Get Started to Get Ahead

New to the job search process? Wondering where to begin? Here are five pointers to help you get STARTed:

S=Set a goal for your search
T=Take aim at Target roles & organizations
A=Ask others to help you
R=Routinize your day
T=Take Training in the basics of job search

Let's take a look at each item.

• Setting a goal for your job search is the place to begin. What do you want to do next in your career? Without a goal, there can be no focus and no direction. When setting a goal, be sure that it is specific, measurable, aligned, realistic, and has a time frame.
• Taking aim at target roles and organizations comes next. Most job hunters don't really do this as well as they should. They tend to react to job postings that they see on job boards. Rather than a reactive approach such as that, take a proactive approach by making a list of the companies of interest to You that could use your skills and capabilities.
• Asking others to help you is a smart way to expand your reach into the marketplace. Every person that you know has their own interpersonal network that you can leverage to gain information, advice, and referrals. 
• Routinizing your day brings structure and order to the blank slate of unemployment. Just as your schedule was full when you were working, fill your schedule now with the activities that will bring you closer to your goal. Activities with high payoff value include networking, researching, marketing, learning, and volunteering some of your time to help others. 
• Taking training in the skills and processes of job searching is a really wise thing to do especially if it is new to you. Luckily there is a great deal of help available both online and in your local area.

As a wise person once said, The key to getting ahead is getting started.

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

"Should I write a cover letter?"

Many job hunters wonder if they should bother writing a cover letter. Will anyone actually read it? Will it make a difference?

Our position at The Ayers Group is, Yes, write that cover letter. At a minimum it is a great exercise to go through because it requires that you think about the "fit" between the job you are applying for and You.

And if the hiring manager actually reads it, it could be a differentiator, especially if the others who applied chose not to write one.

So, what makes a good cover letter?  Here is a brief guide we have developed, with two examples.

Like a resume, your cover letter is another way in which you present yourself to the market. You want to present yourself as professional, confident, positive, and capable.

Unlike a resume which generally does not change very much each time you send it out, a cover letter is always customized. Ideally each cover letter you write is addressed to a person by name and deals with a specific opportunity at a target employer.

We recommend keeping cover letters short and specific.  As a guide, there are 3 parts to a cover letter:  1) the Introduction where you say Why you are writing; 2) the Body where you show how you may be a good fit with their needs; and 3) the Closing where you express interest in meeting them.

If you have a job ad that you are writing about, take the time to read it carefully and analytically, identifying what you think are their "must have" requirements. These will be key to part 2, the Body, mentioned above.

Example A – With a job ad

Dear [Their Name, if you have it],

I am writing to you with interest in the opening for a Software Development Engineer that I saw on Dice.com.

In analyzing the job requirements, it is clear that you are looking for someone with certain capabilities. First, you are seeking someone who can lead the development of complex software projects. I have over 15 years of hands-on experience in leading and managing complex software development projects including (give some examples). Second, I see that you are seeking someone who...... Third.....

As you can see, my capabilities are well aligned with the requirements you have listed for this position. I would like to speak with you about this opportunity at your earliest convenience. I can be reached at...

Sincerely yours,

Ramprasad

Example B – No job ad

Dear Mr. Eastwood,

Mitch Samson gave me your name and suggested that it would be a mutually beneficial for us to meet.  I have known Mitchell for the past two years and highly value his opinion.  

Currently, I am in transition from York Merchants and would like to take my career to the next level and focus on building a single brand such as Casa Noche.  I have a tremendous passion for tequila and have become quite fond of the product and brand Casa Noche is creating.  I have expressed my interests and ideas about Casa Noche to Mitch and he thought you and I should try and speak about our shared interests in the brand.

Mitch has said you are not hiring right now, but I would love to show you what I can bring to Casa Noche and potentially help build a team utilizing the industry contacts I have made along the East Coast and ideas I have been working on.  Perhaps we could arrange a meeting within the next month before the holiday season begins to ramp up?  

I can be reached at 941.908.xxxx or via email at: Michael.Masters@email.com.

Sincerely,

Mike Masters

Terrence Seamon helps his clients to position themselves for success. Follow him on twitter @tseamon

On the Critical Path

If you were to look at a job search through the lens of a project, which activities might emerge as the most critical for the overall success of the endeavor?

To my way of thinking, there are three activities of critical importance: networking, marketing and interviewing.

Networking helps you to leverage the power of relationships to garner advice, insights and referrals. Marketing helps you to get your brand and value proposition "out there" and into the minds of decision makers in your career space. And Interviewing helps you to make a human connection and convince the hiring managers that you are the answer to their prayers.

Taking a deeper dive, three tools emerge that are critically important: CAR stories, ACE statements, and STAR answers.

Let's look at each.

CAR stories are your accomplishments. Taking the time to think back about your accomplishments, and writing them down, early in your search is essential.

The CAR method will help you write the accomplishment succinctly. Every accomplishment has the elements of a Challenge (or Problem) that you faced, some Actions you took, and the Results you obtained. Thinking about your accomplishments is a vital activity in a job search. Capturing them as CAR stories is a critical step in drafting your Resume and getting ready to Interview.

ACE statements are the accomplishments you decide to include on your resume. To write your accomplishments in a concise yet hard-hitting way, start with the Action Verb (or verbs) that reflect what you did to address the Challenge you were facing, followed by the Effect (i.e. the Results) you brought about. For example:

• Hired and managed a team of IT professionals to build out a new offshore data center thereby providing needed redundancy.

• Scheduled and facilitated training sessions for all staff on customer tracking system which reduced customer record errors significantly.

• Saved the company over $20k by renegotiating contracts with vendors of office supplies.

STAR answers continue this trend.

In an Interview, many questions will be answered using an accomplishment story. Questions such as "Give me an example of..." or "Tell me about a time when..."

To answer such questions in a concise yet compelling way, start by Setting the Scene (i.e. When, Where, What was your Role), describing the Task (i.e. the Challenge or Problem) you were facing, then telling the Actions you took, and ending with the Results you obtained. This STAR formula ensures that the accomplishment stories you provide in answer to Interview questions will communicate your value to the employer.

As you can see CAR stories, ACE statements, and STAR answers are all the same thing, only slightly different depending upon how they are used in the process of finding your next job.

Accomplishments are critical in a job search. They convey so much more than a list of job duties. A well crafted accomplishment story can convey your skills, your ingenuity, and your creativity.

Your past accomplishments predict your future value to the next organization you are considering.

Terrence Seamon teaches these and other tools to job seekers to help them manage the critical path to success. Follow him on twitter @tseamon