YOU, 2010!

Remember that old definition of insanity: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. Well it’s 2010, and there is no time like the present to push the boundaries of your comfort zone by infusing some creative energy into your daily routine. No need to make lofty New Year’s resolutions just because it seems like the thing to do in January. I’m suggesting that you reflect back upon 2009 or further if necessary and examine your patterns.

Which of your patterns of thought and behavior have resulted in momentum and success and which patterns have knocked the wind out of you and left you feeling disillusioned and defeated? Then delve deeper and ask yourself a few more questions: “What could I accomplish if I were to focus in on the personal strengths I employed to score past achievements?” and “What are the possibilities if I were to engage these strengths in unconventional and creative ways?” For example, if you have been recognized by employers for the quality of your project management skills, what if you were to use these same skills to embark on a part-time entrepreneurial venture or volunteer at a non-profit and offer support to planning or development initiatives?

Here are a few ideas on how you can shake things up a bit and encourage a more creative view of life:

• Put on a smock and attend an art class or maybe grab your wooden spoon and join a cooking class.
• Stroll through aisles at the book store that you normally shy away from and select something new for your nightstand.
• Use a “buddy pass” and join a friend/co-worker for a work-out at their gym.
• Attend a self improvement or motivational workshop.
• “Get outta town!” Escape to the mountains or a beach for a long weekend…and leave your laptop at home.
• Buy a journal and start a “My Amazing Ideas Book”.
• Exercise your mind and grow! Sign up for a university course or certificate program.
• Dust off an old hobby or pursue a new pastime and add some fun to the daily schedule.
• Create a “Vision Board” and post pictures, cartoons, inspirational messages, action statements, etc. that reflect attainable goals.
• Join a new professional association, or reactivate a dormant membership, and attend a breakfast meeting, lunch-n-learn session or networking event.
• Invite a friend to lunch and encourage them to share what’s going on in their life.
• Seek out materials (books, audio programs, assessments, etc.) for exploration and development.
• Take a mid-week “mental health day” and tour a museum, attend a lecture, arrange some informational interviews.

Examine your comfort zone and challenge boundaries that may be contributing to outmoded, stale patterns in your life. Then commit to infusing some new stuff into the weekly routine. The key will be to reflect upon and assess the thought process, skills, energy, level of satisfaction, interests explored, etc. associated with each new activity. 2010 has arrived. What proactive steps can you take to make this your best year yet?

Some suggested resources for you:
Think Outside Your Blocks by Kevin Carroll
How to Get Ideas by Jack Foster

Carry Your Resume in Your Pocket!

Let me tell you about a very simple, low cost, yet highly effective marketing tool for your job search strategy. I call it the ProCard and it is essential for your job search and professional networking activity. Here’s how it works…

After developing a polished resume presenting a solid focus on the career role you are pursuing, you need to add the ProCard to your job search toolbox. I highly recommend that clients add two to three branding titles to the heading of their resume. These titles represent roles that you have served in, roles that you are prepared to assume, or functional areas that represent your expertise, such as Communications Manager (title) vs. Communications and Branding (areas). Two to three of these branding titles belong on your ProCard.

Now let’s talk about Linkedin.com. You should have an eye catching profile on this No.1 professional networking site. If not, sign up for a free account today. Review my previous post on the value of developing a solid Linkedin profile. I cringe when I hear people talk about spending up to $1k or more to have a career services company develop a web based resume/portfolio. Please save your money and create your own web based resume using a free Linkedin account. Linkedin allows you to create a vanity URL, to incorporate your name into the web address for your account, rather than some random string of numbers. This vanity URL belongs on your ProCard - it will give people immediate access to the focused resume content that you have used to build/maintain your Linkedin profile.

Now let’s put the pieces together…

Go to Vistaprint.com to order high quality, low cost business cards. Select a card template that is professional and pleasing to the eye and then start to insert your content into the template. Remember the KISS rule and keep it simple. Start by inserting your Name and any academic/professional credentials (Andrew J. Smith, MBA, CPA). Then Insert a few of your branding titles under your name (Accounting ~ Financial Management). Next, add your Linkedin vanity URL to the card (www.Linkedin.com/in/AJSmithMBA). Finish the card by adding one phone number and your email address.

You’re done! Order your cards and when they arrive you are ready to go. Your ProCard is now a short cut to the resume data and profile you are promoting on Linkedin – a resume in your pocket! Hand your ProCard out at meetings and networking events; to friends, family and colleagues; at interviews…wherever the opportunity presents itself to promote yourself and give people an immediate link to your resume content.

Try Asking What? not Why?

When you’re feeling boxed-in or stuck, it is often a good idea to start looking at things a bit differently and with more objectivity. A simple but often powerful way to make a positive change in your perspective is to start asking different questions. You may currently be asking questions like:

“Why is this happening to me?”
“Why is this happening now?”
“Why isn’t my plan working?”
“Why can’t I reach my goal?”
“Why am I feeling this way?”

“Why?” is one of the first questions we learn to ask as children. As a child I can remember watching movies with my family, who would inevitably become quite irritated with my barrage of “why” questions. Even today friends and family will frown at me for asking too many questions! We ask “Why” questions because we want to understand or reconcile a situation. But is the question being driven by a need to learn and grow or is it an emotional response? I sometimes refer to a “Why” question as the “Victim’s” question…“Why me?” This type of question may be good for reflection, but its focus is on the past or present. And we no longer have an opportunity to change the past or present. Not even Cher’s plastic surgeons can truly turn back time!

Consider asking “What” rather than “Why.” In the coaching world, we refer to “What” questions as WAQs on the side of the head or Wisdom Access Questions. WAQs take you beyond information gathering, to concentrate on outcomes and solutions. With a goal in mind, you can then do the research necessary to make informed decisions that can propel you forward. And the future is where positive change and goals reside. Here are some examples of essential, compelling “What” questions:

“What needs to change?”
“What’s blocking my path?”
“What negative patterns am I repeating?” ex. Job Hopping
“What do I need to demonstrate to be seen as a leader?”
“What do I need to learn / accomplish?”

Think of a common scenario, for example a conflict with your boss. You might ask questions such as “Why doesn’t my boss like me,” “Why does my boss treat me this way” or even “Why is my boss such an ass?” I’ll admit that these questions are good for bitching and whining. But the fundamental problem with these questions is that they have much more to do with the other person and their behavior than they have to do with you. You can’t spin your wheels trying to figure out the other person’s thoughts and motives. So try asking something like, “What can I do this week to improve my relationship with my boss?” A “What” question allows you to be proactive and to seek out a solution.

Next time you’re feeling stuck or need to view life a bit differently, try asking “What?” rather than “Why?” I also highly recommend “Now What?” and more great resources from life coach Laura Berman Fortgang.

Negotiating Salary with the Job Offer

In the current economy, you might be questioning if there is any "wiggle room" to negotiate the salary level with a new job offer?

There is no doubt that the present job market is extremely competitive. Many companies are taking their time and being very cautious when selecting candidates to fill key roles. The experts can continue to debate whether we are or are not in a recession. But job seekers are well aware that the climate has changed; and it’s natural to question if the rules surrounding salary negotiations have also changed.

If you are a strong candidate for an opening, then your work commands a fair salary. But what is the definition of “fair”? Here are a few core “rules of thumb” to follow concerning salary negotiations:

1. Do your homework before you speak. Many candidates are terrified to answer the “What are your salary requirements?” question. Whenever possible, provide a range which starts at your “rock bottom” number and ends above your expectation. This will give you wiggle room for negotiations. Use web sites and databases, preferably within your industry, to gather targeted salary figures for the positions that you have held and the role that you’re pursuing. Consider information associated with your education level, experience, the size of the organizations you have worked in, as well as your geographic location. You need realistic, “real-world” data to negotiate effectively.

2. Negotiate from a friendly position of strength. You’ve obviously developed positive report with interviewers if you’ve received a job offer, so don’t jeopardize this with an inflated ego. Continue your dialogue in a professional and courteous manner and learn as much as you can about the perspective behind their offer. You can then use this information to respond with quantifiable data to support your request. Discuss/revisit your background and career accomplishments and re-emphasize the contributions you believe you can make to the organization, both short and long term.

3. Carefully consider all the elements of the employment package. Don’t be short sighted and only focus on salary. Keep in mind that the company may also be investing in other very tangible benefits for their staff members, so get a good inventory of these items. Medical, dental and disability insurance, employee assistance and discount programs, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, etc.; these all equate to dollars invested by the company on behalf of the employee. When you’re comparing job offers and salary levels, focus on the entire package being offered.

4. Bargain for added benefits. If during the course of your negotiations, the employer will not budge on the initial salary offer, consider bargaining with them to add a few more items to the total benefits package. Since they do not have to pay matching payroll taxes on non-salary benefits, might they consider an additional 3 to 5 days of paid leave each year, or an annual allowance for association memberships or professional development activity (seminars and workshops)? Maybe they would be willing to add a sign on bonus after the initial 3-6 months of employment or a performance bonus at 12 months. They may say “No”, but it can’t hurt to ask.

5. Be prepared to walk away. If you do not receive an offer that is at least equal to your minimum requirement, a salary level that will allow you to meet your monthly budget, then be prepared to walk away. A new career role offers the opportunity to rekindle your enthusiasm and creative energy for work. But when the pay is too low, your motivation drains pretty quickly. Plus there is increased negative stress associated with your inability to pay monthly bills.

When deciding on your action plan for salary negotiations, consider how the items outlined in the five “rules of thumb” listed above apply to your situation. Then gather feedback from the interviewer and give yourself the proper time to make an informed decision about the job offer. Here are a few resources to use when researching salary data:
Salary.com
Salary Surveys from Vault.com
Salary Info at The Riley Guide

FREE Job Hunt Guides: PDFs with Hyperlinks

At Secrets-of-the-Job-Hunt,

...get your FREE Job Hunt Guides for Government, Healthcare, Green sector, and Internship resources. Download a guide for access to dozens of places online for industry specific opportunities. Thes PDFs have hyperlinks enabled for easy access to great job sites.

Guide to finding Government Jobs

Guide to finding Health Care Jobs

Guide to finding Green Jobs

Guide to finding Internships

Guide to Job Hunting

Some Promising Careers to Consider

TIME has posted a great list to review
from 150 Best Reccession-Proof Jobs by Lawrence Shatkin

And check out these LISTS from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Top 50 Fastest Growing Occupations
Occupations with the Largest Job Growth
Fastest growing & Most Rapidly Decline Jobs by Industry

Is a Return to School in Your Future?

Have you been thinking about taking a few specialized courses or completing an advanced degree to better compete in the job market?

School is always an option; it is never too late to pursue more education. But don’t return to school because it seems like a good idea – have a solid plan and goal in mind before you start. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that an MBA, JD, PhD, etc, alone will automatically blast open the doors of opportunity. Or maybe you’re thinking, “Hey, lawyers make a lot of money, so I guess I’ll go to law school.” Your earning power should be thought of as a reward, not a goal. The prime question to answer is, “Where is the motivation coming from?” Will a return to school put you on a path to pursue that dream career? Are you being passed up for promotions because you lack an advanced degree that has become a preferred qualification in your field? What are the careers that will remain in demand for many years?

You may find that you don’t need a formal degree program. Perhaps you should consider a graduate certificate, often 12-18 credit hours, or a professional certification endorsed by a leading industry association. Professional certification, such as the PHR-Professional in Human Resources, CMA-Certified Management Accountant and PMP-Project Management Professional to name a few, have now become preferred qualifications. Certifications are a great way to gain new skills or validate existing skills and set oneself apart from the competition. Why not start out slow and complete one course? If the motivation is there, you will likely do quite well and be ready to sign up for additional courses or a full blown program.

If you haven’t finished a Bachelors Degree, now might be a good time to wrap that up. A Bachelors has now become a minimum qualification in many fields. There’s an array of quality “degree completion” programs, designed with the adult learner in mind.

If earning an advanced degree makes sense for your career growth, then do your homework, so to speak, and choose the right degree to reach your goals. Research the career options associated with specific degrees. There are dozens of graduate degrees to choose from, many specific to a chosen field. Learn the distinctions between MS, MA, MBA, MHA, MPA, MAT, MSN, MEd, JD, PhD, PsyD, DBA and the list continues. Gather information on preferred degree paths from professional associations. Identify people who are successful in your chosen career and learn about the choices they made to advance their credentials. And speak to program leaders at the schools you are considering, to get solid data on a program’s ability to help propel a student’s career.

When selecting a school make sure it will truly fit your needs. It is critical that the institution is fully accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies in the US, rather than any national body. Many programs can also achieve accreditation from a professional association, such as the American Nurses Association, as a mark of added quality on top of regional accreditation. You have a variety of program formats to choose from: full time, part-time, traditional classroom, evening/weekend, distance/online, blended learning, hybrid, etc. Online learning has become a new standard and many respected, traditional universities now offer online degree programs. Also, do some research to determine that a school and its programs have a solid reputation among employers.

Don’t forget to check out funding sources like loans and scholarships. Also speak with a tax professional about potential tax credits for some of the costs associated with a formal degree program.

Put in the extra effort up front to assess your motivation surrounding a return to school. Then do your research to find the right degree, program and school to meet your needs. With a targeted approach, you will be setting yourself up for success.

Here are a few resources to assist you with your planning:
Peterson's Graduate Planner;
the ProLearning Link;
50 Fastest Growing Occupations;
Accredited Online Degree Ranking at GetEducated.com