Negative Self Talk
 We all know that if we keep telling ourselves that there are no jobs available, there’s no way we can make our way into a particular employer, or  we don’t have the right skills that eventually the bad mood with suck us in. We know better, but we still like to indulge ourselves and continue in this destructive pattern. STOP RIGHT NOW! Hiring managers can smell bad attitude miles away. Do yourself and your job search a favor and get those negative thoughts out of your head. I think Peter Pan said it best, “Flying is easy, “JUST THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS”.

Not Dressing for Success
 First impressions are often lasting impressions. Dressing too casual is a bad idea especially when working your search. No matter what the occasion—networking, interviewing, or just dropping off a resume—you need dress professionally. Business attire (yes, that means a suit), no extreme hairstyles, tats and non-traditional piercings either covered or removed, and light fragrances. If that scent you’re wearing reminds the hiring manager of an ex, do you really think you’ll get the job?
 
Waiting for that Internet Ship to Come in
 You’re feeling pretty good about your search since you have all of those job agents searching for you on all of those Internet sites. All you have to do is sit back and wait for the job offers to roll in, right? WRONG! Effective job searches are interactive! You need to actively participate which means you need to be networking, attending career fairs, going to workshops and conferences to generate leads. Those Internet job boards are a great tool and generate great leads but they should not make up the bulk of your search.

The Dog Ate My Homework Excuse
 Have you ever blown off the night’s homework thinking that watching TV was more interesting than doing algebra? You’re basically doing the same thing if you don’t learn as much as you can about a potential employer before you go in for the interview. The Internet makes researching a company and its leadership so incredibly easy, there is absolutely no excuse for not knowing something about a company that you’re interviewing with. By knowing something about the company, you can interact with the interviewer on a higher level and better demonstrate why you are the ideal candidate.

Throwing Away All of those Networking Contacts
 You grab your suit jacket and shove your hand into the outside pocket only to discover that pile of business cards from the last industry event you went to—a few years ago. It may be too late for some of those contacts to be of any use, but the next time you’re out and about meeting people, take a few moments after the event and organize the business cards that you collect. Whether you organize them in a box, or enter the information into your Outlook, make sure the information is easy for you to retrieve when you need 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.

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No one likes to weed. I know it’s not my favorite thing to do. (Okay, so a few of you do; but for the vast majority of us it’s something on our delay until later list.) But much like a garden, your job search can get overrun with “weeds” that can choke the life out of your search. This can be especially true if you have been working your search for a period of time. It’s important that you just don’t go at it with a bottle of Roundup®; but carefully look at each area and decide what needs to be pulled so new growth can be given an opportunity to thrive.

Your Search Methods
Are they working for ya? Every good job search is comprised of many methods. Job boards on the Internet are a fantastic tool, but not the only one. Career fairs, association meetings, social media, networking events, and industry conferences are great ways to get out, get known, and get going! Be sure to do at least one positive thing for your job search daily!

Your Resume
Take a careful look at your resume. It should be up to date and accurate. Your resume’s focus needs to truly reflect your career goals. Check for key words and terminology—are there any terms or phrases that are outdated or newer concepts that need to be added? It’s an idea to read through current job openings and posting to get a feel for what is trending in your career field.

Your References
Approach this one strategically. You want references who can speak positively of your accomplishments, skills, work ethic and future contributions to a company. Past supervisors, co-workers and business acquaintances can be potential references in addition to personal friends.  Also, it’s not out of line to have different sets of references depending upon the industry or position. Be sure to ask for permission in advance before putting someone on your reference list.

Your Appearance
By all means, don’t go out and buy a new wardrobe (although my wife would beg to differ), but do go through your closet and make sure you have something appropriate and in good condition to wear to interviews and professional networking events. Conservative suits for both men and women are a must have. Make sure that any non-traditional piercings or body art are easily removed or covered. No extreme hairstyles or strong fragrances. Also remember to smile and be upbeat. You only get one chance to make a good first impression.

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.

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Here are a few nuggets of wisdom to cling to when the going gets tough. Wolf J. Rinke, author of The 6 Success Strategies for Winning at Life, Love 7 Business, recommends keeping these points in mind:

• Energy and positive self-motivation come from seeking your dreams and doing things you love.
• All people are a composite of strengths and weaknesses.
• If you want to experience your maximum energy, you will need to build your strengths and get rid of your weaknesses.
• To be successful, you must find a job or career that lets you build your strengths.
• Successful people love what they do.
• Figure out which of your weakness keep you from reaching your lifetime goals. Get rid of them—and don’t worry about the rest.
• When you pursue what you want to do, you’ll have fun and you’ll feel naturally high.

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 change, career coach, career coaching, career consulting, career inventory, career passion, Career Transition, disc assessment, interview coaching, job, job fair, job search, kevin tucker, life balance, life coach, life coaching, Passion and Job Satisfaction, self improvement, success, transition coach

Often I hear from my clients that the one area that they feel is holding them back from landing a job is the interview process. They know that their skills and background are solid and they appear to be a perfect match for the position. Overall the face-to-face interview went well, but something just wasn’t clicking. The job either falls into the HR blackhole or they are notified that the position has been filled. Sound familiar?  I want to discuss how to interview with confidence and give you some practical take-a-ways.

Before the interview:

• Research. Become as familiar with the company and position as you can ahead of time. The Internet is an excellent source of information. Do you have any LinkedIn connections with the company? Study the job description and match up your skills and accomplishments with the core competencies your future employer is looking for.
• Know your resume. More than likely, the person interviewing you will have a copy of it in front of them, so anticipate questions based upon the contents of your resume. Think of ways you can expand upon what is written and let the interviewer know you are going to be a great employee.
• Tie up any loose ends. Know where and when the interview is. Make sure you have a way there. Do you need a sitter?  If so, book one now. Are your interview clothes clean and well fitting?  Take care of these details a few days before the interview, not the morning of.

Day of the interview:

• Appearances. Make sure you’re well rested and have had a good meal before heading off to the interview. Take one last look at yourself before you head out the door. You need to look professional and put together. Remember, easy on the fragrances.
• Timing. Arrive early for your interview. If you are kept waiting in the reception area past your interview time, don’t get angry or frustrated-this could be the stress portion of the interview. Be gracious and remember this IS the most important thing you have going on.
• Be enthusiastic!  Make eye contact and be friendly. Answer all questions truthfully and don’t try to bluff when you don’t know the answer. They are not only looking for your responses, but how you respond. They’re also judging how well you will fit in with corporate culture.
• Sell yourself. They know you’re qualified, otherwise you wouldn’t have been asked to come in for an interview. But remember, there is a fine line between selling yourself and overkill. Finally, ask for the job. It’s one way that hiring managers determine your enthusiasm for the position.

Post Interview:

• Thanks!  Thank them for their time. Try to get their business cards or at the very least everyone’s first and last names and positions. Let them know how much you appreciated the interview.
• Snail mail. Write each person a thank you note as soon as you get home and try to get it in the mail on the same day. Yes, e-mails are quicker and easier, but there is nothing like a personal note written in your own handwriting. Offer to follow up in a few days.
• Follow up!  Call the interviewer and ask about the status of the position. Use this opportunity to give yourself one last plug!

Still need help?  Give the me a call and we can talk about ways to polish your interviewing skills or any other area that you feel you need help with.

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, career consulting, Coaching, interview coaching, interview tips, interviewing, kevin tucker, skills inventory

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.

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Just look in the Sunday paper or get on the internet and you’ll see plenty of career fairs out there. I’ll ask the question, “Are you ready?” Why would you even go to one of these things? The answer might surprise you.

In building your network through career fairs, I was quoted in yesterday’s Sunday paper. Let me share with you five simple steps:

• Dress professionally. Look at the fairs as a potential interview opportunity.
• Assess the list of participating employers ahead of time and develop a “short list” you want to focus on. Prepare targeted resumes for those companies.
• Make sure you have a supply of resumes and, if possible, business cards with you. Carry in a professional looking portfolio.
• Develop more than just a 30-second “elevator speech” to introduce yourself - make sure you know 10 and 20 second versions, too.
• Get a business card from every person you speak with and most important, follow up with them after the fair!

Also, keep this in mind - all career fairs are not created equal. Some may meet your needs and others may not. The key is to know what you are looking for? Make a list. Are the companies that will attend on your “target list”?

Finally, finding a position is all about building relationships, and going to job fairs is a good way to network and meet new people. You never know how a connection will play out!

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