The title of this column sounds a little strange at first glance. But, if you’ve ever tried to make friends as an adult, you know this is a big deal. And, it’s not just because it’s important to have friends. The friends you have as an adult can have a major impact to your career.
Just last week, I met with a job seeker whose best friend helped him to land a job at a large, well-known corporation. The friend was by his side through the entire interview process, giving tips along the way. There’s just absolutely no substitute for this.
The problem is, as children, friends are almost served up to us on a silver platter. First, we have friends from our homeroom class. When we begin to play sports or join scouts, we have friends there. In high school, there are extracurricular activities.
Even if you moved for college like I did, friends were provided. In fact, one of my best friends is someone I just happened to live down the hall from in our freshman year dorm in Upstate New York.
So, what are you to do when you’ve moved to a new place as an adult? Honestly, it can be tricky and it takes time. It feels more risky than as a child because you aren’t guaranteed to spend much time together forming bonds with your new friends.
But, let’s start with where to look. Great sources of new contacts are social groups and special interest clubs. To find these groups, look on sites like Meetup.com. They often share calendars of public events. You can also look up cooking classes, and dance classes. I’ve even signed up for a car repair class before. It’s typically completely acceptable (if not normal) to show up alone. If you sign up for a group that has recurring meetings or classes, you’ll be more likely to form longer lasting bonds.
Once you’ve found a few people you’d like to know better, make an effort to connect outside of the activity where you originally met them. Invite them for coffee, or beer. Ask them if they’d like to help organize a bowling or trivia team. The more you can schedule regular visits, the closer you’re likely to become.
As an adult, one challenge you’ll face with these steps is that many people are already booked up. This is normal and it becomes more normal the older you get. People only have so much free time and the more pre-existing commitments they have (such as children and a spouse), the less available they will be. Keep your eye out for other people who have also relocated to your city. They are much, much more likely to be facing the same issues you are and are struggling to find adult friends.
Taking the time to connect with others as an adult is not only fun and good for your social life, it will help you professionally, so don’t give up – and know that you’re not alone!
Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.
2017 is set to be a great year. So, let’s start off with a great resume to get us at the front of the job search line. Polishing up your resume is like polishing up your best shoes. First impressions are everything!
Here are a few dos and don’ts to get you started:
DO
Keep your resume up to date. You never want to be caught off-guard when a potential employer asks you for a resume. Besides, keeping your resume up to date prevents you from having to think back to what you did years ago.
Include details of your past work experience. Add in quantifiable information that will help an employer to really understand what you did. Here are a few things you can include: How many people you managed, how large your budget was, how many sales you generated, how many clients you had, how much you improved performance, how often you completed a particular task. You get the idea. There are lots of things you can quantify.
Include your educational information, including courses you may have taken after college or graduate school. Employers want to know who you are, and this is another way to show them.
Do include the work you’re doing outside of work. Do you run a side consulting business? Have you been volunteering at a local non-profit?
DON’T
Don’t include your graduation year if you have any concerns about it. You may not want an employer to know your age – whether you are young or old. You also may not want to have to explain why it took ten years to finish undergraduate school due to a family issue of some kind. You don’t have to include your graduation year.
Don’t include your GPA. Unless you are right out of college and applying for a highly technical job (like engineering), employers rarely care about this. The more senior you are in your career, the odder your GPA looks in your resume.
Don’t leave typos. I know – you aren’t applying to a spelling bee. But, this is the thing. Many employers (MANY) say that they will toss your resume in the trash (yes, in the trash) when they find a typo. I know it’s dramatic and completely nit-picky, but let’s just play the game by the rules we’re dealt. Run spell check. Ask your most detailed oriented friend to comb through it for you. Don’t leave any stone unturned here.
Don’t include unneeded information. You don’t need to include your reference list, or even that references are available upon request. And, almost always, you don’t need to include your high school or information dating back to high school (unless you’re right out of college and have something significant to show).
Don’t include information about controversial views. I know you love your place of worship. I know you feel passionate about your political views. Everyone does, and I totally respect that. But, unless you are applying to a company that specifically aligns to your views, you may be judged negatively for including yours. This is a personal decision, but most people want to be judged on their professional merits when applying for a job – not their personal views.
Don’t wait! Start updating your resume now. And, once you have it in a spot you like, save it as a PDF and send it to yourself in an e-mail. That way, if you’re ever out and about and someone says, “I’d love to get a copy of your resume!” (this does happen), you’ll be prepared. You can say, “Sure, I can do that right now! What’s your email address?” I can personally attest to this: having a resume on the spot can work wonders.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
If you made a resolution to find a new job in the New Year, you’re not alone. According to CareerBuilder.com, more than 22% of employees plan to find a new job in 2017. And, if you’re under 35 years old, that number grows to 35%.
So what can you do to improve your job search results in 2017?
WREG News Channel 3 had the same question. This week, I sat down with Marybeth Conley and Alex Coleman to answer this question. Watch the video here, and check out my 3 tips below.
Do more than apply online. Sadly, companies have us conditioned to only apply online. They say, “Apply online. If you’re a fit, we will contact you.” But, the problem is, this rarely works. First, their online systems are flawed and very often, a human person never actually sees your resume. Apply online first, and then look for how you can apply offline. Look for the hiring manager on LinkedIn. Attend networking events where you might meet employees. Reach out to friends who work at the company you’re interested to work for. Applying online feels comfortable, but it rarely produces good results.
Apply even if you don’t meet the minimum requirements. There’s a total gap here between employees and job seekers. Employers will lay out a laundry list of things they want in a candidate. They put the entire list out there because it’s ALL of the things they might like. But, rarely do they expect to find all of those qualities in one person. But, job seekers won’t apply because they can’t fulfill on every single desire. Stop worrying about meeting 100% of the qualifications. If you did, you might be overqualified. If you meet 70-80% and think you can do the job, apply! Let the company decide whether or not to bring you in for an interview.
Look at your job search like a two way street. We’d never go on a first date wondering if the person would marry us right out of the gate. Why do we do that in job interviews? To improve the outcome of your interviews, take the time to also evaluate the company. Ask yourself what questions you have. Not only will it help you make a better decision, it will help you be more calm along the way.
Good luck with your job search in 2017! Start early to win the race!
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
You may wonder, “What’s the worst thing that could possibly happen during my job search?” Is it making a fool of yourself in an interview? Is it saying the wrong thing? Is it wearing the wrong outfit?
It’s none of these things. Hands down, the worst thing that could possibly happen during your job search is – you don’t listen to your intuition.
When it comes to looking for and interviewing for a job, you’re really on your own. Nobody else is in the interview room with you. Your spouse, parents, or friends can only judge from the outside based on what you share with them – or what they may know about the company.
So often, what makes you happy and keeps you happy in a job isn’t the name of the company you work for. It’s not the amount of money you make. And, it’s not the title you have. This is clear when you think about why you’ve left jobs in the past.
The thing that will make or break you at work is the people. It’s how well you get along with your boss. It’s how well you click with your coworkers. It’s how healthy the work environment at the company is in your department.
None of those things can be figured out by reading a job description or by looking at an online application. You probably won’t even be able to know these things just by reading company reviews online. Reviews are often general, or are about a different department than the one you’re applying for.
Unfortunately, the only way to truly know whether a particular company is for you is by visiting the company in person – and by paying attention to your gut. Very often, we are so interested in being “picked” for a job that we stop listening to our own instincts. And, sadly – it almost always turns out that our instincts were right.
Have you ever interviewed for a job and noticed something wasn’t quite right? Perhaps the boss was a little strange, or you heard rumors of interpersonal problems within the team. But, then you got the job offer and it was just too good to be true. Besides, you had no real proof there were any issues. Everything you knew for sure said things were fine.
And, they seemed fine until you started working. Then, you learned that your boss had problems and there were lots of internal issues at the company. If only you had listened to yourself, you might not be looking for a new job again, right?
The point is this – even though you want to get out of your current job, don’t be in such a rush that you find yourself back in the same bad situation. It will only prolong your pain, and your search. Try to listen to your intuition, and wait until it says good things rather than bad. In the long run, you’ll find yourself much happier, and you’ll stay at your job longer.
Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.
Now that the holidays are officially over, I’ve just got to say this: Stop listening to your loud mouth relatives. Just stop.
Have you ever had a relative pull you aside at a family event (maybe even this holiday season)? Or, perhaps they write you a long letter. They have something they just have share with you. You’re doing your career ALL WRONG.
And, how did they get this valuable information? Is it because they also had a similar career path? Is it because they also made good choices? Is it because they talk to you often and understand your hopes and desires?
NO! It’s none of those things.
I’m going to talk a little out of school here. I can because I’m not related to you. The reason your uncle / brother / cousin / grandma is offering you this invaluable advice about your career isn’t because they know what they’re talking about. It’s because they have big mouths paired with small personal boundaries, and frankly, they’re probably bored.
These are the kinds of family advice I typically hear about:
“You’re working at the wrong company. You should work for this company.”
“You’re in the wrong career field. You should quit your job and go back to school for this field.”
“You live in the wrong city. You should find a job here, near me.”
“Don’t take a job somewhere else. I know that you hate your job, but it’s stable. Just stay there.”
“Don’t leave your job to go back to graduate school. Who cares if you want to change your career path. This is the worst decision ever! Do you know how much school costs?”
“I know that you enjoy your career and all, but seriously – you should be making more money. This isn’t really an adult career anymore.”
“I know that you enjoy your career and all, but seriously – your job is too high stress. You should quit and take something that would allow you to focus more on what’s really important in life.”
The list could go on, and on, and on…
Now, don’t get me wrong. I understand that their advice is probably coming from a place of love and concern (probably). But, just because advice comes from love doesn’t mean it’s good advice. Let’s be real.
As a respectable working adult, you are the only one who truly, truly knows what’s right for you, not your mom / dad / grandma / grandpa / brother / sister / cousin / aunt / uncle. You know when it’s time to quit. You know when it’s time to stay. And, you know how much stress you and your spouse can take.
Without going too far overboard, there are a few times when it makes sense to listen to a relative. For example, perhaps the relative is a successful business person who has worked in the field you are interested in. Or, maybe the relative has inside knowledge of a particular company you’re interested in.
But, the most important thing – if you’re going to listen to a relative – is that the relative RESPECTS YOUR OWN OPINION and is OKAY with the idea of you rejecting their advice if it doesn’t work for you.
Does that make sense? If the relative only wants to give advice if you’ll take it (whether or not you think it makes sense for YOU), then you shouldn’t be listening to them – no matter how smart or well-connected they might be. Their advice is biased, and it’s not coming from the best place.
At the end of the day, YOU are the only one who truly knows what works for you: not your dad, not your sister, not your grandmother, not your cousin. YOU.
So, with all that said, listen to the advice that works for you, and pay attention when advice doesn’t work for you. Pay attention so you can be sure not to use the advice that doesn’t work for you. Listen to yourself, not your loud mouth relative. Have confidence that you know what’s right, and that you are going to figure things out, in your own way.
Let me end this passionate email with a personal story. While still in college for engineering, I decided that I wanted to earn a MBA. I wasn’t sure whether I should go straight to graduate school from college, or whether I should work first. So, I talked to MBA schools and other MBA graduates about their experiences. After gathering enough information, I decided that for me, it would be best to work for three years in industry before quitting my job to go to graduate school full time. This allowed me to bring more to the classroom, and to get more out.
So, I took a corporate job out of college, and each month, I put $1,000 per month in a bank account to help pay for my graduate school. MBA school rarely has scholarships, and I knew the price tag would be big for what I wanted to do. And, since I planned to study for my MBA full time, I knew I’d need money to survive.
At the end of the three years, I had enough money ($36,000 – not bad for a 21 year old) to get started. I applied to school, was accepted, quit my job, and moved cross-country to Los Angeles. I was able to complete my MBA in 15-months. And, guess what happened? I received job offers that were twice what I was making before getting that MBA. You heard me right. I was able to double my salary in 15 months by these choices.
But, do you know what I heard before all of this happened? Multiple people pulled me aside. They told me how crazy I was, and how I’d lost my mind. They said, “You have a good corporate job. What’s your problem? Why do you need to do this? You’re going to ruin your life.” They also said, “Why do you need to quit and move to LA? There’s a perfectly good school where you are. Why are you doing this?”
I’m pretty sure that all of these people who attempted to stop me from my goals would stand up today and say that they knew I was going to succeed. They could just see it in my eyes (or some other similar B.S.).
So again, please – listen to yourself. Only you can truly know what’s right for you.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
2016 has been a big year for Copeland Coaching. If you blinked, you might have missed something. Below is a recap of my favorite things from 2016. I hope you enjoy!
Press Highlights:
Recruiter.com picked Angela’s book Breaking The Rules & Getting The Job as the #1 book to drive your professional success. “If you’re tired of being at the mercy of job boards and unresponsive hiring managers, start here.”
Personal Income.org selected Copeland Coaching as one of the top 25 Resume Building & Career Blogs.
Forbes quoted Angela in their piece 5 Ways to Pull Off a Successful Career Switch. “If you’re looking to switch because you want a quick fix to a problem at work — for example, you have a boss you’re desperate to escape from — you might want to rethink making an entire career switch.”
MarketWatch quoted Angela in their piece Half of the high-paying jobs in America now require this skill.
Monster quoted Angela in their piece 9 qualities recruiters want to see in every single candidate. “Reliability is important because it shows your future boss what they can expect of you going forward. Show you are reliable by [being on time] for interviews or meetings, and sending your resume, and any other piece of documentation requested, when you promised.”
Top Downloaded Podcast Episodes:
Gayle Laakmann McDowell – Gayle shared her insight on how to crack the coding interview. She also shares tips on how to move from one functional area to another, and how to avoid common career mistakes. If you’re in tech, this one’s for you!
Sharon Hill – Sharon shared her advice on generational differences in the workplace, how to handle office gossip, and what you can do to avoid irritating your coworkers. If you can’t seem to figure out your younger or older colleagues, listen to this episode!
Landon Holder – Landon advised us on what you should wear to an interview, what you need to know about accessories, and how to buy your first suit. Struggling for what to wear? Start here!
Zachary Croteau – Zac gave great tips on networking (including cold calling) and landing a job offline. He also gave us suggestions for using LinkedIn, and LinkedIn endorsements. If you listen to no other episode, listen to this one. Zac shares insights about networking that can be used across every industry, at every point in your career.
Mac Prichard – Mac shared his secrets to hacking the hidden job market, to mastering informational interviews, and how long your job search should really take. If you’re tired of the online application process, check out this interview!
Most Read Newsletters:
Want to find a new job? Stop paying so much attention to the minimum requirements. I’m certain I’m going to get negative feedback for saying this, but I just have to. Every day (and I really mean every day) I spend at least an hour trying to convince job seekers to do something that seems completely crazy — apply for a job.
Technology is a tool, not a key. All the time, I see job seekers who are working really, really hard. They’re at home, perfecting their resume and cover letter. And, they’re spending countless hours applying for jobs online. And, I mean HOURS. It could literally be their full time job.
Are you ready to get serious about your job search? Finding a job is a process. And, in many cases, it’s not a quick one. If you wait until you can’t bear to go in to work one more day, you’ve waited too long.
How long should your job search really take? One of the number one (if not THE number one) complaints job seekers have is how long it really takes to find a new job. So, what’s a reasonable expectation?
Is it possible to double your salary? I saw an article last week that really got me thinking. It was all about this concept of doubling your salary. One of the top complaints of unhappy employees is money. They want to make more. They want to be paid fairly. And, who can blame them? With the two to three percent annual raises out there today, it’s impossible to keep up!
Thank you for coming along this journey with me in 2016! I’m thankful for each and every one of you! If you’ve missed any of these most read newsletters, or most downloaded podcasts, please be sure to check them out. And, watch for more big things to come in 2017!
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
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