COVID-19 the Game Changer and the New Rules You Must Apply Now

Boxer Mike Tyson once said "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face."

COVID-19 has been a punch in the face for many these past several months. And the pummeling isn't over. Come the Fall, when the usual flu season comes, it may slam us again.

How are you responding?

Someone once said, "Action changes things." Here are six ideas for actions to help you bounce back from the punches.

Adapt - The U.S. Marines have a motto that says "Adapt. Improvise. Overcome." Are you adapting to the "new normal?" Adapting means learning and changing.

Create - When you look in the mirror, are you seeing the Old You? Perhaps it is time for a New You. It is up to you to create it, to design it. Designing the new you can start today.

Transform - Not getting traction in your job search or career transition? Maybe there is a message in that. Maybe it is time for change. But not just surface or cosmetic change. Real change. Deep change. Reinvention.

Innovate - It may be time to explore new career paths. Do a thorough skills inventory and a career interests assessment. Then sit down with a career coach and review.

Out of the Box thinking - Now is a time for out of the box thinking. Time for introspective thinking. Time to seek input from others. Time for a career coach.

New Ways - It may be time to consider new ways of working such as part time, contract, consulting, and even opening a small business.

It may be time to review paths not taken earlier in your life to see if it's time has come. Ask yourself, When I was a kid, what did I want to be when I grew up?

It may be time to learn some new skills. Especially skills related to working remotely.

Covid 19 has been a game changer. That means the rules have changed. What are some of the implications if you are in a career transition ?

My dear departed mother had a lot of sayings. One she used a lot, when there were setbacks, was "It was meant to be." And then she pivoted and took off in another direction. Her resilience was a quality I admired. I am still learning from her.

Posted by Terrence Seamon on September 6, 2020

Ten Tips for Starting Your New Job

These days, there is a lot written about job searching with a great deal of helpful information that job hunters can use to their advantage in finding their next job.


Not so much, however, is written about what to do when you land. When the "start date" comes along and you show up for work, what sort of game plan should you be thinking of to make sure you are heading towards success in the new job?


Here at Ayers, we suggest these basic steps:


1. Send announcements and thank you notes to the people in your network who supported you during your search.


2. Learn more about the company you have joined. For example, how it is organized and what their strategic plans are etc.


3. Find out more about your boss' priorities so that you can be sure to support them.


Beyond the basics, here are several more ideas, contributed by the Ayers consultants who are part of the New Jersey team.


4. Get involved and participate—volunteer for assignments such as committee work or special projects.


5. Reach out to co-workers to introduce yourself, to understand their role and how you impact it.


6. Be on time for work and meetings. Now is the time to establish and demonstrate your work ethic.


7. Observe what goes on in your new work environment. Identify the key players, stakeholders, and technical resources that can help you learn the new processes and systems.


8. Begin building relationships with co-workers, peers in other groups, and others you meet along the way.


9. If you are a new leader, try doing some team-building with your team


One more thing. Remember that it's easy for people to know you since you are the new person but take the time to learn their names and what they do. They will feel valued, and it will be appreciated.

Building new relationships is one of the key ingredients of success in a new job!

The Big Five for Job Seekers

Be sure to prioritize and schedule these five key activities for your job search (and beyond): 1. Networking - Reach out to your personal and professional connections. Cultivate and leverage relationships. Get off the computer and get out of the house. Attend professional networking meet-ups. Ask how you can help them. 2. Learning - Always be learning something new. Challenge yourself. Expose your brain to new ideas. Venture out of your comfort zone. Keep on adding to your toolkit. 3. Marketing - Get your brand and message out there to the audiences you want to reach. Help them to get to know you. Find out where their "pain" is. Be the solution. 4. Research - Find out as much as you can about companies of interest to you. Do your homework. Use your local library. Conduct informational interviews. Listen. Show interest in them. 5. Self-Care - Take good care of Yourself, in body (go to the gym), mind (tackle problems and projects), and spirit (feed your soul) to stay sharp and ready for opportunity when it comes

Posted by Terrence H. Seamon January 11, 2020.

The Proactive Job Hunter

In my work as a career transition consultant, I am often asked, "How long will my job search take?"
The answer: It depends.

There are many factors. Some are outside the individual's control. But quite a few are well within the individual's sphere of influence.

Here are nine of them:

Plan - Are you proceeding with a plan? Conducting a job search without a plan is a surefire recipe for disappointment. Just as businesses operate based on plans, so should you. The elements of a good plan are many, but the essential ones you must have are: an Objective (what you are after), a Strategy (how you will get there), and a Team (who will assist and support you along the way).

Relationships - Are you leveraging the power inherent in your professional relationships? The people that you know are your greatest resource in a job search. Each one of them knows other people. When connecting with someone during a job search, don't ask them for a job. Instead, ask them for AIR: Advice, Information, and Referral. Seek advice to acquire wisdom from others. Seek information to get smarter. And seek referrals to gain access to more people who may bring you closer to actual opportunities.

Objective - Do you know what it is you are after? So many desperate job hunters say "I'll take anything." Sadly, that is not an objective. A clear Objective is a must. Be sure to communicate it to others. Be open with others about what you are looking for. Expect that obstacles will occur as you proceed. Rely on your team to help you to overcome them.

Attitude - What is your attitude toward yourself and your search? A job search can be a depressing experience, filled with rejections, setbacks, and disappointments. It's easy to slip into negativity. A positive attitude about yourself and an optimistic attitude toward your search will propel you forward.

Confidence - Do you convey your capabilities with confidence when you communicate? In a job search, you are in sales & marketing. And the product is You. To really know Yourself, your "work" (Job search is a job, after all) includes clarifying your value proposition (why a company should hire you), your brand (what you are known for), and your story (what you have accomplished already). When you feel confident, you will instill that confidence in others.

Target companies - Are you applying to jobs you find on Indeed or other job boards online? While there is nothing wrong with that, a better strategy is to make a list of the companies you are most interested in. Learn all you can about them. Reach out and make contact with people who work there. Find out who the decision makers are. Increase your visibility to them. Help them to get to know you and what you can do.

Initiative - Are you making things happen every day, every week, of your search? A waiting posture is not productive. Rather, an active, purposeful approach will generate positive energy. Get out of the house. Go to career events and networking meetings. Arrange informational interviews with people you want to get to know. Volunteer some time each week to help others in need. Make sure you are learning something new in your field.

Visibility - Do employers know you exist? You can increase your visibility to the companies you have on your target list. Make sure you are on LinkedIn. Have a complete profile. Then get active on LinkedIn by sharing updates with your network, joining groups, and interacting with others. Beyond LinkedIn, get active in your professional networks locally. Show up and pitch in to help. Be seen as someone who is humble, active, current, and accessible.

Engine of Success - Do you have a reliable process for producing successful outcomes in your Life? Each of us, not only job seekers, needs an engine of success. In its simplest form, an engine of success is a cycle that includes Relationships, Conversations, Actions, and Learning. Don't let a day go by, during a job search, without reaching out to someone (Relationship) for a conversation about what matters most (Conversation), to stimulate some activity you can undertake (Action), and see what outcome you get (Learning). Repeat the cycle every day until you land. But even then, continue to use the cycle in your new job. And for the rest of your Life.

How long will your search take? It depends...especially on how proactive you are.

Terrence Seamon assists people in career transitions to move toward their goals. Follow him on twitter @tseamon