1. What do you have to offer? If you don’t know your strengths, skills and talents, and how to showcase them, how do you expect others to get to know these things about you? Sometimes we are too close to see the whole picture. Career brand strategists can help you extract what you don’t see and know how to leverage and become known for those talents in a compelling way.

2. Be your authentic self. Confidence comes from within as we all know. When you are honest with yourself and present yourself to others in an authentic way, you will be showing your courage and confidence about who you are and what you can accomplish. This can do more for you in an interview than you might think. People notice the confidence that shows in your face and body language, without you saying a word.

3. Unique value. What’s unique about you that sets you apart from your competition? The question many hiring managers ask at some point in the interview is, “All things being equal (education, years of experience, etc.), why should I hire you over the other top candidates?.” Consider the answer to that question as something that should be included in your personal brand statement.

4. Adopt the right mindset. Be aware of how people do business today and what’s most important for hiring managers to know about you. Even as few as five to 10 years ago, personal branding was different from today. Social media has had a huge impact on how executives’ online presence affects their personal brand. Candidates are being Google searched, so LinkedIn profile, Facebook page, and Tweets are vital tools for communicating your personal brand in a consistent manner. Watch out for any digital dirt that could exist and ruin your reputation / brand and have a plan to manage it.

5. Focus. With messages becoming shorter and shorter (tweets 140 characters), executives need to be able to laser in on their achievements, milestones, and skills in a sound bite. A recent study indicated that the first 75-80 characters are what people really read. A strong brand would include the most significant part of the message up front.

These tips, along with others I included in a recent blog post on 11/14/11 (see link below), “Create an Executive Brand by Telling Your Story” should help you create a clear brand message that you can express in verbal or written communications during your job search.

Step 1. Start the follow up before you leave the interview

Ask the hiring manager at the end of the interview what the next step is in their hiring process and when do they expect to make their decision. Simple, easy question, and helps you identify timing from the company’s standpoint. It also helps you determine what is appropriate follow-up communication that should come from you and when.

Step 2. Thank you note

As stated above, hiring managers notice when someone doesn’t respect protocol and send a thank you note. Be gracious and positive in your note, even if you know you are out of the running for that position. Why? Because you never know when the company or recruiter may have another opportunity where you might be a good fit.

Send your letter (unless it’s a committee interview) to each person you met with within 24-48 hours. Today it is acceptable to send your thank you note by email. Handwritten thank you letters are not a good idea if your penmanship isn’t legible; nor does it provide enough space to present key points from your interview. Be sure to customize each letter; you would not want the team comparing notes to find out you sent everyone a “cookie-cutter” message. And as with any written communication, spell everyone’s name properly. Spelling mistakes can kick you out of the interview process swiftly.

The thank-you note is also an opportunity to briefly support why you are the best person for the position and send follow-up information that may have been discussed in the interview (i.e. the white paper I mentioned is attached or can be found at xx website). End your thank-you note by confirming your interest in the job, let them know you will follow up again (specify a time range) and thank them again for the opportunity. Thank you notes should not be longer than one page.

Step 3. Don’t be a nag

Tempting as it may be to email or call the hiring manager frequently to find out your status, please don’t. And if you promised to check back with them within a certain time period, choose your words wisely. Phrasing your note diplomatically is key to getting a response. Always have a purpose for your follow-up communication other than just checking in on status; perhaps it is adding to pertinent information such as completing a certification, or a contribution to an industry journal that would confirm skills and talents. Remember, keep it brief.

Put yourself in the hiring manager’s position when considering your follow-up tactics. Would you like to receive long drawn out thank-you notes that have little value? Is your inbox overflowing with lengthy emails you don’t have time to read? Do you have time to answer numerous phone calls to reassure candidates they are still being considered for the position?

As you may have noticed with social media, messages are getting shorter and shorter. Tweets are 140 characters – not words – characters, which include spaces. And the word is out that people only read the first 80 characters of a tweet. So be a master at paring down your words to get your message across succinctly. It may just be a factor in your being considered for the next job.

A recent Today show segment focused on Marla Romash, who after an amazing career in politics felt the urge to do something new. Today she is pursuing a career as a pastry chef. Check out the full segment at Today Show

Marla talks about moments in life when you know you want to do something different, have a sense of belonging and purpose and make a difference. A growing trend for the boomer generation is the urge to do something different when they turn 50+ and not have regrets that they didn’t follow their passion. It doesn’t always mean starting your own business; it can be just making a change in industries or role within an organization.

Now I know you are wondering “How do I do that?.” Before you hand in your resignation letter, take a look at the following points:

Statistics show that in the first three years, one-third of new businesses turn a profit, one-third break even and one-third lose money. If you are thinking about starting a company, you may need to keep your day job and try out your new business venture on the side (evenings and weekends) to find out if you can turn it into a profitable venture.

A good formula for success:

Passion

“Do something you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” (Confucius)

Do you look at your passion as an asset or hobby? You can turn your passion into a career. Of course you have to be realistic and look at all the factors that contribute to success and failure when starting a new business or changing career focus to a new job.

Research the viability of the industry or business you want to transition into. Part of that research could be volunteering on a board of directors to get an inside view of business challenges and successes, or joining associations or social groups to network with others in the industry. You can learn a lot by asking “informational interview” questions in the course of conversations. Don’t forget social media, checking company / people profiles on LinkedIn and Facebook. Groups and question sections in these social networking sites also have valuable information for career changers.

Money

Many executives have grown accustomed to living on a high salary and bonus structure. They need to take a hard look at what type of money / salary will be available for the first few years in a new business venture. If moving to a lower level job in another industry, the salary may be significantly less the first few years.

What are you willing to do to make this dream job a reality? Are there others in your family that need to be taken into consideration when making this decision? You may have to downsize your lifestyle in order to live on a smaller salary while the business builds and you build new skills and develop talents. Are you in a position to live off savings or obtain a loan to manage finances while the business gets off the ground? Will you need to work or consult on the side, or find other revenue streams to keep finances afloat?

One good resource for compensation analysis is PayScale.com that analyzed the 30 biggest industries to show how pay changes as you gain experience. Take a look at the industries where you have the best potential to make up for career change.

Skills & talent

How do your current skills and talents translate to the new career? Leverage your strongest skills that transfer across any business or industry. You may need to return to school or pursue certifications to update or build new skills. Take advantage of opportunities your current employer offers for professional development. Updating skills can be expensive if you are footing the entire cost of re-education.

A few examples of executives who have taken this next step: CFO turned hobby of gourmet cooking into new career as chef/restaurateur; cardiovascular surgeon used medical background to become a medical malpractice expert; marketing executive left corporate world to run statewide non-profit food share program.

These tips just tap the surface. Hopefully, it gives you a window into some challenges that need to be taken into consideration when contemplating a career change. Today’s hypercompetitive market is prime for executives to think out of the box and discover what opportunities might be the next best move.

Executives are usually good networkers as they apply many of the principles of networking to their own teams and internal organization departments. However, many are reluctant and don’t network well. When it comes to stepping out of their comfort zone, some executives avoid working on strengthening their existing network or building new contacts. I’ve simplified the essence of networking to encourage executives to focus on their network and start using it today.

Who…..
Who are the people currently in your network? Are they former peers and bosses, or industry colleagues? Have you reached out past the obvious – cast a wider net to connect to other people who could add value to your network? Where can you find these people? To name a few:

Business groups & associations
Business development & certification programs
Charity or civic organizations
Advanced college classes

Don’t overlook possibilities like neighbors, hairdresser, wine club, church, gym, special interest groups like hiking or biking, travel club, etc.

What…..
What can your network do for you? Or if we take the famous Kennedy perspective and ask “What can you do for your network?” It works both ways. Your contributions to your network of colleagues and friends can be very beneficial to all involved. Someone in your network may need the name of a resource, or may be looking for a person to fill a position in their organization, or just looking for a person with knowledge about a company or product. You might be able to provide that resource or information. And, on the flip side, you could be looking for the same things from people in your network, as well as getting an inside view of potential job opportunities that come up, a new product launch, or a new division opening up.

Where…..
Where is the best place to network? The list is endless, keeping in mind that you need to be discrete at all times if you are currently employed. Association meetings, or business development programs are great places to network, asking questions that generate answers about a company’s challenges and then positioning yourself up as a solution to that pain/problem. Charity functions often have high-powered industry leaders in attendance and casual conversation could end up in potential job leads. Inviting former bosses or co-workers to coffee or lunch is also a great way to connect and discuss potential opportunities. Connecting through social networking is also viable, yet needs to be highly filtered if you are still employed. Your company monitors social media so you don’t want to give yourself away looking for a job.

When & Why…..
The time is now, even if you are not considering a move or change until later in the year or even next year. Building your network of contacts before you need them is a smart approach. In the early stages of creating or adding to your network, you become a resource, positioning yourself as a ‘go-to’ person for others and drive up your value. Then, when you need your network, you have a rich group to tap into.

With the economy warming up in 2012, you want to be ready for opportunities that may come your way. Working on your network is one thing you can do today to prepare yourself for tomorrow.

Career coaching is the first step in this process. Why? Because a focused and succinct resume cannot be written without a clear goal. A great resume results in getting the hiring agent’s attention and that is accomplished because the resume has been strategically focused to a particular job opportunity. Your resume content sets you up as the ideal candidate for the job.

Getting back to career goals. If you don’t have a clear picture of what your career future looks like, then talking to a career coach can be extremely beneficial to help you gain that clarity and focus on how to achieve that success. Professional career coaches are trained and certified to help you discover your motivating skills, how to use them and what you need to develop. They help you discover the options available, what’s realistic, what’s attainable, and what could be a challenge. Career coaches act much like a sports coach, motivating and challenging you to reach your goals/new heights.

Career Action Plan
When was the last time you sat down and looked at your career goals? Hopefully it was within the last year. If not, you are overdue. Just like analyzing and setting up a new financial budget each year, your career should be given time and attention. A career coach has the tools to help you set up a career action plan unique to you. You may start with a review of career goals, self-assessment to discover your strengths, career options and a plan to move towards those career goals. Creating a plan with a career coach gives you the steps and process.

Job Search Strategy
Don’t know where to start in your job search? A career coach is the perfect partner to guide you through a process that often times seems like you are navigating a labyrinth. With the resources a career coach has available, your time will be better spent, and you will be more productive. You will notice that the outcomes far outweigh the investment of hiring a career coach.

Executive Development
Want to move up that corporate ladder? Are you just on the edge of the executive position you want? What do you need to do to achieve that success? Many large organizations provide mentors to their employees to help them develop skills and position themselves for promotions and more responsibilities. Engaging a career coach can do that for you and so much more. Through a process of identifying the perimeters of the goal, the career coach enables you to see outside yourself to uncover what works for you. They support you – like a fitness trainer – helping you to see different ways of doing things and gaining strength along the way.

Executives have learned to surround themselves with a good team, one that supports their vision and complements their talents. These team members make an executive’s job easier because they bridge the gaps and create a cohesive working environment. A career coach does much the same for you – supporting your career vision and providing resources, tools, and knowledge that complements your career goals. They also can provide a resume that showcases your talent to get the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. And after all, that’s the overall objective, to attract of the right people to connect you with the right job opportunity.

2012. A New Year. This time of year many people make New Year resolutions, some easy to keep, others impossible. Have you ever thought about changing just one thing? That’s not overwhelming; it’s just one thing. The power of one can have a big impact on your life. Here are a few suggestions of how to incorporate the power of one into your life this year to change it for the better.

1. Learn something new.  I know, I know, you are saying that you learn something new every day – on the job or fixing a broken ‘something’ at home. But what about learning a new language?  Or taking an art or cooking class? Sometimes you just have to give your right brain a chance to engage , and you’ll be amazed at what you will learn and how that will help your left brain activities.
2. Create a fitness plan. This isn’t focused on a diet, but incorporating one thing into your life that helps you become more fit. It could be taking a break a couple of times a day and walking around the block, or making a jogging date after work.  Why not try something new like a dance or yoga class this year? Riding your bike to work? Yes, executives can do it! Even just one thing can improve your health.
3. Volunteer. What? Where will you find the time to devote to volunteering? Think out of the box. Maybe someone in your organization could use a mentor?  A local children’s baseball team may need an assistant coach. And there are many nonprofit volunteer organizations that could use your help. If you can’t budget time to physically volunteer, consider donating – household items you no longer use. January is a great time of year to clean out closets, or purge a few items once a month throughout the year.
4. Get organized. Did you lose sight of the top of your desk – literally – cluttered with papers and stuff? Need to find important paperwork for taxes, and year-end reports? Take a stab at this job – either in one chunk or in small blocks of time, devoting 15 minutes to a pile of paperwork that needs going through. Clean out the file cabinet to make way for next year’s bills, receipts, etc.  Even if all you can do is organize the piles of papers – that’s one step closer to getting the whole job done. Reduce the clutter,  and you may experience a more cohesive working environment and mindset as a result.
5. Set priorities on how you spend your time. Time is precious and no matter what we think, we can never negotiate more time. We can make more money, buy more things, but the time we are given on earth is non-negotiable. So make your time count.  By doing just one thing, setting up a date night with a loved one, or night  out  with friends, you can put more joy in your life. Happier people live better lives, perform better on the job, and are better relationship managers. Be the best manager you can of your life and set priorities on what’s most important to you this year.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year and a bright future.

 

There are many phases to a career. It can be thought of like a beginning, middle and end. In the beginning an individual experiences almost all new learning, skill development and obtaining industry knowledge. The middle (as well as the end) of a person’s career can be a comfortable place to be – for a while. At this point, you may know your industry, have gained skills to do your job well, and have moved up in title and responsibility a few times. However, maybe you have a feeling of being stagnant, or as the famous song says “Is that all there is?” You strive for an executive position or a promotion, but it just doesn’t seem to be happening for you. Are you at that point in your career where you are ready to move on to new challenges, changes that will provide learning and developing new skills?

One of the first things that needs to be done is a Career Audit. This enables you to identify past goals and accomplishments and ask yourself “Am I happy with the end result?”

Next, whether you are considering an external move (outside your current company and/or industry) or an internal move (to a different department or business unit within the same company) you need to create a plan.

1. Put together a list of your skills and talents that are needed for the new job/career/industry. Also , list what you don’t have so you get a more realistic picture of what you need to put in place to make this transition. Examine potential limitations:

a. Do you need more industry knowledge?
b. Do you need to develop different skills or enhance current level of skills?
c. Do you need to obtain higher management responsibilities, leadership of teams, etc.?

2. Focus on what you know and what you are known for. If you don’t know your strengths, how do you expect others to? You don’t want to be your own best secret.

a. Use performance reviews to help you document successes that position you as a good match to a new position
b. Create a special report that outlines several company challenges and sets you up as a solution to those problems.
c. Build your brand and live it! Your title may be VP of Marketing, but you could create a brand image that says you are a “creative genius”.

3. Communicate with executive level management, and build rapport and relationship. People like to work with people they know, respect and are easy to work with. Establish yourself as that person.

a. Convey that you are part of the team and have value to the organization as a member of that team.
b. Show dedication to the project or tasks.
c. Act the part – as if you already have the promotion. You need to speak and act with confidence.

4. Understand the big picture – where the company / products / services / department / business unit is headed and compare goals. Is the paper mill closing and the manufacturing plant being retro-fitted for another product or is the company closing the doors in a few years? Would you be a good fit for the company, save it from disaster or help it phase out?

5. Consider what kind of problems the organization may be facing, such as location in the country or world. The company may have to relocate their offices or headquarters to a different state or country to be more efficient or cost effective. Is this a move you are willing to make?
As an executive, you will want to take advantage of every opportunity to be prepared for a promotion, should it be offered. The issues mentioned here only touch the surface. Start putting your plan into place now to be ready for that promotion tomorrow.

If you don’t have time to continue your job search strategies in full force during the busy holiday time, consider these as must do’s:

1. Continue networking. People tend to be more social around the holidays and networking is key. Use holiday parties and other social events to keep in touch. It could be as simple as a neighborhood get together, professional association holiday party or your favorite sports group potluck. There are always plenty of holiday celebrations and fundraisers where you can create new connections and nurture ongoing friendships. Social events are great opportunities to connect and could lead to job opportunities in the future.

2. Give back. Especially at this time of year think of ways you can help others. Look for occasions to connect people with one another, or with a charity or foundation that may appeal to them. Be a resource by forwarding an article, white paper or special report that contains valuable information (business or personal) that would be appealing to your connections. This can make you memorable as a “go-to” person who is helpful.

3. Career tune-up. Is your resume up-to-date? LinkedIn profile fine-tuned and keyword searchable? Do you have your career action plan in order? Do you have your interview techniques and salary negotiation points practiced and perfected? Do you feel confident and prepared? Now is a good time to look at these questions carefully and put steps into place to take action.

Don’t wait until January and take the chance of being left behind your competition. Continue preparing and moving forward with job search strategies through the end of the year. You still have time to take advantage of the last few weeks of 2011. When the holidays are over and you are face-to-face with 2012, you will thank yourself and ultimately outshine the competitors who are unprepared to jump into the New Year.

As an executive you know that being proactive is a must in this fast-moving world. And many executives are just too wrapped up in the day-to-day of their job to take a pulse reading of where they are in their own career.

Answer yes to these statements and you may need a career direction evaluation:

• Your job lacks challenge and excitement for you.
• You are feeling unappreciated.
• Your promotional and/or development opportunities are limited.
• You are no longer having fun.
• Learning is replaced with routine.
• You sense that your skills and talents are being wasted.
• You are suffering from stress or depression.

Executives often take on the burden of having to know all and be all and lose themselves in that thinking. However, today senior management is stretched beyond their capabilities at times causing one or more of the statements above to be true.

How do you get back on track?

1. Start with a career action plan. Yes, you may already have one, but if it is dated or not working for you, it may need some revisions or a fresh approach in a new direction.
2. Assessments or personality inventory may be helpful as tools to help you discover your strengths, preferred way of working, people relations and commonalities, etc.
3. Work with a career coach who can be extremely helpful in supporting you through this process. Coaches are perfect sounding boards for brainstorming ideas, formulating a strategy, and creating steps to help you implement it.

Don’t wait! Get started now and be ready when 2012 rolls in.

Interim Executive….

Many companies are using Interim Executives. To quote Karen Klein of businessweek.com: “Unlike consultants, Interim Executives work within a company, filling a position that has gone vacant due to an employee leaving, dying, or being dismissed. They can fulfill as many as three functions: Stepping into a job that needs doing, helping to interview and choose a permanent replacement, and diagnosing and implementing important internal changes.”

Advantages:

Some executives are thinking seriously or have taken the leap to Interim Executive positions for several reasons:
1. Wait out the economic unrest and move into a permanent position when the state of the economy has stabilized.
2. Use the Interim Executive position as a stepping stone into a new field or to hone and strengthen an existing or new skill set.
3. Get familiar with an organization’s corporate culture before considering a senior level position.
4. Have an potential advantage in a hiring opportunity within the organization (try before you buy).

These types of positions can be very short-term (keep organization running during hiring process) or long-term (company reorganization or developing funding / resources for next level goals).

Engaging Interim Executives helps the company because they can save thousands to millions of dollars in operating costs by hiring successful C- or V- level executives can have demonstrable experience in business transformation, corporate governance, corporate strategies, finance / accounting, human capital / organizational development, information technology, marketing, mergers & acquisitions, operations, and sales.

Key components to being successful as an Interim Executive is someone who can listen effectively, quickly identify problems and execute solutions that achieve the goal. An open mind, with entrepreneur spirit and sharp leadership qualities are helpful as well.

Disadvantages:

An Interim Executive does not have it easy, sometimes walking into an organization that has long-standing problems, and perhaps resentment from the existing management and support staff. The person who is considering this type of alternative career move should consider the consequences carefully.

1. Potentially lower salary options, no benefits, bonuses or perks
2. Need to wear several hats, covering more than one management position
3. Get back to basics, smaller picture ideas, and skills and fundamentals
4. Short-term assignment

Working as an Interim Executive is one way to bridge the gap in employment. It can also be a good choice for a high-level, semi-retired entrepreneur or executive who wants to keep active but doesn’t want a long-term commitment.