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Declare your independence this 4th of July

As you know, Independence Day is a proud holiday in the U.S.A. commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

I hope you have a fabulous 4th of July this year celebrating with friends and family!

But, before July slips away, take the time to begin to plot your very own independence day.

Is your boss taking your talents for granted? Has your professional growth come to a halt? Or, did you feel relieved just to get a 3% raise last year?

If you can relate to any of these questions, it’s time to begin to think about how you can put the ball back in your court. Don’t wait for someone else to recognize your talents.

Why do I say that? Well, there’s a rumor still going around that if you work really, really hard and do your best every day, you will be recognized and appreciated.

Does that sound familiar? My guess is your parents or grandparents shared this tip with you. And, many years ago, maybe this technique killed it. But, today, if you work hard (and only work hard), chances are good that the only thing you’ll get is more work.

A career is more than just working hard. It’s a brand. It’s your competitive knowledge. It’s your network. It’s your resume, and your online presence.

And in many cases, it’s “who you know, not what you know.” I’m sure you’re familiar with that old saying. It explains why the highest paid people aren’t always the smartest or the hardest working.

So, if your technique isn’t working, what can you do about it?

The first step to creating independence for yourself comes in the form of networking. Think of it as making business friends.

So often, when we’re caught up working, we forget to take the time to build new relationships. Many people I meet who struggle with networking the most ask the question, “Why would I get to know this stranger? What’s in it for me?” Possibly nothing right now. But, down the road in the future, you never know what might happen.

When your new friend is looking to hire a new employee in a few years, you may be first on their list. If you get laid off tomorrow, having a strong network can really create a safety net for you. It’s especially helpful when you know people across different industries, and in different roles.

Think of networking like investing. When you invest your retirement fund, you wouldn’t pick just one stock. You select a mixture, and you add in various types of financial products that have different risk levels. You may have some international investments and some domestic. Some stocks, and some bonds. And, you don’t expect to cash it all in today. You know that it takes work and time.

Networking is no different. The more diverse your network, and the more time you put into building it, the more secure you’ll be long term. It creates a sense of independence and choice.

Networking is of course just one element to creating career independence. But, its a foundational building block and a great place to begin.

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

Featured Job: Senior Manager, Brand Performance Support @ Hilton

Hilton is seeking a Senior Manager, Brand Performance Support in Memphis, TN.

The Senior Manager of Hampton Brand Performance Support will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of World-Class service and support to the Owners, Management Companies, General Managers and hotel teams of Hampton by Hilton hotels globally. The Team Member will lead the day to day operations and coordination of the Hampton Brand Performance Managers.

To learn more, or to apply online, visit the Hilton job posting here.

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Featured Job: Director of Engineering @ Brit + Co

Brit + Co is seeking a Director of Engineering in San Francisco, CA.

Brit + Co is looking for a Director of Engineering passionate about Brit + Co’s mission to build a platform that unlocks creativity at the intersection of content, commerce and community. This is a senior role providing technical leadership and helping to shape a rapidly growing engineering team. This is a full time role based in San Francisco, CA.

To learn more, or to apply online, visit the Brit + Co website here.

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Featured Job: Senior Manager, Grassroots Outreach @ The ASPCA

The ASPCA is seeking a Senior Manager, Grassroots Outreach in Washington, DC.

The Senior Manager of Grassroots Outreach leads the ASPCA’s grassroots outreach effort to galvanize support for federal and state legislative priorities. This position is responsible for creating and implementing a national strategic plan in order to cultivate a network of citizen lobbyists. The Senior Manager works directly with the VPs of Federal and State Affairs to identify target districts, develop relationships with key partners, and establish rapid response teams across the nation. Additional duties include but are not limited to the following: managing work on humane lobby days, conducting workshops, and supervising of our department internship program.

To learn more, or to apply online, visit the ASPCA job posting here.

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Featured Job: Major Gifts Manager @ SRVS

SRVS is seeking a Major Gifts Manager in Memphis, TN.

Under the supervision of the Director of Development, the Major Gifts Manager will play a key role in identifying, cultivating and stewarding donors in support of SRVS programs, with a focus on gifts of $5,000 and above. The Major Gifts Manager will actively manage a portfolio of 75 to 100 prospects and donors; assist with prospect management and donor movement with the Development Department; utilize The Raiser’s Edge to track and record all contacts, including proposals submitted and prospect activity.

To learn more, visit the SRVS job posting here.

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Featured Job: Advanced Materials Manager @ Electrolux

Electrolux is seeking an Advanced Materials Manager in Memphis, TN.

Ensures the smooth transition between Advanced Purchasing/Site Purchasing and Site Materials teams on new part introduction, model launches, Engineering Change Notices, and new supplier startup. This position is directly responsible for checkpoint gate review sign offs representing Materials for supplier/component production readiness. This position plays a key role in the NA Materials team structure and will provide support as required by the Director of Materials for NA. The main focus will be within the Cooking Product Line. Project assistance across other Product Lines as required.

To learn more, or to apply online, visit the Electrolux job posting here.

‘Underqualified’ for a Job? You Can Still Apply

My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “Underqualified for a Job? You Can Still Apply.”

If you’re like most people, there was a time in life when you were underqualified for a job. This is typically the case when you apply for your first job. It can also happen when you make a big career change midstream and have to start over.

At some point, you didn’t meet all of the requirements of a job description you were really interested in. Did that stop you from applying? Many job seekers avoid throwing their hat in the ring when they don’t meet all the requirements. It seems pointless and a path straight to rejection.

To read my entire article, and my tips for when applying is worth the risk, visit the Memphis Daily News website here.

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Featured Job: Warriors to Work Regional Director @ The Wounded Warrior Project

The Wounded Warrior Project is seeking a Warriors to Work Regional Director in San Diego, CA.

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Warriors to Work Regional Director is responsible for managing and supervising Warriors to Work (WtoW) staff in assigned regional offices, overseeing program delivery, and budget execution. The Regional Director ensures Warriors to Work activities are aligned with organization’s strategic plan and objectives. The Regional Director works collaboratively with the WtoW Director and other WtoW Regional Directors to impact overall programmatic growth and drive team performance.

To learn more, or to apply online, visit The Wounded Warrior Project job posting here.

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Featured Job: Creative Director @ Running Pony

Running Pony is seeking a Creative Director in Memphis, TN.

What do you need to be considered for this position? A desire to help tell clients’ stories creatively, strategically, and efficiently. You could be an indie filmmaker, a broadcast producer, or an ad agency creative…but you’re ready for the next step. You know how to manage a production, how to make a video look amazing, and how to keep an audience enthralled….but also how to stick to a budget, how to handle the crew and cast, and how to make sure a video meets the client’s expectations. You want to write, produce and direct projects yourself, but you can also put your ego “on hold” to help your fellow producers/directors make their projects awesome. You’re comfortable on set or in meetings with bean counters, and you’re the kind of person your colleagues will look to for guidance because you’ve earned their respect.

To learn more, visit the Running Pony website here.

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Featured Job: Lifecycle Marketing Manager @ Change.org

Change.org is seeking a Lifecycle Marketing Manager in San Francisco, CA.

The Lifecycle Marketing Manager will play a key role creating a delightful user experience for the millions of people who use Change.org. This individual will craft the organization’s user lifecycle strategy and use their deep knowledge of email communications to execute programs that drive increased user engagement. This is a unique opportunity to shape one of the company’s top priorities with a collaborative, cross functional team.

To learn more, or to apply online, visit the Change.org job posting here.

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