The Exclusive Career Coach

I recently read “The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brené Brown, and her section on Hope and Powerlessness really resonated with me. I wanted to translate her concepts to the job search and give my take on her concepts. Hey - I wanted to let you know that the next Land Your Dream Job group coaching program starts on September 13th and goes through November 1st. This is an opportunity for you to get the same great content I offer in 1:1 coaching sessions at a much more affordable price. Topics include: -Identifying your “non-negotiables” – the qualities you are looking for in your ideal next job and employer -Leveraging your existing network – no matter how small or niched you think it is – to get your foot in the door at your target employers -How to utilize my #1 strategy for making your online applications more effective -Building out a multi-pronged job search strategy customized to your career goals and timeline -Recognizing and addressing the negative thoughts that will hold you back from job search success There will be 8 weekly group coaching sessions You get all of this for just $795! And, if you bring a friend, the second registration is half off – just $395.  If you would like to get your name on the waiting list to be notified when registration opens, here’s the link: https://landyourdreamjob.carrd.co/  Getting back to Brené Brown and Hope, her research revealed that hope isn’t an emotion, but rather a way of thinking or a cognitive process. Hope, then, is a thought process made up of a trilogy of goals, pathways, and agency. Hope happens when: -We have the ability to set realistic goals -We are able to figure out how to achieve those goals, including the ability to stay flexible and develop alternative routes AND -We believe in ourselves.  Here’s my translation: -We know what we want -We know how to get there AND -We believe we can do it.  According to Brené, hope can be learned. Children most often learn hope from their parents. We may have learned hope from other significant role models in our lives, such as extended family, teachers, coaches, or clergy. Let’s translate all of this into the job search. If we think of Brené’s trilogy of hope, our job search will be successful if: -We set SMART goals – realistic, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-sensitive. In other words, we aren’t just out there REACTING to job boards – applying to jobs with the mindset of “that doesn’t sound bad,” or “I could do that.” We are being proactive with our job search. -We have a plan to achieve those goals – what will we do each day towards landing our dream job. At the same time, we are open to mid-course corrections as we gather data on what is – and isn’t – working for us. We are willing to be disappointed as many times as needed to get that great job. -We believe we are qualified for, and deserving of, a great job with great pay, benefits, and working conditions. We don’t downplay our qualifications and skill set, nor do we settle for “good enough.” Brené talks about children needing boundaries, consistency, and support to develop their hopefulness. As job seekers, we need the same things: -Boundaries – this is what I am willing to do/not do and what I am/am not willing to sacrifice for my job search. Further, boundaries need to be set around what is most important to us in our next employer and job – and be unwilling to compromise on those non-negotiables. -Consistency – job seekers who occasionally network, stop and start their job search when other things in their life get complicated, or don’t follow through on their plan lack the consistency to be successful in their search. I require my clients to dedicate a consistent minimum of 5 hours per week on their job search if they are currently employed – with considerably more time required of those who are unemployed. -Support – job seekers need the right kind of support. In addition to supportive family and friends who sign on with your goals, you need professional support. This can include a professional resume writer, career coach, and job search group. It is so important to have help with both your mindset, job search strategy, and execution to be successful. Your job search isn’t going to be fun, fast, or easy – and one of the biggest mistakes I see job seekers make is deciding arbitrarily that “this is taking too long,” “This is too difficult,” or “they aren’t hiring me because of _____.” These beliefs are hope killers. Hopeful self-talk might include: -“This is hard, and I can do hard things” -“I am patient with myself as I learn new skills” -“I am becoming better at _____.”   This is not to say that your entire job search will be a drudge. Find ways to infuse fun into your job search! For example: -Reward yourself each day after achieving that day’s job search goals -Make your networking meetings as fun as possible, while still achieving your goals. Laughter is great medicine. -Allow yourself to get excited about the possibilities you are finding! Not from a place of “if I don’t get THIS job, I’m a failure,” but rather, from a place of “It’s so exciting to learn about what this company is doing.”  Finally, you’ll need to cultivate a tolerance for disappointment in your job search. You’ll inevitably hear lots of no’s or get no response at all many times before you get to your coveted “yes.”  Thoughts such as these can help you through those no’s: “I thought that was the job for me, but I was mistaken.” “Something even better is coming for me.” “They were simply mistaken when they didn’t hire me. The right company will recognize and reward my genius.” Here’s a quote from Brené’s book: “Powerlessness is dangerous. For most of us, the inability to effect change is a desperate feeling. We need resilience and hope and a spirit that can carry us through the doubt and fear.” Your job search is a tremendous opportunity to cultivate hopefulness and a feeling of power. YOU are in control of your job search; YOU can effect change in any area of your job search that isn’t working for you. YOU can weather – even grow from – the disappointments and setbacks in your job search. YOU’VE got this.  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2 

My guest this week is Robert Jordan, and we’re talking about the four leadership styles his team has identified. Robert shares how to make sure you land in a “leadership match” position – and how best to leverage your leadership style once you are in your new role. Robert Jordan of Interim Execs, has launched companies and helped others build companies for more than 25 years. Jordan is the author of “How They Did It: Billion Dollar Insights from the Heart of America.” You can find Robert at:https://www.rightleader.com/ https://interimexecs.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjjordan/https://twitter.com/interim_execshttps://www.youtube.com/user/interimexecs  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2  

My guest this week is Tracy Hooper, and we’re talking about words to use and words to lose in your next job interview. Tracy gives us techniques for identifying the less-than-ideal words we may be using and how to replace them with better word choices. Tracy Hooper is the Founder of The Confidence Project, working with executives and high-performing teams in a variety of industries to elevate their presence, communicate more clearly, and work together better. She has been a TV news reporter, anchor, producer, and voice-over professional with a client roster that includes Disney, Marriott, and NFL Films. Find Tracy at:www.ConfidenceProject.comInstagram: theconfidence_projectLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyhooper/  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2     

Mac Prichard, of Mac’s List, is a third-time guest on the podcast!Mac and I have talked on previous episodes about informational interviews. Today, we do a deep dive on how to conduct an informational interview, including the three things you MUST do during this conversation. Mac shares the things he sees job seekers doing wrong in their informational interviews, how to set up the meeting, how to end the meeting, and how to follow up afterward. You can find Mac Prichard at macslist.org, and you can follow his podcast Find Your Dream Job wherever you get your podcasts.  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2   

This week, my guest is Sonja Price. Our parents and grandparents often worked for the same company their entire career – many times, even in the same position. This model doesn’t serve most of us today, and there are financial, developmental, and other reasons to change jobs every few years. Sonja Price and I talk about how to create short- and long-term career goals that will serve as our guideposts for making decisions about career changes, when to look inside your organization and when to look outside, and the indications that it is time to leave your current job.  Sonja Price of Dynamo Careers is a career strategist, salary advisor, and leadership coach and the author of two books. She has worked with Tony Robbins, trained with Al Gore to become a Climate Reality Leader, and won an Honorable Award from the Women’s Economic Forum. Sonja’s mission is to support professional to have greater meaning, better work-life balance, and significantly higher pay.  Check out Sonja’s “Increase Your Income” masterclass to increase your income by $20K to $100K or more per year: www.dynamoincome.com You can find Sonja on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonjaprice  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2

This week I'm excited to share a "Best of the Exclusive Career Coach podcast" episode — I speak with Mark Danaher, founder of Mark Danaher Training and Coaching. Mark and I discuss the seismic shift in people’s work because of the pandemic – especially the large number of people who are rethinking their career direction.Mark gives us the signs that you may be ready to make a career shift, as well as strategies to help you make that shift.Mark helps professionals make a career change from work they hate to the work they will love. Mark has been a career counselor and coach for over 25 years, helping professionals connect the dots to reduce stress, regain balance, and thrive in their life and career.Mark is offering a free e-book, “How to Make a Career Change in Seven Simple Steps: Seven Lunchtime Activities to Get You in Action and Moving Forward.” Find it at www.markdanaher.com/Lesa

This week I'm excited to share a "Best of the Exclusive Career Coach podcast" episode — I speak with Laura Browne on the 7 Raise Rules for Women Who Want to Make More Money.Men and women approach salary issues very differently, and Laura and I dive into these differences and how women can ask for what they want.Laura provides us with some of her best tips for asking for a raise and negotiating a salary and compensation package.Laura Browne helps women to make more money at work. She is the author of 10 books, including her newest, Increase Your Income: 7 Rules for Women Who Want to Make More Money at Work.She is a contributor to Forbes and has been quoted as a business expert in major publications including Cosmopolitan, Family Circle and USA Today.She has trained high-potential female leaders from Fortune 1000 companies to be more successful through WOMEN Unlimited. She also has experience in leadership and management development for global tech companies. Laura is a High-Performance Business Coach with certification from Columbia University.To find out more about her programs and to see a free video on How to Get A Raise at Work, go to https://learn.careertipsforwomen.comFor a list of 15 Common Raise Mistakes and How to Fix Or Avoid them go to https://www.careertipsforwomen.com/You can contact Laura at Laura.browne@CareerTipsForWomen.com

This week I'm excited to share a "Best of the Exclusive Career Coach podcast" episode — I speak with life coach Jane Springer on the types of mind drama I hear from clients related to the current job market, their qualifications, themselves as human beings, their job search strategy, and their career focus.This mind drama is causing people to stop job searching or put in minimal effort – which, of course, solidifies their opinion of the job market and themselves.Step 1 is recognizing when you are engaging in mind drama; Step 2 is acknowledging which type(s) of mind drama you’re in.We tackle each of these areas of mind drama and provide concrete action steps to overcome.1. The job market“There are no jobs out there.”“No one’s hiring.”“There’s so much competition for every position.”2. Your qualifications and credentials“I don’t have the proper education.”“I’m over (or under) qualified.”“I don’t have ____(fill in the blank with whatever certification or credential you think you need).3. You as a human being“I’m too…” (old, young…whatever)“I’m not confident.”“I’m not good enough.”4. Your job search skills / strategy“I don’t know how to…” (interview, plan a job search, network…)“I’m not a good interviewer.”“I’m too shy to network.”5. Your focus“Maybe I need to take my career in a different direction.”“There are no jobs in my field, I’m thinking of changing to…”“I don’t know what I want to do next.”Jane is a life and wellness coach, specializing in helping women aged 50+ get unstuck. If you want to lose weight, begin dating again, update your style, or improve your relationships with yourself and others, Jane is a tremendous resources.Check out Jane Springer at janespringer.comYou can find her “Divinely Inspired Weight Loss Guide” on her website; you can also schedule a complimentary strategy session with her.

Increasingly, LinkedIn is a crucial part of the hiring process. Whether employers are vetting you for a position you’ve applied for or seeking out candidates with the credentials they require, they ARE most definitely looking at your LI profile. Today, we’re specifically covering strategies for writing an outstanding LI headline. This is the “tag line” that goes directly underneath your name at the top of your profile – and it is prime real estate.  A reminder that I offer a monthly job search Masterclass, held on the third Thursday of the month at 4:00 p.m. Eastern. The topic is different each month, and I jam-pack them full of content. To learn about the next webinar: https://mastercoachwebinars.carrd.com1.    Don’t use the default.One of the biggest errors you can make on your LI headline is allowing LI to default to your current job title and employer. You have 220 characters to create a compelling headline; don’t waste it. I’ll be going over how best to leverage these 220 characters in this episode.  2.    What are we trying to communicate in the headline? Your LI headline should communicate the following: -Who you are (your current or aspirational title, or the essence of your work) -What you do (How you add value to an organization)-Results you’ve produced (The results of the value you’ve added)-Credibility or proof (Evidence of what you’ve said about yourself)   3.    Have a headline strategy in mind. For example: -If your current job title is the same job title you are job searching for, then start with that title | Your value proposition or keywords Example:Human Resources Manager | Delivering transformational leadership as a strategic partner | Proactively addressing issues and developing processes that solve complex business problems and enhance bottom-line results (213 characters) With Keywords:Human Resources Director | Professional in Human Resources (PHR) | Professional Certified Coach (PCC) | Strong international HR leadership | Experience with M&A, Spinoffs, Startups (180 characters)   -If you are not actively job searching and want to leverage your LI profile for sales or other business, then start with your job title and company name | Your value proposition or keywords Example:Sales Leader, ABC Supply | Driving excellence in customer satisfaction with exceptional products, superior service after the sale, and generous referral incentives (163 characters) ORSales Director, ABC Supply | Value-Added Reseller (VAR) of commercial and residential kitchen and bath products from Kitchenaid, Whirlpool, Kenmore, Maytag, Bosch, Jacuzzi | Serving the greater Chicagoland area (210 characters)  -If you are overtly job searching, then include your target job title as much as you legitimately can | Your value proposition or keywords (but never include Looking for Work or Seeking Opportunities) – divorce yourself from your current employer Example:Transformational Leader in Human Resources & Talent Acquisition | Delivering human capital and talent acquisition efforts that improve retention rates, reduce hiring costs, and increase profitability (199 characters) ORTransformational Human Resources & Talent Acquisition Leader | Workforce Planning | Pipeline Development | HRIS | Streamlining TA processes, improving retention rates, and reducing hiring costs (193 characters)   -If you are unemployed, you can (and should) be overt. You don’t have a current job title, so you want to make sure your target job title is included in your headline. Example:Mechanical Engineer | Extensive technical background, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to see around corners | Streamlining processes | Educating and empowering team members (188 characters) OR:Mechanical Engineer | Advanced Thermodynamics | Advanced Fluid Mechanics | Human Robotic Systems | Optical Engineering | Metamaterials | Extreme Materials | Analytics & Statistical Learning | Engineering Finance (211 characters)   -If you are looking to make a career pivot and are doing so covertly, massage your current job title towards what you are looking for | Include keywords for your new career as much as possible Example: (currently in marketing; wants to move into sales)Sales & Marketing Leader | Delivering exceptional sales support with marketing strategy and collateral | Experience with Salesforce | Strong business development skills | Competitive drive to succeed (199 characters) ORSales & Marketing Leader, B2B and B2C | Salesforce | Sales Support | Business Development | Social Media Marketing | Marketing Collateral | Lead-Generation | Account Management (176 characters) In summary, your LinkedIn headline should NOT be your current job title and employer. Think like a recruiter who would be searching on LI for someone like you – what would cause them to stop searching and spend time on your profile? If you are job searching, include your aspirational job title as closely as you can. Finally, don’t try to cover too much real estate with your headline. Rather than appearing capable of a lot of things, it will likely make you look unfocused.  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2    

In this weirdest-of-all-possible-weird employment climates, a number of clients and prospects have reached out to ask about the need for additional education or credentials. I want to talk about this today in a way that, hopefully, will make it obvious for you to know the answer for yourself.  A reminder that I offer a monthly job search Masterclass, held on the third Thursday of the month at 4:00 p.m. Eastern. The topic is different each month, and I jam-pack them full of content. To learn about the next webinar: https://mastercoachwebinars.carrd.com  The pendulum is swinging in terms of education. Because employers are finding it difficult to fill many positions, they are increasingly looking more broadly for candidates. In some cases, this means candidates who don’t have what would have previously been considered required education and/or credentials. Of course, attorneys still need to be JDs, engineers still need an engineering degree, etc. But roles that may have required a bachelor’s degree in the past are often allowing substitution of experience for education. The people who reach out to me with this question are often doing so because their job search has been ineffective thus far. With these individuals, I ask specific questions to determine whether their job search – rather than their credentials – is at fault, and often the answer is yes. When we aren’t getting responses to our applications, our natural tendency is to look for the reason. Some people will start to tweak their resume, others will apply to more positions (going for quantity over quality); still others will seek out courses or degrees as the solutions. Here’s what I tell people to do: Find 8-10 job postings that you are interested in or have already applied for. What are these positions requiring or preferring in terms of education and credentials? Which of these do you have, and where are you falling short? This research takes you out of guessing and into the facts. If you still aren’t sure, consider talking to hiring managers within your network to get the answers you need. For many employers, just beginning a credential is sufficient, so make sure you put it on your resume. Even if you have signed up for a program but not yet started, it should be on your resume. If the shortfall is in a formal degree, of course this is a longer-term commitment of both time and money. Rather than starting a degree program, consider getting a job at a place that will financially support your additional education. A final word on this topic: networking is always important in the job search, and even more so when you are lacking a credential widely required for the position. When you are having a conversation about your fit with the organization, especially if there is no position posted for the world to see, you substantially increase your chance of the employer being interested in you despite your shortcoming. Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2