It’s Halftime: Steps to Navigating Your Transition
“I had a successful career yet I knew there was something even more significant I wanted to do with my life.”
“I had a successful career yet I knew there was something even more significant I wanted to do with my life.”
The truth is that if you wait for a perfect time to change jobs you may wait a long time. The right time to change a job is the minute that you start thinking of doing so. The present time is always the best time. Chances are you have good reasons to want to make this transition and I am here to tell you that you shouldn’t wait.
I am well aware that more than 50 million Americans have filed for unemployment since the start of the pandemic and this is definitely something to be concerned about. However, the most recent US Department of Labor release shows that the weekly unemployment claims dropped below one million for the first time since March according to a Wall Street Journal article from Aug 13, 2020, and although the numbers are still high this should not hold you back from looking for your next opportunity.
Here is why this is the right time for you to start looking.
As daunting as it may be to look for a new job during a global crisis, there are still opportunities to be found. Here are some reasons to consider changing jobs amid COVID-19.
If you are lacking excitement, joy, purpose, and alignment and feel uninspired then the time is now. Here are some ways that you can prepare for your job search:
It’s time to get you out of paralysis analysis and into a thriving career. Do work that brings you excitement and fulfillment. Life is too short to hate your job. You will be happier, and your family, friends, and coworkers will be happier to be around you.
Do you have a personal experience with transitioning during the coronavirus you’d like to share? Please email info@beproductivecoaching.com and tell us your story.
Not sure where to start? Book a complimentary 30-minute discovery consultation. SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
Most people dread interviews. Wait, let me rephrase that…most people hate interviews. I have heard so many people say that they wish that interviews were not a part of the process. But how else would a potential employer know if you are a good fit? I can certainly understand why you would dread or hate interviewing. Not only are you going in to speak with a stranger about your work experience, but in most cases, you are hoping that they will hire you. Many times the fear of rejection sets in from when you are asked to come in for the interview or jump on that phone or Zoom call.
I like to compare interviewing with dating. Most of us feel a sense of excitement and, at the same time, a sense of anxiety and fear when we are first asked to go on a date. You are excited that you are getting the opportunity to go on a date with someone who interests you and happy that the person has shown interest in you as well. Still, you have no idea what to expect. You start planning what you are going to wear, you may practice your greeting, and these days you may even look them up on Facebook or Google them. You prepare for the date so that you feel more at ease and so that perhaps you can have the opportunity for a second date.
Well, interviewing for a potential job is no different. Just like you prepare or prepared (if you are no longer dating) for that special date, you should also prepare for the interview with your potential employer.
Following are a few tips to help you prepare and stop hating interviews:
These tips should help ease the nervousness and anxiety that comes from interviewing. Also, do not forget that you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Make sure you ask all the questions you need to determine if this is a good fit for you as well.
Need help with interview preparation? A small investment can go a long way in your preparation and help you set yourself apart. Set up a free consultation to learn more about our packages: www.beproductivecoaching.com/contact
Have you been stretching? Stretching keeps you balanced and your muscles flexible, strong, and healthy. Without stretching your muscles shorten and become tight. That’s why a daily stretching routine is important and NOT just for your body. It’s just as important to stretch your MIND and SOUL daily.🧠💪❤
Here are some tips I practice daily that will stretch your mind, body, and soul to benefit your overall flexibility, strength, and health. 🧠💪❤
☑ MIND, BODY, AND SOUL STRETCHING Pick One Activity in Each of the Categories and Do It for 10 Minutes Each – Daily:
1️⃣ Body: Yoga or Static Stretching
2️⃣ Mind: Read or Listen to a Book or Podcast, Take a Class, Challenge Yourself by Doing Something New
3️⃣ Soul: Pray, Meditate, Journal, Spend Time With a Loved One
Doing one of these activities daily for 10 minutes will make a huge difference in how you feel and help you stretch not just your body but your mind and soul as well. You’ll have overall health and this is so important now more than ever. Keep yourself healthy mind, body, and soul. 🧠💪❤
Stretch your mind, body, and soul with our High-Performance Coaching. Learn how we can work together – schedule a free consultation: www.beproductivecoaching.com
Many often say that the best time to look for a job is while you have one. But we all know that things aren’t always perfect. Many times we find ourselves having to do something unexpectedly. COVID-19 for many has proved to do that with the lay off’s and furloughs. Yet, life must go on, and the job search must continue. That job search can be a daunting task, and especially when we do not have one. Here is a shortlist of 10 tips that have helped many of my clients get back into the marketplace within just a few weeks. Note that during this pandemic, it may take a little longer, but don’t get discouraged; the show must go on, and businesses are still hiring!
One of the most frequent questions I get is how to optimize LinkedIn and have a profile that makes you stand out. In today’s market having online professional branding, presence could be the difference between you and the next candidate. With 95% of recruiters searching on LinkedIn you cannot afford not to have a presence and you want to put your best foot forward. Here are six key areas to customize and pay particular attention to. The time to update or create a profile is now. The economy will open up and you want to be ready when it does. Take this time during #saferathome to get yourself ready and put your best foot forward.
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Not comfortable writing about yourself and don’t know where to start? I can help I am offering 50% off all of my services now through May 31st. Schedule a free consultation- www.beproductivecoaching.com/contact
These are indeed uncertain times for all of us amid this Coronavirus outbreak. It’s the topic everywhere…on TV, Radio, Social Media, etc. Everyone is talking about how we can protect ourselves, practicing social distance, all the toilet paper that is missing from the shelves…etc. But the truth is that this is the first time we all experience something like this, which is why we see all of the reporting, panic, and opinions.
Some of us may remember living through Anthrax, West Nile Virus, SARS, Human Influenza, MERS-Cov, Ebola, Measles, Zika, and Chikungunya, but none of those were Pandemics. According to my research from 1900-2020, there have been 5 Pandemics (Sources: https://www.who.int/csr/don/archive/country/usa/en/ & https://www.mphonline.org/worst-pandemics-in-history/) as follows:
As of March 15, 2020, YTD, we’ve seen 5,839 deaths from Coronavirus worldwide (Source:https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/), and from what we are all learning we will continue to see that number rise which means that we must do our part to keep our selves and our communities safe. We also need to prepare to continue with our lives and the changes that this may bring.
An area that is already being affected is the job market. With all of the events that have been canceled, the theatres, museums, and businesses that have closed, we see that the effects of this virus go way beyond a health crisis. In preparation, I want to talk to you about how you can prepare for your job search and career planning during these uncertain times.
We’ve all seen that many companies are now implementing working remotely because the business must go on. My gut says that as the weeks go on and the uncertainty remains, we’ll start seeing the rise of “virtual interviewing”. What does this mean? It means that if you are currently looking for work or looking to transition sometime in 2020, you MUST get your telephone interviewing and video interviewing techniques on point. This means practicing and getting comfortable over the phone and video.
The next thing we may also start to see is a slowdown in decisions because they may wait to see what is happening with the economy and/or they may decide they want to meet you in person before making a final decision. This is the time for you to be patient and communicate well on their timeline.
Here are some tips to make sure your phone and video interview go well:
The third thing we need to prepare for is what can happen as a result of a financial crisis. We’ve all seen the wall street rollercoaster this past week, and we have no idea where we will end up, but with all the closings and shutdowns, we could be heading towards a financial crisis. This, unfortunately, could lead to the restructuring of businesses and layoffs. We may not see this right away as this takes a little bit of time as companies come up with a strategy to restructure, but this is the time for you as a professional to make sure that you are prepared for whatever comes.
This means that all your professional branding tools should be updated and ready to go. This includes your Resume, LinkedIn, Cover Letters, and Interview Skills. You do not want to be caught unprepared and scrambling to put these together at the last minute. So, take this time to plan ahead and prepare yourself.
If you want to learn more about how to update your professional branding tools, check out this other article I wrote https://www.linkedin.com/post/edit/6636042944530964480/ or feel free to email your questions to vimari@beproductivecoaching.com.
Interested in career coaching or creating a career transition strategy? Schedule a complimentary consultation: https://calendly.com/vimariroman/free-consultation?month=2020-03
Beyond just a memorable logo, good branding increases the value of a company, provides employees with direction and motivation, and makes acquiring new customers easier. A brand represents the sum of people’s perception of a company’s customer service, reputation, advertising, and logo.
A personal brand is, in many ways, similar to a corporate brand. It is who you are, what you stand for, the values you embrace, and how you express those values. So, as you can tell, having a personal, professional brand is just as important as having a company or corporate brand. Keep in mind that your professional brand must also be memorable.
A lot goes into the making of a memorable professional brand. If you do not define your professional brand, others will. You can strengthen your professional brand by making sure you create a good reputation, networking, making your voice heard in meetings, and attending conferences. Beyond this, your professional brand must be able to make a good impression when you are not present, especially when you are looking to make a career transition.
These are documents you’ll need throughout your career. Tools you need to help you get to the next position. It’s how you show up on paper and online—the first impression. Whether you are looking to grow into the next position, moving companies, or make a complete transition, your professional branding tools must represent you as a professional. Think about what makes you competitive and how you want others to remember you.
There are three simple steps you should take to making sure that you are building a professional and memorable brand.
Step 1: Resume & Cover Letter: Recruiters spend an average of six seconds reviewing an individual resume. Make them count!
➡️ Resume: Think of how you can seperate yourself from the competition. Recruiters and hiring managers spend an average of 6 seconds browsing at a resume which means you must make them count. Focus on highlighting your accomplishments and write the resume for the job you want. One page if you are just getting started. Two pages for professionals with ten years of experience and three pages for C-Level executives are acceptable.
➡️ Cover Letter: No, this is not old fashioned. Even if they do not require it send it. Even if it’s a fast application online – send a cover letter. PDF your document to include your cover letter and send it as one document. A cover letter is where you tell the recruiter or hiring manager why you’re the person for the job. You compare their requirements with your skills and accomplishments. Show them you’ve done your research and tell them why joining their team would be an excellent fit for both. Keep it to one page.
Step 2: LinkedIn Profile: 95% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find top-notch candidates. Make your LinkedIn profile match your stellar resume and land the interview you want!
➡️ Let’s face it…we live in a digital age. LinkedIn is the professional site where recruiters and hiring managers go to learn more about you. Make sure you are present and control what others see online. Don’t make them have to Google you. LinkedIn is an extension of your resume. Make sure it aligns and make sure you utilize the space to tell them more about you. Get recommendations from others in your network, have a great headshot, and get creative with your cover photo, have it be relevant so that you can stand out. All of this is important and makes a difference.
Step 3: Interview Preparation: Overcome your fears, refine your pitch, and tackle even the hardest interview questions. Communicate what makes you stand out from the competition and gain the confidence you need to relax at that important interview.
➡️Be prepared…be prepared…be ready. You can have a great resume, but if you do not back it up with a great interview, then it’s useless. Practice your introductions. Practice the questions that are difficult for you. Anticipate what’s going to be asked and get yourself prepared. Preparation includes having questions ready for you to ask the recruiter. Remember that the interview is for both parties. They are interviewing you as much as you should be interviewing them to make sure it’s going to be a great fit. Must I mention that you should look prepared too? What does that mean? Professional at all times. Pull out the jacket or suit even if the company is known to be casual. There is no such thing as being overdressed. Ladies, keep it classy and stay away from low cuts or too tight.
Once you have these tools in place, do not forget to keep them updated. I cannot tell you how many outdated LinkedIn profiles I come across. Imagine how many outdated resumes there are. Is your’s one of them? There is nothing worse than having to rush to update these tools when you are trying to put your name in for a position. Take charge of your career. You don’t have to wait. Be prepared at all times by keeping these tools updated so that you are ready at all times.
Need help with your tools or have a quick question you would like answered? Schedule a complimentary consultation: https://calendly.com/vimariroman/free-consultation
Leading companies are adding new talent to support a digital operating model. To develop sharp insights using digital tools, procurement teams will need data science and analytics expertise.
Leading companies are adding new talent to support a digital operating model. To develop sharp insights using digital tools, procurement teams will need data science and analytics expertise.