by Angela Copeland | Jul 3, 2015 | Advice, Media
My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “Take Charge of Your Career Independence.”
With the Fourth of July just around the corner, I’ve been thinking about the importance of independence. So often, I meet people who are struggling. Whether they’ve lost their job, or work for a boss who doesn’t appreciate them, they’re going through a rough time.
The hardest part is often not the difficulty they’re experiencing in that moment. That time will pass. It’s the overwhelming sense of feeling helpless that can drive someone’s mood and self-esteem down.
Without even realizing it, we often turn over our power to those around us. For many, we give it to our employer.
To read my entire article, and to find out how you can regain your career independence, visit the Memphis Daily News website here.
by Angela Copeland | Jun 29, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
As you know, Independence Day is a proud holiday in the U.S.A. commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
I hope you have a fabulous 4th of July this year celebrating with friends and family!
But, before July slips away, take the time to begin to plot your very own independence day.
Is your boss taking your talents for granted? Has your professional growth come to a halt? Or, did you feel relieved just to get a 3% raise last year?
If you can relate to any of these questions, it’s time to begin to think about how you can put the ball back in your court. Don’t wait for someone else to recognize your talents.
Why do I say that? Well, there’s a rumor still going around that if you work really, really hard and do your best every day, you will be recognized and appreciated.
Does that sound familiar? My guess is your parents or grandparents shared this tip with you. And, many years ago, maybe this technique killed it. But, today, if you work hard (and only work hard), chances are good that the only thing you’ll get is more work.
A career is more than just working hard. It’s a brand. It’s your competitive knowledge. It’s your network. It’s your resume, and your online presence.
And in many cases, it’s “who you know, not what you know.” I’m sure you’re familiar with that old saying. It explains why the highest paid people aren’t always the smartest or the hardest working.
So, if your technique isn’t working, what can you do about it?
The first step to creating independence for yourself comes in the form of networking. Think of it as making business friends.
So often, when we’re caught up working, we forget to take the time to build new relationships. Many people I meet who struggle with networking the most ask the question, “Why would I get to know this stranger? What’s in it for me?” Possibly nothing right now. But, down the road in the future, you never know what might happen.
When your new friend is looking to hire a new employee in a few years, you may be first on their list. If you get laid off tomorrow, having a strong network can really create a safety net for you. It’s especially helpful when you know people across different industries, and in different roles.
Think of networking like investing. When you invest your retirement fund, you wouldn’t pick just one stock. You select a mixture, and you add in various types of financial products that have different risk levels. You may have some international investments and some domestic. Some stocks, and some bonds. And, you don’t expect to cash it all in today. You know that it takes work and time.
Networking is no different. The more diverse your network, and the more time you put into building it, the more secure you’ll be long term. It creates a sense of independence and choice.
Networking is of course just one element to creating career independence. But, its a foundational building block and a great place to begin.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | Jun 26, 2015 | Advice, Media
My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “Underqualified for a Job? You Can Still Apply.”
If you’re like most people, there was a time in life when you were underqualified for a job. This is typically the case when you apply for your first job. It can also happen when you make a big career change midstream and have to start over.
At some point, you didn’t meet all of the requirements of a job description you were really interested in. Did that stop you from applying? Many job seekers avoid throwing their hat in the ring when they don’t meet all the requirements. It seems pointless and a path straight to rejection.
To read my entire article, and my tips for when applying is worth the risk, visit the Memphis Daily News website here.
by Angela Copeland | Jun 12, 2015 | Advice, Media
My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “The Importance of Timing.”
One of the quickest ways to stand out from the crowd is one of the easiest. And, unfortunately, it can make you look very good or incredibly bad. The concept I’m referring to is timing. Your timing can have a huge impact on your outcome on multiple fronts professionally.
To read my entire article, and to find out how I learned the lesson of timing the hard way, visit the Memphis Daily News website here.
by Angela Copeland | Jun 9, 2015 | Advice, Podcast
Episode 55 of the Copeland Coaching Podcast is now live! This week, we talk with Sarah Brown, Executive Recruiter at PrideStaff Financial in Dallas, TX.
Sarah recruits for accounting and finance positions in Texas and previously worked in accounting and finance after graduation from Texas A and M. On today’s episode, Sarah shares her tips on getting into finance and accounting, how to make a big career shift, and what to do if you want to relocate. She also shares great tips on Dallas!
Listen and learn more! You can play the podcast here, or download it for free on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. If you enjoy the program, subscribe today to the Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher to ensure you don’t miss an episode!
by Angela Copeland | Jun 8, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
Have you thought of moving, but just aren’t sure where to begin? A number of the people I’ve met lately are thinking of just this idea. There are a few main reasons they want to relocate:
- There aren’t many jobs in the city where they live
- The economy is looking up and there are more opportunities to chase after
- They’re looking for something different in terms of lifestyle.
Whatever your reason, moving can be equally intimidating. If you’ve moved before, chances are good that it was when you went away to college, or for your first job after college.
Back then, you’d move to any city. You didn’t have as many preferences yet. You moved to where the job was.
But now, you want to move somewhere warm — or somewhere closer to family — or to a bigger city — or to a small town. You probably have two or three cities picked out as targets.
But, you have no idea how to move to one of those cities. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Select your target cities. Do your homework here. Think about what’s important to you. Is it schools? Crime? A political party affiliation? List out what you want out of a new city, and find out which cities best fit your needs.
- Visit the cities. Before selling your home and closing up shop, visit the cities you’re thinking of moving to. Scout out neighborhoods. Spend time there. Verity you really would like to consider moving there.
- Get connected. Find ways to get involved in your new city, even though you don’t live there. This can be tough for a lot of people. In college, your activities and peers were nicely packaged inside one campus. As a professional, getting connected is a lot more work. Check out sites like Meetup.com and look for activities that interest you.
- Start saving. Years ago, relocation was pretty standard — especially for corporate jobs. Heck, I even received relocation as an intern. But, in today’s market, many companies don’t budget for relocation. If you’re really set on moving, start putting together your own relocation fund. You may need it.
- Leverage your existing contacts. If you already know people in your target city, take the time to connect with them. Find out if they’d be willing to help you.
And, if you don’t have many contacts, make new ones. A great place to start is with recruiters. If you’ve never worked with a recruiter or headhunter, you may not know where to begin.
Last week, I took a trip to Dallas, Texas to learn more about the hot job market there! On tomorrow’s Copeland Coaching Podcast, I interview Sarah Brown, a recruiter based out of Dallas. Sarah’s firm, PrideStaff Financial, specializes in accounting and finance opportunities in the Dallas area.
Sarah shares her tips on how to connect with recruiters. She also talks about transitioning from one career to another. And, she gives the scoop on why Dallas is a great city for you to consider!
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
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