The Changing Face of YOU

I was at a presentation the other day on social media. The presenter illustrated how we are different than our parents’ generation. Young people today have had a dozen jobs before they turn 30, they meet and network online and they multi-task like never before.

I often have this conversation with people. Although I know quite a few people who stay at their jobs 10+, 30+ years, I know far more that change jobs every 3 years. I’ve been one of them (the latter).

I just added my part-time and full-time adventures up. I’ve had more than 25. Mind you, I started working at the age of 12 (“waitressing” for the inquiring minds). I’ve done everything from work as a gas station attendant, serve pizza from a pizza truck on Temple’s campus, deliver messages for a company called Heaven Sent, to work for a police think tank and top-military training company as an Investigative Scientist.

Regarding social media and electronic savvy: I met my husband via MySpace. (Need I say more?) We spoke via email a few months before meeting in person. I also own/manage 2 websites, 2 blogs, 1 Ezine and am frequently on Facebook. One final piece of evidence: I sent video thank you to my wedding guests, rather than traditional stationary thank yous.

And, last point, multi-tasking: For several years I’ve worn multiple hats. Those hats could be for the same company or working multiple jobs at the same time. My max is 3 jobs at once. I have a lot of energy. And, I have a lot of interests. I enjoy taking on interesting projects. (That’s not an invitation… unless you have something really phenomenal…)

I encourage you to consider who you are in today’s world. I think it’s great if you choose to stay in one place for 20+ years. I also think its okay to realize if your goals are elsewhere. My caution is that you get too stuck in your ways. Step outside your primary profession and see what people are doing. Go outside your company to socialize and see what the buzz is. Travel once per year to a place unlike your town. Accept and embrace adventure.

From one adventurer to another. Enjoy.

Getting Ready for a Layoff

I do encourage you to stay away from the doom and gloom discussions. But, I also encourage you to be prepared at all times for the possibilities. One such possibility is that your company could lay you off- or you could find yourself out of work. So here are a few tips to help you feel more in control and prepared if that happens:

Ø Have your resume updated and keep 3 versions on hand (1 generic, 1 specific to your current field or a primary field you would pursue, and 1 for a secondary field you might pursue)
Ø Have two to three people review your resume with your target field/audience in mind
Ø Spend 1 hour per week examining the help wanted ads to identify where opportunity exists and what fields seem to be doing well
Ø Pick up your local business times and get more familiar with the job climate in your city
Ø Consider if now is the time to change careers/fields, move cities, etc… It’s actually a great time to make a break if you ask me.
Ø Take coffee breaks with those you like and trust. Now is the time to make up for all those “meant to connect” appointments you failed to make time for in the past. Opportunities are out there- and those people may know about them. Keep the conversation upbeat, optimistic and full of opportunity. Let them know you are keeping your eyes open for possibilities in the event of a layoff. (Everyone is doing this- so it won’t be a surprise.)
Ø Brush up on your skills. Take a class. Become a voracious reader. Learn something.

Even if you don’t experience a layoff the above will be a great exercise to remind you of your worth, challenge your current status and state of mind, and allow you to play with the possibilities.

Enjoy the ride.

Have You Overstayed Your Welcome?

Have you reached a plateau in your career with your current employer?
Have you found the last year to be unstimulating and/or sterile?
Do the years look the same?

Many people find themselves in the comfort of the "same old same old". Only, it really isn't comfortable we just convince ourselves that it is. And, given that change can sometimes be difficult- we make excuses to stay where we are even though we are no longer challenged at work.

Our work, our employment, is a significant piece of our lives. It should be empowering, stimulating, positive, life-fulfilling, and rewarding. It is essential that you recognize the signs when this is no longer the case. When that happens you have to be prepared to make a move.

Some of the things you can do:
Speak with your supervisor to see if there is a special project you can take on.
Evaluate your own performance- maybe the lack of stimulation is with you.
Look at the company offerings. Is there something you want?
Survey the industry in which you work. What is out there that excites you?
Evaluate your desire to switch industries. Are you ready? Where do you see yourself?
Update your resume for those opportunities you may want.


Don't stay in a dead end job. Don't let talk of a bad economy hold you back. Stop allowing excuses to rule your years.

Your current job may have served its role in your life. Now, its time to find your next adventure. That adventure may be as simple as a new project at work. Or, it could mean a life-changing switch in your career.

Are You Interview Ready?

I was listening to National Public Radio (NPR) the other day and they were discussing the number of interviewees who show up dressed inappropriately. It is in fact a huge problem. It prompted me to share some of the things I work with job seeking clients on.

Here are a few essentials:

Why are you targeting your prospective company/position/industry? Nail this down. Win them over with your story on why you want THEM.
Know your strengths and what you’d bring to the table that THEY want. Do your homework by talking to people in the firm. Understand what their model employee looks like (including what skills they have).
Dress for the position. Yes, I know. Your brilliance is not in your dress but in your head. But, at the end of the day you should LOOK like you deserve six figures- or I’d wonder why I’m paying you that.
When it comes time, negotiate your salary and benefits. Ladies, read this again. Negotiate your salary and benefits. Do not accept the first offer. Know your value, industry standards, and their usual pay structure.
Google yourself. They will have done so.

Here are some items that will kill you in an interview:
Talking poorly about your previous or current boss
Being ill prepared (not knowing about their company, people, industry)
Not taking the interview seriously (do you have a pen, notepad or laptop, and are you making them the center of your attention)
Expecting them to ignore your attire or look- or not care
Being too chatty
Dropping your manners
Making immediate friends and telling a non-professional story about yourself
Being too cocky

These things are just the beginning. The basics if you will. If this job is the one you want. Hire a coach. It doesn’t have to be me- just have a right hand in landing this one. Don’t lose it over a few bucks or a poor move that wasn’t planned or executed well.

Good luck. Now, get out there.

Start with the Family

When you have a big decision to make, where do you turn?

Many of us turn to our families, partners, spouses, etc....

Companies too have recognized the importance of involving families in life's decisions. They often invite families to tour their facilities and become more involved in the employees work life. They realize that a happy and healthy family often equates to a happier and more productive employee - who may stay longer than a few years.

Companies also involve families in promotional decisions, restructuring, etc...- because they are already involved at home during "dinner-table talk". They realize that involving spouses and partners in the discussion early on will foster a better outcome (no matter what the decision).

I believe the military was one of the pioneers in this process of involving families to foster a more satisfied home-work environment. They have had groups for spouses and families for decades to support and encourage more familial involvement in the culture of the workforce. Companies are now refining this process to suit their own needs- and that of their employees.

So, if you hire, fire, restructure, etc... remember to involve the family behind the employee. They'll help to make the transition more successful- and your company will shine for it!

Strengthen the Economy- one job at a time

We’ve all heard that we’re facing a recession. Whether to believe it or not is not the purpose of this blog. To see where you can impact your local economy is.

One. Recognize that spending habits have changed. People owe their lives to banks these days. How much do you have on credit cards? Yet, I bet you are still planning to take a nice holiday this year? I don’t fault you for that (I’m planning my own) but I do encourage you to evaluate your spending habits and your debt to income ratios very carefully. Make three commitments to yourself, your wallet and your responsibilities as to how you can improve over the next three months.

Two. Evaluate how you make money. What do you do best? And, how much time do you spend doing what you do best? I’ll bet that the thing that makes you the most money gets less than 25% of your time. For instance, say you have a job where your raise is based on you hitting your target. The more you surpass your target the more you make. If you just make your target you think you won, but I’d argue that you missed making more money by not going further. You probably got lost in (a) the target was too low and (b) you were spending your time pushing a lot of paper or running errands when you could have been out there making money with new clients.

So, how is this helping the economy you say? I’m getting there. It’s all about outsourcing. Outsource the things that you don’t do spectacularly. Outsource the things that take your time away from what you do well- and what makes your money grow. Spend a little to get more.

Hire a house cleaner. Hire a virtual assistant. Hire someone to wash your car once a week. Buy your time- literally, by paying for someone else’s.

Sure, I could do my taxes on my own but the time and aggravation are not worth it to me. I’d rather pay an expert in the field and then spend my time (and ease of mind) playing racquetball. Okay, Okay, so I don’t make money playing racquetball but I do build my confidence, keep myself in shape and have a great time doing it. All of that helps me to be my best when I face my clients- which does make me money.

Happy outsourcing. Happy Money. Happy Economy. Oh, and Happy Vacationing. Have one on me.