by Angela Copeland | Aug 10, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
Last week, ABC Family launched a new reality TV program called “Job or No Job.” Every episode features a young job seeker who’s struggling to land their first gig.
The show is an interesting concept as it focuses on millennials. Millennials are one of the groups most likely to be unemployed, and living at home. They’re struggling to find their way in a job market filled with older, more experienced competition.
Each episode features CEO and author, Jane Buckingham. Jane coaches each candidate through their interview process, in hopes that they land a job.
The season premiere featured a young job seeker named Gabrielle McBey. Gabrielle lives in Dallas where she’s a private chef who hopes to open her own restaurant in five years.
She travels to Chicago to interview with three well-known restaurants, and we (the viewer) get a bird’s-eye view into the entire process. A number of great lessons are on display that any job seeker, young or old, should take note of.
Here are just a few:
- Bring your resume! I know, I know. You submitted a copy of your resume during the online application process. You also forwarded a copy of it to your friend who hand delivered it to the hiring manager. And, you gave a copy to the HR person who called to setup your interview. But really, bring a copy. In fact, bring a bunch of copies. In most interviews, you are interviewed by more than one person. One is the hiring manager, and the others are doing the hiring manager a favor. Don’t assume everyone is going to print your resume. At the end of the day, you’re the one who looks unprepared!
- First impressions matter. Employers want to hire people they like. It’s hard to really tell who’s the most qualified in an interview. But, it’s easy to decide who you like the best. Dress to impress. Show up with your game face on. Pay attention to your posture, and speak confidently.
- Ask questions. Oh my gosh. It surprises me how often candidates don’t ask questions when they’re given the opportunity at the end of the interview. This is your chance to learn more. And, it’s an opportunity to show you’re prepared. Write your questions down and have them with you in a notebook. Not asking questions says one of two things– either you are disinterested, or you aren’t prepared. Both are bad. Ask questions!
- Stay calm. In many interviews today, you may be asked to do something to demonstrate your abilities. I have personally been asked to do the following in interviews: solve math problems, take an IQ test, take a personality test, write a computer program, build a website, and give a presentation about myself. You may not always know every answer, but keep a good attitude and you’ll do well.
- Prioritize. On the show, Gabrielle focused her energy on all of the things she wanted. She had a big list that included money, type of job, location, etc. Now, I’m not saying these are bad things. But! You’ve got to prioritize. It’s rare that every job you’ll be offered is exactly 100% of what you’re looking for — especially if you’re just starting out, or are changing careers.
- Don’t swear during your interview. Enough said.
- Don’t cry during your interview. This is also self-explanatory.
- Don’t ask about money! So many young people make this mistake. The interview is not at all the time to ask how much money you’ll be making. Don’t do it. It’s completely inappropriate. The time to talk about money is when an offer is extended to you. Wait until then.
As you can see, Gabrielle’s job search on “Job or No Job” provided some great insight and lessons we can all learn from. And good news, on her third interview, Gabrielle received a job offer from her favorite restaurant. Congrats Gabrielle!
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 | Aug 3, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
There’s probably been once or twice when you’ve thought of saying, “I quit!” and walking out of work. Or, better yet — just not going back again tomorrow. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could forget about your current job and just start over?
Unfortunately, it’s just not that easy. As much as you may hate to admit it, your current job will influence your next job and your job after that. Leaving a workplace is an art form.
In some cases, it may be fairly easy. But, in others, it can be very tricky. You’ll find that some of your coworkers treat your departure much like a breakup. There may be drama, and it’s possible there are people you’re close with now who you’ll never see again.
Keep it quiet
At times, looking for a job can feel like no big deal. You may think, “Everyone’s looking, right? What is there to hide?” But, think again. Telling your work buddy or cube-mate about your plans could get you into hot water. In many states, your employer can fire you for no reason. If your boss believes you’ve become disloyal to the company (because you’re searching for a new job), don’t expect to stay around for long. In fact, you could be fired the same day. Losing your job unexpectedly not only creates bad blood between you and your company — it takes away your power.
Tell your boss in person
When you have a new job offer, tell your boss about your new plans. But, wait until it’s in writing and signed. Keep in mind that this change could come as a surprise to your boss. Take the time to tell them first, and do it in person. Don’t let them hear rumors from other departments — and definitely don’t send an e-mail. Even if you don’t care for your boss, tell them in person.
Don’t give too much notice
This may sound counter-intuitive, but I don’t recommend giving an overly long period of notice. If you look closely, you’ll find that many top executives only give the required two weeks notice when they shift to a new company. Generally speaking, transitioning your work to someone new takes two to three weeks. Beyond that, you’ll find you will continue to work your normal job up to the two or three week mark. For example, if you give two months, chances are good that the transition won’t actually happen until the end. But, in that long period of notice, people will begin behaving differently. Knowing you’re leaving soon, they may act out toward you or try to take out their frustrations on you. It’s not a guaranteed outcome, but it’s definitely a possibility when you give more notice than what’s needed.
Do a great job — every single day
Your reputation is the most important thing you have career wise. The last few weeks of your employment with a company is not the time to slack off. Don’t leave your coworkers and old boss left to wonder if they really knew you or your work. Force yourself to show up on time, stay all day, and do your best work ever. Work hard to transition your projects to someone new. Your efforts will not go unnoticed.
Keep your negative thoughts to yourself
Often (or lets be honest — almost always), you leave a job because you’re not happy. If you were, you’d stay there. Makes sense, right? So, by the time you’ve found a new job, you may be ready to really tell it like it is. On top of that, once your coworkers know you’re leaving, a crazy thing starts to happen. Everyone starts to show up in your office. They want to know your gossip. They want to tell you their gossip. They want your help leaving their job. They want to tell you how unhappy they are. It’s amazing how much dirt you can learn in just the last few weeks with the company. But, be careful. Spreading rumors or talking trash about your employer is never helpful.
Think twice about exit interviews
Yep, you read that right. Exit interviews are often provided by Human Resources as an optional way to leave feedback about your experience. It’s presented as a positive thing, and many employees love participating. It gives them a chance to feel heard. But, beware of the potential trap. If you’re leaving because you dislike your boss, this is not the time to air your dirty laundry. First of all, your company probably already knows about your boss — and hey, the boss still works there. What good will your negative comments really do in the long run? What they may do however is burn a bridge between you and a former boss.
Don’t burn bridges
Even if you got your new job without the help of your current company, you will need them again at some point. Even if someone isn’t your favorite, keep the door open for future possibilities. Do your best not to write people off on your way out. And, realize that they may also be really unhappy at their jobs. Leaving the door open creates future opportunities you never even thought of.
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 | Jul 27, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
So often, job seekers assume salary is 100% tied to something as simple as how well they perform their job. We think the job market is a fair place, and our hard work will pay off. And, why shouldn’t we believe that? Our parents and grandparents taught us that we should find a good company to work at for thirty or more years. As long as we worked hard, the company would give us a generous retirement and we’d never have to worry.
Unfortunately, this is often not the case in today’s job market. Compensation is more of a reflection on two things that are not at all related to hard work. The first is your skill at negotiation, and the second is your willingness to change jobs. Almost always, you will receive much larger raises over time if you switch companies than if you wait for your current company to recognize you for your hard work.
When you decide you’re ready to look for a new job and make more money, your negotiation ability will strongly influence how much you walk away with. The good news is negotiation is easier than you might think. Even if you’ve never tried it, you can learn. And, to become better at it, the number one thing you need is practice.
But, there are a few guidelines you should know before you get started:
- Do your research – Before you begin a negotiation (or really, an interview), do your homework! Find out how much your new job should pay. Websites like Salary.com and Glassdoor.com often allow you to research as far down as a particular position at a certain company in a specific city. Realize that companies can offer a wide range of pay for one particular position. For example, project managers can make anywhere from $50,000 per year to $150,000 per year. Understand the range for the job you’re considering.
- Don’t reveal your number first – Providing your salary history to the company you’re interviewing with is almost never helpful to you. If you make less than the company is planning to offer, they will give you less. If you make more, they may walk away too quickly, assuming you’ll be expensive. In early conversations, the hiring manager, recruiter, or human resources representative will often ask you how much you are currently making. Do your best to sidestep the question of salary. If possible, ask the company to share their range with you.
- Know your limits – If you are currently unemployed, you may feel desperate to find a job right away. If you have a great job, you may be able to wait a year or more to find your next gig. Take into account your personal situation, including your family and children. Determine ahead of time how risky you want to be. The more you’re able to risk, the more you may gain. But, if you don’t have anything to risk, you may want to play your negotiation on the safe side.
- Keep fear at bay – Fear is one of the biggest reasons many people don’t negotiate for more money. All sorts of questions will run through their heads. What if the company says no? What if they take the offer away? What if they laugh at me, or think my request is too much? Keep this in mind – it doesn’t surprise employers that you want to negotiate. As long as you’re respectful in your request, they will respond with an equal amount of respect. Companies cannot always honor your exact request, but they won’t take the offer away from you. If you ask for more and they say no, it will be up to you to decide if you would like to accept their original offer or not.
- Be willing to walk away – If your risk tolerance is quite high, this can be one of the strongest and most effective tools in negotiation. Be willing to turn down an offer if it’s not right. If you cannot come to an agreement with your future employer, thank them and move on. Just having this mindset will let the company know you’re not desperate for work. You’re a top performer, and you expected to be compensated as such. If something doesn’t work out, avoid hard feelings and move on. Your next big offer could be right around the corner, and you may find another opportunity to work together in the future.
At the end of the day, companies expect you to negotiate. Frankly, they respect it. A hiring manager will never give you their best offer first. They leave wiggle room, so they can move up when you ask for more.
Before you negotiate, be sure you know your facts. Take notes about the reasons you feel you deserve more money. Focus on things like the revenue you’ll add to the bottom line, and stay away from personal arguments such as the number of children you have.
Practice your negotiation in the same way you would practice your elevator pitch. The more you try it, the less nervous you’ll feel and the more prepared you will be. And, remember – practice makes perfect. If your first few negotiations feel rocky, learn from them and move on. Your next negotiation will be that much better!
Although this process can be an uncomfortable one, you will find the five or ten minutes required for a negotiation can add thousands of dollars per year – and possibly hundreds of thousands over the course of your lifetime! Take the time to learn to negotiate; you won’t regret it.
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 | Jul 20, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
The job search process has changed tremendously in the last fifteen years. Twenty years ago, it wasn’t uncommon to walk into a business to present your resume for an opportunity. Today, a company might be surprised if you delivered your resume in person. In fact, most of your job search happens online.
And, interestingly, most of the tools you need to look for a job are inside your pocket with you right now – on your smart phone. In the Apple App Store alone, there are more than 500 apps available for download when you look up “job searching.”
Here are a few of the job apps I have on my phone today. Give them a try — they just might help!
LinkedIn – The app is a scaled down version of what’s available on the LinkedIn website. You can edit your profile, join groups, send messages, and apply for jobs. Best of all, the app allows you to search the contacts from your phone to see who else you know is also on LinkedIn.
Indeed – Much like the Indeed website, you’ll have the option to search and apply for jobs. You can also easily peruse employer reviews. This app is very straightforward and easy to use. It’s a great place to search for jobs if you find yourself looking during the day while you’re at work.
Glassdoor – Glassdoor works much like Indeed, but with added functionality. You can also search salaries by title and city. That’s right — you can find out how much certain positions pay in Memphis. You’ll also find sample interview questions to help you prepare.
Jobr – Jobr is a newer app that’s described as a “mobile job discovery and matching platform that connects corporate recruiters and hiring managers with a rapidly growing base of talented candidates. Companies can connect with a wide range of hard-to-reach passive, neutral and active candidates who are leaders in their respective fields and have matriculated from top universities.”
Jobr works for jobs much like Tinder works for dating. It’s an easy to use swipe app. I’m still new to this app and hope to share more about it with you very soon.
I hope you enjoy these apps. They can certainly enhance your job search. But, don’t forget the basics. Your smart phone is also a great place to send e-mails, and make real life person to person phone calls. Using your existing contacts to search is the most effective way to look for a job.
A recent survey by CareerXroads estimated that only 15% of people find jobs online. That means that 85% found them somewhere else — like through a friend or colleague.
The bottom line is — technology will help your search, but you still have to do the heavy lifting.
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 | Jul 13, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
When you picture your perfect company, what kinds of things come to mind? Do you value 401-K matching, extra vacation, or something more?
I graduated from college during the dot com bust. But, when the boom was still in full swing, companies raved about their amazing employee perks.
Things have changed a lot since then, but many companies are still providing extra benefits in order to lure in the best and the brightest. Many times, they’re targeting millennials — workers who crave more than just money.
This trend is especially true in the world of technology. And, Google may be the king of offering extras. Just look at this list of some of the things Googlers are provided at work:
- Free haircuts
- Free gym, and swimming pool
- Ping pong, billards, and foosball tables
- Laundry and dry cleaning services
- On-site medical staff
- Subsidized massages
- Special projects program
- Childcare
- Free food
- Shuttle service
- Guest speakers
At first glance, these perks seem amazing. And, many are. For example, who wouldn’t want free food at work?
But, reflecting back to my college graduation, I remember evaluating many companies with these benefits. In all honestly, I ran in the other direction the moment I’d see a list of perks like this.
“Why?” you might wonder. Well, it always seemed to me that these perks were designed to get you to stay at work longer. At some point, having so many social activities at your job can begin to blur the line between your time and your company’s time.
It made me wonder what my personal life would be like, or if there would be any left to speak of. Working in the world of the internet, this is a big concern. When you work on a website, especially if it’s consumer facing (and even more so if it generates revenue), you’re expected to be available 24 x 7.
You heard that right. The internet must always always work. It has to. No excuses. It’s like Las Vegas, a hotel, or a gas station. It’s one of those places you can spend money any time of day you like. In the case of the internet, you can also do it from anywhere in the world. And, as an employee for a website company, you’ve got to be sure everything works, all the time – no matter what.
As much as I’ve avoided these all encompassing work environments, my own career in the internet world — and in management have taught me a few valuable lessons.
I recently spoke about my personal experience with Sue Shellenbarger from the Wall Street Journal. I shared how after work activities strained a personal relationship with an ex-boyfriend. This experience was a lesson that’s helped me to advise others who struggle to find work life balance.
Sue writes– “She advises clients in her current work as a career coach to pay attention to the impact of job-related socializing on spouses and partners, and to consider turning down events that risk damaging those bonds. Ms. Copeland also advises clients to manage their off-work time based on their long-term personal priorities and life goals, rather than the day-to-day pressures of work.”
To read Sue’s entire piece and to learn more about how these issues personally impacted me, check out the Wall Street Journal here.
In the end, the most important thing is this. Take the time to evaluate what’s really important to you. Don’t trade in your personal life for something silly like free haircuts or free lunch. After all, lunch is never really free, right?
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 | Jul 6, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
I hope you had a wonderful and safe weekend. Over my weekend, I really started thinking about something. What are you an expert in? How many things have you truly mastered in life?
For example, you must know how to cook a little in order to survive day to day. But, is your food the quality of a professional chef? If your job disappeared tomorrow, and you were told the only job available to you was cooking in a restaurant, how would that work out?
Similarly, you might like to travel – domestically, and maybe even internationally. But, how good are you at booking travel? Do you know about all sorts of hotels, travel visas, and the best restaurants?
In both of these examples, the chances are pretty good that you would much prefer to be the customer. You probably aren’t a professional chef, or so skilled with travel booking that you could take it on as a full time job.
You’re probably wondering where I’m going with this. Well, this is what I was thinking…
Was it is that you ARE an expert at? After graduating from college, I became an IT project manager and business analyst at FedEx. Some of the things that make an IT project manager good at their job include:
- Very well organized planner
- Ability to write business requirements
- Good at leading meetings, and mitigating conflict
- Understands the software development life cycle
Now, let’s contrast this list with what makes someone good at looking for a job:
- Well spoken, and presents well
- Comfortable explaining own work history
- Good at presenting online, in both a resume and LinkedIn profile
- Great at networking with people at other companies
This is a short list of just a few things. But, they’re clearly very different skills. The skills needed to be a good project manager are in many ways different than those required to be a great job seeker.
And, to become a true expert at something, you do it every day. This is what happens with your full time job.
But, when you’re tasked with something you only do rarely, like planning a luxury vacation, you either get by doing the minimum with your existing skills, or you contact a professional to help you. You know you’ll never be the best at it because you don’t do it all the time. And, that’s okay because your career’s future doesn’t depend on how well you cook, or how great your travel reservations are.
Unfortunately, when it comes to job seeking, this is not the case. How good you are at job searching can have a major impact on your future — both in the type of job you have, and the amount of money you make. But, how can you be an expert at something you only do once every five years (for as short of a time as possible)?
So often, job seekers fail to recognize this core issue. I hear from people who say, “The companies just don’t like me!” Or, “They must not think I can do this job!”
You know, the job seeker could be totally right. The company may hate them. The company may completely think they’re unqualified. Or, judge them based on some part of their work or personal history.
Alternatively, it’s equally possible (if not more so) that nobody’s seeing the job seeker’s resume at all. It’s possible that the resume never makes it out of the online system (otherwise known as the “applicant tracking system”). Did you know that very often, a human never even sees your resume?
Does the fact that you don’t have a lot of practice looking for a job mean that you aren’t good at doing the actual job? No, in fact, in might mean just the opposite. If you haven’t looked for a job much, it could be because you’ve been really happy at your current job – or because hiring managers have always recruited you first.
So, it’s possible that you’re really great at your job – but, not so great at finding a job. As I mentioned above, they’re two different skill sets. Does that make sense?
Anyhow, before you give up on your search – or get too frustrated (or take a fallback job), try to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. That frustration you’re feeling is probably not a reflection of how good you are at what you’re doing. It may very well be with the job searching process.
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
