Arleen’s Blog | Arleen Bradley Career Coaching - Putting the care in your career

Do you know what IT is that makes you stand out in your job search?

July 10, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

You do have an IT that is distinct. You have a value above all other candidates. But does the hiring company know what IT is? Better yet, do you know what IT is? And do you know why IT’s essential that you know what IT is and why you should use IT as a job searcher?

Stand out from the crowd to win the job.

The answer to these questions is simple. The IT is your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Your USP is what sets you apart from all the other candidates; what you do to make the company money or save money. The USP is used in networking, resumes, cover letters, and interviews to show how you can solve a problem the company is trying to solve in a way that no one else can.

The USP is a statement that summarizes what you have done and the value that resulted. For example, “Accomplished retail manager honored for training associates in customer service excellence resulting in high conversions of shoppers to purchasers and repeat customers. Received Superior Customer Service Award five out of six years eligible and Highest Sales Award each quarter. Increased store revenues 100% in six years.” This statement is more powerful than simply stating retail manager with six years’ experience.

Mentioning this fact at a networking event will be remembered for sure. Using this statement on your résumé above the fold will certainly encourage the reader to continue reading the résumé instead of putting in the “no” pile. The interviewer hearing such a statement will want to learn more about how you did this and how you can do this for their organization.

And the formula is simple. Your title + expertise you have + the results = your USP. The competitive edge you need to get the job over the other candidates. To find your skill, look at your accomplishments for similarities. Do you see patterns emerging? Places where you used the same techniques to achieve the desired results. If you do, you have found your expertise.

Standing apart from the highly qualified candidates makes the difference between being the winner and one of the also ran. Whether it’s a hard or soft skill, you have a something no one else has. You can contribute to an organization in the way only you can. Once you find it, use it to advertise and promote yourself to success.

image: freedigitalphotos.net Stuart Miles.

In an interview, is your message coming across as you intended?

July 5, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

Is your message coming across as you intended?

No matter what your career is, you talk to people every day. Whether you talk to family, friends, colleagues, customers, or vendors, how you communicate with them determines how successful you are in getting your message across to them. If you are looking for a job, you talk to others while networking or interviewing.

In order for your message to be understood by the listener, you need to be able to speak so they can understand you or want to continue speaking with you. Your choice of words is only half of the message; the other half is the delivery. How you deliver your message is important and should be examined. Below is only a partial list of what you should be aware of when speaking to others.

1. Rambling—using many words but not conveying a solid idea that one can understand. Or talking around the issue and not actually answering. Think of politicians during debates. They have said many words but didn’t answer the question.

2. Mumbling—if you don’t enunciate your words people won’t be able to understand you. This reminds of the scene in My Fair Lady, where Henry Higgins filled Eliza Dolittle’s mouth full of marbles in order for her to learn how to enunciate. I don’t think you have go that far.

3. Accents—some regional accents have a bad rap. However, most people hear their accent, but others do especially if they are from someplace different. If you are from an area that has an accent with a bad rap, you should tone it down.

4. Fillers—these are like words you like put in sentences that um really aren’t part of what you are trying to say you know. You to like stop saying these things you know. Because um they don’t sound smart you know. I think you get the idea.

5. Speed—speak at a pace that makes the words you are saying are understandable. Think of the message at the end of commercials where the announcer rattles off what would be the fine print so fast that you understand the words. Or the 78 speed records played at a speed of 33 the long, deep, drawn out sounds that

6. Volume—if you talk to softly, people won’t be able to hear you. But then if you talk too loudly, people get annoyed. Adjust your volume for the venue. If you networking and there are many other people talking, you will have speak louder than if you are in an office being interviewed.

7. Monotone—speaking in a single tone, volume, and/or speed makes whatever you say tedious and boring. Imagine if Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech in a monotone voice. Instead of being known as Martin Luther King, Jr., he would be Martin Luther who?

You may not be aware of how you are speaking, so it would help you to ask a trusted person to listen to you speak. Listen to their constructive criticism. If you prepare what you want to say, but your delivery is lacking, your message may not be received as you intended. Sometimes it isn’t what you say, but how you say it. Don’t let how you talk ruin all the work you have done to get this far.

Are You Free To Move Your Career Forward?

July 3, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

July 4th is the day you start moving forward with nothing to hold you back.

Tomorrow the United States will celebrate its independence from being ruled by another country. Before the U.S. could move forward with directing its own success, it had to separate from the negative energy that was holding it back. Are you able to celebrate the freedom from all the negativity caused by the involuntary separation from your last job?

Many job searchers aren’t. They are afraid of moving forward because their confidence is shaken and they fear another job loss. They have a hard time seeing the possibilities ahead because of the many unanswered questions that cause fear and anxiety. The uncertainty, combined with the anger, resentment and bitterness of the involuntary separation, is a road block to future success.

Getting rid of the anger, resentment and bitterness of being let go is necessary to move forward. A job searcher must fully mourn their lost job. Instead, they hide the negative feelings and emotions as they have been taught by society. But these emotions have adverse effects on the mind, body and spirit. It is essential that they release the negativity.

When the anger, resentment, and bitterness are fully acknowledged and put to rest, the job searcher is now ready to tackle a successful job search. A job search is frustrating; having emotional baggage makes the search more difficult. A successful job search requires full concentration. A job searcher needs to be fully engaged in their future and not held back by the past. The tug-of-war between the past and the present get in the way of success.

Free yourself from the past. The United States did and has accomplished so much. You have so much ahead of you that’s just waiting for you. You can release the negativity holding you back. Better things are ahead of you.

p.s. If you are celebrating with friends and family, don’t forget to network!

Today is the day you can start freeing yourself from the past. If you would like to learn how to release the anger, resentment and bitterness, click here.

image: freedigitalphoto.net nuttakit

3 Quick Tips for Job Search Success

July 1, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

When you think of a job search, you will immediately think of resumes and interviews. They are on every job searchers mind. But if you are in a job search, there are other things you think about. You also think about cover letters, networking and where to find available jobs.

Those are the biggies of the job search. But as in many things, sometimes it’s the small things that count. These few tips, although may seem insignificant but paying attention to them can help you.

Outgoing voice mail message. What does your voice mail message say? It should say your full name and instructions on the information you would like caller to leave.

I know someone, not in a job search, with an interesting outgoing message, but not one a job searcher should use. When the phone picked up, you heard her voice say “hello,” then silence, she came back saying “hello” again. This was followed by more silence; finally she started laughing and said “leave a message.”

I didn’t think it was funny, and if I were someone in human resources calling about an interview, I wouldn’t leave a message.

Volunteer. It’s not the first thing you think of when think of job search. But it’s a powerful job search strategy. Aside from networking and filling a resume gap, it can offer a respite from the job search anxiety.

Studies have proven that volunteering makes you feel happy. When you work with like-minded people to achieve a common goal, you experience a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. This gives you time away from your problems and frustrations.

Persistent v. stalking. There is a fine line between follow-up and stalking. Crossing the line either ends your candidacy or severely hurts it.

There was a job I wanted desperately. A woman who meant well told me to call or send an email to the hiring manager every other day; this was before I knew better. Every other day I would send the hiring manager an email thinking I was scoring points and making myself known. Well, I made myself know all right. The hiring manager replied to one of my emails telling me to stop sending her emails. Yup, I was noticed—noticed right out of job I wanted.

Before you leave the interview, ask what their time line for hiring this position is. Respect the time line and use it as a guide in your follow-up. Wait a day or two after the last day of the time line; send a brief email expressing your continued interest ask about the status of the position. If you call on the phone and get voice mail, leave a short voice mail. If they don’t return your call, wait a couple of days and call again. If the same thing happens, move on. If they decide they want to contact you, they will.

Although these tips are the biggest job search strategies, they make or break your chances with the company. What other tips do you have?

Subtle Ways to Ace Your Interview

June 28, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

Your nonverbal communications speak the truth about you.

Yes, that’s true. Without saying a word, you can communicate volumes of information to the interviewer. You communicate by facial expressions, posture and movement. A savvy interviewer can decode you actions. If they don’t like what they see, you are out. Your skills and experience on your résumé got you an interview. Your body language shows if you are a “good fit” with the rest of the team.

What should you be aware of? Here is a list:

1. Arms—don’t cross them in front of you. It is a defensive gesture. Nor should you be waving them around when you are speaking.

2. Hands—keep them away from your face. Touching your face indicates anxiety or lying.

Keep your hands and arms close by you but visible to the interviewer. If you gesture when you talk, do so without using large movements. Shake hands with a firm grip somewhere between bone crushing and a weak, dead fish handshake. Don’t play with anything in your hands such as a pen or twirl your hair.

3. Eyes—make eye contact without staring. Glancing around the room without making eye contact indicates boredom or lying. Try looking at the area between the interviewer’s eyebrows or chin.

4. Facial expressions—keep your face soft with a warm, genuine smile instead of tense. Avoid frowns and smirks.

The interviewer looks at your face for most of the interview. A friendly expression that shows confidence and interest is more appealing that an expression that shows anxiety, desperation or dishonesty.

5. Sit squarely in the chair—don’t lean to the side or slouch. Leaning back in the chair shows arrogance. Instead, sit up straight and lean in slightly, it shows interest in what the interviewer is saying.

6. Feet—keep your feet on the floor. Don’t cross your legs or put your ankle on your knee both gestures indicate complacency.

Your posture in a chair or standing should show confidence, interest and truthfulness. Walk upright your head held high, and your shoulders back, you look professional, confident and competent. All the right messages that you are the one they are looking for.

If you aren’t sure what your non-verbal presentation looks like, videotape a mock interview and review it with another to find where your body language needs attention. After you know what needs to be changed, practice interviewing and be aware of your actions and appearance.

Your body language alone won’t get you the job. You are a complete package. Your skills, experience, accomplishments, along with your answers and demeanor are all essential. Prepare your verbal and nonverbal communications to ace the interview.

Arleen Bradley Career Coaching

Do you know what IT is that makes you stand out in your job search?

In an interview, is your message coming across as you intended?

Are You Free To Move Your Career Forward?

3 Quick Tips for Job Search Success

Subtle Ways to Ace Your Interview

Career Coach

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