Do you stand out in the crowd?
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
5 signs it’s time to leave your job
One of the big questions professionals face today is whether or not to leave their job. The job market is tough, but finding happiness is often top priority. It’s always easier to find a job while you have a job, but sometimes you may wonder – is it really worth it?
There’s never been a more acceptable time to walk away without another offer in hand. Almost weekly, I hear about someone who has decided to quit, mid-career, and who plans to take time off to travel, go back to school, or just relax.
Have you hit the point of leaving? Different people have different tolerance levels. But, there are a few sure fire signs that it may be time to walk.
- You are miserable every single day. In the morning, in the evening, and even on the weekend, you dread going in. In fact, Sunday is the worst. Your entire Sunday feels like torture as you wait for Monday morning to roll around.
- Your self-esteem is suffering. You’ve forgotten who you are, and what makes you great. You’re starting to buy into the message that you’re not good enough or that something is wrong with you. You beat yourself up over small things.
- Your boss crosses the line. Your boss is doing something that is, or should be, considered illegal. Whether that means physical advances, yelling, or throwing things, you no longer feel comfortable at work. In fact, sometimes you even feel unsafe.
- The pressure makes you cry. Especially if you’re not normally an emotional person, if work is bringing you to tears, it may be time to consider hitting the road. This also goes for when your physical health is being impacted negatively in other ways.
- Your boss is actively taking steps to show you they don’t value your work. For example, they may have cut your salary. They could have doubled your work load when a co-worker left with no end in sight. Maybe they insult you in front of your colleagues or belittle you in staff meetings. Whatever they’re doing – if they’re making a special effort to let you know you’re not valued, it may be time to move on. Just remember, someone else will value you and won’t treat you this way.
If you’re considering leaving your job before you have a new one, be sure you’ve thought through everything completely. Talk to a trusted source to get an unbiased opinion. The last thing you want is to react too quickly.
Take the time to review your personal finances. If you were out of work for six months to a year, would you survive? What if you had a major health or family complication? Is it more stressful to be financially uncertain or to continue to go to work at a job you loath?
If you decide to leave, keep your plans secret until you provide your notice to your boss. This will allow you to keep control over your personal situation for as long as you can.
When you give your notice, be sure you document everything in writing. This will ensure that you and your company are on the same page, and there are no misunderstandings.
Decide ahead of time how much notice you are willing to give. Standard notice before leaving a job is two weeks. In today’s work environment, many executives don’t even provide much more than this. Three or four weeks may be nice if your company begs you to stay longer. But, I caution against more than four weeks. Typically, employees who stay longer find that their last weeks were not properly used as a transition time. Eventually, they felt that they were becoming more of a team punching bag than anything else. Beware of this trap.
Whatever you decide to do, take care of yourself. Realize that nobody else can take care of your needs the way you can, and only you will know when you’ve hit your limit. Remember that you’re not alone – lots of people are going through what you are. And, by taking control over your situation, you will ensure it’s temporary.
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
Do you easily forget names? 5 simple steps to remember.
I have a confession to make: I’m terrible at remembering names. Can you relate to my dilemma? At parties and networking events, this can create big problems for you.
Many people take it personally if you don’t remember who they are, especially if they’ve met you more than once. This can present a challenge if you’re job searching, because in theory – you should be attending many networking events. And, networking means meeting new people – lots of them.
If you’re going to events that ask guests to wear nametags, this issue can be helped some. But, you will often meet people more than once. In a new context, it can be difficult to remember who’s who.
Below are my tips on how to remember names. If you follow these, people will think you’re a pro at remembering who they are.
- Always carry business cards. Store them everywhere – in your bag, in your desk, and in your car. You never know when you might need one. If you don’t have a business card from work, order your own online. They can be basic with just your name, phone number, and e-mail address.
- Exchange business cards with everyone you meet at networking events. It can seem awkward at first, but in time it will seem natural. When you offer your business card, the person you meet will be prompted to give you theirs (without you having to ask).
- Bring a pen. Keep a pen in your jacket. When you have a quiet moment, take notes on the back of every business card you receive. You should take note of the date, the event where you met them, and any memorable details that you spoke about.
- Organize your cards. Create a system, so that when you return home, you can easily access the business cards you’ve collected. I recommend getting clear plastic sheets that are made for business cards. They fit into 3 ring binders, and will allow you to see both sides of each card.
- Review your cards. Before you attend your next big networking event, flip through your binder of business cards. Review the notes on the back of each card. This will keep everyone fresh in your mind.
If you follow these five simple steps, people will think you’re a pro at remembering names. After struggling with this issue for years, I was once introduced as “this is Angela – she has an amazing memory for names!”
Give it a try. The stress of remembering names will melt away, and you’ll be able to focus on the networking event and your job search.
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
Four traits of a successful job seeker
I spend hours each week working with job seekers on their career goals and aspirations. Often, what makes someone stand out from other candidates isn’t what you’d think.
It’s not their education or technical expertise. It’s rarely how many certifications they have. Successful job seekers work to become their best at a few key traits, including confidence, persistence, creativity, and positivity.
These traits don’t take tons of money to develop, but they do take time and effort. By honing thees traits, you will put yourself in front of the competition.
- Confidence – Successful job seekers believe in themselves and their abilities. They are comfortable communicating why they are the best candidate for the job. And, even if they don’t have all of the qualifications preferred, they can easily explain how they will grow their skills. Bottom line, they are comfortable being their own sales person. They realize that their talents are the service they’re selling — and they realize they’re the best salesman for the job.
- Persistence – Most people who consistently land good job after good job are very persistent. Just because they don’t get every interview or job offer, they keep moving. They also stay in touch with companies who have turned them down, in hopes of building a relationship for future opportunities. They know the right job could be around the very next corner, or the last corner. They don’t take things personally and they work to create lasting relationships.
- Creativity – The best job seekers are also creative in their search. They may apply online for the jobs they’re interested, but they don’t stop there. They look for ways to connect to employers outside of the typical internet process. They understand that hundreds of people apply for every job online, and they want to find a way to stand out — and to connect offline. Look for these people at networking meetings, and researching employers on LinkedIn.
- Positivity – Great job seekers experience disappointment, just like everyone else. They encounter lots of nos before they get a yes. And sometimes, they get offers they have to turn down. But, they keep moving forward and stay positive. They know that the right attitude will help to land them right right job.
As you can see, finding a job often has more to do with resilience than with job requirements.
Making up 100 reasons why you aren’t getting hired doesn’t help you. But, thinking of the 100 reasons you should get hired will. Stay focused on the positives and stay in the game.
Apply for jobs you know you can do, even if you don’t meet every requirement. Be ready to explain how you get overcome any knowledge gaps.
In addition, you shouldn’t expect your next job to happen immediately. It’s a process that takes time. It’s very rare for someone to find a job the day they decide they’d like one. Sometimes, it appears that this is happening because you don’t hear about someone’s new job until they announce it. In all likelihood though, they were working on getting hired for a long time.
Some might compare job searching to farming. You have to plan seeds, water them, and then be patient. Eventually, with the right nutrients, your plants will grow. Looking for a job is the same way. It takes hard work and persistence, but eventually you will find the job for you.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.
Also, please check out (and 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
How to build your reference list
I hope you had a wonderful weekend. As you prepare for your next big opportunity, one of the most important things is to secure reliable, insightful references.
References become an issue at the beginning and the end of the application process. At the beginning, you must furnish them along with your application. At the end, your references are checked just before you receive the job offer. Sometimes, you receive the offer first, which is contingent upon positive reference checks.
I’ve received a number of questions lately about how to approach someone, and the best way to get references. Below are my do’s and don’ts when it comes to getting the best references possible.
DO: Ask your references in advance. They need to have the opportunity to prepare.
DO: Communicate about interviews in a private place. You need to keep it a secret that you’re looking.
DO: Ask your previous boss, previous co-workers, and previous employees. These are considered relevant references.
DO: Give your references a heads up on what the job is and send your latest resume. This is especially true if you haven’t worked together in some time, or if you’re changing your career.
DO: If you’re making a major career change, try to speak to your references over the phone in advance. This will give you an opportunity to explain why you think this change is appropriate for you.
DO: Keep the contact information for your references in your phone. You never know when you may need to provide them to a future employer.
DO: Select references who can speak to your strengths. You want someone who will advocate for you.
DO: Stay in touch with your references. If you’re listing someone you worked with ten years ago, be sure you’ve spoken from time to time.
DO: Ensure you have correct contact information for your references. You don’t want to provide outdated information.
DO: Find out what your references will say about you. You want to ensure your references will give you a glowing review.
DO: Select relevant references. If you have a reference who is in the same industry, select them over someone who doesn’t know about the new job you want.
DO: Identify negative references and remove them from your reference list. If you find that not all of your references are putting you in the best light, try to identify where the problem may be to minimize damage.
DON’T: Fail to tell your references that calls may be coming. They should not be surprised when they receive calls.
DON’T: Use your current manager as a reference. This is never a good idea.
DON’T: Use current coworkers or employees as references. This puts them in a bad position and doesn’t poise you for success.
DON’T: List a reference you are unsure about. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
DON’T: Ask for a written reference. Most references are provided via the phone.
DON’T: List your references in your resume. They’re provided in your application when you apply for the job. Listing them in your resume takes up precious space you could be using to highlight your skills.
DON’T: Include family members or friends you have never worked with. These aren’t considered relevant references.
DON’T: Forget to follow up with your references to thank them, even if you don’t get the job. They’ve done you a huge favor, and you will most likely ask them to help out more than once.
DON’T: Overuse your references. It’s a special thing that they’re taking the time to help you with; appreciate it.
As you can see, there are a number of things you can do to help your chances when it comes to securing successful references.
Although reference checking is often the last step of the interview process, the importance of this step should not be underestimated.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
Copeland Coaching Podcast
