Wow, the very first thought that crossed my mind when I wrote the title of this week’s newsletter was, “Wow, that’s a long title!” and “That’s a big bill to fill!”

If you’re actively job seeking, I bet you can relate… especially if have a high paced job, a spouse, children, an ailing family member, or any other commitment that takes up a good bit of your personal time.

The saying, “getting a job is a job” is very true. You get out of a job search what you put into it. The more time you spend working on your job search, on average, the better your results will be.

But, there are so many things to do! If you Google anything related to job search, you’ll find pages and pages of results with resume tips, interview answer strategies, what to wear, and more.

Many of these opinions differ, so you may find yourself sifting through tons of information. All of this “data” overwhelms most people. It can cause you to want to put things on hold for just a little longer.

Things at work may not yet seem bad enough to need to focus on moving on, so you put it off. The problem is, if you wait until you have to find a job, you’ve given up quite a bit of your negotiating power — and the ability to wait for the right job. Suddenly, you need one right now!

On the topic of social events, a friend used to say, “I like to leave parties at their peak – when I’m really having a great time. I know that once I’ve had a great time, things are only going to go downhill from there. I’ve had a great time, and now I will head home.”

I think of jobs in a bit of the same way. At some point, you will have learned everything you can. You will have received most, if not all, of the promotions you’ll get. If you leave on a positive note, you will walk away with praise, a great reference from your boss, and an open door to return. If you wait until the down swing and leave on a negative note, all doors are closed.

So, when you do start your search, where should you focus your time, energy, and money?

• Time: You only have so many hours a day. If you have one hour a day to spend on your job search, alternate it between networking and searching. Finding great jobs isn’t helpful if you aren’t active in your own network. And, your network will only take you so far if you don’t know what jobs are available.
• Energy: Job searching can really suck the life out of you. Where should you focus the energy you do have? Spend your emotional energy refining your personal brand. How do you speak about yourself? How do you represent yourself online? What do your cover letter and resume say about you?
• Money: First and foremost, remember – money will not get you the job. Your talent and skills will. If you have to decide how to spend a budget, let’s say $1,000 on your job search, where should you spend it? First, buy one nice suit. Notice the word one. You don’t need to invest in an entirely new wardrobe when the company will see you in a suit only once or twice. Look for a suit that’s on sale, and then spend a little extra money to have it tailored to fit your body. Next, purchase business cards. They should cost around $50. If you don’t have a professional photo for LinkedIn, consider hiring a photographer to take a head shot for you. If you don’t have a nice portfolio folder to carry your resumes around in, get one of those too. Last, consider investing in services to help you refine your resume, LinkedIn, elevator pitch, and your overall personal brand. All of these things together should cost less than $1,000 – a small amount of money to make a big impact on your daily life, and your future.

After all, when you’re job searching, you have a limited about of time and money. Take the time to prioritize what’s important to you. Make yourself and your future a priority the same way you would make taking a trip or purchasing a new car. It’s an investment in you.

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 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. Thanks.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland

@CopelandCoach

I met someone this week who said something that got me thinking…

“You know, I’ve never had to look for a job before. For my entire career, someone has always approached me with an opportunity. I feel lost for what to do.”

This is a typical experience for many people. If you ask a professional how they became a project manager / salesperson / insert other job title here, the story is the same.

“My parents knew someone who knew someone hiring, and I needed a job out of college, so I went. And, then so-and-so approached me about another job and so I went there a few years later. That’s how it started.”

Many professionals passively fell into their chosen career by chance. For many, this works out great. They have a long, fulfilling career that takes unexpected yet positive twists and turns.

For others however, this path can often lead to disappointment and confusion. Passively accepting any job that comes along can often land you in a role that may not be well suited for your skills or personality. And, eventually it will catch up to you.

For some, the wake-up call comes in the form of a layoff. For others, it can be triggered by family problems that are a result of a less than stellar career, or by an unhappiness that has been lingering for some time.

If you find yourself in this situation, it’s time to take control. I’ve written in the past about being the CEO of your own career, and I truly believe in this philosophy. It’s about taking ownership over things in your life, and actively steering rather than passively waiting for something to happen to you.

It can be hard to do this however if it’s a completely new experience for you. You may be wondering, “Where do I begin?”

Clearly, this topic is a bit too in depth to cover in one newsletter. But, a good place to start is by thinking about what you really enjoyed at your last job, and what you hated. List out three to five things for each category.

Then, think about your biggest fear as it relates to your career. What is the worst thing that could happen? Is it that your boss is terrible? Are you bored all day? Do you have trouble meeting your personal bills because you took a pay cut?

Think about whether or not you want to work in the same job function and industry — or different ones.

Once you’ve worked through these questions, you’ll have a better understanding of your target. And, once you do, you can start to tell people about what you’re looking for.

If you’re not sure how to communicate this new idea to others (through your elevator pitch, resume, cover letter, or online), seek out help. There are often community and alumni resources available — or get help from a career coach like me.

I work with clients on their personal brand, and how they communicate about what they’re looking for. Perfecting your pitch and your personal brand is the first step toward putting you into the driver’s seat of your new career. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.

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

Also, be sure to  subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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. Thanks.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland

@CopelandCoach

If you’re like me, you occasionally have itchy feet. Since graduating from high school in Oklahoma, I’ve lived in New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, and Tennessee.

When you start to think of moving, you probably rack your brain with ideas. Should you move to Boston? Maybe Los Angeles? Possibly Washington, D.C.?

These big cities are all amazing. If you’ve never lived in one, you should definitely try it once if it’s of interest to you. But, there are a few things you should remember:

1. Relocation: There’s a good chance companies in a big city won’t pay to relocate you. It sounds strange on the surface, but think about it. They already have enough local talent to fill their jobs. They don’t need to relocate you.
2. Cost of Living: The cost of living in big cities is often much, much higher. And worse yet, there seems to be a rumor going around that companies will give you a cost of living increase to move to a bigger city. This is very unlikely, unless you’re relocating for your current company. If you go to a big city, prepare to downsize. Your new place probably won’t have room for a car. Chances are good you won’t have luxuries like a dishwasher and air conditioning. To compare your current city to your dream city, check out this calculator on CNN.com.
3. Pay: Here’s another shocker — you may actually make less money working in a larger city. Yes, I know it’s more expensive. And, I understand you have a standard of living you’d like to maintain. The thing is – big cities have more talent; in other words, more people. That means for every job, there are more qualified people to fill it. When there’s more talent available, the price companies must pay goes down.
4. Degrees of Separation. If you live in a small or mid-sized city, you are probably used to the idea that it’s not very hard to get a meeting with an important person you don’t yet know. Whether it’s a company’s CEO, a hiring manager, or the head of a non-profit, you are just a few calls and e-mails away from a meeting. This isn’t so in a large city. Degrees of separation are further and the social walls are built much, much higher. Prepare for a long networking period.

It’s probably obvious by now that I’m a fan of smaller cities, like Memphis. When there are good jobs available, the list of talented, qualified candidates is shorter. It’s relatively easy to get meetings with important decision makers. And, at the end of the day, you may just be able to negotiate a bit more money.

Aside from Memphis, what other cities are viable options? I’m a big fan of cities that are around 1 M people in size, with downtown areas that are going through revitalization. Those cities are working harder than average to attract and retain talented workers. Most likely, their cost of living is less – and they may even pay you more.

Here are a few mid-sized cities to consider. These were ranked by Forbes as “The Best Small Cities for Jobs in 2014.” These were ranked based on employment data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They take into account recent growth trends, long-term growth, and the city’s momentum.

1. Bismarck, ND
2. Elkhart-Goshen, IN
3. Columbia, MO
4. St. George, UT
5. Greely, CO
6. Midland, TX
7. Auburn-Ophelika, AL
8. Naples-Marco Island, FL
9. College Station-Bryan, TX
10. El Centro, CA

This is a great list, but don’t just take my word for it. Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Browse the US Census Data. Look at sites like EventBrite.com and Meetup.com to see what sorts of activities are going on. Read the local news. And whatever you do, go and visit! Seeing a place in person is nothing like reading about it online.

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

Also, be sure to  subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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. Thanks.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland

@CopelandCoach

I hope you’re having a wonderful Labor Day holiday. A celebration of the American labor movement dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers, Labor Day is a tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of the United States.

As workers, we take advantage of Labor Day by attending pool parties, grilling out, going to the beach, and spending time with our loved ones. It caps off two months of what is a time of holiday for many people.

Speaking of holidays, did you know that hiring slows during July and August? It does! As people go on vacation, companies naturally slow their hiring down. If you’ve tried to apply for a job in the past month or so, you probably know what I’m talking about. You may have received a few out of office messages, or not received feedback in a timely manner.

Great news though – September is the time when hiring picks back up again!

So, what do you need to do now to be sure you get back into the game as quickly as possible? If you’ve been waiting for hiring to pick back up, you’re probably hating your job, or may even be unemployed. The faster you can get back into the game, the sooner things will begin to look up.

Here are a few tips for making it count in September:

1. Get business cards. I’ve said it before and I will say it again – you need business cards. You never know when you’ll meet your next hiring manager. Print business cards and take them with you – everywhere. At a minimum, they should include your name, phone number, and e-mail address. Keep them simple, and avoid images.
2. Keep your resume up to date. You may need an updated resume tomorrow. Why not update it today? The longer you wait, the harder it is to recall the little details, like how much extra revenue you generated last year, or by just how much you exceeded your goal last month. Keeping your resume up to date keeps you in the game.
3. Stay up to date on what jobs are available. I have seen a huge influx of jobs in the past two weeks – even for those that are normally hard to find. Have you? If you haven’t, you probably haven’t been looking. Read my blog daily for some of the top jobs I’ve found, and keep your eyes on sites like Indeed for the full listing of what’s available.
4. Keep networking. Networking is not something just to do at the moment you need a job. It’s something to keep up with year round – whether you’re looking or not. Staying connected helps your network to know what you’ve been up to. It also keeps you in their minds when future opportunities pop up.
5. Apply online and follow up offline. Don’t just apply online. Sending your resume into the internet black hole is unlikely to land you your next job. Do the due diligence to apply online and then search for ways to follow up offline. It will increase your odds of winning that next offer.
6. Practice your pitch. One of the fist questions interviewers love to ask is, “tell me about yourself.” If you’ve practiced your elevator pitch, you’ll be a pro at explaining who you are, what you’re looking for, and why you’d be a perfect for their company. Stay sharp.
7. Get help. If you find yourself struggling, reach out. Whether you need help with your resume, your elevator pitch, or networking skills, there are coaches who can help you to ensure you’re bringing your A-game.
8. Don’t give up. The number one rule to job searching is: don’t give up. Your persistence will pay off. It just takes time.

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

Also, be sure to  subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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. Thanks.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland

@CopelandCoach

This weekend, I had the pleasure of speaking on the “Stand Out in the Crowd” panel at the YP Empowerment Conference in Memphis, Tennessee.

Led by Austin Baker, other panelists included Cedric Brooks, Latosha Dexter, and Adrian Davis.

The purpose of the panel was to discuss what may distinguish you in your career. What will make you stand out from the crowd? What will separate you from the hundreds of candidates who apply for a job?

Below are a few of the key takeaways from the discussion:

• Personal Brand: It’s important to consider the characteristics that you’d like to represent yourself, and your personal brand. Which are the most important to you? For example, you may want to focus on being authentic and honest, on being a hard worker, on being a problem solver, or on having a positive attitude.
• Social Media: You should carefully consider what you share on social media. Think of sharing on social media like you would think of a dinner party. You don’t know who may read your social media, so keep political, religious, and other possibly distracting views at a minimum while you’re job searching. Alternatively, increase your privacy settings, so only friends can see your posts.
• LinkedIn: Always keep your LinkedIn profile up to date. LinkedIn can be a great place for recruiters and companies to FIND YOU. But, they will only reach out if your LinkedIn profile shares enough information to paint a picture about your expertise and the hard worker you are.
• What to Wear: Dress for success. It’s important to know your audience. Keep your interview outfit professional looking and minimize distractions, such as loud colors and big jewelry. If you want to bring out your character, consider doing it in subtle ways, like your socks!
• Excitement: It’s great to bring a certain level of enthusiasm with you to interviews. But, keep in mind that being too eager can scare potential employers away. Think of interviewing like dating and try to match the energy level of your interviewer.
• Fitting In: No doubt, there will be times in your career when you stand out in not the best way. Maybe you’re the only woman or man on your team. Maybe your skills are different than everyone else. Whatever it is that makes you stick out, it’s important to do the work to get to know those around you. Although you shouldn’t have to bend (in theory), taking the time to connect and find common ground can help you in the long run.
• Community Involvement: Non-profit boards can be a great way to get involved in your local community. They can also help you to boost your career. But, before you commit to another board, consider a few questions. Does this organization align to my personal values and career interests? What are the duties, and financial commitments required for this board? Am I able to fully commit to this board and these responsibilities?

As you can see, there are many different components to standing out in a crowd. Take your time and focus on one or two areas at a time. Select mentors and others to model your success after. Set goals, and constantly check in with yourself to stay on target.

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

Also, be sure to  subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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. Thanks.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland

@CopelandCoach