The Exclusive Career Coach

This week’s guest is Mac Prichard, speaking with me about How to Hack the Hidden Job Market.80% of all jobs are never publicly advertised, but there are ways to access this treasure trove of work opportunities.Mac explains:-Why the hidden job market exists-What kinds of tactics help jobseekers break into the hidden job market-How to execute a less frustrating, win-win job searchYou can find Mac Prichard on his weekly career podcast, Find Your Dream Job, wherever you get your podcasts.Mac’s List is a Portland-based job listing site that contains excellent job search information:https://jobs.macslist.org/searchHave a question for mac? Email him at mac@macslist.org To visit my website: www.exclusivecareercoaching.comFollow My YouTube channel (Lesa Edwards); it’s chocked full of valuable career management content in easily digestible bites. Want to speak with an expert about your career/job search goals? Need help figuring out what’s holding you back from achieving your dream career? Let’s talk. Here’s the link to schedule a 45-minute consult call with me: https://my.timetrade.com/book/KRKLS. Hope to see you soon!

In previous episodes, I’ve talked extensively about whether to leave your current employer or stay. In today’s episode, I want to talk about when to tell your boss you’re looking for a new job.This topic came from one of my clients, who reached out to ask me this question. There’s isn’t a simple answer, so I want to lay out the considerations for you.I very seldom turn to external sources for my podcasts, but I did for this one. The articles I’m pulling from come from ziprecruiter.com, indeed.com, and themuse.com.Evaluate Your Relationship with Your BossThe first step in determining when to tell your boss you’re looking for a new job depends on the relationship between the two of you. If you have a supportive boss, you can let him or her know you’re looking for more – or different – responsibilities.He or she might even help you explore other opportunities within the organization – or leverage his or her network to help you look outside the organization.You might also need to let your boss know if you think a prospective employer will be checking references. You don’t want the prospective employer catching your current employer off guard by calling for a reference when he or she doesn’t even know you’ve been looking.Letting your boss know early in the process has another benefit: you are leaving the door open. Whether for a different full-time job down the road or contract work, you are minimizing the chance of burning a bridge.What’s Your Company Culture Like? Another consideration when determining when to tell your boss you’re looking elsewhere is the company culture.Is turnover common in your organization, or are you a tight-knit, family-like office that does a lot of things together outside of work? Do people stay in your organization for years and years?How Has Your Boss Reacted to Previous Employees Leaving? If you’ve worked at your company long enough, perhaps you have experienced another employee leaving the company.How did your boss react? Was he or she supportive, or angry? Past behaviors are usually pretty good indicators of what you can expect.How Do You Feel? During this process, it’s important to check your gut about whether to tell your boss. Do you feel like you’re having to weave elaborate lies to explain where you go and what you’re doing?Conversely, do you believe that telling your boss will just cause more problems for you?Don’t Tell By ShowingIf you don’t want your current boss to know you are job searching, be sure not to do anything that will telegraph what you’re up to. Don’t use your company’s internet to look for a new job, make and take job search-related calls on your cell outside the building, and don’t post on social media.Also, drastic changes in wardrobe one day is a huge red flag, so consider taking the entire day off or changing off-site into your interview outfit.Potential Downfalls of Telling Your Boss Too SoonIf you don’t have a good relationship with your boss, experts don’t advocate sharing the news. One reason is that there might be a perception that you’re a short timer, not fully engaging in the work you have left to do. You might also not be considered for a plum assignment that you would have otherwise been considered for.After all, you don’t know how long your job search will take.I have had clients who feared their current employer would terminate them as soon as they found out they were looking. Finally, you may decide your current job and/or employer isn’t so bad after looking around and want to stay – which will be much more difficult if you have announced that you’re leaving.There are also consequences of not being upfront with your boss. It may become increasingly difficult to keep your search a secret. Would you rather have your boss or co-workers hear the news directly from you, rather than through the gossip mill?How to Tell Your BossLet’s also talk about how to tell your boss. Whether you are telling your boss you’re thinking of leaving, are in a job search and they are checking references, or telling him or her you’ve already accepted a new position, there is professional etiquette involved. You don’t want to burn bridges here.1. Request an in-person meeting.This is good professional etiquette and allows for a productive dialogue. You can also discuss exit strategy at this time.2. Outline your reasons for looking elsewhere or quitting.Are you leaving to pursue other opportunities? Move to a new city? Changing career fields? Returning to school?By letting your boss know specifically what you’re leaving for, he or she may be willing to make concessions to accommodate your desires. At the very least, it’s important feedback for him or her as a manager. Keep this conversation as positive as possible – this is not the time for harsh criticism.3. Give at least two weeks’ notice.This is standard professional courtesy, although you (or your boss) may suggest a longer transition time depending on your job duties and other extenuating circumstances.4. Offer to facilitate the transition.Once you’ve accepted a new position, offer to help smooth the transition.You might:-Help identify strong potential replacement candidates-Complete as many of your current projects as possible-Outline requirements and next steps for projects you will not be able to complete-Train a current employee to temporarily handle some of your responsibilities-Assist in training the new employee if they arrive before you leave-Offer to answer questions or provide some assistance during the transition, even once you are in your new role5. Express gratitude.It is important to express gratitude for the opportunities you have been given, such as skills you’ve developed and professional connections you’ve gained.6. Provide constructive feedback.You can help your employer improve the workplace by providing constructive feedback on your experience. Many companies schedule an “exit interview” for this purpose.You might provide feedback on:-Your experience in the department-Your job responsibilities-The training you received (or didn’t)-The company culture and policies-Relationships with managers-Relationships with co-workersYour feedback should be specific, constructive, and honest. This is not the time for a bitch session or to “stick it to” your former boss or a co-worker; there is no upside to doing this.7. Provide a formal, printed letter of resignation.The important components of a letter of resignation are:-Date you are submitting the resignation letter-Last day of work-Expression of gratitude-Offer to help with transitionHere’s an example:Dear Jan,I have greatly appreciated my time at ABC Incorporated these past three years, and I want to inform you that my final day will be Friday, August 16.During my time at ABC, I have gained valuable connections and expanded my skill set, which has allowed me to grow and pursue more advanced opportunities in my career. I am very grateful for the experiences I have had here.If I can help you in any way during this transition, please let me know. I am happy to answer questions and provide training and support over my final two weeks. I wish you all the best.Sincerely,Sam Jones To visit my website: www.exclusivecareercoaching.comFollow My YouTube channel (Lesa Edwards); it’s chocked full of valuable career management content in easily digestible bites. Want to speak with an expert about your career/job search goals? Need help figuring out what’s holding you back from achieving your dream career? Let’s talk. Here’s the link to schedule a 45-minute consult call with me: https://my.timetrade.com/book/KRKLS. Hope to see you soon! 

I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard about goals till I’m blue in the face.And the focus is often on SETTING goals, rather than how to actually ACHIEVE them.I’ve heard it said that a goal without a plan is just a wish. How true that is.I want to approach this topic from a different angle. Rather than talking about setting goals, let’s talk about what you need to be DOING in 2020 so that, when you look back on the year, you will consider it a resounding success.We’ll also talk about the THINKING aspect of planning for a successful 2020, because what you are thinking will have a direct impact on what you are doing.Or, put another way, if you’re not DOING what you want to be doing in 2020, it’s because you’re not THINKING thoughts that will support what you want to be DOING. I’m going to recommend some exercises for you to complete. You can certainly think about your answers to these questions, but there’s something very powerful about writing your answers down and seeing them on paper. Here's the link to a worksheet that will help you through this process: http://bit.ly/Episode109SETTING THE STAGE Let’s start by setting the stage here. If you’re going to set yourself up for success in 2020, the first step HAS to be defining success for yourself. Not what anyone else thinks success looks like…what does it look like for YOU? Here are the suggested areas of your life to look at, these come from the BAGUA map. If you’re not familiar with the BAGUA map, you can Google it and see examples; it’s based on the principles of Feng Shui. -Wealth (prosperity)-Fame (reputation)-Relationships (love and/or friendships)-Family (community)-Health-Creativity (joy and inspiration)-Wisdom (self-improvement)-Career (purpose)-Helpful People (travel, benevolence, synchronicity)I don’t recommend that you try to do all nine areas; I’d rather see you pick 2-3 that really speak to you and determine what success would look like in that area.Some examples are in order:If you choose Wealth, you might decide that success would look like a certain income level. You might also choose to do something with your money that will generate wealth, such as investing or doing things that will allow you to keep more of the money you earn. My success marker for Wealth in 2020 is a certain income level. For Fame, you might decide to start a blog…write a book…join a committee or activity at work that will get you exposed to more people on a broader scope. You might decide to speak on a certain stage or get a certain level of recognition for your job performance. My success marker for Fame in 2020 is to have 10,000 downloads per episode of this podcast. For Relationship, you might want to meet the love of your life…improve your marriage…ask your significant other to marry you. My success marker for Relationship in 2020 is to meet Andy.For Family, you might want to have a baby…mend or strengthen a relationship with a family member…or create a community for yourself with friends. This one also incorporates “community,” so it isn’t limited to blood relationship.For Health, you might want to address a certain health issue that’s been plaguing you, reach a certain weight, start a certain type of exercise like yoga.My success marker for Health in 2020 is to get the help I need for my back and neck issues, while also reaching my goal weight. For Creativity, you could either start or expand on an activity that brings you joy and inspiration. I have a friend who got a bunch of art supplies for Christmas because she wants to return to her love of painting and making stained glass. It doesn’t have to be artistic…whatever brings you joy. For Wisdom, what is one self-improvement activity you can engage in? Do you want to finish your bachelor’s degree or start a master’s degree? I there a certification or credential you’d like to pursue? My success marker for Wisdom in 2020 is Self-Coaching Scholars; I’ve re-joined and will be fully engaged in the monthly coaching activities. For Career, is there a shift that needs to take place, either in terms of the company you work for or the job you are doing? Do you want to go after a promotion? Do you want to seek the help of a career coach like me to make some important career decisions? For Helpful People, is there someone you need to meet? Is there a place you want to travel to? Is there a collaboration you want to cultivate? Is there a colleague at work who you would like to get to know better? My success marker for this category in 2020 is actually a nod to some significant travel I plan to take in 2021. THINKING Next is the thinking piece. For each success marker you pick, determine a thought you can practice thinking to set you up for success.You are not currently a person who believes that thought, or you would already have the thing you desire. That’s okay. Your brain has become very efficient at thinking something different, and your job is to retrain your brain to think the new thing. If you currently believed you were capable of a certain income, you would already be making that amount of money. If you believed you could be at a certain weight, you would already be there. If you believed you could get that promotion, you would have already sought it out. Here are some sample thoughts you might choose to practice thinking:For Wealth: “I am a person who earns _____(fill in the blank with a specific amount). For Fame: “I am a successful blogger.”For Relationship: “Andy and I will find each other in 2020.”For Career: “I will get a new job as a ____(job title if possible) by _____(date.)Important in this step is to be aware of what you’re currently thinking so you can gently correct yourself as you are practicing believing your new thought. When you catch yourself thinking “I’ll never make more than $50K,” gently correct your brain, with something like “I will earn $75K by the end of 2020.” When you catch your brain telling you that you have no business trying to blog, you gently correct that thought with something like “I am capable of learning how to become a successful blogger.” DOINGNow that you’ve selected 2-3 areas from above, and determined your success marker for each area, it’s time to MAKE IT HAPPEN. Remember, without a plan it’s just a wish. For each area, write out the following, or use the worksheet I’ve created for you. Category:Success marker:What I need to START doing to achieve success in this area: What I need to STOP doing to achieve success in this area:Here’s an example:Category: CareerSuccess marker: Get a new job with a different companyWhat I need to START doing: Set aside 4 hours per week for job search activitiesWhat I need to STOP doing: Complaining about my current job, because that energy doesn’t serve me in looking for a new job. The next step in the DOING process is calendaring the things. In the example above, you would want to find 4 hours each week that you can set aside to conduct your job search. The next step would be to determine HOW you will spend those 4 hours. If all you know how to do is look at job boards, reach out to me and I can help you with this. Also, I’ve covered this topic on multiple episodes of the podcast, so you might want to re-listen to those. Okay…I hope I’ve given you a different way of looking at goal setting and goal achievement. A final word: if this isn’t something you’ve done before, start with smaller, attainable success markers. This allows you to be successful, and it also helps you build your relationship with yourself. You get in the habit of having your own back on getting the things you want in life. Here's the link to a worksheet that will help you through this process: http://bit.ly/Episode109To visit my website: www.exclusivecareercoaching.comFollow My YouTube channel (Lesa Edwards); it’s chocked full of valuable career management content in easily digestible bites.  Want to speak with an expert about your career/job search goals? Need help figuring out what’s holding you back from achieving your dream career? Let’s talk. Here’s the link to schedule a 45-minute consult call with me: https://my.timetrade.com/book/KRKLS. Hope to see you soon! 

This week’s podcast features guest life coach, Jane Springer. We’re talking about buffering – that is, the things you do when you should be looking for a new job. Buffering can show up in all areas of your life as a way to avoid doing something that will move you forward in your life.Visit Jane Springer’s website at janespringer.comFind her on Facebook at @JaneSpringerCoachCheck her out on Instagram at Springer_JaneConnect with her on LinkedIn at Jane Peck SpringerTo visit my website: www.exclusivecareercoaching.comFollow My YouTube channel (Lesa Edwards); it’s chocked full of valuable career management content in easily digestible bites. Want to speak with an expert about your career/job search goals? Need help figuring out what’s holding you back from achieving your dream career? Let’s talk. Here’s the link to schedule a 45-minute consult call with me: https://my.timetrade.com/book/KRKLS. Hope to see you soon!

One of the things I coach my clients on around the job interview is how to answer the question, “Why should I hire you?” Or, as I like to put it, “Why should I stop the interview process right now and offer the job to you?” Here’s the kind of answers I most often get: “I’m a hard worker.” “I’m a team player.” “I’m good with numbers.” (for an accounting position) “I’m very analytical.” (for an analyst position) Do you see the problem here? These answers are completely non-differentiating. Let’s look at the reverse: Has anyone, ever, gone into an interview proclaiming that they are a slacker? Has anyone, ever, stated in an interview that they are a loner? Has anyone, ever, stated in an interview for an accounting position that they AREN’T good with numbers? Has anyone, ever, stated in an interview for a business analyst position that they AREN’T analytical? NOW do you see the problem? You are a brand, just like Nike, Starbucks, and McDonalds. Let’s pretend Nike, Starbucks, and McDonalds are interviewing with you for a job. Nike wants to be hired as your athletic shoes. You ask Nike, “Why should I hire you?” Nike says, “Because I stay on your feet.” (As opposed to the other athletic shoe candidates, who regularly fall off your feet.) Starbucks, when asked the same question, states: “Because I keep you awake.” (As opposed to the other coffee candidates, who put you to sleep.) McDonald’s states: “Because my food will fill you up.” (As opposed to the other fast food candidates, who make you hungry.) Next, next, and next. You want to know what it is about Nike shoes that will compel you to buy them. Why you should select Starbucks over other coffee chains, local coffee shops, or just making coffee at home. The benefit of eating McDonald’s for lunch over the other options. Now back to you and that “Why should I stop the interview process right now and offer you the position?” question. I want to offer five different approaches to answering this interview question. 1. What you are consistently successful with. Here’s your chance to talk about what you’ve done repeatedly. For example: “Throughout my seven years with XYZ Company, I’ve been asked to turn around four underperforming departments. When I came into each department, there were issues around work output, engagement, and product quality. “Some examples of the improvements I made in these departments are: (give metrics)…” This approach requires you to 1) have a track record of success, 2) be able to articulate that success, and 3) provide evidence of that success. 2. Your secret sauce. This one often goes hand-in-hand with the previous one. This is where you talk about HOW you are successful…not in specific terms because they don’t get to know that unless they hire you, but in broad brush strokes. For example: “My ability to spearhead these turnarounds is due to well-developed analytical and listening skills, meaning that I figure out what the root causes of the problems are, and I listen to what the staff are saying…and not saying. “I also have built trust with upper management so when I come to them with my proposal, they trust that I’m on the right track and will execute the turnaround efficiently and effectively. “ This approach requires you to 1) be very clear on how you approach these problems differently than other people do, and 2) be able to articulate that difference in a compelling manner. 3. What others say about you. This approach HAS TO BE backed up. It’s best when you say what a SPECIFIC person has said about you, and then you give an example of that thing they said about you. For example: “My current supervisor, Joan Smith, recently told me she was going to have to find something wrong with me, because she couldn’t keep giving me perfect performance evaluations. “She said this because of the volume of work I do that has allowed her to triple her client caseload, the quality of my work that keeps clients coming back to her, and the thoroughness of the research I conduct in preparing documents for her.” Note this is very different from you, giving your opinion of yourself. Joan Smith is a third-party expert, so what she says about you is unbiased and carries much more weight. This approach works best if, for example, Joan Smith is either one of your references, has written a letter of recommendation for you, and/or has recommended you on LI. 4. Your unique constellation of attributes. This one is my answer. While there are others out there who also hold each of the credentials I hold, I know of no one who holds them all…in combination with my skills and personality. For example: “I’m one of 23 Master Resume Writers in the world, I am a Certified Job Search Strategist, a Certified Executive and Leadership Development Coach, a Master Practitioner of the MBTI, and I have a master’s degree in Public Administration. “Further, I have 20+ years’ experience managing two university career centers, plus more than a decade of managing my own practice. “Finally, my clients love my personality – the warmth, humor, and honesty with which I interact with them. I can honestly say there is no one out there who can claim all of that like I can.” Note: this approach works very well in fields where credentials, certifications, and continuing education are highly valued. This approach requires you to 1) have a unique constellation of attributes, and 2) be able to articulate that constellation. 5. An experience no one else is likely to have. Keep in mind that this has to be truly differentiating. Use this approach if there is something in your work history that is highly unique. For example: “I come into this position with X years’ experience with your primary competitor. As a result of this experience…” You could also talk about unique sector experience, such as: “Because I served in the military for X years, I am able to…” Or maybe it’s breadth of experience: “I come into this HR role with experience in government, Fortune 500, startups, and rapid growth companies. Because of this breadth of experience, I am able to…” This approach requires you to 1) have a truly unique background, 2) be able to articulate that background, and 3) relate that background to the benefits you will provide to the employer. Pick one of these approaches and map out your answer to the question “Why should I hire you?” Then practice it in front of a mirror. Your final step should be to practice your answer in front of an expert such as myself, who can evaluate whether you’ve truly differentiated yourself. Here’s the payoff to doing this deep dive on a single interview question: You become name-brand…highly desirable…sought after. The alternative? You are generic. The low-cost alternative, chosen ONLY because of price. Be the brand-name option – it’s totally available to you.   To visit my website: www.exclusivecareercoaching.com Follow My YouTube channel (Lesa Edwards); it’s chocked full of valuable career management content in easily digestible bites.   Want to speak with an expert about your career/job search goals? Need help figuring out what’s holding you back from achieving your dream career? Let’s talk. Here’s the link to schedule a 45-minute consult call with me:  https://my.timetrade.com/book/KRKLS. Hope to see you soon!   

There are enough books, articles, and blogs on resume writing out there to fill the Empire State Building a few times over. I thought I would boil all of this down to the least common denominator. Here we go… 1. Tell them what you’re applying for at the top of your resume. At the top of your resume, in the biggest print on the resume, should be your target position. This is NOT an objective, which tells the reader what YOU want, but rather what you can do for them. Here are a couple of great examples: ENTRY-LEVEL ACCOUNTANT HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST What if you don’t have a specific job title? Here’s another way to approach your target position: COMMUNICATIONS GRADUATE WITH EXCELLENT PRESENTATION SKILLS OFFERING OUTSTANDING SKILLS IN RESEARCH, DATA ANALYSIS, AND REPORT WRITING Note about this second approach: Make sure the things you list are related to  one another. Don’t try to cover a wide range of functions here. 2. Your resume should focus on your accomplishments. Most college graduates have worked; what will separate you from the pack is what you accomplished, rather than just listing your job duties. Here are a couple of bullet points from resumes I’ve written for college graduates: · Spearheaded online marketing efforts including Facebook and Instagram, improving the designer’s following by 100%. · Cultivated relationships with all real estate agencies in Midland and placed fliers in every realtor’s mailbox to generate referral business. (This client ran his own yard service.) · Worked 20-25 hours per week during school year, including most Friday and Saturday nights. (This was one of several bullet points that showed this client had worked consistently throughout college, speaking to her work ethic.) 3. Your resume should be specific. Did you notice the numbers I used in the bullets above? Metrics make an accomplishment more tangible. See the difference between these two bullets: Improved lead generation by designing and implementing a referral-based networking system. OR: Catapulted lead generation 40% in just 6 months and sold 61 policies in the first 90 days of employment by designing and implementing a referral-based networking system. 4. Keep your job target in mind as you write your resume. Make sure that what you say, and how you say it, supports your job target. Let’s go back to the previous accomplishment: Catapulted lead generation 40% in just 6 months and sold 61 policies in the first 90 days of employment by designing and implementing a referral-based networking system. This individual was applying for a business development position. What if he wanted to apply for a customer service position? The bullet might read something like this: · Contacted all clients (200+) each month to ensure that policies were current; as a result, received the highest customer service ratings of all representatives. What if the candidate was applying for an administrative position? · Developed and implemented a referral-based networking system that was subsequently implemented system-wide, leading to a 40% increase in lead generation. 5. Keep your resume clean. Keep in mind that the people who will read your resume are often my age—and we can’t see all that well. Your font should be non-fussy and in a decent size. You also want to make sure you use a standard font that is readable by most Macs and PCs. My favorites are: Arial, Verdana,Tahoma, Calibri, Lucida Sans, Trebuchet. I like to keep my margins between .65” and .8”. I’m personally not a fan of two-column resumes, as the ATS can’t read them properly. What I will say about stylistic elements of your resume is this: does the design add to, or detract from, your branding message? Are you creating a document that is too large to easily attach when you’re applying online or sending your resume? 6. Heaviest goes first. Many entry-level candidates automatically put their education first on their resume, then their work experience. While this is sometimes appropriate, here’s the way to determine which should go first: Mentally place your education on one side of the scale, and your experience on the other side. Which one is weightier? That’s the one that should go first. It could even be your volunteer experience, if you have significant, related volunteer experience, coupled with little to no paid experience. This process of comparing two sections of your resume to determine which to put first works for all sections of your resume.   To visit my website: www.exclusivecareercoaching.com Follow My YouTube channel (Lesa Edwards); it’s chocked full of valuable career management content in easily digestible bites. Want to speak with an expert about your career/job search goals? Need help figuring out what’s holding you back from achieving your dream career? Let’s talk. Here’s the link to schedule a 45-minute consult call with me: https://my.timetrade.com/book/KRKLS. Hope to see you soon!

Back in 2016, I started what has become an annual Thanksgiving tradition…my list of Five Unusual Things to Be Thankful for. In creating this year’s list, I decided to revisit the three previous years’ lists. In part to see what stood out to me each year, but also to see how this list has evolved. In year 1, I made it about you; in years 2 & 3 they were MY lists. A little insight into my soul, to be sure. My hope is that, by sharing what I’m thankful for on a very personal level, you can identify. And maybe even recognize the blessing in something similar that you’ve faced this year. Also, it was an opportunity for me to revisit the learning that occurred through these experiences. Did I really learn from that situation, or have I been required to revisit that lesson again and again until it finally sticks? So, now we proceed with this year’s list: 1. Not knowing anybody. I went to a two-day conference in March in Dallas, held by my coach, Brooke Castillo. What I found when I got there was the vast majority of the participants (and there were 300+) knew other people there. Most of them had gone through Brooke’s coaching school and were hanging out with their classmates at the conference. I didn’t know a soul at the conference. There have been many situations like this in my life where I assimilated into another group quite well, but in this situation I chose to be by myself. The upside? I really enjoyed my excellent meals in a swanky hotel by myself with a good book or that day’s training materials. I enjoyed my room by myself. I enjoyed reserving my energy outside of the conference, so that I could be rested and fully present for the conference. No, I didn’t make any friends there. And that’s okay. It was still an amazing conference. 2. The contrast of a negative energy. This one may sound a bit woo-woo, but stay with me. Early this year, I was contacted by a much older woman who wanted a resume. Maybe. Maybe she needed job search coaching, or LinkedIn help…I could never get a read on this woman. At her request, I did something I’ve never done before…I met her at her home here in Tallahassee. I spent far more time with her than a normal 45-minute consult call. Then there were additional calls and emails…followed by silence. In the end, we parted ways and I was glad to see the end of her. But it wasn’t the end. An amazing woman, Licia Berry, identified two negative energies that had attached themselves to me. I figured one of them out immediately, but it took me a while (with Licia’s help) to identify that the other energy was this 70-year-old woman. Licia then got her that negative energy off of me. The lesson? I have a process, and that process works. Any client who wants to control my process isn’t a good fit for me, because I’m the expert here…not them. It’s not that I’m inflexible, it’s that I want to give my clients the best possible experience…and I know what that should look like. Also, I chased her far too long out of a sense of need. I needed the money. There, I said it. In retrospect, I should have never gone to her house (where, no doubt, her energy got on me). I certainly shouldn’t have continued to follow up with her when everything inside me was screaming to run in the other direction. 3. Having to ask for help. The Universe decided I needed to allow others to help me this year, and it’s been one of the most difficult lessons for me to learn. Let me say that, at my age, any lessons still to learn are difficult ones. We’ve already knocked out the easier stuff, so we’re left with heavily ingrained beliefs and habits that are painful to address. (Something for you young ‘uns to look forward to.) In the interest of retaining a smidge of dignity after this episode drops, I won’t go into detail about the kind of help I’ve needed this year, but suffice it to say it’s covered the spectrum. And here’s what I learned a long time ago: People want to help. Not all of them, and not all the time, but in general, people want to help. My allowing the people in my life the opportunity to step up to the plate has given them the chance to receive the blessing that comes from helping someone. I will also say that some of the things my friends have had to do for me this year have gotten us much closer…it takes true friends to do some of the things I’ve needed them to do for me. 4. Finding out I’m not as great as I think I am. If you’re a regular listener, you know that I spent three weeks in April in Italy and Greece with my then-24-year-old daughter, Chloe. I’ve told friends that Chloe’s purpose on this trip was to knock me down a few pegs…to show me that I’m not all that. She let me know, in no uncertain terms, that I didn’t know how to pack, couldn’t follow directions, and had no skill in locating the best food. Here’s the blessing in all that: Chloe learned how skillful she was in those areas. Her skills in getting us around foreign cities, finding great out-of-the-way restaurants, and dealing with her overpacked mom really boosted her confidence, and now she knows she can travel anywhere in the world and be okay. My ego is well able to take the knocking down, and it was so cool to see Chloe’s ego ratchet up several notches. 5. Doors that won’t open/won’t close. Let’s call this year Lesa’s Year of the Door. Is that a cow or a pig on the Chinese calendar? Not sure. Until recently, I had a car door that I couldn’t get open, but also couldn’t keep closed. It was draining my battery, causing my interior lights to be on while driving, and required me to do this shimmy thing to the door when I got out so I could lock the car. Super fun and safe. Then there was the bathroom door. On the day of my son’s wedding, I managed to get myself locked in the women’s bathroom at the venue, via a faulty deadbolt. The building manager ended up breaking the door out by the frame so I could get out. I had to wash masonry and insulation off myself. Then there was the apartment door. I stayed at my son and daughter-in-law’s apartment after the wedding while they were on their honeymoon, because I was doing training for a company in Pennsylvania the following Tuesday. On Monday morning, I left their apartment to go get my son’s car, parked a couple of blocks away, so I could load it up for the drive to Scranton. And locked the apartment keys in the apartment. My first reaction, brilliantly, was to try to break the door down. The dead-bolted door. As if that had been super successful three days earlier at the wedding. Then I came to my senses and realized that, even if I did break the door down, I couldn’t very well leave their apartment in urban New Jersey with no front door. So I went downstairs and knocked on the first door. To my surprise, a young couple opened the door and let this stranger in. They called the landlord for me, who was there to unlock the door within 30 minutes. The blessing? A week ago, my car door issues were taken care of by two automotive places, neither of which charged me a penny. Although embarrassing, the wedding-day incident brought some levity into this Mother of the Groom’s weepy, emotional self. The downstairs neighbors must be the nicest people in Jersey City. The wife kept offering me food and drink, which I eventually accepted so as not to insult her Indian culture. They couldn’t have been kinder to me. So, my question to you is this: Where are the blessings in the midst of the challenging times in your life? If you are looking for them, I promise they are there. One of my favorite things to say to myself is “Why is this happening for me?” Instead of “Why is this happening to me?” It really does change everything.

  One of the topics I’ve talked about before on this podcast is the concept of the bull’s eye as it relates to your dream career. If you think of your career as a dart board, then all of the “suitable” jobs for you are somewhere on that dart board. Not on the wall, not with the dart sailing through a doorway into the next room. Your goal, then, as a recent college graduate with little if any career experience is to get on the outer rung of your dart board. That’s all…on the dart board somewhere. Hopefully, this takes the pressure off. Then, as you leave your first post-college job and take your next career step, the goal is to move a bit closer to the inner rung. Just a bit. There are two primary reasons why the center of your dart board isn’t a realistic goal right out of college: You don’t have enough experience and creds to get that job unless you’ve aimed super low, and you don’t know yourself well enough to truly know what the center of your dart board looks like. It might well be 10-12 years out of college before you’re in the center of your dart board. And within that center, there are several jobs that are perfect for you. So you go through a series of jobs, maybe even change career paths, as you move toward the center of your bull’s eye. You like, maybe even love, each of these jobs. You continue to learn more about yourself and more about the world of work as you go. This concept, which is pretty macro, got me thinking about the bull’s eye concept on a micro level. What you can be doing on a monthly, weekly, even daily basis to get you towards your bull’s eye. I also want to bring the personal aspect into this conversation, because we’re total people rather than our “professional” and “personal” selves. The two can’t really – and shouldn’t be – separated. Here, then, are NUMBER micro-decisions, or micro-opportunities, that can either move you towards your bull’s eye…or not. RAISING YOUR HAND In episode #103, I talked about how women sometimes take on job responsibilities that no one else wants, without thinking strategically about whether that additional duty will benefit their career. I am suggesting that you think strategically before raising your hand. This can be in one of two forms: your boss needs someone to do a particular thing, or you see a thing that needs to be done and offer to do it. I invite you to push the pause button before that hand goes up. Picture where you are now on your dart board, where you want to go next and ultimately, and how this thing you’re about to volunteer for fits into those goals. Does it move you closer to your bull’s eye? Unless the answer is yes, resist the urge. If this thing moves you away from your bull’s eye – run quickly. If it keeps you in the same place – neither forward or backward – give serious consideration for agreeing to do the thing. There are many ways a new responsibility can help your career, and I’ve talked about that in episode #69 when I covered stretch assignments. If you’re unclear about this concept, go back and listen to that episode. The short answer is to think broadly about how a particular assignment might benefit your career. But, if after thinking broadly, you come up with NADA, then pass on that assignment when at all possible. Also – keep in mind that that task you’re trying to force fit into your career goals may be a perfect fit for one of your coworkers. Don’t deny them that growth opportunity. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS I could do an entire podcast on the relationships you do, and don’t, want to develop to progress your career…oh wait. I already have. Several, in fact. Let’s talk first about the relationships you DO want. Who do you need to spend time cultivating relationships with inside, and outside, your current employer? Who can mentor you, be your champion, be your sounding board? If you want to move to another area of your current company, who do you need to know in the new department to facilitate that? Who are the “realistic gets” in your profession, your industry, your city? This, of course, is networking. The flip side are the relationships you DON’T want. This is often based on negative reputation, lack of follow through, all flash and no substance. Narcissists who will guaranteed not be there for you when you need them because it’s all about them and no you. Run, don’t walk. ADDITIONAL EDUCATION/CREDENTIALS First of all, additional education, whether formal or informal, takes time. It also takes money – if not yours, then your employers’. There is a cost to doing this. As someone with a master’s degree and a boat load of letters after my name, I’m all for creds. What I’m not for is creds for creds’ sake. If you’re going after a master’s degree, will it move you towards your bull’s eye, and is NOW the best time to go for it? Will the credential improve your chances for career success? If it’s a wash, do you want to invest your time in doing it? Bottom line here: You may have one of three answers to these questions. Yes, No, or Not Now. Pay attention to what your gut, and the data are telling you. TIMING I’ve seen far too many clients who’ve jumped ship when things got a little rough…at the detriment of their career. Conversely, I recently heard from a long-time friend, who initially reached out because she was ready for her next career move. She sat on it for a few days, and realized she had a few more goals at her current employer. She wants to revisit her job search in about six months. What’s left to accomplish in your current role? What’s going on in your personal life right now, that would either make this a good or not-so-good time to job search? Are there considerations around bonuses, pensions, etc.?   SEEKING PROMOTIONS The first piece of seeking promotions is whether that promotion is going to move you towards your bull’s eye. What’s new about the new job? What’s the same? How’s the new title play? What’s the salary increase, and how will the new job affect your work/life blend? The second piece is timing. Have you spent enough time in your current role to have 2-3 solid achievements to speak of on your resume? Are there any other factors in your life that make this a particularly good, or bad, time to seek this promotion? THE REST OF YOUR LIFE Use these same principles for decisions outside of work. Let’s use an example. One of your personal bull’s eye “things” in your life is to own your own home in the next two years. Maybe you currently rent a fairly nice apartment…so maybe, in this regard, you’re not on the outer rung of your “homeowner’s” bull’s eye. Maybe you’re one rung in. Over the next two years, you will want to make decisions based on whether or not they move you towards, or away from, your homeowner’s bull’s eye. Financial decisions, decisions about job changes and the accompanying salary, maybe even relationship decisions. See how this works?   www.exclusivecareercoaching.com Follow My YouTube channel (Lesa Edwards); it’s chocked full of valuable career management content in easily digestible bites. Want to speak with an expert about your career/job search goals? Need help figuring out what’s holding you back from achieving your dream career? Let’s talk. Here’s the link to schedule a 45-minute consult call with me:  https://my.timetrade.com/book/KRKLS. Hope to see you soon!  

  This episode is specifically for women and those who hire, train, coach, mentor, manage, or supervise them. And those who know women. So basically everybody. If you’re not familiar with the term “glass ceiling,” here’s a definition: “An unofficially acknowledged barrier to advancement in a profession, especially affecting women and members of minorities.” I want to specifically address women and the glass ceiling in this episode. To be clear, there are statistics that bare out the presence of the glass ceiling. Here are just a few, according to the website Center for American Progress: Women earn 48.5% of all law degrees, yet only 22.7% of law firm partners are women and only 19% are equity partners. Women earn 47.5% of all medical school degrees, yet only 16% of permanent medical school deans are women. Women earn the majority of doctorates in the US, yet only 32% of full professors are women and just 30% of college presidents are women. 61% of accountants and auditors are women, 53% of financial managers are women, and 37% of all financial analysts are women – yet just 12.5% of all Chief Financial Officers are women. The pay differential exists, as well: 25-34 YO men average pay: $45,604; women: $39,676 (about 15% less than men) 35-44 YO men average pay: $57,824; women: $45,604 (about 27% less than men) 45-54 YO men average pay: $59,176; women: $45,552 (about 30% less than men) There are some interesting micro-aspects of the glass ceiling, which I’ll mention briefly here: Glass escalator: Men entering traditional female-held jobs such as nursing progress faster and make more money than women in those same fields. Sticky floor: Research shows that women are slower to begin to climb the ranks in their field than men. This is a concept I will circle back around to in a moment. The frozen middle: Women’s climb often freezes in middle management. Again, more on this in a moment. Second shift: The role of traditional “women’s” work in the home that essentially amounts to a second job, particularly as it relates to motherhood. Mommy track: Women leaving the workplace, or taking part-time jobs, during child-rearing years. Here’s where I want to go with this information, particularly as it relates to the Sticky Floor and The Frozen Middle: at least some of the glass ceiling has to do with how women present themselves in the workplace. In no way am I discounting or ignoring the fact that many corporations are led by men who want to hire other men…corporations who don’t value a woman’s contributions as much as a man’s…corporations who “punish” women who want to have children. However, there’s another aspect to this…one I see almost daily in my practice: women who don’t know how to present themselves as effectively as men do. Much of this has to do with how we’re raised from childhood: Many of us are from homes where the males are cultured to be the strong, unemotional earners, and women are cultured to be the nurturing caregivers. There are tons of research around female students not speaking up as much in school as their male counterparts; I certainly saw this in higher education. And yes, this is still happening today. Here are some of the specific situations in which I see my women clients sometimes lag behind my male clients: 1. Achievements. So often, women will want to minimize their achievements. This either comes in the form of downplaying what they’ve achieved, not recognizing their achievements as such, or not having kept a record of what they’ve achieved. These achievements need to show up in their resume, their LI profile, and in their interview answers, so I often do considerable work with my female clients to pull this information out of them. 2. Brand. An important part of the work I do with my clients for their job search, and for their career management in general, is getting clear on their brand. What do they bring to the table that others don’t? What is their secret sauce? This self-knowledge is critical to their resume, LI profile, and interview answers…as well as how they show up at work on a daily basis. Women often see their unique value proposition as “business as usual,” whereas men will recognize, and promote, their genius. 3. Interview. Directly related to #1 is my female clients’ ability to present themselves effectively in an interview. In addition to talking about their achievements, they are often less willing to confidently tell the interviewer why they are the ideal candidate for the job…and to back that statement up with compelling proof. 4. Self-promotion. In the course of doing their job, women are much less likely to engage in effective self-promotion. This is often due to a lack of self-confidence, a fear of being labeled as something that rhymes with “witch,” and experience being “put in their place” when they have attempted to self-promote in the past. This self-promotion might take the form of speaking up during meetings, making sure they have a place at the table for important projects or meetings, keeping a record of their accomplishments, and letting the right people know about them. Another aspect of self-promotion involves getting out of their department to interact with professionals at or above their level throughout the organization. 5. Stretch assignments. One of the best ways for my clients to get recognized is to take on stretch assignments that demonstrate their potential. Women often hesitate to take on assignments they want, that will position them in the best possible light. Instead, they either keep on with the same job year after year, or they take on assignments that no one else wants to do…and that don’t showcase their potential. 6. Promotion. Because of all the previous points, women are much less likely to seek promotions and raises…and if they do, much less likely to present a compelling case for themselves. I’ve presented a lot of challenges for women in the workplace. Here, then, are 12 tips for women to help address the glass ceiling: 1. Before seeking employment at a company, look at who they’ve hired already. 2. Utilize glassdoor.com, personal connections, and other intel in making a decision about who to work for. 3. Get help from a professional like myself for your resume, LI profile, clarity around your brand, and interview skills. 4. Dress the part, from the interview on. 5. Hire a coach. 6. Get a mentor. 7. Keep a “brag” file. 8. Put networking on the front burner, no matter what. 9. If your boss isn’t willing to advocate for you, get a different boss. 10.Set professional goals and create an action plan that will guarantee the success of those goals. 11.Get feedback from individuals you trust, who will be honest with you about how you’re showing up. 12.Commit to continuous improvement…in the form of ongoing formal or continuing education, credential enhancement, skill development, stretch assignments.   To visit my website: www.exclusivecareercoaching.com Follow My YouTube channel (Lesa Edwards); it’s chocked full of valuable career management content in easily digestible bites.   Want to speak with an expert about your career/job search goals? Need help figuring out what’s holding you back from achieving your dream career? Let’s talk. Here’s the link to schedule a 45-minute consult call with me:  https://my.timetrade.com/book/KRKLS. Hope to see you soon!   

First of all: In full disclosure, I spend about 15 minutes per day, five days a week, on LinkedIn - just want you to know I practice what I preach. As an entrepreneur, my goal on LinkedIn is to get clients – to be seen as the career management expert I am. Your goal might be to get a new job, to be more attractive to recruiters, or to be recognized as a Subject Matter Expert in your field. Here’s how I spend my 15-minute parcels of time (and I actually set the timer on my phone for this): Mondays: I offer an “old” podcast post on my personal profile and my business profile, then I spend 15 minutes wishing happy birthdays, congrats on the new job or promotion, and interacting in the groups I am in. So, a tad more than 15 minutes on Mondays. Tuesdays: 15 minutes of pure interaction and congrats. Wednesdays: I post my new podcast on LI, so less than 15 minutes. Thursdays: The same as Tuesdays; 15 minutes of pure interaction and congrats. Fridays: I “recycle” old content I’ve created as an original article (essentially a blog that lives on LI). Because I also create original artwork for the article using Canva, I spend a bit more than 15 minutes on LI on Fridays. One thing I used to do is send personalized messages to everyone I’m connected to. Hi, how can we support each other, that sort of thing. I wasn’t getting ANY responses. Not one. This was very labor-intensive, so I eliminated it in favor of other higher-yield activities. Some definitions are in order here, for those of you less familiar with LI. My attempt is to explain any of the above activities in case you have no idea what I’m talking about. -On your LI profile, you have the option of creating an “article” – original content, or a short-form post – which can be a question, announcement, link, etc. You do this under the “home” tab at the top of your LI profile. -If you are writing an article – again, this means original content – you have the option of artwork, which I strongly recommend. When you click on the article link, you’ll see where the artwork goes. You’ll have to play around with sizing, but I use Canva for the artwork and for pics I use Pixabay. -The “Notifications” tab is where you’ll see information on whose birthday it is, who’s gotten a new job or a promotion, etc. As I mentioned above, I do this on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays – this keeps it from being an overly-long task and allows me to be timely with my comments. -I also talked about commenting in the groups I belong to. If you haven’t joined any groups, that will be step one for you. To find groups, go into your profile. At the top, you’ll find the search bar. When you click on that, one of the options that comes up is “Groups.” Click on Groups, then in the search bar put a specific type of group you’re interested in. If that yields an overly large number of results, narrow your search further. When I’m deciding on which groups I want to join, I look for two things: group size and activity level. If I see that the most recent post in a group was two weeks ago, I know that’s not an active group and I keep going. Generally, I look for larger groups – they don’t have to be the biggest, as I may get lost in those – but there does need to be a critical mass. -Now that you’ve joined some groups, you want to poke around in those groups to see where you can make a comment, ask a question, agree with something, etc. In general, you don’t want to self-promote, at least not right off the bat. If you position yourself as an expert in your field, you WILL be self-promoting, but in a way that is acceptable and will serve you better. Even if you’re just positioning yourself as an engaged professional in your field, you are getting your name and your skills out there. -Review the groups you belong to regularly. If there are ones that aren’t doing it for you, exit those groups. Poke around for some new groups every once in a while. I like a critical mass of 20-25 groups; any more than that is unmanageable for me; any fewer and I’m not spreading the love around enough. So how might your 15-minute parcels be used? It’s helpful to start with a goal for LI. Your goal might be: -To increase your number of connections -To spread your influence on LI and be seen as a Subject Matter Expert -To get closer to decision-makers in your dream companies -To engage in professional conversations via the groups you belong to -To stay connected to people you used to work with, haven’t seen for a while, etc. Here are some suggestions: -Spend time 3-5X/week sending birthday wishes and congratulations to your network. -Spend time 3-5X/week interacting in the groups you belong to. -Connect with people (used the Advanced Search function). -Send messages to those you’re already connected with. These can range from personal messages to people you actually know, to asking questions to get to know those you don’t already know personally. -If you have original content or are willing to create it, share on LI. -Comment on posts in your feed (these are the people you’re connected to, separate from the groups you belong to). Notice what ISN’T included in these 15-minute parcels: -Job searching/applying to jobs. If you’re in active job search mode, this could easily take all of your daily 15-minute parcels and then some. This should be a separate block of time, as part of your job search strategy. -Updating your LI profile This infrastructure work is important but doesn’t count as connecting/engaging time. In summary: -Set one or two goals for your time on LI -Calendar 15 minutes every day for LI, and write in your calendar how you will spend this time each day -Review your activities periodically to determine what is, and isn’t, getting traction. Need help creating an amazing LI profile, or maximizing LI for your career goals? Set up a call with me and I’ll let you know how I can help you one-on-one. To visit my website: www.exclusivecareercoaching.com Follow My YouTube channel (Lesa Edwards); it’s chocked full of valuable career management content in easily digestible bites. Want to speak with an expert about your career/job search goals? Need help figuring out what’s holding you back from achieving your dream career? Let’s talk. Here’s the link to schedule a 45-minute consult call with me:  https://my.timetrade.com/book/KRKLS. Hope to see you soon!