There’s an elephant in the room. It’s something we’re talking about, but not really getting to the heart of. The elephant is our relationship with technology.

Very often, I speak with someone who says, “I’m a great manager and I’m good with people, but I absolutely am not comfortable with technology. I can do anything, but things related to technology.” I hear this feedback from all ages of job seekers, from 21 to 71.

The problem is this. We live in an age where almost everything in our lives is driven by technology. In today’s job market, we are expected to not only know about our particular subject area of expertise. We’re expected to be able to use e-mail, a cell phone, a fax machine, and more. Most people no longer have an assistant to help with tasks related to technology. This is a luxury that is quickly going away.

Some c-level executives are now booking their own travel, crunching their own numbers, and occasionally getting into the details of their company websites. It’s not enough to be good with people, or to be a good leader. Don’t get me wrong. Those things are great, but our roles have expanded.

The good news is that technology used in day-to-day business is often fairly straightforward. If we don’t know how to do something, a quick search on Google or YouTube will often give us all of the information we need. And, if it doesn’t, a friend or coworker can usually help.

I suspect that sometimes when we say, “I can do anything but technology,” what we really mean is, “I’m not a computer programmer. I can’t create technology.” Most employers aren’t looking for us to create new technology – especially if that’s not our role.

But, when we start with the stance that we aren’t comfortable with technology, it can turn our future employer off. And frankly, it should. It says that technology intimidates us. It says that we aren’t willing to learn something new.

Employers are looking to save money. They need employees who can do more than one thing. At the end of the day, what they really expect is for us to be able to manage our own business world. They expect us to be able to function fairly independently throughout the day with tasks such as managing our calendars, setting up conference calls, and creating business presentations.

When we’re interviewing for jobs, we should avoid sharing that we aren’t comfortable with technology. We should adopt a new attitude. The technology we’re expected to know isn’t typically that complex. If we don’t know something, we’ll figure it out. And, our boss doesn’t expect us to be perfect. They know we don’t know everything, but they expect us to try. When we communicate that we can’t do things related to technology, what we’re really communicating is that we’re not prepared to try. Instead, let’s make friends with technology, and leverage it to highlight things we’re great at, like working with people.

Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com.

There seems to be a rumor about job searching floating around. Have you heard? Finding a job is easy. It’s easy as long as you format your resume in a very specific way, and you include the perfect phrases on your LinkedIn profile. There’s a very specific way that all recruiters want your resume to be formatted, and there are specific keywords they’re all looking for. Every successful job seeker knows these rules, and they’re not hard to learn.

If this sounds too good to be true, it’s because it is. I tell every job seeker I meet with, “If you showed your resume to ten people, you would get ten opinions. There’s no one way to write a resume.” The same applies for your entire search. Sure, there are guidelines. There are best practices. But there’s no one specific layout or one specific set of words that’s going to turn your entire job search around.

I’m not sure why these rumors exist, other than maybe they make sense of a process that can at times feel senseless. They put control back in just when you’re feeling out of control. In reality, there is no one way to perform an effective job search. There are many ways. There are many options that can work.

What always works is a strategy to never give up. What works is trying various avenues until one does work. And, there are a few good general guidelines to keep in mind.

First, manage your personal brand. When it comes to job searching, perceptions are reality. Your personal brand is impacted both in the online world, and in real life. Do a thorough check on Google to see what a recruiter might learn about you if they looked around. If you find questionable content, do your best to remove it or change it.

In the offline world, think of things like your appearance, and other first impressions, such as how you shake hands or leave voicemail. Take the time to write thank you notes to those who help you. Keep in touch with those you care about.

When it comes to your resume and LinkedIn, be sure they’re up to date. Check their accuracy. Ensure that you’re including detailed information, but write them in such a way that someone outside of your current industry could understand them.

Job seeking is not an overnight endeavor. It takes time. It takes persistence. And, when you do land your dream job, it’s not going to be because you followed a gimmicky idea about how to write the perfect resume, or that you stuffed your LinkedIn profile with the right keywords. Your resume and LinkedIn profile are two pieces to a larger pie. They can help to support your case for getting a job, but these things alone will likely not land you your next gig.

The next time you hear a suggestion that sounds like a gimmick, keep things in perspective. Consistency, persistence, and networking is what will work – every time.

Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com.

During the week of St. Patrick’s Day, luck is on our minds. We may think, “When will I get my lucky break? When will it be my turn?” We may feel overlooked for things like promotions and raises.

From the outside, it can appear that those who are successful did it overnight. We can be left wondering how they were so lucky to get such a great title or to make so much money.

Unfortunately, a pile of horseshoes, four leaf clovers, and rabbits’ feet cannot bring enough luck to create success at work. Professional success is something that is built over years, from the ground up.

By the time someone gets a corner office, chances are good that they’ve spent many years climbing the corporate ladder to get there. In Malcom Gladwell’s book Outliers, he describes the “10,000-Hour Rule.” Gladwell says that the key to being an expert at anything comes down to practice – 10,000 hours to be exact.

But, it’s often not until the successful executive gets the big promotion that they catch our eye. We don’t see them hard at work for years and years. We notice the physical signs of success like expensive shoes, beautiful jewelry, or a shiny car that go along with their new title.

Former NFL football player Jack Youngblood said, “Good luck is a residue of preparation.” He’s right. In order to truly be successful, a routine of preparation is key.

To create success in our own lives, we must try to stop focusing on others accomplishments. Instead, we should try to refocus our energy on our own daily routine. The more we strive to be consistent and to grow, the more we will find success in our own lives

Creating success is also about doing more. It’s not about doing what’s expected and stopping there. It’s about asking for extra projects and learning new skills on our own. It’s about going beyond our job description – without being asked.

I recently interviewed two successful executives who received internal promotions within their own organization. Internal promotions are a frustrating area for many employees, as they often feel overlooked. I asked the executives to share what it was that allowed them to be recognized, and to be promoted internally multiple times. In both cases, their answers were the same. They expanded their educations on their own. They asked for more projects and responsibilities that were outside of their core skillsets. And, they introduced new ideas to the organization. It turns out that luck wasn’t part of the equation at all.

If you find yourself racking your brain about what’s missing in your career, it may be time to take a step back. Rather than waiting to be the chosen one, think of ways to create your own path and success on your terms. And, realize it’s not possible at every office. There are times when creating success may mean leaving your current company.

Whichever path you choose, you can create your own lucky break through hard work.

With the unusual job market we’ve been experiencing for years now, keeping an exit strategy in mind is a must. Do you have yours nailed down? If your exit strategy is dependent on hope and crossed fingers, it’s time to rethink things.

Ideally, you shouldn’t wait until signs of trouble to plan your next career move. At a minimum, when those signs appear, it’s time to move. In some industries, you may experience what’s known as a RPE – a “resume producing event.” It could come in the form of an intense company meeting, or other warning signs that your organization could be in trouble.

If you ignore these signs and wait, you become a sitting duck. You lose your power of negotiation because when you look for a new job, you have no choice but to find one. You’ve given up your leverage. Getting ahead of the game gives you increased negotiating power and the time to wait for the right opportunity.

Keep your resume up to date. You never know when the right opportunity could come along. Even if your job is great, wouldn’t you consider a job that offered twice the pay? You always want to be prepared because you never know what might happen. The other advantage is you don’t have to go back and remember important facts later. Keep track of them as they’re happening.

Participate in LinkedIn. If you only update your LinkedIn profile when you’re looking for a job, it’s a dead giveaway that something’s up. Keeping your LinkedIn profile continuously fresh can help to quiet suspicions.

Keep it quiet. It can be tempting to share that you’re looking for another job. Although you have good intentions, they can backfire. Worst case scenario, you can be walked out of the building when your news leaks. This takes your power away and reduces your timeline, so keep your lips sealed.

Stay connected with your old coworkers. When you start searching, you’ll need references from your previous employers. It’s important to keep in touch with your former managers, coworkers, and employees, so you’ll have a bank of folks to offer when it’s time to do a background check.

Taken inventory of your finances. If worst came to worst, would you be prepared to be unemployed for six months? For many job seekers, this timeline is a reality. Look closely at your finances to ensure you’ll be able to survive if you had to.

Leave on good terms. Give at least two weeks’ notice and keep your word. Think very carefully before you bash your boss in an exit interview. Put in your best work until your very last day.

Leaving can be a tough process. Many people look at changing jobs like a breakup or divorce. Do your best to be prepared, so you can walk toward a better situation rather than just running from a bad one. It will help you keep your peace of mind and it will give you negotiating power in your interview process.