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Got Hope?

As you might expect, it is a busy time to be a career counselor. I cannot recall ever being this busy in July. During the summer, people are typically off enjoying the outdoors and they put off making any big career decisions until the fall. This year, it seems that nothing is as it used to be.

In early March, as the pandemic was beginning to take hold of the country, fear became a dominant emotion. Health concerns and financial worries left me wondering how I would be able to bring hope to my clients. I did a deep dive into the topic of hope and came out of the experience feeling a renewed sense of peace.

I am a positive person by nature. I tend to see the possibilities in challenging times and typically enjoy figuring my way around the obstacles that pop up. For me, life is a lot like crossing a creek. Which rock looks stable?  Should we go this way or that?  What if I fall?  Wow, this water is running fast. Maybe I need to rethink this path entirely and look for another trail.

I rarely let myself become immobilized by fear. I am willing to take a risk and see what happens. I like to take action. It is so much easier to push a moving train onto a new track. Imagine trying to move a train that is parked at a standstill. Much harder. So, I keep plugging along, skipping from rock to rock, switching courses as needed even when the going gets tough.

When the pandemic became the obstacle, I found myself at a standstill. I felt like a parked train. Heavy and stuck.  If I was unsure how to move forward, how could I coach my clients through this uncharted territory? It is well researched that hope is key to making a successful career transition. If I was feeling hopeless, how on earth could I help others find a sense of confidence and optimism?

During the deep dive, I discovered something. Hope is so much more than donning a pair of rose-colored glasses and forging ahead. Hope is definitely not a sense of blind optimism. Real hope comes from understanding the seriousness of a situation and reckoning with it.

My clients are facing lay-offs, furloughs and company closings in the midst of a pandemic. Unemployment is at an all-time high. These are serious challenges. Hope has come from being willing to look at the challenges they are facing head on without flinching away.  As I have held space for my clients to explore what is happening to them personally in context of world events, they have begun to see glimmers of hope.

Some found hope that they could finally pursue a career that suited them. Others have discovered they absolutely loved working from home and want to find new ways to do this.  Clients are exploring all new industries in which to transfer their talents.  One hopeful client recently purchased a restaurant and is launching a reopening for 2021. The new and the next is beckoning.

I held space. I looked into darkness along with my clients. I gently asked, “What is your biggest fear right now?” Then we looked at their fears without flinching away. We analyzed the situation and did some calculations. It is better to go this way or that? It was in this process of reckoning that even the biggest fears started to appear just a little less daunting.

If I had been handing out false hope, I think many of my clients would still be stuck. Being realistic about the situation allowed for planning to take place. Forward motion began to happen, and so many of my clients are well on their way to creating new chapters.

Sometimes I provided hopeful ideas and suggestions. I am good at brainstorming and pathfinding. However, the truth is that the clients themselves who are showing me the way across the rocky stream. They are the ones doing the brave work of figuring their way forward.  I have the honor and privilege of observing the resiliency of the human spirit. For every bit of hope I have provided, it has been returned to me a hundred times over during the past few months.

You may be facing a fork in the road in your life or in your career right now. Taking the road less traveled may seem like a foolhardy way to go.  These are dire times, don’t ya know?  However, if not now, when?  When will you find the courage to explore new ways of living and working?  The courage to forge a new path will not come from blindly stumbling your way forward.  It will come from taking a good hard look at the perils that lie ahead, making a plan and going for it.  Hope happens when face our fears not when we pretend that they do not exist.

 

 

 

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LinkedIn – Get Found and Stand Out

Having a strong LinkedIn profile used to be good idea….now it is a MUST.  Of course, not all industries utilize the platform to the same extent. For example, police officers, lawyers, medical professionals, and teachers tend to prefer to keep lower profiles. However, most professionals find LinkedIn to be a necessary part of their professional identity and presence.

It is easy to understand why when you consider that over 90 percent of recruiters supposedly utilize LinkedIn to search for qualified candidates. I recently landed a nice little contract gig after being found on LinkedIn. Sweet! LinkedIn is also a great way to build and maintain a rich professional network.  Finally, LinkedIn helps us stay on top of industry news and trends.

Lose the mindset that LinkedIn is a job search tool.  Consider your profile a personal website that allows you to track your professional experience, education, accomplishments, publications, recommendations, key skills, certifications, industry activity, target company list, and your network of connections.

Most recruiters admit that they will pull up your profile before giving you a call.  If your online profile is not clear and consistent with your resume, you may find yourself in the B pile.  If you have zero recommendations or your profile is way out date, the recruiter will likely move on to a candidate who takes more pride in their online presence.

The Top 10 Profile Elements

The following are necessary in order to stand out and get found:

  • A nice headshot…not one with your dog – unless you are a veterinarian.
  • Headline….120 characters of searchable job titles….not your current job.
  • A well written 2000 character, keyword rich, summary.
    • Personalize this and don’t sound like a resume robot!
  • Current and previous work experience with bulleted details.
  • Personalize your LinkedIn URL.
  • Complete your Skill Section with at least 30 relevant skills listed in proper order.
  • 50 plus connections (Better yet, aim for 500)
  • Education and Training
  • 3-5 Recommendations
  • Join 20 plus groups and follow 50 plus companies.

The 10 Minute a Day Approach

Keeping your profile up to date and fresh AND spend time on LinkedIn each day going through your newsfeed.  Liking, commenting and sharing posts help develop your personal brand.  Actually publishing an article is another way to boost your presence and become a thought leader in your industry.

Spend 10 minutes a day making connections, commenting on interesting articles, and following new companies. This helps LinkedIn understand you. If and when you are in job search mode, LinkedIn will be a much better resource in terms of positions it recommends and how well you show up in recruiter searches.

Be 10 times more Brave

LinkedIn has actually proven to be a really powerful tool for me and for many of my clients.  Actual relationships are formed and developed from LinkedIn. Different careers are explored and new positions are landed – all as a result of reaching out to people.  Not everyone will respond to you in the way you wish but some people will!

Respond quickly to any requests that come your way and take any lack of response in stride. Make your outreach personal and avoid sending off generic connection requests.  Add a short note.  Take time to read someone’s profile and highlight what you have in common when you request a connection. Be courageous as you reach out. No one gets far alone.  We need each other and LinkedIn is platform that allows us to find support and give support.

Social media is here to stay and LinkedIn remains the go-to professional networking platform.  Make your profile sparkle and find ways to connect that feel genuine and authentic.  While social media is not a replacement for face to face relationships, LinkedIn can help us connect in real ways to people we might not otherwise be able to meet.

 

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Recovering from Unexpected Job Loss or a Lay Off

While many of us are happily anticipating the promise of a new year, many others are grappling with the weight of unexpected job loss. After all, ‘tis the season for pink slips, layoffs, and workforce restructuring. Let’s face it, January can feel especially cold and gloomy for job searchers.

When we find ourselves suddenly unemployed, our first instinct is to rush to the computer to polish up our resumés and LinkedIn profiles. This feels proactive and productive. Once these tasks are done, we are left with the raw emotions of our recent experience.

How do we deal with the emotional aspects of being laid off or terminated? We are all unique and situations vary. Therefore, the process of healing is different for everyone. For some clients, the experience is quickly viewed as a “blessing in disguise.” For others, the wounds are deeper, and it takes longer to recover.

Regardless of where you are on this continuum, it is wise to take steps to process the experience in a way that leaves you feeling whole and strong. It is tough to execute an effective search when you are weighed down by emotional baggage. You don’t want to unconsciously carry negative emotions into a networking event or job interview.

Take time to grieve.

Unwanted or unexpected change almost always includes a sense of loss. Even if you were unhappy in your job and considering making a change, you will mourn the loss of the relationships and routines that work provided. You might feel a loss of identity and self-esteem. There is almost always a loss of financial security.

The impact of job loss can be similar to divorce or even the death of a loved one. When we think of it this way, it makes sense to mourn before we jump into a job search. This includes identifying your emotions and processing the experience.

Acknowledge your emotions.

Denial is a common coping mechanism. Avoid the inclination to dismiss or minimize your feelings. Are you hurt, angry, ashamed, scared, sad, vengeful, or confused? All of that and more? Give yourself permission to feel whatever is coming up for you.

The sooner you acknowledge the breadth and depth of your emotions, the sooner you will be ready and able to move forward. Name your emotions. Take time to reflect and journal about your experience.

Many people avoid looking too deeply within for fear of being overcome by their emotions. Research shows that avoiding dealing with feelings can cause more stressors. The negative energy builds up and keeps you stuck.

 Talk about your experience.

Internal processing is a good start, but full recovery includes telling your story – out loud, to the right person, and in a safe setting. It is healing to share your experience with a supportive person who can listen without judgment and without rescuing.

After a termination or lay off, there is often a lingering sense of shame. We wonder what we did wrong or we worry that we might face similar issues in the next job. Some layoffs are completely random. In other cases, we might need to own some of the responsibility.

In either case, you can recover and even grow from the experience. Talking is curative. By sharing your narrative, you begin to tease out the truth. You release unhealthy feelings of shame and replace them with self-compassion and an honest appraisal of yourself and the situation. This lays the groundwork for creating your next chapter.

We live in a “dust off your pants and move on” culture. Getting right back on the horse after a fall is seen as a strength. However, a strength overused can become a weakness. If you are recovering from job loss, take time to grieve. Then you can hop back in the saddle and ride off in the direction of your dreams with confidence and clarity.

 

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2017 – The Year to Give Back!

Mountain Landscape in Colorado Rocky Mountains, Colorado, United States.

One of the best things we can do for ourselves, and our careers, is to share our time and talents to do some good in the world. Volunteering enhances our professional resiliency and increases our personal life satisfaction. Here are 5 reasons to make ‘giving back’ a priority in the coming year.

Expand Your Network

Serving on boards, volunteering for a non-profit, and supporting fundraising events connects us to new people who share similar interests. In time, these acquaintances can turn into professional alliances. When we volunteer, we have a chance to put our talents to use and show our skills in action. This leads to high-trust relationships with people who can then speak to our qualifications or refer us to new opportunities with real conviction.

Build the Resume

Volunteering helps us look good on paper. We can minimize gaps in our work history by showing that we have remained active and involved during transitions or layoffs. We brand ourselves when we include volunteer experience on our resumes. We also differentiate ourselves from other candidates who have similar skill sets but lack community involvement.

Skill Development

Think about what you have to offer and what you hope to gain in terms of skill development when you consider a volunteer opportunity. Sometimes we volunteer because we want to be considered for full time, paid positions within the organization. In other cases, we plan to take the skills we gain from volunteering and put them to use in our regular jobs. Yes, we give back for the sake of giving back but we can also be strategic in terms of what we want to develop in ourselves.

Career Exploration

If you are considering a career change, volunteering is the perfect way to test the waters before jumping in with both feet. You get first-hand experience and valuable insights into what it takes to be successful in a new industry. This can help you avoid a costly career mistake. If you do find a match in your new field, you will have developed great experience and connections to help you make a successful transition.

Good Vibrations

Volunteering often leads to feeling a sense of purpose and belonging in the world. If we are a bit stale in our careers, volunteering can reignite a sense of passion. It feels good to give back yet we all need support from time to time. When we are in a career transition, it can be psychologically easier to reach out for help if we have made it a priority to be of service. In giving to others, we can create good karma for ourselves.

Keep in mind that finding the right volunteer opportunity can be challenging. Start by considering what issues call to you. What are you curious about? Do you want to work locally? Or, do you yearn to support national or international issues? What talents do you have to share and what new skills do you hope to gain?  How much time can you devote given your other commitments?

Use this online resource:  https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/volunteering to learn about possible areas of interest. Your local library also offers resources to help you research non-profits, foundations, and giving organizations such as Rotary International.

The new year is a perfect time to envision a brighter future for yourself and for the world. It is a time to set goals and seek out rewarding experiences. One thing I know for sure is that as you serve the world, you will also be doing yourself a whole bunch of good. Happy New Year!

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Job Search Survival Guide

Your job search has been going on for months. After turning in hundreds of applications, you only landed a handful of interviews. You made it into the final round on a few occasions but have yet to receive an offer.

Looking for a new job is a lot tougher than you imagined. Initially, you were hopeful but now you feel lost and discouraged. You hear news of the job market opening up which only adds to your despair. Trust me, you are not alone.

I realize this is a small consolation. However, it is really important to remember that looking for a new job is a tough process. I don’t know anyone who thrives under financial pressure, enjoys being in a state of limbo and relishes the sting of rejection.

Unless you just won the lottery or inherited a fortune, giving up is probably not an option. Like it or not, the hunt for a good job must go on! Here are three tips to help you survive your job search.

Take a Break

Job seekers who are dealing with health issues tend to flounder the most. It is difficult to focus on job search activities or make positive networking connections when grappling with anxiety, depression or serious physical conditions.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is put your search on hold. Depending on your circumstances, this could mean a week, a month, or perhaps longer. You may need counseling support or you may simply need to give yourself a break from the stressors of life.

During this time, you will not scan job boards, go to networking events, or even peek at LinkedIn. Instead, put your health and wellbeing first and fill your calendar with enjoyable activities. You might add a few house projects to the list if that seems therapeutic.

Once you are stronger and more confident, you can step back into the job search process with renewed energy and hope.

Get Clarity

The second biggest hindrance to job search success is a lack of focus. Job seekers who struggle the most often confess to being unsure about what they want to do next.

When you lack clarity, you are going to pale in comparison to more focused, enthusiastic and determined candidates. Your networking tribe will struggle to support you in your search. Simply stated, it is mighty difficult to be compelling when you are confused.

You may need outside support. Visit a workforce center, utilize alumni career services at your college or seek out a job search coach to help you gain the clarity you need to move forward.

Reset the Strategy

Finally, many job seekers struggle because they do not know how to conduct an effective search. Landing a position in today’s marketplace requires a fresh strategy and a different set of job search skills than in the past.

Today, you need so much more than a polished résumé. Landing a great job and managing one’s professional growth requires a career marketing plan. If you have never heard of a career marketing plan, you have some homework to do!  If you have one, start executing it with determination.

It’s a jungle out there. In order to survive, self-care is key. You also need a clear focus, updated job search skills and a strategic career marketing plan. If you are still feeling lost and unprepared, find a group of other job searchers and band together. The journey is much easier, and hopefully more fun, when shared with fellow travelers.

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