Seeking Professional Help with Your Job Search

Everyone needs help in life. Here are seven (7) reasons you need the help of career professionals and others to help you achieve your goals.

1.     You are not getting any requests for interviews: A graphic designer or someone with an artistic eye can give your resume a makeover.  Remember to make sure your resume has a visual appeal.

2.     You go on interviews, including ones for temporary jobs, but never get offered the position: Practice will improve your interview skills. Ask yourself the question and record the answer. Then listen to the recording and analyze how you can improve your answers.

3.     Don’t have a good “career transition” story: Many people unknowingly talk themselves out of a job by not having a compelling “why you are qualified and best for the position” story. Getting a new job is much more complex than sending a resume and cover letter. It requires you to be able to sell yourself as being more qualified than you really are. Enlist the help of a more senior professional colleague or mentor to “test drive” your “why you” story by sharing it with them and then asking what you can change and improve.

4.     People have questions or are unclear about your expertise/professional niche: If others are more confused after reading your resume, this means you need to customize it to ensure that it helps position you in the field you want to pursue.

5.     You feel overly nervous or overwhelmed when speaking to potential clients or employers: It’s normal for someone unemployed to feel frustrated or even depressed. If you feel that your nerves are getting the best of you, you might want to speak to a career coach, counselor, or even therapist to get your head in the game and embrace a more positive mental perspective.

6.     You have been hired for a few temporary and temp-to-permanent positions but don’t get asked back for the full-time position: Chances are you are not conveying confidence and portraying yourself in the best light; spending just an hour with a career expert could help you uncover if you are giving off a bad vibe.

7.     You’re getting offered opportunities to work in a field that you don’t want to do anymore: Consider hiring a writer to help you update your resume and develop a professional bio. A bio is a great way to tell your professional story and help others see your total experience.

This week consider if it’s time to call in a professional to help you with your career search/transition efforts. Ask just one person to help you work on your job search strategies, tighten your professional documents, or conduct a mock interview. Soon you will find new ways to help portray yourself in a more positive light.

Live. Love. And Dream? ®

Today and this week, as we celebrate the life, legacy, and love of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Every day, make a conscious choice to talk more about your current and future dreams and plans and less about your past experiences. The past has its place to reflect and to offer insight.  Even traveling down memory lane is great, but you don’t want to “live” there. 

Life is about believing that you can invent, help, develop, teach, or 101 other things you dream about. Water and tend to your dreams over time, and you will soon see that dreams of all sizes do come true. 

This week create the boldest dream that you can imagine and go after what set your soul on fire.

Seven Little Shifts to Create Big Change in 2021

Career change is about creating thousands of tiny shifts and baby steps in a new and consistent direction. Starting the process of change may be easier than you think. Each day, engage in at least (3) three easy, fun, and NEW activities/experiences. Try these (7) seven fun personal experiences to help shake up your work mojo and create a positive professional ripple effect.

1.  Watch a show or movie related to your interest or hobby: Love home renovation and décor? Check out “Flip or Flop” and “Rehab Addicts” on HGTV. Whatever you love, there’s a reality TV show for that, so follow whatever you’re into.

2.  Re-read a favorite book: There is a saying, we don’t pick books, but rather they pick us.  Dust off one of your favorite books and start reading it again.  Chances are you’ll soon discover a new reason why you’ve always loved it.

3.  Put your dreams on paper: There is a major energy shift when we take just one idea and put it down on paper. It really doesn’t matter what you write - your thoughts, plans, or creative ideas - write at least one page EVERY day. Even if journaling isn’t your thing, write whatever comes to mind and keep your thoughts positive.

4.  Take a 20-minute walk: Try to walk 20-30 minutes every day. This week take a different route to your everyday walks. Let this tiny change motivate you to make other small changes throughout your day.

5.  Call seven (7) friends or former co-workers: People are growing tired of connecting only via Zoom, text, and social media. Try an old school approach. Pick up your phone and call the seven people. Wish them a Happy New Year and offer inspiration and motivation for a positive 2021. Touching base with an old colleague could be the ideal tiny shift to put a new job opportunity into motion. 

6.  Take a 10-15 minute bath instead of a shower: I know this one seems random but trust me. This is a small switch to your daily routine and your entire day.   

7.   Clean out clutter from your physical and mental space: Clear out your environment and replace your negative or even neutral thoughts WITH potential, hope and, possibility. 

The possibility is always there – waiting to knock at any moment. This week think about doing little things differently and with a different focus to create a brand new opportunity.

You Are More Than the Roles You Play in Life and Career

Here is a simple yet profound truth. Whether we are called daughter, uncle, best friend or SVP, digital content creator, or intern, these titles are not our identity. The life and career labels that we carry and the roles we play in our families and friend groups do not define who we are as people. In fact, the roles we play in life should and do hopefully change throughout our lives and career.

Here are seven (7) mind-shifting ideas to help you see the big picture of who you really are and more importantly who you can become.

1.   You are greater than the role you play: We all play “roles” in our family, with friends and although you may not think it – even at work. Just because you’ve always been the “helper” who works tirelessly without any recognition doesn’t mean that’s the ONLY way people can see you. You always have the power to change your role but teaching others how to see you.

2.   Your work does not equal your worth: Imagine a world where you would always be rewarded for every contribution you make. Unfortunately, real-life doesn’t work that way. Most people are underpaid, overworked, and not properly acknowledged for what they do.

3.   You have infinite potential: The biggest thing keeping you from your dreams is you NOT believing that it’s possible. You have to believe in your personal (infinite) potential and “fake it till you make it.”

4.   Learn from those who don’t treat others with the professionalism and respect they deserve: We all have had to work with mean girls or guys that are jerks.  Remember negative people have a purpose – to teach you – what NOT to do to others now and in the future.

5.   Your title is what they call you at work – it is not who you are in life: A title is a very subjective thing. Whatever they call you at work banker, vet tech, teacher, or even convict – NEVER let others’ labels define you. 

6.   You are better than your worst past mistake:  In theory, you should live life with few or no regrets.  However, we all have made mistakes and done things we are not proud of. What happened in the past does NOT dictate your life in the future.

7.   You are not going to do what you currently do forever: Nothing lasts forever unless you want them to.  The great thing about life, career, business, and more is you make a choice (give it all that you’ve got) and when that choice no longer works out – you make another choice.

You are more than the assistant manager, development officer, recently unemployed “person.” You are not just the roles you live or the work you currently do. This week remind yourself of one of these “maxims” – creative goals/ideas.