my notes and memory, and may not be 100% accurate.

The Number One Tip You Need to Write Your College Entrance Essay

by -

man-1454744_1920Ahhh – the dog-days of summer! Nothing to do but chillax by the pool and soak up some rays.

Unless you’re a high school junior or senior. Then it’s time to work on college entrance essays.

Pop!  That’s the sound of your bubble bursting.

And not a minute too soon. These essays can’t be written at the last minute.

At least not if you expect a positive response.

The College Entrance Essay – also known as the Common Application Essay Prompt – is an opportunity to provide university administrators with a glimpse into who you are and why you, more than any other applicant, should be granted acceptance to their school.

It’s like an interview; a chance to charm them with your personality.

Except it’s all on paper.

No pressure, but it’s the only shot you have to win them over with your unique story; what makes you “you”.

The good news is, there’s only one you; you’re the only person who can share your unique perspective and thoughts with the reader.

This is not the time to be lazy and regurgitate facts found on your transcript.  They’ve got that information already. This is about you – your brand, if you will.

It’s also important to remember these dudes will be reading literally hundreds of essays. Grab their attention with an opening line that begs them to keep reading when they really want to take a nap.

It should go without saying typos, misspelled words, grammatical errors and the like will do more damage than you can imagine. Proof-read at least three times. Then do it again.

Even if you nail the above, you will still fall short if you fail at one critical task. It seems obvious, yet in my business as a Career Coach it’s something I see all the time.

The Number One Tip You Need to Write Your College Entrance Essay is:

Answer The Question.

Failing to answer the question is the number one issue I see when reviewing college entrance essays for clients.

All of the Common Application prompts follow a similar pattern:

First, the prompt asks applicants to describe a time/situation/obstacle/accomplishment/idea/topic/etc.

Second – and here’s where I see people fail – the writer is prompted to convey how the first part had an effect on him or her as a person. The tricky part is, the prompt may or may not ask this question directly.

The second part is the heart of the Common Application Prompt. Whether stated or not, it’s asking the writer: How did the situation you just described affect you?  Why did you bother to tell us about it? What impact did this have on your life, now and in the future?

Trust me when I tell you it doesn’t matter how well-written your essay is if it fails to answer the question.

Think of it this way: the first part of the essay – the description of the situation –  is setting the stage for your story, providing necessary background and supporting elements.

The second and most critical part of the essay is the outcome. There are many ways to answer depending on your particular story, and you’ll have to determine what works best for you. Think in terms of what you learned, significance, importance, any effect the situation had on you, etc.

 

Whatever your unique story, grab the readers’ attention and tell it with passion.  Above all, make sure your essay answers the question.

Bracket Madness: 13 Tips for a Winning Resume

by -

basketball-1263000_1920Spring is here and you know what that means: March Madness.

Basketball brackets.

Extended lunches at sports bars to watch the games.

I’m not really into basketball, yet even I get caught up in “Bracket Madness”.

Now we are down to the Final Four.   While these are considered the “big games”, every game each of these teams played that led up to this point was pivotal in getting them to the Final Four.

Same with your resume. Each part of the document is pivotal in creating a winning resume, one that will help you land an interview – and ultimately, a job.

In light of all the ‘hoopla’, here are 13 tips for winning resume – Bracket-Style.

Go, You!

Bracket Madness

 

Mature Person Gets Interview! A Career Coach Goes Undercover in Search of a Job

by -

importantI hadn’t intended to apply for a job.

It popped up in my in box, what seemed like a perfect fit, almost begging me to complete the application.

As a career coach, I always urge clients to press forward; to plan their job search strategy and work the plan. Apply for jobs when you see them.

After all, you can’t turn it down until they make you an offer, right?

Sometimes I’m on the receiving end of eye rolls or blank stares that seem to say, “You have no clue how hard it is, do you?”

Ah…but I do know how hard it is. Remember, I’ve “Been there and done that.”

Then there are the clients and others I meet who are weary from the job search who tell me:

“You can’t get a job through the internet”
“No one responds to online applications anymore”
“Mature workers don’t get job interviews”

The list goes on and on.

These statements puzzle me. I’m surprised to be surrounded by so many who have spoken to “everyone” and know for a fact that “no one” responds.

I get it; it’s not easy. There are obstacles to overcome.

Having conducted my own job searches over the years, including after a layoff, I’m pretty sure I understand the ins and outs.

I know; it’s a jungle out there.

Although the thought had crossed my mind. What if my job search experience was more than a bit rusty? What if it was – gasp – obsolete?

When I saw the job posting in my in-box, I knew I had to apply. It was a chance to put my own advice to the test.

Time for the teacher to become the student.

After all, I built my business on being the coach with “relevant” real-world experience, not one who had only learned through classroom training or seminars. Time to see if my experience still held true.

Even for a “mature” job candidate.

Here’s what I did to prepare for submitting my information:

  • Updated my resume to better align with the job
  • Included relevant key words
  • Highlighted skills relevant to the job. Note: this does not mean that I literally “highlighted” them. It means I moved them to a more prominent location within the resume to be more easily noticed, i.e. re-arranging bullets.
  • Included an appropriate professional title
  • Wrote a cover letter with examples that showed why I would be an excellent candidate for the job. Note: I only include a cover letter when asked. This time it was required.
  • Eliminated “fluffy” words such as, “dedicated” and “hard-working” that may be true yet are difficult to prove

Yes, it was time consuming to tailor my resume, write the cover letter, and complete the online application. Those job apps are a pain, I know.

I hit send and went back to my work. Under normal circumstances I would have found someone in my network to make a personal connection on my behalf and help my resume get to the top of the stack. In this rare instance, I had no connections at the organization. And for this experiment I wanted to see what would happen without a personal connection.

Ten days later, my phone rang.

I got an interview.

Solely on the basis of my resume and cover letter, and possibly my LinkedIn profile – assuming they reviewed it.

So what does this mean?

Yes, I might have been lucky.  Although I think there’s more to it than that.

In my opinion, my getting a job interview indicates:

  • Well-written resumes with key words will make it through the ATS
  • Experience does count – my qualifications lined up well against the job description
  • Education and certificates help – I’m convinced additional certificates and my advanced degree knocked down barriers even though they were not required
  • Age isn’t necessarily a stumbling block. It’s easy to tell from my experience I’m not fresh out of school.

The key take-away: It is possible to get an interview with a well-written resume.

One criteria we cannot ignore: we all have to put in the time and effort. Which is a stumbling block for many who tell me it’s too time consuming to apply for jobs.

I agree; it’s time consuming. It took me almost a day for one application.

Yet I don’t know what to tell you except that finding a new job is work.

Looking for job openings is work. Tailoring your resume is work. Networking is work. Following up is work.

And the real work begins once you secure an interview!

Every job seeker goes through this process. And if you’re plan isn’t working, maybe it’s time to shift strategies and go at it from a different perspective.

Bottom line: We must persevere in order to succeed.

What are you going to do? That’s the real question.

Got First of the Year Energy? Jump Start Your Job Search With These 10 Tactics

by -

gym-room-1180016_1280Everyone seems to have lots of energy this time of year, and nowhere is that more prevalent that at the gym.

Just a few weeks ago, the gym was almost a ghost town and I had my choice of treadmills.

Now I have to fight little old ladies, gum-smacking teens, and even the gym staff to get thirty minutes on such a machine.

 

The good news is, my energy level peaks this time of year. I am ready to tackle almost anything: house projects, personal projects, and health goals.

I will outlast these workout wannabes, most of whom will be gone by Valentine’s Day.

I’ve also got excessive energy for all things career-related.

Now is my time to brainstorm new business ideas, organize my office, and jump in with both feet.

The bad news is, once I hit about June, my energy level for all types of projects – including career projects – slows way down.

If you’re anything like me, it’s best to accomplish as much as possible during this energy phase.  And I work best with a list of tactics to accomplish.

Jump Start Your Job Search With These 10 Tactics

  1. Determine your goal, with strategy and tactics for achievement. Set your intention. What is it you want to achieve, professionally? A promotion? A new job? Do you want to stay in the same industry or try something new? Once you have your end goal, add the tactics for achieving that goal and start executing.
  2. Refresh Your Resume. A resume is a living document and should be updated periodically. If you haven’t already done these:
    • Add your latest achievements from this year’s review.
    • Remove experience older than 10 years.
    • Use a professional statement instead of an objective.
    • Use key-words associated with your industry.
    • Most Important: Highlight your quantitative wins vs. job responsibilities.
    • Note: if it’s been ages since you’ve updated your resume and/or you’re struggling with the wording, you may want to consider hiring a professional Career Coach to help you.
  3. Maximize LinkedIn. LinkedIn is an amazing resource for job seekers – as long as your profile is up to date and maximized – meaning completely filled out. Use information from your updated resume to complete your profile.  Take a more personal tone with your professional summary versus that of your resume, telling prospective recruiters why they should do hire you.
  4. Check Your Look in the Mirror. First impressions are made within seconds of meeting a person, and yes, they are visual.  When was the last time you updated your hairstyle? Make-up? Personal style in general?  If it’s been a while, it may be time for a change. Especially if you are searching for a new job, it’s important to stay relevant. Besides, new hair/make-up/clothing can make anyone feel good. And when you feel good, you look good and present yourself well.
  5. Get a New Headshot. In general, a new head shot should be taken once every couple of years. If your company doesn’t do it, then it’s up to you.  Either hire a professional or ask a friend with a steady hand to snap a photo.
    • Background should be solid; a close-up shot from the shoulders up.
    • Wear professional clothing.
    • No one else in the photo, please.
    • Good lighting without shadows.
    • It’s that easy!
  6. Print New Business Cards. Make sure you have plenty, and always carry them with you! You never know when you’re going to need one.
  7. Get Your Story Straight. You find yourself on the elevator traveling 40 floors with the new CEO. She asks your name and what you do for the company. You’ve got less than 90 seconds to tell her about yourself, in a nutshell. What do you say?  It’s that kind of succinct story telling you need to develop in order to sell yourself to others, either within your company, at networking events or to potential hiring managers.  Write your long story, then edit and edit and edit until you have it down to 2 sentences. And practice saying it with confidence.
  8. Increase Your Visibility at Work. A fancy way to say, Toot Your Own Horn. Make sure people outside your department know your value. Don’t rely on your boss, or hope that your good work will stand on its own. Do some internal networking to get promoted to the position you deserve.
  9. Meet New People. This requires getting involved, and the first step is making time for it. Add the meetings to your calendar, make the commitment and GO!  Pick one or two to start with; more than that is unrealistic.  The easiest to join from a social standpoint is usually the college alumni groups, as you have a common interest.  Be sure to carry plenty of business cards!
  10. Reconnect. Make it a point to reconnect to 5 people a week. Send a quick email stating, “Hey! Long time; was remembering our days at X company. Hope you are doing well. Would love to hear from you. Let’s get together this year. I work downtown; how about you?” You may not hear from everyone, but you will hear from some.  Be sure to follow up on the coffee/happy hour meetings.

Ten tactics to get you started towards a new job, or maybe a promotion. Many you can start on –and accomplish – in one week.

What are you waiting for?