No Fear Networking
Have you ever wondered where you can make the biggest investment into your career? At first glance, another advanced degree might make sense. Or, perhaps an online certification course would be beneficial. Although these things will help to beef up your resume, there’s a cheaper alternative that very well may be more impactful: networking.
Unfortunately, networking can be a foreign (and potentially scary) concept. People often say, “I don’t want to be a bother” or “Why would that person want to talk to me?” It can be hard to know where to begin.
When I was a child, I thought of networking as a grown up way of making new friends. In a certain regard, that’s exactly what it is. When you are in high school or college, you often make friends with your classmates, your scout group, or your sports team. Friends are readily available in a way we rarely experience as adults.
Although networking contacts don’t fill the gap of long term friendships, thinking of networking as making new friends can often help to get started and to stay committed. Similar to friendships, networking is a long term commitment that requires nurturing. It’s an investment in the future. It’s not a one-time event.
Many people try to network only when they’re looking for a job. And, it makes sense. We’re all busy with work and our personal lives. Networking is just another chore to do. But, think of it from another perspective. Should a networking contact recommend someone for a job that they don’t know? It’s hard for a networking contact to speak about your character if they don’t really know you or have never worked with you.
When you’re ready to begin networking, start by looking for local professional events. There are many groups designed for certain ages or industries that can be found on websites such as Meetup.com. These events are often open to guests and are an easy way to get started. An even better way to grow your network is through existing friends and family. And, if you’re feeling adventurous, try introducing yourself to someone you don’t know on LinkedIn.
If you start to have self-doubt, and wonder if you’re going to bother other people, just remember this. The most senior executives at a company rarely got there on smarts alone. They’ve honed their own people skills, and spent years networking over coffees and lunches. In the same way that you’re looking to have networking meetings now, they have in the past.
Not everyone will have time to network, but it’s rarely a reflection on you. The person may be going through a difficult time at home, or may be extra busy at work. If someone declines your invitation, or doesn’t respond at all, move on to the next person.
Even a handful of high quality contacts can make all the difference when you’re growing your career. And, like anything else, it takes practice. With enough time and experience, you’ll be networking with no fear.
Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.
Olympics Lesson: Age Is Just a Number
Our age can be a big concern, especially if we’re looking for a job. Of the job seekers I speak to, approximately twenty-five percent of them have real concerns about their growing age. Questions include, “Is it too late to change career paths? Is it too risky to look for another job? Will a hiring manager take me seriously? What about all of the younger job seekers out there?”
Candidates are smart to at least consider this issue. The interview process is certainly one full of judgements. A job industry where ageism is an issue is professional sports. However, as I’ve watched the summer Olympics, one theme has resurfaced multiple times. Age is just a number.
The first time I noticed this trend was when the news reported that Michael Phelps was coming out of retirement to swim again. If you’re like me, you were surprised to know Michael Phelps would have been old enough to consider retirement. Then, I started to hear stories of Oksana Chusovitina, the 41-year-old gymnast from Uzbekistan. On Team USA, a few of the most senior athletes are Phillip Dutton, Bezzie Madden, and Steffen Peters. They’re all equestrian riders over the age of 50.
Competing at the top of your physical game late in your career would seem highly unusual. But, in reality, these athletes have been there and done that. Chances are good that they are wiser than they once were. They may be more disciplined and more dedicated to their sport.
The same thing goes for work. In the way that young people may bring fresh ideas to the office, older workers bring experience and leadership. Each individual has value to contribute, no matter their age. Their contribution simply evolves as they grow and change.
If you’re considering a change and age is on your mind, I encourage you to give the idea a chance. There are hiring managers and companies struggling to find employees with the right amount of experience. You might be just what they’re looking for.
However, to avoid the negative judgement that can be associated with age, work to become an up to date candidate. Ensure that your interview suit and haircut are a current style. Be sure you’re using an e-mail address from a modern website, such as Gmail. Sign up for LinkedIn and use a current photograph of yourself on your profile. If your computer skills are behind, consider taking a refresher course. Update your resume, so it includes your latest skills and is laid out in a modern format.
At the end of the day, age really is just a number. But, like the Olympic athletes mentioned above, you have to put in an effort to be at the top of your game. Looking for a job takes practice, time, and persistence. It takes resilience and a willingness to keep going back, even when the search seems difficult.
As Michael Phelps said, “Don’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the further you get.”
Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.
Getting a Big Raise May Be Easier Than You Think
How often have you talked to a friend who hasn’t received a real raise in years and is feeling frustrated? Perhaps you are that person. You’ve been at your company for years, receiving two to three percent raises each time you have a performance review. You know you’re falling behind financially as compared to your peers, but you’re not sure what to do.
Often, employees in this situation will recommit themselves to their work. They decide that if they work hard enough and show their boss how great they are, they’ll be rewarded in a few more years. It feels very personal and somewhat emotional. Hard work means more money.
Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Unless you are in sales, the issue of money has far less to do with your own performance than you might imagine. Once you’re hired at a company, you become part of a system. The system typically only offers pay raises during review time. And, managers are restricted on how much they’re able to give.
So, what can you do? Some employees threaten to leave. Others argue their value. And, a few present competitive job offers. Threatening to leave or presenting competitive offers is rarely the answer and companies know this. Even if they agree to your demands, there’s still a good chance you’ll leave later – and you may damage the relationship with your company in the process.
If you want to stay at your current organization, your best bet is to make a case for your value during your annual performance review. Even then, you’re unlikely to get the huge raise you’re dreaming of.
In order to truly impact your salary, you have to consider switching companies completely. Big salary increases not only impact how much you make now, but also how much you will make over the lifetime of your career. In fact, Forbes makes the case that employees who stay at a job more than two years make fifty percent less over the lifetime of their career than those who don’t.
Once you’ve decided to change jobs, do your homework. Find out what the going rate is for the work you do. It’s important to know your worth before you begin.
When you interview, you’ll quickly find that one of the first questions a company will ask is, “How much do you make?” If you answer this question, you can bet that your new salary will be based upon how much you’re currently making. To maximize your salary bump, try to avoid answering this as long as possible. One technique is to ask the recruiter if they would be willing to share the salary range with you. This can give you a sense of the pay without disclosing your own number.
And, start your search before you’re so unhappy at your job that you’re ready to run out of the building. The longer your timetable is, the more choices you’ll have and the longer you can wait for the highest paying offer.
Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach
Where does my religion fit into the interview?
A reader contacted me today with an important question for consideration. She asked when it was appropriate to wear clothing, jewelry, or other items associated with her religion to an interview or to work. Her concern was about being judged in the office for her religious affiliation.
As you can imagine, this is a very tricky and personal question. I will share my thoughts with you, but at the end of the day, it’s a very individual choice.
I often think of a job interview much like a dinner party. At a dinner party, you meet many new people who may have different viewpoints than you. Conversations tend to be high level, centered on pleasant topics, such as the weather. Etiquette experts say that the potentially taboo topics to avoid include politics, religion, and money. These hold true in an interview as well.
Unfortunately, when it comes to getting hired, studies show that managers aren’t free of biases. Those biases can influence who’s landing the job offer. Details as minor as hair and makeup can influence the interviewer’s impression of a candidate. Even a candidate’s height can make a difference.
Religion however is more personal, and much more important, than hair, makeup, or height. It can be a large part of one’s identity. In today’s climate, sharing your religious viewpoints with others can cause them to judge you, either positively or negatively. When they judge you negatively, it can potentially hurt your chances of getting hired.
A great organization to share your religious views with is one whose perspective aligns well to yours. For example, some private universities, non-profits, and corporations have a foundation that is based on specific beliefs.
A vast majority of organizations however are not based upon these views. Their employees are made up of people from around the U.S. and the world, who have a host of different affiliations. When interviewing at an organization like this, it’s important to be aware of the choice you decide to make.
If you want to minimize the likelihood that someone may unfairly judge you, think of all of the places you may send out cues to others about your views. Check the volunteer opportunities on your resume. Look at the organizations you follow on LinkedIn. Check your Facebook privacy settings. And, consider the pieces of your interview outfit that may signal an interviewer.
As I mentioned in the beginning of the column, this is a personal choice. I’m not here to influence you in one direction or another, or to discourage you from holding true to your beliefs. But, it is wise to consider the positive and negative implications of your decision – and to make it consciously based upon what you feel most comfortable with.
After you’ve landed a job, you have a new choice to make – whether or not you want to share your views with your new coworkers. While it’s important to be yourself, remember that your story is one to be earned over time through trust.
Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.
Would you work for free?
Last week, I had the good fortune to attend a work conference in Chicago. It wasn’t your average work conference though. Attendees wanted to be there. In fact, their companies didn’t pay for them to go. Attendees paid their own way. And, they went to all of the workshops offered – even at the end, when everyone was tired.
The conference is called Podcast Movement, and its purpose it to help educate podcasters about hosting their own radio-like programs. It’s the second year I’ve attended and what struck me last year was how passionate this group is about their work. People told me how podcasting has changed their lives. A few podcasters even got teary eyed when they were talking about their shows. Have you ever had a job that got you teary eyed with positive emotion? Me either.
This year, the speech that stuck with me the most was given by Kevin Smith. You might remember Kevin from movies like Clerks and Mallrats. He’s the filmmaker who played Silent Bob. Kevin talked about two main topics: the importance of self-expression in your work, and doing what you love. Kevin said that he had the misfortune to get paid for what he loved to do early on in his career. For a time, it caused him to refuse to work on projects he loved, unless he was paid.
His talk brought up an interesting point. As we grow in our careers, we often opt out of anything work related unless we receive a paycheck. Why is that? It could be that our personal time has been more valuable, or maybe we’re just accustomed to our companies paying for things like training, mileage, and cell phones.
But, what would happen if we explored our career interests a bit more – even if we weren’t paid for it? Chances are good that new doors and avenues would open up for us that we had never thought of. We might even enjoy our jobs a bit more.
Perhaps we’d change careers altogether. That’s what many podcasters are hoping for. Most podcast hosts create a show about a hobby or interest they have that’s unrelated to their day job. To put together a show, a host will often spend a large amount of their own money on microphones, educational workshops, and technical equipment. Some people even install sound booths in their homes for recording. They spend many hours each week planning an individual episode, seeking our guests, recording, and editing. Rarely are they paid for their work – at least not initially.
This group learns and invests in themselves and their podcasts because they love it. They aspire to one day be paid to do it full time. Until then, they share stories about how podcasting has truly impacted their own lives for the better.
So, what inspires you, and what kind of work would you do for free? If money were out of the picture, where would you invest your time and resources to grow yourself?
Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.
Copeland Coaching Podcast
You must be logged in to post a comment.