Category Archives: Career Management

Job Search Surprises > 5 ways to be prepared

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Sometimes job seekers are pretty surprised…ok, shocked, to learn that their job is ending. Perhaps there is a merger and suddenly the job is cut. Or a top performer feels their job is secure but a new manager is just not in sync with their style and they are surprised by a pink slip. While we cannot always avoid such surprising news, we can be prepared and therefore be one step ahead…just in case.

How to Prepare:

  • Resume – Keep that resume up to date. Be sure to keep notes on important accomplishments and projects for easy updates.
  • Network – Networking on an ongoing basis one of the most important things you can do. Look for ways to keep in touch with contacts and do things for others. What goes around comes around.
  • Life-long Learning – Seek out learning opportunities both on and off the job. This makes you a valuable player.
  • LinkedIn – Keep your linkedin profile up to date. Review your summary to see if it conveys your brand and your relevant strengths. Your “headline” should market you, not your company.
  • Target Preferred Companies – Be proactive in finding companies that fit with your goals and find ways to network with people who work there. If you only focus on posted jobs you are missing out on the hidden job market.

If you ever do get an unwelcome surprise, be professional about your relationship with your employer. You never know what the future holds. And, in the meantime, you will be prepared to go forward.

 

Best of Success,

Diane

Is “business casual” costing you the job?

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By the Guest Blogger Team at T.M. Lewin

It’s no secret that first impressions are powerful. It really is true, you never get a second chance to make another first impression. Research proves that it takes only a tenth of a second to form an impression of a stranger from only their face. When you begin to factor in a person’s choice of clothing, body language, and appearance, the stakes are even higher. According to several studies, 90% of people form their opinion about you in under less than a minute of an initial introduction. In a job interview, this means that a potential employer could have made their decision of whether or not to hire you before you’ve even begun the formal questioning.

Does the phrase “business casual” fill you with confusion and uncertainty? What really defines business casual from business professional or formal?

Deciding what to wear for an interview or a day at work is becoming increasingly more perplexing. Office environments continue to change and traditional standards of professional dress have surely become more relaxed. What is acceptable and appropriate to wear to an interview or new work environment remains subjective and universally undefined. Beyond the employee handbook (often received after the interview/offer letter) there is no concrete definition for what warrants an appropriate outfit from the next. Of course, in any work environment a dress code is circumstantial to geographical location, workplace culture, corporate policy, title or position and the field or line of work. One thing that remains unquestioned is the importance of a positive and polished appearance on interview day.

 

Even the best candidates who have crafted the perfect resume, completed their research about the company and their potential role forget to also consider the office dress code. There are many ways to gain an insider’s insight prior to the interview. Be observant while dropping off a resume or while in attendance for an office tour. If the job prospect is local, consider casually walking around the lobby or possibly sitting in your car in the parking lot to watch what people are wearing. If your target company is remote, you may be able to gain some insight from company photos of employees, especially in groups versus professional headshots.

 

T.M. Lewin, experts in office-ready work-wear in the UK, has helped to decipher the professional dress code puzzle. They have crafted the savvy guide below as a perfect tool for aspiring jobseekers, with plenty of style references, tips and advice for our modern workforce. Please note that while the guide has been developed for the European workforce, it can easily be adapted to what you learn upon researching the interviewing company.

 

 

T.M. Lewin is a British heritage brand established in 1898 on Jermyn Street in London. Experts of smart style and dressing our modern working world. is a British heritage brand established in 1898 on Jermyn Street in London. Experts of smart style and dressing our modern working world. 

 

Job Search: 5 Ways to Get Inspired in the New Year

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Now that the confetti of the New Year has settled, how is your job search going? Are you stuck? Do you feel a lack of enthusiasm? Can you use some inspiration?

During the quieter end of December, I had some time to do a few things that had been tabled for way too long – things like webinars, outings with friends, and quiet time to read. After a few days of this gift of time to journey through these happenings, I honestly felt reinvigorated. Learning some new things, I also felt inspired with new ideas and approaches to business.

So, here are some ideas that I hope will inspire you, too. The key is taking time out to do something of your own choosing, which I think is truly energizing. And, I believe that it is important to plan time in your calendar to periodically do this.

Here are 5 ideas that may inspire you in the New Year:

  1. Industry Relevant – Listen to some webinars in your field. Search through your industry professional associations or use Google to help find 1 to 2-hour sessions that are practical and offer industry-relevant information or skills that are cutting edge.
  2. Social Media – Have you been hearing about twitter and Instagram but have no clue? Your smartphone has tons of apps that everyone is using and you don’t know which ones you should even have? Find classes or watch some YouTube videos on “how to.”
  3. Self Improvement – Whether it’s a consultation at your favorite salon, a new fitness program, or healthier approaches to eating, now is a great time to explore a change. Allow yourself to have fun in the process and make it manageable change so that you can stick with it.
  4. Career Experts – Do you find yourself overwhelmed in the search process? Perhaps it’s time to use an expert. If your old approach was not working, then you need to do something different. Investing money for an expert can pay off exponentially when you land a position sooner because you used help.
  5. Fun – Is there a hobby you have lost touch with? Sewing, carpentry, gardening, reading, tennis, running, swimming, mah jong….whatever it is for you. Making time for regular fun in your life is important for your mood and the attitude you project to others.

I hope these ideas will help you feel ready to pick up your job search with new energy, confidence, and a fresh outlook for success!

Can you be found by the “Magic” Sourcers?

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If you are a job seeker, do you know about “Magic” Sourcers? Well, really known as “Sourcers,” they are the people who are constantly mining candidates who might fit a company need at some point in the future. Recruiters often do sourcing as part of their job, but “Sourcers” focus exclusively on finding potential candidates. If they can find you, then lots of job search “magic” can occur!

Sourcers can be internal HR people or external recruiters. Their task is to build a database of ideal candidates to tap into when the company is ready to fill a job. This saves a lot of time trying to find the right candidate when the company has an urgent need. By doing your homework, you can position yourself in places to be found and “whal-lah!” you will exponentially shorten your job search…MAGIC!

So where do Sourcers look for candidates? They SLEUTH for information about a specific field of interest. They will research everything from what the position entails, what skill sets are required, what publications those professionals read, what associations do they belong to, what conferences do they attend, and more.

Here are some places they look:

 

>>> Social Media – your posts, profile, comments, demos, slides, and more!

– LinkedIn – including Groups

– Facebook – including deep searches for unique user groups

– Quora – a Q & A website

– YouTube – video presentations

– SlideShare – slide presentations

– About.me – a more personal website

– Twitter – what content are you sharing

 

>>> Blogs – they are evaluating topic and content

>>> Industry Publications – have you written articles? Are you esteemed in your industry?

>>> Conference Speaker – are you sought after as a speaker? Are you an expert in a specific niche?

So how can you increase the odds that they will find you? Most important, know where Sourcers are sleuthing for you. Then build a strong digital presence with profiles that provide highlights (not tons of detail) of who you are and what you can do. “Be seen” by creating intelligent content on blogs, comments, and posts. Elevate your digital footprint and you WILL be found!

Stop, Breathe, Take a Fresh Look!

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Job search is not static. All of the parts move and change ALL of the time. The question is, are you static? Maybe it’s time to stop, breathe, and take a fresh look at what you are doing and what your career documents are projecting about you. Are they interacting effectively in the job search market?

Here are some ideas to consider:

  1. Is your résumé projecting the right target?

Can the reader quickly see what type of position you are targeting? Do you have a summary section? Sounds obvious but many job seekers miss this opportunity to market themselves here. Your summary should include words that match job titles and the level of the position you seek. It must be a snapshot of what makes you a great candidate and showcase the value you bring to the table.

  1. Do you have a presence on LinkedIn?

This is a critical vehicle for your online presence and for business credibility. Recruiters are incredulous when a job seeker does not have a LinkedIn profile. It’s as if the person is antiquated because they are not using business social media. So, create a profile! Make it powerful, truthful, and concise. Showcase your highlights…not your résumé. Use your page to learn and share info on “Groups.” And build relationships – not just numbers – by connecting and engaging others.

  1. Are you live networking?

Are you face-to-face networking at professional association meetings? These groups are filled with colleagues who are in your profession! Go to meetings. Develop relationships with others in your field. Volunteer in the organization. Pay it forward. Listen to speakers to learn new things. Good things will happen from this. Remember to keep this up even AFTER you get your new job. It is part of a life-long career management strategy, not just when you are in need of a new job.

Hope these ideas will help you take a fresh look at what you can do to jump start your search in 2016. Happy New Year!