I saw this letter to the editor in the American Airlines magazine on a recent trip and thought it a great reminder as we say goodbye to summer, get back in the swing of things at work and look forward to the fall:
"I have had unforgettable times on vacation in places such as Tuscany, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. I feel blessed to have been in those wonderful places with my loved ones. Yet when it's time to leave, I look forward to home with the same joy and fervor that I had for the trip. I do not experience post vacation blues, as I love my life at home, I love being home, and I love living my life with real purpose in everything I do. Could it be that if you really love your life, love what you do everyday, and love your home that you created with so much time and effort, there is no such thing as post vacation blues? Traveling is nice, but home is better. To have the freedom to see the world is to develop a deeper love for home."
Notice that bold phrase "love what you do everyday" - where are you on a scale of 1 to 5 when it comes to loving what you do everyday at work? Congratulations and keep it up if you said 4 or 5! If you're not at that end of the scale, what's keeping you from being there? Take some time this week to do a little self-evaluation: determine the things about your work that you do love and figure out a way to do more of those tasks. Turn your career into one you love doing everyday and forget those post vacation blues. Make it one where vacations and leisure time are just the icing on the cake and you actually look forward to getting back to work. It's possible and you can make it happen!
Please post your thoughts and ways you've made your work and career more fulfilling.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Job Searching and...Master Minding
I recently spoke to a Career Transition Club for managers and executives on the “Nuts and Bolts of a Successful Job Search”. I offered them a wide variety of ideas for beefing up their searches and staying motivated during their time of transition. While I like to think that I offered some great ideas, the real benefit to them being in that room that night was exactly what we can find by being part of a Master Mind group. There is incredible power available when two or more people gather together for the same purpose, in this case, looking for a job.
As they went around the room giving their 2 minute introductions, each person included what type of job and industry they were looking for and passed around their resumes or business cards. At the end of the meeting, they had time to ask each other questions as a group, and then spent the last half hour mingling and having one-on-one conversations. As an observer, I immediately saw the results – support for one another through the sharing of leads and ideas and the simple act of being in the same room with others who were in the uncomfortable position of being unemployed.
I overheard a biologist talking about his ideas for finding investors and starting a research company with someone coming from the banking and finance arena. I listened in as a project manager talked about her dream to work in a “green” industry in order to help the environment with someone from a sales background pursuing the same industry. I saw the exchange of resumes, cards, contact names and numbers, and even smiles and handshakes at the end of the evening.
Think about what you get from being part of a Master Mind or any other support group, whether it be for small business owners, for following a spiritual path, for parenting, or for…you name the focus. Its true benefit comes from the support and camaraderie that develops from knowing you are not alone in whatever situation brought you together in the first place. If you’ve been thinking about joining or starting a group, keep this example of unemployed, potentially downtrodden people leaving that room with new colleagues and friends, filled with hope and new ideas for their bright futures. It’s as simple as pulling together 1 or 2 more people looking for the same thing as you, opening up to sharing, and being ready to enjoy the amazing results.
Please share your thoughts and experiences about Job Search support groups and Master Minding by posting a comment. Visit www.LousbergUnlimited.com for more information on our career services for individuals and organizations.
As they went around the room giving their 2 minute introductions, each person included what type of job and industry they were looking for and passed around their resumes or business cards. At the end of the meeting, they had time to ask each other questions as a group, and then spent the last half hour mingling and having one-on-one conversations. As an observer, I immediately saw the results – support for one another through the sharing of leads and ideas and the simple act of being in the same room with others who were in the uncomfortable position of being unemployed.
I overheard a biologist talking about his ideas for finding investors and starting a research company with someone coming from the banking and finance arena. I listened in as a project manager talked about her dream to work in a “green” industry in order to help the environment with someone from a sales background pursuing the same industry. I saw the exchange of resumes, cards, contact names and numbers, and even smiles and handshakes at the end of the evening.
Think about what you get from being part of a Master Mind or any other support group, whether it be for small business owners, for following a spiritual path, for parenting, or for…you name the focus. Its true benefit comes from the support and camaraderie that develops from knowing you are not alone in whatever situation brought you together in the first place. If you’ve been thinking about joining or starting a group, keep this example of unemployed, potentially downtrodden people leaving that room with new colleagues and friends, filled with hope and new ideas for their bright futures. It’s as simple as pulling together 1 or 2 more people looking for the same thing as you, opening up to sharing, and being ready to enjoy the amazing results.
Please share your thoughts and experiences about Job Search support groups and Master Minding by posting a comment. Visit www.LousbergUnlimited.com for more information on our career services for individuals and organizations.
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Best Things about a Job Search
Job hunting is usually not something we look forward to; instead we tend to think of it as an overwhelming necessary evil to be avoided. Hmmm…maybe that’s why so many people stay in jobs they don’t like. In my work as a Career Coach, helping individuals make job transitions to more fulfilling work, that task of hunting for a job becomes the biggest obstacle. I propose we all change our attitude about this and look into this “cloud’s” silver lining to see what opportunities are there:
Change direction: Now’s a great time to reassess and see if you want to stay in the same field. Take stock of what you liked best about your last position – was it the environment, the people, the commute? Was it the tasks you performed and the challenges you got to tackle? Chances are, those things can be found in other workplaces regardless of industry. Determine your strengths and favorites and look to other options where they can be found.
Build your network: Networking is hands-down one of the best job search strategies out there. Make a point of visiting an association meeting each week and talking to someone new about your job search every other day. Always end your conversation with “who else do you know that I can talk to?” Your network should be ever-growing and cultivated regularly for support you’ll need at any point in your career.
Personal growth: Here’s a good opportunity to stretch and change. “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got” is a great reminder for job searchers. Do something a little different this time – decide what your “dream job” would be and take steps to go after that; take a class and hone a skill you’ve always been interested in and add it to your resume; track your weekly progress and note your accomplishments.
Set goals and follow action plans: Sharpen your pencil and write down what you can realistically achieve in a week’s time. How many resumes and letters will you send? How many phone calls will you make? How many friends and associates will you reach out to? How much time will you spend on the internet job boards, networking, and making phone calls? Now put an action plan together outlining how you’ll accomplish these goals. Then celebrate your accomplishments.
Revisit and revise your resume: Yes, we should all have our resumes ready to go at a moment’s notice, working or not, but that usually isn’t the case. Take this time to dust off that document, look at it with fresh eyes, gather some resume books or search the internet for samples, and give it a new look. Then, have someone proofread and give their honest opinion on whether or not it will get you in the door for an interview.
Polish yourself up: Take inventory of your closet. Shoes and suits in need of minor repairs? About due for a new conservative business outfit anyway? Do what you can to wear things that are professional, cast the image you want to convey, while being comfortable and showcasing your confidence. Test your handshake, project your voice, smile, and head for those interviews with the look of someone they’d be silly not to hire.
Research: Spend time at the computer looking into local area companies and their websites and decide if that’s really where you want to work. Surf a little and find links that take you to related companies and industries you might not have thought of before. Learn all you can about an organization before you enter their door for your interview.
Pump up your attitude: When HR professionals are asked what trait they most look for in candidates, they say Enthusiasm! Even someone with all the skills and background can be overshadowed by another with more enthusiasm and less qualifications. Show how much you want that job. Be interested and engaged; ask questions of the interviewer, especially, “what’s the next step in your decision process?” No matter if this is your first interview with your first choice company or your eleventh interview with the eleventh company on your list – keep showing your enthusiasm. It does pay off. That job you want is just around the corner.
What an opportunity! Your job search can be valuable in so many ways, rather than something to dread. Of course the ultimate goal is fulfilling, steady work with a good income, but job search is that step we all find ourselves in at one time or another. Make the most of it – stretch outside of your comfort zone and make it as enjoyable an experience as possible. See what a little change in attitude can do for you and your career!
Please visit www.lousbergunlimited.com for more information on how Career Coaching services can help you and your organization.
Change direction: Now’s a great time to reassess and see if you want to stay in the same field. Take stock of what you liked best about your last position – was it the environment, the people, the commute? Was it the tasks you performed and the challenges you got to tackle? Chances are, those things can be found in other workplaces regardless of industry. Determine your strengths and favorites and look to other options where they can be found.
Build your network: Networking is hands-down one of the best job search strategies out there. Make a point of visiting an association meeting each week and talking to someone new about your job search every other day. Always end your conversation with “who else do you know that I can talk to?” Your network should be ever-growing and cultivated regularly for support you’ll need at any point in your career.
Personal growth: Here’s a good opportunity to stretch and change. “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got” is a great reminder for job searchers. Do something a little different this time – decide what your “dream job” would be and take steps to go after that; take a class and hone a skill you’ve always been interested in and add it to your resume; track your weekly progress and note your accomplishments.
Set goals and follow action plans: Sharpen your pencil and write down what you can realistically achieve in a week’s time. How many resumes and letters will you send? How many phone calls will you make? How many friends and associates will you reach out to? How much time will you spend on the internet job boards, networking, and making phone calls? Now put an action plan together outlining how you’ll accomplish these goals. Then celebrate your accomplishments.
Revisit and revise your resume: Yes, we should all have our resumes ready to go at a moment’s notice, working or not, but that usually isn’t the case. Take this time to dust off that document, look at it with fresh eyes, gather some resume books or search the internet for samples, and give it a new look. Then, have someone proofread and give their honest opinion on whether or not it will get you in the door for an interview.
Polish yourself up: Take inventory of your closet. Shoes and suits in need of minor repairs? About due for a new conservative business outfit anyway? Do what you can to wear things that are professional, cast the image you want to convey, while being comfortable and showcasing your confidence. Test your handshake, project your voice, smile, and head for those interviews with the look of someone they’d be silly not to hire.
Research: Spend time at the computer looking into local area companies and their websites and decide if that’s really where you want to work. Surf a little and find links that take you to related companies and industries you might not have thought of before. Learn all you can about an organization before you enter their door for your interview.
Pump up your attitude: When HR professionals are asked what trait they most look for in candidates, they say Enthusiasm! Even someone with all the skills and background can be overshadowed by another with more enthusiasm and less qualifications. Show how much you want that job. Be interested and engaged; ask questions of the interviewer, especially, “what’s the next step in your decision process?” No matter if this is your first interview with your first choice company or your eleventh interview with the eleventh company on your list – keep showing your enthusiasm. It does pay off. That job you want is just around the corner.
What an opportunity! Your job search can be valuable in so many ways, rather than something to dread. Of course the ultimate goal is fulfilling, steady work with a good income, but job search is that step we all find ourselves in at one time or another. Make the most of it – stretch outside of your comfort zone and make it as enjoyable an experience as possible. See what a little change in attitude can do for you and your career!
Please visit www.lousbergunlimited.com for more information on how Career Coaching services can help you and your organization.
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