Managing Your Career - Today!

Managing your career is not just for the present, but for the future as well. You must be proactive if you want to be successful with your career transition. And a meaningful career should serve only one purpose – to give you the life you want and deserve. Both programs will inspire you to identify your values and goals in order to pursue a new career that will promote a healthy and rewarding life achievement. Transitioning into a career requires work and dedication, and having the tools and resources will simplify the process for you.

Here are some recent questions from our clients in regards to managing their career.

Q. I resigned from a position to relocate here in Orlando. When I had a friend do a verification of employment with my former supervisor, she did verify employment but declined to answer any character questions. She has some resentment because of my resignation. How do I handle this?

A. The best approach for this is to have another former colleague in the organization that is willing to provide an unofficial character reference. Hopefully you can find someone in a position of leadership to do this. You might get probed further during the interview about your direct supervisor relationship. Be honest. Explain that she did not take your resignation well, and that you can understand that. However, you are a great prospective employee and that other managers are willing to attest to that.

Q. How soon should you send a thank you note after an interview? So far, I have sent email thank you's right after the interview, and, so far have received a polite response. Does it seem that I am too desperate when I send a thank you right away?

A. There is nothing wrong with sending a thank you note right away. You will sound desperate if the frequency of your thank you’s, follow-up calls and emails is over the top.

Q. What is the best way to schedule job interviews in another city when you have a current job, which you do not want to be aware of your interest in an alternate occupation?

A. Most recruiters will work with you to schedule them after hours. Ask for this. If you are a valuable prospect, a smart company will understand your predicament and work with you to resolve it.

The Power of Mock Interviews

So your resume impressed one the decision makers so much that they want to bring you in for an interview. You have been selected from a highly talented group of individuals; this is your time to sell yourself to the employer.

Your future with the company relies heavily on your ability to pass the interview process. How comfortable are you answering tough situational questions? Can you handle these questions without hesitation and feel confident with your answers?

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Why should we hire you?
3. What makes you the best candidate for the position?
4. Give me an example on how your deal with conflict.
5. What can you do for us that the other candidates can’t?
6. What would your previous supervisor say about you?
7. What are your weaknesses?
8. Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.
9. How soon can you make a contribution to the organization if you are hired?
10. Tell me about the last book you read.

You might be thinking to yourself, “are they really going to ask me the last question?” The fact of the matter is that you don’t know what will be asked during the interview so you need to be prepared to answer anything. You don’t want to be surprised with the questions asked because you might end up stumbling with your response.

Whether you are a Sr. Executive or a college graduate, mock interviews are extremely helpful in building confidence so that you can feel comfortable during the interview and eventually secure a job offer. Why do you think athletes practice before a big game? To make sure they feel confident with their performance and end up with a victory. The same holds true for you and your career search. A mock interview is your way of practicing for the “big game” and achieving the ultimate goal: the job that YOU deserve.

What is a Career Coach?

A career coach is a trained professional who provides expert advice, support and guidance to those who are seeking career success. A career coach can also be a sounding board for career advice during your career search process. A career coach will empower you to reach your career goals and will challenge you to do your best. A career coach is an objective observer and listener who can provide you with insights more clearly. A career coach will help you learn to succeed and unlock your potential to maximize your performance. An effective career coach will give you a competitive advantage by providing expert advice in areas such as interviewing, networking, job search strategies, and negotiating.

Growing Your Network on Linkedin Using Virtual Handshakes

In a business context, the first thing you do when you meet someone is extend your hand and offer a handshake. It is a non-verbal greeting and a gesture acknowledging the other person. As social media is becoming a more prevalent way of networking, it is important to understand that there are “virtual handshakes” that will open up new connections and are more powerful than a “canned” introduction.

Here are some examples of a virtual handshake.

Virtual Handshake to someone that share’s a similar interest:

• “Dear Susan, I see that we share similar backgrounds and also belong to the Talent Management group on Linkedin. I wanted to invite you to connect to my network. Kind regards, Bob”

Virtual Handshake used as an introduction to a target company:

• “Hi Joe, as you may know I am currently looking for a new opportunity. Seeing that you’re a Schwab alumni, I am asking for an introduction to some Schwab employees within your network. All the best, Rick”
Virtual Handshake for business intelligence:

• “Dear Mary Ann, my name is Jeff Bishop and I recently moved to the area. I have a background in HR and since you are the Director of Talent Acquisition for Capital Funding Corp., I would like to spend some time asking you about the job market in Central Florida. When would be a good time to contact you and setup a lunch meeting? Regards, Jeff Bishop”


As you can see, virtual handshakes are targeted approaches to either new connections or previous contacts. Always send a Linkedin invitation with a purpose for connection because it add more value than simply wanting to add them to your professional network.

What is a Career Coach?

A career coach is a trained professional who provides expert advice, support and guidance to those who are seeking career success. A career coach can also be a sounding board for career advice during your career search process. A career coach will empower you to reach your career goals and will challenge you to do your best. A career coach is an objective observer and listener who can provide you with insights more clearly. A career coach will help you learn to succeed and unlock your potential to maximize your performance. An effective career coach will give you a competitive advantage by providing expert advice in areas such as interviewing, networking, job search strategies, and negotiating.

Next Speaking Engagement

Our next speaking engagement will be held at St. Luke's United Methodist Church as we participate in a forum discussion on the current job market.

Date: Saturday, September 18th, 2010
Time: 8:30am to 1:00pm
Location: 2010 St. Luke's United Methodist Church
4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road
Orlando, FL 32819

Growing Your Network on Linkedin Using Virtual Handshakes

In a business context, the first thing you do when you meet someone is extend your hand and offer a handshake. It is a non-verbal greeting and a gesture acknowledging the other person. As social media is becoming a more prevalent way of networking, it is important to understand that there are “virtual handshakes” that will open up new connections and are more powerful than a “canned” introduction.

Here are some examples of a virtual handshake.

Virtual Handshake to someone that share’s a similar interest:

• “Dear Susan, I see that we share similar backgrounds and also belong to the Talent Management group on Linkedin. I wanted to invite you to connect to my network. Kind regards, Bob”

Virtual Handshake used as an introduction to a target company:

• “Hi Joe, as you may know I am currently looking for a new opportunity. Seeing that you’re a Schwab alumni, I am asking for an introduction to some Schwab employees within your network. All the best, Rick”
Virtual Handshake for business intelligence:

• “Dear Mary Ann, my name is Jeff Bishop and I recently moved to the area. I have a background in HR and since you are the Director of Talent Acquisition for Capital Funding Corp., I would like to spend some time asking you about the job market in Central Florida. When would be a good time to contact you and setup a lunch meeting? Regards, Jeff Bishop”


As you can see, virtual handshakes are targeted approaches to either new connections or previous contacts. Always send a Linkedin invitation with a purpose for connection because it add more value than simply wanting to add them to your professional network.

Preparing for the Interview

In today’s job market, more and more professionals are competing for the same open position. And the ones that prepared seem to make it to the next round of interview, or better yet, land the job offer. So how does one prepare for the interview effectively? Well, I would like to share my thoughts with you on how to masterfully preparing for the interview.

The first thing to consider is researching the company and understand the job opportunity. I would recommend not just reviewing the company’s website, but digging deeper and learning about future partnerships, related news articles, financial projections, ongoing projects, etc. This will allow you to engage in a conversation with the interviewer when asked to share what you know about the company.

Next step would be to self-assess the product…you! The interview is one of the most important sales calls you will be making in your professional career. During the interview, you are selling yourself to the company and helping them understand why it is that the company needs you. Remember, the interview is about what’s in it for the company and you are the product they need. So understanding what makes you good at what you do will only help you during the interview. Make sure to prepare a list of measurable accomplishment or quantifiers that you can discuss and demonstrate your strengths. Some examples of these can be sales figures, metrics, or financial figures. Also, make a list of what you are doing to improve yourself. If you are not improving yourself – START!

Another item to remember when preparing for the interview is carefully crafting your “public statement.” Your “public statement” needs to describe why you are looking for work. Were you laid off? Were you fired? Did you resign? Were you on sabbatical? Here are a few examples of some “public statements.”
• “I was laid off as past of a reduction in force by my former employer, due to economic conditions. That is why I am looking for a new position.”
• “There was a restructuring by my former employer and my position was eliminated. That is why I’m searching for a new job.”


So as you prepare for the interview, remember to sweat the small stuff as well. Logistically, you should have several routes planned and make sure to arrive with plenty of time. The last thing you want after all the preparation and practice is to show up to the interview 5 minutes late. Having a game plan for the interview and sticking to it will ensure great success in your career search.

Get LinkedIn or Get Left Out

For most professionals, LinkedIn has changed the way we communication and network with our peers and colleagues. It has become a vital tool especially with the rapid growth and popularity of social media and social networking. When used correctly and effectively, LinkedIn can help you build your business, unlock potential job opportunities and stay networked during a career transition. Here are some tips you should consider that will help you effectively network and build connections on LinkedIn.

• Improve your LinkedIn profile – The most important aspect of LinkedIn is creating a marketable, professional profile. This should be a snapshot of your resume – NOT the full version. Make sure to include a list of accomplishment that makes you most proud. Also claim your profile by customizing the profile link with your full name. Make your profile public and add the profile link to your emails.

• Request and make recommendations – Use recommendations to your advantage. You should have 3 to 5 recommendations from peers, subordinates, boss, vendors and even customers.

• Get involved – Join groups that are relevant to your experience or industry. A great way to make new connections is to start a discussion or ask for advice on the group discussion boards.

Now you are ready to have LinkedIn work for you. As you begin to update your profile or look to establish new connections, consider the basics. LinkedIn is a powerful resource and understanding the basics will only help you to network effectively and establish the proper connections.