Well the great news is that we’re seeing things starting to break—seeing more interviews and yes, even more hires.

Let’s say you’ve just had the interview. What impression did you leave behind? Why should they extend you an offer? Or here’s one: you got the offer, but you’re already asking yourself “what’s next?”

This happened to Walter Cronkite, the familiar face of TV journalism who became the “most trusted man in America”, in one of his first jobs. After applying, and getting the position, he was asked why were you offered the job? “I never asked them why,” Cronkite recalled in a 2006 TV portrait. “I was so pleased to get the job, I didn’t want to endanger it by suggesting that I didn’t know why I had it.”

Now, in hindsight, we know it all worked out well for Walter Cronkite—he led a very full and respected life. I even remember hearing that line at the end of the newscast: “And that’s the way it is”. And everyone knew, that’s the way it was.

But for you, let me throw out a challenge: Know why you’re applying for the job and know the contribution you can make. In turn, you’ll know why you’re getting the offer!

As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager, Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Through the military, as a minister, a human resources executive, and finally as a career and life transition coach; he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at www.CCubedCareer.com.

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Let’s make a bet. My guess is that you’ve spent a few hours, or even days, working on that “perfect” resume and cover letter; only to hear nothing from those great HR gods up in the sky. You thought you knocked it out of the park - but did you really?

Here are a few things to get your resume noticed:

1. Is the resume really you?
2. Is it focused on the job you’re applying for?
3. By looking at the resume, why would you hire you?
4. The resume is “step 2”, networking is “step 1”.
5. Think of the resume as multiple stories.
6. In the stories, have accomplishments, not duties.
7. Know that different people will view your resume differently.
8. The purpose of the resume is not to get the job.
9. You want to be noticed, in the right way.
10. Know why you are applying for the job.

Some extra tools:

Box.net: an application on LinkedIn to help organize your “brand”.

www.JibberJobber.com: a personal contact management system to organize your job search.

As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager, Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Through the military, as a minister, a human resources executive, and finally as a career and life transition coach; he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at www.CCubedCareer.com.

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How did it happen already? My second daughter just graduated college and I have very mixed emotions. Mainly, we’re very proud of her accomplishment, but I’m also wondering where the years went! As college graduation season wraps up soon, it seems natural to talk about career coaching - why hiring a career coach can be the difference between getting the job and NOT even getting an interview.

Let me ask you a couple questions: Would you wire your own home for electricity? Build your own car? Do you cut your own hair? (no “hair” jokes for Kevin now!) Most would say “no.” If it is important, and we want it done right, we hire an expert.

The same principle should apply when job seeking. Your career is one of your most crucial financial investments. If you are actively engaged in a search, underemployed or unhappily employed, it makes sense to consult an expert as you launch your search for a new job.

Most people don’t welcome the idea of a job hunt. It is hard work and may seem overwhelming. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an experienced ally who will help you every step of the way?

As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager, Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Through the military, as a minister, a human resources executive, and finally as a career and life transition coach; he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at www.CCubedCareer.com.

Technorati Tags: assessments, career coach, Coaching, kevin tucker, life coach, life coaching, negotiating, Passion and Job Satisfaction, resume, success

Today, in our world’s busyness, we often think of the Memorial Day weekend as the start of summer and of course, we must have a BBQ, – now don’t get me wrong, both are great, but neither has anything to do with Memorial Day. Even as a Veteran myself, the day has a different focus.  Simply put, “Memorial Day is to honor those military members who have died, and Veterans Day is to honor all Veterans, alive or dead”.

So in this context, no matter what one’s background and political lean is, without question, we’re indented to these individuals that have made the ultimate sacrifice before us.  They paid the price. Sometimes I ask, “Am I worthy of such a deed?”… now there’s a question to think about.

In our career, the path is often worn because of those before us. They may have opened doors and we only see brick walls. As I coach countless individuals, I encourage them to look at the big picture – how does each piece of the job search connect with each other?

Having this knowledge will help in give you clarity and direction along your journey – and get you the results you need!

As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager, Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Through the military, as a minister, a human resources executive, and finally as a career and life transition coach; he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at www.CCubedCareer.com.

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Well, I must admit, even I was surprised at the feedback from my last post. What I consider a “daily routine” was a pretty hot topic - and for good reason. For more many people, the results of networking are something they’re not expecting.

Let me give you an example. For me, this week was busier then most. I had the typical load of client meetings  and such, but what took it over the top were a few networking meetings, speaking at various events, and even starting a new job seekers networking group! (More info by e-mailing me from the “comments” field below.) But here’s the kicker: as the events kept going through the week (and 2-3 events every day, I might add), people would come up to me and say “Kevin, I heard you speak last night:, or “I have a question on…”, or “were will you be next?” I have maybe 200 new contacts for my network!

Here’s the secret… are you ready? We do it all the time - simply naturally engage others in conversation and be ready for what ever might result! Let me give you an example: On Friday, through networking, I ran into a person that I had had not seen in three years! Well, we spent quite a bit of time catching-up, but then focused on how we could benefit each other in our businesses. It will be a win-win for both of us!

Job searching is the same way. The more focused conversations you can have with key decision makers, the better! Now, sometimes they won’t even be planned, or it’s the “meeting after the meeting” - but the bottom line is that you never know that next person will that can, and will, help you with your next position, feel free to use the contact button below, if you have questions on for me.

Technorati Tags: assessments, career assessment, career coach, career consulting, Coaching, cover letter, disc assessment, interview tips, kevin tucker, kevin tucker" rel="tag"> Success, keywords, life coach, life coaching, negotiating, outplacement services, Passion and Job Satisfaction, resume, success, transition coach, video interview

As you are having a conversation / interview with your new employer, you need to connect you need to share stories and situations that they can relate to - remember they are the one hiring you!

As I was preparing that post, I ran across an article by Meridith Levinson, “Job Seekers: How to Tell Stories to Stand Out” that says it well:

Sensory details provide an essential element of good story-telling, says Hansen, because they help draw in audiences. Just as descriptions of a house’s smell or a character’s clothes make a story more believable, details about a job seeker’s professional experience will make their stories more credible and enticing to hiring managers.

“In a job seeking story, numerical details-numbers, percentages-are really important,” says Hansen. Key details to include in résumés and cover letters and in your answers to interview questions are the size of the IT budget you oversaw, the number of people you managed, size and scope of projects, and percents and dollars of revenue generated or costs cut.

Though detail is helpful, job seekers want to make sure they emphasize the particulars that are important to their audience-the hiring manager. They don’t want to waste precious interview time describing what their employer’s office looks like or the taste of the coffee in the break room.

The Two-Minute Rule

All this talk about recounting stories shouldn’t make job seekers think they need to transform simple, straightforward anecdotes about their professional experiences into epic tales. Rambling responses to interview questions bore hiring managers.

Consequently, Hansen says job seekers’ responses to interview questions shouldn’t run longer than two minutes. She recommends that you draft your stories on paper, rehearse them out loud with friends or family who can provide feedback, and revise them as necessary until you can hit all necessary points in two minutes or less.

Delivery

Even well-structured stories can fall flat if they’re not delivered with emotion. This is particularly true for challenge-action-result formats, admits Hansen, so job seekers should speak about their work with enthusiasm. A job seeker’s passion for his or her metier is infectious and demonstrates another quality that hiring managers find irresistible in prospective employees-confidence.

Well, thanks to Meridith for these thoughts. However it is presented-in conversation or the resume, connecting with the person interviewing you is the key!

As a Nationally Credentialed Career and Life Transition Coach, I help people like yourself get more out of life through their career! Is coaching for you? Learn how career and life coaching can help you personally, can help your company, and can help your church. Check out more at www.CCubedCareer.com.

As many of you know, I’m one for networking - to be able to build your impact through others.

Well, this past week I did just that. I was involved in the Career Management Alliance annual conference and plan to share many things with you in the upcoming days - even a new partnership that I’m working on to make your job share more effective!

Stay tuned, much more to come!

As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager (CCM), Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Using a faith-based foundation, he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at www.CCubedCareer.com. 

Wow!, when was the last time you heard this? Last night, I had dinner at Texas Roadhouse (one of my favorite places!) and the employees all had shirts on that said “I Love My Job!” Seeing that my thing is to be on the lookout for such strange things in our society, I took notice! You see, as a coach, my job is to help people work in an area that is a match with their natural gifts, talents, and abilities.

The sad truth is that most folks are not. In a recent conversation I had with Tom Bradburn, president of Right People USA, he threw out a stat he recently saw in Forbes magazine: 87% of the folks out there are not a right fit for what they are doing. Itís not that they don’t want to enjoy their work, it’s that they’re not a fit! I recently had a person tell me “Kevin, I don’t have a clue what I want to do; but I know it’s not this”. Now, let me set the stage-he had been doing “this” job for 20 years! 

My hope and prayer for you is that you’ll give yourself the freedom to be in a job you love-everyone desires this!

You may have a dream, a life-long goal, or something you never thought possible. Take the responsibility to surround yourself with people and resources that can make a difference in your life! Through conversation and maybe an assessment or two (we have one that focus on your personality and how it fits in your workplace that you might want to check out), youíre sure to get on track!

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Have you thought, “I’ll just wait till after Christmas and New Years to start looking for a job?” or “no one is hiring on, so why even look?”

I can’t tell you the number of folks that tell me this, but let me help you turn the tables.  There are plenty of positions available this time of year, but it’s all up to you. Let me explain.

Even though there might be a few less “hires” happening right now, those that are networking and discovering those leads will be the ones matching up with the employer’s needs. You see, if most folks take the holiday season off from their job search, your odds will be that much better!

Also, this time of year, it’s a great time for informational interviews - folks are in a very giving spirit - they want to help! I even have one collage that states, “It’s a person’s choice not to be working…” It’s up to you to go out and make the connections-know why your future employer would hire you!

Technorati Tags: assessments, career assessment, career coach, career coaching, career consulting, Coaching, cover letter, disc assessment, interview tips, kevin tucker, keywords, life coach, life coaching, negotiating, outplacement services, Passion and Job Satisfaction, resume, resume writing, transition coach, video interview

Kevin C. Tucker is the founder of C~Cubed Career Consulting and Coaching, is on the board for Arizona Career Development Association (ACDA) and is nationally certified as a Credentialed Career Master (CCM).

What was your first job?

My first job was working at an amusement park in Southern California (I’ll let you guess which one). I operated the world’s highest, fastest and scariest wooden racing roller coaster - well, at the time! I sent unsuspecting victims off for the ride of their life (and a serious case of white knuckle exhilaration). In a warped way, this established my life work of helping others find passion in their lives.

What is the worst job you’ve ever had?

A job that had a boss who was indecisive and I questioned his ethics. For me, and as I coach others, ethics is the foundation of all I do.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Seeing that light in a person’s face when they’ve discovered their passion in life! Many of my clients, for years, have just “gone to work.” As they discover that they can (and should) love the work they do - this is where my joy comes from.

Typically, we’ll start with an assessment (don’t worry, it not like a test!), and the results can be quite revealing. Even clients just getting out of college can see how important alignment with their career and life should be!

What is the most difficult part of your job?

Keeping focused. Just by the nature of working with individuals and their careers, much of the coaching could go in many different directions. Seeing that one’s career touches on everything they do, this is understandable! As he was writing a letter to someone, a guy by the name of Benjamin Franklin once said, “I apologize for this note being so long, I didn’t have time to write it correctly.” What was he saying? Basically, “I didn’t take the time to get focused.” This is key for someone to be in alignment with the direction they should be going.

How long have you been a career coach?

In one sense, my whole career, but with many different titles: military service, a recruiter, a human resources manager/director, a career development adviser, and finally as a career coach.

What advice would you give to people who want to change careers?

Ask yourself this question, “why?” Is there something you don’t like about your current job? The industry? The boss? The company? Do you know what your talents and strengths are? In the assessment that our clients start out with, we compare a person’s present work environment to their ideal work environment - talk about an eye-opening exercise! Many people want to change their career (they say about 80 percent of the people out there are not happy with what they are doing); but for true joy and happiness, you must be aligned with your talents and strengths!

What is the most misunderstood part of your job?

I would say probably how I connect with people. It’s not an exact science; I approach every client’s needs uniquely. We have a program where we partner with individuals to help them discover their true passion for their career; we give them the tools to make it happen including individual coaching and group networking. It’s rather hard to put that into words!

One distinction I’ll often make is that I coach individuals (and companies every now and then); it’s not counseling.

Which professions are in demand in Arizona right now?

The two big ones are hospitality and customer support (call centers) - keep in mind; it takes all levels of various positions in these areas.

Any other advice or thoughts?

Everyone, at all levels, needs a coach or mentor. Think about Tiger Woods - undoubtedly, the best golfer in the world. He takes advice from a coach and reinvents his swing!

Similarly, with your career, having someone with experience and an objective opinion of your situation can only help your focus. Some (coaches) in this industry take different approaches, but with my experience, I work face to face with individuals seeking to make a career change. Let’s face it; most of our communication is face to face. As I work with clients, I call it “learning to read between the words.” Yes, you might get something out of a phone dialog with someone, but the conversation will improve ten-fold by meeting with a coach face to face.

Technorati Tags: assessments, career assessment, career coach, career coaching, career consulting, Coaching, cover letter, disc assessment, interview tips, kevin tucker, keywords, life coach, life coaching, negotiating, outplacement services, Passion and Job Satisfaction, resume, resume writing, transition coach, video interview