Career Hub

What Constitutes A Good Client?

As I have mentioned before here on Career Hub, from time to time, I get asked some pretty interesting questions...take this one, for example, that I was asked a couple of weeks ago:

What makes a good client?

While I answered the question, I felt my answer left something to be desired, so I have been thinking about that question since. Here's what I've come up with so far...would love to hear what you have to say, regardless of your line of work.

A great client is...

~ someone who keeps their appointment.

~ someone who arrives on time, not 20 minutes early, nor 20 minutes late.

~ someone who is well-prepared to tackle career matters.

~ someone who is receptive to learning.

~ someone who does not fold their arms when you are sharing information. :)

~ someone who smiles at you and makes you feel comfortable in your own space.

~ someone who appreciates your commitment to them.

~ someone who is willing to do their homework.

~ someone who is willing to do their homework and honors their word in getting back to you when they say they will.

~ someone who has a great attitude.

~ someone who entrusts you to uphold the highest standards of service delivery excellence on their behalf.

~ someone who doesn't blame others for their plight.

~ someone who will refer you if you have done a stellar job for them.

~ someone who gladly pays your fee without quibbling, fussing about it.

~ someone who might become your very best friend.

~ someone who is willing to invest a fair and reasonable amount of time and money in their career management success.

~ someone who doesn't reschedule / cancel on you minutes before your designated appointment time.

~ someone who has done their due diligence and knows the value you deliver.

~ someone who asks questions of clarification.

~ someone who asks good questions to help them better understand and learn.

~ someone who is willing to pay it forward and share their knowledge.

~ someone who is willing to do the relentless hard work of looking for new employment without making excuses for how bad this or that is.

~ someone who makes you feel that what you do really does make a difference.

~ someone who 'gets it'.

~ someone whose respect you hope to earn.

~ someone who is enjoyable to work with and not a pain in the backside.

~ someone who will trust you to guide them on a path of continued success, and / or someone who will be open to possibilities, ideas and course corrections.

~ someone who affirms your thinking that you are doing what you were called to do.

~ someone who adds value to the client / service provider 'partnership'.

~ someone who won't hesitate to share with you what they like, what they don't about your work and you are grateful for that.

~ someone who you want to run to, not from, in aisle 14 of the grocery store.

~ someone who takes the time to say thank you.

~ someone you will remember for a long, long time.

These are a few ideas about 'what constitutes a good client'. What do you think makes a good client?

Woulda Coulda Shouldas

"Just stand aside and watch yourself go by;

Think of yourself as 'he' instead of 'I'."

-- Strickland Gillilan

Woulda, coulda, shouldas...from time to time, I hear these words from clients:

I wish I woulda gone to college...

I shoulda taken Spanish...

I coulda tried harder...

I wish I woulda gotten that job...

I wish I woulda moved to _______________ fill in the blank...

I shoulda been a __________________ fill in the blank...

If only I coulda ___________________ fill in the blank...

When I hear these words, it reminds me of all the time and energy spent looking back <<<<< instead of looking forward >>>>>. It reminds me of choices that weren't chosen. It reminds me of chances never chased. It reminds me of desires and dreams dieing a slow, deliberate death. It reminds me of wants and wishes that wander away one second at a time...slowly, steady, surely -- drip, drip, dripping away until one day, you don't even think about them anymore.

As my dear friend Ellie, now departed, used to say with such enthusiasm when I would go visit:

"And so I rise and go to meet

the day with wings upon my feet"

(lines from a poem by Grace Noll Crowell)

And then she'd say..."Today is what you have, so make something grand of it!" Yes, indeed, today is a new day to do something grand about the woulda coulda shouldas of your life!

What woulda be a smart career move for you right now?

What coulda you do about it this day?

What shoulda you be doing today for a more promising tomorrow?

"Looking back, you realize that a very special person passed briefly through your life -- and it was you. It is not too late to find that person again." -- Robert Brault

15 Tips for the 50+ Job Hunter

If you were born between 1946 and 1964, you are known as a Baby Boomer and age wise in 2010, you are somewhere between 46 and 64. In my practice, I work with a multi-generational client base, including many Boomers. A question I am often asked:

"I am ___ (fill in age) and wondering if I am too old to find a job?"

Routinely, I kindly offer something like:

"Help me understand -- do you think you are too old to find a job?"

Client responses vary:

* I don't think so, but I'm not sure

* I don't know

* Maybe so

If you are 25, 35, 45, 56, 64, 74, or 84, in my opinion, you are not too old to find w - o - r - k or a j - o - b as long as you have:

* the drive to do so;

* the will to want to;

* and the guts and the grit to go fishing in a competitive, global, turbulent, and ever-evolving pond! And should you elect to cast your line into X, Y, or Z Waters, perhaps you will check your tackle box for the right bait:

1. Passion! Let others see it, hear it, feel it, get it, notice it, enjoy it!

2. Energy! Act like you have some and lots of it! Do not yawn during interviews or tell people how tired you are or that you are exhausted.

3. Enthusiasm! Bring it, show it, offer it, deliver it!

4. Let It Go! Don't look back at what didn't go your way, what didn't work out, what you didn't get, what life didn't offer you; instead, today is a new day -------->>>>> Press on! Move on! Go forward ------->>>>>>!

5. Think differently! Instead of thinking about your age and how 'old' you are, why not reconsider that you're 'still above ground' (a 67-years-of-age happily employed client told me that one) and that you have an immense body of talent to share!

6. Engage! Connect with purpose and intention; add an abundance of the above numbers 1, 2, 3 into conversation to keep the listener listening! Practice helps!

7. Attire/Appearance! Dress professionally, appropriately and well for the job you want. Maybe it's time for that makeover you've been thinking about!

8. Attitude! While you cannot control you age, you can control your attitude; how will the employer gauge yours?

9. Language! Carefully select the best words to deliver the message you wish to convey about yourself, your brand. Figure this out ahead of time so you have specific ideas of what you would like to share about yourself in support of the j - o - b you would like.

10. Technology! Instead of saying 'something a bird does' if you're asked about a 'tweet', educate yourself about social media and its impact on job search. Do not take yourself out of the game because of technology -- you are never too old or too young to learn!

11. Partner/Collaborate. Learn from all ages of people. Regardless of your generation, learning is learning. Here's something I learned from a Millennial over the week-end, for example: www.bookrenter.com.

12. Volunteer! Whether you're employed or unemployed and 22 or 82, helping others and serving others knows no age. Who knows what you will gain from giving of your time and talents!

13. Experiment! Try something new; try something different; take a calculated risk and see what you learn; see where it takes you!

14. Keep dreaming! Dreaming doesn't stop because you turn ___ (fill in age), unless you let it! Whether you are 22 or 73, build a bucket list and start doing!

15. Stay active! As long as you are able, stay active always and in all ways!

An Activity For You:

1. Record your age: _____.

2. Record one goal: ________________________________.

3. Record the steps you would advise a ____ (Insert number from Step 1) years-of-age best friend to take to achieve Step Number 2 above.

4. Heed your own advice as expressed in Step Number 3. :)

5. Consider the wisdom of George Eliot: "It is never too late to be what you might have been."

posted by: billiesucher

About That Book You Wanna' Write!

Have you ever thought about writing a book? Have you been thinking that thought for a while now? As a career transition consultant, clients ask me many questions -- this has been an FAQ lately:

Billie, how did you get your courage up to write a book?

While I am certainly no expert on writing books, nor on finding courage, I will happily share my book-writing experience with you...

First and foremost, I am crazy in love with my work in the career management profession and I am passionate about teaching others; for me, a book is simply another tool, another vehicle to impart information for an intended audience. I would also say that it never really occurred to me to not write another book. For me, it is as natural as breathing to share my thoughts and ideas with others in a written format such as a book.

THE IDEA:  The idea for my newest book entered my mind one Sunday morning in April 2009. I had pen in hand and a small Ladders' notebook, a giveaway at the Career Management Alliance Conference in Minneapolis in 2008. I was waiting for the speaker to commence his address, fully prepared to take notes. I know that may sound a little strange to some, but that's what I love to do when I'm listening to a speaker -- take notes to learn something! In any event, while I was waiting, I opened the Ladders' book to a clean page and scribbled these words as fast as I could: The Language of Career Management (in parentheses I wrote 'working title') Then page by page, I jotted an A, B, C etc. at the top of each page. Voila, I had an idea that I liked for the book.

 
THE INSPIRATION:  The Ladders' notebook was my constant companion from that day forward. When I heard an intriguing word or phrase that triggered a one-liner, I recorded it in the appropriate A - Z category. This exercise continued through late September 2009 when I counted 861 one-liners and decided 'enough is enough already.' I didn't hurry the book, though; I let it simmer and happen naturally, always looking for inspiration for the next line to write, the next thought to share, the next entry to record. Inspiration is everywhere if you are looking for it, which -- for sure -- I was!

THE INSIDER'S INSIGHT:  When I say 'insiders' I mean my immediate family -- two daughters, one son, one husband, and one German Shorthair Pointer. I invited their collective input on the book. Man's best friend could care less what I wrote; my husband said 'whatever you do will be fine'; my oldest daughter, an international recruiter in higher education said 'just keep it simple'; my youngest daughter, a veterinary office attendant said 'nothing boring or stupid'; and my son, a second-year law student at the time 'don't make me read a bunch of stuff to get to your point.' When I want the uncensored, unvarnished insider's insight, I simply ask my family and like it or not, I will hear it.

THE INDIVIDUALITY, THE IMPORTANT, THE INTEREST:  In writing the book, five things were important to me:

1. to deliver career information and education in a fast, efficient manner.
2. to offer encouragement and hope to job seekers of all ages.
3. to provide individuality of design and easy-to-absorb content, always keeping the reader in mind.
4. to write text in the form of a one-liner (or in Twitter terms, a 'tweet').
5. and that when the book was done, it would be available on Kindle.

Another important ingredient, for me, in writing the book (or anything else) is that I must be 100% invested and 100% interested. If either of those elements is missing, I have learned that I need to find a new and different idea (or topic) to write about. Perhaps you feel the same.

THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEVER DONE:  Getting the first, second, third drafts completed was relatively easy...and then the harder work began once the publisher's team got involved. I loved working with the publisher's team of copy editors; change this, change that, fix this, fix that, why this, why that? The exchange of emails was efficient and with each new email came a newer, more improved version of text, thanks to the publisher's talented editing team. The 'process improvement' phase was engaging, exhilarating and educational; I absolutely loved it! And then one day, just like that, the book was done and done -- no more changes, no more corrections...time to go to print Billie, so stop looking for mistakes! Once the book went to press, not once did I review it for changes, corrections, or improvements and as of this writing, I still haven't. I will revisit that process should a second edition occur.

THE INVITATION: So, there you have it -- the very abbreviated highlights of writing a book. Perhaps I have oversimplified it; or maybe I have complicated matters more than necessary. Bottom line, if you have a book in your head, or in your heart, (or in the bottom desk drawer), I invite you to pick up your pen, sharpen your pencil, dig out a piece of paper, fire up your Droid -- whatever it takes -- then write! One word. Then another. And yet another. And before you know it, one of these seasons of your life, I hope you will write someone a blog post somewhere when they ask you:  by the way, how did you get your courage up to write a book? :-)

cross-posted billiesucherblog

I Don’t Know Of Tomorrow

I love this song. I first heard it when visiting Colombia in January for a friend’s wedding. It was played at every party and club we went to and I couldn’t get it out of my head for weeks!

The Translated Lyrics

Apart from the music, I love the message behind the song. Here’s the chorus translated from Spanish into English:

I don’t know of tomorrow, I don’t know of tomorrow

If we’ll be together; if the world will end

I don’t know if I’m for you or you’re supposed to be for me

If we end up loving each other or hating each other

I don’t know of tomorrow, I don’t know of tomorrow

Who is going to be here

I don’t know of tomorrow, I don’t know of tomorrow

If we’ll be together; if the world will end

I don’t know if I’m for you or you’re supposed to be for me

If we end up loving each other or hating each other

I don’t know of tomorrow, I don’t know of tomorrow

Who is going to be here…

Career Planning No Longer Works

Whilst, of course, the lyrics in the song are within the context of a romantic exchange, the message very much applies to our careers and professional lives too.

In the complex, interconnected world we live in today, we can’t predict what’s around the corner. A global financial crisis instigated by a real estate bubble in the US,  volcanic ash clouds from Iceland or major environmental disasters like the recent BP oil slick can effect so many industries and so many workers overnight.

Similarly, new technology, new products, new competitors can change the face of your industry immediately.

Which is why having detailed career plans no longer works.

You Don’t Know  Of Tomorrow

You don’t know if you and your employer will be together for years to come

You can’t predict what will happen to your employers’ business in 3 or 5 years time

You can’t totally predict how new technology will impact on your industry

You don’t know how a personal health problem or family matter could change the way you view your career overnight

So stay focussed on the job you’re doing right now, be committed to the employer who you’re working with right now. And then be agile in adapting to the environment as you go.

And if you’re out of work and job searching -that’s your current job -looking for work. So be present and stay focussed on just that. Be committed to following up those leads or the meetings you’re attending today.

I don’t know of tomorrow. And neither do you -- so don’t stress too much about it and enjoy today.

By Sital Ruparelia

Substantial Gaps in Employment: How to Handle a Sabbatical on Your Resume

Although there are any number of perfectly legitimate reasons why a person may have a substantial gap in an employment history, this is one of the resume "problems" that most troubles many job candidates.

You may have been ill or recovering from a major surgery. A sick or disabled member of your family (mother, father, child, etc.) may have required 24 hour care for an extended period. You may have taken an extended family leave after the birth of a child. You may have temporarily left the work force in order to devote full-time attention to obtaining a degree or certification. Or you may have been one of those lucky folks with the wherewithal to pursue a lifelong dream of world travel.

Virtually every one of us has had a gap in employment during our careers for one reason or another. While multiple gaps in employment can be highly detrimental to a job search, a single gap will not necessarily raise eyebrows if it is acknowledged and characterized in your resume by an entry as simple as "Personal Sabbatical" or "Professional Sabbatical" along with the dates.

You need not necessarily list the reasons for the sabbatical in your resume, although I have found that some reasons can be great conversation starters. An example is the client I wrote a resume for several years ago who had taken off two years to circumnavigate the globe in his sailboat with his wife. After the reader gets over being jealous, he or she will likely be eager to learn more about this in a telephone or in-person interview, and thus establish a good conversation flow and rapport from the start. If the reasons for your sabbatical present a limitation on your capability to perform work, such as mobility issues, the inability to lift objects commonly involved in the job, etc., these matters would properly be disclosed in a job interview.

Posted by Laurie Smith

Shine the Spotlight on Your Personal Brand

Expressing your personal brand is about revealing what makes you distinct and reveling in that distinction. That means being transparent and promoting what makes you exceptional: your authentic attributes, strengths, skills, leadership competencies, accomplishments and more.

In his newest book, 12 Steps to Power Presence: How to Assert Your Authority to Lead (Amacom Books, 2010), John Baldoni provides tips on how to claim your leadership presence. In Step #12, he suggests some tips for promoting yourself. These tips apply to anyone who wants to shine a light on their personal brand:

1. Be the one. What are you the go-to person for? Based on your past behaviors, demonstrated knowledge, personal style, and accomplishments, others have associated your name with “certainties” about you. Perhaps you are the one they depend on to smooth out differences of opinion on a team and get the project moving along productively. Or perhaps you are known as a subject-matter-expert on a particular topic. This top-of-mind reputation contributes to your personal brand as “the one” for … (fill in the blank).

2. Demonstrate initiative. Now is not the time to keep your head down and do your best to be invisible while performing your routine job functions. Show you are engaged and committed to positive outcomes for your company and yourself! Initiate new projects or volunteer for existing ones that reinforce your personal brand or expand on it, even if the projects are unpopular. These activities will provide super visibility precisely because others will be intrigued and will want to follow the process. Use your personal-branding strengths and attributes to accomplish something great, when others expect you to fail, and you will gain attention and credibility.

3. Show off. This is not about an ego trip; rather, showcase your accomplishments and the accomplishments of your team. Be gracious and recognize their unique contributions. Turn the spotlight on the entire team and publicly celebrate small and large successes, as well as what you have learned along the way.

Attaining visibility and credibility for your personal brand within your company culture can be a challenge. But the alternative is being anonymous, like a replaceable commodity. If you are perceived of as easily replaced, how long do you think you will last? If you do not promote yourself, who will?

For more, check out the John Baldoni interview "Lead Your Boss: What That Means and Why It Matters" with William Arruda on the March 2010 Reach Personal Branding Interview Series.

Cross-posted at Career Goddess Blog

No Quit In Your DNA?

If you must play, decide upon three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time. ~ Chinese proverb

Q - U - I - T. What does that four-letter word mean, anyway? According to Webster's New World College Dictionary, it means...

3. to stop having, using or doing (something); give up

4. to leave, depart from

5. to stop, discontinue, or resign from

6. a) to stop or discontinue doing something b) to give up or stop trying, as in discouragement

As you can see, the word 'quit' has multiple meanings. Sometimes, the word 'quit' is a good thing, as in when you 'quit' doing a thing that may be damaging or harmful to yourself: my neighbor quit eating 'fattening food' (her words) when she committed to healthier eating habits; my friend quit smoking; my client quit making so many excuses -- all good outcomes of the word q - u - i - t.

Take a look at definition 6b, though...to give up or stop trying, as in discouragement. As a career management professional, on a consistent basis I hear words similar to these..."sometimes I just feel like giving up on the job search" or "I feel like quitting this whole job search game"...

Take a day or two off if you need to, read motivational books, listen to inspirational tapes, join a job search club, read online and offline, go to a meet-up, attend a local networking event, volunteer, talk to a friend, speak with a professional, work out, listen to music, connect, reach out...in short, do whatever it is you need to do to keep going...moment by moment, hour by hour, day after day. Just don't q - u - i - t (quit) on yourself, on the search, and / or on those who are standing by you. Never, never, never, never give up on finding work.

~ The first time you quit, it's hard. The second time, it gets easier. The third time, you don't even have to think about it. ~ Bear Bryant

 

A - Zs of Job Search -- Check, Check, Check

If you are fairly new to the job search game, perhaps these 26 A - Z ideas will jump start your efforts as you explore new options.

Place a check beside each A - Z that you're already doing. Give yourself one point for each letter of the alphabet that you checked. Then tally your score and give yourself a grade, as follows:

20 - 26 checks: A = Awesome!

15 - 20 checks: B = Better than Average!

10 - 15 checks: C = Could use improvement!

05 - 10 checks: D =  Definitely Dig in!

Fewer than 5 checks: Find Help Fast!

• Attitude and Actions Absolutely Awesome?
• Branding Basics Building?
• Connections Contacted?
• Doing Discovery and Due Diligence before Decision-making?
• Embracing Evidence-based Examples of Excellence?
• Focusing to Find your Fit?
• Giving with Gratitude?
• Heeding Habits that Help, not Hinder?
• Integrating Ingenuity in Ideas?
• Joyful about any part of the Job Search Journey?
• Know that Knowledge is Key?
• Listening to Learn?
• Measuring for Movement?
• Never, never, never giving up?
• Optimizing Options & Opportunities while Overcoming Obstacles?
• Practicing Perseverance and Persistence?
• Qualifications and Qualities Qualified?
• Resume that Rocks?
• Savant of Search Strategies?
• Tracking & Trying Technology Tools and Timeless Tactics?
• Uniqueness Understood?
• Value Verifiable?
• Working your you know What off?
• eXceeding eXpectations?
• You in charge of Yourself?
• Zeroing in to win?

Feel free to add your own A - Zs that have worked well for you in your job search! Would love to hear your ideas!