Personal Development

Just one more thing — Peter Clayton of Total Picture Radio believes recruiter confidence is picking up.  He writes, “According to the latest ExecuNet Recruiter Confidence Index, a growing number of companies are adding new executive jobs, and fewer are eliminating them, leading executive recruiters to confirm economic recovery is beginning to take hold.” You can listen to the podcast at: Total Picture Radio (with Peter Clayton).

When you go through a grocery line today the bagger asks you how you want your items packed. “Paper or plastic?”  Many stores do not even offer us an option. They hand us our items bagged in plastic. There was a time when all groceries were packed into paper bags. Plastic bags were uncommon but not anymore. Today plastic bags are the norm.

Last week I stated that traditional jobs were going away. I recommended that it was time to change your career strategy and stop looking for jobs and start looking for work. The insight I want to share with you this week is that work used to be packed in paper bags but today it is being packed into plastic bags. There is work to be found but more and more companies are offering it in unconventional ways.

We are used to looking for work packed into job positions with clear cut duties. The jobs were offered in a paper bag called full-time, or permanent work. Today many employers are packaging work into plastic bags called projects, temporary work or contract work.

What is happening?  Companies are finding that they have to be flexible and nimble in order to compete in today’s market. They need to enlarge their workforce on short notice in order to produce a product or service. Once they have achieved their objectives they need to reduce their workforce rather than pay out wages to idle employees.

Think about the difference between paper bags and plastic bags.  A big paper grocery sack could hold a lot of groceries. You could pack many items neatly into one bag. The bags had a rigid shape and fairly predictable volume of room. Traditional jobs were like paper bags, sturdy and dependable.

But today employers are packing much of their work into plastic bags. Work today is much more flexible, odd shaped and comes in smaller units. Plastic bags are a better container for holding or assigning work.

Be careful that you do not overlook, ignore, or turn down work because it is being offering in “plastic” as contract work, temporary work or as a consulting assignment and not offered as “paper,” a full-time job. Plastic not paper is the new norm for work today.

So, which is it for you?  Paper or plastic?

The next few posts will focus on developing your own personal brand.  We will address questions such as: “What is a personal brand?” “Why do I need to develop my personal brand?” “How do I create a personal brand?” and more. Of course, you don’t really “create” a personal brand.  You already have one.

Don’t believe me?  Google your name followed by your home town. If you have a Facebook page or LinkedIn profile your name probably comes up on the fist page.  Perhaps you are listed in the phone book.  Maybe you have recently been mentioned in a local news article.  All of these things are part of your personal brand.

Scary? Get over it.  It’s already out there and you can’t do anything about it.  What you CAN do is manage your personal brand so that what people see about you is what you WANT them to see.

Personal branding was popularized by an article by Tom Peters first published in Fast Company Magazine (“A Brand Called You”) over 10 years ago.  He starts out the article by writing: “Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You.”

When I read that 10 years ago I implicitly KNEW that he was right but I didn’t understand HOW a person could go about creating their own personal brand.  The only brands I knew of were huge corporations with hefty advertising and marketing budgets.  What could a lone individual do to create their own personal brand?

Then along came the Internet, and social networking, and web 2.0, and Google, and . . .

Blogs, Myspace, Facebook, LinkedIn and many other applications entered the scene and made it virtually impossible for anyone to keep from creating a personal brand, whether they wanted to or not.

Here are a few things you can do to manage your personal brand:

1. Be clear about the image you intend to project. If your have more than one message you run the risk of confusing people about what you are all about.
2. Make certain your brand message is consistent across all platforms.  For instance, your resume and LinkedIn profile must be in sync.
3. Back up any broad statements with objective proof.  Show numbers, dates, etc. of what you have done the backs up your claim.
4. Keep it brief.  Can you state your value proposition in 10 words or less?  If not, you run the risk of being forgettable — the death nell of any brand.

Come back tomorrow and we’ll cover some more details about creating and managing your personal brand.

30 Day Blogging Challenge – day 12.  Tomorrow’s post: “What Tiger Woods Can Teach You About Managing Your Personal Brand”

Our guest editor, Larque Goodson, appears to be on a health kick this week.  In her blog she has written “How and Why to Get Healthy” posts over the three days.

Yesterday she shared with us her story about shattering her ankle on the winter snow in her home state of Idaho.  That led her to one of her healthiest habits – walking.  She shares with us some tips for making this form of exercise both enjoyable and automatic.

Wednesday she shared some of her struggles over her body image and the lasting effects physical they have had on her.

Tuesday we were treated to posture tips.  These small changs can make a big difference in your health.  Check out what she has to say.

What does all of this have to do with the job search? LOTS!

1. Being unemployed gives you a gift of time to focus on some of the things you may have neglected while you were working. Use it wisely!
2. Life coaches help their clients identify several areas of their life in which they would like to improve.  We are more than just a job.  We have a physical, spiritual, and emotional sides as well.  You may not be able to do much to immediately impact  the outcome of your work life – afterall, much of that is dependent upon someone else’s time line.  However, you CAN make immediate impact on some other areas. . . like you physical health.
3. Being active and eating well impact your own self image, and if you haven’t figured it out yet, having a positive self image is crucial to job search success.
4. If you have a job and are looking to change careers or find a new one, you still need to be concerned about your health and well-being.  You want to make a great impression when potential employers see you for the first time.

Thanks Larque for giving us the opportunity to make an attempt at getting healthy.

On a personal note, I stopped smoking about 3 months ago and have lost 10 lbs. in the last month.  It may not be much, but it’s a start. A good start!

30 Day Blogging Challenge – day 11.  Tomorrow’s post: “What is a Personal Brand and Why Do You Need One?“

Where did the year go?

Have you achieved all your career goals this year?  Did you find that perfect job you were hoping to get?  Are you satisfied with your job performance?  We are in the end of the year “Red Zone” – the time to take a look back at 2009 and prepare for 2010.  Here are 3 areas to look at NOW to improve your career next year. This is what I call the “A, B, C’s of Career Management.”

A – Annual Review

Review last year’s annual review and plan for next year’s.  Just as you change your smoke alarm battery on New Year’s Day, make this an annual habit.

Did you get an Annual Review last year?  Maybe it was in the beginning of the year, or perhaps it was in the summer.  NOW is the time for you to dig through your files and find it.  Look for areas where you got good marks and include that in your LinkedIn profile and “wins” list (see below).  Now take a look at the areas for improvement you and your superior set out for this year.  What have you done to move forward in those areas?  If you have already shown improvement it may be time to shoot your boss an email indicating your progress.  S/he will likely put it in your file so you can discuss it at your next review.  Be sure to share your “wins” with you boss as well.

Focus on accomplishments (activities), not on responsibilities of the job. Accomplishments will help you stand out from the crowd.

EXAMPLE — a client told me she had re-organized the office supply purchasing process and ended up saving 50% on supplies. Great job!  Even better, she asked her boss to put a copy of the “proof” for that activity in her file for her annual review, which doesn’t take place until June. She helped her boss and herself by this little strategic move, and it didn’t take more than a couple of minutes.

What could YOU have your boss put into YOUR file?

B – Brand Review

What is your personal brand?  How do you want to present yourself when people think of you?  Take a few minutes to look over and update your brand as it exists from the last year (or more).  You may want to revise your USP (unique selling proposition), or update your collateral material (business cards, etc).  Don’t forget to update your blog and website. Perhaps add a twitter account.

Don’t forget LinkedIn. Your LinkedIn profile is one of the most important tools you have in the job search.  In today’s world, potential employers and recruiters will Google your name to learn more about you – that’s a given.  LinkedIn helps your name and profile jump to the top of the Google search results.  You might want to ADD or DELETE something from your profile to update it. (Remember to include the “wins” you find while cleaning out your files (below).  It may be time to ADD or DELETE links from your profile.  How about contacts?  ASK FOR 3 RECOMMENDATIONS.  Now is the time to do it, while you are still on the top of your customer’s mind.

C – Customer Review

Go through and clean up customer Files. For many of us already to this the end of the year.  As you go through your files trying to decide what to shred and what to keep, here are a few ideas that can help you improve your career.

• NOTE WINS – what did you do this year that you consider to be a “win” for your career?  Keep track of these accomplishments and quantify the results as best you can.
• NOTE KEY CUSTOMERS/PARTNERS – who did you work with that might be willing to give you a recommendation?
• THANK THEM – you are already planning on sending out Holiday cards, aren’t you? Why not include a brief note of gratitude for what they have done for you.  Be as specific as you can. A hand-written note goes a LONG way these days.
• FIRE your 5 Worst Customers.  If you are in sales, run your own company, or have clients you no doubt have some people who suck away your time and energy.  They are never happy with what you do for them, and you probably aren’t too happy to work with them either.  Well, you don’t have to.  You are hereby granted permission to fire your 5 worst customers.
• REPLACE them with 5 new customers who fit your PERFECT CLIENT profile!  You will glad you did!

What you do now, at the end of 2009, can help you propel your career forward in 2010.  We hope these tips help you end the year strong, and begin the next with a bang!

I promise, doing just one or two of these things will move your career or job search forward!  Doing all of them religiously every year will make you outstanding!  What are you waiting for?

Do you ever have a bad feeling in your gut like you are seven years old and just stole candy? How about a grating irritation that something is not quite right?

Possibly your subconscious is trying to tell you that despite saying you have a job-hunting strategy, you are not working the process.

I have felt an agitation over the past two weeks that I could not seem to shake. Although I have met some great people and had some good opportunities for side projects come my way, something did not feel right.

And it wasn’t. I got distracted and stopped doing the work required to find my perfect career. I have not been procrastinating nor did I really feel stuck. I just got overwhelmed with distractions. With this realization, I did what everyone should do once in awhile to check their progress … go back to the beginning!

My introduction to www.CareerAdvice4U.com lit a fire in my brain and under my rear. I was enthralled with the videos showing job seekers posting their strategy on the wall, step by step, with sticky notes of planned actions and benchmarks for each step. I followed suit.

But somewhere along the process I stopped holding myself accountable for those actions and steps. I let the Career Crossroads workbook sit a little too long. I set informational interviews but didn’t ask great questions. In short, I forgot about the end goal – TO FIND A PERFECT CAREER!

No wonder I feel irritated. I have been letting myself down each day I don’t work toward my goal. I am also not being a good example for others who need a proven system for finding a great job.

Thankfully, I am not one to waste time administering lashes or defeating thoughts. I am clear now and consider this hiccup part of life. To be fair, I it has been two months or less since a friend recommended CareerAdvice4U. I have accomplished some of the actions and benchmarks on my wall. I just needed to get my nose is back in the workbook, where it should be, and attack this process with the zeal I had day one.

I implore other people who are unemployed, under employed or just pining for a career change to help me stay on target. If you have tips for networking, informational interviews or ways to target companies – please share! I promise that as I learn, I will do the same.

I believe recovery is coming. I can almost hear local companies taking a deep breath and exhaling with a vision of future growth. And I want to be ready.

In an article Saturday in Slate magazine, Daniel Gross makes a case for a job recovery sooner than later.  Using productivity as a key economic indicator, Gross writes, “we’ve just witnessed the fastest two-quarter productivity surge since the first year of the Kennedy administration. . . but just as hamsters can run only so fast on their treadmills, there are limits to productivity growth.”

Gross goes on to relate a footnote by Michael Darda, Chief economist at MKM Partners, who says, “Should the economy expand in the fourth quarter at the same 2.5 percent annual rate it did in the third quarter—as it shows every sign of doing—companies won’t have any choice but to hire.”

It’s an interesting argument.  I’m not sure I agree with Mr. Gross on how fast this economy is recovering (or Mr. Darda either, for that matter).  Most other economists are telling us that it’s going to be Q3 or Q4 of 2010 before we start to see any real job growth in this country.  But what is Gross and Darda are correct?  Are you ready to get hired when things start picking up again?  If not, here are 3 things you can do to prepare yourself:

1)    Get clear about what you have to offer.  You don’t have to be stuck doing something you don’t love doing, even if you are good at it.  In order to effectively promote yourself, you will need to show quantified results you have had in your past on things you are both capable of and willing to do in the future.  You should have 3 – 4 clear key areas in which you shine.  Then you should have 4-5 clear statements that prove you can do these things.

2)    Get focused on EXACTLY what you are looking for. If you don’t know what you want how can anyone else help you find it?  Focus your career objective to one (two at the most) position.  Then use your clearly articulated statements from #1 above to help brand yourself as an expert in that area.

3)    Get connected.  You have no doubt heard the statistics on networking and finding a job.  More than 60% of job seekers find their next opportunity through someone they know.  To be effective at networking you need to offer value to the people in your network.  Don’t just try to sell yourself.  Identify needs of the people with whom you are networking and try to help them.  That way they will both remember you and want to reciprocate with you by finding opportunity for you.

Sooner or later this economy will turn around.  The question is, will YOU be ready to take advantage of opportunities when they come along?  If you are not yet ready, now is the time to get ready!  Sign up today for a basic membership to Careers 2.0 for more  free resources to help you get ready to find your perfect job!

(Note: the three steps above are modeled after networking steps I learned from Kathie Nelson at Connectworks.  For her steps for effective networking see: www.Connectworks.com)

What would you give to have a career – job or business – that made you want to get up in the morning and get to work? Would you take half of your old salary to wear casual clothes, learn from your team every day or be your own boss? Have you ever had a work situation that made you happy … contented?

These questions have been rolling around my skull during my months of unemployment and even prior to being laid off. Lately, I have been talking to a lot of people who are also pondering the balance between money and happiness. Just this week a friend said he’d be happy to have a full-time job at fifth of his old salary (he was a six-figure salesman) with benefits just for the security. But then he mentioned a position that didn’t fit him at all. So I asked, if you don’t care how much you make, why not do something you are passionate about?

It all goes back to how we search for our career. If I am a square peg, then why do I keep trying to shove myself into a round hole? Babies learn pretty quickly that the triangle doesn’t fit in the hexagon spot, yet we adults have a tough time using this metaphor in our own lives.

Before you can brand yourself using the tools in www.CareerAdvice4U.com, you have to explore your passions. That’s why “Career Crossroads: Finding the Perfect Career” starts with personal assessment.

I wasn’t surprised by the results of my Myers-Briggs Type and Keirsey Temperament Tests because I had already made a long list of my passions. I already knew some of the careers I fit from past experience.

So I continue to ask myself – “what am I worth?” and “what makes me happy?” I know I don’t want to go back to being a starving reporter, but I’m not sure I need to match my previous six-figure salary along with the stress, migraines and loss of sleep that accompanied it. I think I would accept lesser pay for a boss that doesn’t scream at me – or to be my own boss and solely responsible for my successes and failures.

Possibly we can all have the perfect career and make great money. Why not? I am just suggesting that if we seek jobs only because of pay, and not because of what we are passionate about, well, we will probably be doing this entire job-seeking routine again in a year or less.

I definitely deserve money. I also deserve to be happy in my work. So, my goal is to find the medium and have both. With guidance from the career wizards, I believe we all can.

Napolean Hill discusses lessons he learned from Andrew Carnegie nearly 100 years ago. What is YOUR potential?