Stop hiding behind your internet browser.

by Angela Copeland | Apr 27, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter

When I meet with a new job seeker, I can assess pretty quickly how easy or difficult their job search may be. It’s clear if the entire thing may be painful for them, and how long it might really take. You may wonder how I’m able to do this.

Is it the candidate’s education that tips me off?

Is it their awesome work history?

Their stellar college grade point average?

Their height, weight, or wardrobe?

No. It’s none of these things. None.

The number one top indicator of success for job searching is tied to fear. You heard me: FEAR.

Even the most accomplished of individuals feel it. It’s a lot like the fear of rejection when you go on a first date. The unknown alone can make you want to stay home in your comfortable slippers and robe, hiding behind your television and watching a movie.

Candidates who have the fastest success are those who release their fear, including:

• Fear of being rejected by a company
• Fear of applying for the wrong job
• Fear of meeting new people
• Fear of failing at an interview
• Fear of looking dumb

Does letting go of the fear mean the person doesn’t ever fail? No. It doesn’t.

It does mean however that they reframe their situation. They open themselves up to possibilities. And, when they do fail, they realize that it’s just practice for the next time.

And, after enough practice, they knock it out of the park. Every time.

Unfortunately, in today’s world of the internet, we’re able to calm our job search fears in a way that seems totally logical.

The new normal is for a company to ask you to apply online. Even if you can get someone on the phone from human resources, they will undoubtedly ask you to send your resume via their website.

This easy process allows you to not put yourself out there. You send your resume online, and soon forget about the entire thing. And, interestingly enough, the company forgets about you too.

The number one way to land a job is through networking. Think about it. How did you get your last job? Chances are pretty good, you didn’t just apply online. You probably knew someone. Or, you reached out to the company.

This kind of in person reaching out is risky. It’s where rejection happens. It’s where fear lives.

But, it’s also where success happens. If you can put away your fear, at least temporarily, you’ll find your job search will go much faster, and much more smoothly. You’ll find more success. And, you’ll get better offers than those who are smarter, have more experience, and are more attractive. Why? Because, you’re the one who’s set your fear aside and opened yourself up to new possibilities.

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

How to be the best supportive spouse to an unemployed partner.

by Angela Copeland | Apr 13, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter

One of the most stressful times in a romantic relationship can often be when one partner is looking for a new job. This is particularly true if the job seeking spouse is unemployed. Whether they were laid off, fired, or quit their previous job, the entire situation can be tense. Especially if the pair depends on the unemployed partner’s income to pay the bills.

This week, I received a question about how to be a supportive spouse. After all, being the spouse of an unemployed person is not a situation we’ve all been in before. There’s always a first time.

Over the years, I have worked with many married job seekers. Surprisingly, one of the biggest stressors can often be their spouse, and not the actual job search.

Fear of Failure

The job seeker is worried about disappointing their spouse by selecting the “wrong” position. Because they feel like they’ve failed at their last workplace, the job seeker may be especially open to negative criticism at this time. And, those around them may want to give feedback about what they might not be good at in the future. People often say things like, “I would like to be a salesperson, but my wife says I’d be bad at it. I’m not sure what to do.” As you can imagine, this can put unnecessary pressure on the job seeker.

Recommendation: Step back and allow the job seeker to pursue their own path to success. Realize that there may be twists and turns along the way.

Conflicting Agendas

Some spouses also pressure their partner with their own goals and agenda, leaving the job seeker wondering if they’re doing the right thing. For example, the job seeker may want to take a part time job, so they can spend time with their family. At the same time, their spouse may prefer they find a high paying job that might pay for lavish vacations or a summer home.

Recommendation: Try to keep an open line of communication with your partner. Do your best to be supportive and understanding of your partner’s personal career goals, even if they are not the same as yours.

Speed and Timing

Moving through unemployment and into a new job is a process. It can take time to process what happened at the previous job, start to network again for the first time in years, and then land a job. The employed spouse is often under the impression that getting a job should be no big deal. It should be quick and painless. In reality, getting over losing your job takes time. And, the economy has struggled for years.

Recommendation: Have an open and honest conversation with your spouse about goals and timing. Establish expectations together for how long job seeking should take, on both an aggressive and conservative timeframe.

Emotional Support

More important than any other part of the process, the job seeker needs to know they have your support. Looking for a job involves an unusually high level of rejection and self-doubt. If you’re the spouse of a job seeker, the best first step is to be a good listener. Job seekers often need someone to bounce their ideas and concerns of off in a supportive, private environment.

Recommendation: Take the time to listen to your spouse’s worries. Do your best to be supportive and leave your judgement at the door.

Simply put, job seeking is a stressful process for both the job seeker and the spouse. Do your best to be supportive and to not discourage your spouse from their dreams. Job seeking is such a private endeavor that the spouse may be the only sounding board the job seeker has. Remember: the less stressful a job search is, the faster your unemployed spouse will find a new career.

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

You’re making yourself look old. And, you don’t even know it.

by Angela Copeland | Apr 6, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter

There’s something you may be doing every day that’s making you look old. And, you probably have no idea what it is.

It’s not your clothes, or your hairstyle, or the AOL e-mail address you’re using (although those aren’t helping either!).

What you’re doing is subtle, and worst of all, it’s the way you were taught to do things in school. How could or why would someone teach you to do something incorrectly? All I can say is this — the times have changed… possibly without you.

Now, before I get on a high horse, let me just tell you– I learned this lesson the hard way. I want to keep you from learning it the hard way too. Because, it’s very possible nobody else will point it out to you. They’ll just talk about you when you’re not around or wonder to themselves about your intelligence.

This sounds like a big deal, doesn’t it?

Well, this is how I learned my lesson the hard way: When I first launched Copeland Coaching, I wrote my e-book, “Breaking The Rules & Getting The Job.” I used a recommended, fantastic editor who read over the 100 or so draft pages I wrote. She combed through every page in detail, with great care.

When she was finished, I asked for general feedback on my writing style. I had never used a professional editor before and was very interested in learning as much as I could. She said something that I never expected to hear. “The one thing you really need to stop doing is that you use two spaces after your periods.”

Wait, what? Nothing about my writing style? Two periods instead of one? But, the teachers in school drilled two periods into my head. This must just be a minor creative difference, I thought. I left the e-book with double spaces and never looked back.

About six months later, I had a meeting with the wonderful newspaper I write a column for. I had been writing the column for a few months and with professional writers and editors in the room I again asked the question, “Is there anything I could do to improve my writing style?”

One of the people cringed. He said something along the lines of, “Your writing style is good. But, there’s one thing that would be great if you could stop doing. You use two periods at the ends of your sentences. We always delete them.”

This stopped me in my tracks. My mind began to spin. How in the world was this really a thing? How was it a big deal? How is it a pet peeve of professional writers? Where did I go wrong?

From the best that I can gather, two spaces were taught for years in school. At some point in time, the standard changed and one space became the norm. Unless you write for a living, you probably weren’t told about the change.

Simply put– your two spaces are dating you. I suspect you’re like me and don’t know. Anytime I tell a client about this standard, they’re always surprised: A. that this is a thing, and B. that anyone cares. They probably ignore my suggestion in this area just like I ignored my first editor.

This week, a friend posted on Facebook about this pet peeve with a link to a recent article on Slate.com. It inspired me to write this e-mail to you. Here’s how the article begins: “Can I let you in on a secret? Typing two spaces after a period is totally, completely, utterly, and inarguably wrong.” The author goes on to say, “What galls me about two-spacers is…”

What I’m getting at here is one space versus two spaces is apparently a very controversial issue. And, we’re being judged. If you’re out there applying for jobs, do what I’ve done and switch to one space. Don’t over think it. Just do it. After some practice, it will become more normal. And, it will prevent you from being the gossip of those who are more up on writing than the average person — and who somehow ties your knowledge of this fact to your intelligence.

If you were someone who wasn’t aware of this issue, I’d love to hear from you. Or, if this is also your pet peeve, I want to know. E-mail me your story at Angela@CopelandCoaching.com.

Also, don’t forget about the Multicultural Career Expo this Sunday, April 12th from NOON to 5 PM at Hilton Memphis. The event is free and open to the public. Both full time job and internship seekers are encouraged to attend. To learn more, and to register online, visit the Multicultural Career Expo website at www.CareerExpoMemphis.com.

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

Stealthy Job Seeking

by Angela Copeland | Mar 16, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter

At times, job seeking can feel like an undercover spy movie. After all, if your boss were to find out you’re looking for a new job, your current job could come to an end.

Although it may seem silly at times, the importance of using discretion in your search can truly not be overstated. Here are a few tips on keeping your search under wraps.

1. Don’t tell your coworkers – At work, we often befriend our coworkers. In some cases, they were our friends before we started working at our company. We have built trust in them and so we feel like we can share the burning thing on our minds – we’re looking for a job. But, beware! Your friend is still your coworker. They may feel the obligation to protect their own job by telling the company you’re looking. Or, they may have a tough time keeping secrets. Either way, if your news gets out too soon, you could be without a job.
2. Don’t tip them off with LinkedIn – This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be updating your LinkedIn profile. In fact, you should – all the time. The fact that a few things have changed here and there shouldn’t be unusual. But, if you are doing a mass update, ensure that your notifications are turned off. Have you ever received an e-mail from LinkedIn that a friend has received a promotion, or has a new title? These notifications go out automatically when you update your profile if you don’t specify in your preferences that you don’t want them to be sent. While you’re looking for a job, take the time to turn off these notifications.
3. Be discrete when you tell friends you’re looking – Often at dinner parties or networking events, we update our friends on our careers. These social gatherings can often be a good time to let those around you know you’re looking. But, if you do disclose your status, do it quietly and carefully. The last thing you want is to become the center of gossip that finds its way back to your office.
4. Don’t post your grievances on social media – Let’s face it. If things were perfect at work, you probably wouldn’t be looking. Even if your Facebook wall is private and even if you aren’t friends with coworkers there, do not post negative things about your boss, coworkers, or workplace. And, keep any interviews to yourself. The world is small. You’d be surprised at how quickly things can get back.
5. Don’t suddenly begin dressing formally at work – One of the biggest visual clues that you’re looking is how you’re dressing. If you typically wear jeans and a polo shirt to work and you’ve started wearing suits every day, people are going to wonder what’s up. If you have an interview during the workday, consider packing your suit in your car. Worst case scenario, you can change in a public restroom after you leave work, on your way to the interview.
6. Be consistent – Even though you may be tired of your job and sure you’re going to land another one soon, keep delivering the same quality of work you always have. Show up at the same time. Leave at the same time. Produce good quality work. First, this will keep people from suspecting you’re looking. Second, it’s important to maintain your integrity as you wrap up one job for the next.

Last, but not least, be prepared to let it roll off your back if someone suspects you’re looking for a job and brings it up to you. When I worked in corporate, I would often wear a suit to work. About five years ago, I was walking through the hallway at work when a C-level executive stopped me. “Wow! You look great! Do you have an interview today?!” I quickly (and casually replied), “Every day’s an interview!” The executive was so impressed with my response that he completely forgot his original question. Truth be told, I DID have an interview that day! But, I was able to dodge being discovered because I had been wearing suits to work frequently and I didn’t react when asked about it.

Being a stealthy interviewer is both helpful to your job search – and to preserving your current job. Just because you’re interviewing, there’s no guarantee you’ll get (or want) an offer from a particular organization. Keep things quiet to protect your current position and future opportunities.

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

Leaving Effective Voicemail Messages

by Angela Copeland | Mar 9, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter

One of my biggest pet peeves is bad voicemail messages. I’m not when my distaste for voicemails started, but it has really ramped up in the past few years.

Maybe it’s because we’ve started using e-mail and text messaging so much. Our standards for leaving a voicemail may have been forgotten.

But, your ability to leave a great voicemail will still impact whether or not you’ll get a callback. Leave a bad message and the receiver will delete it. This could impact your job search, you current role, and even personal relationships.

Here are a few tips for leaving an awesome voicemail message:

1. Be brief – The worst kind of voicemail you can leave is one that’s too long. Practice leaving short, concise messages that get to the point quickly. I prefer to keep mine at twenty seconds or less. If you’re leaving two-minute messages, there’s a good they aren’t being listened to all the way through.
2. Leave your full name – So often, I hear voicemails similar to, “Hey! This is Jack. Give me a call back.” There are many common first names. Leave both your first and your last name, so the receiver can identify you. Even if your name is unique, the person you’re calling may need to look you up to remember who you are or how you’re connected. Unless you’re calling your grandma, don’t assume the other person will know who you are by just your first name.
3. Leave your phone number – This one is becoming a bigger issue every day. Have you ever forwarded your desk phone to your cell phone? Have you ever used a Google Voice line? In both of these scenarios, there’s a chance the receiver’s caller ID won’t pick up your phone number. I know it may sound crazy, but it’s true. In fact, I run into this issue with my own business line. Because of my setup, if a client calls me, I won’t see their phone number. I won’t get into the setup details of why I’m doing it this way, but suffice it to say, I get lots of voicemails with no phone number in them. When you don’t leave your phone number, you’re forcing the receiver to do research to figure out how to get back in touch with you. It greatly reduces the likelihood that they’ll call you back.
4. Explain why you’re calling (briefly) – Help out the person you’re calling. Let them know why you’re calling, and be straight forward. This morning, I received a general message to the effect of, “Angela, this is Jill. We spoke last year and I’m calling to reconnect.” I searched everywhere for Jill and couldn’t find her in my records or online. I was honestly hesitant to call her back at all. When I did, she wanted to sell me something. It was completely disappointing that Jill didn’t leave her reason for calling in the first place.
5. Look for patterns – Let’s be honest. With the changes in technology over the past twenty years, different people communicate differently. Certain age ranges seem more likely to want to text over calling, for example. Also, different kinds of jobs make someone more or less able to take calls in the middle of the day. If you notice that a person responds better to e-mails, you may want to skip the phone and go straight for e-mail. And, if you really need to get in touch with them, consider setting up a time to talk via e-mail. For me, this kind of communication is especially effective. Given that I’m in client meetings all day, it’s rare that I’m able to pick up the phone when it rings. I know this is also true for many other people.

Those are my five tips for more effective voicemail messages. Give these a try and your colleagues will thank you. And even better, they’ll call you back!

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