by Angela Copeland | May 30, 2016 | Advice, Newsletter
I hope you are having a fabulous Memorial Day! It’s a perfect time to grill out with loved ones and take a little time to reflect.
Traditionally, Memorial Day is a federal holiday to remember and honor those who died while serving our country in the armed forces. First, let me say THANK YOU to those who have served and have allowed us to live in such a wonderful place.
My coaching practice has provided me a window into the armed forces that I would not have otherwise had — and has deepened my appreciation of their hard work.
I have had the honor to work with a number of veterans who are retiring or moving on from different branches of service. The transition from the military world to the civilian world can be an incredibly stressful one that can take years to truly figure out.
A veteran may go from a 20-year career doing something they are great at and understand the political rules to — to a corporate job that is completely foreign to them. But, before even beginning the corporate job, they must go through a grueling job search and interview process.
If you know a veteran going through this transition, don’t underestimate how challenging it can be. If possible, lend a hand. Offer to meet with them to discuss their career goals, or just to be an understanding ear.
The civilian job search process is completely different from the military career progression. In addition, it seems that many veterans are not completely prepared for what to expect on the other side. They’re told that the transition will be easy and that others will truly value their skills.
It doesn’t always happen that way; at least not as quickly as expected.
For those transitioning out of the military, here are a few key tips:
- Sign up for LinkedIn. It can help you to stay connected to those you’ve worked with, and help you to meet new people.
- Get help with your resume. A civilian hiring manager often doesn’t understand what you did. It’s such a different world and a different language. Get help translating what you did into a resume that is understandable by everyone.
- Smile. Even when you’re nervous in an interview situation, try to make eye contact and smile. Be happy! It helps to put the other person at ease and can help make a great first impression.
- Learn the hidden rules. No longer will you be able to look at someone’s sleeves and understand their rank. Start learning what unspoken social queues help to separate out various levels of management within a company.
Thank you again to everyone who is serving and has served in our military. And, if you know someone transitioning out of the military, be sure to take the time to check in on how they’re doing. Get the real scoop and offer to help out if you can.
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.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | May 23, 2016 | Advice, Newsletter
Job searching is heavily influenced by first impressions. Many times, as job seekers, we focus on our qualifications and assume that the smartest candidate will win out.
Think again! Very often, hiring decisions are heavily influenced by first impressions.
As sad as it is, it makes sense. It’s difficult for a hiring manager to know who the good candidates really are based on your resume and a thirty-minute interview. So, they begin looking for other cues to draw hints from. Very often, those cues are in your clothes.
Unfortunately, when it comes to what to wear, there’s no one answer that will always work.
For many jobs, a standard suit is the best answer. Pick a suit in black, grey, or blue. A white or blue shirt is often the safest bet. Then, pair it up with a simple tie (for men) or simple jewelry (for women). Add in a pair of polished black leather shoes and you’re ready.
But, for other jobs, a more casual or hipper look is in order. For example, I once interviewed at a high end clothing company known for making casual clothes using natural fabrics in Southern California. Walking through the company’s front doors, many people gave me an odd look. I was wearing a very serious looking black pin-striped suit created with a synthetic fabric — and high, high heels. They were wearing natural fabrics like cotton and linen — along with sandals and flipflops. This situation can immediately send a signal that you aren’t a fit with the culture.
Advertising agencies are also a good example of this. When walking into an agency, you’ll want to have on a little more color, a little more attitude, and bring out your personal creativity. Agencies want to know that you can think out of the box and will be a fit with their culture. This is especially important if you’re transitioning from a more corporate environment to an agency.
If you are unsure about what to wear, ask a friend who works at the company. They should be able to provide clear direction on what normal interview attire looks like there. If you don’t know anyone on the inside, another potential option is to casually ask the HR recruiter who is scheduling your interviews.
Remember, chances are good that you’ll always be dressed a notch up from your hiring manager. That’s normal.
And be cautious. Do not be lured into the trap of casual Friday. Just because you may interview at a formal company on a Friday does not mean you should wear jeans. The entire company may be in jeans, but they aren’t interviewing for a new job. You are!
Whatever you do, remember to keep your hair, nails, and makeup to a minimum. Leave the perfume and cologne at home. The last thing you want to do is offend someone by your smell.
There’s one last consideration you should keep in mind when it comes to what to wear. It’s always very important to keep your job search a secret. Wearing a fancy suit to your current company will send the message that you’re interviewing for a job. If you need to, change clothes on the way to your job interview. I once changed in a fast food restaurant bathroom to avoid being detected at work.
But, if you do get caught looking nicer than usual, play it cool and nobody will know the difference. Years ago, I was working as a marketing director while actively interviewing. Someone stopped me in the hallway and said, “Do you have an interview today?” in a curious voice. I casually replied, “Everyday is an interview!” and kept walking. The person never suspected a thing.
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.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | Apr 25, 2016 | Advice, Newsletter
For most people, job searching is the worst. You’d rather be doing just about anything else other than receiving endless rejections — including going to the doctor, dentist, or doing your taxes! At least those things have a finite ending point.
Job search frustrations are fairly universal. Most people are dealing with the same frustrations. Below are common frustrations and how to conquer them!
- The Application Black Hole
- The E-mail Rejection Letter
- The Company Ghosting Routine
- The Non-existent Job Posting
- The Must Have Required Skills
The application black hole happens when you apply online and never get an interview. I’ve met job seekers who have applied to 200 or more jobs online, and never landed a single interview. Even in the cases where they were a perfect fit, or even overqualified, they never heard anything back. It feels extra frustrating because almost always, the human resources department at a company will instruct you to apply online. “Apply online. If you’re qualified, we’ll contact you,” they say. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Online job applications go into a black hole otherwise known as the “applicant tracking system.” If you want a real chance of being considered, look for what you can do offline. Contact a friend who works at the company. Locate, and reach out to, the hiring manager. Go to a networking event where you can meet people from the company. Don’t expect the online system to work, even if you’re the most qualified candidate.
The e-mail rejection letter can be just awful. I mean, you spent all this time applying to an opportunity online — customizing your cover letter and your resume. You know you were the right candidate. And, all you got was this automated form letter rejecting you. So often, we take it personally. And, it is personal. We’re trying to find a job. To overcome this issue, try to remember that the applicant tracking system is setup to automatically reject most applicants. You’re not alone. And, there’s a good chance no human ever saw your resume. Look at these rejections as another reason to try searching offline.
Even worse than the automated e-mail rejection letter is the company ghosting routine. Why companies can’t get on the ball with this one, I’m not sure. In what other context is it acceptable to ask someone to put in hours upon hours of work, to buy a new suit, to sneak out of their job for multiple interviews — and then you just don’t respond to them? This is one of the top negative experiences job seekers face. And, employers are really missing out on an opportunity here. Even though the candidate may not be the right person today, they could work out in a few years. If the company would take a little more care, they could cultivate an entire collection of talent before they even need it. But, I’ll get off that soapbox. As a job seeker, just remember that you don’t want to work for any company or hiring manager who’d treat you this way. Focus on the next opportunity and don’t look back.
As you go through job applications and interviews, you sometimes start to notice. Some of the positions listed are non-existent job postings. It’s not that the jobs never existed, but they don’t exist right now. You’re putting in all this work applying for jobs that may already be filled. This often happens because the company already knows who they’re planning to hire. For example, the company may have hired a self-employed consultant for a short time and then bring them on full-time after they prove their value. Most companies will still post the job on their website for a short time before solidifying the full-time hire. The problem here is, as a job seeker, you can’t tell which jobs are really open and which are not. The solution to this problem is this. Start building relationships with companies you like — even when they do not have a job available. Then, you will increase the chances that you’ll hear about jobs BEFORE they are posted online (when they are really available).
Last, but not least — Very often, we find an awesome job posting. We love it. We know we’d be awesome. Then, we scroll down to the must have required skills section. There’s something “required” that we don’t have. It could be a specific degree, a specific number of years of work experience, or some random skill. It’s disappointing. We know we won’t get picked, so we just don’t apply. Because, the company doesn’t want to hear from us, right? Wrong! Job descriptions are written in such a random way. They may be copied and pasted from old descriptions. They may be a best case scenario wish list. The good news is, the answer to this issue is easy. If you think you can do the job, apply for it! If you don’t apply, the company won’t know you exist. You’d be surprised at just how often a company hires an underdog candidate they like over a very qualified candidate they’re not terribly fond of.
Most importantly, know that these job frustrations are universal. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned professional, all searchers are facing these issues. They aren’t personal, but they are frustrating. Stick with your search and you will find a great opportunity. It just takes a little time!
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.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | Apr 18, 2016 | Advice, Newsletter
Often, when we’re unhappy at work, we’d rather be doing ANYTHING else. It could pay less money, and it might not even use our brain. But, if we could just get away from our current workplace, we’d jump on the opportunity.
Unfortunately, running away from the burning building is rarely the answer. The next office often has many of the same problems. Only now, we’ve got to figure out how to make ends meet with less money.
It’s often better to turn the question on it’s head all together and start to think of what you’d like to do, if you could do anything at all.
I often think back to my time in graduate school. After expecting to finish my full-time program in twenty-months, I finished in fifteen. As graduation crept up, I participated in many job interviews and offers began to roll in.
One of the job offers was almost too good to resist. It was for a big brand name company that you have definitely heard of. The company is very impressive and getting an offer was no small feat. Their interview process included onsite interviews with many different people, an IQ test (that was a lot like taking the SAT), and even a psychological evaluation.
The offer was the most money I’d ever been given up to that point. It was roughly twice what I had made just fifteen months before, when I entered school. It included a big signing bonus, full relocation for me and my boyfriend, great vacation — the works. The company was so excited about me that they even mailed a bouquet of flowers to my house.
The problem was this. Before graduate school, I was an IT Project Manager. It was an awesome job. I learned a lot, and then went to get my MBA in order to grow my skills and try my hand at something new. The job offer at this big impressive company was also to be an IT Project Manager. But, like I said, it was for twice the money.
It would have been easy to say yes. The company would have sent movers to box everything up. They would have written me a big check, and off I would have gone to a new city.
Unfortunately, it just didn’t sit well with me. I had saved money for years in order to go to school. I wanted to grow my career, not just my pocketbook. I didn’t want to do the same job as before, even if it was for more money.
So, what did I do? I turned the job down. In fact, I turned every job down.
I decided that if I could complete school five months earlier than planned, I could take a few months to decide what I’d do — if I didn’t have to do anything.
A few of the skills I had were: building websites and doing research and analysis. I also had a fairly natural sense for marketing. Before I knew it, I was working for myself. And, I became a digital marketer. I sold shoes for a website called Zappos.com. I would research the shoes, build websites to sell them, and then promote them online. Zappos paid me a commission on every pair of their shoes I sold.
The process was hard. I kept that high dollar offer letter at home, and sometimes I wondered if I’d made the right choice.
But, in the end, it was absolutely the right choice. I created an entirely new career path for myself. I combined skills I already had, with what I gained in business school, and then grew my expertise through actually doing the new job. And, working for myself led to a corporate career in digital marketing.
The thing that really surprised me at the time was how many of the skills I needed to do the job I already had. They were random things I’d learned in college, or had done as a hobby. But, I was using them in a different way.
If you’re thinking of jumping into a new career, there’s a good chance you may also have skills that can be re-purposed into another field. You just have to be willing to take a risk and ask yourself, “What would I be doing if I didn’t have to work?”
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.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | Apr 11, 2016 | Advice, Newsletter
Very often, I’m asked a question that makes a lot of sense: “What does a career coach do?” The reason it makes sense is that the career coaching industry is a relatively new one.
Career coaching services vary from coach to coach. Some coaches come from a background that is rooted in teaching. The person is especially skilled at communicating information to others. Others come from a psychology background. Career coaching differs from headhunting or recruiting in that the job seeker is still the one looking for the position, versus the headhunter.
My coaching practice is rooted in real world experience. As you have probably heard me say, I started my own career in engineering, then transitioned to technology before switching to digital marketing executive.
I was able to make these successful transitions in part because of my natural curiosity about different jobs and industries — and my love for the interview process. I enjoyed competing in all different styles of job interviews — from technical interviews where you work out math problems and take IQ tests to sales interviews where you give presentations about yourself.
I have to admit; my love for interviewing and the job search process is an unusual one. But, the good news is that it helps me to bring a wealth of insider knowledge to my clients.
As I mentioned, the particular services a coach provides really varies from coach to coach. Below is a short list of some of the services I provide:
- Dream job creation – I work with clients to brainstorm ideas for their next job. What are the things they’re good at today that might transfer? What about their personality aligns to other types of jobs?
- Resume updates – Updating your resume can be a stressful process. I work with job seekers to go through their resumes and help to customize them, so they give the right message and personal brand to potential employers.
- LinkedIn and Social Media branding – I work with job seekers to put their best foot forward online. Whether it’s LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram — your online brand counts too!
- Job search strategy – Applying online only can be a fruitless, frustrating process. We talk about ways to go around the online process to get to the hiring manager faster.
- Negotiation assistance – Anytime you’re switching jobs, but especially when you’re switching careers, negotiating can be difficult. I help clients to research how much they’re worth. We talk about how to talk about money, and how to ask for more. Getting paid fairly for what you do is an important part of your search process!
As you can see, the services I provide are focused on finding a job faster. Of course, finding a job is hard work. It’s like that saying, “finding a job is a job.” It’s not something you can do at the snap of your fingers. It can take time, especially if you’re trying to find a new career path, or get a job in a field where you have little experience.
The process can be a tricky one, but I’m here to help my clients along the way.
Anyway! Since I get this question often, I was asked to write a newsletter on this very topic. I hope this e-mail has been helpful, and has helped to answer a few questions about career coaching.
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.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | Apr 4, 2016 | Advice, Newsletter
Most of the job seekers I meet have something in common. They’re unhappy at their current jobs.
The complaints vary, and the level of frustration can be higher or lower, but people who are completely satisfied at work are rarely trying to leave.
Common complaints of job seekers include:
- My boss micromanages me
- I’m being underpaid — and I got another 2% raise this year
- My coworker left and my boss is planning to give me their work, rather than replace them
- There’s no room for growth in my current position
- I was overlooked for another promotion
- I got a new boss, and the new boss doesn’t buy into me
- My boss takes all the credit for my work
- My boss keeps me separated from upper management
- My company isn’t doing well — and there are talks that layoffs may happen
- I work in a toxic environment
If you’re unhappy at work, I bet you can relate to at least one of these complaints.
The interesting thing is– very often, at the beginning of the job search, the candidate is on the fence about what to do.
It’s like a bad relationship. We stay in them too long, in hopes that something will change, despite all signs to the contrary. We cross our fingers and wish that if we just say the right thing to our boss, they’d give us a raise. Or, they’d like us. Or, they’d promote us.
Sadly, whether your boss isn’t behind you — or you are working for a toxic organization, those things rarely change.
Now, I’m not recommending that you hop from job to job without trying to make the most of your current situation. You should always try to work things out first if you can.
But, there are limits. And, very often, we stay at our current job long after we’ve passed our limit. Rarely does this ever result in a positive outcome. Typically, the longer we stick around, the more demoralized we feel. The more run down we are.
And, the longer we commit ourselves to a bad situation at work, the less choices we have when looking for a new opportunity. For example, if it’s clear the organization is doing poorly, and we stay committed anyway, we could end up without a job at all. Then, our focus becomes finding a job fast, rather than finding the right job.
It can also cause us to have a negative story to tell when we’re job seeking. Instead of presenting a recent win at work, we may find ourselves explaining why we’re hoping to escape a bad situation. Even when it’s not our fault, this kind of story doesn’t reflect well on us.
The longer we stick around in a job where we’re being underpaid, the more our lifelong earnings will be impacted. Even just a few years of being underpaid can create a huge ripple effect later.
So, what I’d like to know is this: When is enough really enough? When your employer only gives you a 2% raise, and overlooks you for a promotion– believe the message they’re sending. You’re not a star performer in their eyes. Or, perhaps they are not poised as an organization to do the great things you expected. Once the mold is set, it’s hard to undo.
But, the great news is, another perfect opportunity could be just around the corner. That company could be healthier. Your new manager may appreciate your contributions more. You will most likely make more money.
Don’t delay. Don’t wait until you are beaten down and out of work to look for your next big job. Start now. Start while you’re still in a great place, and can put your best foot forward for your future employer.
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.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
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