Billie Sucher Blog

Love 'em or Leave 'em LinkedIn Invitations?

LinkedIn (LI) was the topic of conversation the other day with my client. While I am no expert on that subject, I am a raving fan of courtesy, thoughtfulness and professionalism in connecting. Let’s say that you have received a LI invitation, as did my client, as shown in the example below:

John Doe has indicated you are a friend

I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.

-- John Doe

Let’s say, further, that you take a look at the generic invitation and have absolutely no idea who John Doe is. You have never heard his name in the past, nor in the present. You are clueless as to who this person is and why on earth he (or she) would be connecting with you.

And you say to yourself….well, don’t be rude, don’t be a jerk, don't be a ...if John Doe took the time to send an invitation, then surely there must be something there.  So then you take the time to go ‘check out’ John Doe and discover that he has four connections, an incomplete profile – no photo, limited text, no recommendations, etc.

You are hoping like crazy that he would at least have a photo – perhaps you met him at a networking event or something and would recognize his face? You go back and read the generic invitation. You see that he works at a company where you know some people. You wonder why he would have not taken the time to offer how he knows you, or who he knows that perhaps you may know.

So how about it….the next time you invite someone that you know, or don’t, to connect on LinkedIn, how about offering the who, what, when, where, why of how you know each other in words that show (and say) that you care…that you are different….that your brand takes the time to be memorable. Who knows, that person you take the extra time to write a short, original, thoughtful note may be the very person with the power to hire you, promote you, and/or advocate for you one day soon. 

Would you become John Doe’s fifth connection by clicking ‘Accept’? Yes? No? What do you think?

 

A Memorial Weekend Moment

The elderly woman fiddled with the flowers on the grave marker. Arranging this. Rearranging that. Touching them. Turning them. Positioning them so they would be just right to commemorate her loved one. She was kneeling at the grave site in grass freshly wet from the rain. Her car was parked but steps from the final resting place of her dearly beloved.

She pulled some blades of grass spilling over onto the marker. Her frail hand gently brushed aside remnants from the recent mowing of the memorial gardens. She stood up ever so slowly patting the posies as if to say hello, or it’s okay, or good-bye yet one more time.

The United States flag adorned her mate’s final resting place. The stars and stripes flew confidently, saluting the brisk breeze of this 2011 Memorial weekend.

Thank you to the men and women who so bravely serve, and have served, our country.

 If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. ~ Meister Eckhart

The Seeds of Your Job Search

This past weekend, I spent hours digging in the dirt, planting all types of flowers and seeds. Trips to garden centers produced a plethora of plantings for the abundantly rich soil here in the Heartland. From lobelia and petunias to daisies and dianthus, flowers were carefully poised and planted in their new environment. Did you know that before planting sweet pea seeds, it's best to soak them in water for 24 – 48 hours? I didn't know that, but thanks to one of my clients, a Master Gardener, it's a good tip to know. Now, back to planting seeds…

Are you in a job search? Is it progressing the way you thought it would? Are things moving along fast enough for you? Have you tended your network, both online and offline? Are you cultivating relationships for a future of abundance, or are you more focused on what's not happening at the moment? Are you weeding out job search strategies that aren't working for you? Are you constantly thinking of creative ways to plant seeds, or have you given up trying to grow something new this season?

In one of my favorite works by Stephen R. Covey, Principle-Centered Leadership, he writes about The Law of the Farm, page 161:

"The only thing that endures over time is the law of the farm...I must prepare the ground, put in the seed, cultivate, weed, and water if I expect to reap a harvest."

And so it goes with a career transition; consider planting some new seeds today for a more prosperous tomorrow. How does your job search grow?

42 Ideas When You Have No Idea About What You Want To Be When You Grow Up

Routinely I hear clients say they have ‘no idea’ what they want to do for a ‘next job.’ With much  greater ease, though, they’ll specify what they don’t want to do for employment. If you happen to know someone who has no idea what they want ‘to be or do’ when they grow up, then consider sharing with them some of these 42 ideas.

1. Ask yourself: What is my biggest career problem right now? What am I doing about my biggest career problem right now? How might someone else help me with my biggest career problem right now?
2. Conduct an autopsy of your career to see what, if anything, you might discover.
3. Make a list of what matters most to you.
4. Think of things that interest you.
5. Go to the public library and explore.
6. Pretend that you are advising your best friend who asked you the above questions...what would you say to them? Do that for yourself if you think it is sound advice.
7. Make a list of jobs other people do that interest or intrigue you.
8. Snoop around on O*net to see what, if anything, jumps out at you.
9. Take some career assessments to see what, if anything, they reveal to you. (Go to Google and enter free career assessments if you do not have $$ to pay for same.)
10. Make a list of things that you feel you are in control of right now.
11. Make a list of things that you feel are out of control right now. Carefully review your list...what, if anything, can you do about them?
12. Google something of interest related to jobs, careers and occupations.
13. Be curious and ask career-related questions.
14. Be a good detective and look for clues to help you solve your case.
15. Network to discover information and ideas versus find a job.
16. Speak with a representative at your local Workforce Development Center.
17. Make friends with a Reference Librarian at your local public library.
18. Create a habit of learning one new thing each day.
19. Bing something of interest related to jobs and careers.
20. Visit with people from all walks of life and from all generations...what career wisdom might they share with you?
21. Make a list of your passions; what, if anything, might they suggest for a job or career?
22. Visit with a career management professional.
23. Make a list of questions you would like to ask a career management professional.
24. Check out www.indeed.com to see what possibilities you might glean there.
25. Walk yourself through the Yellow Pages of the phone book -- what categories, if any, strike your fancy?
26. Explore creating a LinkedIn Profile – then create one.
27. Discover interesting ideas, articles and people on #Twitter.
28. Read a career book. Make notes of lessons learned.
29. Read another career book. Makes notes of lessons learned.
30. Read yet another career book. Make notes of lessons learned.
31. Exercise. Take a walk. Work out.
32. Rekindle a relationship worth rekindling.
33. Volunteer to help somebody with something.
34. What do you need to stop doing and start doing to better serve yourself?
35. Forgive yourself and don’t look back.
36. Make a list of what’s right with you instead of what’s wrong with you.
37. Make a list of your liabilities, if any, and what you can do to improve them?
38. Let go of any anger that you may be hauling around.
39. Start a journal and review your writings for themes, ideas and patterns.
40. Peruse career-related blogs for info and ideas; if you don't know where to start, Google "Top Career Blogs".
41. Ask colleagues, friends, and family for their best ideas and input on how to get some ideas when you have no idea about work.
42. Keep an open mind and focus on filling it with potential possibilities and positive thoughts.

 

 

Texas Bluebonnets and a Brand You Story

Perhaps you have seen Texas bluebonnets before – for real, not in a picture, a postcard or a Google image.  I am talking about the breathtaking sort of Texas bluebonnets where you can actually touch them and inhale their fragrance up close and personal! For years, I have thought (dreamed) about how amazing it would be to see first-hand somewhere on Texas soil a bunch of bluebonnets!

This year in April, it happened, not far from Ennis, Texas which is not too far from Dallas. And for sure, the Texas bluebonnet experience was spectacular, just as I had imagined it would be! If you have ever stood in a field of Texas bluebonnets, you know how splendid it is. If you haven’t, I would highly encourage you to put it on your "Things to Do” list. I was awestruck.

As I was taking it all in, I spied an orange-colored flower amidst all of the beautiful bluebonnets. I didn’t know what it was until a Texan told me it is called Indian Paintbrush.   Something different in a sea of bluebonnets. Something that made me think of personal brands and job seekers and standing out and being a distinct, one-of-a-kind original in a sea of sameness.

As you look for a new job, are you standing out? Are you offering a distinct and unique brand that meets the criteria the employer desires? Do you know how your strengths add value to an organization’s needs and bottom line? Are you cognizant of your competitive advantage? Are you describing yourself with interesting, relevant language or are you regurgitating worn out words and tired phrases?

I hope you are like the Indian Paintbrush standing out in a field of Texas bluebonnets. I hope you are easily noticed. I hope you know why the hiring manager ‘should’ pick you! I hope you ‘get’ the extreme amount of focus that it takes to distinguish yourself in a field full of outstanding, talented candidates.

posted/photos by billiesucher

Everybody's Somebody in Luckenbach

Though not on my bucket list, I liked loved going to Luckenbach, Texas! I had no idea what to expect, so I kept an open mind, grabbed my camera and headed out to this Texas hill country dot on the map.

My only frame of reference regarding Luckenbach was a song I recalled about Waylon, Willie and the boys. Upon arrival, my first encounter was with two roosters (shown here), a Texas longhorn and a host of Harleys. That said, I felt comfortable and found my way to fit in with a multi-generational (did I say Boomers?) crowd, especially when I saw this t-shirt: Everybody's Somebody in Luckenbach.

Fitting In!

Fitting in! It's a big deal, especially when you are looking for a j-o-b. As you explore potential career possibilities, do your best to find a good fit. Employers evaluate any number of variables regarding an applicant's candidacy and a significant one is this: Is this person a good fit? Ask yourself the same question: Do I feel like I belong here? Is there a good fit for me here?

In the general store (gift shop?) as I paid for my purchases in the Nut Department (please see image), the cashier told me she was the chief psychiatrist for said area which leads me to my next point:

Have Some Fun!

Whether you are looking for a job, have a job, or want to change jobs, try to have some fun carrying out your day-to-day activities. What one thing might you do to have some fun for free as you experience the job search process? Laughter is free; a sense of humor is free; a smile is free. Use these free gifts to your competitive advantage as you explore new career opportunities.

And last, and not least -- just like the t-shirt suggests:

Everybody's Somebody in Luckenbach! 

And to this thought I would add, everybody is somebody right where you are, whether you are in Luckenbach, Los Angeles, London or Lima!

...so baby, let's sell your diamond ring

Buy some boots and faded jeans and go away

This coat and tie is choking me

in your high society you cry all day

We've been so busy keepin' up with the Jones

Four car garage and we're still building on

Maybe it's time we got back to the basics...

~ a few lyrics from the song, Luckenbach, Texas, co-written by rock and soul producer Chips Moman and keyboardist Bobby Emmons.

Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay: Texas, Tugboats and a Job Search Lesson

Taking a lunch break at the ship channel harbor in Galveston, along came a Texas-size barge. The tugboat effortlessly pushed the barge on by as we watched it disappear into the hazy distance.

Wouldn't it be something to have your very own job search tugboat to:

• nudge you along when you don't feel like budging?
• push you forward with a specific path in mind?
• move you onward when you have no idea what to do or where to go?
• inch you ahead when you're stalled, stuck or in neutral?
• give you a little shove or a big boost when you most need it?
• prod you along when you're feeling overwhelmed or alone?
• spur you on in your darkest hour?
• propel you forward when you feel yourself going sideways or backwards?
• press you on with a plan, a purpose and a passion?
• set in motion the steps needed to execute a successful job search?
• jolt your job hunt just in time to snag an interview and land a job?

Tugboats and Texas. Thanks for the job search lesson.