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
by Angela Copeland | Mar 28, 2016 | Advice, Newsletter
LinkedIn is one of the most effective tools in your job search, so it’s no wonder I field questions about LinkedIn every day. With this in mind, I want to share with you some of the most common questions I receive — and my recommendations.
Do I need LinkedIn profile?
Yes, absolutely! LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools at your fingertips. It allows hiring managers to learn more about you. It allows you to learn more about companies. It’s a great way to stay connected to your professional network without all of the day-to-day clutter found on other social websites.
Should I connect to people I don’t know?
This is really a personal decision. Some people choose to only connect to those they know really well. Others connect to everyone (they have L.I.O.N. on their profile – LinkedIn Open Network). The best answer is probably somewhere in the middle. If you never connect to anyone you don’t know, how will you will meet anyone new? And, is there really anything so private on your LinkedIn profile that it would do you harm to connect with a stranger? My guess is probably not. Try to be as open on LinkedIn as you might be in real life if someone introduced themselves to you in person at a networking event.
Do recruiters really use LinkedIn?
Yes, they really do! Both internal human resources folks — and external headhunters and placement agencies use LinkedIn. Really! It can be hard to find just the right person for a specific job. So, recruiters often use LinkedIn to track down candidates who didn’t apply through their traditional process. It is not unusual for a recruiter to contact you through LinkedIn out of the blue for a position you didn’t know about. They also use LinkedIn to look up more information about you than what fits onto your resume. So, be sure to keep it updated!
How often should I updated LinkedIn?
Your LinkedIn profile should be a living, breathing thing. You should keep it updated all the time. Don’t wait until you are actually looking for a job to update it. By then, you’re already behind. But, if you do find yourself in this situation, turn off the e-mail notifications that go out to your friends when you make updates. You know those e-mails. They say things like, “Bob got a new job!” or, “Sally got an award!” When you make mass updates, turn those off, so you can avoid sending red flags to your current employer.
Should I get the paid version?
This is such a great question! LinkedIn offers additional features with their paid members. They vary from $29.99 for a Job Seeker package to $99.95 for a Recruiter Lite package. The Job Seeker package offers limited direct messaging to people you don’t know, more ‘who’s viewed your profile’ information, and applicant insights. It also offers something called Featured Applicant which claims to move you to the top of recruiters’ applicant lists. Whether or not the paid version is for you depends a lot on how you use LinkedIn. The good news is — LinkedIn offers a free 30-day trial, so you can decide for yourself. Just be sure to mark the 30-day cutoff on your calendar, so you won’t forget about your option to cancel.
How many connections should I have?
Ideally, you should have over 500 connections. Whether you have 501 or 5,001, LinkedIn will display that you have 500+ connections on your profile. This makes you look more connect. And, in fact it’s true. The more first degree connections you have, the more second and third degree connections you’ll have as a result. And, that means that your network will grow — and your chances of finding a new job will grow.
Speaking of connecting on LinkedIn — I would love to connect with you! If we are not already connected, please click the button below and send me a connection request. I look forward to being in your LinkedIn network!
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 | Mar 21, 2016 | Advice, Newsletter
Spring is finally here! And, all indications are that it’s going to be a good one.
The job market is looking up. Unemployment claims are going down. And, it’s hiring season!
If you’ve been thinking of making a change, now’s the time to get moving. But, before you do, you might want to take a close look at your “personal brand.”
If you’re like many people, chances are good that you’ve been waiting for things to get better. You may not have interviewed for a new job in a few years. And, because of that, your personal brand may be a bit rusty.
“Personal brand” seems like quite a daunting concept. Even if you’ve spent your career in marketing or sales, cleaning up your personal brand seems like such a big task.
So the questions are — Where should I begin? What should I focus on? Start with the most obvious and work your way from there.
- Social Media – The most obvious thing online is your social media. Be sure yours is locked down, especially if you’re actively expressing your opinions about our current political climate.
- LinkedIn – One of the first places your future employer will try to learn more about you is LinkedIn. Ensure that LinkedIn is up to date with your current photo, current job title, and current accomplishments.
- Your Resume – Once you catch your future employer’s attention, they’re going to ask for one thing – your resume. Be sure you’re ready for that. The last thing you want is to find the perfect job, or perfect employer — and have to tell them that you don’t have a current copy of your resume. Ensure that your latest job is included. Update it with your relevant work experience. Be sure your e-mail, phone, and address are all correct, so they can easily contact you.
- Your Look – One of the #1 things (honestly, possibly THE #1 thing) people worry about is their appearance. They are worried about appearing too young, or too old. Too large, or too small. Everyone worries about how they look. The thing that’s great about this particular area is that you have some level of control over it. Be sure your hair is an up to date style. If you use color, be sure you’re keeping up with it. Check that your favorite interview suit fits. If it doesn’t fit, or is outdated, head to your local store to look at how you might update it. Ensure that your dress shoes fit and are polished. Consider whether or not your glasses are dating you. And, if you are feeling upset about being out of shape, think of taking an extra walk here and there — or starting to head back into the gym.
Obviously, some of these things are harder to do than others. Some are quick, and some take time and dedication. Just remember, the process of spring cleaning your personal brand is just that — a process. It takes time. Be patient with yourself, but don’t delay. The sooner you start, the sooner your brand will be shiny and polished — ready to find your brand new, perfect job!
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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