Network To Uncover Hidden Jobs!!

Skeptical that hiring managers will talk to you when you’re looking for a new job?  You may be right – unless they need to hire soon. Take a look at this excerpt from my recent networking seminar to hear why.

  Click here to view.

So, you may have 60+ days to talk with a hiring manager who knows he or she needs to hire before the position goes public (if it ever does).

Remember, if the hiring manager has a need and you’re a qualified candidate, networking is a win for everyone!

Success breeds success

Ok, the title of this post is a cliché!  But, like most common sayings there is truth in it.  If you want to be successful, surround yourself with successful people. Why?  I think that these people exude positive energy and express the value of working hard at something they love. They have a “can do” attitude and look at obstacles as challenges to overcome.

I keep this in mind, as I seek to join a new professional organization here in Tucson.  I have attended meetings, talked to members and reviewed websites of a number of groups.  My criteria includes membership profile, networking and educational opportunities, involvement opportunities and price as well as how welcome and comfortable I feel as a guest. Several groups met my criteria and I’ve come up with two finalists. How do I choose between them?

I will choose the organization that attracts successful people who want build on their success and to help others become successful.  They meet new members as potential colleagues and referral partners rather than competitors. And the group will have a high degree of high member participation, attracting people who consider it their primary business affiliation or group.

When I join a new group, I become active, build relationships with other members and try to give back at least as much as I gain from my involvement. It’s always been a fun and rewarding way to expand my network.

I encourage you to do the same!

It’s all about Attitude!

You’ve been laid off or fired; lost an account that represented a big chunk of your business; had a falling out with a business partner, or with someone else who was close.  You’re bummed or angry; sad or depressed.   And you know that you need to get over it.

How?

Here are a couple of ideas I’ve seen work.

1. Set aside a time of day (about 15 minutes) to give into the anger or grief.  When those ugly feelings crop up, remind yourself that you will get a chance to focus on how bad you feel at the time you’ve scheduled.  At the appointed time, put all else aside and allow yourself to rant, cry, write or punch a pillow.  A dear friend’s mother gave her this advice when she was going through an ugly divorce.  (I expect Mom was tired of hearing about it.) The friend told me that she took the advice and after just a few days, by the time the scheduled hour came around, she no longer needed to rant.  Her outlook and attitude had improved!  I’ve suggested this approach to many angry job seekers and who’ve reported good results.
2. Find someone who will listen to you “clear” from time to time.  I hope you have a coach or partner who is supporting you through this tough time.  You don’t want to wear them out or damage the relationship by being a downer, but you can ask them to give you a minute or two to listen to you “clear.”    Yes, just a minute or two!  I use this technique with clients at the beginning of coaching calls to help them focus.  Ask your partner to time you for a minute while you rant.  They don’t have to listen carefully to what you say, but should vigorously offer empathy and encouragement.  At the end of the minute, they will interrupt you and ask if you’re ”complete.”  If not, ask for another 30 seconds or minute (maximum).  Once you have “cleared,” you will find your attitude has improved and you have more positive energy.

Let me know how these techniques work for you. Or contact me to schedule a quick “clearing” and to refocus on your new goals.

How Can You Join the Winner’s Circle?

All of us are creative. Yes,YOU – even if you don’t think you are! We all have gifts, talents and good ideas. So why are some people always in front, getting ahead, always winning – while the rest of us spend our time trying to catch-up?

Successful people (those who win) act on their ideas and act quickly! They don’t allow second guessing from preventing them from trying something new. They put aside fear of failure and try it anyway. They don’t worry about being turned down or fired – they know they’ll find a more suitable customer or job or another way to make money if this one doesn’t pan out.

Most of us are too timid, blocked by fear and procrastination.

So how can you join the winner’s circle?

1. Capture your ideas. Carry a tape recorder or small journal. Sometimes the best ideas come at the most inconvenient times.
2. Act on your ideas.  Write that plan, make that call, follow that lead - right away
3. Create connections with people who can help and support you.
4. Share your ideas and get feedback.
5. Recognize the “gremlins” in your mind that tell you that your ideas won’t fly and do it anyway!
6. Approach the people who will benefit from your talents with a clear, concise and catchy benefits statement.
7. Be the real you, – don’t put on a persona to win approval from someone else.
8. Use your power of attracting. Once you identify and articulate your ideas and talents, you WILL attract people to you who have need of those talents.
9. Don’t take “no” personally. It is not a judgment statement!
10. When an idea fails (many will), jot down quickly what you learned, then go to your list of great ideas and start exploring another one.

It is said that many of us are waiting for our ships to come in. What we don’t know is that we have to send out a fleet of good ideas, and then see which one comes back in laden with cargo!

Gratitude

As we move from one year to the next, we often focus on goal setting.  I want to encourage you to put that aside for now and focus instead on gratitude for all that is and has been.

I’m visualizing the Santa with the bog scroll that represents the gift wishes of all the children.  But instead, this list includes all the things that we are grateful for.

Here are a few of the things I’m grateful for this year:

• The love and support of my husband, Raymond
• My mother’s 85^th birthday (and still healthy)
• The wedding of son Chris to Kate
• All my family and friends
• A beautiful place in the desert to live
• Great clients and colleagues
• Opportunities to use my talents
• The joys of cooking (and eating), travel, hiking and singing

What do you want to add to the list?  Add it in the comments so we can visualize an even bigger scroll!

Wishing everyone a great year and lots to be grateful for in 2012!

Use your Portfolio Persuasively

I hope my last post convinced you to create a portfolio to showcase your work. There is a balance, however, between punctuating your sales call or interview with illustrations and overwhelming your prospect, losing the opportunity uncover his or her needs.

Here are a few tips on using your portfolio effectively.

• Focus on the Customer!  Use the portfolio after you have uncovered the prospects needs, selecting the few items to show that are most relevant.  If nothing is relevant – don’t mention that you have a portfolio with you.  If you have other, more relevant work samples that you did not bring along, offer to bring your portfolio to a second meeting and include more relevant content when you return.
• Keep it simple!  I have a box of sample writing, training courses, and other materials that I have created over the last 20 years or so. (I print out any web-based work since it is likely to change over time or may disappear).  What I find works best is to include a few (5 or 6)samples and no more than 2-3 pages of each.
• Target your customer! Select the examples that are most relevant to the prospect at hand.  Include work you’ve done for the same industry, business functional area, project or company size.
• Maintain Confidentiality!  Some of my examples have the company name, product, numbers or other identifying details blacked out. Illustrate your commitment to keeping confidentiality.
• Don’t leave it behind! I’m happy to show off my work, but never leave it behind. Let them call you back to discuss or view your portfolio in more detail and ensure that your ideas are not copied internally or given to other vendors who may undercut your prices.
• Let them know there’s more!  Be sure to mention that you are showing them just a small illustration of your work, that there is more that you are capable of doing.

Please add additional tips and success stories.  Or if you have been the  prospect on a call where a portfolio was presented, let us know how it worked either for or against the sale.

Create a Persuasive Portfolio

What?! You are in business for yourself or looking for a new position and you don’t have a portfolio of your work? You are missing out on a persuasive marketing tool!

For some professions, such as graphic design, website development or writer, a portfolio is expected and easy to put together. For others , it is more difficult to think of what to include. Here are some suggestions:

• Work samples
• Product samples
• Pictures – Before and After images
• Charts or graphs
• Recommendations
• Thank you notes
• Client or project success stories
• Articles you’ve written
• Articles where you’re mentioned
• Press Releases
• Video clips

Impress your prospect by slipping a little show and tell into your sales calls or interviews. The visual impact will be great and your prospect will be impressed when you illustrate your success stories.

As an added benefit, your portfolio is a great way for you to remind yourself of how good you are and what you have to offer. Look at it when you have a dip in energy to remind yourself of the benefits you bring to the table.

My next blog article will talk about how to use your portfolio for strategic advantage. Meanwhile, if you have other ideas of what to include, or stories of when your portfolio has won you the business, share them in comments.