Today we’re discussing ways to improve your confidence during your job search.
I’ve been in business now for 26 years. So I’ve worked with thousands of clients. One thing many of them have in common is that don’t understand how to sell themselves. We’re in a performance-driven society. You all going to be hired because you can make your future employer money. You can save them money. You can streamline operations. You can eliminate headcount. There’s a multitude of things that you could document and use to tell a compelling story to entice that read.
Keep a Brag Book
So you need to keep a brag book at home. You need to document all your performance-driven stories. Keep a brag book. What is a brag book? Well, click this link and you will see in detail, what a brag book is all about. A brag book is a vital component of your overall career success.
Social Media
You need to learn and be active, not passive, on social media. Social media is there for you to market yourself. Document exactly who you are and express exactly who you are to a multitude of people across the world.
I would suggest, in fact, I’m going to insist that you get on LinkedIn. Now there are further videos on LinkedIn. Please go and look at them on my YouTube channel. LinkedIn is a vital element in your career management. So too are the other social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. I would suggest that you are active during a career transition, being very, very proactive. Don’t be aggressive, but be very, very active. Post things, share things and add content to your social media.
Network
Combined with your social media presence, you need to network. I’m a fearless networker. I network everywhere across the world, but you need to network within your own demographic. Networking is an art. And there again, there is another video on networking, a crucial element again to your career success. Never miss out on networking.
So today where we are right now, we’re in, COVID, it’s very difficult to get out, but let’s hope that very shortly, we are able to get out and we are able to actually physically meet people.
Stay Current
Always do yourself a favor; you are managing your career so keep your resume and your LinkedIn profile up to date. I see so many LinkedIn profiles and so many resumes that are out of date…it’s atrocious. Make sure you are current. We won’t hire people with an out-of-date resume. And if you are concerned about how to update yours, or you want a free audit of both your LinkedIn and your resume, a free critique, go to the form below or contact me via LinkedIn. I’d be happy to spend 20 or 30 minutes with you giving you my honest opinion, my expert opinion on your resume and your LinkedIn profile.
Always be Searching
Next, you always need to be on a search. My philosophy, as an executive career management practitioner, is that the day you land a job is the day to start your new job search. It’s pretty frightening and it scares a lot of people, but it’s very realistic What does that say? It’s probably pretty scary to you, but you always, need to manage your career. Those that don’t manage their careers, struggle. They don’t advance fast, they’re not as happy, and then if they are laid off, they are put in termination, into career transition, it takes them a long time to pick up the pieces.
Don’t Burn Bridges
Finally, sadly, if you are let go from a company, I know it’s a very precarious situation. It’s a very stressful, very emotional day. Why me? The anger the rage comes in, but don’t burn bridges. You might need those people that let you go down the road. It’s not invariably against you; it’s just a business decision. You’ve been let go for a particular reason, maybe they need to scale back or they need to save money. You cost them a lot of money. It’s important that you not burn bridges. Those people can be useful to you as a recommendation on your LinkedIn profile. So you need to have them in your tribe. One of my clients, working for a famous airline was laid off six times from that company, the same company.
She never burned her bridges. She took six severances and yes, it mounted to a huge amount, but because she never burned bridges, she was employed back at that company six times. So what does that tell you? Companies do take on ex-employees. You never know when they’re going to want your skillset again, but it’s just the timing of their scaling back their money. They need to save money particularly where we are right now in COVID, but even in good times, that happens. So never, ever burn bridges.
So there you have it. There are my tips. If you want to do advance your career, I’d be pleased to have a conversation with you. Please enter your contact information in the box below to contact me or email me in the message section on LinkedIn. Let’s have a conversation. Let’s chat. I am here for you.
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