Career Articles

Featured in the "Recipes for Success" e-zine
by Cecile Peterkin, International Career Coach

NOTE: You're welcome to "reprint" an article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the "about the author" info below), and you email a copy of your reprint to:
articles@cosmiccoachingcentre.com

About the Author

Cecile Peterkin is a Certified Career and Life Coach. She publishes "Recipes for Success", a F*ree monthly e-zine on how to achieve success and live your best life, personally and professionally. Cecile is also author of The Career Athlete, an e-book on managing your career. Sign up now for Cecile's F*ree e-course "7 Steps to Success" and visit Cecile's website for more information http://www.CosmicCoachingCentre.com

Index

15 Ways to Win at Job Interviews
Resume Writing
Packaging and Marketing Yourself - 'Brand You'
What it takes to Manage your Career
20 Ways to Advance Your Career
What's Your Management Style?
Are You Ready For A Career Change?
Stuck In The Middle?
Finding a New Job
Your Career in 2007 - Get a Fresh Start!
Use a Mentor to Achieve Career Success

15 Ways to Win at Job Interviews

When you walk into a job interview, the product you are selling is YOU. The interview process begins when you accept the interview, and ends when the employer decides to either hire you or look for someone more suitable. The more you are able to communicate professionalism with personality, distinction and skill, the better your chance of getting the job.

Before the Interview:

Use the 3 P's - Plan, Prepare, and Practice

Prepare for the interview; research the company and prepare questions based on your research.
Do mock interviews in order to prepare for all questions, especially uncomfortable ones.
Dress professionally even if the company dress code is business casual.
Arrive early! (12-15 minutes before the interview)
Give your interviewer a firm handshake. A powerful handshake and a genuine smile will get you off to a good start.
Beware of your Body Language; sit erect, stand and walk with confidence, lean forward toward the interviewer.
Build rapport - use powerful, effective communication techniques.
Be a good listener. Answer only what's asked, in a brief but effective manor.
Show enthusiasm and sincere interest. Don't act desperate.
Take notes. You may need to refer to them later in the interview.
Communicate your skills, qualifications, credentials and the benefits you offer.
Demonstrate your accomplishments; how you improve sales, reduce costs, improve productivity, solve organizational problems, etc.
Make eye contact. It demonstrates confidence, trust, and power.
If you want the position, ask for it - directly.

After the Interview:

Send a follow-up thank you letter. The letter should state what interests you about the position, why you are suitable for the job, and your appreciation for the interviewer's time.

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Resume Writing

This September I spent two days doing Resume Assessment at The National Job Fair and Training Expo in Toronto. 400 Job Seekers received free resume assessments from nine Resume Writers. There was a 2-3 hour wait for this service that was available from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Since a resume is critical to our employment success, waiting a few hours for professional advice wasn't a big deal to most people.

Although no one gets hired solely on the basis of a resume, many job seekers miss the opportunity of an interview because of an inadequate resume. Your resume can (and should) have a distinct personality to it. It should separate you from all the people applying to land that dream job. Be unique!

A lot of people think a generalized resume describing everything they have ever done is a great way to show their experience and skills. This is not true. You should only include information that is useful to the job you are applying for. If you are applying for a variety of positions, write more than one resume. To make this process easier, start with a general resume, and use it as a template by cutting and pasting the most relevant information for the different positions.

Style of Resumes

There are two basic resume styles: Chronological and Skill Based.

The most popular style for resumes is the Chronological Resume. It provides a job-by-job listing of each position you have held starting with your most recent. Use a Chronological Resume if you have consistent work history, and your job titles are supportive of your objective.

If you are making a career change, and your title and work history don't match your job objective, use a Skill Based Resume. A Skill Based Resume should also be used if you have gaps in employment, a short work history, your skills are transferable, your most recent experience doesn't support your objective, or you have an erratic work history.

Simple Crucial Resume Writing Tips

Know your audience before you begin writing your resume. Your resume must be consistent with the position you are pursuing.
Choose your language carefully and proofread. Your resume must be free of spelling, grammar, punctuation, or typographical errors.
Tailor your resume to your prospective employer's needs - highlight the skills and abilities that will make you an attractive candidate.
Your resume should answer the potential employer's questions, "Why should I hire you?" in 20 seconds or less.
Focus on your expertise, abilities, and accomplishments.
Use bullets. They make a resume more reader-friendly if used consistently.
Describe your roles and accomplishment with strong action words and key terms that will grab attention.
Keep all descriptions short. Descriptions should generally take up no more than three to four lines on the page. Full sentences are not necessary, however, be consistent with punctuation.

Length of a resume

There is no "rule of thumb" for resume length. For an experienced job seeker, a one-page resume may be too short and even look to "entry-level". A properly designed, well-written, two-page resume would be far better. Your resume is your marketing tool. Can you market yourself on a one page resume or will you need two or three pages to include your best skills, accomplishments, and experiences?

Note: In every resume, the first 10-15 lines are the most important. They will motivate a recruiter to read on or to stop. Longer resumes need to be carefully designed to "sell" you up front.

The real cost of writing a basic or weak resume is valuable time and thousands of dollars in missed opportunities.

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Packaging and Marketing Yourself - 'Brand You'

Branding is a process started by large corporations like Nike as part of a marketing strategy in the 1980's. It is a concept which had them selling their customers an image and an idea. Soon, along with the pair of running shoes you were buying, you were also buying into the concept, and "just doing it"; and your Bell telephone service isn't just about a tool, it's about the way we are all connected. Advertising has become less about the product and more about the feeling the company wants you to associate with what they sell.

Branding isn't just for companies. People in all walks of life and various career stages are starting to use self branding to get ahead. Like a company and its products in the marketplace, self-branding means looking at yourself as a winning brand. It's being aware of the things that set you apart from everyone else and make you memorable and unique - your skills, abilities, personality traits. Being self-aware means you become clear about what you stand for and what you have to offer. Doing a good job is no longer good enough to guarantee your career will go well.

Branding yourself means you become associated with what sets you apart from others and the added value you bring to a job, business, or situation. Self-branding demands self-awareness and communicates that you feel comfortable in your own skin. When you know what you've got to offer, you become powerful and intentional about how you communicate that through the quality of service you provide. You are your most important asset. Self-branding provides direction and clarity of purpose for how you work, not just what you do for a living.

Because you are self-aware and focused, the benefits of branding are many.

Self-branding:

Increases your confidence and self-motivation
Increases your visibility and presence
Differentiates you from your peers and colleagues

As a result, you will:

Achieve your personal and professional goals
Increase your salary

Personal branding is the strategy behind the world's most successful people like Oprah, Madonna, Donald Trump, Richard Branson, and Bill Gates. It demands commitment to what you value, consistency in what you deliver, and the guts to market who you are. It is the difference between an ordinary career or business and an exceptional one.

Get clear on the brand "You", and be faithful to it.

Recommended Resources:

"The Brand You 50" book by Tom Peters. In it he creates a process in which you can empower yourself to stand out, both personally and professionally.
Self-Branding e-course by Cecile Peterkin, Cosmic Coaching Centre.

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What it takes to Manage your Career

*featured on Canadian Women's Business Network.com, SelfGrowth.com & Ideamarketers.com

Managing your career, just like managing your life, requires preparation and ensuring that your time is directed meaningfully. Don't wait and see; make things happen. Just like athletes who prepare for the "big game", or a marathon, designing your career requires goals, planning, work, and above all, commitment. Think of yourself as a Career Athlete.

Being a Career Athlete requires awareness and action. Athletes are aware of their gifts, talents and abilities. They then focus their training on sharpening these skills with the goal of being the best they can be in their chosen area of expertise. Designing your career is no different. What are your gifts? What do you care about more than anything else? What work would allow you to connect to this purpose? This part of the process requires that you are honest with yourself. Once you have answered these questions you need to focus your attention on the "training". What steps do you need to take in order to design a career that honours your abilities? What is in your way, that you need to overcome, as you strive for this goal? Remember that fear is a natural and inevitable part of this process, but that it does not have to stop you. Identifying what keeps you from pursuing the career that you want is an important step. Knowing what may become a stumbling block allows you to move through it much easier when it occurs, rather than being stopped by it.

An Elite Athlete has a four phase training program which can be incorporated in the Career Athlete plan.

Phase I: Preparation. This phase is crucial in providing you with a firm base. What skills/strengths are fundamental to your success? Phase II: Pre-competitive. What is the motivation behind what you want to do? Have you connected it to your value system? Phase III: Competitive Peaking. The point at which everything you have been working toward comes together. Phase IV: Active Rest. This is the phase of transition. A time when you are under no pressure. Use this time to have fun and celebrate the completion of phases I - III. This is also a good time for self-reflection, self-evaluation and future goal setting. Shape your career, don't let it shape you! Decide what you want and create your opportunities accordingly. Positioning yourself in your career will happen a step at a time with planning. A Career Coach can help define your goals and a Career Marketing & Outplacement Service can help with a Career Evaluation.

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20 Ways to Advance Your Career

*featured on Ideamarketers.com, Collegecentral.com & Marketing-Seek.com

Exceed expectations; deliver results on a or head of time.
Manage your time effectively.
Create a career plan with goals and training requirements.
Move away from day-to-day operations.
Develop strong rapport with colleagues, senior managers/executives.
Get a mentor, accept guidance in your career.
Know your organization's goals vision, values, business strategies.
Create opportunities to further own/business goals.
Solicit feedback and assess the decision for purposes of continuous improvement.
Communicate effectively to people at all levels of your organization.
Build and maintain relationships with individuals who might impact your work.
Plan, prioritize and organize your work.
Manage own emotions and reactions.
Balance the demands of your personal and professional life.
Give yourself quarterly reviews, identify your accomplishments.
Become your own sales team, market your abilities.
Dedicate yourself to lifelong learning.
Be decisive and action oriented.
Commit to excellence and professionalism.
Be self-disciplined.

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What's Your Management Style?

In today's highly competitive business environment managers face rapidly changing conditions, flatter organization, doing more with less. Managers are simultaneously a leader, a manager, and an administrator. Understanding your management style is a critical step towards making the adjustments and transitions this new role demands.

Good Managers - well rounded and pragmatic. They understand the reality of their environment - it's values, goals, politics and limits. They set realistic objectives that acknowledge organizational constraints and dovetail with corporate goals. They are conservative. They would rather be slow and steady than risk the glory of swift, but uncertain success. Good managers excel at hiring, coordinating and directing a team.

Good Leaders - are visionaries, value creativity. They focus on what the organization needs to do as a whole to succeed. Leaders are passionate and persuasive. They excel at inspiring others and communicating the vision. They recruit talented, motivated people, not specialists. Their knowledge of the "outside world" is the basis for their ideas, suggestions and plans. Good leaders are always prepared. They are well balanced and well rounded. They admit mistakes. Good leaders inspire enthusiasm.

High Achievers - are success-oriented, pragmatic types. They are adaptable, excelling, driven, image conscious. They are highly motivated. High achievers know their purpose and role, therefore, do not need anybody's help in setting goals. High achievers use intuition to make decisions and it is hard to replicate that in the employee. They make decisions quickly and implement the ideas immediately. They believe that profits are the end result and people are a resource to help achieve that goal. High achievers typically do not make good managers. They want to do things themselves. They do not have a lot of faith in others and have difficulty delegating. High achievers understand driving themselves, but not working through others.

How do you measure up? Manager, Leader or High Achiever?

Test your style! Use one of our online evaluations.

cecile@cosmiccoachingcentre.com or call 416-782-5001.

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Are You Ready For A Career Change?

Are you unhappy at work? Tired and lacking energy and drive? Don't worry, you are not alone! Studies in the US show that up to 70 percent of the workforce is unhappy with their job at any given time.

We all feel dissatisfied and frustrated with our jobs at times. So, how do you know when the feeling of dissatisfaction and frustration means it is time for a career change?

There are a few key signs which point towards a need for change:

feeling overwhelmed by your workload
unable to balance your work and life responsibilities
confused about roles and duties in your job
easily irritated and ready to explode at the slightest provocation

We choose our career path for many different reasons: because of our parents' encouragement; because it is a successful occupation; or for the financial reward (to name just a few). However, you may be in a career that doesn't support your core values. This could be the root of your discomfort.

Take a personal and professional inventory. Ask yourself some important questions.

Look at your current job. How did you get there?
What are your personal attributes (artistic, adaptable, creative, leader, etc.)?
What are your core values (autonomy, growth, helping others, financial security etc.)?
What are your greatest strengths?
Identify your accomplishments.
Identify your career satisfiers and dissatisfiers: For each position you have had throughout your career what activities or responsibilities did you enjoy (and not enjoy) doing?
What is important to you, personally and professionally?
What you would like to do or accomplish during your lifetime (personally or professionally) so that you will consider your life to have been well-lived?
What are you most excited about now?

Take a look at your answers. Is your present career in line with who you are, what you value, and what you are good at? If not, then it is time to make a change.

Once you have established that you are ready for a career change, start thinking about and noticing what you want. If you could do anything, what would you do? By assessing your accomplishments, skills, strengths and weakness you will be able to see a link between what it is that you value, what you are good at, and where the "juice" is for you - all things that you can turn into a new career.

Decide what you want and create your opportunities. MAKE A PLAN. Then, use this plan to switch from resentment in your current job to looking at the positives you can take to your new career. What are your transferable skills? What are you learning in your present position that you can take with you? Once you have a plan, stay focused on your intention, and pay attention to opportunities that present themselves.

Despite your present frustration and your excitement at the possibilities ahead of you, it is natural to feel afraid about starting a new career. Feel the fear and do it anyway! Remember, the power to do so is within you.

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Stuck In The Middle?

I recently surveyed my clients who are middle managers or in mid-career positions to see what they had in common. I discovered three common elements: most are in mid-life; their biggest challenges are balancing life and career; and they are using this stressful, pivotal time to reinvent themselves.

In Canada 9.831 million people are between 40-59 years old. In the US this number climbs to 82.549 million people. Our entry into the 21st century has changed how people feel about being mid-life adults. Far from the mid-life crisis of generations past, it is nevertheless still a time of challenges and crossroads. While career, family, relationships, health and personal growth all become equally important, people tend to focus on their career/job because it represents money. Like it or not, money is a big factor in the balance we try to create in our lives. The mid-point often shakes people out of the auto-pilot and requires the answers to some hard questions: Is this work providing fulfillment? Am I energized by it, or drained? Can I spend more time with my family and still make ends meet? Is this what I want to do with the rest of my life? And if not, WHAT? If one pays attention, this period can provide some very important information to use in the second part of life.

Mid life is the beginning of your second chapter. What better time to take an inventory: what is really important to you; what are your VALUES; what you are good at; what are your skills and ATTRIBUTES; and what is missing in your life? Taking some time now to review where you have been, what you have done and how it has served you means you can move forward with awareness. Awareness allows us to make clearer, more positive choices for ourselves - and results in a life with fewer regrets. This is not always an easy undertaking. In addition to these concerns, there is the challenge of living in a society that caters to the young, which can cause self scrutiny and fear of aging. A therapist and/or a life or career coach can help you navigate the process.

Once you have some clarity, the next step is to set goals, put a plan in place for achieving them, and support yourself as you move forward. The bonus of mid-life is that you are equipped with half a life's worth of experience - your experience! Mid-life doesn't necessarily mean having to change your life; you can learn new methods of living, and change the way you experience your life by making new choices or having a different outlook.

Because you are self-aware and focused, the benefits of branding are many. Self-branding: A. Increases your confidence and self-motivation B. Increases your visibility and presence C. Differentiates you from your peers and colleagues As a result, you will: A. Achieve your personal and professional goals B. Increase your salary

Personal branding is the strategy behind the world's most successful people like Oprah, Madonna, Donald Trump, Richard Branson and Bill Gates. It demands commitment to what you value, consistency in what you deliver, and the guts to market who you are. It is the difference between an ordinary career or business and an exceptional one. Get clear on the brand "You", and be faithful to it.

So get unstuck! This is another beginning. As you move into the second chapter of your life, think about what will make your life a success for you - and use this to create the life you want.

"Sometimes the best begins in the middle"

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Finding a New Job

The new realities of securing employment in today's changing world require a new belief. Designing and planning your career, and taking a proactive, self-directed approach is the success formula.

The resume is a critical part to your career design. October issue of Recipes for Success we discussed resume writing; "Putting yourself on paper". This month we will discuss "Ideas on finding a new job". Finding a new job is not always easy, whether you are an executive or just starting out in your career.

Making the wrong move can cost you time and money. With the stakes so high, before finding or looking for a new job, you should clarify your career path to ensure you are headed in the right direction.

Once you have completed the preliminary work such as identifying your career path, creating a well-constructed resume and detailed cover letter; how do you find your ideal job?

Here are some ideas:

Networking

Networking is the most powerful way of finding a job. Many jobs are never advertised because they have gone to someone’s friend or colleague. 62% of hiring managers found word of mouth referrals to be the most effective. Contact people and let them know you are in the job market. Attend professional association events where you can meet as many new people as possible.

Internet Jobsites

The internet is a very useful job search tool, but not an effective self-marketing tool. Although you will find job sites (monster.com, careerbuilder.com, workopolis.com, etc.) where you can post your resume, you must update your posting daily. New job hunters post their resume every day, pushing your resume down the list. Surveys have shown only a 4% success rate for being contacted for a job from an Internet posting.

Recruitment Agencies

Recruitment agencies serve as intermediaries between worker and applicant to ensure a match between the company’s needs and the applicants’ skills and interests. While this may get you an interview, you are often one of many applicants the agency has recruited for the same position, so you need to be even more prepared to sell yourself.

Headhunters (search and selection firms)

Headhunters are also recruiters. The difference, however, is that headhunters are much more specific in their recruitment. Rather than simply finding a pool of the most talented people, they focus on finding candidates who exactly match the qualifications specified by their clients. To this end, headhunters select candidates whether they are in the job market or not. If you are at a senior level in your career, you have probably already received calls from headhunters. As you look at the many paths available to you to attain your ideal position, getting an interview with a headhunter is the least likely to get you closer to your goal.. Headhunters fill many of the world’s most prestigious positions.

Cold Calling

Cold calling means initiating an approach to companies; telling them about your skills and interest in working for them. Research shows a 69% success rate - even better than networking! Surveyed job hunters spent 24% of their time making these kinds of cold calls, which yielded 27% of their meetings. In contrast, the 45% of their time spent networking produced only 35% of their meetings*.

Why is cold calling so effective? Because it gives you the opportunity to make contact and penetrate the marketplace before positions are advertised to the general public.

Newspaper

Answering ads in local newspaper has a 5% – 24% success rate. The higher the salary, the smaller the chance of finding a job using that method.

Trying to find a job requires the same dedicated time, energy, and effort to succeed as you put into the position you eventually find through your perseverance. Staying focused, and finding ways to deal with rejection (and use the information gained to help move you forward) will help you to be successful.

* As reported by the Five O'Clock Club, a career-counselling network based in New York City.

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Your Career in 2007 - Get a Fresh Start!

Have you thought about your career goals for 2007? What worked to years ago in planning and managing your career will not work for your career development in the 21st Century. Managing your career in the 21st Century requires preparation, career goal planning and career guidance and ensuring that your time is directed meaningfully.

Here is how to find enjoyment and continue to progress in your career.

Determine if your present job is in line with who you are, what you value, and what you are good at. Are you really doing what you want to do? Being self-aware means you become clear about what you stand for and what you have to offer. When you know what you have to offer, you become more powerful and intentional in your work. Doing a good job is no longer good enough to guarantee your career will go well. You are your most important asset. Self-branding provides direction and clarity of purpose for how you work, not just what you do for a living.
Identify your job satisfiers and dissatisfiers. Find a way to do more of the tasks/projects that you enjoy.
Identify your accomplishments.
Take the time to build and maintain relationship with individuals who might impact your work. You will benefit personally and professionally from the time you invest in such relationships.
Determine and write down your vision for your professional life. What actions do you need to take that will get you there? Celebrate the steps you take daily to achieve your vision. You can create the life you want! Here are some ways you can do that:

* Keep work in perspective - remember how you left work on time in the summer?

* Manage your stress - identify what causes you stress and how it affects you.

* Take time out - close your door (if you have one), call forward your phone, turn off your e-mail, take a walk. Use this time "during your work day" to prepare for a big meeting, a presentation or work on a project.

* Delegate - are you spending too much time on the administrative process of your job and not utilizing your skills to benefit your long-term goals and your company's goals?

* Work/Play Balance - what did you enjoy doing during the summer that you want to continue (going to the movies, playing tennis, volunteering, spending time with your kids, seeing friends, etc.)? Put it on your schedule.
Be Bold! Don’t be afraid to take on some responsibilities in positions above you. Aim to always exceed expectations.
Manage your own time. Set boundaries. Learn to say “no” to non-essential use of your time.
Look for way to do things better, and more efficiently. Change a routine task - develop a new process. Instead of handling your e-mails as you get them, set aside specific times during the day to respond.
Be great at what you do. The knowledge and skill that create success in your current job will position you for your next move.
Be aware of roadblocks that can limit your potential to move upward.
Take on projects that will most likely benefit you.
Have passion for what you are doing and working toward. You will automatically put more effort into it. If you are not feeling passionate about your work ask yourself: is what you “should’ be doing interfering with what you want to be doing?

Remember! Your career must contribute to your life, not the other way around!

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Use a Mentor to Achieve Career Success

Mentoring is a relationship that is established with someone who is an expert in their field. The mentor is usually older and more experienced than the mentee. The mentor shares their experiences, and the lessons they have learned. But the relationship benefits both the mentor and the mentee. The mentor benefits from the opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills. The mentee receives career guidance and helpful career advice to prepare for the next level in their career.

Many companies have formal mentoring programs in place for matching new employees with those already established in their career. If you are choosing your own mentors here are five tips to ensure a successful relationship:

1. A good career mentor:

Is knowledgeable in their field
Is generous and honest with advice
Is a good communicator
Is committed to the relationship
Will get to know their mentee: her/his capabilities, interests and goals
Will make recommendations for the mentee’s career development and path
Will create learning opportunities and heighten the mentee’s career
Will introduce the mentee to key people and professional organizations

2. Choosing a career mentor:

Choose someone you admire
Look outside your immediate work area – maybe your boss’s boss.
Choose someone in another area of your organization who has had a career path similar to your goal.
Find multiple mentors (I have clients working with more than one mentor in a formal relationship).

To find a career mentor outside of your organization, join professional associations where you can meet senior people and executives in your field.

3. Setting up the Mentor/Mentee Relationship:

Before seeking a mentor’s assistance, make a plan. What do you expect from your mentor? What do you want to focus on? How much time do want to commit to this relationship? It is important for you to be clear about your expectations for your own benefit and in order to communicate this to your potential mentor.
Invite the potential mentor to lunch or coffee to discuss your intention. Mentors appreciate the recognition, and are willing to share their knowledge and wisdom.
At the meeting, effectively communicate your need for a mentor, your vision of the future. Define the relationship and why you would like this person to be your career mentor.
Find out how involved the potential mentor wants to be in this relationship.
Give them a chance to think about it – tell them you will get back to them in a couple of days.

4. The Relationship:

Set up the parameters of the relationship together, how often, when & where you will meet, and the length of the meeting.
Respect your mentor's time. Show up on time for your meetings. If you have to cancel your meeting, give at least 24 hours notice.
Set up boundaries for phone calls. Between meetings call only if absolutely necessary.
Use your scheduled meetings effectively by organizing your materials and the topics you would like to discuss.
Pay for your own meals and drinks or offer to pick up the tab for your mentor's meal.
If you are given an assignment, complete it on time.
Show your appreciation by offering to help your mentor in any way possible. Send a thank-you e-mail communicating how this relationship has helped you or send a gift to recognize a special day for your mentor.
Recognize when the relationship is winding down, communicate this, and wrap it up. If you would like to stay in touch with occasional updates of your career successes, clear it with your mentor at the end of the relationship.
Obtain approval from your mentor before using them as a reference.

There are many benefits to a career mentorship, for both parties. Mentees gain the benefit of someone's experience to help them navigate their career development. Mentors have the opportunity to reflect on their careers. Having clear goals and communicating these will ensure that the experience is positive and productive.

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