High 5 Weekly Career Transition Roundup: 6 Critical Job Search Strategies to Embrace

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 6 Critical Job Search Strategies to Embrace: "Your network needs to include higher-level mentors, sponsors, advocates and movers and shakers in the field who can open doors for you."

• How Military Veterans Can Turn Their Skills Into a Corporate Career: "By recognizing that there’s no one 'perfect transition,' it becomes easier to do the deep work necessary to find the right job and career for you over the long term."

• What Men Need to Know About the Women They Work With: "We change our appearance to fit in with you too. A woman’s looks sometimes count more than her résumé. One study found that women with blond hair earn 7 percent more than brunettes. Women who wear makeup get better jobs and quicker promotions. Thin women outearn heavier women."

• 8 Proven Habits for Ultimate Success: "I learned that 'No' is an important part of the 'Yes Process.' Embrace it....My natural fear of rejection practically went away. I became better, faster, and made a lot more money."
• The Long-Term Benefit of Working for Free: "Knowledge, access and opportunity are the gifts that create long-term financial returns. For that reason alone, you’re better off trading your time for knowledge and connections."

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: What to Do When You Feel Stuck

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career and life development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below Ben Angel suggests a couple strategies for when you feel stuck & unsure of what to do to find the momentum to move forward.

High 5 Weekly Career Transition Roundup: Career Change, Reaching Your Full Potential, and More

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share these every weekend so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• 9 Steps to Change Careers and Get the Life You Want: "People who are called to their work do it not solely for financial gain or career advancement, but for the fulfillment that the work brings. My work feels like a drug now -- I have to have more of it, and I can't wait to jump out of bed in the morning to get to it. I want that for you, too."

• Are You Only Pretending to Be in the Right Job?: "People who think they know everything there is to know about their job are at risk of getting old, jaded and inflexible. The world is constantly changing, and there are always new skills and insights to learn. If you don't feel this way, you're in the wrong job."                                                          
• 5 Ways to Subversively Stand Out in Your Job Search: "You've likely seen statistics or heard people talk about how much more difficult it is to get a job when you don't have a job. It’s ironic, but some employers do prefer to hire people who are not actively looking for work because they are already employed."


• Why Most People Don't Reach Their Full Potential and How You Can: "I think an extraordinary life is for everyone, a famous life isn’t.... I don’t believe the falsely hopeful idea that 'you can be anything you want.' I believe the infinitely better idea that 'you can be the best version of you.'"


• 4 Simple Career Advancement Strategies: "[T]hose best positioned for success will have the social savvy to tailor the content of their message based on the interests, values and knowledge of those receiving that message." 

Clarifying Your Career Strategy

As the workforce downsizes considerably, many of us wear several different hats at our jobs. You may pride yourself on being able to multitask or always being that “go-to person” your boss relies on, but are these qualities going to help advance your career?

Greg McKeown is a business and leadership consultant and author of The Disciplined Pursuit of Less(Harvard Business Review, blogs.hrb.org, 8/8/2012) and The #1 Career Mistake Capable People Make (LinkedIn.com, 12/6/2012). According to McKeown, the capable person often finds himself/herself “overworked and underutilized,” and McKeown has advice on how to positively shift your career in the right direction.

Determine the highest point of contribution
Start by looking at opportunities differently. Instead of taking on many, less-significant work assignments, ask yourself what projects reflect your highest point of contribution. Use what McKeown defines as “extreme criteria” to get you there. To do this, ask yourself: What am I deeply passionate about? What taps into my talent? What meets a significant need in the world?

Determine essentials and eliminate the rest
When you give yourself permission to eliminate the excess, you can accomplish more meaningful tasks. Don’t take on a new project until you eliminate an old one. Don’t add a project that is less valuable than one you are currently working on. Just like cleaning out a closet, determine what really matters to you and get rid of the excess.

Don’t assume ownership equals value.
Having trouble determining the value of a project? Ask yourself, if you didn’t have it, how much would you be willing to sacrifice to obtain it? By seeking value and purpose in every task you do, you can focus on what is important and meaningful in your career. DON'T make this a once-a-year discussion at your annual review. DO take on the ability to focus, reduce, and simplify as your ultimate challenge for success.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share these every weekend so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• 5 Daily Rituals to Manage Work Stress: "Try to get up a few minutes earlier than the rest of the household. Upon awakening, take a few deep breaths before beginning your day. Before the TV goes on, or you hit the e-mail, listen to some relaxing music or read an inspirational passage to start your day on a positive note."


• How Your Parents Could Cost You a Promotion: "Find the high-visibility extra duties that get you face time. That face time with the boss is crucial. Go to office parties, even if they're lame. Dress like you already have the job you want. Put your name on everything you do. Volunteer."


• Life's Work 2012: HBR Interviews 10 Intriguing People: "Don't burn bridges, because you just don't know when you're going to need to cross them."


• How Being Obsessed with Football Can Help You Ace Your Next Job Interview: "Work can, however, provide an array of meaningful experiences, even though many employees do not enjoy those in their current job. So, what are the sources of meaningful experiences at work?"


• Why Aren't You Getting Job Interviews: "Hiring managers don't care much that you held a string of jobs; they care what you accomplished there, and your resume needs to show them that." 

Rethink Personal Branding to Land the Job

You have probably heard about the importance of personal branding in the job search process. However the term branding - which is defined as making an indelible mark or impression on somebody or something - can be a bit daunting or uncomfortable to some people. Instead, think of yourself as strategically positioning yourself in the job search market.

You may already be doing this without realizing you are doing it. For example, if you call yourself the "sales manager that trains and motivates their team to meet their goals, no matter the state of the economy" or the "IT professional that can speak in terms the end-user understands," then you are already strategically positioning yourself.

I have heard the job search process related to dating. The hiring process is about finding a match between two parties. While the money aspect of the job search is important, you must find the right employer, the right position, and the right environment where your skills and qualifications can be of use. Conversely, employers hire to fill a need or solve a problem. When you figure out the motivation or reason behind WHY they are trying to hire for a position you can be strategic in how you position yourself.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help develop your unique strategic positioning.

• What is the Company’s Need? What specific problem are they trying to solve with this job? Are they trying to make money? Save money? Save time? Keep existing customers? Acquire new customers?
• What are your Core Abilities? What special abilities do you possess that separate you from other candidates for this position?
• What are your Values? What is your belief system (behavior and ethics) that is inherent to you? Does this set you apart?
• What is your Connection to the Company’s Need? Do you possess something special that solves your target employer’s problem? 

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Networking, Selling Yourself & Encore Careers

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share these every weekend so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

1. 5 Ways You're Ruining Your Job Search
"It is the following five mistakes that have an even bigger impact on the outcome of your search."

2. 5 'Musts' to Network Effectively & Land the Job 
"How do you network more effectively and more consistently? First, you need to make it a priority, and schedule it into your week."

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos 

3. The Surprising Secret to Selling Yourself
"People are much more impressed, whether they realize it or not, by your potential than by your track record. It would be wise to start focusing your pitch on your future, as an individual or as a company, rather than on your past — even if that past is very impressive indeed."

4. 14 Things You Should Do at the End of Every Work Day
"How you end the day is critical, as it has much to do with how you start the next day."

5. How to Launch an Encore Career  
"Now that we’re living into our 80s, the thought of ending our careers in our mid-60s isn’t financially realistic."

Six Steps to a Well-Rounded References Strategy

Six Steps to a Well-Rounded References Strategy

There are books abound on how to prepare a "knock 'em dead" resume or how to interview with finesse. You are not likely, however, to find a book on creating a strategy around references at your local book retailer. A strong candidate knows the power of a solid reference and will create a strategy to make the most of these relationships. Follow the steps below to create on for yourself:

1. Choose the right references: Optimal references are people who have direct experience working with you. They can speak to your work habits, interpersonal skills, accomplishments, and team-orientation. Supervisors are ideal, as are coworkers with which you have had direct contact. The longer you have performed work for or with these individuals the better.

2. Get permission: Contact all of your references to obtain permission for you to use them as references. Briefly update them on the jobs for which you are applying.

3. Create a bank of references: Most applicants stop after obtaining three references; do not do this. Instead, obtain a "bank" of references: around six to ten people. Creating a bank will help you with the following step.

4. Match your references to the position: When you are applying for positions, scrutinize the position descriptions to determine what knowledge, skills, and abilities the organization is looking for. Based upon this information, choose references that can best speak to your qualifications for the position. For example, if the position seems more technology heavy, be sure to include a reference that has worked with you on a technology-oriented project.

5. Prep your references: If you are contacted for an interview, contact all of the references that you listed for that position to notify them that they may be contacted. Send them the name of the company as well as a copy of the position description so they know for what you are applying and answer any questions that they may have.

6. Send thank you notes: The graciousness of your references should be paid back. Send them a thank you note for agreeing to be a reference and for helping you further your career. 

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share these every weekend so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

1. Top Five Strategies for Kicking Off a Career
"Even if you think you've exhausted your parents' career advice, or that you already know everyone they could possibly be connected to, make a point to catch up with them every couple of weeks."

2. 5 Exercises to Muscle Up Your Job Search
"Here are five invigorating career exercises to try that should create momentum through conversations, cold calls, informational interviews, networking, and volunteer events."

3. 11 Great Employee Qualities: Do you Have Them?
"Manage yourself by knowing your roles and responsibilities in your company. In addition, learn to know what it takes to go a step beyond what your current role entails."

4. Four Ways to Find a job While on Vacation 
"The key is to come up with strategies for some career activities that you can do from Cancun, Austin or at home."

5. Six Ways Your Business Card Can Still Pack a Big Punch
"The more connected to the web we are, the more precious the real world is, so it is important to make a connection."

Pushing Your Career Muscles to the Limit

The only way to grow muscle when strength training is to lift to a point of exhaustion…then go a little beyond that point. It makes sense, if you think about it, because of the body’s remarkable ability to adapt to the physical stress presented upon it. More stress makes the body grow; less stress keeps it the same.

Have you looked at your career in the same way? What pressure have you put on yourself to create a career that is rewarding, fulfilling, and makes a difference in the world? Think about these three areas of your work life and the focus questions after each.

Work performance: You begin a job not knowing how to “do” it, gradually moving to level of competence that becomes second nature. This is a good thing because it demonstrates competence and productivity, but there’s a temptation to hit a “peak” and not progress from there. Going beyond that peak-challenging and questioning your status quo and the organization’s status quo-leads to more personal engagement and fulfillment.

• Have I mastered what I currently do?


• Are there improvements that I can make in the procedures or processes of my current position?

Challenging projects: Challenging projects-beyond what you are doing now-will help your career grow through giving you new skills, putting these skills (and your current ones) to test in new environments, and allow you to show your versatility.

• Do I proactively seek out new projects that will allow me to do so?


• What projects do I currently know of would benefit from my involvement?


• How would these projects help grow me professionally?

Relationships: There are relationships that you naturally cultivate at work-such as ones with your supervisor and coworkers-but going further to grow relationships with those outside your immediate work unit is indispensible in creating a network of peers that can attest to your great work performance.

• What relationships do I need to cultivate to position myself for the next step in my career?


• Who have I tried to get to know outside my work unit?


• What reputation do I want to cultivate with those outside my work unit?

Career improvement is a journey; not a destination. Fight complacency by challenging yourself to go beyond the normal and what’s comfortable. Your career muscles will thank you for it.

Stuck in a Career Rut? Get Curious.

My wife and I recently hosted four adults and three children in our home. Having no kids ourselves, the pitter-patter of three little pairs of feet was both an exhilarating and stress-inducing experience.

Knowing that we would have a one-and-a-half year old in our house, we did our best to "childproof:" we picked up all loose objects that would fit in a little one's mouth and removed all small obstacles that could interfere with his wobbly but zestful gait. After a quick inspection the night before, we felt confident that we created a safe environment.

We were wrong.

It wasn't long after the children had arrived that their youngest was getting into drawers, pulling on window-blinds, and finding every chink in the armor that was our "danger-proof" house. It was humbling, and my wife and I were kept on our toes. But for every time that I had to leave my seat to take out of George's (name changed) hands something that would hurt him or hurt one of our belongings, I was struck by something that I found fascinating...

...his curiosity.

George explored his surroundings with an inspiring level of zeal and interest. What's this? What's in here? What does this do? What would happen if I thew this? What would happen if I pulled this? His actions were pure curiosity: he wanted to discover. What a powerful perspective to possess!

In our career lives-whether we are looking for work or still employed at the same company for decades-our capacity for curiosity can change our attitudes, performance, and success. Use the questions below to create strong, leading answers for yourself.

How does my current situation make me feel truly engaged?

What about my current professional life do I find interesting?

How am I demonstrating success through what I am doing right now?

What about me is keeping me from the professional success that I desire?

What personal qualities will I tap into to create to the professional life that I want?

Leave it to a child to remind us all the powerful revelations that come from simply being curious about ourselves and our surroundings. My challenge to you is to look at your life through a child's eyes and get curious about everything. See what you discover about yourself and your environment. Act on that curiosity and your desire to create a life of your choosing.

Open some drawers. Throw some things. Pull on some blinds. See what happens. And, most of all, enjoy.

Is it too late for a career change?

Nowadays, mid-life (and later) career changes are more common than ever. In fact, workers will likely make several career changes over the span of their lifetimes. People change careers for many reasons. Perhaps a current career no longer aligns with your priorities. Maybe your career has become dull and void of growth opportunities. Or it might be that a career choice you made early on met outdated expectations or targeted financial aspirations that no longer seem relevant to you.

Most workers reach their peak earning potential and the highest rung on their career ladders by the time they reach middle age. Therefore, making a mid-life career change may mean less money and prestige. This is an important consideration when you realize that mid-life can also coincide with greater financial responsibilities—a larger mortgage, the desire to assist older children with college expenses, and/or saving for impending retirement.

Despite the challenges, many workers are taking the risks associated with finding fulfilling careers later in life. Before you decide whether a career change is right for you, there’s a lot to consider. You may want to start with the following:

· Review and evaluate your interests, values, and skills

· Identify growth careers and industries of interest

· Interview people currently working in a profession that appeals to you

· Seek tips and inspiration from those who have successfully changed careers

· Identify transferable skills and strengthen core skills

· Assess your ability to manage change

· Evaluate whether you have the qualities required to help you achieve your new career goals—for example, resilience and perseverance

Regardless of timing, any successful career change requires a solid plan. But once implemented, this plan may lead you to a rewarding career you’d previously only dreamed of.

Waitress! I’ll Order the Student Organization Involvement (with a Side of Career Development)

College students love to stay busy, and student organizations allow them to indulge their interests with other like-minded peers. Some organizations are more traditional, from fraternities and sororities to student government. Some are more…shall we say…unique, including a group at Carleton College that reveres moustaches to a University of Minnesota group that covets people watching.

Whereas some students treat their student group involvement as leisure time away from their academics, others see how their participation can benefit their careers. Below I have dished up some ideas and thoughts to help you get the most out of your student organization experience.

Direct professional experience: Some organizations are specifically designed for intellectual development and professional advancement in a certain field/discipline, including business, engineering, education, communications, foreign languages, and many others. Groups that cater to one (or sometimes more) of these areas put on programs to advance that field and the development of its members. Suffice to say that involvement in these groups can provide a gateway to gaining field-related skills and making connections with professionals in the field that will be beneficial to those on that particular career track, from the advertising major in the advertising club to the budding taxidermist in the taxidermy society.

Skill development: However, you do not need to be in a field-specific student group to gain skills that are important in the workplace. For example, a student in the moustache club referenced above could be involved simply for the kitschy novelty of the group, or he could assume a leadership role and develop skills by putting on events such as a “moustache conference” complete with speakers and break-out sessions. It may seem odd, but putting one’s passion behind something and taking action shows initiative and drive as well as organizational, planning, and leadership skills. As college students look to stand out in the job market, the skills developed even in a “leisure” organization can be the key to landing a position.

Networking: Finally, involvement in a student organization provides numerous networking opportunities with group members, professionals in the field, or even college faculty or administrators who advise student organizations. The possibilities and opportunities are numerous, and going into the experience with the goal of getting to know others can lead to connections that will benefit your future career, from a mentor in your field who can help guide you development to a reference that you can leverage when applying for a job.

Student organizations are a fun way to get involved during college and, with the right perspective, can help you develop critical workplace skills and make strong connections that will help you long after you graduate. Put in your order now before you end up with useless leftovers.

You’ve Got the Power: Three Tips for Perfecting Power Words

Just like your favorite Dan Brown or Stephanie Meyer book, your resume tells a story. What kind of story is it telling? Are you the confident hero, using your knowledge, skills, abilities, and fortitude to identify problems, create solutions, take action, and save the day? Or are you a secondary character who stands in fright or awe as the hero does his or her thing? Your professional character/persona is projected in your résumé and how you shape it could be the difference between standing out and striking out. Strategically using power words-action verbs used to place emphasis on professional duties and accomplishments-can ensure you create a leading character résumé.

Impact-minded power words: Lists of power words can easily be found online (I found some good ones here and here). But armed with a list of power words does not a good resume make. Be mindful of the words that you are using to create a more vivid picture of your work. Here is an example from someone who worked as a waiter:

• Taught new employees how to use the POS system to ensure accuracy and rapid transaction completion


• Coached new employees in the use of restaurant POS system to ensure accuracy and rapid transaction completion

See the difference? The word “coach” creates in the mind a different type of action than “taught.” By thinking creatively and choosing the appropriate power word you honor your experience and the employer “sees” this through how you describe it.

Notice the story you’re telling: Now that you have a better handle on power words to use, let’s turn a mindful eye on the story that they are telling. Which phrase below sounds more appealing to you as an employer who is hiring an information technology specialist for a leading hospital?

• Assisted multi-departmental team development on an iPad app to enhance workflow and improve care to patients


• Led multi-departmental team development on an iPad app to enhance workflow and improve care to patients

Again, the difference one word can make. Now, don’t be disingenuous: if you didn’t lead the project, don’t say that you did. But if you start to notice that your power words do not show leadership, delve deeper into your experience or use it as a catalyst to start creating experiences where you are in a leadership role. It is never too late to intentionally shape your career.

Be wary of repeats: Personally, I hate using the same power word in a resume more than once. To me it shows a lack of creativity in one’s self marketing. So try to keep this down to a minimum: repeating a word once is acceptable, but do not make it a habit.

Power words, when used appropriately, create stand-out impact. When writing the novel of your career, use the right power words to ensure your name is blazoned across the cover.

Four Reasons Why You Should Immediately Join a Professional Organization

Picture in your mind two side-by-side resumes of recent college graduates. Each possesses the same type of degree from comparable universities. They have similar internship experiences and both lack “real-world working experience.” The only difference between the two is that the one on the right is a member of a professional organization, a (typically) not-for-profit group formed around a particular profession that furthers the interests and development of its members and of the profession itself. Professional organizations-also called professional associations, professional bodies, professional societies, or trade groups-exist for nearly any profession you can think of, from clowns to bookbinders. The difference between involvement in a professional organization and none could be the difference between obtaining a position quickly after graduation and floundering for months afterward. Read on to learn why.

On the cheap: Joining a professional organization as a student is typically cheaper-much cheaper-than to join as a professional already working in the field. For example, a student membership in the Society of Human Resource Professionals is a mere $35.00 compared with $180.00 for a full-time professional. That’s a savings of over 80%! The leadership of professional organizations understands that college students have limited-if any-income and want to substantially decrease the barriers to joining. Take advantage of this while you are still able.

Get connected: From the moment you hit the “submit” button to conclude your organization membership you will have instant access to a network of professionals in your field. Make the most of this by contacting some nearby members and scheduling an informational interview to learn from them and grow your personal network.

Become involved: As you have probably surmised by now, joining a professional organization is good, but becoming involved is better. How do you become involved? Email someone in a leadership position in the association and ask him or her how you can help. It doesn’t matter who; you are new to the organization and that person will help you navigate the organizational hierarchy. There are numerous ways for you to get involved in a professional organization, from sitting on committees to volunteering at events like conferences or symposiums. Since volunteers run most professional organizations, your initiative and involvement will be welcomed and rewarded.

Educate thyself: Finally, professional organizations provide ongoing education and training opportunities to help its members stay current in the field. Utilize these resources to get the most out of your membership and to make yourself a more well-informed professional.

Professional organizations are a small investment for enormous professional rewards, provided that you use them to grow your network, get involved, and continue your education. Stop hesitating and join one today.

Keep Layoffs at Bay

During market downturns, job security becomes a concern for many. While you have no guarantees of keeping your job during tough economic times, some work practices may help you to avoid layoffs. Try focusing on work traits and practices that employers value, like the following:

Be the “Go To” Expert

There is definite value in having expertise in a functional area within the organization and being the “go to” person for this expertise. Besides possessing the know-how, being reliable and easy to work with can make you uniquely valuable to the organization. Think about ways to increase your knowledge, skills, and reliability within a particular area.

Build Solid Work Relationships

Build good, strong work relationships across the organization and with clients and vendors as well. When teamed with expertise, solid work relationships can be key to keeping your job during a downsizing.

Help Your Manager Achieve Goals

Be aware of your manager’s job responsibilities and goals. In what ways can you help them achieve those goals, minimize challenges, or reduce his/her workload? Be the person on your manager’s team who offers help, consistently delivers quality work, and is dependable.

Be a Team Player

Work well with others and demonstrate a positive attitude. It is important that you are viewed as a team player, not only by your manager, but by others throughout the organization.

Positively Impact the Bottom Line

When it comes time to eliminate staff, management often considers how much each employee contributes to the bottom line. No matter what job you have, you can find ways to help save money or increase business. For example, take initiative to fine tune a process for identifying new customers or reduce spending by negotiating better vendor prices.