Category: Networking

Want to Lead A Successful Job Search? It May Come Down to How Consistent You Are

4/3/2019

There is a behavior that we rarely hear about when it comes to job searching and that’s consistency. So often we emphasize grander notions such as knowing who you are and what you want, or the more practical details of actualizing your goals, such resume and cover letter writing.  And networking, which is of utmost importance.

It’s true, a successful search is difficult without answering the bigger questions, perfecting your job search materials, or building a responsive network.

Yet, what separates those that succeed from those who don’t frequently comes down not to these elements but the idea that lies in between – the consistency with which you approach executing your plans.

Consistent action is defined by regularity and commitment. Its bedrock is the understanding that even when your most well laid out plans go up in flames, you keep going. When you make the choice to be consistent, you make a pact with yourself to take committed action regardless of how you feel on a given day.

It may be easy to commit when you feel hopeful and optimistic. You probably won’t have much trouble motivating yourself at the beginning stages of the job search.  You’ll know what you have to do. Updating your resume and on-line presence must come before any outreach and usually is a step that can be completed independently.  Reaching out to people you know for informational interviews is a low-risk proposition and relatively straightforward. You’ll meet for coffee to gather intel on your company of choice. You’ll mine for additional networking contacts.

You’ll feel that you are making progress.

But inevitably you’ll hit a bump. Perhaps your outreach to your extended network goes unanswered, or worse yet, you’ll go through rounds of interviews only to get passed over.

You’ll have a bad day. Maybe a series of bad days. No big deal, you’ve been through worse, you’ll tell yourself.

But then another “no” is in your in-box.  Slowly, you start to lose motivation.  Your resolve to keep going begins to waver. Before long, a few weeks go by and the job search is officially on hold.

*Pause*

But, wait, this isn’t how you intended it to play out.

And no, the story doesn’t have to play out that way.

After all, remember, you’ve made a commitment to yourself at the start -- to stay consistent and keep going no matter what.

So, you shake the negative stuff off.

You tell yourself that even if you need to take some time to recover, your best shot at success is to continue the outreach as soon as practically possible.

You have a plan and a schedule that you’ve been following all along. A daily commitment -- to research companies and e-mail prospective contacts for x number of hours.  A weekly goal – to attend 2-3 networking events and target 7-8 new contacts per week.  And yes, your other projects need your regular attention – a personal portfolio, a website, or another on-line tool to showcase your professional attributes.

You consistently maintain the pace towards these goals despite the setbacks and despite other life challenges that always tend to creep in the way. You follow through in a dedicated way and keep yourself accountable by setting concrete deadlines and making your commitments public.  You enlist trusted friends, a mentor or a coach to help you stay accountable as well.

Your intentions and your actions are aligned.

You keep taking steps forward. You are slow and steady. It’s not a race, but I think we all know how that story ends.

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How To Get Organized for A Job Search

1/28/2019

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A job search is always stressful. Add to that the practical challenges of staying on top of multiple job listings, resume versions, interview dates and contacts, and you can easily get overwhelmed.

Organizing your search will keep your head above water and increase your chances of success. After all, wouldn’t you feel more confident and prepared having all of your ducks in a row?

Unsure of how to get started? Here are some tips on getting and staying organized.

1. Get Clear on What You Are Looking For

With seemingly endless listings posted on-line, it’s easy to spend hours just sifting through. And with so many job search boards that scream for your attention, you can easily get sucked in to doing research that ultimately leads nowhere.

This is why it is so important to get clear on what you are looking for before you get started.  While networking, not applying on-line, should always remain your primary focus, you will save valuable time with each type of outreach if you can pinpoint the types of organizations and roles you would like to work in.

Having in mind a job description can help with creating a strong elevator pitch and will be invaluable when searching on-line, narrowing your focus to what’s important.  Just remember: you don’t have to fit the requirements of the job description 100% in order to apply. 70-80% fit is perfectly acceptable.

2. Create a Plan and a Schedule

Would you like to have a new job in 6 months or less? Or do you have another timeline in mind? While you can’t be sure exactly when you will land a job, it is in your power to keep a confident attitude, hope for the best and establish a system that will help you achieve a positive outcome.

Your step-by-step efforts will depend on the amount of time you dedicate to the search.

If you are working full-time and have other responsibilities, it may be harder to find chunks of time to focus on networking, researching and applying for jobs. But whether you are currently employed or have more available hours in the day, you will benefit from setting and sticking to a job search schedule.

You may want to start by thinking of the days and times that you are most productive and break up those days into specific tasks you’d like to tackle.

For example, you may block off mornings to update your LinkedIn profile, resume or draft cover letters, send e-mails and do outreach mid-day, and meet for lunch-time informational interviews.  Alternatively, perhaps you prefer to do the on-line research in the morning, write and prepare documents in the afternoon and network in the evenings.

Whatever your preferred schedule, lay it out and then stick to it, setting weekly goals to keep you moving forward.

3. Organize Your Documents

The time has gone when you could comfortably submit one version of your resume to multiple positions. Today, you are expected to customize your resume, preparing different versions that fit the description of each role. Cover letters, of course, must be thought out and customized as well.

With all of these documents to keep track of, it is easy to displace parts of your application packet. Yes, it’s true -- virtually all of the communication with the company contact or recruiting manager is now electronic, and a messy disorganized desk may be a thing of the past.
But keeping your electronic files in order is just as much of an art form, and certainly no less necessary if you want to keep a cool head for when the phone rings and the hiring manager is on the other end.

To keep accurate track of each application, create separate folders on your computer for each company and role you have applied for, keeping appropriate versions of your resume, cover letter, and related materials in relevant subfolders.


4. Build a Spreadsheet

Now that you’ve applied to multiple positions, things can get messy. Even if you have a grasp on all your files, you’ll need a system for keeping track of all the details so that you can appropriately follow up.

One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is to the create a spreadsheet in Excel or a simple multi-column table in Word.  You’ll want to include basic information such as:

Company name
Brief description of position applied for
Contact details (name, e-mail, phone number)
Date applied
Deadlines (for any follow up information requested)
Interviews (details of where to go and with whom to meet)
Date(s) followed up
Status of the application (if you’ve been rejected, waiting to hear back etc.)

5. Use A Job Search Management Tool

If you are struggling to get organized and need more help, you are in luck. There are a number of job search management tools available on-line, many of them free, that will help you keep track of all your important data.

Perhaps the most well-known of them is JibberJobber.com. With JibberJobber you can keep track of the jobs you applied for, keep a tab on companies of interest, and manage relationships and follow-up opportunities, all in one place.

JibberJobber is free with an option to upgrade to premium features for a nominal annual fee.

Ultimately, whether you use an off-the-shelf system, or create your own, you’ll feel more in control of the job search process if you stay organized. As everyone knows, preparation breeds confidence and a confident job candidate is always in demand.

So what are you waiting for? Set your schedule, manage your files, and pretty soon you won’t need to update the Job Status field anymore!

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Are You a Doer or a Thinker?

6/29/2018

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The other day I had a conversation with a woman who had to quit her job because of her husband’s relocation. She liked what she did and was good at it, but wasn’t unhappy about leaving. Having worked in one industry for many years, she was getting bored and ready for a change. The relocation presented a perfect opportunity to pursue her other interests and build a new career.

I loved her attitude and her go-get-‘em approach. She was well on her way with setting the wheels in motion with the personal side of the move – finding a new house, getting the kids into school and seeking out local resources to help with the transition – while wrapping things up back home. And despite the challenges of moving to a new city, without a network of friends and associates, she was beginning to do the legwork required to move forward professionally.

She wanted to get a better sense of which direction to pursue, but it wasn’t stopping her from taking action in the meantime. So, she tapped her network of local friends, connected with a career coach and brainstormed the professional avenues available to her. She wanted to get it all settled within a few months.

She was a doer.

I have spoken with many people contemplating career change and through those encounters I’ve observed a distinct difference in how individuals approach their transition. There seem to be two separate camps – the doers and the thinkers.

The doers, as the name implies, take action. They are inspired and motivated by completing a series of tasks in pursuit of actionable goals they want to realize short-term.

The thinkers also set and pursue goals but they first take shape as an idea which is then refined and improved through contemplation and analysis of pros and cons before being acted upon.

Ultimately, all of us do both, the doing and the thinking, of course, but depending on our personalities it seems we are naturally predisposed to one or the other approach.

Are there are benefits and drawbacks to both?

In the case of doers, action tends to spur action, so they generally accomplish more in less time. As they complete tasks and move forward, they get immediate feedback from their actions that they can then incorporate into their thinking. On the other hand, doers can waste time and energy taking ineffective steps that lead nowhere.

Thinkers are driven to perfect their ideas but can be bound to inaction. While they may ultimately come up with the “right” way to do things, too much thinking can lead to perpetually refining your ideas and plans, but never accomplishing what you dream of.

Do you know which one you are -- a doer or a thinker?

Being aware of our preferences can help us maximize our chances of success when we contemplate important life decisions like a career change. Armed with this knowledge, we can work to ensure we take a balanced approach. If you are more of a doer, it may mean spending some time to think through and strategize before taking action. On the other hand, if you prefer thinking to doing, it may mean pushing ourselves out of the comfort of safe contemplation to take more real-time risks. Either way you slice it, we become more capable problem-solvers when we broaden our range.

Just one side note. If you are a thinker, like me, try not to overthink this. Making progress while learning from mistakes is always preferable to sitting safely in one place.

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5 Strategies to Help You Make a Successful Transition to a New Job

5/24/2016

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Transitions are hard. Like other major life events, a job or career change, whether voluntary or involuntary, will likely be a period of highs and lows that will test you and your family.

So, when you finally do land a position, the feelings of elation and relief will be palpable. Oftentimes, however, the emotional tension felt during the transition does not fully lift when the job search process is over. Now you are faced with a new challenge. Starting a new job can be overwhelming, and can require you to re-align your routine, priorities and responsibilities.

If you find yourself nervous about heading back to work or starting a new position, you may benefit from these 5 strategies to help ease the transition:

Prepare Your Family

People who are closest to you often experience the changes occurring in your life with similar intensity. So, you can be sure that when you make a move to a new job – with it’s new demands on your time and energy – your family will be affected. You can help your spouse, kids, or anyone else in your immediate family affected by the change by setting clear expectations of what’s to come. A few days before you start a new job, sit down together to talk about your new schedule. School-aged kids who are old enough to understand the changes will benefit the most from having a talk. This will also give them an opportunity to ask questions and voice any concerns. If you will be gone for extended periods (for work-related travel), or if a caretaker will need to step in – this kind of conversation will be particularly important.

Go to Sleep Early, Starting on Weekends

It goes without saying that you cannot do your best when you are tired. And a new job will be certain to sap your energy as you ramp up to speed. You may be going on overdrive in the office. And it may be hard to relax when you get home, as you process your new experiences, as well as try to carve out quality time with family at the end of the day. It’s easy to stretch out the night into the wee hours, but resist the urge to do it all. The garbage can wait another day to be taken out. The mail does not have to be opened today. Go to bed an hour early. Arianna Huffington said it best. “Everything you do, you’ll do better with a good night’s sleep.”

Be Ready to Work Hard and Do Your Best from Day One

Whether you will be working in a similar role in a new company, or making a big career change, you will likely have a steep learning curve transitioning to your new responsibilities and getting acquainted with a new company culture. You’ve shown in the interview process that you have the experience to do the job, and you passed the “fit” test. But whatever your prior accomplishments, as a new recruit you will still have to prove yourself all over again. The faster you build your credibility by working hard and being a team-player, the better your long-term chances of success at the new company.

Focus on Building Relationships with Your New Co-workers

You are a new guy (or gal) at the office. Making new friends is never easy, and it can be particularly challenging when you are joining an already formed team. But making close connections with people you work with can be crucial not only to your on-going job performance, but to your overall well-being. Spend some time getting to know your new co-workers not only professionally, but personally, over coffee or lunch. As they so aptly say, it will feed your stomach and will nourish your soul.

Thank and Keep in Touch with People Who Helped You

We all have a network of people we look to for help when we are in a transition. They are our family, friends, past colleagues, acquaintances, or people whom we don’t yet know but could be introduced to by our inner circle. Networking is a crucial part of making a job change, and it is a well-known fact that most times you will find your new position through someone in your network, rather than through job boards, recruiters or cold calls.

If you were lucky to have people who helped you, remember and thank them after the fact. Whatever their contributions and gestures of support – these are your friends who you can count on. One day you’ll be there for them.

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No Mentor In Your Life? Perhaps It’s Time to Look Around

3/22/2016

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There are times in my life when I want to talk to someone about my career. Not just the usual, “How’s your job going?” “Very well, thanks” conversation. But the kind of dialogue that helps me to frame where I am in my career, gives me an objective sounding board and an opportunity to evaluate what is working, as well as conceptualize what could be done better.

The desire to connect on this level has followed me through my various iterations of career, from a full-time job in a company, to my stay-at-home period, and is still ever present as I manage the work-from-home scenario.

This is certainly not a need that is unique to me. Anyone who’s worked in a professional world in some capacity has undoubtedly had an opportunity to engage in and benefit from these kinds of conversations. The media is awash with articles about the benefits of formal mentor relationships, and although they will not always put you on the direct trajectory to the corner office, most of us know that having one or two strong formal relationships in place at the office are a good idea (whether the corner office is something you desire or not).

So, it follows that if having a mentor is so beneficial, then we should be trying to establish these relationships when we embark on our career journey. But, where? And how do we target the right people?

In a large organization, the opportunities can seem endless. You may not need to lift you head far beyond your desk. In fact, often time, a mentor will find you.

In my 20s, working in a company of 3000 plus employees, I had access to a cadre of experienced colleagues who were eager to guide me. My first boss was highly conscientious and worked hard to ensure that everyone who reported to her was happy in their career path. She guided me day-to-day through hands-on learning, touching base frequently on projects, providing constructive feedback and stretching me to build more technical skill. She also created a framework for on-going discussions about my career, having monthly lunch meetings where we could talk about broader concerns and the visions I had for my long-term career at the organization.

She was someone that I liked and respected, and I considered myself lucky to have her in my corner. This may not be everyone’s experience, but it is likely that you too at some point have worked closely with a boss or a colleague whom you wanted to learn from.

At the same time in my career, I had another formal mentor. The organization I worked at valued career development, and frequently rolled out programs – such as the mentor program -- that helped its employees grow professionally. My mentor was a senior executive from another area. Every month we would meet to discuss the broader organization and he would give me insights into different areas, and tried to help me figure out my next move.

Like with my boss, I enjoyed the structured nature of these meetings. Both of these colleagues, whom I greatly respected for their expertise, invested in me by establishing the structure to help me succeed. Although years later, my career took a very different turn, for the period of time that I worked closely with my mentors, I benefitted greatly from their objective advice and was motivated to learn and grow.

These relationships taught me the importance of having someone in your corner as you navigate your career trajectory.

Since then, I’ve thought sporadically about this issue. I no longer work for a large organization. Now that I work on my own, these types of relationships and conversations are much harder to come by. I do not have a formal mentor. It is completely up to me to reach out to someone who’ll offer objective advice and guidance.

The comfortable cocoon of an organization with its hierarchy of bosses and mentors is gone. As any “solopreneur”, or independent business owner, I have to find my own way.

This thought has been coming and going for a few days. Then, one day last week I received a message from a dear old friend. I’ll call her L. These days we touch base infrequently. If I recall correctly, the last time was months ago. And when we do talk or see each other, the conversation usually drifts to family and kids.

Happy to hear L’s voice, I listened to her message. She said she was calling to say hi and also to chat about career stuff.

We’ve now spoken twice, at length, about a dilemma she is having at work. We made plans to speak again soon. I did what I do in all of my coaching sessions – I listened, asked questions to better understand the situation, and when asked, provided objective advice. And then, it hit me.

Wasn’t this the kind of mentor conversation I’ve been thinking about?

I feel grateful for the trust and respect that L showed me by reaching out. But, I also feel grateful for the lesson learned in our exchange.

Somehow, I’ve forgotten the underlying principle of mentorship. Was it the kind of formal relationship I’ve been reminiscing about in my head? Was a mentor necessarily someone who worked inside the walls of a big organization? Did it have to be a colleague who had established him/herself in the same industry?

When you type in “mentor” into the on-line dictionary, a definition pops up. A mentor is an experienced and trusted advisor. And then, an example: “he was her friend and mentor until his death in 1915”.

Thank you Webster’s. And thank you for the phone call, L. Next time, I need to chat about my career, I won’t hesitate to call you – my good friend – whom I trust and respect deeply – for a bit of mentoring and guidance.

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When You Don't Know What You Want To Do

11/23/2015

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A few days ago, on the way to school my girls started talking about what they want to be when they grow up. Until recently, their horizon of available options included only one of two career paths: a painter or a ballerina. But, suddenly something shifted in their field of vision and a range of new possibilities appeared.

My older daughter triumphantly declared that she is going to be a doctor. Half expecting that my younger daughter would say she wants to be a doctor too, I was pleasantly surprised there was a twist to that story. My youngest was going to be a vet.

Then, just as suddenly as the spark lit, it flickered. My 5 year-old hesitated. She started to become upset. Maybe she didn’t want to be a doctor after all? Maybe she would be an artist? Or could she be an artist AND a doctor? In her hesitation I saw a wish to not have to decide…she was afraid to limit herself to one choice. What if she made the wrong one?

I reassured her that those were both great options, and yes, if she wanted to, she could do both. She had lots of time to decide, and while it was ok to feel scared, she shouldn’t let that get her stuck. She just needed to explore to learn what was most exciting for her.

I feel that it is my job as a parent to not only help my kids discover their interests and passions, but also help them acquire the social and emotional tools to turn their dreams into reality. The fickleness of a 5 year-old will pass and one day my daughter will settle on a career. But, I predict that either before or after she makes her choice, there will be periods when she feels uncertain, stuck, or paralyzed about what to do with her life. And at those forks in the road, the outcome will largely depend on how she handles her doubts and indecisions.

As a career coach who works with people in transition, I am used to dealing with this state of emotional paralysis. Change is scary, especially when you don’t have a clear goal in mind. Although I’ve worked with people with different personalities at different stages of transition, virtually everyone at one point or another has some fear that blocks them from moving forward. Many are afraid to take a wrong step and to make a ‘mistake’.

Recently, I participated in a webinar ran by a fellow career coach entitled “How To Make a Change When You Don’t Know What You Want To Do”. It seemed like a misnomer at first, because I thought as typical wisdom goes, it’s much easier to make a change when you can clearly articulate what you are moving towards.

But her message was not about getting clarity but about taking action. It ‘s not that it isn’t important to get clarity. It is. But for those of us who struggle to define our next role, she counseled, it was better to do something, even fearing failure, rather than do nothing at all. She then laid out a plan on how to network when you weren’t sure exactly what to say.

I enjoyed the webinar because of the perspective it offered. It was a good reminder of what we often forget as adults. With our need to get things right, we can forget that making mistakes is a necessary part of the learning process.

When we remember that we can discover a lot more when put our fears aside, as we often remind our kids, we get closer to our dreams. We will all make mistakes – that’s for certain – and it will not be the end of the road but the beginning.

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Weebles Wobble -- Get Back Up

7/8/2015

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A few weeks ago, I did an informational interview for a young woman from my alma mater. She was in between jobs and was interested in learning more about working at my old company.

Our interview proceeded in a fairly typical fashion. She had prepared a number of questions and wanted to hear about my experience working at the company, as well as general information about different groups and the overall culture. We spoke for about a half an hour, and at the end I told her I would try to connect her with someone else so that she could continue networking.

As our conversation was concluding, she said she had one more question. She’d read in the alumni database that I was a career coach, and wanted to get some advice…

“How do I stay motivated?” was the question she asked.

She told me she has been looking for a while and that a couple of times she came close to getting a job. She went through numerous interview rounds, followed up religiously, and then heard nothing. Once she made it to the top two, but after a couple of months of waiting, she realized that she was back at square one. It was utterly demotivating to feel that she wasted time and had to begin the process all over.

It is natural to feel defeated when experiencing setback after setback. Even if you manage to keep your head above water, some feelings of doom and gloom are inevitable, at least temporarily, no matter how many job search strategies you implement.

That’s why, after you go through your laundry list of job search to-dos:

1.    Figure out where you fit in and what you are looking for
2.    Set specific and achievable daily goals
3.    Network, network, network
4.    Re-charge and seek support

The most important thing you can do is CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

There is a popular Russian toy that perfectly exemplifies this principle. It is the ubiquitous Vanka-Vstanka – a roly-poly toy with a weight at the bottom-center that stands back up whenever knocked down. The exact translation means “Ivan, stand up”. Under a different rubric but with the same underlying mechanics, these dolls are popular not just in Russia but all around the world.

And while we are not made of plastic, with human emotions that ebb and flow amidst the deep complexity of our lives, we are more resilient than we sometimes feel. If we manage to stay centered to our anchor, we can always find our way back upright, Vanka-Vstanka style.

A few weeks after our initial call, I heard back from my fellow alumna. After continuing to network, she had an interview lined up for later that week.

Way to go, Vanka.

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How Do You Take Feedback, Sweetened or Just Black?

6/9/2015

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Most of us love to receive compliments, or other type of positive feedback. In the professional arena, this can take the form of direct praise on a job well done, or more indirect pats-on-the-back reflected in promotions, offers of new opportunities, or invitations to exclusive member clubs and events. It’s motivating to be recognized and appreciated.

Few of us, however, are enthusiastic about the feedback that’s laced with negative as well as positive tones – what’s known as constructive criticism. That kind of feedback is harder to swallow, yet without it, few of us could improve or get to the next step. Harder still, is making the choice to actively seek it out. Who wants to know what others perceive them to be lacking in? Even the most open-minded of us would be tempted to put up our defensive shields.

But it’s your general attitude about how you frame these kinds of interactions – from putting yourself out there to be ‘criticized’ and ultimately, to whether you implement the changes suggested by others -is what determines how expansively you navigate your career trajectory.

I was lucky to witness this type of attitude in action last month at a professional development workshop run by the New York Chapter of the Association for Talent Development. The workshop was designed to help attendees develop an effective elevator pitch. There was an audience of roughly 25 at various stages of their careers. Some were contemplating new opportunities in the near future and wanted to sharpen their ability to convey ‘who they are’ in a networking setting.

One woman in particular stood out. She travelled from Boston for the night to attend the workshop. Everybody else was local.

We broke out into small groups to write out our story. Then, a couple of volunteers were asked to present in front of a larger group. The Boston woman stood up. She worked in a large IT department in a role that interfaced between developers and the company’s end users. When she got up to speak, it became clear why she was seeking feedback. IT lingo permeated her story. She couldn’t translate what she did into layman’s language. When she finished the look around the room was one of confusion.

She wanted to gear her message to the general public. At prior networking functions, she explained, she tried to communicate what she offered with too much granularity, ultimately losing her audience.

Collectively, the group offered suggestions on how to simplify her message. A couple of other people got up to share their pitch, but the majority preferred to stay silent. Then, the woman from Boston raised her hand. She wanted to go again. She incorporated the feedback that we had given her and wanted to practice her new story.

When she finished, the group applauded. I suspect the applause was for her determination and open-mindedness, as much as for her new and improved product.

As a sole practitioner, I now recognize just how important and beneficial this type of feedback can be. Not having to submit my work for review to anyone, I now miss the lessons imbedded in that kind of an exchange. It wasn’t always fun to hear, but it was necessary for my growth. Witnessing another individual embracing constructive criticism with such aplomb was inspiring.

It’s made me honestly ask myself, “How do you take feedback?”

I won’t lie – I would prefer mine sweetened. But, every so often, I will endeavor to take it black to give me that extra strong boost.

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New Year? New Career?

12/17/2014

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With the holidays upon us, and the New Year approaching, I’ve been thinking about the opportunities that a new year brings. If you are like me, you’ll likely be making a resolution or two. Have you resolved to build a new career?

A new year can be your springboard for re-invention. It is a natural starting point to set your career goals. But how can you be sure you achieve them once the buzz of the New Year is gone?

Although I’d be first to admit there is no magic bullet, here are four insights I gleaned in my own career transition that may help get you to the finish line.

Lay the groundwork – Separate your beliefs from those of others.

At every turn, others’ opinions surround us. You can’t go through life without heeding others’ advice, but if you are not careful, you can get swept away in others’ views, forgetting or de-prioritizing your own. When I considered moving on from my old job, I heard a number of concerns. How will you re-enter the workforce? What about the years invested in your field? Are you prepared potentially to start over?

You may be facing similar questions as you are off-ramping or on-ramping in your career. Whether expressed outright or simply implied, others’ views can subtly undermine your confidence, make you question your resolutions and thwart your best efforts to make a change. Know yourself. Prioritize your values. Heed others’ advice but listen to your own voice.

Be the giver, not the networker.

I had lunch with an old colleague some time ago. She recently launched her own business. I was working on launching mine. I sought her counsel and tips for overcoming challenges that might arise along the way. We talked about networking. I am not a natural networker so I listened carefully. Her advice? Approach networking as an opportunity to give, not to receive.

What better way to build a relationship than to help someone out? Find a way to solve a problem they have, and they may return the favor someday. People who give are memorable – they inspire others to give. I got home after lunch to find an e-mail from my colleague with links to resources to help with getting my business off the ground. Helpful, impactful, generous. That’s advice I’ll readily follow.

Follow a roadmap to the finish line.

It’s a lot easier to reach your goal when you can envision it clearly in the distance. Have you ever run a marathon? It’s an analogy that’s applied often to job searches. The last mile is intimidatingly far, but if you are a serious runner, you’ve studied the map, you’ve visited the course ahead of the race, and you know what the finish line looks like.

Then the race begins. Around mile 10 you’ll begin to lose steam. 26.2 is still far in the distance. But if you keep your eyes on the short-term goal – mile 11 is just around the corner. Soon you will celebrate and keep going to 12.

Want to stay on course? Mile-mark your job search. Keep your long-term goal on the horizon, but strive to reach short-term targets. Fill in your calendar daily, weekly, monthly with what you intend to accomplish. Then run your race.

Keep yourself accountable and energized.

Any challenging endeavor is guaranteed to have some bumps in the road. A career transition is certain to. Your mile-marked calendar can keep you accountable, but probably not energized. When you are running on empty, you are looking for water not counting miles.

Struggling to reach your goals despite your best efforts? Set up a weekly or monthly check-in with a friend or a mentor. Meet with your coach. Find fellow career changers to lunch with. You’ll leave energized to tackle your next challenge, whether it’s polishing your resume, looking for your next networking opportunity, or working on your next blog piece. I did this week. The result? This article.

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Getting Clear and Tapping Your Network

10/21/2014

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The common wisdom is that it’s easier to get an interview when you are applying for jobs, when you know someone internally. Wouldn’t it be great if you knew the hiring manager, or the HR director who posted the job? Those are usually the people who have the power to bring you in or keep you out as you are trying to get your foot through the hiring door. Of course it would. But if you don’t know that person, you can usually get the necessary introductions if you know how to tap your network.

We all know someone who can open doors for us. There are well known statistics that confirm that over 80% of job seekers get their jobs through someone they know. Oftentimes, however, we tend to rush the process. How many of those people land the jobs only to find out a short time later that they again are at the wrong place?

Getting clarity about what you want takes time but is an investment that pays off in the end. The same people that make the introductions are there, just as importantly, to provide us with valuable information about the nature of the job, or the culture of the organization where we want to work. After all, that job that looks so good on paper may not sound quite so hot after you do a little more research.

After I narrowed down my list of career options, I began to talk to people. I quickly learned that the best way to find out if the job is the right fit (short of getting the job), is to do it for a really short time – a day to be exact – the technical name for this is shadowing. Second best way? Informational interviews. The shadowing and the informational interviewing took me to some fun places. I spent time in an elementary school classroom. A few hours was enough time to help me realize I would not survive long in a room full of little kids!

I had coffee with a social worker and a lunch with an HR recruiter. I was attracted to the helping professions and it was becoming easier to visualize myself in those kinds of jobs. The more information I got, the more I understood how my own personal preferences, interests and values would fit in with the various job descriptions. Going through this brought me back to my days as a student-athlete, when my swim coach would have the team lie on the deck and visualize our next race in detail. Seeing the picture of what you want to happen play out in your mind creates laser sharp focus. And there are no better prerequisites for achieving your goal than focusing exactly on what you want.

These were great learning points, and as I got more information, I began to apply for specific positions in the non-profit training and coaching space. I looked at traditional job boards, company postings, but tried to focus much of my effort on tapping my network and, if the position seemed like the right fit, asking my friends, former colleagues and acquaintances to pass on my resume.

In the end, though, I got my foot through the door in a very unlikely fashion. Cold call.

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