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Copeland Coaching on WMC-TV

Thanks to those folks who’ve reached out to me since yesterday. Yes, that was me talking about Copeland Coaching you saw on the Sunday morning news.

Big thank you to all of the folks at WMC-TV, including Kontji Anthony, who invited me and made this interview possible!

If you missed the interview, click the video below to play it back.

Your Business Card: don’t leave home without it

I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but this is a point that I want to drive home.  One of the very first things I recommend to the job seekers I meet with is to get business cards- and to take them everywhere. So often, job seekers say they are in one of a few predicaments:

  1. “I’m between jobs, so I don’t have business cards.”
  2. “I’m in college (or graduate school), so I don’t need business cards.”
  3. “I’m changing careers, so my current business card from work isn’t relevant.”
  4. “My company doesn’t have the money to print them, so I don’t have business cards.”

I have to tell you, none of these excuses are anything more than excuses. At the end of the day, when you’re looking for a job, potential employers need to know how to contact you. You never know when or where you might meet someone who may end up being your next boss, or your next great networking contact (who will introduce you to your next big job). If you don’t have business cards, it’s time to get them. And the good news is, it’s easy. It only takes a few minutes to order them online, and then they will arrive to your house a few days later. Before you start, you’ll want to think about what to include on your business card.

At a bare minimum, you need to include:

  1. Your name
  2. Your phone number – I recommend your cell phone, so that you can receive calls anytime
  3. Your e-mail address – Refer back to my previous newsletter about which e-mail address to use and which one not to use

Other optional elements you can also add are:

  1. Your personal website URL, if you have one
  2. Your personal logo, if you have one
  3. A title that describes your desired line of work – Think of something along the lines of “Project Manager” or “Technology Consultant”
  4. Your address

If you’re the kind of person that has multiple types of jobs, or qualifications in multiple areas, you may want to consider a card that does not have your title. This will allow you to give the same card to different people, in different industries, and for different types of roles.

If you’re not a graphic artist, or experienced with Photoshop, don’t try to design a logo on your own. If you have a friend who’s an artist, ask them for their help – or leave off the logo altogether. Whatever you do, don’t include a photo of any kind.  This is rarely helpful.  At the end of the day, a simple business card is always better than a messy one.

When you’re ready to buy your cards, look around.  A few of the sites I recommend you check out are FedEx.com, GotPrint.com, VistaPrint.com, and Moo.com.

I hope these tips have helped you.  Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland

@CopelandCoach

Your Calling Card

My latest Memphis Daily News column is out: “Your Calling Card.”

These days, the way in which you present yourself has become more complicated. It’s no longer just about being well groomed with a firm handshake. Your Facebook page, LinkedIn account, email address, business cards and phone number all say something about you. They are all pieces of your personal brand.

One important thing to consider when you’re looking for a job is business cards. If you have a current job, you may already have business cards. If so, that’s great. Use them. If you don’t have business cards with your current job, if you’re a student or if you’re unemployed, this is the time to get them.

To read the entire article, visit the Memphis Daily News site here.

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Copeland Coaching on the Lipscomb & Pitts Breakfast Club Radio Show

Exciting news!  Last weekend, I had the opportunity to be on the Lipscomb & Pitts Breakfast Club Radio with Jeremy Park to talk about my business, Copeland Coaching.

I appeared, along with Caissa Public Strategy, & Gestalt Community Schools! I owe a huge thanks to Jeremy for the invitation to be on his show!

It was the first time I’ve ever done a radio interview in a studio before!  It was exciting to see the Clear Channel studios, and to meet Jeremy in person.

We talked about New Year’s resolutions, and tips for finding a job in today’s competitive environment.

You can play my Copeland Coaching segment here by clicking below.

What’s in a Name?

My latest Memphis Daily News column is out: What’s in a Name?

The name we go by with our friends and family can be a very personal thing.

In a professional environment, I go by Angela Copeland. At home, I go by Angie, Angie Dawn, Sister and Aunt Angie. So often, our name reflects our role or status, whether its doctor or dad. We have an emotional tie to the names we choose to go by. It’s such a strong tie that, in fact, it can often cause internal conflict when we attempt to adjust it. Our name is our identity and part of our personal brand.

To read the entire article, visit the Memphis Daily News site here.

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Making your resume stand out

Having a great resume won’t get you the job, but having a bad one will prevent you from getting an interview at all.  The purpose of your resume is to quickly tell a story about your career, who you are, and what you’re looking for next.  It helps potential employers determine if you’re a fit, and it helps your network to scope out new opportunities for you.

If you’re thinking of looking for a new job, updating your resume is the first place you should start.  Ideally, keep your resume up to date even when you’re NOT looking, so that you’re prepared when something great comes along.  It will also help to ensure that you don’t forget important accomplishments.

Many clients that I work with are unsure of where to begin.  Compiling your life’s work on one or two pages is stressful and can cause many people to avoid creating a resume altogether.  The good news is that once you have a solid resume, maintaining it is fairly simple.  Think of the initial painful setup as an investment (in your future!).

Here are five tips to get you started:

  1. Look at other resumes for samples, and then create your own.  Stuffing your career history into a ready made template can often look awkward, and can be hard to update with your details.
  2. Include your objective or profile statement.  Many candidates forget this section (or avoid it). The objective communicates what kind of job you’re looking for to potential employers and your network.  It’s essential.
  3. Keep your resume to one or two pages max.  Beyond two pages, nobody will read it and you will look unfocused. If you’ve been working less than three years, keep it to one page. Beyond that, you can go with one or two pages.  If you have two pages, be sure to include pages numbers.
  4. Don’t use fonts smaller than 9 point. Employers don’t want to strain to read your resume.  Cut the details down to what’s really important and you won’t need to squeeze so much onto the page.
  5. Include measurable results. Explain your impact in terms of quantifiable numbers.  How many people did you manage? How much money did you save? How many campaigns did you work on? How much did you exceed your goals? Putting numbers alongside your experience magnifies your impact.

I hope these tips have helped you.  Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to make your resume the best ever.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland

@CopelandCoach