Billie Sucher Blog

Steps of Job Search Success

"Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure." ~ Napoleon Hill

The adage "A picture is worth a thousand words" came to mind as I viewed this photo snapped a few weeks ago. Steps. Steps and the job search process.

Big steps.

Little steps.

One step forward; two steps back.

Step up.

Step down.

Side step.

In step.

Out of step.

Over step.

Step aside.

Giant step.

Back step.

Step away.

Baby steps.

Step out.

Step in it.

A step ahead.

Major steps.

First steps.

Next steps.

Step by step.

Step it up.

Steps come in many forms, shapes and sizes.

What steps are you taking to support your job search success during this holiday season?

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. ~ Lao Tzu

Steps of Job Search Success

"Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure." ~ Napoleon Hill

The adage "A picture is worth a thousand words" came to mind as I viewed this photo snapped a few weeks ago. Steps. Steps and the job search process.

Big steps.

Little steps.

One step forward; two steps back.

Step up.

Step down.

Side step.

In step.

Out of step.

Over step.

Step aside.

Giant step.

Back step.

Step away.

Baby steps.

Step out.

Step in it.

A step ahead.

Major steps.

First steps.

Next steps.

Step by step.

Step it up.

Steps come in many forms, shapes and sizes.

What steps are you taking to support your job search success during this holiday season?

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. ~ Lao Tzu

Generations and The Job Search

Remember that interview you just conducted where you told the candidate I have tee-shirts older than you are.

Remember when you called the job seeker sitting before you a whippersnapper?

Remember when you said to the head of the department that he was about your Grandpa’s age?

Remember going to the interview and describing one of your biggest achievements as taking place back in the day.

Remember when you told your HR buddy that the person you just interviewed was still wet behind the ears?

Remember when you went to the interview about a month ago and said the following words to the Gen Y Hiring Manager: Youngsters of today just don’t get it.

Remember when one of your colleagues inquired if you were on LinkedIn and you replied with can’t say that I’ve heard of it.

Remember when you went to that networking event and asked someone about a twit when what you really meant was a tweet?

Remember when the recruiter asked you if you had a blog and you responded with: so what’s a blog?

Remember when the 20-something manager said to you, a Baby Boomer,  I don’t care about your age, I care about commitment and will you show up and do the job.

Past. Present. Future. Generations Global.

Do You GET It?

Earlier today, I presented a session on the subject of blogging for the local Chamber’s Techno Tuesday event. The first part of the program covered the usual stuff one might wish to know about blogging. The second part (much more fun in my opinion) offered each participant an opportunity to write their very first blog post. As attendees were thinking and writing their posts, I, too, was thinking about the post that I wanted to write. I have been thinking about the word get and how much it impacts life. Have you ever considered how such a simple word – get -- can play such a large role in your life, especially if the most recent chapter of your life is consumed with career transition and job search?

Get aboard.

Get about.

Get above it.

Get after it.

Get along.

Get answers.

Get around.

Get at it.

Get away.

Get behind it.

Get beyond it.

Get by it.

Get fit.

Get from it.

Get going.

Get help.

Get hired.

Get in it.

Get into it.

Get it.

Get involved.

Get off it.

Get on it.

Get out of it.

Get over it.

Get past it.

Get smart.

Get through it.

Get to it.

Get up.

Get well.

Get with it.

It's About the Swag

I love the conversations I have with clients as I never know where they will lead. This morning’s conversation led to, among other things, this word:

SWAG

My client was telling me about how now would be a good time to consider cutting his own wasteful spending.

I looked up the definition of swag; for the purposes of this post, here’s one definition:

“products given away free typically for promotional purposes.”

Think about that last convention you attended? How much loot swag did you haul home? Think about the open houses, forums, trade shows, and events where you picked up some swag? How much swag is taking up space in your office right now?

Me, I’m a pen and pencil junkie!

And notebooks and/or notepads.

I still have The Ladders spiral-bound notebook from one of the national career conferences I attended!

I love it! It is a swag favorite!

Swag!

Consider this: in your own practice, business and personal life, what, if any, swag might you cut out? And if you say you have no swag in your professional or personal life, then here are a few more questions to ask yourself:

1. How can I reduce expenses?
2. How can I cut wasteful spending?
3. How can I become more cost efficient?
4. What is the ‘extra’ that needs to go?
5. What might I sacrifice that won’t be missed?

Thanks to my client for helping me think about this subject matter as I gave him one of my free pens.

Swag. 

The Reclamation Project

Let’s say that you lost your job a few weeks ago. Let’s say that you are really struggling to make sense of it all. Let’s say that you can’t think about your future because you are so focused on your past and what was. What your job title was. Where your place of business was. Where your paycheck was. Where your future was. Where your retirement plan was. And now, what was, is no more. So what do you do now?

You start over.

You start again.

You start anew.

You get out of bed.

You stop crying.

You stop calling the person who canned you every nasty name in the book.

You make some phone calls.

You begin to read.

You educate yourself bit-by-bit on 2011 best practices of the job hunt.

You commit to going to your ‘new office’ (the corner of the bedroom) every day from 9-3.

You track yourself on a daily basis to measure how you are doing.

You reach out to someone who loves you and cares about you – unconditionally.

You get some help.

You sleep better.

You write about the lessons you learned from losing your job.

You take out a piece a paper and write down all the stuff you lost….paycheck, laptop, company car, health benefits, and more.

You take out a piece of paper and write down all the stuff you get to keep:

Your knowledge:  you get to keep it.

Your skills:  you get to keep them.

Your abilities:  you get to keep them.

Your talents:  you get to keep them.

Your gifts:  you get to keep them.

Your successes:  you get to keep them.

Your contributions:  you get to keep them.

Your amazing brand:  you get to keep it.

Your amazing brand:  you can always rebrand it.

Your amazing brand:  you can always upgrade it.

Your identity:  you get to redefine it.

Another chance:  if you choose to take it!

Out of the job loss rubble and pile of hurt and pain and tears and upset and frustration and panic and devastation, I hope you will value yourself enough to realize all that you get to keep as you move forward in your reclamation project to a new beginning.

 

 

 

Takeoff to Touchdown: Your Job Search

Taxiing out of Reagan National last night, the flight attendant announced that it would be two hours and 15 minutes from takeoff to touchdown.

Takeoff to touchdown.

A few minutes later, the captain announced that it would be a smooth ride.

A smooth ride.

Wouldn’t it be spectacular if someone would assure you that your job hunt was going to be a smooth ride from takeoff to touchdown?

In the event you are just now boarding the job search flight this first Monday of November, 2011, here are a few tips to support your safe travel en route to your final destination.

Job Search Boarding Pass Checklist:

Financial – Scrutinize and review your current financial condition. Where can you trim, cut and reduce expenses during this period of career transition?

Emotional – Evaluate and examine your mental toughness. What strategies have worked well for you in the past when confronted with some of life’s toughest challenges? What can you do now to keep yourself motivated and inspired to effectively compete for a job in today’s saturated market place?

Physical – Analyze your present fitness plan. If you have a physical fitness program in place, you are already in motion. If not, what can you do starting today to enhance your commitment to your health and physical wellness?

Spiritual – Critique your spiritual well-being and reassess what works best for you, whether it’s taking a walk and communing with nature, conversing with a member of the clergy or some other activity that holds meaning for you.

Occupational – Assess and audit your brand, from top to toe. Reflect upon where you have been and give yourself a chance to recover, rethink and rebuild. Or, what about a rebrand?  Then, thoughtfully and carefully consider where you hope to go prior to walking across that jet bridge.

Wheels up. 

"You have such a chance! Oh, how I wish I were you!!!" ~ Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr. ~ Yale University Class Day, May 1994