Gameboy is not just for kids.

       He's a gamer!  He's got game!  The game's afoot! You're in the game!  Put on your game face!  Let the games begin!  The game is up!  Life's a game!   Do you see a theme here?   This week we are talking about playing games. 
        Our society has hundreds of sayings that involve the word "game'  or allude to playing a game but, what does this have to do with making a career transition?   Let's think about it.
       To win at any game you need several attributes including: endurance, stamina, patience, strategy, adaptability, constant learning knew skills and networking.   Webster's New World College Dictionary Fourth Edition defines a gamer as "1-an athlete who is game, 2-one who is highly competitive, steadfast and reliable etc especially in difficult situations 3-a person who plays electronic games."   Do these skills and abilities sound like traits that potential employers would like?   If so, then perhaps you should consider learning to play online games.
        Facebook offers many online games for free.  You invite people from your Facebook family to play with you.  As you progress, you announce to people your status and people will invite you to play with them.  Online games can vary from traditional board games such as chess to new electronic games that mimic reality TV shows.  In some games, you provide "gifts" to your fellow players, ask for favors, challenge them and leave messages.  By participating in online games you can stay in touch with others and build relationships. This is great way to network without focusing on the issue of employment. 
       Playing online games is a fantastic way to relax.  One word of caution, potential employers can check out your Facebook site so you may want to be selective of the games that you choose to play, what you say as well as with whom you choose to associate or make your neighbor in the game. 
       All games require you to have some basic computer skills including keyboarding, saving data, and bookmarking.  Other games require you to create an avatar.  Again, a word of caution should be used when creating the symbolic version of you.  Avoid being overly seductive or violent.
       Have you considered how playing online games could improve your communication skills?  Did you realize that people "Blog" and Tweet about their online game experiences?  By following Blogs and Tweets you can learn common abbreviations that are used when texting.  Common terms are 'UR",  "C" , "OMG",  "LOL",  LMAO" and  IDK.   This is how Gen Xs prefer to communicate.  Being able to communicate with all the generations in the force is a definitely a good skill to possess.
        Games are not restricted to computers but are also on smart  phones, kindles, nooks, Ipads and Ipods. It is my observation that people enjoy discussing their progress and sharing hints in person as well as online.  This means you could use knowledge of an online game as an icebreaker.  You may even use this activity to answer the question "tell me about yourself" during a job interview if you are using an online games in order to help you with a volunteer activity such as being a Big Brother/Big Sister.
           So, do you have game?          
          
          
          

Everywhere you go - There you are!

      As a life and career coach, people frequently come to me with questions regarding their career options but I always start at at same place.  I ask how are things going in their life in general.  Your life consists of 5 sections:  health/well-being, financial, vocational, relationships, leisure and spiritual. 

• Health/well-being: your physical health, stamina, grooming, attire.  
• Financial:       savings, earnings, retirement plan, insurance, investments, taxes, etc
• Vocational:    education, work history, hobbies,
• Relationships: all social interactions including parents, friends, children, significant others, co-workers 
• Leisure:         anything you do for fun
• Spiritual:        your believe and value system

Many people don't realize that an imbalance in any area will impact the others. So, how do you incorporate the various aspects of your life into your job search? 
 Health/well-being:   are you physically able to perform your anticipated job duties,  is your medical information organized so that you can provide it if needed, can you explain any disability for which you are seeking job accommodations, are there work hours that best meet your needs, is your appearance current, should you loose some weight.

• Financial: what is the minimum income that you need, what benefits do you need, can you afford to relocate, what is the going rate for the job that you are seeking
• Relationships: are your family and friends supportive, are you on good terms with at least 3 former co-workers and 3 peers that can serve as references for you.  
• Leisure activities: can be used to demonstrate leadership skills, personal qualities, networking opportunities
• Spiritual activities:  will help you stay focused and motivated with your career transition.  Do you share your spiritual believes with those that are going to be your primary emotional supports during this time?

Take the time, to review how you are doing in these areas.  Consider how your ideal life would be, how would you change your life, what would you leave the same and why would you make these decisions.  Try not to blame problems in your vocational life for problems in other aspects of your life.

For daily job search information Tweet me @CYCWC  and for more information on balancing you life please, contact me at 402.965.1496 or chartingyourcoursewithcoaching@gmail.com. 

Job Inteview 101

      Recently, a friend asked my advice about a job interview.  They were told that it was going to be a 'behavioral interview"  and did not know how to prepare for it.  I am going to share the answer to the question.

     Behavioral interviews and performance interviews are based on the job description and duties of the posted position.  They are designed to determine the best candidate for the position based on the psychological premise that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.  Because they are asking about specific, verifiable events, there is also the believe that the respondent will accurately describe their abilities, duties and outcome.  Since they are based on actual job duties, the potential employer reduces the possibility of being accused of bias or not obtaining enough information. 

     All jobs duties have the elements of quantity and quality.  In other words, how often are you expected to do something and how well you do it.  By asking behavioral questions, you are expected to address both issues.  Ideally, you should use an experience from previous employment however you can use any experience that is relevant. Structure your responses using the STAR format.  STAR stands for situation, task, action and results.  

• SITUATION - Answers the questions where did this occur (ie ACME Factory), when (ie., last year, at the annual marketing summit), why (ie potential loss of revenue due to new competition) who (presentation to company president by me).  State the relevance of the project to your company's or department's mission.
• TASK - Describes your assignment and role in the creating the solution to the problem.
• ACTION - What steps did you take to resolve the problem.  Make sure you use action words ie., developed, created, designed, that clearly indicate how you behaved. Include the number of people you supervised, duration of the project, the project budget so that the interviewer has a precise image of your work behavior.
• RESULTS - What was the outcome of your actions (ie., revenues increased by 10%, reached new target market).  If your results were not positive, then demonstrate that you analyzed the outcome and learned from this experience by stating why the plan was not successful and what would you do differently.  Since you are describing a situation in which you were the key player, do not blame someone else for failure because this implies you lack leadership skills and are not a good team player.  This is a good time to mention any award or recognitions that you received for your role in resolving this situation. 

     How should you prepare for this type of interview?  Carefully review the job description and determine the critical elements, (knowledge, skills and abilities) that are needed for the position.   Identify two or three situations for each element.  Consider the corporate culture and personal attributes that you would like to present and select the best examples.  Using the STAR format develop describe each example.  Finally, do mock interviews in order to be able to present yourself in a relaxed, organized manner.

If you would like some assistance with job interviewing skills, please contact me at chartingyourcoursewithcoaching@gmail.com.   

I am my best instructor.

     Say it again - I am my best instructor.  This statement is only true if you can review your experiences objectively and learn from them. 
     By objectively I mean two things.  First you need to recognize and accept what is within your control and what is not. Children think magically and assume that they can magically change things.  Some people play the blame game.  Nothing is ever their fault.  If they don't have a job it is not because they lack job skills but because the economy is bad.   
     Recognizing how you have improved your performance during your job search is a critical skill.  After the interview, you should ask yourself questions like were you prepared for the interview, did you arrive on time, have a copy of your resume, have information on the people you are using for references.  Did you have questions for your interviewer and answer questions in a brief but complete manner?  Did you address the interviewer by name?  Did you get the business cards or names of other people that were present at the interview?  If you could do the day over what would you change?  What would you leave the same?    
       Armed with this information, how are you going to change?  Perhaps, you could do mock interviews?  Can you brainstorm with a friend?  Could you make a check list of things that you should bring? If you believe you didn't answer question satisfactorily perhaps you could reword your answer in your thank you letter?  Perhaps, you could review the interview questions and develop answers. 
       Each experience can make you better but only if you take responsibility for things that are within your control.  But how do you decide if something is within your control?  I  suggest that you make absolute statements.  Since the statement  "Absolutely, no one is being hired." is not true then you know there is something that you can do become hired.  You can also ask people that recently found employment for feedback. 
       So not only are you your best instructor but you are your best student.
    

Risk management during career transition

      Heart pounding?  Sweaty palms?  Hyperventilating?  Do you believe these are symptoms of a career transition?  WRONG!   Changing careers should not feel like you are leaping into an abyss.  Yes, there is going to be some stress but it is manageable.
       A clear understanding of the reasons that prompted your decision to change careers is essential.  This information will let you know how quickly you will need to leave your current employer, resources, availability of references and your feelings about the transition.  The latter is extremely important!  Your feelings will impact how you interact with others, approach necessary tasks and ability to recall information.
        Develop a Career Transition Plan, which is a formal strategy listing the steps need to be taken.  These steps should meet the SMART criteria.  They should be specific, measurable, accountable, realistic and time specific.  Federal, state and county employee can consult with their personnel department.  The U. S. Office of Personnel Management offers the Career Transition Assistance Program.  (www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp).   Military personnel can participate in either TAP or DTAP (http://www.turbotap.org/portal/transition/resources/About_Us).  Major corporations that are downsizing  or relocating frequently offer employee assistance programs or outsourcing sources as part of the discharge package.  Determine your entitlement to these benefits by consulting the human resources department and/or union representative.  Depending upon your state unemployment services may provide counselling services that outline the steps to be taken and other supportive services.
     According to Susie Orman, you can be financially responsible and make a midlife career change.  She recommends that your have at 6 months of saving at all times and provides steps on how to make a career transition in her article "Getting Set to Start Over"  (http://www.oprah.com/money/Getting-Set-to-Start-Over).  Consulting with your financial planner, personal banker, investment broker and/or accountant will help you make decisions on the best time to leaving your present position, withdraw money and adjust your financial investments.   
     Purchasing a business or franchise requires due diligence.  Informational interviews, The Occupational Handbook and the Department of Labor can provide industrial information but legal advise is necessary.  Checklists such as the one listed at http://www.findlaw.com/  on "Buying a Business: Due Diligence Checklist" is a good place to start.  Organizations such as SCORE and the U. S. Small Business Administration (http://www.sba.gov/), Success Magazine, or sites such as http://www.entrepreneur.com/ are useful.  Depending on the type of business, consider using an attorney that specializes in e-Commerce Law, Entertainment & Sports, Environmental, Tax, Business or Real Estate/Property Law.
     The financial aid office for institution of higher learning that you are considering can provide assistance.  A Google search will provide a plethora of sites that  promise to help locate funding for this pursuit.  One of these sites is www.collegegrantnews.com/new.php.
      If you need help creating your career transition plan, contact me at 402.965.1496.
 

Welcome to the Post Employment Offer Zone.

     OK,  you got the job offer, did the fist pump, victory dance plus your friends and family are ready to buy you a few rounds of your favorite beverage.   Man are you psyched!  STOP THE PRESSES!  There are some really critical things that you need to do because you are now in the Post Employment Offer Zone.
     The Post Employment Offer Zone is the twilight zone of  the vocational world.  It is a shadowy place where things are not what they really seem to be.   First, are you certain that you received a job offer?  Is it in writing?  Many offers are made on the phone with paper work to follow.  Make sure that your new potential employer has your correct contact information.  This is particularly true if you are moving from your college dorm.    If using Email, you don't want this package to land in the Spam Box, so take the time to update your files.  Did you make your intentions clear by sending a thank you note for the offer?  Your thank you note does not have to say that you accepted the position.  It is a written acknowledgement on your part that an offer has been extended.
      What did you say when you received the offer?  If you have been on several interviews recently, you might want to ask for 24 hour grace period  before giving your decision because you could receive another offer.  It would be very bad form to decline a position after accepting it.  Use this time, to tactfully determine your standing with the companies with which you have interviewed and would to obtain employment. 
        You sold yourself to the company but has the company sold itself to you?  Do you know the details of the job?   What is your job title, duties, responsibilities, and work hours?  Does it include relocation, health benefits, life insurance, annual/vacation/sick leave, education, and parking?  What is your salary and is it  negotiable?  If it is, now is the time to act.  If you have more than one offer compare benefits but do not engage in a bidding war.  The world is small and you could loose both offers. Who is you supervisor and are they the same person as your boss?  Did you meet them during the interview?  If your supervisor and boss are not the same person, how will you be evaluated and what is their relationship?   What training will be provided, where will it be and how soon will you need to complete it?
        If this wasn't enough to consider, remember your status has changed under the Americans With Disabilities Act and other laws that protect employees.  The employer now has the right to request a medical and perform other background checks.  Many jobs offers are contingent upon the results of these findings.  Review the information that you provided to determine that is completely accurate in order to avoid any confusion.  Consult with staff at the local department of labor office in order to be clear of your responsibilities and rights. 
         The last but far from the least of your concerns is evaluating the offer.  The key is to performing a good evaluation is to follow your gut instincts.  You need to know how this position will fit into your career plans.  Having a good understanding your life style, values, and attitude, will let you know if you will fit into that corporate culture.  Look at their mission statement, policy and any other information that you can obtain.
       Once you make your decision don't burn any bridges behind you.  Give your current employer at least 2 weeks notice.  If you are currently unemployment benefits, let the appropriate person know and ask if there is any assistance available while you transition into your new position.  This is important because you might be entitled to funds to relocate, uniforms or other supplies.  Let agencies, career centers and job search engines know that you have obtained employment and with who.  You don't want career counselors contacting your new employer with potential candidates for your position, nor do you want your employer to get the impression that you are still seeking employment.        
      Now, you can celebrate!

Do you just disclose or do you titilate?

     No, we are not going to plan a hot night out!  We are discussing your cover letter.  Surprised?    Shocked?  Confused?  A cover letter is a personalized statement to a recruiter about your abilities that is designed to get an interview.   In a way, it is like flirting.  Your stationary and resume could be compared to your attire but your cover letter is like making eye contact.
     You make eye contact and smile before approaching someone.  Your cover letter needs to convey this.  It needs to indicate that you are desirable and  approachable. So, what should you put in your cover letter?  Start with the posting.  Read it several times and check for the name of the person to contact, buzz words and job requirements.  You may want to dissect the posting in order to answer the questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how.

• Who 
• who posted the job
• who are their clients
• who are they hiring (ie., job title)
• What
• what are the job duties
• what are the hours 
• what the characteristics of the person they want
• what are educational requirements
• what type of work experience are they seeking
• When
• when do they want the person to start working
• when are they going to interview
• when will they stop accepting applications
• Where
• where is the job
• where do you submit your application 
• Why
• why do they need to fill this position (ie.,relocating, expansion) 
• How
• are you to respond to the posting (ie., physically bring it, mail it or fax it)
• are you going to perform the job (ie., computer skills, language skills)  

     The answers to these questions are in the advertisement.  If you are not certain, then investigate the company.  Note, if the ad does not provide the name of the company, you may want reconsider the validity of this posting.  Companies have been know to advertise positions to find out who is looking for another job and/or to establish an applicant pool.  Use their buzz words and clearly indicate that you have the desired skills.  Your closing should be either a call to action or let them know that you will be contacting them.  Remember to thank them for their time and consideration.  Keep the cover letter to one page.

Take a Break!

     Take a break before you proofread it.  Compare what you wrote and with the advertisement.   Check your spelling, grammar and the reading level.  Now, do print preview.  Remember, how I compared the letter to making the initial eye contact and smile.  You would never want a piece of broccoli stuck in your teeth so you check yourself.  The same principle applies here. How does the letter line up on the paper?  Do you need to adjust the margins?  Is it in block format?  Did you use abbreviations?  Now print.  The envelop should be printed also. 

Take a Break!

     Take one last look.  Perhaps, you should have someone else read it.  Does the letter give the impression that you are the right person for the job?  Does the employer know how to reach you? 

     Keep a copy of your records.  Be certain to make the follow-up call, if you stated that you would be calling.

     Still not certain how to write a cover letter or would like someone to review your letters, please call me for a free consultation.  My number is 402.965.1496.