by Angela Copeland | Jan 19, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
It’s a New Year, and you’re one year older than last year. You may have signed up for a new gym membership and are watching what you eat. If you’re like most people, getting older isn’t a fun idea.
When you’re interviewing, you may even find that your age is causing people to judge you. You may even feel discriminated against. Even though companies aren’t supposed to take things like age into account, what can you do?
You cannot change their thinking, but you can change how you present yourself. If you want to avoid being labeled as “too old” in your next interview, consider these tips:
- Get an up to date e-mail address. I know I’ve mentioned this a few times, but I can’t emphasize it enough. Having an e-mail address that ends in “AOL.com” screams out that you’re either older or very technology challenged.
- Update your look. If you’re actively interviewing, ensure that your clothes are up to date in terms of style. Check to be sure your hair, makeup, and shoes are all up to date as well. Have a friend or family member help to give you an unbiased opinion.
- Don’t include all jobs. On your resume and on LinkedIn, you don’t have to include every job you’ve ever held. Unless you’re trying to highlight something special, you can consider limiting your experience to the last ten to fifteen years. Dropping off your first job can help to quickly drop off years.
- Remove your graduation years. Did you know that you don’t have to include the year you graduated on your resume? That’s right! By removing your graduation years, it’s harder for an employer to quickly calculate your age. But when you do, remove these years from LinkedIn and Facebook too.
- Remove the year you were born from Facebook. Facebook requires you to provide your birthdate, but you get to decide whether or not it’s public information. At a minimum, hide the year. Employers will look you up on Facebook when you’re interviewing.
- Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date. You don’t want to fall into the camp of those who never learned LinkedIn, so are choosing to opt-out of it. LinkedIn is a necessity for job searching.
This list may seem like tiny details, but in reality it’s these details that are the social cues to let someone know how old you are. By reducing the ability to guess your age, you will increase the chances someone will assume you’re younger – and the chances that you’ll be discriminated against in your job search.
And — if you have questions about your job search that you’d like me to address in an upcoming newsletter, please send me an e-mail at Angela@CopelandCoaching.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. Thanks.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | Jan 12, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
I hope you’re managing to stay warm today! In the past week, the temperatures have really gone down considerably. Hopefully, you’re taking advantage of the time inside and are focused on what else – your job search!
One topic that becomes very important during job searching is your e-mail etiquette. When you miss the boat on your e-mail communications, it’s rare that anyone will tell you directly. But, rest assured—they noticed and they’re talking about it.
Avoid being that person and take the time to consider the recommendations below. They’re very simple, and they will help tremendously.
- Upgrade your e-mail account. If you’re still stuck in the days of AOL, Comcast, or any older provider, it’s time to upgrade to Gmail or a similar service. If you’ve had your personal e-mail address for over 10 years, this may be you. Your e-mail address can indicate a few things – one being your age, and one being your level of sophistication when it comes to technology. Stay up to date to keep from being judged.
- Select a professional e-mail address. Stay away from e-mail addresses that include your birth year or graduation year. They provide unnecessary information about your age. Stay away from e-mails that contain casual nicknames or hobbies. Pick something that contains your first and last name if possible.
- Respond within 24 hours. When you receive an e-mail, respond within one day. Even if you don’t have the entire answer, respond to say you’ve received the message. You are your own brand and a product you’re marketing. As such, treat those you interact with as if they were your customers.
- Start your e-mails with your receipt’s name and end with your name. Job search related e-mails should start with something like “Dear Andrew, Thank you for your e-mail” and not with something like “Hey! Thank you for your e-mail.”
- If you must send a mass e-mail, use BCC. Blind Carbon Copy is the most professional way to send e-mail to a large group of people. Sending to a group and not hiding their e-mails shows lack of respect for personal privacy. It can also be very annoying when people begin to reply. That leads me to my next tip…
- If you receive a mass e-mail and must respond, reply directly. Unless it’s very important, don’t send a reply-all message. When you reply-all, everyone on the original e-mail receives a copy of your message. It can also trigger a number of other reply-all messages. You’ve probably had this happen before and can attest to how annoying it can be.
- Include a signature. At the bottom of your e-mail, you have the option to include a signature. This is a great thing to include! In addition to your name and e-mail, be sure it includes your phone number. So many people use your signature to find your phone number. When it’s not there, the experience can be difficult and they may give up.
These suggestions should be an extension of the everyday business etiquette you use. They will ensure you aren’t the subject of a discussion about how, “that person just doesn’t know how to use e-mail properly!”
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. Thanks.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | Jan 5, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter
I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and a happy New Year! Now that 2015 is officially here, it’s time to put your job search back into high gear.
If you’re like many of the clients I work with, you’ve thought at least once or twice about moving this year. In fact, you may have even thought of moving to another country.
For many people, moving abroad is a lifelong dream. It started in college when they thought about doing an exchange program and then lingered when they became a professional. They were just not sure where to begin.
One of my goals for 2015 is to bring you information about the steps required to make such a big move. Some countries are easier or harder to move to from a legal perspective.
To start off, I traveled to one of the most popular places many people want to move to: Europe. In December, I visited Dublin, Ireland to get the scoop on how you might move there.
I met with career coach Karen Willis. Karen specializes in empowering her clients to discover their new career plans or to change careers. A native of Ireland, Karen relates to the struggles her clients go through as they juggle career and other life commitments.
Karen explained that roughly five years ago, a number of large companies began to open offices in Dublin. The entire list is too long to go through, but the short version includes Google, Amazon, eBay, Facebook, and LinkedIn. It’s incredible to see so many big dot coms opening offices in a downtown area the size of downtown Memphis.
You may wonder why Dublin was selected. First, it’s the closest European country to the U.S. It has the lowest median age in Europe, so there are lots of young, mobile, educated workers there. And, because they’re part of the E.U., people can move from all over Europe to work there. That means that they also have a diverse work force that speaks many languages. In addition, Ireland’s corporate tax rate is around half what other countries offer at 12.5%. These factors make Dublin an attractive place to be.
But, back to the relocation side of things. What do you need to do to make a move to Dublin happen?
During my conversation with Karen and a few other folks, I learned that unfortunately, it can be quite tricky to move to Dublin. When applicants are considered for a job, by law those in Europe are prioritized above applicants from other countries. Informally, it sounds like Irish are also prioritized above other Europeans.
This means that if you really want to move there, you’ve got to get creative. Here are a few ideas:
- Transfer with a U.S. company that has offices there. This is easiest when you’re already working for the company.
- Apply for highly specialized positions. Similar to the U.S., those working in highly technical fields like engineering or healthcare will find it easier to move abroad. Here’s the entire list of jobs that fall into this category.
- Work in a senior level position. The rules are more flexible for those in very senior level roles.
- Consider going back to graduate school – in Europe. If you’ve been thinking of going to graduate school, this could be a great way to build a bridge to Europe.
- Consider other cities in Europe. Rumor has it that cities such as London are easier to get your foot in the door.
- Start a business. Dublin is booming with start-ups, and successful dot coms. If you’re an entrepreneur, this can be a great way to transition to another country.
If you’d like to learn more, tune into Tuesday’s Copeland Coaching Podcast. In my new episode, I will be interviewing Karen Willis about what you need to know to relocate to Dublin.
You can also learn more about Irish work visas here. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation has additional information about employment permits here. And, to learn more about Karen, check out her website here.
As you may find, moving to Ireland or the rest of Europe can be difficult. However, I hope these steps will make the process a little easier. As the year goes on, I hope to share with the you the immigration details for other countries.
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. Thanks.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | Dec 29, 2014 | Newsletter
You must be your own career advocate. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s comments discouraging women to ask for a raise highlighted this important issue.
He said, “It’s not really about asking for the raise but knowing and having faith that the system will actually give you the right raises as you go along.”
Regardless of gender, this is an important issue. I’ve found in my coaching practice that men and women are equally likely not to ask for more money or a promotion.
Challenge yourself to ask for what you want. The times when it doesn’t work out, you will know it’s time to move on to another challenge.
Companies pay very differently for the same positions. Websites like Glassdoor.com have opened the curtain to salary information. Use this data in your search to ensure you’re on a fair playing field.
Often, you end up getting what you’ll settle for. In the past, companies were able to keep you in the dark and offer as little money as they could get away with.
Now, the websites reveal this information and create an opportunity for you to make more, even when you don’t have the inside track.
Pay equality still has room to grow. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women are still making approximately 77 cents per dollar that men are earning.
I suspect this statistic could be applied to other groups as well. The bottom line is that discrimination still happens sometimes, as much as we wish it wouldn’t.
As in the previous examples, use the internet to your benefit. Sites like Salary.com will show you how much someone should be making on average for your job. Find out where you fall on the scale.
Companies no longer hold all the power. Employment websites now offer company reviews. In the same way that you might rate a hotel you stayed at, employees are rating their bosses. These ratings give you insight into what’s happening on the inside.
Not only do they give you more power, but they put companies on their best behavior. No executive wants to be called out online for less than savory business practices.
And, the best part is– you won’t quit your current job to walk into a disastrous situation. Having reviews online allows you to make an informed choice about your employment future.
As you have probably noticed, my biggest take away from 2014 is that the power of the information available on the internet can truly transform your career path. Never before has so much data been available for free to job seekers. Take advantage of this, and leverage it to your benefit — while being the CEO of your own career. Nobody can help your career as much as you can!
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. Thanks.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | Dec 22, 2014 | Newsletter
Whatever your plans are this holiday season, chances are they include travel. Most likely, you’ll be visiting one of two places: a city where your family lives or a vacation destination you love.
These two locations are often places you might consider relocating. It’s very common to either move to be closer to family — or to be in a region you really enjoy spending time in.
If you have spare time between the visiting, the gifts, and the food, you may want to consider doing research while you’re in another city.
This kind of information gathering is incredibly simple and fairly rare. So not only is it not too hard to do, but your efforts will stand out.
During the holidays, it can be a little more tricky in terms of scheduling, but it’s still worth a shot.
Here’s are a few simple steps to get you started:
- Network with friends & family – Be sure you reconnect with existing people in your circle. If you want to move back to your hometown, reconnect with those people you went to high school or college with. Look for relatives who work in the area. Take the time to drop by and catch up.
- Look for events online – You’d be surprised at how many professional organizations hold regular meetings, and invite the public via the web. Check out sites like Meetup.com and EventBrite.com to see what’s happening in the city you’re visiting.
- Connect via social media – This sounds crazy, but many of the best new connections I’ve made lately have been through Twitter and LinkedIn. Before traveling, seek out people you’d like to meet and communicate via social media. Often, you’ll find the person is open to having a coffee.
- Look off the beaten path – If you’re thinking of moving to a place, it’s good to try things you would normally do if you weren’t a tourist. Look for social activities like dance classes, art shows, wine tastings, or cooking lessons. Seek out activities that will create social interactions. These are a great chance to network, and to get a local perspective on where to live, eat, etc.
- Reach out to leaders – Look for leaders in your professional space and reach out to them personally. If you’re an entrepreneur, seek out the president of a local incubator. Consider contacting the local Chamber of Commerce. Reach out to the Presidents of local non-profit organizations that interest you.
- Contact recruiters – In addition to the suggestions above, consider setting up meetings with one to three local head hunters. Bring your resume and be prepared to explain why you want to relocate, and when you’ll be available.
Keep in mind that not every tactic you try will work out. You will want to reach out to more people than you’ll have time to talk to. Not everyone will have time to meet you. You will also want to come up with a list of activities that’s longer than you can realistically attend. Some activities may be canceled or you may have a conflict, so having extras gives you a buffer.
At the end of the day, even just a few new contacts can help to fast track your plans to move. Meeting with someone in person is significantly more impactful than sending an e-mail or speaking over the phone.
So, if you’re serious about moving, take a little time to do some homework while you’re visiting. Often, when you let people know you’re only in town for a few days, they will make time to meet with you.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday this week with your friends and loved ones!
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. Thanks.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | Dec 15, 2014 | Advice, Newsletter
Christmas is just a little over a week away! Hopefully, your holiday shopping is almost complete.
As your bank account feels the pinch, and as the new year is on the horizon, your mind may be starting to drift back to work.
Often during the holidays, our job search naturally slows down. We spend more time with family and friends. And, companies often slow their hiring during December.
But, if your job has been getting your down, this is just the time to begin to think about getting a new one.
The most important step to finding a new job is to prioritize what’s the most important to you. For example, if you had to prioritize the three things below, which would rank as the most important and which would be the least important?
- Money
- Job satisfaction
- Location
There’s no right answer to this question. In fact, your answer may shift over time.
For example, if you have an ailing family member, there may be nothing more important right now than living close to them. Or, if you have three children in private school, money may be your #1. In many cases, you’re looking for something more fulfilling.
Whatever your answer, the most important thing is to know it. It will help to guide your career decisions.
As you begin to understand your priorities, jobs will begin to come up that you’ll end up having to choose between. The question then becomes how to make those decisions.
In a previous podcast (Copeland Coaching Podcast Episode #5), I interviewed Shane Presley about being the CEO of your own career. Shane discusses a decision making technique he uses that involves a matrix.
Whenever you encounter a difficult decision, you use an Excel spreadsheet to layout all the variables that influence your decision. For example, if you were picking between two jobs, you might list the salary of each, the location, the perks of each job, the vacation days given, etc. Then, you assign a weight to each item. You decide just how important each individual factor is to you. Last, you score each factor on a scale (say 1 to 5) and you multiple that score by the weight given, then you add the results together.
Once you’ve gone through this process, you’ll begin to have a better picture of which choice is the best one for you.
Remember, whatever decisions you make, the most important thing is to understand your own priorities and how they align to them.
Have a wonderful holiday with your loved ones! Stay warm, and keep your eye on the New Year!
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. Thanks.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
