How to Land Your First Job in a Tight Economy

When unemployment rates rise, the competition in the job market becomes increasingly challenging. Whether you're looking for your first job or trying to land a new position, it's more important now than ever to stand out from the growing crowd of job applicants. Sometimes people in the midst of a job search become so focused on one job search method, such as sending out resumes, they forget to cover all of their bases.  A single strategy may eventually land you a job, but it's likely you'll spend more time being frustrated than interviewed. 

Successful job hunters adapt to meet individual employers' needs and use multiple strategies to find a job. Here's what you can do to set yourself apart and outshine the competition.

Be Flexible in Your Requirements

In a job market as tough as this one, a flexible approach to job hunting is key. Don't limit yourself when it comes to salary, title, and the length of your commute.  Consider part-time and interim jobs, which can also help build your skills and experience. These positions get your foot in the door and could turn into something more permanent. If an employer is impressed with your job performance, he or she will keep you in mind for future vacancies.

Network with Personal Contacts

Career experts estimate that the vast majority of job openings are never advertised or publicly announced, but filled through word of mouth or networking – also known as the hidden job market. Networking means developing a broad list of contacts and using them to your advantage when you are seeking employment. Make a list of all of your friends, relatives, teachers, co-workers and acquaintances. Call each one of them and ask if they know of any openings that they could recommend you for. Tell them what you're looking for, but let them know that you are flexible and open to any suggestions.

Social Networking for Career Success

Social networking is changing the U.S. job seeking landscape. If you don't have a social media presence, you may be at a disadvantage in this competitive job market. All three of the  top social networks - LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter - are free and easy to join, and can be used to get job search advice and tips, to network, and to connect with career and job search experts, companies that are hiring, and other job seekers. A strong social presence can boost your candidacy and help ensure you will be found by recruiters and hiring managers.  In addition, employers are increasingly accepting applications directly from these and other industry-related networking sites.  If you haven't used social networking sites for anything other than connecting with your friends and family, don't worry. Create a social media presence one site at a time.

Get More Education and Training to Increase Your Value

Improve your chances of being hired by gaining more education, work experience and certifications. This will make you a stronger job candidate in your field of interest and open the door to more career opportunities and greater earning potential. Make a list of work-related skills you'd like to learn. The sooner you start building the right credentials, the stronger your resume will be to prospective employers.

Remember that for any job hunter, persistence is the key to success. Don't be discouraged by rejection. Nobody receives a job offer for every job application they submit.  If you didn't get the job, remain positive and ask to be contacted if another opening occurs.  Be sure to leave a copy of your resume, and thank the employer for their time. Remain persistent and your hard work will ultimately pay off.

Guest post provided by U.S. News University Directory a leading resource for locating accredited degree programs.  Students and professionals can use the directory to locate on-campus and online bachelor degrees, masters programs, distance learning MBA's and professional certificates from top colleges and universities.

Following Your Path to Greatness

This is an update of my August 31, 2011 post entitled "Career Success: Following Your Path to Greatness."

Steve Jobs had a lot to teach us about truly "listening" to and being guided by our inner voice. What an amazing example of boundless creativity and fearless action that man was.

"Trust that it will all work out ok," are inspiring words of wisdom Steve Jobs' shares during his commencement address at Stanford University in 2005. "Follow your curiosity and intuition" he says as he shows how his path led to greatness.

When my clients who are seeking to find the kind of job or career they'll love take the Life Theme Assessment they usually say "you know, I always thought about doing that." 

Steve's speech reminds us that life usually gives us clues, inklings about our true path. It's not always easy to listen or to respond to that calling like Steve Jobs did. Sometimes we push that little voice aside that gets us in touch with what we really want and we decided to go for the money instead or we think somehow following our path is harder than staying miserable in a job we don't like.  

And yet, time and again I've witnessed, and have experienced in my own career, as Steve Jobs' so aptly put it -- if you find what you love, have faith and don't settle, what you desire eventually comes to you.

At this time in our history when new ideas and out-of-the-box solutions are so needed in our economy and our world it's worth considering -- what amazing avenues of creativity would open for you in life if you truly listened and followed the dots?

If you were inspired by Steve Job's speech, leave a comment about how his words of wisdom touched you.


Linda Hardenstein, MPA, PCC, helps college graduates and professionals how to find their authentic career and gain more satisfaction from work.  To get a free recording of the Secrets Most Job Seekers Don't Know about Finding a Job You'll Love, click here, put "free mp3" in the comments section and I'll send it to you.      

Are You a Professional Dealing With a Horrible Boss? Secrets for Winning - Part 2

This is Part 2 of my previous post providing tips for dealing with a horrible boss. It's not uncommon at some point in your career to have what you would describe as a "horrible boss." Handling them and surviving is an art. In addition to the previous tips you can:


4.  Explore Your Options.  Without taking the time to identify what options you have for dealing with your situation you feel trapped. Feeling trapped can make you think you have only two choices to go or to stay.  With a little exploration, or brainstorming with a coach, friend or mentor, you may be able to discover that there are more choices than you think. Are there options are for getting some relief inside the organization? What internal mechanisms exist for resolving conflicts with your boss or co-workers? Is there someone you can talk to within the organization?  What are the ramifications of speaking up, of keeping quiet?  When speaking up it is essential to use excellent communications skills and to know what you want so you don't make your situation worse. 
5.  Get out.  After exploring all of your options if making a job change or leaving are your only choices, create your path to freedom before you quit. When you've got a lot of work to do it can be hard to find the time to begin or manage a job search campaign but it can be done. You need an organized, strategic, carefully crafted, step-by-step exit strategy. You'll want to stay productive AND achieve your job transition goals. Part of your strategy should be how to leave on the best possible terms.

6.  Get Help. Sometimes it's hard to deal with a horrible boss on your own, especially if you're in a management position and can't discuss things with your colleagues. This is when a coach, mentor or trusted adviser can help you brainstorm and come up with creative strategies to overcome obstacles, find a ray of hope, stay motivated, do something you may not have thought of, or create a winning exit strategy. Coaches like me offer laser coaching sessions that help you zero in on your unique situation to develop a winning strategy to deal with a difficult boss so you can improve your work situation and your life. If I can be of assistance to you feel free to contact me or use my automated calendaring system to schedule a complimentary session.

If you've survived a "horrible boss" and have some tips to share please add your comment below. 

Linda Hardenstein, MPA, PCC, helps professionals and managers who want to improve their careers and build a better life achieve more of what they want through personal achievement coaching and authentic career development. Find out more at her website.

Are You a Professional Dealing With a Horrible Boss? Top 3 Secrets for Winning - Part 1

"My boss is always yelling," said an attorney when listing the primary reasons for wanting to change not only jobs but careers. A friend who overheard this and who works on his own remarked that he couldn't believe things like that happened in "professional" environments. As a veteran of law firm life and someone who has experienced and figured out how to survive and successfully deal with more than one "horrible boss," I let him know it's not that uncommon. This recent article about Horrible Bosses and Poor Leadership in Fast Company confirms it.

There's nothing worse than going to work everyday and facing a horrible boss. It can stifle your productivity, be depressing, debilitating, sabotage your confidence, wipe out your self-esteem and burn you out faster than you can say "I'm outta here!" So how can you outsmart a horrible boss and lessen internal conflict to maintain productivity, stay focused and accomplish your personal and professional achievement goals on the job? Here are 3 tips for dealing with a horrible boss: 

1.  A winning strategy.  Martha's boss was always "holding her back" from developing her skills and wasn't giving her recognition for all that she did. She was tired of being a victim. After analyzing her situation we developed a strategy for Martha to break-out of this pattern by figuring out how her boss could win and she could win too. Martha convinced her joining some organizational committees would be good for both of them. It helped the boss with intel and gave Martha greater exposure and recognition. She was soon noticed and scooped up by a more appreciative boss who saw her value. Working up a winning strategy takes some personal reflection and its helpful if someone who is independent from your situation can help you see opportunities that can better your situation. 

2.  Be willing to shift. We've all heard it a million times and unfortunately it's true -- you can't change someone else you can only change yourself. Be willing to change how you operate or respond to situations to get a different, more positive outcome. To paraphrase Dr. Phil, how is what you're doing now work'en for ya? If what you are doing now was effective you wouldn't be looking for a way out. A willingness to change how you look at things or react is an essential element of a winning strategy.
 
3.  Set limits. Determine how much you're willing to tolerate and set a timeline for making a change. Just the simple act of setting a timeline can give you a feeling of relief. You'll begin to see a spark at the end of a tunnel of what probably feels like a very long, hard traveled road. 


Dealing with a horrible boss on your own isn't easy, especially if you're in a management position, don't have anyone to talk to and can't trust your colleagues. This is when a coach, mentor or trusted adviser can help you by brainstorming creative solutions that overcome obstacles, give you a ray of hope, keep you motivated, or help you make the progress you haven't been able to make on your own. Coaches like me offer long-term and short-term laser sessions focused on your current dilemma so you can zero in and develop a winning strategy to deal with your difficult boss and improve your work situation for a better life. Contact me or use my automated calendaring system to schedule a complimentary session.

Do you have a question you'd like addressed in Part 2 or a tip you'd like to share? Leave your comment below. 

Linda Hardenstein, MPA, PCC, helps professionals and managers who want to improve their work situation and build a better life achieve their goals in work and in life through personal achievement coaching and authentic career development. Find out more at her website. 

What Do You Love?

"You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you." — Maya Angelou

Have you ever noticed sometimes when people ask you what you love to do, what you want to do, or what you do for fun that you don't have an answer? It's hard to be in that place and respond with a "I'm not sure" or "I don't know."  

Not knowing what you love can come from doing everything you don't want to do for so long that you can't remember what it is you love, or how it feels to do something you love. If this is the case, think back to a time when you were loving life. Write down the situation you were in, who you were with and what you were doing. This exercise will give you some hints to what brings you joy. 

It could be that you're just starting out in your career and you haven't discovered what you love yet. Some people go through years of struggle trying to figure out what they were meant to do. If you're ready to do what you love now, take some time for personal reflection to find out what it is. 

If you're in a transition that forces you to re-evaluate what's meaningful, or that tests your metal from going through a divorce, retiring, recovering from a life threatening illness, or re-establishing yourself after a move to a new town you know what it's like to be in that "no man's land." But even with changes going on in your life, you still have an authentic you that wants to express and when it does you're living what you love.  

No matter what stage you're in, finding what you love comes from knowing who you really are. Discovering your authentic style puts you in touch with what motivates you, why you like certain things, why things bug you and what stops you. Knowing what makes up the real you makes it easier to find your path to a meaningful career, friends and activities that energize you, and a life so full of passion and joy that people will look on in awe because they can't take their eyes off you!

If you're ready to discover who you really are so you can do more of what you love, Linda Hardenstein helps new job seekers, retirees, and professionals who hate their job, find the career and get the life you'll love.  Click here to find out more.

Have you found your authentic career or what you love to do? What got you there? Leave a comment.

Productivity and Work Life Balance - It Can be Done!

Is it possible to be productive without working so hard? Evidently so according to The Business Insider's article on the ability of the French to work shorter hours and produce more. 

Clients who take my Overwhelm Busters® classes learn about a productivity study conducted at a major corporation some years ago. A group of employees were asked to spend an hour of their work day doing absolutely nothing (this down time was in addition to their lunch hour). At the conclusion of the study those who did nothing for an hour a day saw an increase in productivity.

When we give ourselves some down time our brains get an opportunity to process things and come up with creative ideas or solutions to our most pressing problems. Why not take a lesson from the French and give ourselves a break? 

This summer is the perfect time to do your own experiment. Give yourself some well-deserved rest and down time and see how much more you get done. Let me know how it goes by leaving me your comments!

Linda Hardenstein, MPA, PCC, is a personal achievement coach who helps women professionals leverage their high potential, develop authentic careers and make powerful decisions that increase their profitability and effectiveness. Contact her through her website.

 

 

Five Easy Steps for Getting Your Career Back on Track

Are you feeling stressed, burned out, or like you're going nowhere in your career? If you find yourself constantly complaining about your job to family, friends and co-workers, it may be time to set a new career direction. Here's five easy steps for getting your career back on track:

1. Review these 11 Signs Your Career Has Stalled and check off the ones that are relevant to you.
   
2. Identify your options. It's easy to feel stuck or to have blinders on when it comes to being able to see beyond your current situation. As a career coach one thing I do is help my clients see opportunities they may not have noticed before. If career coaching isn't for you, try brainstorming with a trusted friend or family member to create a list of your career options and what you'd like to accomplish in your career.
   
3. Make a plan. What are the benefits you want from all of the hard work, hours and energy you put in every day? Maybe you'd like to learn something new, interact more with people, become more well-known, or get a promotion. Maybe you want a paycheck to pay for the bills and a lifestyle where you have more time with your family.  Once you're clear on what you want, make a plan so it is more likely to happen.
   
4. Make it real. Identify your next steps.  Do you need additional skills or training? How will you let others know about your goal? What support systems do you need to accomplish your career goal?
   
5. Take action!

A well-thought out and executed career plan can help you alleviate stress and burn out by providing clarity and focus so you know what you're doing and why. It can provide the positive direction that ultimately leads to more satisfaction in your work and life.  

Linda Hardenstein, MPA, PCC helps you find new directions in your career by identifying the kind of work you'll love and helping you achieve successful career or retirement transitions. Find out more at her website and feel free to send her your career questions.

Are you Finding a Job or Building a Career?

“What Career Seekers Need to Know” a teleseminar this week brought up some enlightening points about finding the work that is right for you. (Contact me if you’d like a recording of it.) It brought to mind a conversation with Tom, a parent seeking advice about how his son, a college graduate, could find a job that he loves. I asked him a critical question – does he want to find a job OR to find a career?

Tom was surprised by the question and hadn't really thought about there being a difference. He confessed that he didn’t receive much guidance about his own career. Well-meaning adults said things like, “you should do this” or “hey, there’s a job over here and you’d be good at it.” So he’s wandered his whole life down a career path built for him by others.

UC San Diego produced its "Best Jobs ..." report for this year. That’s one way to find a career. But if you want work that keeps you motivated to get up in the morning so you're loving what you do, feeling a sense of happiness, purpose, well-being and contribution, there’s usually more to it than just finding a job.
   
Whether you’re a college graduate or a seasoned professional the difference between a job or a career is like taking a different fork in the road. Building a career you'll love takes exploration and effort.  Finding a job can also take exploration and effort but it can lead you to a lifetime of work that isn't as rewarding. 

If you really want a rewarding career choose your path wisely. With the help of a career coach you can find the kind of work that suits who you are and the jobs that will take you in the career direction you want.

Find out more about the career transition services that will help you find work that you'll love at Linda's website.

What are your thoughts about a job v. a career? Leave your comment below.



 

Happy Graduation! Some Hot Tips for Finding a Job

If you're a recent college graduate - congratulations! Do you know your next steps for finding a job and starting your career?

When you graduate it's easy to feel like all the hard work is done and you've earned your entree into the job market. Having a degree does make it easier to qualify for jobs, but, attaining a degree is often just the beginning of a career. This year's graduates will have an easier time finding a job than those who graduated in prior years according to CBS Money Watch, Job Outlook for 2011 College Grads Best in 4 Years.

My clients who want to thrive in their careers learn the steps for putting their degree to work and you can too!  Here are some tips to get you started.

• Be sure you have a targeted strategy that guides your job search. 
• Once you've identified the kind of job you want, find the industries that offer those jobs. Pick your first choice and determine how you're going to go after it. This becomes your "Plan A."
• "Plan A" needs to be written. It should list the steps you're going to take and the date you want to complete each step. Studies show that if you write your plan, you'll have a bigger chance of success. Having a plan will help you evaluate what is working in your job search and what isn't. If something isn't working you can make adjustments before too much time passes. 
• Create a Plan B and a Plan C for your second and third choices too.

Having a written plan and a well thought out strategy can keep you productive, focused and motivated so you're more likely to land the job of your dreams.

If you'd like to learn more tips for finding a career that is right for you, be sure to attend "What Every Career Seeker Needs to Know," a FREE teleseminar on June 2, 2011. Register here.


I'd love your comments and to hear what has worked for you.

Burn Out: Beat it Before It Beats You

If you're a high-powered career woman, you know what it takes to stay ahead of the competition -- dedication, focus, a willingness to take everything on, travel, extra hours, maneuvering in a lean and mean environment. I lived this lifestyle. What I didn't realize was, this can be the road to burn out if you're not careful.

For me it was an injury, one day I was on top of my game, the next I was at the bottom of a flight of stairs having fallen after being exhausted from two cross-country business trips. I almost broke my neck. I had plenty of time recuperating to mull over my life. Even though I was successful, I wasn't really happy.  I realized the seductive adrenaline of the rat race was going to have to take a back seat because what I really wanted was to feel like I had a LIFE. My goal became to figure out how to reclaim my life AND maintain my successful career.

If you can relate to feeling burned out, this article Overcoming Burnout, has some great tips. I've worked with many clients to shift them from burn out to balance by looking at their unique situation and coming up with a step-by-step strategy for reclaiming their life without giving up a successful career.
 
For me, the first step in reclaiming my life was the decision to do it differently.  How about you? Have you ever felt burned out? What do you do think is important for dealing with it? I'd love your comments.
Questions? Feel free to contact me.

Believing You can Create Your Career Path

"Of all the forces that hold women back, however, none are as powerful as entrenched beliefs" ... states a new McKinsey report, "Unlocking the Full Potential of Women in the US Economy," by Joanna Barsh.

As my clients and I work together to find the right job that resonates with who they really are and to realize their true potential, we explore beliefs about success, opportunity, the past, and who, or what keeps them from getting what they want.

From my experience some widely held beliefs about what it takes to be successful in your career are:  

• you need to always be available to stay ahead of the competition
• keep taking things on to prove your ability, your capacity and your worth
• keep up or they'll find someone else who will
• if you've put in the time you deserve the promotion
• just wait (don't ask) and good things will come your way
• I'm so busy I don't have time to do what it takes to create my career path

These beliefs can exact a heavy price -- burn out, exhaustion, disappointment, frustration, and going blindly down a path you didn't chose to an unfulfilled and unbalanced life.

Career success begins with the belief that you CAN create your own path.  Career success is sustained by constantly revisiting two fundamental questions, "what do I want to achieve?" and "what am I doing it for?"

Have you carved out a career path that you love? What beliefs do you think are necessary for achieving success in your career?

Overwhelmed at Work? Tips for Asking for Help

If you're feeling overwhelmed at work, you're not alone. My research shows that the majority of professionals I surveyed felt overwhelmed 50 to 75 percent of their work week. 

This New York Times article "It's Not Mount Everest. It's My Workload," provides some tips to keep in mind when you need to ask for help. Some tricks my clients have learned from the Overwhelm Busters® trainings I offer is how take personal leadership by presenting strategies that enhance your reputation and create a win/win for you and for your supervisor. For example, contribute your ideas for solving the problem rather than just asking for help. Maybe a deadline needs to be re-negotiated, or there is a more efficient way to carry out the task at hand. Having a solution ready when you make a request shows you are thinking about results, you're a problem solver, and you have considered others who might be impacted by your request. Frame your request for help as a win/win and the better your chances are for getting your needs met.

Have you ever had to ask a colleague for help? What worked well for getting others to pitch in when you were overwhelmed? I'd love your comments.

Creating a Home Office that Supports Your Success

Yesterday I posted "What Does Your Office Say About You" and received a comment asking for additional tips for people who have a home office that no one else sees. It's my pleasure to provide three tips for creating a home office that supports your success.

It is just as important, maybe even more so, to consciously establish an office that supports you in being successful in your business if you're working at home. Why? If you're a solopreneur, you're most likely alone a good part of your workday. So you've got to stay motivated, focused and energized and a powerful, harmonized, balanced, nurturing space can help you do that.

• Claim Your Space. Some people I know who work at home have no designated "office space."  They are what I call "office gypsies" -- have lap top will travel. They may work at a kitchen table, in the living room or bedroom, or go to a coffee shop. If you're finding it hard to stay focused, you're easily distracted and not grounded, this could be a contributing factor. Stake a claim on a designated space for your work. I work individually with clients to review their office set up to make sure it functionally supports their work style and provides a good foundation from which they can be successful. I've even helped people who work in their garage create work spaces that support productivity and prosperity!
  
• Surround yourself with only things that you love. If you work alone its important to stay motivated. Being at home it's easy to get distracted by chores, TV, or other at home temptations corporate folks don't face. Working in an environment that is inviting helps you stay motivated, focused and energized because you want to be there. Situate your desk so you have a view out the window, keep fresh flowers on your desk. Add personal touches like pillows in chairs and colors that make you feel calm.  Remember, what surrounds you either energizes you or drains you. You want your workspace to be uplifting so it can encourage your creativity! 

• Place things in your office that represent the success you want to achieve. For example, maybe one of your goals is to be on the cover of a national magazine. Make up a mock magazine cover with your picture on the front and hang it on the wall to remind you of where you're headed.  (This is a lot easier to do in a home office than in a corporate office!)  If you want greater prosperity put something in your office that makes you feel rich. (In my work with individual clients we pick items that are most meaningful to them. I review their space in person or on-line to let them know where the objects should be placed so they support the goals they want to achieve. Aligning your space with your goals helps to remove hidden blocks to success and accelerates the achievement of your goals.)

I hope this additional information helps you create a space that is productive and empowering. Let me know if you have questions about creating your own peak performance environment by leaving a comment or emailing me directly at Linda@LindaHardenstein.com.

What Does Your Office Say About You?

Most of us think about the image we want to put forth, especially in the workplace. We dress for success, create logos to send a specific message, create cards and ads that brand us, but we often forget that our work space also sends a message about who we are and our success.

What do you want your office to say about you -- you're stressed, on top of things, capable of handling a promotion, balanced, at peace, overwhelmed, or in chaos?

You want a space that energizes you, reflects confidence in your abilities, keeps you productive, focused and in the zone - right?  I call this a Peak Performance Environment. A place where you want to go every day that supports you in being your best and reflects your goals and your successes.

How do you create a Peak Performance Environment? In my work with hundreds of executives and business owners we've aligned their office space to support them in achieving their goals. Managers have gained promotions, department chairs have raised more funds, HR managers have made their offices more comfortable, increased harmony and reduced conflicts and entrepreneurs have upped their income. They have learned tips and tricks to make their workspace more productive, balanced and harmonious and you can too!  Here are some things you can do right away to begin creating a work environment that sends a positive message to others and keeps you performing at your peak:

• Your desk IS your mission control. Keep it as neat as possible to reduce distractions and keep you productive. Have designated functional areas on your desktop for managing the flow of your work, for example, an in and out box for paper flow, a stand up rack for your action items and storage space for things that aren't a priority right now.
• What are your professional goals? Do you want a promotion? Does your office reflect what you're shooting for? For example, a high powered career woman wanted to be a VP. Her office was full of stuffed animals and dying plants. Stuffed animals are appropriate in some environments, for example if you're working with children, but if you're in a hard hitting corporate job your environmental message is incongruent -- the stuffed animals are out of alignment with what you're trying to achieve.    
• Clutter is a time waster. Its not uncommon for people in office settings to spend up to five hours a week looking for things. Can you imagine how much more you can accomplish with five more productive hours in your work week?  Clutter also causes stagnation in the flow of your energy and can contribute to feelings of stress, anxiety, overwhelm, loss of control, depression and even shame. If you're feeling overwhelmed at work, sometimes its worth it to take a time out and clear the clutter from your desk. Getting organized can make you feel less overwhelmed and more in control of your day.  
• Conduct your own office review. Stand at your office door. Close your eyes for a minute. Open them and take a look around your office with fresh eyes. If you didn't know the person who resides there, what would you deduce about them if you stopped by and looked in their office?  Does it reflect what you want, or are there things in there that are blocking you from achieving your goals (like the stuffed animals!)? This exercise works even if you're a solo entrepreneur and working alone. What is your office saying to you every day? Is it reflecting back to you the success you want in your life?

If you'd like to learn more about how an office makeover can help you achieve your professional goals or how to create your Peak Performance Environment, contact me. 

Do you work in an office you love? If so, what makes it such a great place to be every day?