by Angela Copeland | Jun 1, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
One issue I face often in my coaching practice is the MBA — Master of Business Administration. Some clients wonder if they should get one. Others wonder why their MBA isn’t worth more.
Typically, if you’re going back to school for a MBA, it’s for one of a handful of reasons:
- You want to transition your career into a new field (from engineering to marketing, for example)
- You want to learn the skills necessary for management
- You want to use it to work your way up the ladder
It’s typically not just because you want to learn for the sake of learning. MBA candidates are looking for value.
So, how do you decide if you should go back?
Recently, I’ve encountered a number of MBA grads who have been very disappointed with their degrees.
Why? Because their employers don’t take them seriously. They spent lots of time and money earning them, and nobody cares. They didn’t get a raise. Future employers don’t acknowledge their new degrees. It’s like they never went back.
How could this be? Are MBAs just not worth anything anymore?
I believe they are still worth something. But, you need to make your decisions carefully. There have been many for profit institutions in the news lately for questionable practices. When you select a school, first look to be sure yours has positive press.
Then, ask the school for their “post graduation report.” Most schools publish how much their graduates are making, and which companies they’re working for. Compare the average starting salary to how much you’re making now. Is it considerably more? If not, you may want to look at a different school.
Think hard before picking an online program. Taking classes from the comfort of your home can be attractive. But, don’t be fooled. A big part of what you get from your MBA is:
- Learning from in person class discussions with your classmates
- A solid network that you can reach out to in the future
MBA school is not just about what you can learn from books. And, employers know that.
If you do an online only MBA, make sure it’s a very reputable one. Otherwise, you may find yourself in the camp with the folks who find their MBA to be worthless.
It’s also important to consider the total ROI for a MBA program. For example, when I went to Pepperdine, I quit my full-time job and moved to LA. I didn’t work during my 15-month program. To cover my personal expenses and tuition, I saved money in advance and took out student loans.
It was important for me to look at whether forgoing my salary for over a year and taking on student loan debt made financial sense. For me, it did. Upon graduation, my market value had doubled. Talk about a quick ROI.
To calculate the potential return of the program you’re considering, you can look online for a MBA school ROI calculator. Here’s one that Forbes has on their website.
A MBA can completely change the path of your career in a positive way. But, it can also be a total bust. Before you enroll in a program, do your homework to ensure that the program you select really will meet your goals, and reasons for going 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
by Angela Copeland | May 18, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter, Personal Brand
One of the questions I’m asked over and over again is, “What should I wear?” What should I wear to an interview? What should I wear to work? When should I dress up or down?
The answer to this question can be tricky. When I started my career in engineering, I wore a golf shirt, khaki pants, and steel-toed boots. As a project manager, I wore business casual most days. As a member of corporate management, I often wore a suit.
In a way, what you wear to work is as much a costume as anything else. It’s what you put on to be taken seriously each day. It’s what allows you to fit into your environment.
On one hand, you want to be yourself. On the other, your number one goal at work isn’t to make friends. It’s to get things done.
And, unfortunately, people judge you for what you wear. So, what should you wear?
When it comes to interviews, a good rule of thumb is to find someone on the inside to quietly ask in advance. If you’re interviewing at a corporation or traditional business, a suit is often the correct choice. Stick with neutral colors in your suit, your shoes, and your makeup.
But, if you’re interviewing at an advertising agency or a start-up, the full suit look could really turn folks off. Consider something slightly less formal, and with creative accents. Add a little more color than you would at a corporation to show creativity is part of your brand.
When it comes to day to day wear, it’s often best to take hints from those around you. In a creative environment, you will want your style to look more up to date. Similar to when you were interviewing, you’ll want to add in more color, more creativity, and more of your personal brand.
But, if you work at a corporate, beware. It may seem fun to stand out initiatlly. You may be known as the one with the interesting hair, crazy shoes, or big tattoos. But, it’s likely in a corporate environment that’s all you’ll ever be. That person with the unusual look. It’s less likely you’ll be considered for promotions or management roles if you don’t fit into the corporate culture.
It’s sad, but true.
Now, I’m not trying to tell you not to be yourself. If you have no career aspirations of moving up, by all means, wear what you feel the most at home in.
But, if you plan to move ahead, you need to consider your wardrobe carefully. Selecting the wrong “personal brand” for your environment can sideline you in a way you never expect, and may never know for sure. It’s rare that someone will be truly honest with you if your style is causing you to be overlooked.
Again, I’m not encouraging you to not be yourself. But, consider your environment and think of your goals. Remember you’re at work to make a living, not to make friends. Friends are a great bonus, but you also need to stay focused on your goals. And, sometimes, especially in corporate, part of reaching that goal is being able to fit in along the way.
If you do have a strong personal identity that clashes with your work, remember that you can always wear your favorite clothes at home, outside of the office.
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 | May 11, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
Congratulations to all the newly minted graduates out there! Whether you have completed your undergraduate degree, or another degree, you should be proud! School takes a tremendous amount of time, energy, and money.
Now that you’re starting a new chapter, the next question is — What are the best (and worst) jobs?
I had the opportunity to speak with Marybeth Conley and Alex Coleman this week on Live @ 9 about just this topic!
WalletHub.com recently released a report of the best and worst jobs. Essentially, they assessed over 100 different types of entry-level jobs. The jobs were rated on key metrics including: average starting salary, number of job openings, unemployment rate, projected job growth, income growth potential, fatal injuries, and long work hours.
Overall, jobs that are rated highly include different types of engineering, law, and analyst positions. Many of the jobs were focused around the STEM fields — science, technology, engineering, and math.
Computer related jobs were also rated very highly. Unfortunately, the study found that approximately 17% of those jobs will be cut by 2022. This is likely due to efficiencies being created, along with the outsourcing of tech jobs to other countries.
The jobs rated lower on Wallet Hub’s report were more labor intensive, with longer hours, and a higher risk for physical injury. Included on the list were sheet metal mechanic, welder, and floor assembler.
Although money isn’t everything — it’s surprising just how much jobs can vary in salary. For example, a tax attorney makes 6 TIMES that of a teaching assistant. And, a drilling engineer makes 5 TIMES more than a bank teller.
In fact, most universities publish what’s called a “post graduation report.” They list by major how much their average graduates are making in their first year after graduation.
The University of Memphis reports that some of their top paying majors are engineering, computer science, and nursing. Christian Brothers University reports a few of their top majors are finance and engineering.
But, you may wonder — what does “top paying major” really mean? Well, many of the engineering students at the University of Memphis are reporting starting salaries above $50,000. On the other hand, philosophy majors have starting salaries just over $17,000.
This is a huge gap! And, for a degree that costs roughly the same amount of money in student loans to earn.
Check other schools too. You’d be surprised at how much starting salaries between schools can vary for the very same majors. For example, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY reports that their average computer science major’s first job out of college pays over $85,000. Chemical engineers from RPI are starting out above $75,000, and business majors are starting above $59,000.
The purpose of checking multiple schools is to understand the projected return on investment for each program. In the end, you want to find the school with the highest value. Ideally, you want to find the program with the lowest tuition offering the highest starting salary.
If you’ve already graduated with a particular degree (and most of us have!), it may be too late to switch careers to one of these highly specialized jobs like engineering or law. But, if you’re still deciding, if you’re considering going back to school, or if you have children who are deciding, this can be useful information. It makes your decision more about facts and results, and less about a random choice.
To watch my interview on WREG Live @ 9 about the best and worst jobs for graduates, click here.
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 | May 4, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
You’d be surprised at how often someone says, “Angela, I’ve decided to go back to school. My resume just doesn’t have the right education to land me the job I want. I know my current degree is standing in my way.”
Don’t get me wrong; I’m a big supporter of higher education. I earned bachelor and master’s degrees from well-respected institutions, and I can attest that my degrees have been a huge help to me.
But, if you’ve already completed your education and have been in the workforce for some time, you may want to take a second look at this idea.
Why are you considering going back to school? Is it because you love to learn? Do you want to switch to a field like legal, medical, or architecture where specific degrees are required? Or, do you believe that a new degree will transform your job search?
If you like to learn, or if a degree is required in your new field, I’m with you. I understand why you want to go back.
If you don’t want to work in a field where a specific degree is required, and you do believe your job search will be transformed, it’s time to ask a few questions.
The reason I say this is because all too often, people spend years of their time and many thousands of their dollars financing a second education. Upon graduation, they’re surprised to find out their search is just as tough as it was before. But, now, they have student loans to pay back.
No matter which degree you have, finding the right job is still hard work.
If you’re thinking of returning to school, here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- Why do I want to go back to school? Again, do you want to learn, is a degree required, or are you betting that a new degree will change your odds?
- Is a degree really required for the new field I want to get into? Setup informational interviews with people in the field you want to work in. Ask them about how they got there. Find out what they studied in college and graduate school.
- How well respected is the school I want to attend? So many people I speak with have obtained an advanced degree through an online program. After graduation, they’re shocked to learn that many employers don’t recognize their hard work. They don’t get a promotion or a pay raise.
- What’s the average salary of graduates from my desired program? Many universities share the starting salaries of their graduates with the public. When you begin to compare them, you’ll be surprised at how wide the range is, depending on the school you select.
- What is the return on investment for this program? There are many calculators online to help you with this question. You give up money for tuition, and sometimes you’re giving up a paycheck while you’re in school, and all as you pay for yourself to live. How much will you have to sacrifice financially to go back to school? How much will you gain in return (a.k.a. a salary bump) upon graduation?
- Is my job search truly going to be impacted by a new degree? Be honest with yourself. Are you failing at your search because of your education, or because of your approach?
- Do I have realistic expectations? Do you clearly understand what you’re giving up, what your goals are, and what you expect long term from your degree? Have you thought through this decision carefully?
If you feel comfortable with your responses to these questions, by all means, go back to school. In fact, start applying soon as many deadlines are fast approaching. But, do your best to not allow education to be the crutch that’s holding you back from pursuing the job of your dreams. Going back to school for the wrong reasons is a very expensive lesson to learn.
On tomorrow’s episode of the Copeland Coaching Podcast, I interview Roger Johnson, Director of Individual Giving at the Seattle International Film Festival. Roger started his own career in a very different area and has since worked for a number of organizations. Check out the podcast on Tuesday to learn how Roger was able to switch to from one industry to another, and from for-profit to non-profit. It just might inspire your own search!
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 | 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
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
