You’re not alone.

by Angela Copeland | Feb 2, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter

Every week, every day, I have the same conversation. It happens when I’m meeting with a client one-on-one to talk about their career. It goes like this, “You must think I’m crazy. I must be the only person you’ve ever talked to who’s having this issue.”

But this is the thing, every day, someone says this. They’re not the only person feeling the way they do.

Think about it this way. It’s very important to keep your job search a secret. Because you don’t talk about what’s on your mind, you don’t realize that other people are feeling the same way.

Here are some of the common concerns that people feel about looking for a job, every day:

• Am I too old? Am I too young?
• Do I have the right clothes or look?
• Do I have enough education? Do I have too much education?
• What will people think about the time I took off of work to care for my sick loved one or young child?
• What if they knew that I was struggling with personal issues (such as a family member dying)?
• Do I come across well in interviews?
• Am I behind in my skills?
• What if I don’t meet every requirement in a job description?
• I want to do something different, but what would it be?

Can you identify with any of these scenarios? My guess is that you can, or you have another similar example.

And, guess what? You’re not alone. You and every other job seeker has something on your mind. There’s something you don’t like and are afraid you might be judged for.

It’s totally normal. There’s so much of job seeking that’s like going on a first date or giving a presentation. You’re vulnerable. Other people are going to judge you. And, their judgment of you will determine whether or not you’ll get the job.

I’m writing this week’s newsletter to say this: you’re not alone. If there is someone you can secretly and privately talk about your concerns, you might want to consider it. Just be discreet. You don’t want to jeopardize your current employment status.

And, if I can help, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I help my clients re-brand themselves every day and tackle many of the concerns listed above, in a safe, discreet, confidential environment.

But, whatever you do, remember that it’s not just you. Let go of your fears as much as you can and keep your focus on finding – and landing – your next job!

Also, please take just a moment to like my Copeland Coaching Facebook page. It’s a great way to stay connected, and each day, I share great job postings.

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. Thanks.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland

@CopelandCoach

Acing Your Performance Review

by Angela Copeland | Jan 26, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter

Over the past few weeks, I have received numerous questions regarding performance reviews. It’s that time of year again. Companies look for ways to evaluate – and document – the performance of their employees.

From the employee perspective, this process can seem outdated and frustrating. It’s typically administered through a website where both you and your manager evaluate your performance. Your review is divided up into a number of goals. Each goal has a weighting as some are more important than others.

It starts with the self-review. The employee must identify what percentage complete each goal is and whether or not they met expectations. The choices are typically met expectations, exceeded expectations, and did not meet expectations. Then, there’s a box where the employee types up why they gave themselves the review they did.

Then, the manager evaluates the employee. Sometimes they do this before meeting with the employee and sometimes afterward. During the meeting, the employee and the manager what went well in the past year, what went poorly, plans for next year, and the areas the employee should work to improve on.

At the end of the conversation, the manager often reveals the employee raise and annual bonus, if they’re eligible for one.

I’ve seen many people really fail at this entire process. They look at it like checking a box. It’s something they want to get through so they can get back to work.

But, this is really the wrong approach. Your annual evaluation may be one of your only opportunities during the year to highlight your skills and to show your boss (who may have been busy attending to other things) what you’ve been up to.

Here are a few do’s and don’ts to help make your annual review a little more successful.

Don’t:

• Don’t arrive unprepared to your meeting
• Don’t wait until the last minute to fill out your self-evaluation
• Don’t be shy when talking about your achievements
• Don’t under value yourself
• Don’t spend a lot of time highlighting what went wrong
• Don’t come with negative feedback on your boss’ performance or the company – this meeting is about you
• Don’t be defensive if your boss gives you suggestions on areas where you can improve – it’s their job to give you this feedback

Do:

• Put together a presentation of your annual review for your boss
• Practice what you’d like to say before meeting with your boss
• Highlight your most impactful contributions
• Use numbers to describe your accomplishments when possible
• Dress to impress – this is an important meeting for you!
• Be on time with your self-evaluation and your review meeting
• Score yourself positively where possible – this isn’t the time to be shy
• Come prepared with a proactive list of what you’d like to do next year
• Be prepared for discussions around your raise or annual bonus

Taking your performance review seriously can have a positive impact on your future job assignments. It shows that you’re willing to take initiative and stand out from your peers. It can also positively impact your bonus or raise, as your manager will be reminded of all the great work you’ve done over the last year.

Also, please take just a moment to like my Copeland Coaching Facebook page. It’s a great way to stay connected, and each day, I share great job postings.

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. Thanks.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland

@CopelandCoach