Category: career coach

Mastering the Informational Interview

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Why wait to hear back after applying for a job? Be proactive and set up an informational interview. There may not be a position available, but here are steps you can take to leave a lasting impression:

Seek out companies you’re interested in. Don’t aimlessly apply to different jobs. Create a target. What organizations align with your career goals? Once you identify which companies are on your radar, figure out a way to get inside and meet face to face. Tell them you’re doing some research. Find something in common to talk about. Ask to set up an informational interview. How you get in there doesn’t matter. All that matters is making it happen.
Sell yourself. There may not be a position open, so get them thinking about creating a new one for you. Focus on the following 3 areas:
1) Share your strengths and how they will help you get the job done
2) Tell them why you want to work there
3) Show them how you will fit into their organization
Don’t be a car salesman. Instead explain how your past experiences equip you to help their company. Show passion and enthusiasm. Emphasize the value you bring to their company. 

Be amiable. People don’t hire people they don’t like. Simple, yet true. It’s not so much about you. It’s about IF you fit and what value you bring to the organization. Meeting in person works when you leave a positive impression. Treat the person like you want to be treated. It’s not rocket science. It’s about your people skills (see number 3 above). We hire people we like.

Informational interviews should be treated like meeting for coffee. Sure you need to be professional, but the goal is to have the person positively remember you. Do these steps and follow up and you’ll be the first person they think of when it comes to a new opening.

How to Build a Loyal Fanbase

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This past week the PGA tour stopped in L.A. and I was fortunate enough to observe the Northern Trust Open for 4 days straight. Here are some takeaways from two of the most followed/popular players on tour, Fred Couples & Phil Mickelson: 

1) Be Approachable: Body language, eye contact & smile. You don’t have to say anything to communicate that you’re approachable. Loyal fan bases are created because you want to affiliate with them. Look around, pause and listen. Charisma is seen from afar, but being friendly only comes up close. Be visible, accessible and you’ll be approachable. 
2) Be Honest: Everything’s not going to go your way, so when it doesn’t be truthful. Perfection is overrated. Forgiveness is granted, when ownership is taken. Listen to an interview by Freddy or Phil; they’ll readily admit their mistakes. We resonate with mistakes, because we make them. Be who you are. When you screw up, admit it. People love a comeback story. Choose integrity over image.
3) Showcase your Talent: Smart individuals play to their strengths. We love to see people perform at their best. Malcolm Gladwell argues that you must practice something for 10,000 hours to become great at it. If that’s true, the faster you figure out what it is you want to focus on, the more time you can spend on mastering your craft. Talent should be developed and exposed. It doesn’t just benefit you, it benefits everyone around. 

90% of the crowd followed these two superstars the entire week. You can learn a lot from these two athletes when it comes to building your personal brand. Start connecting with people and do more of who you are. Loyal fan bases aren’t born, they’re made.

How to Handle Career Setbacks

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“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” – Mark Twain

It’s easy to get discouraged in this economy, so how do you handle career setbacks? 
Here’s a couple of ways to look at it in a different light:
Connect Daily: Reach out to new contacts, follow up and ask for introductions to more people. Repeat. I can’t stress this enough! The days of submitting your application and resume are done. Jobs are given through referrals. If you don’t know anyone in the company you are applying for, you don’t have a chance. In fact most positions that are posted, usually are given to internal candidates or friends of friends. It’s a numbers game. You need to get on the right side. 

Keep Fighting: There’s several factors you can’t control when it comes to your job search, but the one area you can control is your effort. What are your career goals? What measurable steps can you take this week to make progress? Who will keep you accountable for action? Setbacks are inevitable. Successful people actually fail more. They are willing to take risks because without risk, there are no rewards. Giving up is easy. Rise above that. Keep pushing.

Be Innovative: Do what no one else is doing. Create you own job description and submit it. Volunteer at an organization you are passionate about. Record a video resume. Look to help someone else in need. Start your own network group. Stand out. You career depends on it.

There’s no timetable when seeking a new career. Focus on having the right process and trust it. The worst thing you can do is sulk and quit. Remember, isolation kills, so surround yourself with supportive people and keep moving forward. You’ll get there and when you do, you’ll be thankful.  

The Cost of Workplace Motivation

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What truly motivates you to work harder? Although it’s personal, here are some ideas to ponder: 
What’s the transaction? There’s give and take with any relationship. The question is what are you giving and what are you receiving? We all want meaning, to feel valued and to make a difference at work, but at what cost? Would you rather get a bonus check or perk that’s equivalent? Bottom line: If you’re happy at your job, you’re receiving value. If not, well…you can figure it out.
What are your expectations? Think pricing. When you purchase a luxury item, there’s the perception that it will make you feel better. When you’re underpaid, you feel undervalued. Why is that? Money is the most expensive motivator, but ironically one of the least effective. A high salary actually doesn’t make you work harder. Any volunteer will attest to that. Clearly irrational, but true.
It comes down to relationships. Look at companies such as TOMS, Betterworks, Factual & Shopzilla. They focus on culture, more than anything else. It’s the little things that make the difference. You know what “perks” represent? Care. Perks say, “I care about you enough to eliminate distractions and give you the proper resources to do your best work.” There’s a difference between being paid to work and working to make a difference. Relationships are about emotional investment. Now that’s motivating.

Interested in learning more about this concept of social vs. market norms? Check out Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely.

Job Search: Culture Trumps Position

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In today’s economy, you can’t stop “looking.” That means whether you’re employed or unemployed there’s always room to upgrade. Like my friend Wing Lam, owner of Wahoo’s Fish Taco, said, “What job is secure?“
Here are several reasons why looking for the right culture is more important than the actual position:

Culture aligns a company towards its mission, vision and goals.

Culture is an extension of the company’s core values. That means how people behave.

Culture will determine your working conditions: resources provided & people around you.

Culture reveals how much collaboration and cohesion between departments is encouraged.

Culture says how you will be supported and rewarded a.k.a. motivated.
Culture shows how long you will stay.

Companies such as Google, Zappos and Facebook are starting a trend where company cultures attract the best talent. It’s no secret that new offices are popping up everywhere highlighting the perks of working with them. Sure, it’s harder to get in, but since the standards have been raised, the quality of the worker has improved. This isn’t saying position isn’t important, it is. What’s more important is culture.

Career Fitness

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Your career is a lot like fitness. Look at these 3 ways fitness can boost your career:  
What are your goals? When you hire a personal trainer, you tell him/her your goals. It’s up to them to create a program for you to achieve your goals. Your career is the same. What do you want to accomplish? Once you establish your “career target”, you can start drafting a game plan of how to achieve it. Without an end goal in mind, how do even know if you’re going in the right direction? 
There are no “quick fixes.” Diets don’t work. A lifestyle change does. When it comes to your career, let’s use networking as an example. If you treat connecting with people like a “diet,” you won’t get the results you desire. Instead look at it as part of your career, period. Meet and follow-up with people weekly for the rest of your life. Even though your “job” may change, your career is a lifelong investment. Treat it that way.

Self motivation & discipline. You can join a gym, but what good is it if you don’t workout there consistently? Actions speak louder than words. You can gather all the greatest knowledge in the world, but if you don’t apply it, it’s worthless. At the end of the day, it’s up to you. No matter who you hire, what you delegate/crowd source or whom you have access to, your career growth is your responsibility. What daily habits can you implement to become more successful in your career?

I love going to the gym. It’s had a huge impact on my career. Working out helps me visualize my goals, reminds me it takes time to develop and the feeling I get from achievement keeps me coming back for more. Try looking at your career in a new way. How can you become more “fit” in your career?

Idealist vs. Realist

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Idealist a.k.a. Optimist. Dreams are meant to be followed. Look at Steve Jobs’ life. He never took “no” for an answer. Instead listening to critics, he decided to create products that people didn’t even know they needed (wanted). What are your lofty goals? Are you going towards or away from your target? Idealists don’t settle. They work hard for what they want. Sure, the percentages are against you, but isn’t that the fuel that becomes added motivation? Idealists know hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard.

Realist a.k.a. Pessimist. The glass is half full. In our current economic state, stability is hard to obtain. There is as much underemployment as unemployment and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Do you take the lesser paying job because it’s your best option? Do you put your dreams on hold until things get “better?” Most of us can’t afford to take as many risks now. If you have a job, be thankful. It’s about putting your needs before your wants and making more logical/rational decisions vs. emotional ones. This is about survival.

So which one are you? It’s more of a decision between “wants” vs. “needs” when it comes to your career. A serial entrepreneur is a perfect example of both. He/she dreams big, but is very systematic when it comes to making financial decisions. There’s no wrong or right way, just two sides to look at. Think of your career as a spectrum…where do you fall?

 

3 Career Trends to Watch in 2012

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Hybrid Entrepreneurs: The number of entrepreneurs with full time jobs will increase. Businesses survive with money. If you can make more money on your own, go for it. If you can’t, why put extra pressure on yourself? That means keep your day job and swing your business (idea) on the side. When your current job is holding you back from making more money with your own business, quit. Most entrepreneurs have a hard time making money. There’s no shame in admitting creating a steady source of income on your own is challenging. We have bills to pay before we have dreams to chase.
Face to Face Networking: Online profiles and resumes don’t land you jobs, in person meetings do. If you can’t put a name to a face, you’re simply forgettable. Most social networking tends to be done locally, so why not take the next step and meet in person? The reason for so many network events popping up all over the place is at our core we are social beings. Online access is great, but face to face conversations will always be better. 90% of people don’t follow up after meeting a contact. Follow-up in person and you’ll stand out as that 10% who do.

Rise of Local Partnerships: If small businesses are going to bring the economy back, then we have to do it together. It’s not one or two small businesses that will start the trend, but the sum total working cohesively. Reach out to your neighbors and figure out how you can partner up to serve a similar customer. If you’ve created a niche, it only benefits you to link arms with someone else to provide a product/service that will enhance their experience. Stop with the “silo” mentality and learn from the younger generation. We’re better together than we are apart.

What I Learned in 2011

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2011 was the year of change. New experiences forged a range of emotions, but there is much to learn from the previously unknown. Let me share with you my takeaways:
 

Achilles Injury: In late January I tore my left Achilles tendon playing basketball. It wasn’t painful when it happened, but immediately I knew something was wrong. After resting it for a couple of days I got a couple of opinions and if I ever wanted to play sports again, I had to have surgery. The next two months were spent in a cast and I felt helpless. I fought to be independent, but needed care especially from my wife. I figured my business would be on hold for a while, but to my amazement I was provided a couple of opportunities in the next several months. 

Serial Entrepreneurs: During a monthly network event that I started at the beginning of the year, a friend who owns several companies asked if I would consider helping him out. At first I thought he was kidding, but after confirming, I took the opportunity. Limping around from meeting to meeting was a chore, yet I was able to sit with numerous entrepreneurs and hear stories that you can’t read in a book. A couple of months later I stepped down and tried a new venture, joining a sales team for a new product. Being part of a strategic new launch is exciting and tedious at the same time. In the end, both weren’t a good fit, but I took the blame for my skill set not being a good “fit” and maintained my professional and personal relationships with two men I consider business mentors. 
Shift in Mindset: One of the main reasons I’ve wanted to have my own business is for freedom and flexibility of schedule. What I’ve learned over the past 4 years is businesses survive and thrive based on cash flow. Since selling isn’t a natural strength of mine I’ve been applying to university positions in hopes to land a more stable position and expand my current platform. It took me a while to tame my ego and fully pursue a job that would essentially replace my own business. I now understand what it feels like to be in my clients’ shoes (I’m a career coach). Through networking I have some leads and will continue to build my connections because that is what I believe is your greatest career asset.

Looking back there was a lot to be thankful for. My faith and dependence on others was tested while I was recovering. I learned a lot (and was humbled) by working with two serial entrepreneurs. I’m now comfortable pursuing a position, then eventually swinging my business on the side. One of the highlights of 2011 was starting a monthly network event geared towards young professionals, called Career Synergy. There I’ve experienced the power of networking and met some great people I respect both professionally and personally. I look forward to 2012 with much optimism, but take time to pause and thank God for all I’ve experienced this year. What did you learn in 2011?  

Farm Raised or Wild?

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Which one do you prefer? Farm raised means the environment is controlled. You can figure out what wild means. This question has a direct application to your career…

“Farm raised” is working in the same job, for the same company for a long period of time. Baby Boomers call it loyalty, but the younger generations call it boredom. If your career is condensed into one experience, your mind has limited options because that’s all you know. You can become an expert and narrow-minded at the same time.
Wild means you’ve jumped around. Your experiences are diverse and changing: a mixture of internships, volunteerism and positions. You may be labeled as a generalist, but it’s much easier to adapt to the task at hand. Wild means you’re open to new and innovative ways to accomplish your goals. Your mind is piece of clay, ready to be molded.
When I was in 8th grade, I had attended private schools all my life. As the school year came to a close, I decided to attend a local, public high school. There were some negative adjustments (such as my grades dropping), but overall it was the right choice. Growing up in private schools all my life I was sheltered. Public education opened my mind to new people, experience and ways of learning. In ways, I transitioned from being farm raised to wild.
In today’s economy we may not have as many career options. I encourage you to work hard where you are, but never stop looking (or applying to) for new opportunities. There’s no finish line when it comes to your career/learning. Challenge yourself to grow by exploring “wild” environments and stay open minded!