Billie Sucher Blog

Seven Questions for Today's Job Seeker

As a career management professional, I love to ask questions of clients. And the reason I love to ask questions is that I almost always get answers that reveal important information to help me better serve them. Take, for example, my recent interaction with a job seeker who had lost his job and wanted to update his resume. When I asked him this basic question:

What is your new target goal work-wise?

he indicated he had "not a clue" what he wanted to do in the future. Armed with this single bit of information, we quickly shifted from resume-writing to a career transition conversation. The client, by his own admission, was nowhere near ready to write a resume, yet that's what he thought he was "supposed" to do because he didn't know where else to start. When asked about his overall job search strategy, he said his search so far had been one of "Throw some mud and see what sticks."

At the conclusion of our coaching session, he offered "For the first time in months, I feel like there's some hope for me." Hope, indeed! As a job seeker, if you have "not a clue" what you want to do regarding a job or a career, do yourself a favor and take a few steps back before you try to go forward and write a new resume. As a way of getting started with that process, listed below are some questions for you to ask yourself. Take some time to craft your answers. You will then be much better equipped to move forward in the various job search phases, including resume writing.

Question 1: Who are you?

Question 2: What do you want?

Question 3: When you consider your greatest achievements, accomplishments and successes in the last five years, what five come to mind?

Question 4: Where do you want to work?

Question 5: Why are you the best candidate for the job?

Question 6: How will you add value to an organization?

Question 7: How much money do you expect in exchange for your talent?

Homework Exercise:

To get started with this activity today, pick one of the questions from the above list. Do your very best to come up with thoughts and ideas to help formulate answers to each respective question. Tomorrow, pick another question and the day after, yet another. Within a week's time, perhaps you will have compiled some solid information about the who, what, when, where, why, how and how much of an amazing job seeker named Y-O-U!

Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming

This is not a test. For each of the movie lines below, can you name the movie associated with each quote? Who knows, maybe one day in a job interview you will be asked to cite your favorite movie line of all time. (Answers at end of post.)

A. “Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?” 

B. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” 

C. “You’re either in or you’re out, right now.”

D. “My Mama always said, 'Life was like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get.'" 

E. “When life gets you down, you know what you gotta’ do? Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

The other day, someone mentioned “Keep swimming, keep swimming” and it has stayed with me since. I like that line. I especially like it for job seekers and job search…and life in general.

When things don’t go your way, just keep swimming.

When the phone doesn’t ring, just keep swimming.

When the eighth rejection letter arrives, just keep swimming.

When the voice message announces that you are the #2 candidate, just keep swimming.

When your resume is ripped on for the fourth time, just keep swimming.

When no one returns your phone calls or emails, just keep swimming.

When the bank says you can’t get the loan to start your small business, just keep swimming.

When your immediate supervisor says we need to talk, just keep swimming.

When your appointment cancels on you 20 minutes before the scheduled meeting time, just keep swimming.

When you are advised that your position has been eliminated and that a box and a security guard are waiting by your desk, just keep swimming.

When you go to an interview and a representative informs you that the position has been put on hold for now, just keep swimming.

When you have submitted numerous applications and heard back from no one, just keep swimming.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

Answers to this is not a test.

A. from What A Girl Wants movie.

B. from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off movie.

C. from Ocean’s 11 movie.

D. from Forrest Gump movie.

E. from Finding Nemo movie.

Do You Show Up?

Imagine that you are a business, trying to make a buck in this competitive market. Imagine that you have cut your staff to a skeleton crew to keep things afloat. Imagine what happens when one or more of your employees don’t show up for work. What do you do? Work 18 hours instead of the customary 10, 12 or 14? When someone doesn’t show, do you pay the price? Do your team members have to pick up the slack for the person who isn’t there?

Showing up is a big deal.

Not only is showing up a big deal for your employer, showing up online is also a big deal if you are a job seeker.

Here’s a true story the president (and hiring manager) of a small business (approximately 25 employees) shared with me:

Hiring Manager receives your two-page resume. Nice!

Hiring Manager googles you. Nothing! (Strike 1)

Hiring Manager bings you. Nothing! (Strike 2)

Hiring Manager returns to google to see if you are on LinkedIn. Nothing. (Strike 3)

Hiring Manager re-googles (is that a word?) your first and last name, along with your middle initial from resume.

Alas, some luck.

Hiring Manager spies a “John J. Smith” fourth entry from the top of the first page of google results….but oh wait….that “John J. Smith” lives in Arizona and is a CPA / lawyer…um, probably not you, anyway.

And it isn’t you because you are absent online.

You do not show up.

You are not present.

You are not there.

You are not here.

You cannot be found online.

In the Hiring Manager’s mind, do you even exist?

The Hiring Manager clicks out and mumbles to his assistant “Next.”

As 2012 gets underway, what steps can you take as a job seeker to make sure that you can be found online the first time a Hiring Manager searches for you? What, if anything, can you do to enhance your chances of showing up online in a way that provides value and credibility to your candidacy?

Homework Exercise:

Sometime this week, consider doing these three simple tasks:

1. Google yourself – do you show up? Yes? No?

2. Bing yourself – do you show up? Yes? No?

3. Do you show up in a LinkedIn search? Yes? No?

The president / hiring manager of the above-referenced company in this post told me that he is a baseball fan (Cards not Cubs) and relates baseball to everything in business: “Three strikes, you’re out.”

Hmm.

Letting Go

I can’t decide if I would rather be referred to as the MOG (mother of groom) or GM (groom’s mom). I think I am more of a GM than a MOG. Either way, in five months, our son is gettin’ hitched. Some people know this tidbit and have offered their wisdom:

“Oh, it’s soooooooo hard to let go” or

“Letting go of your kids sure is tough.” 

Or, “Things will never be the same.”

Or “Good luck with that -- I can’t stand my daughter-in-law.”

Or, “Get ready, you’ll be a mess!”

Or, “A son is a son till he takes him a wife, a daughter is a daughter all of her life.”

Holy cow, I thought I was supposed to be getting happier about this upcoming major life event, not growing more forlorn. Does anyone have any uplifting advice for this GM? Anyone? Anyone?

Anyway, back to letting go…

My client and I were speaking about the letting go concept the other day. He lost his job. And as we talked, I encouraged him to make a list of what he was losing.

I lost my company car.

I lost my laptop.

I lost my cell phone.

I lost my desk. 

I lost my expense account.

I lost my golf club membership.

I lost my health club pass.

I lost my health care insurance.

I lost my company credit card.

I lost my dental coverage.

I lost my swipe card.

I lost my pride. 

I lost my job title.

I lost my business cards.

And he continued on with his list.

Our conversation then turned to “So what did you get to keep?”  That was tougher to think about. The words did not flow so quickly. The pauses were longer between thoughts. 

What did I get to keep – now, that’s a tough question. 

Here are some things you get to keep when you lose your job:

You get to keep your knowledge.

You get to keep your skills.

You get to keep your talents.

You get to keep the gifts you have been given.

You get to keep your ability to generate revenue.

You get to keep your good name and stellar reputation.

You get to keep your close friends and confidantes.

You get to keep your best buddies from your former place of work.

You get to keep in touch with the people who have your back.

You get to keep your memories, preferably the good ones.

You get to keep your thoughtfulness.

You get to keep your mental capacity.

You get to keep your motivation and positive attitude.

You get to keep your inspiration and passion.

You get to keep your interests.

You get to keep your value.

You get to keep your drive and ambition.

You get to keep your ability to volunteer.

You get to keep your ability to think.

You get to keep your ability to read and write.

You get to keep your ability to help others succeed.

You get to keep your ability to give of your time, your interest.

You get to keep your ability to stay connected.

You get to keep your perseverance.

You get to keep your chance to start over.

You get to keep your track record of success.

You get to keep all that you have learned.

You get to keep all that makes you, you!

You get to keep your …………. (fill-in-the-blank).

Some think it’s holding on that makes one strong; sometimes it’s letting go.

– Sylvia Robinson 

The Intermission

In the early 90’s, I discovered a life-changing book written by Dr. William Bridges. If you have not yet read this work: Transitions, Making Sense of Life’s Changes, perhaps it’s a gift to give yourself in the New Year. 

According to Dr. Bridges, transitions are composed of these three phases: 1. an ending, 2. a neutral zone, and 3. a new beginning. Today, I have been thinking about “the neutral zone.” In my work with individuals who have lost jobs, I hear them speak of getting a new job, a new place to work, a new boss, and a new health care plan. All of their emphasis is on the new beginning. While, naturally, finding a new opportunity (hopefully, the right one) as soon as possible is the goal in a job hunt, an equally important part of the transition process is that critical interval between the old and the new.  Listed below are some words clients have used to describe the neutral zone – the space between losing the job and getting on down the road to the next one: 

Confusing.  

Frustrating.

Unknown.  Uncertainty. Unsure. Uneasiness.

Messy. Problematic. Disgusting.

Cluttered.

Discombobulated.

Out of it.

Discouraging. Empty. Disturbing.

Hollow. Lonely. Sad. 

Perplexing. Bewildering.  Strange.

Nowhere Land.

Disorganized. Overwhelming. Disruptive.

Chaotic. Indecisive. Painful.

Clueless. Lack of focus. Directionless.

Uninspired.  De-motivated.

And then one day, the phone rings. Or you see a job of interest as you peruse Indeed. You get a lead from a friend. You get an idea for a new business. You read something that inspires you. Your former co-worker calls you with an opening at his company. You get a thought and a plan. You start putting the pieces of the puzzle together – not in the old way, but in a new and different way that works for you now, at this time in your life. You start feeling more like your “old self” again with a renewed sense of energy, purpose, drive, and determination. And somehow, you know you are well on your way to…

Change.

Transformation. 

Rebuilding. 

Renewal.

A new direction. 

A new start. 

A new you. 

And a new beginning.

The Lesson

Once upon a time there was a young attorney who took his job very, very seriously. Among his many duties, his boss instructed him to take care of the PITA processing. So he did. He did it well. He processed them quickly and efficiently. He made no errors. His boss knew he was good at the PITA task and entrusted him with taking care of this important matter. Excellence in all things legal, including PITA processing!

The young attorney was in court one day and another more senior attorney asked him what he was doing.  He said he was working on some PITA processing.

PITA processing, huh? 

Yes, I have several of them.

So they never taught you in law school about PITAs?

No sir, I  had not heard of the PITA process until I started working on-the-job.

So you seriously don’t know what PITA stands for? 

Um, not really. Should I? 

Let me clarify….PITA stands for Pain in the……….(long pause)…….backside, my friend. 

Months later, a brand new attorney was hired. 

Young attorney gave brand new attorney the PITA processing task. 

Brand new attorney inquired, “so, what’s a PITA process?”

Young attorney offered, “Oh, it's just some business thing we didn’t learn in law school.”

Brand new attorney: “Very well, then.” 

Recipes and Remedies

For the last several days, I have been battling the winter crud, cold and laryngitis. My friends, family members and even clients have offered remedies, cures and solutions as to how to get rid of this stuff. The get-well quick fixes cover a host of recommendations, including: 

Load up on Vitamin C.

Drink black tea; sip green tea.

Live on ColdEeze.

Take Tylenol Cold medicine.

Gargle with salt water four or five  times per day.

Try my grandmother’s homemade hot toddy.

Go to the emergency room and tell them you are very sick.

Rest and drink lots of orange juice.  Avoid coffee and teas. 

Get some of those zinc things.

Call the doctor back and tell him you are getting worse, not better.

Grease with Mentholatum; grease with Vicks Vapor rub.

Go to the pharmacy and ask for that purple (or maybe it’s blue?) over-the-counter-as seen on tv stuff you are supposed to take before you go to sleep.

To date, I have tried several of the above-recommended fixes, homemade remedies, and yep, I feel just about as crappy now as when the crud all started right before the New Year. While my voice is all crackly and I can’t really talk other than a whisper, my mind has been mulling over all of the ideas I have been given as a cure for the cold. I appreciate them – all of them. 

And it somehow reminds me of the many  ideas I heard years ago when I announced I was going to resign my job. Quit. Step away. Stop doing what I was doing. While I was not giving up on work by any stretch of the imagination. I just wasn’t going to do that line of work and that job anymore. And it wasn’t about my bosses, my colleagues, the national / international distributors I worked with – they were all truly wonderful people -- it was simply coming to a fork in the road and as Yogi would offer…taking it. 

And the unsolicited, well-intentioned advice I got before, during and after  r e s i g n i n g  from that great job was a boat load:             

Who will hire you now?            

Nobody in their right mind quits a good job like that.    

Are you nuts?            

Go to graduate school? Are you serious…you have a kid, and a husband,  and….well, a dog.            

This will look bad on your record.            

I just don’t understand you.            

You have it made…why would you do this?            

Are you feeling okay?           

People don’t quit good jobs.             

Are you sure you want to do this?             

That’s a bad idea; wouldn’t do that if I were you.             

I’ll be surprised if you ever find another opportunity like that.            

Something must be bothering you; what’s really going on? 

I am not sure when I will get my voice back and I am not sure when I will be 100% done with this crud. I will have to wait, though, until it runs its course. That, I know.  And I also know this. 

You can start over.

I did.

And so can you.

Whether you lost your job or your job lost you. 

Whether you quit your job or someone quit it for you. 

Trust in yourself. 

Believe in yourself.

Even when you doubt yourself and your decision(s).

It isn’t easy to change and start over.

It takes courage.

And tenacity.

And commitment.

To look forward to what’s ahead of you, and not dwell on what’s behind you.

And to listen to your heart, while consulting your head, and trusting your gut.

And to let negative incoming go in one ear and out the other if it serves no worthy purpose.

When someone tells you something weird or strange or ridiculous, most times they are just trying to help. So, say thank you.

In the interim, don’t give up on discovering your own recipes and remedies.

And solutions.

And fixes.

Be it for a bad cold – or a good career. 

Charisma? Attractive Personality?

Watching one of my favorite television programs, CBS Sunday Morning, I was particularly interested in the piece about “Charisma.”  The story reminded me of some teachings in a Napoleon Hill book I recently read again. Lesson Ten from the The Law of Success, copyright 1928, is titled “Pleasing Personality.”

What, exactly, is a pleasing personality?

According to Napoleon Hill, there are seven important factors that enter into the development of an “attractive personality.” Pay particular attention to the second and fourth factor, as he claims that these are most important. The essence of Mr. Hill’s seven factors are highlighted here. While his book is from another time and another century, the relevance for today’s job seeker is timeless: 

1. Interest yourself in other people – find out about them and speak of them in terms of praise.
2. Develop an ability to speak with force and conviction, in day-to-day conversations and in public speaking.
3. Dress in a fashion that showcases your physical build and occupation. (His exact words: “Clothe yourself in a style...). 
4. Develop a positive character.
5. Learn how to shake hands to express warmth and enthusiasm.
6. Attract other people to you by first “attracting yourself” to them.
7. Your only limitation (within reason) is what you establish in your own mind. 

So how about it. job seekers?

Do you have charisma? Do you have an attractive personality? 

How does your sociometer stack up against your competition?

How can you best utilize your charisma and an attractive personality to win a job in 2012?

 ~ Be Your Very Best Always. ~    

The R Word: Rejection

Another year has rolled around and another rejection letter has arrived. 2012 is here and you read and then re-read the text you just received ….Thnx Ben for your time tho we filled position w/ another candidate. Good luck in future! RJL

And you quietly repeat the words: Good luck in future…..good luck in future…good luck in future.

Let’s say you are now up to 23 rejections; maybe more; maybe less since your job hunt started. Getting rejected, for most of us, is no fun. Getting rejected hurts. Getting rejected, in the words of many of my clients, sucks with a capital S.  That said, you have also probably heard the old adage….Rejection goes with the territory.

Whether it’s the job you didn’t get, the promotion that hasn’t happened, or the date who tells you you’re an awesome person, but….. rejection really does goes with the territory.

Listed below are a few ideas to consider as you deal with the R word: rejection!

1. Make a list of the one thing (and/or everything) you feel rejected about. Make the list as long as you want. Maybe it will be three words; maybe it will be three pages. Instead of stuffing and replaying the R-word script over and over in your head, dump it. Deal with it, dump it, be done with it. (That’s all easier said in a blog post than done…still, it’s a start!)
2. Instead of focusing on all that is wrong with you, why not focus on some ‘things’ that are right with you – your assets, gifts, strengths, talents, and competencies?
3. Instead of beating yourself up over one more rejection as though you deserved it or had it coming, why not build yourself up? What’s one thing you could do right now to build yourself up and/or alleviate some of the stress you may be feeling? Maybe it’s something as simple (and special) as reaching out to a good friend or family member and hearing their voice.
4. Keep the R word in perspective. My clients and friends who work as professional sales executives / representatives will be the first to tell you:  it takes a lot of no’s to get to a yes.
5. Establish a Coping With Rejection List and keep it handy. If you don’t know what to put on the list, ask others how they manage rejection. (Or ask Google!). Read, take a walk, listen to music, meditate, journal, go to the library, help somebody with something.
6. What, if anything, can you change about your job search to change the results and outcomes of your efforts? If you are struggling to figure this out, consider hiring a professional to help you think this through.
7. Consider how you must be doing something right and how you can’t win if you don’t play. Yesterday, my client and I were discussing how job search is a game of strategy. What additional strategies can you add to your job hunt to garner more interviews? As you know, more interviews lead to more chances to a. get a job offer and/or b. get rejected again. Aren’t you worth giving yourself another chance to go for an offer?
8. Do not take yourself out of the job search game! In the words of Vince Lombardi, “Winners never quit and quitters never win.” You are not a quitter, so don’t quit on yourself and on your chances of finding a good fit.
9. Keep going on job search dates. I like my colleague’s wisdom: Have yourself a perfect pity party and then, get about your business. Go on another date with another organization and keep going out on dates until you find the one who wants to marry you.
10. What has worked for you in dealing with rejection in the job search?

 “Do not waste yourself in rejection; do not bark against the bad, but chant the beauty of the good.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Job Seekers: Here's to You and Fresh Starts in 2012!

Looking forward to 2012, my friend and I were chatting about words that end in –al and how they seem to provide a launch pad for goals, changes, fresh starts and dreams for a new year.  As you peruse this list below, perhaps you will contemplate how each of these –al words might play a part in your job search, career and professional life in 2012:

Analytical – When a hiring manager scans your career marketing materials with an analytical eye, what conclusion might they draw?

Controversial – What controversial subjects do you plan to avoid in job interviews and at networking events?

Conversational – How might you enhance your conversational abilities in 2012?

Denial – What, if any, 2011 issues have you brought forward to 2012 and what, if anything, will you do to deal with them in the immediate future? 

Economical – What one thing will you do in 2012 to contribute to the economical betterment of your community and world?

Educational – What one educational goal do you intend to pursue this year?

Emotional – What, if anything, needs some attention with regard to your emotional well-being?

Essential – What are the most important matters that will demand your full attention in 2012?

Financial – What are your financial goals for the coming year?

Impractical – What decisions did you make in 2011 that may now be impractical in 2012?

Individual – What, if anything, could you do to improve the individual Brand You 2012?

Influential – What subjects would you like to become more influential about in 2012?

Inspirational – From what sources and resources will you derive your inspiration in the New Year?

Intellectual – How can you better share the intellectual abilities and gifts you have been given?

Intentional – What good things do you plan to do with intention and purpose in 2012?

Interpersonal – What, if anything, can you do to refine your interpersonal skills in 2012?

Managerial – In managing your career transition project (or work projects) what can you do this year to improve upon last year’s performance?

Mental -- How would you best describe your mental toughness should you find yourself in a state of career transition?

Motivational – What are three specific motivators that you plan to maximize in 2012?

Occupational – Are you working in or working toward an opportunity that holds interest and passion for you?

Organizational – What steps can you take today to better organize your job search activities to produce more desirable results in 2012?

Original – In what ways are you original and how can leverage that originality to better serve your job search efforts and outcomes?

Personal – What one thing would you like to change, add to, or delete from your personal brand in 2012?

Physical – What, if any, physical goals do you have in the works for the New Year?

Potential – If an organization asked you to describe your potential in 2012, what would you say?

Professional – When December 31, 2012 arrives, what is the single best thing you will have achieved professionally?

Psychological – If you have been struggling with a particular issue or concern in 2011, what plans, if any, do you have in place to address this matter in the New Year?

Relational – As you review your relationships and connections in your life, do those on your list have a habit of ‘building you up’ or ‘bringing you down’ and what, if any, improvements could be made as you move forward in 2012?

Social – How would you best describe your social life / network (both offline and online) and what, if anything, might be enhanced in 2012?

Spiritual – What, if any, spiritual goals have you thought about for 2012? 

Survival – If you lose your job in 2012, what plans do you have in place to maneuver through and manage the transition phase?

Testimonial – Have you considered how the voice of others can leverage your candidacy for a job, interim assignment or independent contracting opportunity?

Transformational – If you could transform one thing about yourself in the next 90 days, what might that be and how would it be of value to you, or to others?

Transitional – How can you more effectively manage each 2012 ‘work day’ as you explore new career options?

Verbal – How would your most recent supervisor rate your verbal skills and what might you do to improve them in 2012?

Vital – No matter what else you do in the New Year, what three to five things would you most like to accomplish by the time the ball drops in 2013?

Vocational – What, if anything, would you like to do differently this year regarding your employment situation?

Happy New Year to You! Wishing you good health and much happiness in 2012 with a sincere thank you for reading this blog!