The Exclusive Career Coach

I encourage everyone to update their LinkedIn profiles at least once a year. Even ifyou are not actively job searching, most of you would be open to having aconversation with a recruiter if the opportunity was right – and those recruitersare looking for you primarily on LinkedIn.Here are the areas of your profile I want you to audit before the end of the year:1. Your headline.This is the content that shows directly below your name and picture. Most peopledefault to their current job title, which is an incredible waste of the 220 characters you are allotted for this section.Make sure your headline markets you effectively. Whether you take the valueproposition approach or the keyword approach, make sure your headline drawsrecruiters in.2. Your Skills section.You can have up to 50 skills listed in this section, which is very important forkeyword searches. I recommend you use all 50.-Eliminate skills you no longer use or no longer want to use.-As you add skills, think in terms of what a recruiter would be searching on.-Be sure to select one of the drop-down options.-Duplicate these skills in your About section, starting with “Specialties.”3. Add any new jobs or achievements to your current job.This is an excellent opportunity to add your new job, or recent achievements toyour current job.Are there older jobs that need to be deleted? I recommend going back about 20years. I regularly see mid-career professional who still have college internships ontheir profile.4. Update your About section.Look at this section with fresh eyes – what doesn’t it say about you? Have youpresented a clear and compelling reason for a recruiter to reach out to you?Of course, if this is not your strength, I recommend hiring a LI profile writer likeme to do this for you – it’s well worth the money.5. Your photo and background photo.If the picture on your profile is more than a couple years old, has animals orpeople other than you in the picture, or isn’t of a decent quality, it’s time for anew photo. It doesn’t have to be professionally done, but it does need to beprofessional quality.Your background photo is a way to differentiate yourself from your competition.Find a royalty-free, on-brand picture. When I do this work for my clients, I select 4options, try each one on the client’s profile, then select the one I like the best.I recommend pixabay.com; there are many others offering royalty-free images.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

Be sure to sign up for the special webinar in January – The 3 Things You Haven’t Thought About For Your Next Job Search.  Here’s what you’ll gain from this webinar: ü Clarity around EXACTLY what you are looking for in an employer – after all, how will you know if you have found IT if you don’t even know what IT is? ü Awareness of your values and skills, so you can make sure an employer meshes with your values and appreciates your skills ü Deep understanding of your professional purpose – what contributions you are uniquely designed to make  This is a hands-on workshop (no passive lurkers allowed!) where you’ll be asked to think about what you really want in your next job. You’ll do solo work, followed by small group time to share your insights and intentions with other participants. Guaranteed: You’ll know yourself infinitely better at the end of this hour. You’ll know what you want and why you want it. You’ll have focus and direction. Here’s the link:    I want to begin today’s podcast by saying that the perspective I am presenting in this episode is mine, and mine alone. Having said that, I AM one of fewer than 25 Master Resume Writers in the world, so my perspective carries a fair amount of weight. On various social media accounts I follow of resume writing groups and individuals, I am seeing a disturbing trend of flash over substance. At first glance, these resumes LOOK good, but when you actually read the documents, there’s no depth. No metrics. Here are five specific concerns I have about these resumes.  1.    Measuring your opinion of your soft skills.  I’m seeing graphs where the candidate has ranked his or her communication skills, emotional intelligence, etc. SEEING THIS ON A RESUME MAKES ME CRAZY. Here’s why: There’s no attribution – did you take a survey? Did someone say these things about you? Did you just decide you were great in these areas? The second thing that makes me crazy about these graphs is that they are almost always divorced from the rest of the resume. Where are you showing evidence of your strengths in these areas, and how are you spoon-feeding the reader as to the connection? You absolutely cannot expect the reader to make those connections on their own in the approximately 10 seconds they take for an initial pass on your resume.  2.    Little, if any, content under each job you’ve held.  And, if you do have some content, it is a sentence or bullet about your job duties, rather than your achievements. This hurts you in two ways: There are few, if any, keywords in this section to help you score well with the ATS. Secondly, if this keyword-shy resume actually gets seen by a human, there’s very little there to compel them to reach out to schedule an interview.  3.    Adding things that STILL aren’t considered acceptable on resumes.  If you are in North America, there is no reason for you to have a picture on your resume unless you are an actor or model. We don’t care that you like to snow ski, unless you are applying for a job as a ski instructor (in which case the love of skiing should be obvious). We CERTAINLY don’t want to know your family situation, number of children, age, or height. When these things show on a resume, I am left feeling that this is a candidate who is either a) trying to be different, but not doing it in a positive way, or b) clueless about how to present themselves as a viable candidate. Either way, I’m left cold.  4.    Symbols next to your phone number, email, etc.  You have a series of 10 numbers at the top of your resume: 3 numbers, followed by 3 more numbers, followed by 4 numbers. Gee – I wonder what that could be? Real mystery. You have lesaedwards@gmail.com – what could that mean? Don’t insult the reader’s intelligence by using these symbols.  5.    A layout that is confusing.  I’ve seen far too many resumes that have three columns, or the specific information I am looking for isn’t easy to find, or the graphics take up incredibly valuable real estate. Margins that are too small to effectively print the document, or so large that you need multiple pages to fit everything in. You simply didn’t use the real estate in a way that serves you. Finally, you’ve created a document that cannot be used for submission to an ATS, so you’ll either need a parallel document that is unformatted, or it will take you five times as long to apply to each position.  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  

Don’t forget to sign up for “The 3 Things You HAVEN’T Thought About For Your Next Job Search” webinar on January 11, 2022. Here’s what you’ll get: ü Clarity around EXACTLY what you are looking for in an employer – after all, how will you know if you have found IT if you don’t even know what IT is?ü Awareness of your values and skills, so you can make sure an employer meshes with your values and appreciates your skillsü Deep understanding of your professional purpose – what contribution you are uniquely designed to make Link to register: https://3thingswebinar.carrd.co/ Each year at Thanksgiving in the U.S., I do an episode on the five unusual things I am thankful for that year. These are things that might, on the surface, not seem like blessings – but have been. And I show parallels to how this, or something similar, might show up in your life. Here is my list for 2021: 1.    I am thankful for friends who weren’t. This year, I completed relationships with a couple who I thought were two of my best friends. The reason for completing these relationships isn’t important, but here’s what I learned: a.    Not everyone is meant to stay in your life for the rest of your life. b.    Completing a relationship with close friends forces you to own your part in the relationship’s “failure” – and let the rest of it go. c.     In my particular situation, it forced me to focus on what I think of me – what other people think of me is none of my business. d.    Completing a relationship opens you up to room for new friendships. You can’t effectively navigate a lifetime of relationships if you only ever add people – never subtract. Do any of these points resonate with you? Are there people in your life with whom it is time to complete the relationship? Are you owning more than your share of the breakdown of a relationship? This is a saying I’ve often repeated:“There are people who come into your life for a reason…a season…a lifetime.” It’s so important to recognize which is which.  2.    I am thankful for being in pain throughout my vacation.For three years now, I have had a fair amount of medical issues around a fall I took at a local grocery store. In September, I took a vacation to St. Lucia with my daughter and daughter-in-law. If you’ve never been there, St. Lucia is a volcanic island that is very hilly. Our villa was literally built into the side of a mountain. I really struggled with all the stairs and steep inclines and declines. So the Monday after I got back from vacation, I switched up my diet, talked to my chiropractor and got a referral to a physical therapist I adore, and started with a new massage therapist. It was good for me to come face-to-face with my physical limitations – it spurred me to become aggressive in doing something about it. Maybe your limitation isn’t physical – do you struggle with a perceived mental or emotional limitation? Think you need more education or credentials to be successful? Here are your options: -Decide, today, to make some necessary changes that will move you in the right direction. Doesn’t have to be drastic; doesn’t have to be all the changes at once. Just start. -Decide you are okay - really okay – with your limitation. It’s okay if you don’t have a bachelor’s degree or are 40 lbs overweight – it’s up to you to believe you are still worthy and fully capable – and you’re going to live your fullest life anyway. If you choose this option, NO COMPLAINING. (By the way – it’s good to believe you are really okay AS you proceed to make changes in your life. It will help you get there more easily and even quicker.)  3.    I am thankful for extreme discomfort in my personal life.Throughout the year, in addition to my physical pain, I’ve experienced a lot of discomfort in my personal life. I’m thrilled with where my business is, but the other areas of my life…not so much. So I’m working with a life coach and doing work on my own to create the life I want. Here’s what I think has happened: I have had to evolve to a new version of myself in order to achieve the business success I’ve had. This new version of Lesa wants to also evolve the other areas of my life. I want to be as satisfied with my social life, how I spend my free time, and my living situation as I am with my career. I love this dissatisfaction and what it teaches me. Here’s what it can teach you: You are supposed to evolve throughout your life – and it will be extremely uncomfortable to do so. -If you don’t evolve, you’ll be extremely uncomfortable as you resist the universe’s direction for your life. So – uncomfortable either way; pick your discomfort. -Don’t let success in one area of your life overshadow the importance of the other areas of your life. They should all be evolving. -Set goals in each of the areas of your life, along with specific strategies to reach those goals.  4.    I am thankful for spending a lot of money on a coach. Here’s why: I wouldn’t have evolved to where I am in my business without investing that money in a coach. I had to be serious and committed, I had to ask a lot of myself to get my money’s worth, and I had to learn to think differently. Bonus: I’ve made a lifelong friend in my coach, who I adore beyond words. This was an unexpected, wonderful bonus. Where are you unwilling to invest in yourself? What are you thinking that is causing you to be unwilling to invest in yourself? What do you need to think to become willing to invest in yourself? It could be coaching, like me, or it could be a weight-loss program. Or a professional resume writer. Or learning ballroom dancing or how to play the piano. Learning a foreign language. Here’s what I know: It’s almost never about the money. It’s about your thoughts. About your beliefs in yourself. About your beliefs in the investment. About your ability to get the results you want.  5.    I am thankful for opportunities I said “no” to. As my practice has become more successful, I’ve had to let go of some sub-contracting work and say no to some other opportunities that were presented to me. Was it scary to, essentially, say “no” to money? Yes. What I focused on, however, was the opportunity cost of saying “yes.” Because, in each instance, these opportunities would take away from my ability to build my own business. Essentially trading in unlimited potential income for a semi-dependable $50 or $60 an hour. Just as with friendships, saying “no” to some opportunities keeps you open for others that are a better fit for you. You are keeping space open for what you REALLY want, rather than filling space with what happens to come along. As my daughter’s softball tee-shirt said: Good is the enemy of Great. Choose to wait for Great.  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 

Be sure to sign up for the special webinar in January – The 3 Things You Haven’t Thought About For Your Next Job Search.  Here’s the link: https://3thingswebinar.carrd.co/ Last week, I talked about how to prepare for the interview as an internal candidate. Today, I’m talking about the different types of interviews you might encounter – and how to prepare for each. I like to give attribution where it’s due, and I got much of this content from thebalancecareers.com. Many companies will tell you what type of interview you’ll be having; if they don’t, you should ask what to expect. As I think you’ll see as I go through these types of interviews, you may experience a combination of two or more types of interviews for the same job – even in the same interview.  Types of Interviews Behavioral InterviewsInterviewers use behavioral interviews to determine how you’ve handled various job situations in the past. The idea is that your past behavior predicts how you’ll act in the new job. You won’t get many easy “yes” or “no” questions, and in most cases, you’ll need to answer with an anecdote about a previous experience. Case InterviewsInterviews that include the interviewer giving you a business scenario and asking you to manage the situation are called case interviews. They’re most often used in management consulting and investment banking interviews and require you to show off your analytical ability and problem-solving skills.For example, you may be asked how to determine how big the market might be for a new type of tennis ball. That’s not much information so you’d need to ask questions such as who the target consumer is—professional tennis players or weekend tennis enthusiasts. Another question might be about how much the new tennis balls cost and how or where they are sold: in stores or online.Remember that answering a case interview question like this really isn’t about being right or wrong. The interviewer is more interested in how the applicant arrives at his or her solution.As such, a case interview is back and forth dialogue. The interviewee is expected to interact with the interviewer and ask clarifying questions in a logical, sequential order to solve the given problem. Competency-Based InterviewsInterviews that require you to give examples of specific skills are called competency-based interviews or job-specific interviews. The interviewer will ask questions that will help them determine if you have the knowledge and skills required for the specific job.Competency-based interview questions can be posed as behavioral questions, especially to evaluate things like conflict management, critical thinking, and flexibility. Some competency-based interviews will ask you to complete a timed assignment. Tips for preparing for a competency-based interview: Check the job listing for examples of required skills and abilities. For example: accountability, ambition, approachability, compliance, conflict management, critical thinking, delegation, flexibility, inclusiveness, influencing, initiative, resourcefulness, risk-taking, etc. Next, list situations in which you have demonstrated each of these competencies. Once you have prepared a list of situations, review it. By thinking of examples before the interview, you will be able to answer questions quickly and concisely.  For each skill, write down the situation, the actions you took to handle the problem, and the ultimate results. This is a modified version of the STAR interview response technique. Using this technique will help you give a brief, coherent, and structured response to interview questions.  Final InterviewsThe final interview is the last step in the interview process, and the last interview before you find out whether or not you’ll get a job offer. This type of interview is usually conducted by the CEO or other members of upper management. The key to a final interview is to take it as seriously as all the preliminary interviews—just because you were asked in for a final interview doesn’t mean you got the job yet. Group InterviewsEmployers may hold group interviews because they’re often more efficient than one-on-one interviews. There are two types of group interviews: one involves an applicant being interviewed by a group (or panel) of interviewers; the other involves one interviewer and a group of applicants.Jobs involving high-stress, fast-paced work, or customer interaction also commonly require group interviews. If you perform well during a stressful interview, you may be more apt to perform well in a challenging job. Informal InterviewsHiring managers may begin the screening process with a relaxed, informal conversation instead of a formal interview. This is more of a casual discussion than a typical job interview. On a similar note, a chat over a cupt of coffee is another less formal type of job interview.Off-Site InterviewsEmployers sometimes schedule job interviews in a public place, like a coffee shop or restaurant. Perhaps there is no local office or maybe they don’t want current employees to know about the possibility of a new hire. In any case, it’s good to be prepared for off-site interviews. Panel Job InterviewsA panel job interview takes place when you’re interviewed by a panel of interviewers. You may meet with each panel member separately or all together. And sometimes there will be a panel of interviewers and a group of candidates all in one room. Phone InterviewsWhile you're actively job searching, you may need to be prepared for a phone interview at a moment's notice. Companies often start with an unscheduled phone call, or maybe you’ll get to schedule your call. Restaurant InterviewsOne of the reasons employers take job candidates out to lunch or dinner is to evaluate their social skills and to see if they can handle themselves gracefully under pressure. Remember you’re still being observed when you participate in a job interview at a restaurant, so use your best table manners, choose foods that aren’t too messy. Second InterviewsYou passed your first interview, and you just got an email or call to schedule a second interview. This interview will be more detailed and may be several hours long. The interviewer will delve into your experience in more detail than the first round, as well as how you would fit in with the company culture. Structured InterviewsA structured interview is typically used when an employer wants to assess and compare you with candidates in an impartial way. Essentially, the interviewer asks all the candidates the same questions. If the position requires specific skills and experience, the employer will draft interview questions focusing exactly on the abilities the company is seeking. Semi-Structured InterviewA semi-structured interview is a job interview in which the interviewer does not strictly follow a list of questions. Instead, the interviewer will ask open-ended questions, allowing for a conversation rather than a straightforward question and answer format. Unstructured Job InterviewsAn unstructured interview is a job interview in which questions may be changed based on the interviewee's responses. While the interviewer may have a few set questions prepared in advance, the direction of the interview is rather casual, and questions flow based on the direction of the conversation. Unstructured interviews are often seen as less intimidating than formal interviews. Video InterviewsPerhaps you’ve applied for a remote job, or you’re interviewing for a position in another state (or country). Software programs such as Skype, Zoom, and FaceTime make video calling easy, and video interviews are becoming common. 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 

To register for “The 3 Things You HAVEN’T Thought About For Your Next Job Search” on January 11th, 2022, click here: https://3thingswebinar.carrd.co/  I’ve talked extensively about interviews on this podcast – and it’s one of my absolute favorite topics to coach my clients on. Several of my interview podcasts made it on my recent “Best of” podcast on episode #200, so it seems you listeners really want this content. This week I’m talking about how to prepare for the interview as an internal candidate; next week I’m covering the different types of job interviews and how to prepare for each. Let’s start with what you should do, if possible, before you even submit your application for an internal position. Ideally, you want to have an honest conversation with someone who can advise you as to whether you will be a serious candidate. Your boss, someone in HR, or the person who would become your boss are all viable options, and there may be others. The important thing here is to get clear direction to apply or not to apply. The downside of being an internal candidate is that sometimes you will get a courtesy interview even though they have no intention of moving forward with you – this will only cause hard feelings if you think you are a serious candidate. So they’ve said you would be a great candidate – or perhaps one of the people I mentioned before actually encourages you to apply. Now what? -Make sure your application materials are top-notch – if you think that, because you are an internal candidate, you automatically have a distinct advantage, you might cut corners. DON’T DO THIS. -Follow the same courtesies as external candidates should – send thank you notes, keep in touch throughout the process, respond quickly to any requests for additional information. -Be aware that the decision-makers will be heavily focused on your work record and recommendations from other employers they trust. So now you are in the interview. Here are strategies for acing an internal interview: 1.    “Tell me about yourself.” You HAVE to approach this question differently as an internal candidate. -If you know the person or people who are interviewing you, you don’t have to state your name – they already know it. -If you don’t know the person or at least one of the people who are interviewing you, include your name and current job title. You might also want to include your direct supervisor’s name and the department you work in…or other job titles you’ve held with the company. -Tell them things they probably don’t already know about you. -You are an insider – use that to your advantage. Use company lingo and assume your interviewers may have at least some knowledge of the projects you’ve worked on, company initiatives you’ve had a role in, and other things going on in the company.  2.    Behavioral questions. -You want to prepare for these as you would an external candidate – just be extra careful to give credit where credit is due and don’t exaggerate your role in projects.  3.    Questions to ask the interviewer. -Here, too, use your internal company knowledge to ask well-thought-out questions. You CANNOT be canned or generic with your questions as an internal candidate! This quote is from Indeed.com: “When applying within a company where you already work, you should be prepared to talk about what motivated your change, particularly if the move would not be a promotion. The person questioning you will be aware that you are already familiar with the ins and outs of the company or they may already be aware of interdepartmental differences. Be prepared to answer in-depth questions.”Here are some internal candidate-specific questions you should be prepared to answer:Why did you decide to apply for a new position with the company?What experience within our company has prepared you to assume a new role?What would you do to help your replacement should you move on to this position?Should you not be selected for this role, how would it affect your current job?What is your proudest accomplishment with the company and how does it demonstrate your readiness for this new role?Tell me about a time with the company where you received a special commendation for your work.What is the first change you would make to the way this position is currently being carried out, based on your experience at the company?·     Have you spoken about the position with your current manager? If so, what did they say?  Prepare yourself for criticism. Here’s a quote from Deakinco.com: No employee has a perfect employment record, so be prepared for some of your mistakes to come to light during the interview. Perhaps you lost a client or you billed the wrong person. Maybe you missed a deadline or you posted something you shouldn’t have on social media. These things happen, so take ownership of your mistakes and use them to talk about what you’ve learned since joining the company. Explain what happened, what went wrong, and how you can avoid making the same mistake again. Whatever you do, don’t become defensive and start blaming others. 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   

Freelancing…The Freelance Economy…Side Hustles…Entrepreneurship. As a result of COVID, many people have opted out of their corporate, non-profit, and education jobs in favor of doing their own thing. Still others are continuing to work in their previous profession, while building a side business.  Still others are contemplating a shift to self-employment.  My guest today is Matthew Mottola, author of The Human Cloud. We talk about The Freelance Economy, what it means to be a freelancer, and the good and bad reasons for entering The Freelance Economy. Matthew also gives tips for ways to start working as a freelancer – and how to make yourself indispensable as a freelancer. Matthew Mottola is a Forbes contributor who previously worked for Microsoft and has started numerous businesses. At Microsoft, in joint partnership with Upwork, he built the Microsoft 365 freelance toolkit, a tech stack for companies to spend up to $100M on remote freelancers. He has been named a Top 50 remote work expert to follow.  You can find Matt on: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matthewmottolaPersonal website: matthewrmottola.comThe Human Cloud Book: humancloudbook.comTwitter: twitter.com/matthewrmottola If you would like a free leadership deck on why to invest in the Human Cloud: humancloudbook/com/why-invest-in-the-human-cloud  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  

Reminder: January 11, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. is “The Three Things You Haven’t Thought About For Your Next Job Search.” Register today at: Mastercoachwebinars.carrd.co  I am SO excited to bring you the 200th episode of The Exclusive Career Coach podcast. This milestone represents hundreds of hours writing content, recording episodes, and until recently, editing those episodes. Not to mention the time I spend marketing the podcast on social media, in newsletters, and on other podcasts. In the early days, no one listened, but I stuck with it because I knew I had a message to share with the world and – eventually – the world would hear it. I thought that, for this episode, I would pull snippets of wisdom from the top 10 most-listened-to episodes of The Exclusive Career Coach. Here we go: #10: Episode #85: Questions to Ask the Interviewer In this episode, I talked about the four steps to take in preparing the questions you want to ask during an interview; I also covered the best and worst topics for questioning.  #9: Episode #140: Transferable Skills (with Jeanne Bohen) In this episode, my guest Jeanne Bohen and I talk about what transferable skills are, why they are so important, and a process you can go through to identify your transferable skills.  #8: Episode #152: Special Considerations for Zoom and Phone Interviews Episode #152 was created during COVID, when so many job seekers were having interviews exclusively through technology. I talk about what you need in terms of technology, your environment, and yourself to succeed at these virtual interviews; I also talk about how to succeed with phone interviews. #7: Episode #99: Don’t Make These Fatal Interview Mistakes In episode #99, I cover 13 fatal interview mistakes – and the successful flip side of those fatal mistakes.  #6: Episode #107: Why Should I Hire You? How to Answer this Tough Question This question throws many interview candidates off because it requires you to be aware of, and able to articulate, what you bring to the table that no other candidate will be able to claim. I give you five strategies for acing your answer to this question.  #5: Episode #145: How to Fail at Networking In this episode, I give you five ways many people fail at networking – and how to be a successful networker.  #4: Episode #84: Prepping for the Behavioral Interview Behavioral interview questions begin like this: “Tell me about a time when…” or “Describe a situation that…” They are difficult to wing, and in this episode, I give you a step-by-step strategy to prepare your behavioral responses. I also give you a “bonus” strategy that is like earning extra credit on a test.  #3: Episode #83: Answering the Strengths and Weaknesses Interview Questions The Strengths and Weaknesses interview questions throw many candidates, but not you if you listen to this episode. I tell you how to avoid the pitfalls that many candidates fall into when answering these questions.  #2: Episode #176: How to REALLY Prepare for a Job Interview This episode gives you 11 steps to prepare for a job interview so you’ll be sure to make a positive impression.  #1: Episode #58: How to Conduct a Job Negotiation My most-listened to episode ever, with nearly 4X the downloads of the second most-listened-to episode. I talk about what you can and can’t negotiate, when to negotiate, and how to create a win-win in the negotiations.  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 today is Marina Kirik, and we’re talking about stress and fatigue around the changes to our work environments due to the pandemic. Marina explains some of the unique challenges of work-from-home, work-in-office, and hybrid arrangements, and gives us strategies for coping with the stress around each. Marina also shares ideas for keeping the healthy habits many of us have adopted during the pandemic as we return to work or see other changes in our work situations. Marina Kirik is a stress buster, joy finder, and holistic wellness coach who focuses on stress and burnout prevention in high achievers and entrepreneurs. She left a successful career in HR technology to pursue her passion of helping people feel happier and healthier through realistic and sustainable health habits. She coaches individuals and works with companies all over the world while traveling full-time.  Schedule a FREE 45-minute Stress Breakthrough call with Marina, valued at $150, by booking through her website at www.sumofallpositive.com. She will dive deep into your current stress level, the way stress affects you, and uncover quick wins you can start implementing right away to overcome the impact of stress on your mind and body. You can connect with Marina at https://linkin.bio/sumofallpositive  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

A lot of people – maybe more than ever before – are re-thinking their career path. In this episode with guest Jeff Perry, we talk about making an intentional, rather than reactive, career transition. Everyone has heard of the “Great Resignation” and knows the effects the pandemic has had on certain industries and many careers. We discuss what is going on in the employment landscape in 2021 – and what all of this means for you. Jeff describes career clarity for us, how to determine our non-negotiables (what MUST be present in our career and job for satisfaction), and tools you can use to help find your own career clarity. Jeff Perry is a leadership and career coach who specializes in working with purpose-driven engineers on intentional career transitions. You can get Jeff’s Career Clarity Checklist FREE at:www.engineeringcareeraccelerator.com/career-clarity Find Jeff at:www.linkedin.com/in/jeffcperry His website is: https://morethan-engineering.comCheck out his free masterclass at: www.engineeringcareeraccelerator.comListen to his podcast at:https://engineeringmanagement institute.org/the-podcast/  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 Mark Herschberg, and we’re talking about How to Manage People You Don’t Manage.This is a particularly important topic in light of the changes we’re seeing as corporations respond to COVID. Learning how to manage people via influence before you have the position can help show your boss what you are capable of and open the door to a managerial position.Mark talks about the unique challenges of managing people you don’t manage and gives us tips for leading by influence.Mark is the author of The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You. Educated at MIT, Mark has spent his career launching and fixing new ventures at startups, Fortune 500s, and academia. He’s developed new software languages, online marketplaces, new authentication systems, and tracked criminals and terrorists on the dark web. Mark helped create the Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program, MIT’s Career Success Accelerator, where he has taught for 20 years. Mark also serves on the boards of non-profits Techie Youth and Plant a Million Corals.Download the free app for Apple and Android that can help you develop the skills Mark teaches in his book: www.thecareertoolkitbook.comFor a free download on how to create peer learning groups (and other resources): www.thecareertoolkitbook/com/resourcesYou can reach out to Mark in these ways:www.linkedin.com/in/hersheytwitter.com/CareerToolkitBkwww.facebook.com/TheCareerToolkitBookwww.instagram.com/thecareertoolkitAre 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