by Angela Copeland | Nov 2, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
After coaching job seekers for almost ten years, I opened the doors to Copeland Coaching just two years ago. Thank you so much to all of my amazing friends and clients who have helped to make this dream possible!
Whether you helped with my office, my website, my podcast, graphic design, my videos, or any other part of the business, I truly appreciate your help. I could not do this without you!
Often, we you start a business, it’s because you have expertise in a particular area. I reflect on the experience of small business owners who are doctors, dentists, or lawyers. They open the business to help people with one particular area, but there are many other tasks around setting up and running a business that you don’t have experience in. Unlike a corporate job where you have teams of people who are also experts and are available at a moments notice, you have to figure out how to get things done. One your own.
I have been incredibly lucky that each and every time I’ve needed help, someone has stepped up. On more than one occasion, someone has volunteered to help out from the goodness of their hearts.
I’m excited to say that in the last two years, we’ve accomplished a lot together, including–
- Getting the Copeland Coaching website up and running!
- Publishing e-book “Breaking The Rules & Getting The Job”
- Developing and writing the Career Corner column that appears in both the Memphis Daily News and the Nashville Ledger
- Publishing 75 Copeland Coaching Podcasts (so far) with smart, interesting guests
- Being interviewed for TV, radio, newspaper, and the internet on career success, including The Wall Street Journal, The Today Show Online, U.S. News & World Report, The Huffington Post, and more!
- And working with hundreds of awesome job seekers to turn their search into a SLAM DUNK!
Starting a business can be a frighting venture. But, all your support and encouragement has made it an incredibly fun and rewarding experience!
Thank you for being part of the Copeland Coaching Team. I look forward to achieving continued success together!
THANK 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 and 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 | Oct 26, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
It’s a big week for basketball! On Wednesday, the Memphis Grizzlies face off against the Cleveland Cavaliers for their first official game of the season.
Already, the team is receiving positive feedback from sports analysts and fans alike. ESPN even ranked the team the 2nd best franchise among all professional sports, behind the #1 ranked San Antonio Spurs.
But, when the players step on the court next week, it’s not going to be the first time they’ve thought about the game since last season. They’ve been staying in shape, practicing, and preparing for the months ahead.
Just like the Grizzlies practice to perfect their game, you’ve got to practice to keep up your interview and job searching skills. Going in for an interview cold after not searching for a job for years can be a huge shock to the system — just like it would be to play a professional basketball game when you’re out of shape.
So, what can you do to keep up your game, even when you’re not actively looking? Here are a few tips:
- Keep Your LinkedIn Up To Date – One of the #1 things people forget about is LinkedIn. Just because you’re not looking doesn’t mean you don’t need to keep it up to date. Often, a job will find you when a recruiter happens to come across your LinkedIn profile. But, if it’s not up to date with your latest skills, they won’t have enough information to convince them you’re the right one.
- Use a Universal E-mail Address – What I mean by this is, make sure your contacts have an easy way to find you. If you’ve been at the same company for 10 years, and everyone e-mails you at work – how would they reach out to you if you suddenly didn’t have a job?
- Keep a Backup of Your Contact List – This has the same origins as the previous tip. If you no longer had access to your e-mail box at work, how would you contact people? In addition to losing your job, your computer can crash. There’s little more damaging to your long game than not having the phone numbers and e-mail address of those who can help you. If you don’t know how to back up your contacts, Google it! There are tons of great tutorials available.
- Always Carry Business Cards – You never know where you might make a new contact, or meet your new boss. Avoid being one of those people who’s always saying, “Wow! I wish we could stay in touch, but I completely forgot to pack my cards!”
- Keep Your Resume Up To Date – This may sound silly when you’re not looking for a job, but trust me, it’s the best thing you can do for yourself. The worst time to create a resume from scratch is when you’re applying for a job. First, it’s a ton of pressure. Second (and most importantly), you want to include performance numbers in your resume. How will you remember them if you don’t keep track over the years?
Speaking of getting things done, for this week’s podcast, I interviewed Rick Trotter, the Public Address Announcer for the Memphis Grizzlies. Rick shares how he landed a job in professional sports, advice for others interested to work in sports, and how you can create a slam dunk career.
If you’ve ever thought of working for the NBA or other professional sports, this podcast is the one for you! I hope you’ll tune in Tuesday to hear my entire interview with Rick.
Go Grizzlies!
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 and 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 JJ Weir | Oct 19, 2015 | Job Posting, Newsletter
Happy Bosses Day! Time to Quit Your Job.
National Bosses Day was last Friday. And, if you’re like most people, you got your boss a plant, took them out to lunch, or maybe just sent a friendly e-mail thanking them for everything they do. From the outside, it probably looked fairly routine.
But, in reality, did you do these nice things because you have an awesome boss who you adore? No. Chances are, you would be happier at your job if you never had to see your boss again. You probably just participated in Bosses Day so you wouldn’t be in the doghouse with your boss, or your coworkers. It was social pressure more than anything else; another “Hallmark Holiday” as they say.
Did you know that bad bosses are the number one reason we quit our jobs? It’s true!
I’ve noticed this trend in many, many of the clients I work with. When I ask what’s motivating them to want to leave their current company, they rarely say it’s a lack of money or vacation or anything else. At least 80% of the time, they start off with how unhappy they are with their terrible boss.
Forbes made an interesting point about this very issue. Author Eric Jackson said, “…you would probably be surprised to know that more Americans are quitting their jobs today than at any point in the past 4 years. In March (2014), 2.475 million Americans quit their jobs. This has been steadily increasing recently from a low in late 2009 (just after the financial collapse finally bottomed out) from a monthly rate of 1.7 million quits a month.”
This means that even though our economy is still struggling, you have had enough. You’re ready to take a chance, even if it feels scary. And, you don’t want to deal with that terrible boss for one more Bosses Day, or any other day for that matter.
Jackson cites that some of the reasons people dislike their bosses are:
- They overload their best people with too many responsibilities
- They’re micro-managers
- They’re never around
- They’re not in touch with how some of their hires or promotions are driving their best people nuts
- They’ve never given their people a sense of where they can go in their careers
- They run terrible meetings
- They communicate that they care more about themselves than the team
- They never give the team a big picture vision of where their group is heading or they are constantly changing the big picture
Does this sound familiar? Does your boss drive you crazy for one (or possibly eight) of these reasons?
If so, the time to start on your job search is now. Do it while you still have good footing at your current job, so you’ll have more control over selecting a new one that you like.
The thing you should take away from this experience is this: your boss really does matter. There is almost nobody (other than you) who can influence your career so much. They can give you a raise or a promotion. They can pay to send you for continuing education. And, they can give you a pay cut, a demotion, or even fire you.
When you interview at a company, try to think of yourself as interviewing your boss as much as they interview you. Will they be supportive? Will they want to compete with you? Are they someone you could spend eight hours a day with?
Finding a good boss will help to guarantee that your next experience is a positive one!
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 and 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 | Oct 12, 2015 | Job Posting, Newsletter
If you’re one of the lucky ones (and have a holiday today), I hope you are enjoying your time off!
There’s no better time than the present to think about your next career move. So often, we’re held back from making a change because of excuses.
If Christopher Columbus had wanted to come up with excuses not to sail to the new world, I’m certain he could have thought of a few things. But, in the end, he was brave. He beat such odds that we’re still talking about it today.
I meet job seekers daily who have one hundred reasons why they can’t get a job. The short list of reasons is:
- The hiring manager doesn’t like me.
- The hiring manager is biased toward me because I don’t have the right degree.
- The hiring manager thinks I’ve been at the same company for too long.
- The hiring manager wonders why I haven’t been at the same company for longer.
- The hiring manager thinks I’m too old.
- The hiring manager thinks I’m too young.
- The hiring manager only wants to hire women.
- The hiring manager only wants to hire men.
- The hiring manager thinks my last job was irrelevant.
- The hiring manager thinks I’m underqualified.
- The hiring manager thinks I’m overqualified.
You get the idea.
What’s interesting is this. Because of our “apply online” culture, my guess is that if you gathered one hundred job seekers in a room and asked who exclusively applied online for the last job they applied to, one hundred hands would go up.
If you put a group of HR managers in another room and ask them how many of those one hundred online applications they had seen, I bet that very few would raise their hands.
I don’t claim to understand why applicant tracking systems don’t work, but the fact is, they aren’t great. And, most HR professionals will admit this. Applicant tracking systems are software, and like any other kind of software, they have downsides.
In reality, only about 15% of people land their jobs through the online channel. Yet, we’re all applying there (because that’s what we heard we’re supposed to do). And, when we don’t hear back, we rarely think the reason is because applied online. We think it’s because the company has a bias toward us. We develop a long list of reasons why the company didn’t pick us. When in reality, the reason is that they didn’t know we applied.
If you’re ready to find a new job this Columbus Day, it’s time to start thinking outside the box. Do apply online (so you can check the box and say you have). Then, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I know anyone at the company?
- Can I find the hiring manager online?
- Can I e-mail the hiring manager directly?
- Do I know anyone in human resources for the company?
- Is there any place where I can network with people from the company?
Did I ever tell you – When I was a student at Pepperdine, I snuck onto the UCLA campus to land a job interview at The Gap? That’s a story for another day, but the point is this. Often times, applying effectively requires us to really get outside of our comfort zone.
Unless we’ve had a background in sales, cold calling on people isn’t a skill we have. It can be uncomfortable, unnerving, and can even feel rude at times. But, when it comes to looking for a job, you’re both the product and the salesperson.
There’s nobody who can find you the right job but you. And, there’s no one who knows what you have to offer better than you.
So, be brave. Be willing to set sail, even when you don’t have all the answers. Even when you feel you might fail. You just might like what you find on the other side.
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 and 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 | Oct 5, 2015 | Job Posting, Newsletter
If you’ve ever worked to develop a new product, you’re probably familiar with this concept: Good, Fast, or Cheap. In business, the saying goes that you must pick two of these things. You can have good
and fast, or good and cheap, but not good, fast, and cheap. Picking three would be asking for an impossible, or improbable, proposition.
The same goes for job seeking. On a fairly regular basis, I speak with someone who says, “I want to find a great paying job that I love – in about three weeks.” Wow. Finding the perfect job at the perfect pay in a short timeframe is a dream scenario. Unfortunately, it is very rarely the reality.
When I meet a new client, I often ask, “Is it more important that you find a job you love, or that you find a job quickly?” That helps me to gauge how dire their current work situation is. For example, if their boss is abusive, they may be willing to take anything just to get into a healthier environment. If their current job is good, but they’re looking for better, they may be willing to wait a while for the right thing to come along.
A similar concept applies when it comes to pay versus career fulfillment. This seems to be a controversial issue. Some people say you shouldn’t ever chase after money, you should chase after what you’re passionate about. Others say, you should find your fulfillment in life outside of work hours. That you shouldn’t rely on work to make you happy. And, that if you make enough money, you can pay for the things you like.
You may be surprised to know, I can go either way on this issue. It’s up to you, and how you prioritize money and work fulfillment. In fact, I believe that where you fall on this issue will probably change over the course of your life, if it hasn’t already.
So, when you’re considering this issue, what should you think about? Here are a few things to consider when choosing between more money and more fulfillment.
- How important is money versus work life balance and fulfillment to you? There’s no right answer to this. It’s not about what your parents think, or your friends think. It’s about what you think. Right now. At this point in your life.
- Typically, each job you get bases your new pay on your previous salary. So, a big jump early in your career can mean significant financial gains over time. Most of your salary growth happens in your 20s and early 30s. As much as people advise against chasing money early in your career, there are certainly benefits to starting off with a high salary.
- Do you have a third choice? You may have found one job that’s fulfilling but pays very little. And, another that’s unfulfilling, but pays well. But, have you also searched for other offers that might give a little more pay, but also a better quality of life? Is there a happy medium?
- Does your perfect opportunity even exist where you’re living right now? Are you chasing after something you’ll never find? If your dream job doesn’t exist, are you willing to move?
- When it comes to the idea of ‘working your way up,’ companies rarely give raises that are more than 5% to 10%. A typical raise is more on the order of 2% to 3% per year. Taking a position at an outside company is one of the most effective ways to grow income quickly.
- If your learning at your existing job has slowed, it’s time to find something new. Becoming stagnant is one of the fastest ways to lose value.
- Last, how much personal fulfillment do you want to get from work? If you made 40% more at a job that wasn’t perfect, could you use part of the money to pursue interests outside of work? In your mind, what’s the role of work? How does that compare with your idea of happiness?
When it comes to looking for a new job, one of the most important things you can do is prioritize what’s important to you. Again, it’s not what’s important to your parents, your siblings, your friends, or your neighbors. It’s what’s important to you right now. At this point in your life. And, for your future.
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 and 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 JJ Weir | Sep 28, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
When it comes to landing a great job, it’s more than what’s on your resume these days. In addition to your one to two page work history, employers are also looking at other things, including your cover letter, your LinkedIn profile, your social media, and your presence on Google.
The one thing you may not have realized is that employers are looking at your credit report too! If you have a low credit score, they may decide not to hire you.
Why? Well, an employer may think that if you can’t keep a positive credit history, how could you possibly run their business?
At first glance, this makes sense. Executives are often managing millions of dollars a year. They control big budgets, and are responsible for decisions that impact hundreds, if not thousands of people.
But, when you dig deeper, this issue is more complex than it sounds. There are many things that go into your credit score that you don’t have full control over, including:
- Inaccurate information – Anyone who’s had their financial credit stolen knows what a pain it is to clean up the mess left behind afterward.
- Healthcare bills – At times, healthcare bills you have already paid show up on your credit report as delinquent. Then, there are those times when you actually do have big medical bills, but at no fault of your own.
- Home Foreclosures – Due to the crazy market we’ve had for a long time now, many homeowners have been forced to foreclose, or participate in a short sale. These actions can have a negative impact on your credit score.
- Unemployment – In today’s job market, a layoff can happen any time and is often not a reflection of employee performance.
- Divorce – Divorce can wreak havoc on a credit score.
What’s worse is that these negative events can stay on your credit history for up to seven years!
The good news for job seekers is that a new act, Equal Employment for All Act, is being introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives. Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren are behind the project.
But, as long as employers are using your credit score to make decisions about your future, you should know what to do:
- Check for inaccuracies – Review your credit report once per year for errors – and report them. You can download one free copy of your credit report each year online.
- Keep your phone and online accounts secure – Don’t be careless and allow thieves into your personal accounts.
- Pay attention to where you shop online – Use reputable sites online. Stay away from putting your credit card into unknown sites.
- Pay your bills on time – One of the easiest ways to damage your credit yourself is to be careless about when you pay your bills. Make a point to pay them on time, or to set them up for automatic payment.
- Keep your balances on credit cards low – High credit card debt can negatively impact your score.
- Only apply for new credit when you need it – Don’t create a situation where you have a huge amount of unneeded credit available.
These tips will help you to both protect, and improve your existing credit score. And, having a dream credit score will get you that much closer to landing a dream 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 and 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.
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 and 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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