Category Archives: Career Strategy & Planning

Have you followed up on any interviews lately? Why keeping in touch is a good career management strategy

Posted on by
Reply

While job seeking has its ups and downs, there are certainly things you can be doing to build relationships, your networks and potentially your pipeline of job opportunities. Better still by doing these you stand out from the crowd.

It is unfortunate that there is not enough professionalism and general courtesy in the recruitment process by those doing the hiring. As job seekers, the lack of acknowledgement of applications is frustrating, as is the lack of communication following phone calls and interviews. In the instances where you never hear anything back, follow up once or twice however if there is no response then move on. It is their loss!

Just because some of those doing the hiring lack professionalism – you can rise above it.

After an interview, do follow up with a thank you email or letter?

Even if you receive the call to say that you were not successful with a particular role, be it with an agency or employer direct, thank them for their time and indicate that you would like to keep in touch about future opportunities. Particularly with an employer that you felt was the right organisational fit for you. It is worth mentioning this and that you would welcome the opportunity to be considered and contacted about upcoming jobs. Schedule to send an email or call every few months to check in with them.

Rather than doing what most job seekers do when unsuccessful (which is to throw away the business card of the hirer in disappointment) look at it as a potential longer term opportunity to build your pipeline of job opportunities.  

You just never know what is around the corner, and believe me – this small action can make a big difference.  

Why online job seeking is similar to playing the pokies. How to change your strategy to increase your odds of hitting the jackpot!

Posted on by
2

Dedicating most of the job search to applying for online job ads is the same as playing the pokies. It is a numbers game and the odds are against you. Yes, it offers a simple way to apply however, it isn’t particularly effective. It leads to a decrease in morale and motivation by job seekers as they are applying for jobs of various authenticity.

While there are some genuine advertisers, job ads are often posted by advertisers and recruiters to:

  • Fish for candidates,
  • Fill their databases,
  • Meet their interview quotas, and
  • Follow policy to advertise jobs even though the preferred candidate has already been identified.

Job sites traditionally assist job seekers who are an ‘exact match’ of what the employer or recruiter is looking for, and too many job seekers waste their time applying for jobs that they simply don’t match. Job seekers haves no idea about which stage the recruitment process is at, sometimes applying for jobs that are at third round interviews! All of this adds to the frustration and despair of the job seeker – not to mention time wasted.

So how does a job seeker change their strategy to hit the employment jackpot?

I am dogmatic with my coaching clients in getting them to follow the 70/30 rule when it comes to job seeking. It’s a message that if often repeated many times before a client will change their behaviours. The first step – long before applying for jobs – is to ensure they have a strategic job search plan in place.

The formula for a successful strategy is generated from:

  • Identifying and articulating jobs you want to do,
  • Why you want that kind of job, and
  • What you have to offer prospective employers (your pitch).

To execute your job search strategy, you should spend 70% of your time conducting informational interviews, calling, or organising coffees with people in your network. You must begin to expand your networks to help you get in front of the right people – the decision makers.

I allow about 30% of time to be dedicated to online research, job boards, or social media sites such as Linkedin. That is not to say that I am not an advocate of social media and job sites – I certainly am. As the co-founder of the former exclusive jobs and careers site Six Figures, I certainly saw high income earners sourcing employment via websites. However, online job searching should form a part of the job seekers strategy not the majority of it.

Another key step in successful job seeking is face-to-face interaction. I encourage my clients to keep in mind that very few sales are done via email! The best way to sell yourself and close the deal on your next great new job is to be out there meeting with the right people who can assist you in securing your next role.

Three steps to a successful job seeking strategy:

  • Build a strategy based on the preliminary work you have done on yourself,
  • Follow the 70/30 rule by dedicating the majority of your time on the phone or in face-to-face meetings; and
  • Don’t get hooked on the pokies!

Find out why today’s career success is dependent on having five business cards not one!

Posted on by
Reply

Howard Figler, author of ‘The Complete Job Search Handbook’ is one of the greats when it comes to career management and job searching. He is in the same league as Richard Nelson Bolles, author of ‘What Colour Is Your Parachute?’ While flicking through one of his books this week, ‘The Career Counsellors Handbook’ I was taken with what he wrote in regards to business cards.

Figler suggests we should all carry five business cards. He does not literally mean five business cards, rather five business cards that pitch us and our various services / products we offer the marketplace.  In the age where the growth in contracting is surpassing full time permanent jobs, it certainly makes sense to have more than one income generating identity.  His thinking is more akin to having a portfolio career.

Increasingly the ‘employee’ is not tied to one employer, rather they have outside interests, and revenue generating streams. This can vary from sitting on paid boards, to interests in race horses, property development, online businesses, start ups, distributor, paid blogger / writer and so on.  We all know that the world of work is an uncertain one, and having multiple revenue generating streams to rely upon is a good career risk management strategy.

In ’The Career Counsellors Handbook’ Figler suggests ideas for what may be on these five business cards;

  • Two or three different employers who have contracted your services
  •  A part time business that supports you when you are between jobs
  • A business you have developed to supplement your income
  • Other business ideas you are cultivating
  • A source of income you are building for your retirement

While five may seem a lot and you may feel like you are not committed to any one business / job , the reality is that all of these will be at different stages, requiring different degrees of time and/or financial investment. Given the economy turns so quickly, it makes sense to hedge your bets and have options. In my opinion and from personal experience, it also makes for a far more exciting and richer work life.

Share your thoughts and experiences on having 5 business cards.

Liars Poker, Hitting the Wall & Finding Meaning in Your Work

Posted on by
Reply

I found myself re-reading the Financial Review article, ’Hitting the wall – Michael Lewis figures out what went wrong, 30 January 2009’  by Michael Lewis, author of Liar’s Poker over the summer holidays.

For those of you not familiar with the book Liar’s Poker it takes you through the fall of Salomon Brothers through the perspective of a former employee Michael Lewis.  One of the key figures in the book is the “immensely rich chairman of Salomon Brothers, John Gutfreund.”  Gutfreund was eventually forced to resign from Salomon Brothers, and supposedly fell on harder times. Lewis tracked him down to find that he was working on a panel about Wall Street at Columbia Business School. “When his time came to speak, he advised students to find something more meaningful to do with their lives. As he began to describe his career, he broke down and wept.”

The book Liars Poker and article provide a fascinating read on a number of levels, particularly around the trading and packing of the mortgage bond. As I re-read the article the message of having a sense of meaning and purpose in your work emerged. A topic that I covered in a previous post ‘Questions to Help You Find ‘Meaning’ in Your Work’

While for some, the concept of having meaningful work may appear soft or perhaps simply impossible – the reality is that for most of us having a meaningful work life, brings a sense of purpose and satisfaction. Would Gutfreund have experienced this insight had he not fallen on hard times? I would like to think so.  Regardless, it certianly offers food for thought.

 

Powerful Words to Sell Your Skills, Engage the Reader & Get the Interview

Posted on by
Reply

Most Executives and Senior Professionals find preparing their resume a challenge. As a result the resume is put together quickly and reluctantly, and reads like a chronological list of their education and work experience. At its basic level this is what the resume needs to be, however if actually want your resume to stand out and engage the reader, more energy needs to go into how you write about and sell your skills and experiences. It is difficult for most of us to sell ourselves effectively in a couple of pages of text, yet essential for job search success.

Quantify and Qualify Your Skills!

A sentence that says you have ‘exceptional interpersonal and communication skills’ is largely a waste of text! It tells the reader nothing, yet many resumes have a listing of skills or competencies with no supporting evidence to demonstrate them. You know why you are skilled in certain areas however unless you can communicate them to the reader in a powerful way, they are empty words.

Including specific examples, where you can demonstrate these skills or competencies in a past or current job is crucial as they create a picture in the readers mind and offer credibility to what you are saying. Without it, the words are pointless. If you cannot quantify or qualify everything in your resume (aside from your personal details) then the information is taking up valuable real estate that you could be using to really sell yourself to the reader and secure that next brilliant role.

Always avoid including lists and sentences that don’t describe in detail with a relevant example your skills or competencies. Rather than, ‘I have excellent client relationship skills demonstrated through 10 years in Sales‘, the example below tells the reader you deliver client satisfaction which is more important than how many years you have been using these skills. Being specific and outcome orientated wins hands down.

Example: Client Relationship Skills: In over 100 client assignments I have never received negative feedback from a client. I have used each new project as an opportunity to develop my client relationship skills to ensure their continued satisfaction.

Below is a listing of words to assist in selling your skills more effectively in your Resume and in the interview. These relate to everything from data to people and systems. Using powerful action orientated words create a positive impression.

 Accomplished  Administered  Analyzed  Built  Completed  Composed  Conducted  Controlled  Coordinated  Created  Decreased  Delivered  Demonstrated  Designed  Developed  Directed  Eliminated  Established  Evaluated  Expanded  Founded  Generated  Guided  Implemented  Improved  Increased  Initiated  Instructed  Invented  Launched  Led  Maintained  Managed  Modified  Motivated  Negotiated  Organized  Originated  Participated In  Performed  Planned  Produced  Proved  Provided  Recommended  Reduced  Re-organized  Researched  Revised  Saved  Sold  Solved  Streamlined  Supervised  Trained

The resume is often only looked at when you change employers. Such an important document warrants more attention and together with these tips you should see your resume have more impact.

Tips to Write & Sell Work Achievements in Your CV

Posted on by
1

Achievementsare a critical part of your resume, perhaps more important than responsibilities, and therefore should be given prime resume real estate. Ensure that any achievements that are already listed on your resume are engaging to the reader and actually quantify or qualify what you have achieved. If they are fairly un-inspiring due to how you have presented them, either edit or remove them and update with more exciting and relevant examples. When describing your achievements, remember to think about how your reader is interpreting what you are saying. A couple of well written, relevant examples paint a more positive and engaging picture and far outshine a long list of basic and poorly written achievements.

Consider reading the following statements whilst reflecting on your more recent jobs. Take down notes of situations that come to mind.

Have you designed or introduced a new process that may have increased efficiency or sales?

  • Have you solved a difficult problem?
  • Have you received any awards?
  • What has been your experience with managing or training difficult people?
  • Have you mentored or coached colleagues or those external to your business?
  • Have you developed a new system, a product, etc?
  • Have you designed something?
  • Can you think of something you have done for the first time?
  • Have you prepared any reports, papers, articles etc that others could not?
  • Have you saved your company or department money?

It is worth compiling this information as it happens, get into the habit of documenting your achievements either as they occur or regularly with enough detail that you can recall what you did when it comes to updating your resume. With these examples at hand, it will help enhance your resume and create more compelling stories for the interview. When documenting your achievements, it is important that they are detailed, relevant and engaging to the reader. Below is a weak and strong example of the same achievement.

Weak Example: The introduction of new rebate initiatives, that was successful in saving the company a substantial amount of money.

Strong Example: I successfully negotiated revised annual trading terms by offering lower rebate terms to the company’s key accounts through incentive targets and the introduction of promotional rebates. This initiative generated a cost saving of $700,000 within six months of the change.

If you are unsure if your achievements are coming across strongly, ask a colleague or friend to review.

The Benefits of Putting Yourself & Your Career Goals Out There

Posted on by
Reply

I have been fortunate to have had a great start to the year.  Upon reflection I had done a fair bit of the preparation in 2011; however luck certainly has also been on my side.

In early January 2012 I was surprised and delighted to be called by a producer from ABC radio to come and speak on Prue Bentley’s drive program on the topic of making a career change.  Having never done radio, to make my debut on talkback radio was certainly moving me out of my comfort zone. I adopted the attitude that I know and am passionate about my subject matter, which helped put me at ease. It also helped that the staff at the ABC Radio station were all friendly fantastic people.

This call did not come out of nowhere, as in 2011 I had some ideas for career related radio segments. I put out proposals to various radio stations, some via network introductions and others cold. I received the ‘no thank you’ messages as well as some ‘no responses’. The approach I took is what I encourage my careers clients to undertake when making a job or career change. And the responses I received were very similar to those in the job search process.

In 2011 no one was interested in what I had to pitch, which also shows you timing is everything. It also highlighted that because you are not snapped up right away, it does not mean there is not a market for what you have to offer.

There are many benefits to putting yourself out there, rather than simply applying for jobs via the traditional channels. The difference is that it can take time, and also relies on building relationships.  It requires a strategy and extra effort.  Most importantly it relies on moving out of your comfort zone – which is not easy I know.

If you have some career ideas or dreams for 2012,  be it about growing your personal brand (via public speaking, writing etc), changing jobs or careers, setting up your own consultancy or sideline business, volunteer work, a board position etc, I encourage you to put it out there, as you never know what will come back.

Share any stories you have where you have put yourself out there in terms of your career, and what it led to.

Book Review ‘How to master networking’ by Robyn Henderson

Posted on by
Reply

“Trust is built by repetition – the more they see you and get to know you better, the more trust is built.”

My husband attended a presentation by Robyn Henderson  via one of the events held by an industry association he is a part of.  He came back from the event with the book ‘How to master networking’ and speaking very positively about Robyn and her networking advice.

I could not help myself from reading the book as I had to find out what great information Robyn had to share on the topic that had got my husband so inspired.

Pleasantly I found that the book was short and easy to read with lots of easy activities to follow. The advice imparted is just as relevant for those who are self employed as for those who are job seeking or looking to progress their careers.

The book offers a lot of practical advice in addition to the support tools to assist you with implementation, management and measurement of your networking.  It covers everything from time management, to tips for shy or nervous networkers, conducting yourself at networking functions and generating referrals.  My only observation with the book is that includes very little about online networking. The books focus is very much about offline networking, which is equally as important as online.

While reading the book, it became clear that while I do some networking, I certainly don’t do enough of it, nor am I am member of enough groups or associations.  Robyn states that we need to make networking the #1 priority every day. Something I will certainly be working on for 2012 with the advice from her book.

If you feel that your networking skills need to be improved, I would recommend this book.

If you have read the book, I would welcome your comments or if you have any great networking tips for us all.

How to Set Your Career Goals for 2012 & Make January Count!

Posted on by
Reply

Welcome to 2012.  It is the start of a new year and for those of us willing to put in the effort, hopefully it brings lots of new and exciting challenges on the job and careers front.

Already I am hearing stories of those that have spent a year or few wanting to make a job or career change, deciding that this is the year it will happen. If this is you, then I encourage you to start today.   Too often we let the month of January slip by without achieving anything on the professional or careers front. While it is certainly a time for relaxation, family and friends, it is also the perfect time to set your career goals and undertake the less onerous tasks that will lead to achieving these goals.

When it comes to goal setting, the key is to start with the end goal and work back from here, enabling you to put in place a manageable plan that will keep you both focussed and accountable throughout the year.

  • Have you thought about what you want to achieve on the work front this year? Be it a promotion, further study, leadership training, more networking, a new job, a new career etc.
  • Write down a few of your objectives for this year, giving them priority and timeframes. i.e. to be working for a top ASX listed company as an IT Manager leading a small team, earning 10% more than I currently do by July 2011
  • What information are you missing? Who do you need to speak to? What actions do you need to take to start things moving?
  • Create an excel spreadsheet or something similar with a sheet for each month of the year. Within this include the required actions to work towards achieving your goals. Keep this document updated, ensuring that you are looking at it and making progress each week. As you see the activity and results, your motivation will naturally increase.

The above suggestions are simple ways to start the process. And as we all know the hardest part is often just getting started. Once the momentum builds, great things can be achieved.

For further tools and career support, including a ‘free electronic copy of the Career Strategy Tool’ email your details to kellymagowan@hotmail.com. In the subject line include ‘career strategy tool’.  There is also a lot of great information available online, via professional Career Coaches and through the Career Development Association of Australia (CDAA).

A Few Social Media Terms to Help in Your Job Search

Posted on by
Reply

Social media is so much a part of our lives these days, and if not so much our own, chances are it has consumed our children’s, nieces’ and nephews’ lives. Terms like ‘trending’ have been added to our vocabulary in recent times.

12. Trending: A word, phrase or topic that is popular on Twitter at a given moment.

17. Tweeps: Twitter + People = Tweople.

21. Link bait: Designed to attract incoming links. News and widget hooks are good examples.

This short post THE TOP 25 SOCIAL MEDIA TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW on Social Media Today gives a snapshot of the key terms.