We had an almost total technological crisis here at C-Cubed last week. In addition to getting the black screen of death on one of the computers(I wrote about this last week), our main printer decided it would be a good time to take a permanent vacation—without the traditional two week notice. I could see things grinding to a halt and dollar signs floating in front of my eyes. How in the world did we ever function WITHOUT a personal computer its friend the printer? Repair or replace? Replace or repair? Replace or replace…I think you get the idea. Those were the questions of the week—all week. At first thought, emotion told me to bite the bullet and replace both. But was it necessary and did it really make sense?

Often career transition is guided by emotion—good or bad. You’re approached by a new company or department within your company to come work for them; a good dilemma for you! Or, on the flip side, you’re released or laid-off. Not so good. However, both developments are dominated by strong emotional pulls demanding that you make a decision, NOW.

Before you make a decision, you need to make sure it makes sense for you and your current (and future) situation. Step back for a moment or two and think through possible scenarios and likely outcomes. Sure, that invitation to work with a new department is flattering and gives you a boost; but is it in alignment with your career goals? Are you a good fit with that department’s culture?  Or now that you’re forced to find a new job; do you take the first one that makes an offer (any offer), or do you wait for one that fulfills all of your dreams? Do you accept something somewhere in between?

Whatever you do, don’t make the decision alone. Confide in close friends and family members. They often have insight that you may overlook in the passion of the moment.  Seek the advice of a career coach if you still need direction. A career coach can help you objectively see the big picture and give you a solid course of action to achieve your goals. Whatever you do, it needs to make sense for YOU!

As for my office machine meltdown; I was able to resurrect the computer. It now has four of its nine lives left. Knowing that I want to upgrade to a Mac in the future, it made sense to hold off on getting a new pc now. As far as the printer goes, we’re quite smitten with the new printer and the smok’n deal we got on it.

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 http://ccubedcareer.com.

Technorati Tags: career coach, career coaching, career consulting, Career Transition, change, job search, kevin tucker, life coach, military transition, Networking, Passion and Job Satisfaction, transition coach

I got a picture text from my wife yesterday showing me the black screen of death on her computer. She didn’t seem too upset, so I knew she had a contingency plan and everything was okie dokie. I preach the mantra of save frequently and back-up often, so I text her back, gave her some reassuring words and continued with my day. I didn’t hear anymore, so I figured “no news is good news”.

That was until I got home. She did manage to bring the beast back to life—briefly. Actually long enough to get a current back-up copy of her files. (Notice how I’ve highlighted current.) Now, although the black screen of death showed up unexpectedly yesterday morning, she knew that her system was running on borrowed time. It had done this once before, about six months ago, and to her, every day that the computer was working was a gift from God. Although she knew the computer was’t quite right, she didn’t have a current back-up of her data.

This incident got me thinking, how often do we put off or wait until the last possible moment to do things that need to be done—especially in a work situation? You can usually read the writing on the wall for down-sizings, RIFs, lay-offs, and firings. How prepared are you if the black screen of death comes to visit you at work? I’d like to pose a few questions to you if you don’t mind:

1. How current is your resume? Your resume should have your most recent information on it. If you don’t have a resume—NOW is the time to get one put together!
2. Do you have a network of people—both professional and personal—that you can turn to for advice and for references?
3. What would your next move be if you were to find yourself out of work?

Consider these three items to be a start to your “back-up” plan. I realize that I’ve over-simplified this a bit—I just wanted to get you thinking; to get you started on your plan. If you need help developing your plan, I’m just a phone call or e-mail away.

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 http://ccubedcareer.com.

Technorati Tags: career, career change, career coach, career coaching, kevin tucker, Networking, resume, resume writing, resumes, transition, transition coach

No matter what the state of the economic times are, or what part of the country you’re in, keeping motivated in your job is key. When times get tight, you don’t want to give your employer a reason to question your worth; or your employment for that matter.

As a career and life coach, I talk with folks on a daily basis who are struggling with this balance. Maybe something has changed in your family-a move to a different part of the country or even a foreclosure. Unfortunately, many people are dealing with issues like these and understandably so, there’s not much motivation left for the workplace!

But how do you step “up” when it seems like so many things are falling apart around you? Here are a few quick steps to keep you in balance.

Know your value to your employer’s ROI. To start off, we need to look at the true business side of the house. If you’re not motivated and contributing value to the company, why should your boss keep you around? Know how you’re contributing to the bottom line of the company. Go back to why you were hired in the first place. Where have you been able to contribute? What have you been able to resolve?

Increase communication with your boss. Communication is one of those things that you can never get enough of, but does it take work! You may need to be the one that needs to initiate it. Most likely your boss is not going to come to you. Many other pressures may have been put on her or his plate and sitting down to have a conversation with you is probably not on the radar screen. But, it is key for you to know where they’re at and what you can do to help them.

Find additional ways to contribute. This really goes with the thought of communication. In tough times, employers often find ways to do more with less. The positive side of this is that it gives you a greater opportunity to have a bigger piece of the pie. Your boss might ask for your input, you could volunteer for extra assignments, or you just might be there as a resource. Whatever it is, if you’re there with a great attitude and a giving spirit, you can’t go wrong!

Build up the team. What about others around you? These could be the folks that report to you, the team you work with, your peers, or even your clients. In these tough times, can you think of a better a better way to add value than to be the person that everyone wants to be around? As a former team manager, I’d look for people like this. If you have a positive influence on others and are a true asset to the company, your boss will notice!

In moving forward, keeping motivated is truly a choice-your choice. As you apply these principles, watch out! Not only will your motivation be on target, but you’ll see positive results in other areas of your life as well!

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 http://ccubedcareer.com.

Technorati Tags: attitude, career coach, career coaching, career inventory, career passion, kevin tucker, motivation, Passion and Job Satisfaction, self improvement, success, workplace

I came across this quote by John F. Kennedy the other day, “When written in Chinese, the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters—one represents danger, and the other represents opportunity.” It gave me a new perspective on the phrase, ‘crisis situation’. While there is usually an element of danger to overcome in a crisis situation, there is also always an opportunity—an opportunity to grow and move forward.

Dictionary.com defines ‘crisis’ as a dramatic emotional or circumstantial upheaval in a person’s life. Sooner or later (and usually more often than we’d like) we all experience a “crisis situation” that needs to be dealt with. No matter whether the crisis is personal—for example a serious illness, professional—such as a toxic work environment or a sudden job loss, or even global as tragically illustrated by the unfolding events in Japan; there is always an opportunity to move forward beyond the danger.

When you face a crisis in your life, I’d like to challenge you to move forward, beyond the danger and use the opportunity for positive growth.

On a more somber note; please keep those who have been affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan in your thoughts and prayers. Words alone cannot fully express the sympathy and compassion going out to these folks…

Technorati Tags: career, crisis, danger, job transition, kevin tucker, kevin tucker" rel="tag"> Success, opportunity

One of the biggest mistakes I see is job seekers making a change without making a plan. For the most part, people want to make career changes based on emotion alone. They hate what they’re doing. They want something different—and they something different NOW! For the past few years, the situation is often that a person doesn’t have a job; they’re having difficulty finding one and it’s already become a crisis situation. Once you’re in crisis mode and are ready to settle for whatever is out there as long as it pays, you’re setting yourself up for failure and another career change somewhere in the future.

Let me suggest that you make a plan BEFORE you make a change. That plan needs to include understanding what you do and don’t like about your current or most recent job situation; determining what type of jobs best align with your passions in life; and finally knowing how your strengths, skills and talents fit into the mix. These are key to making a truly successful and fulfilling career move. This can be as simple as a Pros vs. Cons list or as elaborate as a spreadsheet. Either way, map out what you want. Once you better understand your wants and needs, you can focus your search on those positions that will be a great fit for you!

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: career, career change, career coach, coach kevin, job, job search, kevin tucker, transition

“Tell Me About Yourself”
It’s one of the most frequently asked questions in an interview: Tell me about yourself. Your response to this request will set the tone for the rest of the interview. For some, this is the most challenging question to answer, as they wonder what the interviewer really wants to know and what information they should include.

Eleanor dreaded this question, and when it was the first one asked at her interview she fumbled her way through a vague answer, not focusing on what she could bring to the job.

“I’m happily married and originally from Denver,” she began. “My husband was transferred here three months ago, and I’ve been getting us settled in our new home. I’m now ready to go back to work. I’ve worked in a variety of jobs, usually customer service-related. I’m looking for a company that offers growth opportunities.”

The interview went downhill after that. She had started with personal information and gave the interviewer reason to doubt whether she was an employee who would stay for very long.

She’s married, and when her husband gets transferred that means she has to leave; she did it once and can do it again.   She has some work experience with customers but didn’t emphasize what she did.   She is looking to grow. What about the job she is applying for? Will she stay content for long?   The secret to successfully responding to this free-form request is to focus, script and practice. You cannot afford to wing this answer, as it will affect the rest of the interview. Begin to think about what you want the interviewer to know about you.

Focus
List five strengths you have that are pertinent to this job (experiences, traits, skills, etc.). What do you want the interviewer to know about you when you leave?

Eleanor is strong in communications and connecting with people. She has a strong background and proven success with customer relationships. Her real strength is her follow-through. She prides herself on her reputation for meeting deadlines.

Scripting
Prepare a script that includes the information you want to convey. Begin by talking about past experiences and proven success:

“I have been in the customer service industry for the past five years. My most recent experience has been handling incoming calls in the high tech industry. One reason I particularly enjoy this business, and the challenges that go along with it, is the opportunity to connect with people. In my last job, I formed some significant customer relationships resulting in a 30 percent increase in sales in a matter of months.”

Next, mention your strengths and abilities:
“My real strength is my attention to detail. I pride myself on my reputation for following through and meeting deadlines. When I commit to doing something, I make sure it gets done, and on time.”

Conclude with a statement about your current situation:

“What I am looking for now is a company that values customer relations, where I can join a strong team and have a positive impact on customer retention and sales.”

Practice
Practice with your script until you feel confident about what you want to emphasize in your statement. Your script should help you stay on track, but you shouldn’t memorize it — you don’t want to sound stiff and rehearsed. It should sound natural and conversational.

Even if you are not asked this type of question to begin the interview, this preparation will help you focus on what you have to offer. You will also find that you can use the information in this exercise to assist you in answering other questions. The more you can talk about your product — you — the better chance you will have at selling it.

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: career coaching, Coaching, interview tips, interviewing, kevin tucker

The dictionary defines inventory as both a noun and a verb. The noun, inventory, is a detailed, itemized list, report, or record of things in one’s possession, especially a periodic survey of all goods and materials in stock. The verb, inventory, is the process of making such a list, report, or record. This month, we’re going to inventory your inventory.

The first step in taking inventory is knowing what you want it to accomplish. That’s something you need to decide. Are you looking actively for a job, or are you just looking to advance in your current one? Are you happy with your career course, or do you feel it’s time to try something different? If you’re not sure, the perfect place to start would be a career assessment that inventories your skills, aptitudes, and interests.

Now that you have a clear goal in mind, it’s time to inventory your abilities. Listing your skills along with their outcomes or accomplishments will give you a solid understanding of where you have been, where you are going, and what you need to improve to realize your intended goal. It will also help you understand what tangible skills you have to offer your current or future employer. If you are staying on your current career course, you’re ahead of the game. If you’re contemplating a career change, you have a little more work in establishing how your current or past skills will transition to your new endeavors.

So now you have a strong sense of where you’re going and how your past is going to contribute to your future. Now what? It’s time to move forward! If you’re going to progress through your current company, start investigating their process for advancement. If you’re looking for another job your options are wide open! Internet websites, newspapers, job fairs, networking, placement services, and career coaches are all fantastic avenues for career opportunities. Keeping your contacts and opportunities inventoried or organized will help you stay on track for success!

The skills and accomplishments that you inventoried earlier will help you with the interview and negotiation process. By having a good understanding of what you are able to contribute and how that relates to a potential employer will give you an advantage in marketing yourself more effectively and showing your true worth. If you feel a little rusty on these skills, give us a call and we can help you work through them!

At C~Cubed we’re also taking inventory of our assets and we consider you, our customer and friend, to be among what we value most.

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: career inventory, inventory, kevin tucker, skills inventory

I once kayaked down the Salt River with my son’s Boy Scout troop. Before we hit the river, we made sure everyone was prepared as possible; drinking water, hats, sun screen, life preservers, river maps, and advice from the river guides. Being the scouts that we are - we thought we had this preparation stuff down to a science and were pretty confident that we could handle anything that was thrown our way. We were CPR, Safe Swim Defense, and Safety Afloat Certified! We were ready, so bring it on, baby!

As our rag-tag flotilla discovered throughout the day’s journey, there were some situations we weren’t quite expecting. Who would have thought that one of the young adventurers would lose his oar only 500 yards from the starting point?

You know me; I like to compare life experience to careers and career searches, so here it goes! It seemed like once we resolved one - crisis - and were moving along smoothly enjoying the desert scenery, we’d come upon another bend in the river and something else would happen. Some situations we were prepared for, others we had to improvise - much like someone’s career.

Just like our young river rats discovered, there’s hard work, unforeseen obstacles, and an immense satisfaction in pursuing your dreams, whether that dream is reaching the end of the river or obtaining a job that is fulfilling and embodies your passions in life.

In the end we achieved our goal, realized our dreams, and found our purpose. (OK- I’m stretching it here.) We made it to the end of the river, together. We were able to look back and say that the end result was worth the journey.

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: career coach, kevin tucker

As a military veteran myself, having a tool like this when I was transitioning would have been a great help! Military Transition to Civilian Success: The Complete Guide for Veterans and Their Families is a must for those in transition.

Many authors have written on the subject on career transition, but few have focused on the military.  Why focus on the military? The authors make a good point that it is going from one way of life to another – for these people, and their families, everything is changing, with it focused on a new employer and a new way of “work”.

The most pivotal take-a-way from this writing will be for the transitioning military person to take ownership and then to take action. The whole notion of filling out a job application is foreign to most of them. As an individual having control over their future is something that hasn’t been thought of by most. As the author puts it, “Welcome to the challenging civilian world.” An uncertain future is sure to follow. The author makes a good argument that it will be hard work. But, for the right person, it can also be very challenging and rewarding.

The author outlines seven steps to take in one’s progress toward employment transition:
- Identify motivated skills and abilities
- Specify a job/career objective
- Research individuals, organizations, communities and jobs
- Produce resumes and job search letters
- Conduct informational/networking interviews
- Manage job interviews
- Negotiate salary and terms of employment

What are the best careers for people transitioning people from the military? Well, it depends who you ask, but our authors have a few ideas. Of course, one would think of the obvious government contracting type folks, but what about the many others? It’s not easy, but many employers want to hire military folks. Two reasons come to mind to start with: a sense of commitment and discipline, for a start!

The authors present much of their research on trends – things to or not to do, or people to talk to. This is good, but only good for that point in time. They also list many web sites and “live” informational areas. This is where one needs to base their search. With so much information, it changes on a daily basis!

Finally, from a practical viewpoint, the authors offer quite a few samples of assessments, resumes, and job search tools. They are a good collection, but I would say this with caution. It would be simple for one to take these assessments and resumes and make them their own. This thought process may work for someone that is going from one job to another. But transitioning from the military to the civilian world is a whole other story!

As a veteran myself, I would recommend Hay’s, Rorrer’s, Rivera’s, and Krannich’s book, Military Transition to Civilian Success: The Complete Guide for Veterans and Their Families as a guide in their search process. Also seeking out an authority within the scope of career transition would be extremely beneficial.

Technorati Tags: Career Transition, kevin tucker, military transition

Have you ever wondered why some people come away with jobs from job fairs, while other just throw their résumé into the black hole of Human Resources? Have a plan of attack to make the job fair work for you!

• Take a good look at yourself in the mirror. You and a lot of other people will be competing to make a good first impression. What is going to set you a part from the rest of the crowd?
• Smile! You’re nervous and they know it! Experts say that it takes more facial muscles to frown than to smile. So, relax and smile!
• The eyes have it! Making eye contact is especially important when answering questions. Eye contact establishes a level of trust with the interviewer.
• Be truthful! Most people have hit snags in their careers at one time or another. But, it is no reason to be misleading on a résumé or in an interview. Use this opportunity to explain what happened and how you have grown and learned from the situation.
• Watch your mouth! Never, ever use profanity. This also includes slang terms. You need to sound polished and professional. You also may want to “rehearse” a short, 30 second “commercial” highlighting your skills, accomplishments, and anything else unique that will make you stand out from the rest of the crowd.

A few parting thoughts… Have plenty of crisp, error free résumés printed on quality résumé stock handy. When you do give out a résumé, be sure to get a business card from whomever you give it to. Jot down on the back of the card the position title and any other pertinent information. When you get home, write a quick note thanking the person for their time and reiterate why you’re the best candidate for their job opening. It’s a nice touch that leaves a great impression.

Technorati Tags: Coaching, job fair, resumes