The Exclusive Career Coach

Bob Tiede discusses the importance of asking great questions in leadership. He shares his favorite questions, the power of personal questions, and the significance of leading with questions to engage and motivate teams. Learn how asking the right questions can enhance leadership effectiveness and boost team morale.

Explore the importance of know, like, and trust in a job search, focusing on showcasing achievements, optimizing LinkedIn profiles, and building meaningful connections with potential employers.

A listener reached out to me about this topic and it resonated with me. At the beginning of the year, I started casually looking for a part-time job in Tallahassee – not so much for the money as for the human interaction. As a solopreneur working from home, I feel pretty isolated. I thought a few hours a week would help me meet some new people, possibly make some new friends, and have more human contact.  I set up a search on Indeed.com – and what I’ve received since then has been pretty pathetic. Granted, I didn’t do much to refine my search because I was open to any number of things. Mostly what I knew was what I DIDN’T want – full-time, inflexibility with my schedule, being a front-line contact for people.  I got custodial jobs, server jobs, and delivery driver jobs. Of course, these are important roles and someone needs to do them – just not me.  So when the listener suggested this title, I put it on my list of topics I wanted to explore for an upcoming episode. So here goes.  What exactly are you looking for? Some definitions are in order. There are professional part-time jobs for people who want to pursue an opportunity within their career field – just not on a full-time basis. They could be downshifting into retirement, raising children, or helping with an elderly parent.  Then there are part-time jobs for professionals – perhaps to make a bit more money, to (like me) fulfill an unmet need in their regular job, or to pursue a passion.  It is important for you to assess why you want a part-time job and what your non-negotiables are for that job – just as you should do for a full-time position.   Where should you look? Most job boards have a filter for part-time positions, so you’ll want to utilize that. When I tried LinkedIn, I was able to filter for part-time, mid-senior level, and in-person; I could have also filtered for a salary range.  I tried this out on Indeed as well, but wasn’t able to simultaneously filter for as many criteria as with LI. With part-time, I couldn’t find a way to also search for a type of job – and when I did, it reverted to full-time positions. Perhaps Indeed isn’t the best place to look for a professional part-time job, but could work if you are looking for a part-time job as a professional.  I didn’t try other mainstream online sites, but most if not all of them should have the part-time filter – the question is what other filters you can engage at the same time.  There are also sites that cater to part-time work, like flexjobs.com. Many sites have cropped up since Covid specifically for remote work, so if that’s what you are looking for, here are a few good ones: -remote.co-ratracerebellion.com-weworkremotely.com There is also the gig economy with sites like Upwork if you have a skill set that lends itself to this type of work.  I want to briefly mention turning a hobby or passion into something you get compensated for. When I was in higher education, I started a jewelry business – I had no background in it but started beading and fell in love. I quickly realized I could either have a very expensive hobby or start selling my work and so I did. It was time-consuming and in no way easy, but very flexible and it provided a creative outlook my job just didn’t.  I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the option of multilevel marketing – now often referred to as network marketing or direct selling. While this industry is often painted with the broad-brush stroke of pyramid schemes, many are legitimate and it can be a very flexible source of additional income. Because it is commission-based, this might be a better option for someone who doesn’t have to rely on a certain amount of steady income.  The question then becomes: How do you find the non-scammy opportunities? I found a good article on this topic on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-choose-network-marketing-company-ion-ivanciu/ This article talks about how to determine the type of MLM you might want to choose. I took it a step further and Googled “best MLM Companies in 2023.” I won’t mention any results because those will quickly be dated and should not be your primary driver, but a little research will show you the possibilities. You could also try a search like “Best MLM companies in ___.”   How else can you find opportunities? -Look for small, local employers – particularly if you want an in-person job, although remote work might also be an option. Companies that have a wide range of work to be done, but not necessarily enough of any one skill set to require a full-time employee, would be ideal. I have a friend who works Tuesday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., doing administrative tasks for a glass company. She’s 79 years old and loves it! Network for these opportunities.  -Are there solopreneurs you can provide services to in your area of expertise? The field of Virtual Assistants – known as VAs – has grown exponentially since Covid, so that’s a pretty crowded field these days. However, perhaps all you want is a couple of solopreneurs who each need a few hours a month of bookkeeping work or website support. Network for these opportunities.  -Look into cultural, religious, or community organizations – again, these may be leanly staffed and would welcome part-time help. Museums, theaters, arts-agencies, churches, temples, and libraries all tend to rely heavily on part-time staff. Network for these opportunities.  -Other areas that hire part-time workers are education, healthcare, and sales. Could you be an adjunct college professor or teach online courses? What about part-time clerical work at your child’s school? Could you get a second part-time nursing job? What about part-time sales? Network for these opportunities. As I began working on this topic, I realized just how vast it is and how much information is out there. I covered the what – what you are looking for; the where – where to look online for these jobs; and the how – how to look for these opportunities. I didn’t touch on the networking process, how to apply, how to follow-up; I’ve covered these topics in other episodes.  I realize now how much I missed the boat in my initial search – a lesson that no matter how experienced we are in an area, we still have more to learn. Humbling, but an important lesson.  

In this podcast, the host debunks the myth of never talking about negative experiences in job interviews. They emphasize the importance of honesty while advising on how to share negative details professionally. The episode explores the delicate balance of being truthful without jeopardizing job prospects.

Learn how to leverage your existing network to make a career pivot in a new field or industry. Strategies include utilizing LinkedIn, recognizing your connections, and reaching out to expand career opportunities. Gain insights on unlocking networking opportunities, building trust through personalized messages, and mastering effective networking strategies for career success.

The podcast discusses overcoming setbacks in careers with personal stories of job loss, unexpected opportunities, and resilience. It explores mindset shifts, goal revision, and seeking guidance from mentors. Strategies for tackling obstacles include focusing on solutions, seeking support, and practicing self-care.

The podcast covers career development as a lifelong journey of growth, focusing on self-knowledge, navigating career paths for college students, different approaches to career development support in organizations, proactive strategies like self-assessment and seeking mentors, and empowering career development through stretch assignments and self-assessment.

The podcast discusses the importance of networking for career growth, providing tips on setting goals, exploring different venues, and leveraging social events. It emphasizes the need for a strong online presence, particularly on LinkedIn, and highlights networking as a key activity for long-term success.

Learn how to make the right decision when changing employers by identifying key qualities and characteristics. Explore the importance of personal non-negotiables and 'gee - wouldn't it be nice' factors. Get tips on evaluating companies based on industry, mission statement, culture, and more.

Learn how to address gaps in employment on resumes, LinkedIn, and in job interviews with strategies and real-life examples. From intentional sabbaticals to building businesses, discover how to minimize the impact of employment gaps and present them positively.