Networking 101 (first step, don't call it networking)

Time to read: 1.08 minutes

More photos of my pets. :-)

Welcome to week 4 of Job Searching for Corporate Rebels!

Networking. What does that word inspire for you? Fear? Insincerity? Fakeness?

You're not going to use the word anymore. Erase that word from your job search vocabulary. Go on, toss it out.

I'll wait.

If you are only scrolling online job openings and submitting applications, you are not taking full advantage of opportunities. (One caveat: If you are an industrial engineer applying for jobs in industrial engineering, then maybe online applications will work). For everyone else, a personal, relational approach will amp up your results.

Last week, I talked about building momentum. Personal interaction is the way to do that. This means live conversations with real people. The people can be anyone…your family, close friends, colleagues past and present, even strangers.

"I don't want to bug people," you say.

Here's the thing: People love dispensing advice. They love being the one who has finally made it to a place where they have something to offer. And, if they don't want to talk or don't have time, they won't. There's no harm in reaching out. You never know who holds the key to your next opportunity.

Ideally, you've kept in touch over the years. Even if you haven't, it's ok.

You arrive to the conversation prepared with questions about their career, what you are looking for, and what ideas they have for you.

Then you listen. After you've had the business conversation, then you ask about their kids, vacations, and other personal stuff. You'll have more time for a fun, personal check-in.

Today's Hot Tip: Here's a script for an email:

"Hey XYZ, It's been a while since we've connected. I was laid off in December and am starting a job search. I'm reaching far and wide for advice and ideas. Would you be willing to chat with me for 30 minutes?"

Today's Bonus Hot Tip: Be prepared to say yes to a chat with an old friend or an old friend's child about their job search in the future. Pay it forward!

Next week I'm going to tell you the #1 question to ask.

If you have a friend or colleague who is job-seeking, share this blog article with them. They can subscribe here to receive the whole series.

Talk About It!

I've run out of clever job search photos. So here's one of my dog.

Welcome to week 3 of Job Searching for Corporate Rebels!

When I talk to job seekers (or people who want to be promoted or considered for new opportunities), I talk about building momentum.

The fact is, what you think about, talk about, and do grows.

If you complain or bellyache that there are no jobs out there, you'll get more of that result.

If you think and talk about what you want, and you take action toward it, you will get more.

Be patient. Building momentum takes time. Finding a job takes time. You will likely not get an immediate job offer. That doesn't mean you're failing.

Job hunting is not a feel-good activity. You face a lot of rejection and effort that seems pointless. It's not pointless. Every step you take leads to another step and feeds the energy of forward movement and momentum.

So, talk about what you're looking for with everyone and anyone. If you don't know exactly what you're looking for, talk about that. Everyone has been there and will have stories to share.

Today's Hot Tip: If you wonder if you should apply, the answer is always yes. (Assuming it's a job you want. If you don't want it, the answer is no). Nothing is lost by submitting an application. The time you invest refines your ability to talk about yourself and what you are looking for. I'll say it again, every step builds momentum.

Next week, I'll talk about networking. I hate the word and bet many of you do, too. I'll break it down and make it more fun. Stay tuned.

Know someone who is job hunting, all they have to do is subscribe here to receive the whole series.

Email me to ask me a question. I love to hear from you.

Job Searching Is Like Going To The Gym

Time to read: 1 minute 15 seconds

Welcome to week 2 of Job Searching for Corporate Rebels!

An effective job search builds momentum. You start with a handful of connections and grow it into a vibrant matrix. This means three things:

1. You have to start somewhere which means you can start anywhere.
2. The start may be slow. That's ok. It takes a while to build momentum.
3. You want your job search to take on a life of its own.

Looking for a job is like going to the gym. When you start, working out doesn't feel great. You can't lift much weight, and your body feels unfamiliar and uncomfortable. You force yourself to go. After a few weeks, a bicep appears, and you sleep better. As you start to see results, you become intrinsically motivated to work out.

Job searching works the same way. Doing reps gets results. Job search reps are making calls, talking to people, submitting resumes, and just like the gym, refining your approach will focus your results as you progress (tailoring your resume, honing your talking points).

Job searching isn't magic (until you get the offer, then it definitely feels like magic). It's a matter of discipline and willingness. Doing the work. Talking to people. Sending applications. Do the reps. Over time, you build momentum.

Today's Hot Tip: Do the reps. Job searching isn't complex. Just do the reps.

In the next couple of weeks, I'll share more about how to build momentum. Stay tuned.

If you have a friend or colleague who could benefit from 14 years of experience in career development and job seeking, please hit forward and share this newsletter with them. They can subscribe here to receive the whole series.

Reach out anytime!

Do Your Beliefs Matter To Finding A Job?

Time to read: 37.5 seconds

Welcome to week 1 of Job Hunting for Corporate Rebels!

If you are not currently looking for a job, this series applies to getting promoted, staying fresh in your field, and will set you up for the day you do start a job search. Tuck these newsletters away for the future.

An effective job search is one part mindset and two parts effort. Do you ever think these things?

• I don't know if I'm qualified.
• My skills are so varied, no one will understand what I do.
• I'll never find a job.
• I wish I had taken a different path/gotten a different degree because then I'd be qualified.
• I've wasted time.

These thoughts in your head are simply beliefs. Limiting beliefs. When you operate from beliefs like these, it is hard to motivate yourself to take action and move forward.

In my 14 years of supporting people in their job searches and careers, there is one over-arching belief that effectively propels your job search, and it's this:

Job searching is match-making. Someone out there is looking for you.

Hiring is a grueling and fraught process. Employers want to hire the right person for the role and culture. The right hire solves a problem and makes the manager's life easier. A bad hire is horrible. An employer is just as happy to find you as you are to find them.

Today's Hot Tip: Someone out there is waiting for you. You just have to find them.

Keep reading, we'll talk more about how to find them in the coming weeks.

Please reach out anytime with questions and comments. I always love hearing from you.

If you have a friend, colleague or family member who is currently looking for a job, they can click here to receive the whole series.

Job Searching 101: It's For Everyone!

Time to read: 25 seconds

I've had many, many job seekers reach out recently so I'm going to spend a few weeks giving you my best advice about job hunting.

Before you decide, "I have a job, I don't need this information," this advice is for everyone, whether you are happy in your job, looking for a job, or dreaming about your next move.

Consider yourself a job seeker, even if you have a stable job. You never know when your next opportunity will arise, the layoff will occur, your family will move, or you decide it's time for a change.

Change is the name of the game. You own your career. You want to keep things fresh, be active in your field, continue to learn and grow, meet people, and have interesting conversations. Those activities are the same whether you are actively looking for a job today or simply keeping things open for the future.

The point of today's newsletter is you are always looking for a job, even if you don't actually need one right now. I don't mean this as a high-pressure statement. Actually, keeping things fresh and staying on top of your career can be fun.

That's what I'll be talking about for a few weeks. If you have a friend or colleague who could benefit from 14 years of experience in career development and job seeking, please hit forward and share this newsletter with them. They can subscribe here to receive the whole series.

Happy New Year!

Time to read: 25 seconds

If you're like me, it takes a minute to get in the groove of the new year. I always feel a little sad about the passing of Christmas, time with family, the quiet and downtime of the holidays.

I'm still not landed in 2024. Kids are still home from college. Work is ramping up this week. Getting back to the gym. Taking steps toward a routine.

These first few weeks of January are a period of transition for many of you. (Some of you may feel like 2024 shot out like a rocket, and you're fully landed. If that's the case, awesome!)

It's ok to be in transition. Simply acknowledging that's where you are making the discomfort easier and smoother to move through.

What do you do when you still feel discombobulated? Get into action. Don't spend a lot of time thinking or wallowing. Take action to build your regular routine. Just get yourself to the gym. Make regular meals. Clean. Do the activities that help you feel grounded.

In the familiar phrase, Just Do It.

You'll feel landed in 2024 in no time.

Happy New Year!

Your Holiday Toolkit #3: Care For Yourself

Time to read: 1.15 minutes

As a coach, I think a lot about the nervous system and how to teach people to regulate it. I heard an interesting fact recently (on the Ten Percent Happier Podcast). 80% of information travels from your body to your brain. Only 20% goes from your brain to your body.

This means that caring for your body and learning to regulate your nervous system is crucial to managing your reactions, moods, and daily experiences. This is good news because you can learn to regulate your nervous system. Yoga, meditation, and exercise are all familiar tools for physical regulation.

And there's a tool that's even easier.

Pay attention the micro-moments when you feel regulated and notice what you are doing. Then do more of those things. (This is also thanks to the Deb Dana interview on Ten Percent Happier). This is what that looks like:

• When your cat purrs on your lap and you feel a moment of "ahhhh…" that is regulation. Spend more time with your cat or snuggle your cat when you feel dis-regulated.
• When you climb into bed and notice how soft the covers are, that's a moment of regulation. The mental note will enable you to stay in the moment a few seconds longer, increasing your physical regulation.
• Give yourself a big sigh. As often as you need.
• When you pull in the garage and have a few moments of delicious silence between work and whatever awaits you in your house, savor it. That's regulation.

The more you notice, the more regulated you'll feel. The goal isn't to feel regulated all the time. That's impossible. Instead, the goal is to know what regulation feels like for you, what brings you that moment of calm, and the easy activities that can help you get back when you get dis-regulated (which can easily happen during the holidays).

I hope this helps you find the micro-moments in your life!

Have a wonderful holiday!