by Angela Copeland | Mar 8, 2017 | Advice, Career Corner Column, Networking, Resume Writing
Whenever I meet with a new job seeker, I always ask the same question. “Where are you getting stuck in your search?” It sounds like a simple question, but it can shed quite a bit of light into what’s going on.
One of the top struggles is having a resume that isn’t well put together. Very often, the job seeker wonders what about their resume the hiring manager didn’t like. They spend hours combing over the details, refining each word, trying to craft the perfect resume.
The way the job seeker presents themselves to a hiring manager on their resume does have a big impact on their results. First impressions really are important. For example, a typo in a resume can cause a hiring manager to automatically throw out a resume. The resume is a valid concern that really can impact job search results.
Although I believe this wholeheartedly, I reflect back on a friend. No kidding – he has a six-page resume. Have you ever heard of that being a good idea? On a number of occasions, I’ve volunteered to help him rewrite his resume.
But, can you guess what happens? Yep. Every time I start to reconstruct his resume, he lands a new job. And, not just any old job – he lands a great job, at a great company. It’s happened so many times that I finally gave up on the long resume.
So, why is it that someone with a six-page resume isn’t getting stuck in their job search? It’s a great question, and it isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. First, my friend has developed a specialized skillset. He’s focused on being the best at one particular thing. So, when a hiring manager is in need of this particular skill, he’s someone they think of.
But, what he’s also done that’s just as important, if not more so – he’s always working to build and grow his personal professional network.
He takes the time to get to know the people he works with. In fact, I first met him at work, many years ago.
He spends time with colleagues. He meets their families. And, he flies around the world when they get married, just because he cares about them. On top of doing a good job at work, he does a great job outside of work, and people remember that.
Most of all, he doesn’t rely on the internet to find his next job. He’s built up his contacts over the years. If he wants to find something new, he will reach out to the people he knows in the industry. They know him. They trust him. And, they want him to work for them.
What’s he’s doing is that he’s playing a different game than everyone else. He’s taken his job search offline. It’s a people game, rather than an internet game. Instead of optimizing his resume, he’s optimizing his professional network. And, it’s working!
Now, if only I could get my hands on that resume…
Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.
by Angela Copeland | Mar 1, 2017 | Advice, Career Corner Column, E-mail, Media, Respect
Have you ever gotten an email from someone that you just want to ignore? Perhaps it’s from a vendor you work with that wants to tell you about a new product they’re selling. The email provides no immediate value for you. There’s nothing you can do about it right now, and frankly, you’re busy. You’re so far up to your eyeballs in reports that you can barely breathe. We’ve all been there. I can definitely relate. The easiest thing to do is often to ignore the email.
Now, think back to how you landed your last job, or maybe the one before. Chances are good that you found it not by applying online, but through a professional contact. There’s a good chance that you previously worked with that person, either directly or indirectly.
It’s extremely common to be recruited by an outside company you do business with – either your customer, or your supplier. After working with you, a company has a chance to see you up close. They know just how professional you are, and how devoted you are to your craft.
But, this will only happen if you treat those around you with a certain level of respect. Taking a moment to let someone know you’ve received their email can mean the world, even if you’re not able to fulfill their request. I’m not suggesting that you say yes to everyone. And, I’m certainly not suggesting you respond to things that are clearly spam. You don’t have time for that.
But, do take the time to value those around you – even on the days when they’re asking for something rather than offering something. For example, if someone is asking for a meeting that you would normally be open to, but are just too busy to take, send an email letting them know you’ve received their message and would like to meet, but are swamped for the next few weeks. Most everyone understands the concept of being busy at work. Or, if a person is asking for your help with something that you really can’t do right now due to existing commitments, be honest and up front.
The most difficult scenario is when you don’t respond at all. When you ignore an email, it doesn’t just tell the person that you’re busy. It tells them that they’re not important. It says that you’ll only respond if you’re getting something out of the deal. And, it says that you may not be as professional as they thought.
When you’ve been with one company for a number of years, this can begin to seem normal. You want to be efficient and use your time in the best way. But, sometimes something unexpected can happen. Your company may lay off an entire division. If you’ve focused all of your attention on internal folks, while not nurturing outside relationships, you may struggle more to find something new.
It goes back to the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.
by Angela Copeland | Feb 22, 2017 | Advice, Career Corner Column, Interviewing, Media
Sometimes, interviews can be the worst. I mean, truly. Doesn’t the hiring manager realize that you have a job, life, spouse, children, and existing commitments?
You spend months and months trying to get your foot in the door for a job interview. You spend all your time filling out applications and updating your resume. You call your references, and update your LinkedIn and Facebook accounts.
Then you wait, and wait, and wait.
Until one afternoon, a recruiter calls you. They came across your resume and they have a few questions that they’d like to ask you – today. Suddenly, you’re in a whirlwind of interviews. It’s like interview hell.
Not only do you already have plans, but now you have to cancel those plans and secretly make new plans to sneak out of work. You have to figure out how to wear a suit to your job, without anyone noticing that you’re dressed up.
The hiring manager often wants to speak with you on the phone first – almost immediately. And, then they want you to come in person a few days later, for hours. They’re in a hurry after all.
So, what can you do? Well, honestly, you can push out the interview a few days. Heck, they will probably even meet with you next week. It would certainly be more convenient if you could keep your current commitments and interview a few days later.
Unfortunately, this strategy can cause you problems in the long run you may not have considered. The thing is, even though the hiring manager’s expectations are unreasonable, they’re the decision maker. And, they will often pick the first good person – rather than wait around for the very best person. Plus, even if you are the best – if you aren’t excited about the role – they will assume you aren’t really interested.
I once had a job interview that included building an entire website to showcase my programming skills. At the same time, I was scheduled to be an extra in a movie. So, I politely asked the hiring manager if the website could be turned in just a few days later, to allow me to do both. He was completely understanding.
Seems reasonable, right? Well, I built the website and turned it in on time. I worked hard on it, and was very proud of my accomplishment. The hiring manager responded to me with something along the lines of, “Thanks! This is really great. It’s even better than the website made by the person we gave the job offer to.”
Holy cow! Can you believe it? After agreeing to let me finish building a website from scratch just a few days later, the hiring manager hired someone – who wasn’t me!
I could go on about this, and how unreasonable hiring managers are. But, the truth is, they’re like your customer. And, the customer’s always right – even when they’re not. You’ve just got to decide what’s more important to you – getting the job, or keeping your plans.
Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.
by Angela Copeland | Feb 15, 2017 | Advice, Career Corner Column, Media
2017 has certainly started off on an interesting foot. I don’t know about you, but social media used to be a relaxing activity where I learned about engagements, saw baby photos, and watched cat videos. Lately, it’s filled with opposing views and tension – on all sides of every issue. It’s exhausting.
I have friends on both sides of the aisle, and some from other aisles too. I see them thoughtfully speaking out about their concerns. Regardless of your views, there’s a decent chance the past few months have not been a cakewalk.
And, the level of frustration we’ve all been experiencing can sometimes lead us to reevaluate things in our lives. I know a number of people who are cleaning out their Facebook friends list – eliminating anyone who doesn’t share their perspectives. And more than before, job seekers are scrutinizing the personal values of their future boss and coworkers. They’re not sure they want to work with people who have different viewpoints than theirs.
The question becomes – where do we draw the line? After all, we spend eight waking hours a day at work. I can relate to this type of struggle myself. In a similar way, I have shied away from industries that make products or services I’m not completely comfortable with for one reason or another.
As you can imagine, deciding where to work is a very personal decision and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. However, with that said, you may want to weigh how much your personal views play into the work you do. If you didn’t know your boss had an opposing view to you, would it still matter? Could you still do your work?
The other thing I’d like to consider is this. There was once a time when we were more open to making friends with those who are different than we are. I really liked that time. It allowed me to grow up in a place like Oklahoma and move to places like New York and California where I met people who grew up with very different ideas than I did. This openness has allowed me to make close friends from cities all over the U.S. and countries all over the world. I rarely meet someone with whom I agree on every issue. But, it doesn’t mean that we can’t be friends, or that I can’t work to have a better understanding of their perspectives.
However, with all the time we spend there, work is something we’re practically married to. And, if it just doesn’t work for you to work with someone with values that are different than yours, I get it.
But, wouldn’t it be great to put these frustrating thoughts on a shelf for just a few hours each day, to focus just on work? Perhaps we could make a few great things happens for eight hours each day with a diverse team of people, who all bring different views and strengths to the table.
Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.
by Angela Copeland | Feb 8, 2017 | Advice, Career Corner Column, Happiness, Media
If you’re looking for a new job, I bet one of your top two priorities is finding a job you really, truly love. Somehow, you’ve found yourself at a job you don’t care for, and you’re ready to make a change. And, you hope to not wake up in another situation where you don’t like your job.
So, how can you land a job you love? Well, it starts by prioritizing what’s important to you. Think about what really makes you happy at work. On the surface, we often think we will be happy if we’re making the most money possible. But, when you get right down to it, this usually isn’t the solution.
The key to finding happiness at work is typically tied to a few things. First, the people you work around make a huge difference. It doesn’t matter how great your job is. If you have a bad boss and crazy coworkers, chances are good you’re not happy. Second, you want to be paid equitably. It’s not that you have to make the most anyone’s ever made for your job. But, you want to be paid fairly when compared to your colleagues. Last, you want to be doing work that’s interesting to you.
You’ll know the pay before starting the job, so it’s not hard to gauge if you’re being paid fairly. And, you should have a pretty good sense of the type of work, based upon the job description and the job interviews.
The wildcard here is the people. I would argue that finding a job you love is often about finding a great boss, team, and a company culture you like. It sounds a little odd to suggest that the biggest factor impacting your happiness at work is something that has little to do with the work – it’s the people. But, if you’ve ever had a very bad boss, you know this is true.
To find a great boss, you’ve got to get to know the people at a company. If possible, identify a list of target companies you’d like to work for. Then, identify the department you might like to work in. You can use tools like LinkedIn (or warm introductions from friends) to find your future colleagues and boss. Start networking with this group before you actually need a job.
This is going to do two things. First, the boss will know you who are long before you apply. They may even think of you when they begin to hire someone new. And, better yet – you will have a chance to find out how well you get along with the team, and whether or not the organization is a place you’d like to work.
Finding a job you love is all about fit. If you apply to companies you know little about, your chances of finding a great fit will be hit or miss. But, taking the time to do your homework will ensure that you land a job you love.
Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.
by Angela Copeland | Feb 1, 2017 | Advice, Career Corner Column, Financial
As you grow in your career, finding a new job can become harder and harder. One of the big reasons for this has to do with salary. If you think about it, when you first started working, you were open to just about any job and would happily take a tiny paycheck. But, as you’ve progressed in your career, your requirements have evolved.
One of the most challenging situations job seekers face is when they want to leave a job, but are financially unable to. There are two main reasons for this. First, the job seeker may live right up to their means. In other words, they may spend all of the money they make each month. Second, the job seeker may not have a safety net in the form of an emergency fund.
A job seeker with no emergency fund who needs every dollar to pay their basic bills feels trapped. The worst is when they’re being treated poorly at work – in a way that’s definitely not acceptable – but, they feel unable to change it. It can leave them feeling helpless, as if they’re being suffocated.
One of the best ways to protect yourself from feeling trapped is to do two things. If at all possible, scale back your fixed expenses. Then, take the extra money you’re saving each month and begin to put it into a savings account. That account will serve as an emergency fund. Ideally, it should have at least six months of living expenses in it. A savings account is recommended because it will be protected from market fluctuations.
Creating an emergency fund takes time and dedication. It’s not something you can do overnight, and it’s not easy. But, if you’re feeling stuck in a bad work situation, think about how much differently you might feel if you knew you had six months of living expenses in an account – just in case.
The benefits of an emergency fund can’t be overstressed. Having a backup plan gives you room to breathe, even if you never need it. And, that creates financial freedom. It gives you the power to walk away if you truly are being mistreated at work.
Along these same lines, when you land a new job that pays more, don’t immediately jump to increase your fixed monthly expenses. A new house or car may be tempting, but give yourself a chance to decide that you really like your new job first – and that they like you. The last thing you want is to have a job not work out, but you have new bills that require a higher income.
The bottom line is this. Things can (and will) go wrong at work. Any number of things could happen. You may get a bad boss. Your company may go through layoffs. But, if you manage your finances carefully, you’ll give yourself an out. And, in the end, you’ll create both breathing room – and emotional freedom – at your job.
Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.
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