Taken from Seth Godin's Blog
When you love the work you do and the people you do it with, you matter.
When you are so gracious and generous and aware that you think of other people before yourself, you matter.
When you leave the world a better place than you found it, you matter.
When you continue to raise the bar on what you do and how you do it, you matter.
When you teach and forgive and teach more before you rush to judge and demean, you matter.
When you touch the people in your life through your actions (and your words), you matter.
When kids grow up wanting to be you, you matter.
When you see the world as it is, but insist on making it more like it could be, you matter.
When you inspire a Nobel prize winner or a slum dweller, you matter.
When the room brightens when you walk in, you matter.
And when the legacy you leave behind lasts for hours, days or a lifetime, you matter.
Your e-mail address is a valuable tool when looking for work. Aside from the fact that almost all, if not all, job applications are now submitted by e-mail, it is best practice to consider the following when sending your application.
• Your e-mail address - just like your phone number - must be indicated on every page of your document; just in case your e-mail gets deleted after your document is downloaded or printed out.
• Create a special e-mail address that connotes a professional name instead of using your old e-mail address that you created for your social contacts. lolly_pops@yahoo.com is a cute name for your friends but not as professional sounding for your job search. johndoe.accountant@yahoo.com is more appropriate.
• Don’t use numbers or special characters for quick recall. Your e-mail address must be easy to remember; particularly when recruiters or hiring managers want to communicate quickly with you without having to search for your document.
• Never use your employer e-mail address when sending or receiving or communicating with prospective employer. Not only is it unethical but accidentally intercepting your communications is definitely embarrassing and may cause you your job.
• Your e-mail address - just like your phone number - must be indicated on every page of your document; just in case your e-mail gets deleted after your document is downloaded or printed out.
• Create a special e-mail address that connotes a professional name instead of using your old e-mail address that you created for your social contacts. lolly_pops@yahoo.com is a cute name for your friends but not as professional sounding for your job search. johndoe.accountant@yahoo.com is more appropriate.
• Don’t use numbers or special characters for quick recall. Your e-mail address must be easy to remember; particularly when recruiters or hiring managers want to communicate quickly with you without having to search for your document.
• Never use your employer e-mail address when sending or receiving or communicating with prospective employer. Not only is it unethical but accidentally intercepting your communications is definitely embarrassing and may cause you your job.
Aim High
It is ironic how a lot of applicants aim low when looking for work. They think that it must be easier to land a job for which they are over qualified because they would surely stand out from the crowd.
It is a bit problematic for some reasons. Just like in a pyramid, lower positions have a lot more applicants competing for the same stake. As you go up the ladder, however, you will find fewer competitors but the competition gets tougher. I recommend that you put your wager in the latter than in the former. Why?
• Your qualifications, as long as well-defined and clearly communicated, have a better chance of standing up to the competition.
• If you get hired, you will probably be challenged, stimulated, and energized, increasing the likelihood that you will stay put. Job stability is a plus to employers for permanent posts.
• Getting to the next level (higher position) in your career path is quicker and more logical. Each position you get into catapults you to the next one.
This strategy keeps your career integrity intact. It is easier to sell yourself now and in the future when you are coming from a place of authenticity - being honest to yourself about what you really want and being truthful to a prospective employer on your real capability as a professional.
It is a bit problematic for some reasons. Just like in a pyramid, lower positions have a lot more applicants competing for the same stake. As you go up the ladder, however, you will find fewer competitors but the competition gets tougher. I recommend that you put your wager in the latter than in the former. Why?
• Your qualifications, as long as well-defined and clearly communicated, have a better chance of standing up to the competition.
• If you get hired, you will probably be challenged, stimulated, and energized, increasing the likelihood that you will stay put. Job stability is a plus to employers for permanent posts.
• Getting to the next level (higher position) in your career path is quicker and more logical. Each position you get into catapults you to the next one.
This strategy keeps your career integrity intact. It is easier to sell yourself now and in the future when you are coming from a place of authenticity - being honest to yourself about what you really want and being truthful to a prospective employer on your real capability as a professional.
Helping
I received an email from someone who was having a difficulty landing a job after being called for interviews a few times. She thought there must be something wrong because she was not getting hired after these interviews. I offered to give her a thirty-minute complimentary coaching because I had a sense of where the problem lies and I wanted to help her.
Twenty minutes into the coaching process, she had an “aha” moment when I made her realize which type of work she should be applying for considering her experience and interests. She said, “Wow…you were able to help me figure this out after talking to me in just twenty minutes. I never thought of this before!”
At the end of the session I was so pleased that I was able to help her. But more importantly, it made me realize why I am doing what I’m doing in the first place. So who helped whom?
Twenty minutes into the coaching process, she had an “aha” moment when I made her realize which type of work she should be applying for considering her experience and interests. She said, “Wow…you were able to help me figure this out after talking to me in just twenty minutes. I never thought of this before!”
At the end of the session I was so pleased that I was able to help her. But more importantly, it made me realize why I am doing what I’m doing in the first place. So who helped whom?
Strategic Job Search
It is very easy to fall in the trap of shortsighted job search particularly when you are unemployed and bordering on desperation. Most people would consider any or all the following:
- Pay rate. As long as it is paying more than what I used to get, I don’t mind downgrading into another position or doing something unrelated to what I used to do.
- Close to home. I don’t mind going down a notch in my pay grade or doing less challenging role as long as I can be home early enough for dinner.
- Great company. I am willing to take any job as long as I get to work in a prestigious company that is known for its stability.
- First job offer. I should really take this first job offer lest I end up being unemployed for a long period of time. I can always jump ship when I find a better one.
- How and where would this position lead you to the next time around? Is it going to open up opportunities for a higher, broader, higher-paying position?
- How many kilometer radius are you willing to drive from home for a position that would leverage you for a better position eventually? What trade-offs are you willing to consider for the distance?
- Would you be willing to take a chance in a smaller, developing company that offers potentials for broader or higher responsibility?
- How long would you be willing to wait for the job that puts you in a strategic position for future growth?
The Role of Self-Assessment When Establishing or Shifting Into A New Career
If you are establishing or shifting to a new career, I would recommend that you make a very clear determination of your real preferences and strong interests. This information will keep you in good stead towards the best career options for you.
Asking other people about their opinion of you is not a reliable means to do this. They might not know everything about you to help. If you rely on your own personal judgment alone, there might be aspects of you that you are not aware of but that other people could see from their vantage point. (Read more about the Johari Window to understand this phenomenon).
The best option is to use assessment tools such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI) or the Strong Interest Inventory® or, better yet, a combination of both. Insight offers these two tests and provides a complimentary 30-minute career coaching to go over and above the one-hour review of the details of the results.
The details from the results and the wealth of information that are derived from both assessments are truly amazing and enlightening. The richness of the analytical inputs provided and the depth of insights derived from them could serve as guideposts to career selection and long-term career planning. Considering how many people I've met who are unhappy in their jobs and in search of a more fulfilling career, this is one of the best investments you can make for your future.
Asking other people about their opinion of you is not a reliable means to do this. They might not know everything about you to help. If you rely on your own personal judgment alone, there might be aspects of you that you are not aware of but that other people could see from their vantage point. (Read more about the Johari Window to understand this phenomenon).
The best option is to use assessment tools such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI) or the Strong Interest Inventory® or, better yet, a combination of both. Insight offers these two tests and provides a complimentary 30-minute career coaching to go over and above the one-hour review of the details of the results.
The details from the results and the wealth of information that are derived from both assessments are truly amazing and enlightening. The richness of the analytical inputs provided and the depth of insights derived from them could serve as guideposts to career selection and long-term career planning. Considering how many people I've met who are unhappy in their jobs and in search of a more fulfilling career, this is one of the best investments you can make for your future.
Preparing for an Interview
Why do I have to rehearse for an interview? A résumé will simply help you get to an interview. The interview will get you the job. Confidence level significantly improves with interview rehearsal. A strategy to presenting your qualifications effectively can go a long way. Why throw an opportunity away by failing in an interview when a simple preparation and rehearsal with a professional can make a whole lot of difference?
If you cannot afford to get a coach to prepare you for an interview, this hour-long webinar might be the next best thing. This presentation focuses on:
1. How to prepare for an interview
2. The value of a strategic résumé to the interview process
3. Establishing rapport with the interviewer
4. How to present your unique value proposition during the interview
5. Closing the sale by asking the right questions
6. The opportunity to create a relationship and develop your network
If you cannot afford to get a coach to prepare you for an interview, this hour-long webinar might be the next best thing. This presentation focuses on:
1. How to prepare for an interview
2. The value of a strategic résumé to the interview process
3. Establishing rapport with the interviewer
4. How to present your unique value proposition during the interview
5. Closing the sale by asking the right questions
6. The opportunity to create a relationship and develop your network
Strategic Résumé Writing
What is a strategic résumé? A résumé is the first picture of yourself that a prospective employer will see. How your résumé looks like and the substance it contains will be the only basis of making the decision to reject your application or to move it along through the next process -- the interview. You would like your résumé to best represent you. A strategic resume highlights your unique value proposition and makes you stand out from hundreds of other applicants. It demonstrates your most competitive qualities and differentiating traits. What to highlight and what to downplay is part of strategic decision-making that only a seasoned HR professional would know. Take note that the person screening the candidates will only spend a few seconds to look at your résumé. The right words at the right place will make a huge difference in either getting to an interview ...or your résumé getting to the “no go” stack.
Attend our Strategic Résumé Writing webinar and get ready to re-write your résumé. This webinar is designed not only for people actively looking for work. It also helps people in their strategic career plan to be able to position themselves in the market when a good opportunity comes along. This webinar will specifically cover:
1. The difference between a regular résumé and a strategic résumé
2. The process of defining your selling proposition before writing the résumé;
3. The creative process of defining the content from your strength areas
4. Deciding on the format of the résumé to “put your best foot forward”;
5. The importance of highlighting accomplishments and measurable achievements; and
6. The function of the résumé as a tool to sell and market yourself
Attend our Strategic Résumé Writing webinar and get ready to re-write your résumé. This webinar is designed not only for people actively looking for work. It also helps people in their strategic career plan to be able to position themselves in the market when a good opportunity comes along. This webinar will specifically cover:
1. The difference between a regular résumé and a strategic résumé
2. The process of defining your selling proposition before writing the résumé;
3. The creative process of defining the content from your strength areas
4. Deciding on the format of the résumé to “put your best foot forward”;
5. The importance of highlighting accomplishments and measurable achievements; and
6. The function of the résumé as a tool to sell and market yourself
Re-invent Yourself - A Career Management Approach
In this time of economic recession, when unemployment soars and competition for work is harder than ever, it is getting more difficult for jobseekers to get the job that they really want. Tough times call for a new way of thinking. Tough times call for you to reinvent yourself.
Well, you may be employed and not looking right now. But this is a good time as any to revisit your career plan and to strategize for future development. Given a chance, would you have the courage to try something different? Would you be willing to redefine your unique value proposition?
Remember that the best time to look for work is when you are blissfully employed and the best time to look for a better opportunity is when you are already in a good one.
This one-hour presentation will look at some out-of-the-box career options that might be available after taking a more exhaustive look at resources internal or external to you. This is about:
1. The importance of being strategic in planning your career whether you're employed or unemployed
2. How to reinvent yourself in view of the trends in the global and local labour market
3. A new perspective in defining your value proposition so you could market yourself better
Well, you may be employed and not looking right now. But this is a good time as any to revisit your career plan and to strategize for future development. Given a chance, would you have the courage to try something different? Would you be willing to redefine your unique value proposition?
Remember that the best time to look for work is when you are blissfully employed and the best time to look for a better opportunity is when you are already in a good one.
This one-hour presentation will look at some out-of-the-box career options that might be available after taking a more exhaustive look at resources internal or external to you. This is about:
1. The importance of being strategic in planning your career whether you're employed or unemployed
2. How to reinvent yourself in view of the trends in the global and local labour market
3. A new perspective in defining your value proposition so you could market yourself better
How To Market Yourself Effectively
There’s not a lot of difference between selling and promoting a product and selling and promoting yourself to get the job that you want. This teleseminar will aim to borrow the entire marketing process and translate it into the process of developing your career.
1. Select your niche. – How do you determine your target market segment and how do you position yourself in this sector?
2. Define your unique value proposition. - Who are you? What makes you different? What sets you apart?
3. Sell and promote yourself. - How do you present yourself? How do you communicate your unique value proposition?
4. Close the sale and get hired. – What is your call to action? How do you close the sale?
5. Keep a great “client” relationship. – Getting hired (or not) is never the end of the story. It is all part of your career strategy. How do you develop and keep your relationships with them alive?
1. Select your niche. – How do you determine your target market segment and how do you position yourself in this sector?
2. Define your unique value proposition. - Who are you? What makes you different? What sets you apart?
3. Sell and promote yourself. - How do you present yourself? How do you communicate your unique value proposition?
4. Close the sale and get hired. – What is your call to action? How do you close the sale?
5. Keep a great “client” relationship. – Getting hired (or not) is never the end of the story. It is all part of your career strategy. How do you develop and keep your relationships with them alive?
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