by Angela Copeland | May 5, 2014 | Advice, Newsletter
I recently had the special opportunity to interview an old friend about his exciting and successful career. Hint: I will be launching the Copeland Coaching podcast very soon! You will be able to listen to the entire interview online. Watch CopelandCoaching.com for updates. In the meantime, I want to share a little preview of our conversation here.
Shane Presley has had an amazingly career in technology. I met Shane when we worked together at FedEx back in 2001. Since then, he’s found great job after great job that have taken him to cities all over the world. A few years ago, he worked at Netflix in San Francisco and most recently, he worked for a large bank in Sydney, Australia.
He’s back in the US now, so I had the opportunity to sit down with him to learn more about how he’s grown his career. There were many great takeaways from our discussion. You will be able to hear the entire thing very soon, but there’s one piece of our conversation that really stuck out to me.
When I asked Shane about one of the most important lessons he’s learned that’s helped him along the way, he said it was being open to new opportunities and ideas.
When he started his career, Shane wanted to become a certain kind of computer programmer that was very popular then. But, there were already too many of that kind, so he was given the opportunity to try something that nobody else was doing. It was 100% different than his plan. In the end, it allowed him to enter into a niche market. He’s now a rare find for companies. It has allowed him to grow his career in ways he would have never initially been able to imagine.
I often speak with people who have turned down job interviews for various reasons. It’s not enough money. The location is not ideal. They’re not qualified for the position. The list goes on and on.
I also often speak with people who are not open to trying new things with their search. Perhaps they don’t want to try getting personal business cards, or aren’t comfortable modifying how they talk about themselves. Maybe they think networking is a waste of time.
Regardless, the story is the same. The person knows exactly what they want, and how they want to get there. No alternative path will do.
On the flip side, I also meet people who are very open. Maybe they’ve spent their entire career in non-profit, but are open to a for-profit opportunity that looks interesting. Maybe they don’t have all the skills for a particular role, but they’re willing to give it a shot. Perhaps they’ve never negotiated before, but they try (and risk failing).
Failure is such a scary idea for many people. The idea of it holds them back. But, when you don’t try, you’ve already failed. And, if your current method isn’t working, what do you have to lose by trying something a little outside of your box?
I’ve noticed a trend in my coaching. Those who are willing to be more open, willing to learn, and willing to try something different are successful. They realize they don’t have all the answers, and continue to adjust their strategy until they find one that works. Sometimes they do fail, but they keep moving and eventually, they win – big.
Now, I’m not back tracking on my earlier advice I’ve given you about sticking to one clear message in your elevator pitch. Keep doing that. Don’t start telling employers you’re willing to try anything. I closes doors like nothing else. But, if an employer sees something in you that’s different than you were planning, take the time to talk to them. Learn more. Consider possibilities. (Even if the money seems low at first, remember that you can always negotiate for more.)
Being open to possibilities opens so many doors. It can allow you to create a successful and fulfilling career path you never dreamed possible.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | May 4, 2014 | Job Posting
Friends For Life is looking for a Special Events Coordinator in Memphis.
This person will design, implement and evaluate new and existing special events. Secure sponsors, attendees, and committee members for all special events. Identify potential funding sources, cultivating their interest in FFL, making or assisting with the funding solicitation, processing the gift, reporting on the use of the gift, thanking donors and keeping donors informed and interested in supporting FFL.
To learn more, download the job description here. To apply, download the job description here. Note that both links are PDF documents.
by Angela Copeland | May 3, 2014 | Job Posting
Zappos is looking for a Senior Manager of Product Management in Las Vegas, NV.
Here’s the description from the Zappos site:
Are you a passionate leader and experienced technologist that inspires team members through innovation, creativity, and action? Are you dissatisfied with the state of E-commerce and do you have a vision for changing the game? Do you want to build a world-class product management team at a market leader in e-commerce, customer service, and employee happiness? We’re looking for a product management leader to continue to raise the customer experience bar at the most customer centric company on the planet. As Sr. Manager of Product Management, you will lead a team of product managers with the goal of delivering happiness to our customers. This senior leader reports to the director of product & CX with the responsibility for defining the product strategy and roadmap for the Zappos Family of brands including both Zappos.com and 6PM.com.
To learn more, or to apply online, visit Zappos.com here.
by Angela Copeland | May 2, 2014 | Advice, Media, Negotiating
My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “Negotiation 101.” In it, I encourage you to begin to negotiate your job offers.
Negotiation is one of my favorite topics. You negotiate things every day – from which movie to watch to what to eat for dinner. At work, your ability to negotiate can hit close to your wallet.
I learned the importance of negotiation at 19. I was given the opportunity to spend the summer working as an engineer for General Motors in an automotive assembly plant. It required me to relocate over 1,500 miles, so I hoped the company would pay to move me cross country.
Unfortunately, they didn’t – because I didn’t negotiate.
To read my entire article, and learn about how you can avoid the misstep I made at my first job, visit the Memphis Daily News site here.
by Angela Copeland | May 2, 2014 | Networking
New Memphis Institute is hosting their Exposure event at Bridges on Thursday, May 8th.
They invite you to join us for a casual mixer that will expose you and your friends to the broad landscape of community engagement opportunities that Memphis has to offer.
Whether you want to connect civically, socially, or professionally or you want to join a sports or hobby group, Exposure is the place to get plugged in. Come discover how you can tap into the city’s pulse and meet others with similar passions.
To learn more, or to register for your free ticket online, visit their invitation here.
by Angela Copeland | May 2, 2014 | Job Posting
NYU is searching for a Director of Development in New York, NY.
The Director of Development will collaborate with the Associate Dean for Alumni & Development and Deans to develop and implement long term strategies for directing major gift initiatives that facilitate the School’s advancement priorities. Ensure that Stern’s major donors and alumni are fully engaged in the school’s current and future campaign/development strategies and goals. Direct all operations for major gift giving activities. Cultivate relationships and solicit contributions from key donors by actively keeping prospects involved in a variety of School activities and by identifying and matching prospects’ interests with a variety of giving opportunities.
To learn more, or to apply online, visit the NYU website here.
by Angela Copeland | May 1, 2014 | Networking
MULYP is hosting their YPConnect Hiring Lounge on Tuesday, May 13th at the Corner Bar at the Peabody.
Their May YPConnect is being sponsored by International Paper. Due to the high number of experienced young professionals in MULYP, their HR Executives will be stopping by to recruit new employees. You’re encouraged to bring your resume.
To learn more, visit the event invitation here.
by Angela Copeland | May 1, 2014 | Job Posting
Hilton is looking for a Regional Manager of Learning for Hotel and Owners Colleges in Memphis.
The Regional Manager of Learning for Hotel and Owners Colleges will manage learning projects to support brand strategic priorities, and ensure all learning materials are relevant across all regions in the organization. The Team Member will personally facilitate learning events and manage projects in partnership with the brand business partners and provide support and advice based on instructional design and learning theory principles. The Manager will ensure project management approach, and delivery methodology provides value to the brand client relationship. The Team Member will act as a point of contact and liaison with specific brands as assigned by the Senior Manager of Learning for the Hotel and Owners Colleges. The primary business partners will be Directors of Culture and Communications and the Directors of Brand Performance Support. The Manager will be responsible for managing hotel Brand Education learning curriculum which includes service and culture training for Team Members.
To learn more, or to apply online, visit the Hilton website here.
by Angela Copeland | Apr 30, 2014 | Job Posting
Williams-Sonoma is looking for a VP of Human Resources for their Memphis area distribution center.
This person’s primary responsibilities will be:
* Build effective relationships by demonstrating integrity throughout the organization.
* Effective communicator with strong employee relations’ skills.
* Skilled facilitator with the ability to coach, counsel and lead a team of 30+ HR professionals including; Employee Relations, Compensation & Benefits, Recruiting & Associate Retention, and HR Leaders in our Care Center, Manufacturing and Distribution Centers.
* Partner with Executives and Leaders throughout the organization including all Williams-Sonoma brands, Retail, Outlet and Supply Chain.
* Continue to oversee compliance of all state and federal laws and ensure adherence throughout the organization by educating, coaching, and counseling leadership.
To learn about all of the responsibilities, and to apply online, visit the Williams-Sonoma site here.
by Angela Copeland | Apr 30, 2014 | Networking
Ballet Memphis is hosting their Spark event at Crosstown Arts on Wednesday, May 14th.
With so many good things happening and opening up in our community, we keep hearing about what an exciting time this is for Memphis. We have even heard it called a ‘Memphis Renaissance.” In an effort to keep this momentum going and to take it to the next level, what do we want to see in Memphis next? What makes a sustainable, creative community? We’d love to hear from you.
To learn more, visit the online invitation here.
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