There is an abundance of help available in writing your resume. It’s well worth it to take advantage of those resources to craft a polished resume to go along with your job search strategy.

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I have become a statistic.  I am now one of the 5.7% people without a job.   Laid off, reorganized, restructured.  Whatever term you choose, the result is the same – without a steady paycheck.  I survived a merger and two reorganizations and now when I least expected it, the big conference call announcing the end.  I received the news in a calm and professional manner but internally, I felt the proverbial rug pulled from under me.

Visions of homelessness danced before my eyes.  Two years ago, I was ready for a lay-off, even expected it.  Now, with a mortgage, a self employed husband and a dog, I was not prepared.  I have heard the war stories of downsized corporate executives now working in retail.  I have heard that the job market is tight and competition stiff.  I meant to get an MBA, I just never got around to it – too busy working so that other people’s jobs would be secure.  Now here I am, a middle executive, highly qualified, under degreed and jobless.

I wrote these words 10 years ago. I had forgotten about them and found them while searching through my writing file. It was after the dot com bubble had burst, and there was a lot of fear in the halls of corporate America. At that time it was a tough job market, but it would get worse post 9/11, a few short months after I left my job.

What we considered bad then would be considered amazing today. It is a reminder that what seems like the worst possible outcome in the moment could be viewed from a completely different perspective later.

I thought I would share what I felt because so many are now going through the same emotions I felt so long ago. While I gave myself room to feel, and treated myself to a spa day, I did not dwell on the loss but began to plan my future. Below are a few things that helped me to not only survive but take control and design my next steps.

Make a scary list. I listed all of my “what if” fears on a sheet of paper. Just the act of listing them took away the fear but I took another step by preparing a plan to deal with them. How many of my fears came true? Zero. Not a single thing I feared happened and I am convinced that the battle plan helped me to avoid playing it into them.

Stay close to the market. I loved my job but I also kept my resume updated and interviewed at least a couple of times per year. I was not interviewing to leave but to stay abreast of what was going on in the market and to ensure that I was getting all that I could from my career. I took calls from recruiters and gave them candidate names. As a result, when I was in the market, I made a couple of calls and received interviews immediately.

Don’t neglect your network. I had a busy job, and busy home life, yet I found time to nurture relationships with other professionals. There is nothing more offensive than not bothering to keep in touch, or be a resource for others and then suddenly send out a slew of LinkedIn invites and emails looking for help. It really does not take much effort to stay in touch and you can use technology to your advantage. Connect on Facebook and other social networking platforms. Attend or arrange a networking lunch for a group of colleagues once or twice per year. Send a card or pass on an article of interest.

Pay more than lip service to work-life balance. I watched former colleagues struggle after a layoff because work was their life. They had been too busy working to cultivate interests and friendships outside of work. Their identity had been tied to work and losing that led some to become depressed.

Today is not forever. My faith played a huge role in helping me to frame the events as a moment in time. I knew that life would be different but it would go on and great things were still in store. Turns out I was right.

Have you ever experienced a job loss? What helped you to get through the experience?

In yesterday’s post I shared the stories of two professionals laid off form their jobs. Crisis career management is always more challenging than proactive, consistent career management. Many mistakenly believe that the only way to manage your career is by doing good work, navigating office politics and developing effective relationships internally.

Part of career management is planning your next step. Where do you want to be in 1 year, 3 years, and 10 years? Are you taking steps to achieve those goals? What industry changes may impact your personal career choices? What skills are valued in the market? Do you have what is needed or do you need to invest in additional training?

Managing your career does not mean that you’re looking for a job or are unhappy with your current employer it is proactively taking care of your income and career satisfaction.

You have to make deposits before you can make withdrawals. In crisis mode, you frantically reach out to a network you have ignored or worse try to build a network under pressure. You have no idea where your skills would be a fit or even what is in demand in the market. The process can be overwhelming.

Routine career management does not have to be stressful or time consuming. Below are 10 things you can do to keep your career on track.

1. Keep in touch with your network using tools such as LinkedIn, Facebook or even email. Check in monthly or even quarterly with your network.
2. Set aside time once a month to actively network – attend an event, organize a meet-up, have lunch with a contact or two or even participate in online chats.
3. Write down your long term career goals and the steps needed to achieve them. Every quarter, check in to make sure you are on track.
4. Subscribe to a few industry blogs and make time to comment on posts 1-2 times per week.
5. Network internally across departments. You can even organize a cross department quarterly lunch to share ideas and discuss collaborative solutions.
6. Register your domain and use it to build an online branding site. Domain registration is inexpensive and you can build a website presence in less than hour using free platforms such as WordPress or Posterous. You can use the site to share your own knowledge and insight or simply use it as an online portfolio.
7. Take time once per month to make notes on notable work activities. Did you come up with a creative solution? Did you have a setback? If so, what happened and what did you learn? Keeping a record of your work life will help you to identify patterns and strengths as well as prepare you for review time. You will also be prepared if you need to update your resume.
8. Identify an area of weakness and work to improve it. Ask someone who has the skill set you need to mentor you for three months. Respect their time by having short conversations and follow-ups. You are never too established in your career for mentors.
9. Meet with a financial planner. Have a plan in the event that you are laid off. It is much easier to make adjustments while working than to deal with a sudden loss of income.
10. Get involved in community or industry organizations. This is a great way to meet people outside of your work circle and engage in activities that differ from your day to day work life.

Is your career your primary source of income?  If you answered yes, then it is important enough to make time to protect it.

Two weeks before Donna was laid off, several colleagues were laid off. The signs were there but she kept working. If you sense change don’t ignore it, take action on your own behalf. Waiting and hoping is not a plan. Have a plan, refer to it routinely and if the time comes you will be in charge of your next move.

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Six months ago I received a call from Donna*, a former resume client. Two years ago, I had provided resume services to her company when they went through an acquisition and major reorganization. Donna had found work but was laid off again. Fearful of a tight job market and shrinking finances she had taken a job with a slight pay cut and was back in school working on her master’s degree. She called me wanting to update her resume, just in case. I walked her through the process which included discussing her next steps and aligning her resume to fit her goals. She was busy and kept putting it off until she gave up on it entirely. Last Friday, Donna was laid off with one final paycheck.

It was also six months ago that I spoke with Tom*. Tom’s company had been hard hit by the economy and he was not sure they would survive. The past year had been tough, with many layoffs, salary freezes and elimination of benefits such as company provided cell phones. Tom was in a senior position with specialized expertise. He was working longer hours but managed to survive round after round of layoffs. I advised him to immediately make time to plan his next move. We talked about job targeting, networking and developing a resume. He was busy with barely one day off per week and he put it off. Last Friday, he received notice that his job would be terminated in the next 2-3 months. His company “does not believe in severance” but offered a couple of days off for job search activity.

I encounter Donnas and Toms weekly; people who realize they need professional help, take the first step and then become complacent. Some even pay for services but will take months to complete the information needed to help them. These are all smart professionals who get so busy with their jobs that they do not make time to manage their career.

Donna and Tom’s lack of action is surprisingly common. I have found that less than 1% of people who seek me out, take immediate action and follow through. Of this 1% some have been laid off, and others have received notice or see the handwriting on the wall and take action. They focus on solving their problem and make time to get it done. This 1% gets employed faster in jobs of their choice. The same clarity and motivation that propels them to take action emerges in their job search.

You have a choice today. If you sense change in your company do not ignore the signs. Develop a plan and activate it. Meet with a financial advisor. Write down the list of things that you would want to negotiate in the event of a layoff. Research other companies and search your network for inside contacts. Inaction does not delay the inevitable. You may get laid off but it’s better to be prepared than forced to react after the crisis.

In tomorrow’s post we will examine how you can proactively manage your career.

*Name was changed to protect the privacy of the client

If you’re in the middle of a job search you’ve likely heard the news that the market is tough.  The national unemployment rate in the U.S. may be hovering near 10% and CEOs may be cautious about hiring but during your job search the focus should be on you. You are not trying to change the national employment rate nor are you trying to find 162,000 jobs, you only need one. You can continue to read the bad news and convince yourself that you haven’t got a chance.

One job, that’s all you need. You only need one company to see that you are a fit and make you an offer. In the whole wide world, just one. You can do that right? Stay focused on one and you’ll be okay.

One action at a time will help you find that one job. Make that one phone call to someone who can you help you. Hang up and make one more call. Write one line of your resume until it’s done. Reach out to one person in your network. Target one company and locate one contact there. One step at a time to one job. Keep doing one until you find the one.

Save yourself today and once you’re employed you can reach out and help someone else find their one.

My stomach clenched as I listened to two people who had trapped themselves in a prison of misery. It was not the situation that pained me but the reality that each had handed the keys to their happiness to someone else. Sadly, they are not alone.

None of us has any control over the economy, unemployment, health care, politics, energy pricing, the housing market or even our bosses. We spend an inordinate amount of time focusing on the uncontrollable rather than putting that energy into the things we can control. If you have 1-2 years left until retirement, and decide to stick it out in a less than perfect job, it is a choice, not something that is forced upon you. You are in control of your decisions and your career. People surrender their freedom to the uncontrollable and life is no longer lived but it happens to you.

Let me be clear, a failure to be in charge of your life makes you a victim. You are allowing yourself to be held hostage, bound by things and people until you are rescued. You are your rescuer, throw off the chains and live in freedom.

Admittedly, life throws us curve balls and things do not always work out our way, but here too we have a choice in how we respond and how we choose to move forward. We can cry and moan and allow bitterness to wrap itself around us like an ace bandage or we can make choices, and decisions that change our circumstances.

The sad old man was not wrong for sticking it out until retirement. He was wrong in not realizing that he was making a choice; a decision that made sense for his life. He chose and there was no need for sadness or anger because the power was in his hands. Instead, he felt trapped and approached his days like a prison sentence.

My heart breaks for those who are bound by this mentality. I have been in situations where others called me a “victim” but I refused the label, I always had a choice and I refused to give anyone but God power over my life.  You always have a choice, even in the face of the laws of the land.

You cannot do anything about the economy but you can make choices in how you respond. You can control your work environment, your choice of career, the direction of your business. Spend time directing the controllable, making choices that will help you attain your goals. Toss out the victim card, and man up, your life is waiting.

Have you ever fallen into the victim trap? What did you do to rebound?

1. Make a list of targeted companies. Do not worry about posted openings or who you know, simply list your Top 10 companies. Consider the type of work the company does, opportunities for growth, culture, stability, location and other aspects that are important to your career satisfaction.
2. Rank the companies in order of preference so that you can maximize your research time. Visit websites, search the web for mentions, read their blog. Learn as much as you can and jot down notes.
3. Research your top picks. How can you provide value? Do you have a solution to one of the company’s problems? It is essential to not only find a company that matches your wish list but understand their needs and how you can make a contribution.
4. Use LinkedIn to uncover inside connections in your targeted companies. This is a great way to use your LinkedIn network for introductions to 2nd and 3rd degree contacts. When asking for an introduction be honest, and clear about your intention. Give your connection a reason for passing the request on, and be gracious if they are not comfortable making the introduction.
5. Find connections on Twitter using directories such as Twellow, WeFollow or Twitterel.
6. Ask your network for connections. Tip: Do not list all ten companies, focus on your top 2. Giving your network specific company names is much more effective than asking if they know anyone who is hiring.
7. Find or form a tribe. Visit WaggleForce and find a career club near you.  Sharing your job search journey with others who are also looking will make the search process less lonely. You can all share tips, resources, provide feedback and support. If there is no club in your area, sign up to lead one.
8. Bring in the professionals. Give yourself a competitive edge by getting help with your resume, search strategy or interview style. Remember that professionals have inside knowledge that can benefit you in your search.
9. Keep track of your efforts. JibberJobber is an excellent tool to centralize and track all of your job search activities. Your job search is no different than a work project. Staying organized will help you to use your time efficiently and stay focused.
10. Stay positive! Your attitude plays a huge role in your success. It will come through in all of your communications and can impact how others perceive you. We all have tough days but pick yourself up and remember that you are in control of your own happiness.

Have any tips to add to the list? Please feel free to share them in the comments.

“If one asks for success and prepares for failure, he will get the situation he has prepared for.”

–Florence Scovell Shinn

No one wants to wing an interview. You want to prepare for the ultimate success, receiving a job offer. Part of preparing to ace your interview is mental preparation. Believing that you can win is as important as any answer that you will provide. The following tips will get you mentally prepared for your interview.  Try those that fit your style.

1. Visualize your success.  Close your eyes and see yourself answering confidently. See the positive response of your interviewer(s). Visualize the interviewer shaking your hand and making you an offer.
2. Create your own mantra. Affirm your talents and abilities to do the job. Validate your success out loud and believe it.
3. Do deep breathing exercises to calm your nerves.  Breathe deeply from your belly and concentrate on inhaling and exhaling.
4. Pump the tunes.  Take along tunes that get you going and play them on the way to the interview.  You will arrive energized and on fire.
5. Dress for confidence. Dress the part and you will feel the part.  Wear that favorite suit, tie or pair of shoes that makes you feel like you are on top of the world. When you feel good about your appearance it shows externally.
6. Shine your shoes.  This may sound silly but people notice.  Women and men should take this extra step to arrive with shoes that are free of nicks, and smudges.  Women, drive to the interview in a different pair of shoes to avoid scuff marks on your heels.
7. Be prepared. The last thing you want on interview day is to be thrown off your game by a change in your plan. Take time the night before to lay out your clothes, fill your gas tank, print out directions (and an alternate route) and make sure you have extra copies of your resume. Place everything that you will take to the interview near the front door so that nothing is left being.
8. Avoid anything that will detract your focus or dampen your mood. While it’s a good idea to scan email to ensure that nothing has changed for the interview, leave everything else until you’re done. Spend the pre-interview time reviewing your game plan and preparing to win.
9. Read a favorite quote, bible verse or passage from a book that uplifts you and makes you feel good.
10. Don’t think of it as an interview but a networking meeting. This is your opportunity to make new connections. Rather than focusing on the outcome, enjoy the experience of meeting new people and learning more about a company.

You have the opportunity, now you must prepare to win.

In the interview, you want to strike a balance when answering questions.  Your answers should be neither vague nor lengthy.  You want to give honest and succinct answers. This is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate your communication skills. Listen and refer back to information presented by the interviewer(s). Keep your answers content rich without being verbose. There is nothing worse than boring your interviewer with long-winded answers.

Like your resume your answers should demonstrate your knowledge, skills and abilities to do the job. Keep the information relevant and on track. Irrelevant or too long answers are a sign that you do not pay attention or lack good communication skills.

Storytelling is an excellent presentation technique and works well in an interview. To interview like a superstar prepare short stories in advance that demonstrate how you handled a challenging situation, your proudest accomplishment, or a growth experience. You can “repurpose” the stories to fit different questions.

The interviewer asks you a question and you know the answer but suddenly draw a complete blank! Been there  done that and have just the recovery tricks for you. Take a deep breath and give your brain a moment to “reset.” Breathe and repeat the question just a bit slower than you were talking, to give yourself a moment. You can also give yourself just a few seconds to regroup by saying, “That is a great question, ““I had never thought of it in quite that way,” anything that will give you a beat to recover.

You may be asked tough questions, and it is important not to squirm or look uncomfortable. Maintain eye contact, a pleasant disposition and give an honest answer. Never lie or misrepresent the truth. For example, “I was let go from my last position when an oversight led to the loss of a contract. Although, I was let go I reviewed the error with my former manager and learned where things wrong ad what I could have done differently. I learned the importance of checks and balance and continuous review.” An honest answer will demonstrate your ability to learn from your mistakes and to handle challenges with grace.

Interviews can be stressful but if you have done your homework on the company, and prepared in advance you can make a great impression and win a job offer.

What makes you most anxious about an interview? What tips helped you overcome interview nerves?

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Amanda is an attorney. She spent 10 years building a successful solo practice. At what seemed like the pinnacle of her success, her life shifted dramatically. Her husband, Joe,  lost his job and they lived in a state that had been decimated by the down economy long before the rest of the nation.  Joe received great offers from out of state and the couple decided to relocate.

In a new state awaiting admission to the state bar, Amanda took a job as a legal secretary.  Nearly, a year later she was sworn in by the supreme court and now had to face a tough market with tough questions about her “backward career move.”

Illness, family crises, and layoffs are just a few of the reasons that professionals have had to take a step back in their career. Taking a lower position does not necessarily signal the death of your career dreams.  A step back with the right strategy can be leveraged in your favor.

Amanda could have chosen to not work while she waited for admission to the bar, instead she chose a large well established firm in her new city. She was exposed to different areas of practice while keeping her legal knowledge and skills fresh. Her bosses became champions of the plucky attorney with the great attitude, and offered to make introductions to colleagues in the area.

If you find that you need to take a step back, consider using it as to break into a new area / specialty or to learn new skills. Rather than viewing it as a negative own it! See is as an opportunity rather than as a “forced choice.”

Interview with confidence and be ready to tell your story with a positive attitude. Your step down can actually be a huge step up in your career!