The Career Coach's Blog

I couldn't have done it without you

This is what a client said to me today. And, this is not the first time I have heard this...

Their kind words mean a lot; it means that they are reaching their goals.

It's hard to make your goals happen by yourself.  I joke that Adam had Eve and Peanut Butter has Jelly. We are not meant to reach new heights solo. It's a journey you take with someone else.

Coaching works because you have someone who helps you when life gets in the way or your thoughts get in the way. Once you are able to clear these things out, you become un-stop-able.

And, who doesn't want to be un-stop-able? 

 

Career Success: Mapping Your Journey

Was quoted in this article. Thank you Beth very much!

"Just as you wouldn’t set out for a trip without planning how to get to your destination, failure to think about how to reach your goals can keep you from arriving there in a timely manner. Career coach Deborah Brown-Volkman, president of Surpass Your Dreams, Inc., offers these strategies for an effective journey."

1. Decide Where You Are Going

2. Map Out Your Trip

3. Get Going (And Be Prepared For Delays)

Full article at:

http://theofficeprofessional.com/career-success-mapping-your-journey

What happens when the difficult co-worker is you?

I was quoted in this article. Thanks Sarah for including me!

Everyone has a co-worker horror story.

But, have you ever thought, maybe, you're that person in the office to someone, too?

"You might feel like people are staring at you or talking about you. Coworkers leave the room when you arrive, or you're not invited to lunches or parties," says Deborah Brown-Volkman, Career Coach and President of Surpass Your Dreams, Inc.

"People do their best to limit interactions with you."

"When I point annoying behaviors out to clients, they already know they have them." says Volkman.

Full article at:

http://littlepinkbook.com/little-pink-book/coworker-horror-story

 

Admit Your Career Is Not Working

We all want the dream career. The one that gets us excited to get out of bed everyday. The career that gives us meaning and purpose. The career that we know we were born to fulfill.

While this is the goal (and the dream) sometimes the jobs we take before we reach this goal are not that great. Maybe you are in a job now that is overwhelming or boring, but you need to keep it because of the state of the economy. Or, maybe your career could improve if you could communicate more effectively with your boss or co-workers, but you don’t know what to say, or are afraid to say it, so you don’t say anything.

Whatever the reason, the truth is you are unhappy where you are. I understand unhappiness. Not every job is the dream one. There are bills to pay and responsibilities to take care of. But still, you are unhappy. How much longer do you plan to endure your unhappiness? Your career gets better when you make it better. Making it better is up to you.

So What Do You Do When Your Career Is Not Working? Follow These 3 Steps Below.

1. Admit Your Career Is Not Working

You cannot fix what you do not admit. People ask me all the time how can they fix a broken career. I tell them the first step is recognizing there is a problem. Recognition brings it to the surface. Denial is the enemy of progress. Once you recognize the problem, you can face the issue, and prepare yourself to tackle it head on.

 2. Acknowledge The Courage It Took To Recognize Your Problem

Saying “my career is not working” is courageous.  These words have meaning; now you are accountable for your situation. You will have take action. You will have to make room in your schedule for making changes and you will have to add more items to an already busy calendar of things to do. Recognizing the problem sets you on a path, one that will require work and effort that will pay off in the future, but will add more to your place now. That takes courage. Good for you.

 3. Do Something About Your Situation

Now, the work begins. What specifically is not working in your career? Write it down. What needs to be changed? Write it down. What is your goal? Where do you want to be in the future instead of where you are now?  When will you get there? Write it down. What are the top 3 things you need to do to achieve your goal? Write them down. What is the priority of these 3 items? Write them down. What actions will you take first, second, third, etc?

See the theme here? Writing things down is the first step to making them real because you cannot do what you cannot see. Career change is a journey, not a sprint. You may want your change to happen quickly now that you can visualize it.  Understandable.  Your change will happen as long as you have a plan, you implement your plan, and you don’t stop until you reach your destination.

McKinsey Tries to Recruit Mothers Who Left the Fold

Wall Street Journal article: McKinsey & Co. wants its moms back.

"The big consulting firm is quietly reaching out to female employees who left some years ago—presumably to start families—to see whether they are ready to return."

"Details of the initiative, still in its early stages, are sketchy, and McKinsey offered no further information, except to say it isn't a companywide policy. But the effort is one small signal that at least some companies are re-examining some of the most basic terms of women's working lives."

"The issue of lost women workers remains a delicate one for many companies, particularly in highly skilled professions, such as consulting or banking. After spending their 20s in high-intensity jobs, many women leave or switch to part-time work when they have children."

Full article at:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323764804578314450063914388.html

Make Different Choices In Your Career

Article I wrote:

Your career is filled with choices. Some of them will empower you, and others will hold you back. 

Wherever you are now in your career, you have arrived there by choice. Maybe your choice was something you chose outright. Or, you chose not to choose, which was also a choice. Either way, if you are unhappy in your career, you must realize that your choices have contributed to your unhappiness.

Of course, no-one intentionally makes bad choices. Every time you were about to make a choice about a new job or project, you probably thought it was the best choice at the time. You weighed your options and believed that you were doing the right thing. But then, the result was not what you expected. When you learn to start questioning choices that are bad for you before you make them, that’s when you can make choice that are more beneficial for your career in the future.

So How Do You Make Different Choices In Your Career? Follow These Important 2 Steps Below.

1. Take Responsibility For Your Choices

Setbacks in your career usually do not arise not by accident, but as a result of the choices you’ve made.

For example:

• You choose to complete a project on your own. This choice holds you back because you are alienating others, rather than building a supportive network. Not only have you lost valuable allies, you have also needlessly caused yourself to work harder.
• You choose to send e-mails when you are angry. This choice holds you back because co-workers remember your rash decisions, thus straining your relationships with them.
• You choose to work excessively long hours. This choice holds you back because your hectic schedule drains your energy, clouds your perspective, and casts a shadow over your relationships. It creates an unbalanced life.
• You choose to coast through your career. This choice holds you back because your lack of passion will surely lead to lack of focus and direction.

It’s always easier to blame someone else for mishaps in your career. But when you can honestly look at the part you’ve played, and take responsibility for your piece, that’s when your choices can change going forward.  No one is saying things haven’t happened to you. I am saying that if you focus outward instead of inward, your career will stay the same.

2. Decide To Make Different Choices

Today is a brand new day, and although you cannot change your past choices, you can change your future ones.

Ask yourself the following. What choices am I making today? What choices am I continuing to make even though I know they are not good for me? Do I know in my gut that it’s time to make different choices, but I still hesitate?

Now, ask yourself these questions. What will I do differently going forward? For example, will I take deep breaths before sending emails? Will I be more inquisitive during job interviews? Will I work less hours so I can be more productive with my time?

Can making this decision transform your career that easily? Yes, because it’s a place to start, and when you start doing things differently, that’s when you get different results.

 

Why Employees Like Zuckerberg and Other Popular CEOs

Bloomberg Business Week article:

"Apparently Mark Zuckerberg isn’t liked just among his 17 million followers on Facebook. Of nearly 200,000 CEOs reviewed in the past year on job site Glassdoor.com, Facebook’s (FB) chief executive had the highest employee approval rating on the latest rankings of 50 CEOs, at 99.3 percent. Not coincidentally, Facebook also ranked as the best place to work on Glassdoor."

"The ranking is based on employee response to the question: “Do you approve of the way your CEO is leading the company?”

“Mark Zuckerberg is famous for not even having his own office. He sits in the open seating area along with every single other employee, and they see him in a regular bathroom as they would anyone.”

Full article:

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-18/why-employees-like-zuckerberg-and-other-popular-ceos

Editorial: Put Long Island brain power to work

Great artice in Newsday about where jobs in Long Island can come from. 

"Long Island has to compete in research and innovation and the commercialization of new ideas to produce homegrown start-ups. The payoff would be high-paying jobs for software engineers, biologists, chemists, physicists, technicians and spin-off jobs to support the vibrant new sectors."

Full article at:

http://www.newsday.com/mobile/opinion/editorial-put-long-island-brain-power-to-work-1.4780258

Great resource for what job would be perfect for you

Found this today and loved it: http://www.insidejobs.com 

"At Inside Jobs, we’re dedicated to helping people shape confident futures through career exploration."

"By developing data-driven information, engaging resources, and a community of career conversations we help people discover what they want to become."

Very cool.

Why You Didn't Get the Job

US Money/On Career article: You're not as hot as you thought you were. Here's why you missed the boat.

"You were perfect for the job and your interviewer seemed to love you—or so you thought. But you just found out that you didn't get the job, and now you're wondering why. "

What happened? Here's some reasons why:

1. You were qualified, but someone else was more qualified. 

2. You weren't as qualified as you thought you were. 

3. You turned off the hiring manager in the interview. 

4. You were annoying. 

5. You only seemed interested in what the job could do for you, not what you could offer the company.

Full article at:

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/02/25/why-you-didnt-get-the-job

How studying your taxes can help your career

CBS News/Money Watch article: Let the IRS be your career counselor.

"Studying your tax return can help you make these wise career moves."

Here are some things to consider:

Figure out if you're underpaid. 

See if your salary matches your life goals.

Consider worst-case scenarios.

Full article at:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57573136/how-studying-your-taxes-can-help-your-career/

How to Turn Your Hellhole of a Company Into a Great Place to Work

Lifehacker article.

"There are some companies people would kill to work for, and you probably know already whether yours is one of them. At some companies, people love coming in every day. At others, the paycheck is the only thing stopping the staff from burning the place down. If your company sounds like the latter, there are things you can do—at any level of the organization—to make your company a better place to work."

Great guide that walks you through some things you can do, whether you're entry-level, standard staff, middle management, or a manager, to make your company—or at least your team—more friendly.

Article's closing thoughts:

"Let's be honest: It's easier to just quit and find a company that has the perks that you like, or keep searching until you find a corporate culture where you really fit in than it is to actually make these small changes and try to improve your working conditions from the inside. It's why so many of us just give up when things start sucking and start looking for a new job."

"Unfortunately, jobs are scarce these days in every industry, and everyone knows it. Sometimes it's better to put in a little effort to keep the one you have, and starting off small and slow like this is a great way to make the kinds of changes that will ultimately make your company not just better for you, but more attractive to other great talent. You need to be willing to stick to your guns, lead the charge, and go out on a limb to make the time you spend at work a little better for everyone. After all, you spend  at least 40 hours a week (and many of you said you spend  more than that) at the office. It should at least be an enriching experience."

Full article at:

http://lifehacker.com/5988849/how-to-turn-your-hellhole-of-a-company-into-a-great-place-to-work

Being Productive At Work: The Best Way to Start Anything

Inc. Article: The road to success starts with asking--and answering--one simple question.

What's the question?

"What does a wildly successful outcome for this meeting, project, conversation--whatever it might be--look like?"

"Don't start anything until you know the answer."

Full article at:

http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/the-best-way-to-start-well-anything-tues.html

10 Commandments of How To Get Along With People

Good list written by Ann Landers.

Items include:

• Always say less than you think. 
• Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind and encouraging word to or about somebody.
• Keep an open mind.

Full list at:

http://www.sober.org/Ann%20Landers.html

Your Career No Man Is An Island

Article I wrote:

Are you someone who likes to ask for help or someone who prefers to do everything alone?

What’s the difference? One way makes your career easier and the other prolongs the process if you are having a problem. Can you guess which one?

Ask yourself this, “If someone asked you for help, would you help them?” Most people would say yes. So, if you are ok helping someone else, why wouldn’t you let someone else help you?

No man (or woman) is an island. We are not meant to reach our goals alone; we are meant to be successful through the assistance of others. Imagine the possibilities if you let this thought sink in. Your entire career (and life) could be completely transformed. And, you would have a pathway to solving your problems and reaching your goals.

So, How Can You Ask For Help In Your Career? Follow These 3 Steps Below.

1. Tell Yourself That Asking For Help Is Ok

Most people do not like to ask for help. We like to do everything on our own and prefer to tackle challenges without assistance. We view ourselves as strong and asking for help as weak. We worry how we will be viewed if we ask for help. Maybe our request will bother the person we are asking or paint us in a negative light. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; it means we have thought through an idea or challenge and were not able to solve it alone. It means it’s time for someone else (besides ourselves) to help with the process. The cliché, “two heads are better than one,” has been around for many years for a reason. Help makes everything easier.

2. Recognize That Help Is A Good Thing

Help means your career challenges will be solved quicker. Imagine no longer having to struggle on your own anymore. Imagine no longer having only one perspective. Imagine no longer needlessly worrying about what is going to happen next. You could have champions on your side who believe in you and want to help. Even if the person you asked for help could not help you, you would have a sounding board to listen to your ideas. And, a second pair of eyes and ears is vital when you are in a situation that may be hard or overwhelming for you.

3. Asking Makes You Courageous, Not Cowardly

It takes courage to ask for help. You don’t know what the other person is going to say. You are taking a leap of faith. You are opening up your heart and your mind to another person in hopes of getting resolution. This means your goal is important to you and you are committed to achieving it. You are done being afraid and confused. You are ready to take action to move forward despite the uncertainty. That makes you courageous: going for what you want and leaving fear behind; leaving what someone may or may not think about you behind; letting go of how you may (or may not) be judged. Courage to ask for help is what will make you successful. Courage will help you reach your goals.

Your Career Not Everyone Will Understand You

Article I wrote:

Do you have career dreams or wishes that you want to come true, but when you tell people your thoughts they have no idea what you are saying? Or, they understand your words, but then they try to talk you out of it, or they give you a long speech about why it won’t work.

Not everyone will understand what you want to accomplish in your career. Maybe you want a new job but the people in your life tell you to forget about it and just be happy where you are. Or, you want a new career, but you are told it doesn’t make sense or you won’t make enough money. Or, you want to start a business that you have been thinking about for years, and you hear about how no one will visit your establishment.

What Do You Do When In Your Heart You Know The Right Next Move For Your Career, But You Are Not Getting The Support You Need To Reach Your Goal? Follow These 3 Steps Below.

1. Let Go Of Your Need For Outside Approval

While it would be wonderful for everyone to love your career vision, this is not always possible. Sometimes people tell you something isn’t feasible, but they are not talking about you. Instead, they are talking about themselves. Maybe they were disappointed or hurt when they tried to do something in their career and because it didn’t turn out well for them, they assume the same will happen to you. Not everyone in life will understand you. Not everyone will embrace your ideas. This is only a problem if you listen to the naysayers rather than the champions. One person telling you your idea is no good can derail you even if four people earlier said they loved it.

It doesn’t matter what other people think, only what you think. If you are waiting for other people to applaud your ideas before you can implement them, you may be waiting for a long time. You may think that you need everyone to love what you are doing. While it would be nice to have approval, real approval comes from you and no one else.

2. Map Our Your Career Idea

While you may have doubts that your idea will materialize, you won’t know until you try. No one understands your idea more than you, so get your idea out of your head and down on paper. Ask yourself questions such as “What do I want?” “What do I know?” “What do I need to learn?’ As well as “Why won’t it work and why it will work?” Map out what you will do first, second, third, and so on. You can’t implement something until you can see, so starting seeing it.

3. Put One Foot In Front Of The Other

All goals are reached one step at a time. A slow and steady climb that takes you where you want to go. You take one step that leads to the next step and so on. In addition, your confidence will increase as the steps accumulate. The further you go down the road, the more clearly you will see the finish line. As your confidence grows so will the confidence of the people around you. When they see your progress, they will begin to believe in you. That’s why it’s so important to not let other views and opinions deter you from starting. Needing outside approval doesn’t have to be the main obstacle that keeps you from being happy in your career.

 

Get The Balance Back Into Your Career

Article I wrote:

Are you out of balance in your career? You know you are when your career is all you think about. You worry constantly about where your career is headed. You believe that you can’t be happy until your career problems are solved. And, it might be starting to affect your health. 

Balance is a tough concept is today’s workplace. There are more demands, more stress, and more reasons to feel dissatisfied or unfulfilled by what you do. You may want to be balanced, but don’t know where to start. Or, you may have tried, but balance seems to be this elusive concept you can’t achieve.

Being out of balance from time to time is normal. But when your career takes over your life and becomes your sole focus, it’s time to do something about it. Balance is important because it gives you the ability to see your situation clearly. Clarity brings focus. Focus brings options. Options bring solutions.

So How Do You Get Back Into Balance? Follow These 3 Steps Below.

1. Recognize That Your Career Is Only A Slice Of The Pie

When something is not working in one area of your life, it can easily affect the others. How can you make plans in your life when you are in limbo or there is uncertainty in your career? The problem with that thinking (or that question) is it keeps you from moving forward, finding answers, or taking action to do something differently. When you focus solely on one aspect of your life, you lose perspective and when perspective is lost, so is hope and momentum.

Many people define themselves by what they do, and when that is lost or in jeopardy, they are lost too. Your career, although a big part of your life, is only a piece of the bigger picture. It is what you do for a living, to pay the bills and take care of yourself and your family. Yes, you want a satisfying career, one that makes a difference for others. But if you don’t have that at the moment, don’t let your frustration or disappointment take over your entire life.

2. Stop Obsessing

I have clients that can tell me the exact conversation that took place (sometimes years or decades ago) that was their downfall. Or the moment they were let go that changed their whole life. They ask me why it happened or what they should have done differently.

I understand how hard their situations are. Having a problem you can’t solve or control can easily throw you off track. I can’t change what has happened or what is happening to you. I can tell you that you are wasting valuable time on something that is in your past. Rather than use that energy obsessing about what has happened, use that energy towards planning your future.  Obsessing may be your attempt to figure out what went wrong, or fix it, but really it just holds you back and prevents you from moving forward.

3. Take The Focus Off Your Career

You may be spending too much time thinking about yourself. That is part of the problem and one of the reasons you are out of balance. You are spending too much time focusing on you. Ask yourself who you can help or who you can give back to. Have extra time these days? Where can you volunteer and help people who are in a worse situation than you? You may think you have nothing to give back, but you do. Giving back will help you feel better. Life is about making a difference and helping others. When you take the focus off yourself, that’s when the miracles happen. Your career gets better when you get better and when you feel better about yourself.

Every Career Challenge Is Tough In The Beginning

Article I wrote:

Are you facing a challenge in your career that seems insurmountable? Are you unsure how to handle it? Do you wish that overcoming your challenge was easier?

No one really wants things to be tough. Yes, we may know deep down that tough makes us stronger, but when we are going through a situation ourselves, easy is the choice we would make if we could.

What is your current challenge? Have you known for a long time that you should be doing something else in your career, but you have been afraid to do anything about it? Or, has something happened that has changed the way you view yourself, and you are afraid of what the new you will look like, so you’ve stopped looking? Or, do you wish that things in your career would go back to the way they were, and this wish is keeping you from moving forward or making progress?

Many people I speak to are struggling in their career and my heart goes out to them. I know they want more and want things to be different. Is there a magic pill that will save them? No. Is there a way out? Yes. It’s called hard work. But hard work is called hard for a reason. It means career transformation is not going to be easy. The good news is hard work will provide real results.

The difficult part is getting started. And once you start, you get to your goal by putting one foot in front of the other.

So How Do You Begin? Follow These 4 Steps Below:

1.  Expect To Be Uncomfortable

If you expect to be uncomfortable then you won’t be surprised when you are. And, you won’t resist it. Most times, the biggest challenge in our career is not what has happened (or is happening) but our reaction to it. How are you handling yours?

What’s wrong with being uncomfortable? Discomfort means you are being challenged and are growing. Growth is a good thing in the end, even if it hurts a bit in the beginning.

2. Embrace Your Challenge

Challenges in your career are there for a reason. The pain your challenge produces tells you that something is not working. Maybe there has been a situation that you have been avoiding, but now you can no longer avoid it. That’s a good thing. What you avoid only gets bigger. Facing what needs to be faced will bring you relief and freedom. Running will not.

Challenges give you resilience and help you become a better person. Although challenges are not fun while you are having them, the other side of your challenge is a brand new confident you. Don’t be afraid of this person. It’s who you are supposed to become.

3. Be Open

Are you attached to what happens next? Then, your journey will be harder for you. Remember that there is your plan, and then the plan that’s supposed to take place. We all would like to control the outcome. It makes us feel like we have a say. Sometimes, it’s not up to you. Let go of the ending. Maybe the outcome will surprise you. Whatever happens, trust that you will be in a better place and that good things are around the corner waiting for you.

4. Remember That Things Get Easier Over Time

What knocks you off your feet in the beginning becomes more manageable as you go through the process. Day by day, what seems overwhelming becomes less demanding and hectic over time. Get ready to find a new groove and a new routine. At times, you may not completely know where you are going, but if you move forward, the future won’t seem so scary anymore.

 

Slow and steady wins the race. You goal is to keep going, knowing that good things will come your way because you did. Good luck!

 

Love Your Career Again

Article I wrote:

Do you love what do for a living? Or, did you used to love what you do, but not anymore? Or, are you in a career that you think you could never love?
 
Your love for your career comes from you. Yes, outside circumstances can shape that love, or deter it, but ultimately you own your heart, thoughts, and feelings. What actions you take as a result of your inner knowledge is up to you.

Do you love your career or hate it? It’s important to be honest because you can’t move forward without honesty. You may not be in your dream career, but does that mean you cannot love it anyway?
 
So How Can You Love Your Career Again? Follow These 3 Steps Below:
 
1. Decide To Love Your Career Again
 
Decisions are important because they provide direction. And with direction, comes purpose and passion. That direction can come from you even when you feel like it can’t or you are waiting for someone else to give it to you. You can love your career again simply by deciding that you will love it again. This decision gives you freedom and an opening to love what you do, today, and not somewhere down the road. Decide to love what you do, for you, because loving it is better than hating it and you will be happier once you go with the flow rather than in the other direction.
 
2. Focus On What You Do Love
 
Every career has something positive. Ask yourself what do I love about mine? Do you love the people you work with? Do you love a project you are working on? Do you love the difference you could be making if you were not so fixated on what is missing? You get what you expect. You also get what you give. Change your focus and where you are putting your energies. Focus on the great aspects of your career and what it provides. A new perspective (and focus) will generate new energy, and new energy could lead you to love your career again.
 
3. Love Where You Are Planted
 
No matter what you are doing, it can be great if you tell yourself that it is great. Even if it’s not ideal, you can still give it your all and be the best at it. If you loved where you are right now, what would you be doing differently? Good things, I bet, so start doing them. You will not love your career until you act like you love it.  Imagine this; you could be thriving in your career if you were not resisting it. This means you have more power over your career than you think. So what are you going to do with yours?

 

Get Uncomfortable In Your Career

Article I wrote...

Are you happy in your career or just going through the motions? Do you know it's time to act, but you don't want to? Are you pushing yourself to do more, and be more, or are you too comfortable being comfortable?

Making a change in your career involves work, and not everyone likes to do work. Whether it's a new job, a new career, or a new way of dealing with a problem at work, challenging situations do not change without your active participation.

Maybe making changes in your career used to be easier. Maybe jobs were handed to you, or opportunities came quicker. Because of the nature of today's workplace and the competitiveness among workers for jobs, those days are long gone. You get change when you work for change. You can wish that the process for change would be different, and they will be different once you put in the effort. (Or, when you keep going past the point where you want to stop.)

Where Do You Begin? Follow These 3 Steps Below.

1. Admit You Are Comfortable

You cannot fix what you cannot admit. So, say it. You are comfortable. Maybe you like being comfortable and that is ok. Why push yourself if you do not have to? The problem is being comfortable keeps you stuck. Rather than having something to look forward to in the future, you are trapped in your day-to-day life and routines. And although being comfortable allows you to not have to push yourself or exert any unnecessary effort, your comfortableness leaves you unfulfilled and unhappy.  So ask yourself, what is worse, moving forward or staying where you are? You will choose forward movement once you admit that standing still is your worst option.

2. Decide To Be Uncomfortable

I am a big believer in deciding, because without decision nothing happens. So, decide to be uncomfortable. Not because someone else thinks you should, but because you want to. Not because you are being forced to, but because you know it's time. Decide to be uncomfortable because you miss the old you and are tired of being unhappy. Decide because you do not want to complain anymore, and have realized that your complaints are unproductive and are not taking you anywhere productive. Change happens when you decide to change. And once you've decided, then you are can move forward.

3. Get Uncomfortable

What was the last risk you took? It probably has been a while. If you are not ready to take a big risk, start with something smaller. Little risks build your confidence and inner belief that you can handle bigger ones. For example, if you don't usually speak up in meetings, contribute something this week. If you do not usually call people to follow up or ask for something that you need in your career, make one call this week. Something that will shake things up a bit and get you ready for something bigger.

If you want something different in your career, you have to do something different.  The world around you may not change or even want to change, but this is not about them, it's about you. Change is possible once you start making changes. Small steps over time produce great results. You just have to begin. 

Building Career Courage

Training Magazine article: Tips to help you start acting with more courage today.

Tip 1: Strike Out Fear.

Tip 2: Establish an Anti-Brownnosing Agreement.

Tip 3: Do Your Lead-Ups.

Full article at:

http://trainingmag.com/content/soapbox-building-career-courage

Have “Steady Jobs” Become Too Risky?

MonsterWorking article: The same people who diversify their retirement savings across hundreds or even thousands of companies barely bat an eyelash at betting their livelihood on the fate of a single employer. Does this really make sense?

"Folks with full-time jobs may fancy themselves as more secure than those who are “self-employed,” but it’s a convenient self-delusion. We’re all self-employed — we trade our labor for the cash people are willing to give us to do the work."

"When you lose a job, you’ve got zero cash coming in. Think about that if all your eggs are in your employer’s basket — or if your basket is already empty."

Full article at:

http://www.monsterworking.com/2013/02/19/gig-economy-have-steady-jobs-become-too-risky/

Is Your Network Ignoring You?

CNN Money article: What to do when networking isn't working.

"For those who send out plenty of networking emails and phone calls only to hear nothing but silence, the question isn't why they should network, but how."

"Networking is the most effective way to find a new job, beating out social networking sites Internet job search engines."

"Networking is making connections, not asking for a job."

Full article at:

http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2013/02/20/career-networking-troubles/

Obama's jobs proposals at a glance

Boston.com article: President Barack Obama’s emphasis on job creation recycles some old ideas and introduces some new ones.

"Obama launched or re-launched initiatives that aim to increase manufacturing, help communities hard hit by the recession, lower corporate taxes while eliminating corporate tax subsidies, and raise wages for low-income workers."

His plan includes:

— $50 billion for infrastructure. 

—$15 billion to put people to work repairing or tearing down homes in neighborhoods suffering from neglect.

—A $6 billion tax credit to help communities that are losing a major plant. 

—$1 billion for manufacturing innovation institutes.

—Corporate taxes: reduce them to 28 percent, but make them even lower, 25 percent, for manufacturers. 

—Increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 an hour by the end of 2015. 

Full article at:

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2012/president/candidates/obama/2013/02/13/obama-jobs-proposals-glance/3mJFTFwtAtnQRPXvKf3SsK/story.html

Are Your Job References in Order?

USNews article: Job candidates often hand over lists of references without much thought to the people they've included.

"References can play a big role in hiring, so it's worth being thoughtful and strategic about whom you include."

"The best reference is someone who managed your work and will speak glowingly of you."

"Many employers won't bother going outside your list, so it's important to choose your list with care."

Full article at:

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/02/13/are-your-job-references-in-order

How To Earn What You’re Really Worth

BrazenLife article.

"Pushing to see what you can get is human nature, but an inexpert maneuver on your end could potentially sour your employment relationship before it’s even begun."

"Here are four tried-and-true tactics to help you get closer to the salary you want—without touching any employer sore spots:"

1. Keep it professional, not personal

2. To decide how high to go, weigh risk and reward

3. Be brutally honest with yourself

4. Depend on research, not guesswork 

Full article at:

http://blog.brazencareerist.com/2013/02/12/4-salary-negotiation-tips-that-will-help-you-earn-what-youre-really-worth/

How to Make A Job Interviewer Like You Better

SimplyHired blog article: Hiring managers tend to give job offers to those whom they get along with. 

"When you think about it, the proposition is logical as the potential boss is going to have to manage that particular employee meaning they are going to be spending a lot of time around each other and people simply work well together when they have some personal cohesion."

"A charming personality can't make up for a terrible resume, but when all things are considered equal the individual who is liked better on a personal basis will get the job. "

"This begs the question of how we do work at getting others to like us better without coming across as desperate or fake? "

Full article at:

http://blog.simplyhired.com/2013/02/4-tips-to-make-the-job-interviewer-like-you-better.html

The One Question Your Resume Must Answer

Blogging4Jobs article: Ultimately, your resume has one purpose: to get someone to contact you. Whether that person is a recruiter, hiring manager or HR generalist depends upon the job you applied for and the structure of the organization. 

THE QUESTION...

What makes this person (you) a better candidate than all others who have applied for myjob?

"Think about it. What makes you stand out from all other job seekers? Why are you better than the 100 other people who’ve applied for the same job opportunity? That’s the information you need to include on your resume. That’s your golden ticket."

"Recruiters and hiring managers see a  whole lot of mediocrity when it comes to resumes. Take yours from böring to booyah by focusing on what truly makes you better than any other potential candidate."

Full article at:

http://www.blogging4jobs.com/job-search/the-one-question-your-resume-must-answer/

How to Build a Network of Contacts

Inc. article: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are useful tools, but building a business network requires the personal touch.

"Social networking may be all the rage, but online acquaintances are probably not going to put their reputations on the line to help you build your business. That takes a more personal touch."

"A business "network" isn't about how many people know your name; it's about how many will send you customers or help you advance your career."

"If you set aside a certain time every day to build up your personal business contacts, you'll eventually find that you know (and are trusted at least to some degree by) hundreds of people who can help you find new business and create new opportunities."

Full article at:

http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/how-to-build-a-network-of-contacts.html

4 steps to taming your career anxiety

Quoted in Ask Annie Fortune Magazine's Career Management section: 4 steps to taming your career anxiety.

Worrying about the future, in this economy, just makes you normal. But there are ways to get a grip on fear, instead of letting it control you.

Deborah Brown-Volkman, head of career coaching firm Surpass Your Dreams, Inc., in East Moriches, N.Y., agrees: "Career fear is normal. You wouldn't be human without it." She adds that many of her clients share your anxiety, but "they tell me they shouldn't be afraid. I ask them why they would put so much pressure on themselves -- to expect something that unrealistic. It's much better to expect fear, so you can learn how to manage it."

"What you resist persists, so stop resisting," suggests Brown-Volkman. "What are you afraid of? Write it down. Say it out loud." 

"If you wait to be fear-free" before tackling the foregoing, Brown-Volkman says, "you will be waiting for a long time. Now is the moment to decide what control your fear will have over you -- whether it will paralyze you or motivate you. Deciding is important, because it's the step where you take your power back."

Full article at:

http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2013/02/08/4-steps-to-taming-your-career-anxiety/

GlassDoor's Employees' Choice Awards Best Places To Work 2013

GlassDoor's annual awards, 50 best places to work.

#1 is Facebook. Some companies on the list I was surprised to see.

See the full list at:

http://www.glassdoor.com/Best-Places-to-Work-LST_KQ0,19.htm

5 Ways to Rekindle Love for Your Job

US News article: It's not uncommon for that initial spark, fizz, and magic that you felt when you first landed your job to gradually dim overtime. All relationships take work – including the one with your job.

"If you've  found yourself in a rut when it comes to your job, it's time to take action. Rather than succumbing to the doom of monotony, take a few measures to rediscover your passion for your work."

5 ways are:

1. Think long term goals.

2. Take on a new challenge.

3. Take a new course.

4. Write down the highlights.

5. Engage in some networking.

Full article at:

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/02/05/5-ways-to-rekindle-love-for-your-job

How to Say ‘Look at Me!’ to an Online Recruiter

Good job market article from the New York Times.

"IF you are thinking of looking for a job this year, or are already searching for one, be warned: for some job seekers, the rules have changed. Technology and social media have altered the way some employers consider candidates. Simply sifting through job postings and sending out applications en masse was never a good route to success, and is even less so now."

"One of the most important questions that many job seekers can ask these days is this: How searchable am I? Some employers aren’t even bothering to post jobs, but are instead searching online for the right candidate."

Full article and tips at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/jobs/how-job-seekers-can-say-look-at-me-to-online-recruiters.html

December Grads: How to Land a Job

Was quoted in this Fox Business article. Thanks Emily!

For recent December college grads who haven’t found a job yet, the current job market may be a little easier to navigate than it has been for their predecessors.

According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers,employers anticipate hiring 13% more Class of 2013 college graduates compared to the number they hired from the Class of 2012. 

As for the top five bachelor’s degrees in demand, finance ranks first followed by computer and information science, business administration/management and mechanical engineering.

See my suggestions at:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/01/16/december-grads-how-to-land-job/

Career Coach's Blog is featured on the list of 100 Best Career Resources for Grads and PhDs

Exciting news. This blog is being featured on the list of 100 Best Career Resources for Grads and PhDs.

Very nice to be a part of this list.

 

YES, YOU CAN FULFILL YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

Was quoted in this article. Thanks Beth!

As the end of the year approaches, people are beginning to think about resolutions for 2013. While taking time to brainstorm about what you truly want to accomplish is important, pondering how you intend to make your goals a reality can be the difference between a pipe dream and success. Career and life coach Deborah Brown-Volkman, president of Surpass Your Dreams, Inc., offers these suggestions:

See my suggestions at:

http://theofficeprofessional.com/yes-you-can-fulfill-your-new-year-s-resolutions

The Art of Calling In Sick—Or Not

Wall Street Journal article.

Calling in sick can be awkward..

"As flu season approaches, people soon will wake up to a tricky calculation: Should you drag yourself into work f.eeling awful? Or can you get away with staying home to heal?"

"Staying in bed poses a risk of falling behind or being seen as a slacker. But showing up sick, and grossing out or infecting colleagues, can be worse, and a growing number of employers are setting policies to discourage it."

"This year's outbreak of whooping cough, or pertussis—projected to be the worst in 53 years—brings a new, highly contagious risk to the workplace."

Full article at:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203406404578074643908621184.html

Entrée tips into the not-so-secret hidden job market

SmartBlog article:

"If you have been job-searching during the past few years, you probably are aware that there is a hidden or unadvertised job market."

"It’s likely that you have heard from friends and colleagues who found jobs through a networking contact or word of mouth and not by answering a classified advertisement, uploading a resume or completing an online application. Many such jobs are filled before they are announced to the public."

"Post-recession, there are fewer outside recruiters filling fewer corporate positions; in general, the job market is less fluid because there are fewer jobs being created and less employee turnover. The modern employer’s job market (as opposed to candidate’s job market, where the candidates rule the roost) means that individual job-seekers must be more informed, more knowledgeable and be willing to work harder to find and land a job."

"The hidden job market contains real positions. These roles are usually not intentionally kept secret by employers."

Full article at:

http://smartblogs.com/leadership/2012/10/16/entree-tips-not-so-secret-hidden-job-market

Signs That a Company Is a Bad Apple, Not Your Dream Job

US Money article:

"In these uncertain economic times, it may be tempting to jump at any job opening for which you're even remotely qualified. While there are plenty of good companies out there still searching for qualified applicants, there are a few others that aren't so good. Protect yourself from jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. Doing so may save you a lot of heartache and wasted energy."

Full article and list of signs at:

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/10/22/10-signs-that-a-companys-a-bad-apple-not-your-dream-job

Job Action Day 2012: Best Branding Tips from the Personal Branding Blog

November 5 is Job Action Day 2012 – all about empowering job-seekers to create, build, and enhance your personal career brand – helping you move your career and/or job-search forward.

It’s a day for all job-seekers and workers to take stock of their situations and make plans and/or take action steps to improve their careers.

As job-hunting and career development strategies continue to evolve, one thing is certain – the power of branding to establish, build, and enhance a job-seeker's reputation.

A job-seeker's career brand is the unique set of experiences, accomplishments, skills, education, attitude, passion, and the like that provide the promise of value to future employers.

Career branding strategies should be used in all aspects of career development and job-hunting, including on resumes, LinkedIn profiles, personal Websites, social media activities, interviewing, and salary negotiation.

Job Action Day 2012, the fifth-annual initiative spearheaded by Quintessential Careers, includes expert and empowering articles, tips, and blog posts that give job-seekers information, ideas, and concrete steps that you can take to tackle your career brand.

Vist http://www.jobactionday.com/2012-Job-Action-Day.html on Nov. 5 for a collection of articles and tips to help propel your career.

Great LinkedIn Advice

Found these great articles about LinkedIn on Lindsey Pollak blog. Lindsay advises both young professionals and organizations on the changing world of work.

The Best Way to Network with Alumni on LinkedIn

How to Network with VIPs on LinkedIn

How to Showcase Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn: 8 Tips

Your LinkedIn Playbook: Tips for Tackling the World’s Largest Professional Networking Site

Top 10 Job Hunting Smartphone Apps

Campus To Career blog post:

"When it comes to finding a new job, we need all the help we can get! Today’s job market is competitive, so any edge or advice you can get as far as setting yourself apart is beneficial."

"Thanks to the array of job hunting apps available for smart phones, you can look for a job from almost anywhere."

Great list of job hunting apps that can help you write your resume and cover letter, learn valuable interview tips, network with folks in your industry, organize your portfolio, and get the professional attention you deserve.

Full article at:

http://campus-to-career.com/2012/09/18/top-10-job-hunting-smartphone-apps/

The Top 15 Job Blogs for Millennials

OnlineCollege.org web site article:

"Generation Y had it comparatively easy growing up, what with the being told they can do everything if they just dream hard enough and the self-esteem and the participant ribbons, but now that they’ve hit college, things are not exactly as peachy keen. After graduation, the economy has seen fit to make hunting for job opportunities a frequently Sisyphean struggle. But gaining the edge in the Great Career Pursuit requires hard work and intensive research, some of which they can do online! These blogs in particular."

Nice group of writers; the up and comers, with a fresh perspective. Worth checking out.

Full list of blogs at:

http://www.onlinecollege.org/2012/10/24/the-top-15-job-blogs-millennials

Many workers struggle to get out of bed in the morning

USA Today article: Burnout up among employees.

"Since last year, the most significant growth in work priorities is no longer accomplishing basic responsibilities or improving their performance, but just showing up. "Being present" was the most important priority cited by 22% of workers in a recent survey — a 47% increase since the survey began in 2003 and a jump of 3 percentage points since last year."

"You can't have massive restructuring and reductions in force without having the workload become a massive issue. Until they're hiring again and bringing some additional capacity into the workplace, we're going to see a continuation of feelings of burnout that we see now."

Full article at:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/23/stress-burnout-employees/1651897/

How to Let Your Purpose Find You

Harvard Business Review article.

"Here's a question. Why are you (really) here?"

"Purpose is a kind of love; it bridges the gap between the individual and the world."

"You take your knocks, and your knocks make you.  What are you going to make a dent in — that's worthwhile enough to make a dent in you?"

" Purpose is... the hunger to be possessed by a sense of meaning."

Full article at:

http://blogs.hbr.org/haque/2012/10/how_to_let_your_purpose_find_y.html

Don't say "no" when opportunities knock

SmartBlog on Leaderhsip article.

"Today’s job market offers immense opportunities for career and financial growth"

"For high performers who already find themselves in a rewarding position, pursuing a new job may be low on their list, while others are itching for fresh challenges and greener pastures. Regardless, it behooves both happy and restless working professionals to stay in the game and remain open to career-change opportunities."

Full article at:

http://smartblogs.com/leadership/2012/10/19/how-stay-game-even-arent-looking-job/

How to Detect Your Blind Spots That Make Your Colleagues Disrespect You

Forbes article:

"People suffer from a wide range of blind spots."

Included are:

• Intelligent and highly qualified but perceived by others to be condescending and elitist.
• Decisive and candid but perceived by others to be abrupt and insensitive.
• Composed and steady but perceived by others to be robotic and indifferent.

"How can we identify our own blind spots and help our direct reports do the same? We must look at ourselves honestly, invite others we respect to give us feedback, and be willing to make changes."

Full article at:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesleadershipforum/2012/10/08/how-to-detect-your-blind-spots-that-make-your-colleagues-disrespect-you/

History’s Most Famous Career Changers

OnlineCollege.org article:

"The average worker today will change jobs about seven times over the course of their career."

"Few will go so far as to change their line of work entirely."

"Historically, people have been even less inclined to take the risk of a complete career revamp, often working one job their entire lives."

"Some of history’s boldest and most dynamic figures shared a common willingness to abandon one career after another, either in the search for their true calling or a simple inability to focus their interests on one particular area. Such famous people are proof that there’s no shame in being a perpetual career changer."

Full article at:

http://www.onlinecollege.org/2012/10/10/historys-most-famous-serial-career-changers/

5 Questions Great Job Candidates Ask

Inc. article:

"Many questions potential new hires ask are throwaways."

"The problem is most candidates don't actually care about your answers; they just hope to make themselves look good by asking "smart" questions. To them, what they ask is more important than how you answer."

"Great candidates ask questions they want answered because they're evaluating you, your company--and whether they really want to work for you."

Full article at:

http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/5-questions-great-job-candidates-ask-interviewers.html

9 Things You Wish Job Candidates Knew

Inc. article:

List of things that employers wish they could say to job candiates. But after looking at this list, it had me wonder why not?

If employers knew what companies wanted instead of having to guess, it would make the process eaiser and better for everyone involved.

Full article at:

http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/9-things-you-wish-you-could-say-to-job-candidates.html

Dream role vs dream company

Ask a manager blog.

Dream job or dream company? What would you choose?

Full post at:

http://www.askamanager.org/2012/09/dream-role-vs-dream-company.html