I was recently asked, “What’s the best way to improve the odds of getting an interview when submitting a resume for an open position?” That’s a good question and the process starts before you hit the send button. By customizing your resume to the job posting, you significantly increase your odds. Most job seekers only have one “version” of their resume and submit that for every posting. We all know that “one size does not fit all”!

Start with studying the actual job posting. The job posting usually states the skills and knowledge that are being sought for the position. After knowing what the employer’s needs are, you can adapt your resume to mirror the posting. Make sure everything the posting asks for is somewhere on your resume. Also make sure your resume is “scan” friendly. By scan friendly I mean no funky fonts or heavily formatted resumes. Most companies today use computerized candidate-tracking systems.  Those elements on a resume will not scan well and can automatically decrease your chances of an interview since “non-human” eyes are screening the resumes for matches.

I would also include a strong cover letter summarizing your strengths and skills. There is so much competition out there for jobs today that hiring managers need to assess candidates quickly. A good cover letter will make it easy for the hiring manager to see what you are about and compel them to read your resume. Proofread your resume and eliminate all spelling and grammatical errors. If you are having a hard time understanding what you want to convey, so will the hiring manager. Have someone else be another set of eyes for you to catch any errors that you may have overlooked. This is the first impression a potential employer will have about you, so make it the best! Best of success in your 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 http://ccubedcareer.com.

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“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them—every day begin the task anew.”  Saint Francis de Sales (1567 - 1622)

I hate waiting just as much as the next person. When I’m waiting for something to happen, that’s when my mind kicks into high gear and starts me down the slippery path of self-doubt. Would’ve, could’ve, and should’ve all become key words in my vocabulary and that sinking, anxious feeling settles right into the pit of my stomach. You know that feeling—don’t ‘cha?

I think Saint Francis de Sales has sage advice that applies even today. We are all quick to give grace to others; however we are our own harshest critics. Don’t accept the tempting invitation to the Pity Party.  Recognize any mistakes that might have been made, but ultimately move on and make changes. Do not lose courage in yourself, but strive to improve. Just take it one day at a time and you will have success in your 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 http://ccubedcareer.com.

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I’m often fascinated by off-beat trivia. Did you know that July is National Baked Bean Month, National Blueberries Month, and National Horseradish Month? The list goes on, but I think you get the picture. As my wife would say, “Any excuse to throw a party”!

The one trivia snippet that caught my eye is that this week is Take Charge of Change Week. The purpose or focus of this week is to increase awareness of an individual’s ability to control his or her own destiny and examine the principles of taking charge of the changes that affect each of us. All I can say is, Wow!

On December 31st the vast majority of us will take stock of the previous 12 months and make resolutions designed to make the coming new year a better one. Why wait until the end of the year? I’m suggesting we all celebrate Take Charge of Change Week this year and take charge of your life now, making changes necessary to improve the quality of your life.

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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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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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.

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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

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.

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Have you taken the time to nurture yourself lately?  Are you ready to break through the dormancy of winter and start growing again? Whether you’re the worker bee or the head enchilada, you need to renew and refresh yourself so that you continue to be productive and be able to give of yourself to others. It’s difficult to pull energy from within when you are drained! Can you even remember the last time you did something specifically for you to energize yourself spiritually, physically, and intellectually?

Nurturing yourself spiritually can happen many ways. You can participate in your faith’s activities or services; spend time daily reflecting, meditating, or praying. Reading or studying books or other materials can help to renew your spirit. Giving back to your community by volunteering does wonders for the soul also! Find a great cause and help!

Physical activity, some welcome it some dread it. Be that as it may, it’s a great way to relieve stress and clear your mind. Go for a walk, go to the gym, or do something with your kids. You’ll be amazed at your increased energy level!

When’s the last time that you read a book or attended a seminar or workshop that stimulated you intellectually? Do you have a hobby or have you thought about getting one? Does your career field have continuing education requirements, or maybe you’re thinking of updating your skills. Check out classes at the rec center or local college.

Employers, what have you done recently to renew your employees? Just as taking care of yourself is important, nurturing and encouraging those who work for you is equally important. When you invest in your employees, it is money well spent and you will realize a great return on your investment. Little things like a team build, a John Maxwell Leadership study, or even a department pot luck will go a long way in refreshing the work environment!

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, kevin tucker, life coaching

We’ve all heard the phrase “Attitude is everything”. Leo Tolstoy once said, “We lost, because we told ourselves we lost”. Key phrase being “because we told ourselves” . w Is it your skills or your attitude that get you hired? Is it your skills or your attitude that needs to be updated?

Finding another cow

Unfortunately, like Tolstoy’s quote, many people begin their job search discouraged, bitter, and angry about their employment situation. They’re defeated and unable or unwilling to move on. Negative attitudes begin deep within the soul surfacing and influencing everything and everyone in its path of ooze, eventually affecting your ability to find a job. Most people would like to believe that their skills and achievements alone will get them that next position, but that’s not the case. Attitude is everything!

While researching this month’s newsletter, I pulled out my big book of quotes and looked up “attitude”. I found a lot of wordy and pious quotes. But the one that struck me is quite simple. “Instead of crying over spilt milk, go milk another cow”. Wow! Erna Asp sure had the right attitude and I bet her pail was large enough to reap the rewards!

Go milk another cow. Believe it or not, there are other cows in the pasture! And sometimes, the cream is a lot sweeter from the new cow! How big is your pail? Just enough to get a few drops or large enough to recover what you lost and then some? You know what? It’s all in your attitude.

Here’s Some “Cheese” to go With Your Milk!

Dr. Spencer Johnson, who wrote the book the One Minute Manager, has written another book entitled Who Moved My Cheese? If you have not read this quick read, I highly recommend that you do! Although it was published in 1998, it is still relevant in today’s life circumstances, including employment change.

In the book we meet Sniff, Scurry,(two mice) Hem, and Haw (two little men) who see and read “The Handwriting on the Wall” which are reminders of how we can choose (remember: attitude) to respond to change. These powerful messages are:

Change Happens:  They keep moving the cheese.

Enjoy Change:  Savor the adventure and the taste of new cheese!

Anticipate Change:  Get ready for the cheese to move.

Monitor Change:  Smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old.

Adapt to Change Quickly:  The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you can enjoy new cheese.

Change:  Move with the cheese.

Be Ready to Quickly Change Again and Again:  They keep moving the cheese.

Change is sometimes hard, but with anticipation and the right attitude, it can be a grand adventure. If you’re faced with a career change and need guidance with your future course, we’re here to help!

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: attitude, career coaching, Coaching, kevin tucker

I’m always telling my kids that it’s the attitude that counts the most. Unfortunately, many people begin their job search discouraged or angry about their employment situation - and frankly, it shows! They’re defeated and unable or unwilling to move on. Negative attitudes that begin deep within the soul surface and influence everything and everyone in its path, affecting their ability to find a job. Most people would like to believe that their skills and achievements alone will get them that next position, but that’s not the case. In a competitive job market, employers are looking for interpersonal skills in addition to the actual skills needed for the position. If they think you are going to be a difficult or “high-maintenance” employee, they will move on to the next candidate. Leo Tolstoy once said, “We lost, because we told ourselves we lost”.

When you check yourself in the mirror one last time before walking out the door, take a moment to check the attitude too! You’re qualified for the position; otherwise you wouldn’t have been invited for the interview. You have a lot to offer your prospective employer and you’ll make a great asset to the company! Lastly, envision yourself working for the company. Remember, attitude is everything!

Technorati Tags: attitude, career consulting, kevin tucker, Passion and Job Satisfaction