Career Hub

Who Says You Can't Go Home

Words fascinate me. Take the word "reunion" for example. What exactly does reunion mean and furthermore, who cares and what does it have to do with a career-related blog? I'll start with the definition of reunion, a word I find not all that fascinating. According to Merriam-Webster, it is a noun that means: 1. an act of reuniting 2. a reuniting of persons after separation. The definition, though, I like; it intrigues me! And that's just what any number of my classmates from our high school graduating class did last week-end. We reunited!

A whole bunch of Baby Boomers came together after years of separation. We hugged. We talked. We laughed. We cried. We heard each other's stories of love and loss -- loss of class members, loss of a spouse or partner, loss of a parent, loss of a child, loss of a home, loss of a job, loss of health. We heard stories of success, wealth, prosperity, and philanthropy. We heard stories of disappointment, about how things never worked out and about how things didn't go the way we expected.

And no one cared about how skinny you were, or weren't, or if you had funky hair or no hair. It made no difference if you rode up on your Harley or arrived in your gas-guzzling luxury sedan. No one cared where you lived, or how you lived...we just cared that we still lived and could recall with such clarity memories from years gone by. Crazy Boomers!

One of my classmates, a man who devoted his entire career to law enforcement in the western part of the USA, served as our after-dinner speaker. His speech, Your Back Woods -- You Take 'em With You, was delivered to an audience who connected, an audience who knew what he said was true, an audience who got teary-eyed as he talked. The line he learned as a young boy had stuck -- work hard boys, work hard; and everyone - man or woman - who had touched our classmate's life since, soon learned his mantra, what he stood for, what he believed in.

As our speaker somberly spoke of all the rooms he'd been in during his career -- briefing rooms, board rooms, conference rooms, emergency rooms, back rooms, classrooms, waiting rooms, dining rooms, press rooms, meeting rooms -- he said what he'd learned is this: the more complicated the problem, the simpler the solution. I have thought about his words since he said them.

Reunion. Have you gone to one lately?

posted by: billiesucher

What, Exactly, is "Negotiating at Work?"

Nearly every day I meet or speak with new clients who come to my firm seeking help negotiating some aspect of their employment or career. They may be seeking a new title, or a raise, a promotion, a bonus, a larger territory, or even severance. One of our first and most important discussion topics is "What, exactly, do we mean by ‘negotiating at work?’"

When we say "negotiating" most people conjure up a picture of two or more people, seated on opposite sides of a desk or table, haggling over the price of something. It might be a car, or a house, or a watch. One says, "I will pay you X," and the other says, "No, I want at least Y." That, to me, is not "negotiating." Rather, it is "haggling," a rather inconsequential, late-stage step in the overall negotiation process.

Negotiating is perhaps best explained by using a more "accessible," more easily understood word: "motivating."  Negotiation is a process of motivating another person to do something that he or she is - at that moment – not inclined to do. Motivation is the essence of negotiation.

Let me offer a perhaps gross and graphic illustration of what I mean: once, without warning, I found myself confronted by someone who placed a sharp metallic object to my throat. Instantly, I was "motivated" to tell that person that (a) there was $100 in my wallet, (b) my watch was gold and valuable, and (c) I had no problem offering up my bank pin number, as well. It wasn’t fun, but I was surely motivated, to do what I could to save my life. Luckily, it worked.

We are all "motivated" to do different things every day. Almost from birth, babies learn how they can motivate sleepy parents to get out of warm bed on a cold winter’s night, and get whatever it is they want, whether it’s a bottle, a diaper change, or merely a warm hug. It’s simple: they simply say, in their own little way, "I may deprive you of an entire night’s sleep; let’s see how fast you can figure out what will stop my crying?"  Parents soon learn to think and act fast, if they want to get any sleep at all that night. Though I went through it decades ago, I remember it well.

So, too, can you motivate your boss to do all he or she can to make you happy, to retain your services, to give you what it is you want. No, it’s not by crying and screaming all night long. Instead, it is by showing that you can make their own lives better, by being hard-working, positive-minded, conscientious, innovative, and skilled at the particular aspects of your job. A valuable team member, a productive asset, a good "investment." I hate to use the phrase, but a true "human resource."

Negotiation is motivation. The thing that gives you the power to motivate is what we call "leverage." At work, leverage is being perceived as being valuable, contributing, collaborative. For a moment, think about Derek Jeter, shortstop for the New York Yankees. Does he have to cry, scream or haggle to get what he wants? No, because he has spent nearly all of his time since sixth grade making himself valuable to his Manager and to his team. And though some say Derek Jeter is really not that great a ballplayer, the way he carries himself, the self-discipline and self-respect that he emanates – the things that make his teammates elect him team captain every year – these are the things that give Derek Jeter great leverage. His hefty compensation is not a result of haggling; no, it is a result of his representing perceived value to his Manager and team.

Negotiating at work is a matter of motivating your boss to want, need, even crave the value you represent to the him or her, and the team. The leverage that motivates is the perception that you can do your job, that you are willing to work hard, that you can work with others, that you are not afraid to either use your brain or speak your mind, that you are not "me-centric," that you help "move the ball ahead."

Once you do that, the "haggling" is easy. Just ask Derek Jeter.

Cross-posted at SkloverWorkingWisdom.com

Career Management Using Big Tent Thinking

Are the challenges in your career and job search, such as the competition, the economic situation, and getting noticed by quality employers getting you down? Or could it be that your perspective – a form of myopia or tunnel vision – is limiting your possibilities and endangering your can-do career management or job search attitude?

I’m throwing that out there because today’s post Your Perception Is Not Always Reality by Thom Singer (Some Assembly Required) struck me as relevant to career management.

What is real to one person may not be to another. Further, the impact of that reality will be different for different folks, as well as how to respond to the “reality”. For example, when you do not get a second interview call-back that you felt sure would come, what is your perception? Do you agonize that you were not “good enough” and that you did not “make the cut?” Or do you realize that the hiring manager might still be engaged in interviewing others? In that case, what could you do to keep your candidacy “top of mind” and “top of the list”?

Thom asserted that “there are always new solutions to beat down old problems” by uncovering the “prized ideas”. “Big tent thinkers” bring more folks under their tent to discuss and share these prized ideas, expand perceptions, and thrash out new approaches to challenging problems, such as finding that “dream job”. All you need do is simply invite folks into your tent!

Who have you invited recently under your big tent? Any social networking invites? Any twittering? Any face-to-face networking? What have you done for someone else lately so THEY can succeed? They will surely want to invite you under THEIR tent so you can succeed!

Cross-posted at Career Goddess Blog

Secrets of Successful Leaders

The July 21 issue of Time Magazine featured an article discussing leadership secrets as expressed by Nelson Mandela on turning 90. This very succinct list serves as a reminder for anyone in a position of leadership, and applies equally well to leaders in a corporate setting as it does to those in public office:

#1: Courage is not the absence of fear -- it is inspiring others to move
beyond it.

#2: Lead from the front -- but don't leave your base behind.

#3: Lead from the back -- and let others believe they are in front.

#4: Know your enemy and learn about his favorite sport.

#5: Keep your friends close and your rivals even closer.

#6: Appearances matter -- and remember to smile.

#7: Nothing is black or white.

#8: Quitting is leading too.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, the more you ponder this man's observations, the more you will find them to be powerfully insightful. They should make a valuable checklist for managers and executives to monitor as they move up the corporate ladder. As for me, I've printed them out and put them up in clear sight of my desk.

Posted by Laurie Smith

What To Do When Your Reptilian Mind Takes Over Your Job Search

I've been reading, thinking and talking a lot lately about how our frame of mind so dramatically affects what we accomplish, and of course how we feel when we're accomplishing it.

One fascinating bit of brain science I've been learning more about has to do with the "reptilian" part of our brain - how it helps us, how it hinders us, and how it's not going to stop doing its job (broadcasting fears related to our survival) anytime soon.

Most job seekers are intimately familiar with the urgent and constant messages issued by their reptilian brains:

• "Better not blow this interview, because you're just a hair's breath away from financial ruin!"
• "You know you don't have the experience they're looking for, so who do you think you are applying for this job?"

Definitely not inspiring thoughts, and often paralyzing ones.

The bad news: the reptilian part of our brain is hardwired to believe that we lack what we need and that something terrible is about to happen. Those are its jobs, and it's not interested in changing careers.

The good news: With practice, we can call on the nonreptilian part of our neural complex to watch what is happening. Simply observing what the reptilian brain is up to negates its energy.

Huh?

I think Martha Beck explains this well in her newest book, Steering by Starlight: Find Your Right Life No Matter What!:

"Remember that study of monks who'd spent years watching their fear from a compassionate perspective and had thicker-than-typical neural matter in the part of the brain associated with happiness. The neuron pathways that carry lizard fears become weaker the more we observe them."

In other words, we don't ignore the catastrophizing, believe it, or struggle against it. We mentally address the reptilian brain, with something like: "Thanks for letting me know - now you can leave the room." We observe the fears and move our attention to the present moment.

We can't do much in our job search when we're flooded with fear. A highly effective way to get into a more productive and effective frame of mind is to ask ourselves, as suggested by Zen master Suzuki Roshi,

"What, at this moment, is lacking?"

We are now in the present, where our needs are usually few and simpler to address.

The next time you feel stuck in your job search, notice whether the reptilian part of your brain is being especially loud that day. Try observing it, giving it the day off, and then turning your attention to the here-and-now.

I bet you will feel freer and much more effective.

Photo by Joka2000

Posted by Heather Mundell

Experts Attract More Employer Attention

Show Your Niche Expertise: Inspire Confidence and Increase Your Value

By trying to be something to everyone, you end up being nothing to anyone. Employers avoid risk. Therefore, they need to be confident that you are absolutely the right choice for them to succeed and excel over their competition. They need to know that you will not have a learning curve at their expense and that you are a specialist who will get the job done. Stand out as the first choice solution.

Having a niche demonstrates credibility and credentials, the qualifications to distinguish you from other prospective candidates. Further strengthen your ability to attract employers’ attention by narrowing down your target companies to individual industry sectors. To an employer, this means you already are familiar with their world, know and understand their unique concerns, language, culture, and are experienced in their milieu. You want to be respected for your background and recognized financially for bringing your expertise to a new situation. By sacrificing a broad range of employers, you are increasing your value to focus on a group able to appreciate you. In today’s highly segmented business environment, you are more likely to command respect and be recognized as an outstanding resource when you present yourself as an expert on whom a hiring decision manager can always depend to meet the challenge at hand.

Posted by Debra Feldman

Letting Go

This afternoon our son headed out to start his second year of law school. He was home this summer doing a non-paid legal internship in the PM and working on a hot, dirty roof, for pay, in the AM. I loved having him home and relished every minute he was here with us. And then, for me, came the dreaded day of his leaving.

So as we were packing his stuff today, I tried to be all cool and happy and not freak out and cry or anything, at least in front of him. After all, I am a Master's level counselor! Calm and composed...sure, right! You know, totally collected, keeping the emotions in check...check, check, check! I quickly lapsed into my organizational mode, running the ticker-tape in my head as I rattled off each item while he put it in its spot for transport.

No freaking, I told myself. That comes later -- when I'm driving down the road and hear Coldplay or Dierks, or when I go into his room and it's not a wreck, or when I don't need to add an extra plate for dinner, or when it hits me that there's less, not more, laundry to do, or when I don't hear him yelling at his video games or cheering for the Chicago Cubs, win or lose! Or calling me on his cell phone from 10 ft. away with his request to bake his favorite Ghirardelli brownies -- now, please!

Letting go...no matter how old you are, how experienced you are, how smart you are, how successful you are, how educated you are, how cool you are or how whatever else you are...letting go is difficult. It's hard. It's no fun. It just is. It is just that strange and sure something that we need to do to get on down the road of life.

Remember when you lost your job? Remember when you were up for that promotion and got passed over? Remember when you thought for certain you'd be offered that new position and didn't get it? Was it easy, or hard, for you to let go and move on? I recall offering these words of counsel to an HR Manager several years ago as she struggled to make sense of staying at, or leaving, her job. I remember saying "you can't hang on and let go at the same time...you can do one, or the other, not both." Funny how that's so much easier said than done on this particular day.

posted by: billiesucher

Networking: What do you do? Name ONE thing.

Today I read a terrific article by Liz Ryan - “Personal Branding in Slashtown” about people who want to be all they can be - and tell the world. I’m a blogger/career coach/personal brand strategist/rock star, and… Yeah. Hard for one person to take all that in, right?

Her point, which is right on the money, is that you’ve got to decide who you are and communicate that - not everything all at once. It’s confusing to the listener.

I worked with a client making a career transition, and we worked hard on creating a dynamic brand-driven sound bite that gets attention, without overwhelming the listener.

Picking one thing can be tough, but it’s important. As my client first said, working through the exercise, “It’s like my whole career - skills, experience, knowledge is summed up in this one project. It just doesn’t feel right.”

That may be true, however, in networking, and asking your friends, etc. “who do they know,” it is important to be clear and focused. Sharing ONE story helps people get an idea of what you can do for someone. It also helps them easily share your story with their connections. They become your personal sales force.

Aha! Yep, she networked like a rock star after that and made several connections, which led to interviews.

Challenge: Create your sound bite. Be focused. Here’s a link to a step-by-step strategy: Personal Branding Sound Bite.

Are you on Linked In? - So what if they delete your profile!!!!

I have just been made aware of a potentially career damaging (or at the very least heart stopping!) action that may happen with your LinkedIn profile - IT COULD DISAPPEAR!

Fellow Personal Brand Strategist - Jason Alba at Jibber Jobber has just put a posting out about the threat of losing your Linked In profile - and more importantly what to do about at least preserving your contacts and profile - and those all important recommendations.

Check out his blog posting here at Jibber Jobber.com

Cross posted at Reflections of a Square Peg blog.

The Future of the Resume?

One topic of frequent discussion among career professionals and recruiters is the future of the resume. What will replace the paper resume? Is an online portfolio the answer? Will we all eventually just use LinkedIn profiles (or something similar)? Are video resumes the future?

Sadly, I don't know the answer - if I did I'd be on a beach somewhere sipping something with an umbrella instead of here writing this post.

But I do enjoy seeing examples of successful alternatives to the resume. And they are never to be found on sites that allow you to create your own 'visual resume' or video resume, because how can you look different when you're using the same approach as everyone else? No, the ones that catch my eye are always a direct expression of the individual job seeker's personality. Which is why I like this slideshow resume so much ...

| View | Upload your own

Saran posted this in the comments on my own blog - after seeing it, I wanted to interview him even though I don't have a job for him!  Nice work, Saran.