Spring Cleaning Your Career
Happy first week of Spring! It’s so nice to see the bright sunshine again, streaming through my windows. If you’re like many folks, you’ve already started on your home cleaning checklist. You’ve paid extra attention to your baseboards, and your ceiling fans, but what about yourself?
Spring is also the perfect time to get your career goals in order. You’ve made it past the hiring freezes over the winter, and jobs are popping up every day. Even if you’re not looking to quit your job tomorrow, now’s the time to work on yourself for three very important reasons:
- The best jobs are often found by chance. If a recruiter called you out of the blue tomorrow, would you be prepared?
- When you wait to polish up your personal brand (and your LinkedIn profile) all at one time when a job does come around, you raise suspicions at your current employer.
- You never know when you might be unexpectedly looking for a job. Even top performers are at risk when a corporation goes through a layoff.
The question is, what should you polish up? Below is my career spring cleaning checklist for you.
- Your resume – Dust off your resume. Ensure it’s up to date with your latest positions. Include numbers that show your success. For example, if you exceeded your sales goal by 20%, include it. If you managed a multimillion dollar budget, include it. Once you leave your current position, you often won’t have access to this information anymore. Get these facts while you can.
- Your LinkedIn profile – Make sure your LinkedIn profile contains your current position, and latest accomplishments. Include a photo, and your current contact information. Remove positions that are very outdated and no longer relevant.
- Your photo – When including a profile photo on LinkedIn or other social media sites, you need something recent and appropriate. It doesn’t have to be a professional head shot, but your face should be clearly visible. Your clothes should be professional, and you should be the only person in the photo. Do not use a photo that shows your entire body, and makes it impossible to see your face. Your connections won’t recognize you on LinkedIn. Stay away from party photos, group photos, and very outdated photos.
- Your cover letter – Cover letters often take many hours to produce. We shift over every word, and worry about every piece of punctuation. Although cover letters should be custom for each position, it’s good to have a template to work from. Update yours, so if a recruiter calls, you’ll have something to provide quickly.
- Your bio – I’ve noticed a few companies are requesting a copy of a candidate’s bio. They pass it around their office for easy reading, and to share highlights about you. If you don’t have one, at least consider making one. If you do, update it, so it’s current.
- Your contacts – If you were laid off tomorrow for some unforeseen reason, I’m certain there are a number of contacts at your current job you would want to stay in touch with. Start regularly connecting with these people on LinkedIn to ensure you never lose contact.
Keeping your career assets like your resume and LinkedIn profile up to date should be a part of your normal routine. But, if you’ve fallen behind over the holidays, Spring is a perfect time to polish them up. It will help to ensure you’re prepared with the next big opportunity comes along.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
How can I improve my luck this St. Patrick’s Day?
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! You may be asking yourself how you can catch “the luck o’ the Irish” you’ve heard so much about from that cereal eating leprechaun. After all, it seems some people get everything handed to them. The best job, most money, and a life everyone admires. When will my luck change?
On this day last year, I was touring the Guinness factory in Dublin, Ireland learning to pour the perfect pint. But, my luck almost ran out and I nearly missed my opportunity to learn more about my Irish heritage.
Before visiting Ireland, I flew into London for a few days. A friend booked my flights, and I was happily cruising on auto pilot. Upon arriving at the airport in London to fly to Dublin, I learned that my friend had booked me a different flight than the one originally printed in my itinerary. The flight booked was at an earlier time, so I had already missed it. On top of that, it was with a different airline– AND out of a different airport in London, almost an hour away! Can you imagine being by yourself in a foreign country and finding out you were trying to board a flight at the wrong time, on the wrong airline, and at the wrong airport? And, the day before St. Patrick’s Day no less.
There were very few options. The airline offered to rebook me the day after the holiday. This wouldn’t work at all. How could I miss celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin? After some quick thinking, I opted to purchase a new ticket on another airline departing later that day. It was in a completely different terminal, but at the same airport. I had extra money put away for emergencies, and my cell phone allowed me to research a new plan. Luckily, I made it into Dublin that night and to my appointment at Guinness the next morning.
This close call made me realize I would have to take charge of my own trip in order for it to be successful. In this same way, I encourage you to take charge of your own career path to guarantee your success. I’m a strong believer that luck isn’t really lucky at all. As Roman philosopher Seneca once said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” If I hadn’t been a little prepared for problems, I would have never made it to Ireland on time.
Learning to pour the perfect pint of Guinness in Dublin, Mar. 17 2013
Below are my top five tips on how you can prepare yourself for your next lucky opportunity:
- Take ownership – You are, after all, the CEO of your own career. If you don’t take ownership over your career path, who will? Your success is nobody’s responsibility, but your own. And, if you’re working at a dead end job where you’re not being appreciated, it’s time to find a new employer who will.
- Prepare – Don’t wait for the perfect job to roll around to put together a resume. Keep a copy of your resume and a sample cover letter current at all times. Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date and connected to all of your important contacts.
- Practice – Practice your elevator pitch. Practice interviewing. Practice searching for jobs. Practice networking. Practice dressing up as you would for an interview. In Malcom Gladwell’s book Outliers, he says, “Practice isn’t the thing you do when you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.”
- Proactive Approach – Finding a job is a job. Don’t wait for your next opportunity to come to you. Seek it out. Don’t have the skills necessary? Look for opportunities to grow your own skills. Don’t wait for your current boss to send you to a training class. Find ways to grow your skills on your own through community classes, volunteer work, or helping another department at your current job.
- Pause Fear – Finding a job and growing your career can make anyone nervous. Just like learning to drive a car, or speaking in front of a group. But, if you can allow yourself to realize you’re not the only one who feels that way – and to keep pushing ahead despite your fear, you’ll find you make progress faster.
Use these tips, and you’ll create the results you desire. In fact, you very well may find yourself explaining just how you got so lucky. Best of luck, and happy St. Patrick’s Day!
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
Time For a Change
Good morning! There’s a decent chance that today you’re a little tired. With the time change over the weekend, it seems that everyone’s sleep schedule (including our animals and children) are a little off. The good news is we’ll have more light to enjoy at the end of the day. That is, of course, after our sleep schedule adjusts to the new routine. In the meantime, we’re all a little grumpy about the entire situation.
Change is hard. It can be a long, sometimes painful process. But in the end, good things often come from it.
Are you someone who embraces change or who runs from it? If you got the impression your company was downsizing, would you start to look for another job, or wait for your boss to walk you out the door? I recommend the first, more proactive approach. It puts you in the driver’s seat, and allows you to make your own decisions about your career path.
People often continue to do things they dislike until those things become unbearable for them. That’s the point at which change typically happens. You may have noticed this with a friend who complains endlessly about some situation they claim to hate. They keep repeating their behavior, and you wonder, “When will they ever change? They obviously aren’t happy at all!” And the answer is, they will change — when things become painful enough.
I encourage you to begin to embrace change in your life and career. Start to look for opportunities for growth before you are forced to. Regardless of your position in your workplace, you are after all, the CEO of your own career. Nobody else is going to make sure you’re taking yourself to the next level.
Growing your career is a job all in itself. It takes time, just like personal relationships, hobbies, or anything else you prioritize as important in your life.
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs once said, “For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”
Don’t wait for a dramatic event to change your life. Take control now, and begin to look for small steps to grow and change at your own pace, in your own way. Think about your long term goals and how your daily activities align to them. Do they add or subtract from your plan?
Life is short, and your career is even shorter. Embrace your role as CEO, and look for opportunities to grow and change your career for the better each day. You may just find that you end up with a little more sunshine in your life.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
Weathering the Storm
You’ve made it. It’s officially March. You’ve been waiting months for the cold weather to move on, and the possibility of warmer weather is starting to become a reality. But, your patience for freezing temperatures is dropping every day.
Similarly, you made it through the long stretch of the holiday season when hiring slows down, as recruiters and companies focus on their families, and wait for the New Year. Job postings are starting to pick up. You’ve been unhappy at your job for a while, and you’re ready to move on.
There’s just one problem: your bonus. Whether your annual performance payout for 2013 was 5% or 50% of your salary, the thought of walking away from it now is just not an option.
For many folks, this leaves them feeling trapped and at a dead end. Going to work each day can feel frustrating and mind numbing. You want to start searching, but you’re not really free to move on just yet. What can you do?
Below are five tips to prepare you for your next job while you’re waiting for your bonus payout.
- Clean up your resume – While you still have access to your current job’s performance data, start updating your resume. Include your accomplishments, especially goals you’ve met or exceeded, and any awards you’ve won. Quantify these achievements with numbers, to give a better understanding of the scope of your responsibilities.
- Update your LinkedIn – Ensure that your latest accomplishments are also reflected on LinkedIn. Review your connections to see who else from your network you can add. Ask trusted contacts to leave written recommendations for your previous work. But, be prepared for your current colleagues to question why you’ve been updating LinkedIn lately. A simple, “I’m always keeping LinkedIn up to date” usually does the trick.
- Go shopping – When was the last time you had to wear a nice suit to work? If it’s been a while, there’s a chance your old suit is too big, too small, or outdated. Stop by a department store when there are sales (and no pressure on you to get a suit quickly). When you do find one, consider taking it to a tailor. Ensuring your pants are hemmed to the correct length and your jacket fits properly can make your relatively inexpensive suit look like ‘a million bucks.’
- Get business cards – Especially if you don’t have a business card at work, this is a great time to get them. The same advice goes for those who are looking to dramatically change career paths. A business card not connected to your current career is helpful. At a minimum, include your name, phone number, and e-mail address. You can order them online from many sites like GotPrint.com, or in person at an office store like FedEx. They typically cost less than $50, and can really make the difference when you’re meeting someone new.
- Attend networking events – The number one way to find a new job is networking. If you’ve been at your current job for more than a few years, you may be a little disconnected from your old network. Now’s the time to get out, see your old connections, and pass out your new business cards.
Whatever you do, remember that you’re not alone. Many folks are in the same boat with you, waiting for the storm to pass. Following these steps will prepare you to find a job when you finally get that 2013 bonus payout. Brighter skies are on their way, so take advantage of this time and prepare yourself.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
Your Best Worst Day
With the wrap up of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it takes to be a top competitor. Athletes spend decades training to be the best at one single sport. They have just a few minutes once every four years to show off their skills and compete to be the best in the world. But with so many talented athletes, what does it take to really stand out? I’d argue it’s grit: being a courageous person who refuses to give up under any circumstances. Natural ability is great, but it won’t always get you to the finish line.
Having a good day is easy. You feel great and everything falls into place. The real question is, how do you handle things when the world around you seems to be crumbling? US figure skater Gracie Gold fell during one of her most important Olympic performances. But, she didn’t let her mistake keep her from completing the rest of her routine beautifully. Despite falling, Gracie received a high score. She came in fourth overall, and although she didn’t receive a medal, she provided she’s a true Olympian.
Have you ever been on a job interview and had something go terribly wrong? How did you handle it? Did you cancel the interview, stumble through answers, or apologize for yourself?
My worst ever interview disaster came about seven years ago. I had flown to the east coast for an important in person interview at a large, traditional corporation. The flight was in the evening, so I arrived late the night before and took a cab from the airport to my hotel. Upon unpacking my suitcase, I realized I had forgotten the pants to my suit. Yes, of all the things that could go wrong, I forgot my pants! I’d worn sweat pants on the plane, so I had no appropriate clothing for the interview. What could I do? This was a real pickle I’d gotten myself into!
First, I looked for nearby stores. There were none open this late, and I had no transportation to get anywhere. Not even taxis were running.
Rather than give up, I started to brainstorm. I wondered if I could get my pants from Memphis to me in time for the 8 AM interview the next day. Although it was too late to drop off a package at FedEx Office, I found that packages could be dropped off at the airport until midnight. First, I found a friend who agreed to drive my pants to FedEx. Then, two other people helped me get a key to my apartment to that friend. When my friend entered my apartment, I walked them through my closet over the phone, to ensure they found the right pair of pants. The friend made it to the airport on time, and the pants arrived at 6 AM, two hours before my interview! I alerted the hotel staff of the situation, to ensure they notified me the moment the pants arrived.
During the interview, I was asked to describe a difficult situation I had encountered and the steps I’d taken to overcome it. I used the example of my pants, and the interviewers were blown away. They were impressed at the story, and couldn’t have imagined the trouble I’d taken to ensure I was properly suited for our meeting. I was able to turn what was otherwise a train wreck of a situation into a great story that won me major points during the interview.
As you’re looking for your next job, you will no doubt face adversity. You will come across situations that seem impossible to fix or overcome. I encourage you to stay focused on your ultimate goal of finding a fulfilling career. Stay the course. Be gritty. Reach out to your support network for strength. Even on your worst days, do your best to let your talents shine through and in the end, your perseverance will pay off in dividends.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
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