Job Search Tips

Posts Tagged ‘Job Search Tips’

A Crisis!

Monday, January 10th, 2011

Let’s take a little trip back in time.

Before I started my coaching business, I was one of the top recruiters in my company, and the number one biller out of six offices in a down economy. The pressure was enormous and the hours brutal, but the money was great and I enjoyed the work, so I put up with it.

One day, my new manager wandered into my office. (our company was acquired by a large franchise staffing firm) “Hi Dawn,” she said in that chirpy voice. “I see you’re married.” She literally picked up my hand, said, “nice ring”. I nodded, confused. “Well,” she went on, “I hope you’re not planning on getting pregnant. I’ll be putting pills in your OJ, Hah, hah” and she walked away. This is no joke.

The truth was, I hadn’t been planning to try for a baby anytime soon at the time. But I knew I wanted a family, and this lady was NOT going to tell me I couldn’t have one.

That day, I reached what I call a “crisis point,” and I knew it was time to get out. It was the push I needed. I had been talking about with my associates and husband for the last 6 months. I couldn’t work for a company that that didn’t value me except as a golden goose.

I’d known for a while this was no longer my ideal work environment. The boss that had promised me a BMW if I hit my target two years in a row. Never followed through and I learned the hard way, that I should have gotten it in writing. I’d seen the people around me burn out under the pressure, and I’d had more than a few tough days myself. But it took that comment from my new to be boss that truly make me realize how unhealthy the situation was.

Many of us know that it’s time for a change, but instead of initiating that change ourselves, we wait around for something to push us into it. We don’t change the problems in our marriages until divorce is looming, and we don’t change the problems in our careers until the only options are burn out or get out or it’s too late and you are laid off. Sometimes, not even burnout will stop us from holding on — we’ll keep showing up anyway, hoping that they’ll kick us out. In other words, we give our choice away, because owning it is too big a responsibility.

I know a woman who hates her job in the marketing department of a construction company. I mean, truly loathes it. A graphic designer of her caliber should have no trouble at all starting up as a freelancer, but she won’t do it. When you ask her why, she’ll mutter something about benefits, and a weekly paycheck. Sometimes, she says that she hopes her boss will fire her, because that would force her to do something—but right now, she’s too drained by the end of the day to even think about putting a resume together. She’s waiting for a crisis, hoping that someone (or something) will make her choice for her.

For others, a major life event is what sparks change: a birth, a death, a divorce, a wedding, a layoff. But do you really need such a major shock to wake up? The tighter the crunch, the fewer options you’ll have — so why not act now, before things build to a head?

One of my most important jobs as a coach is to help people in transition. If you’re feeling a career crisis coming on, don’t wait — take the reins now, and take control of your career.

This quote sums up my story — “If you can’t be a good example — then you’ll just have to be a horrible warning.” Catherine

“Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.” Eleanor Roosevelt
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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEBSITE? Please do, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Dawn Quesnel, CPCC, PCC, known as Coach DQ, is a professional coach, radio show host and workshop leader. Through the use of her B.R.I.D.G.E. programs she helps marketing, advertising, and creative entrepreneurs navigate career or business transition while maintaining a healthy career-life balance. Her core belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, consistently leads clients to uncover hidden resources and strengths. B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap and accelerate your career so you can love your life now! Visit www.CareerLifeBalance.net or http://www.coachdq.com today or for more information email me.

“A 42 Year Old Problem Had Been Holding Me Back.”

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

Client Case Study conducted by Bryna Rene

What was the problem/situation which drew you to Coach DQ’s services? What specific issues did you address?
The first issue was pretty personal; a forty-two-year-old problem that had been holding me back. At the time, I had the option to take a job which was similar to what I’d been doing, but I’d been working on my business at the same time. I needed to decide where to put my efforts, but I had a blockage around the most logical area (my business) and I wasn’t moving forward.

We broke through that old issue fairly quickly. But once that was resolved, we realized that I was dealing with an underlying fear of success. After some delving, we realized that a portion of that fear was coming from the people around me, and we worked on that. Then, we discovered that I wasn’t creating the right pictures in my mind around my business success, and we practiced guided visualization.

Working through each successive problem during the coaching process is like dealing with weighted lines or hooks that are attached to you, and that slow you down. Every time one of those weights is cut away, you can move forward less encumbered. That doesn’t mean that next week you won’t find a new hook, or another hindrance, but the process frees you up and helps you progress faster. It’s a matter of lightening the load. That’s what Dawn really does: she begins with what you think you want to do, then through a succession of probes and revelations helps you figure out if you really want it, or if you’re afraid of it, or if you’re unclear about it. That, to me, was particularly notable about her style, and something I was not necessarily expecting.

What was the best part of the coaching experience for you?
I think that the most valuable part of this process was Dawn’s insight into underlying historical personal experiences that were holding me back. She was persistent about making me recognize and deal with things that had happened in my past which prevented me from moving forward. Delving into those painful past experiences is something I think a lot of people shy away from, but in my case those past experiences were clearly the biggest contributor to my inability to move forward.

Also, while much of the process was more generalized, at times Dawn got extremely specific with me. She’d say, “You’re going to go to two networking events this week,” or, “You’re going to make three phone calls.” If problems arose for me while we were executing our plan, we were able to discuss specifically the issues I was running into, which in turn would reveal misconceptions or blockages on my part — those hooks and weights, weighing me down. At times, I was shocked at how many weights I was carrying, and how different they all were from one another. The process really became a case of untangling and sorting out my fears and inhibitions.

What was the most challenging part of the coaching experience for you?
I think I’m not unusual in that I get excited about setting goals and doing exercises while I’m on the phone with Dawn. The feeling lasts for a day or so, but sustaining that resolve to tackle my problems is my biggest challenge. I have to work hard to stay focused and not slip back into old habits. Also, it’s challenging not to start second-guessing the plans we work together to put in place.

Was the issue you originally intended to work on resolved through your coaching sessions?
Yes, the particular issue I’d contacted her about in the beginning was resolved almost immediately. But once you move one thing out of the way, you realize that there are a hundred more things there to be dealt with!

What was the outcome of your work with Coach DQ? Did it meet your expectations?
Absolutely. I was very impressed with Dawn’s blend of “standard” career coaching methodologies such as e-marketing, networking, using LinkedIn, developing niche markets, getting clear on goals and directions, and other things like that. But it’s the combination of those methods with a really intuitive side that makes her so effective. She has the ability to squeeze in between the rocks of your protective walls and poke around in your not-so-obvious issues.

Sometimes I think particularly strong people put up particularly strong walls — but that doesn’t mean there aren’t just as many rotting vegetables behind the walls! Dawn is good at sniffing out problem that aren’t even obvious to me, and that is really important in terms of my being able to make progress.

Dawn Quesnel, CPCC, PCC, known as Coach DQ, is a professional coach, radio show host and workshop leader. Through the use of her B.R.I.D.G.E. programs she helps marketing, advertising, and creative entrepreneurs navigate career or business transition while maintaining a healthy career-life balance. Her core belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, consistently leads clients to uncover hidden resources and strengths. B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap and accelerate your career so you can love your life now! http://www.coachdq.com

The Missing Piece

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

When you find your ideal company culture, it can feel like you’re the “Missing Piece,” the element that’s needed to make the greater whole operate seamlessly. Conversely, your ideal company culture can fill in the pieces which are currently missing in your career.

In the last two articles, we’ve explored “A Week in My Life,” where you created a description of your ideal week; and “Cultural Consciousness,” where you identified your ideal company culture. Now, it’s time to discover where you fit into that culture, and use that information to seek out your ideal job/role.

Here are some questions to ask yourself in order to get a clearer picture of your ideal role. It can be helpful to have your description of your ideal company close to hand as a reference. Remember, all these questions should be answered within the framework of your ideal week and ideal company culture.

What is your job title and description?
What is your salary range? (Go for the gold, here. After all, this is your ideal world!)
What are you creating in your role? What types of problems are you solving on a day-to-day basis? What type of information are you working with? (If you have trouble answering this, look back over your career, and identify the projects/solutions/incentives that you’re most proud of, or which were most fulfilling to you. What role would provide you with those types of situations regularly?)
How many people do you answer to? How many people work directly for you (or as part of your team)?
How do you interact with your bosses, coworkers, or team members on a daily basis? Do you work mostly alone, or as part of a group?
Does your ideal job require frequent travel? To where, and for what?
What is your ideal work schedule? Flexible hours, weekends, nights?
In what ways does your ideal job align with your personal values, goals, and commitments?
How do you feel that you can make a difference on a larger scale in your ideal role? What contributions will you be able to make in this role which will allow you to feel more fulfilled and productive?

As with the last two exercises, you might choose to make two lists: one for your ideal job, and the other for your not-so-ideal job. Become clear about what you want, and what you cannot or will not accept. When you have a strong vision about what’s right for you, you’re more likely to find it.

Sign up for my FREE BRIDGE E-COURSE. DQ’s BRIDGE Process, proven to help you find your ideal job faster, is being featured in the soon to be released book “101 Ways to Enhance Your Career”

Cultural Consciousness

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

“Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from achieving one’s values.” — Ayn Rand

Two weeks ago, we created “A Week in My Life” — a tangible description of your ideal week. Now, it’s time to delve deeper into your work experience during your ideal week: specifically, your experience in your ideal company culture.

Work culture is often discounted as a secondary factor in choosing a new job or career. But the social dynamics of a company can make even a mundane job great — or make even the most interesting job unbearable. In order to truly enjoy your job, you need to enjoy the culture.

If you’re like many people I’ve spoken with over the years, you find yourself falling into the same type of culture over and over again, in job after job, without really knowing why. No matter where you go, you end up working for the same micromanaging, manipulative, or absentee boss; or, conversely, you end up managing the same resentful, uncooperative, or scattered people. You want to make a move, but you’re afraid that the only difference between the new job and the old will be the color of your office walls.

The truth is, we attract certain types of people into our lives and careers based on our conscious and unconscious thoughts and processes. But if you take the time to become clear about what you really want, rather than simply falling into whatever comes your way, you’re more likely to avoid the trap of “same, same.”
Take 30 minutes or so this week to envision and flesh out your ideal company culture. Here are some points to consider:

In what industry does your ideal company operate? What types of product or service does it provide?
Where is your ideal company located?
What does the building/campus look like?
What is the layout of the office/production space? Do you have your own office? Work in an open space?
How big is your ideal company? Do you like having many diverse co-workers, or do you prefer to work with a smaller, select group of individuals?
What is your ideal boss like? In what ways does he or she support you? Consider a specific situation (perhaps one from your own recent experience): how would your ideal boss behave? Is your boss a mentor? Does he or she offer consistent guidance and support, or allow you to operate more autonomously?
If you’re considering a management or executive position, what are your employees like? What qualities do your team members possess which make them easy to work with? How do they support you in your role, and how do they allow you to support them in theirs?
What is the pace of your ideal business or office? Do you thrive under pressure, or do you like to take your time? How would your ideal company culture support your natural working pace?
What social, environmental, and financial goals are important to your ideal company culture? What causes does your company support?

As with the first “Week in My Life” exercise, it’s just as important to know what you don’t want. You might choose to make a list based on the above criteria of what is unacceptable to you in your ideal company culture. For example, you might write, “I don’t want a boss who dates his secretary,” or, “I don’t want a boss who says she’ll give me a raise/a better position/flexible hours, then never follows through,” or, “I don’t want to manage unmotivated employees,” or even, “I don’t want to feel lost in a sea of desks.”
Once you’ve identified your ideal company culture, it’s a whole lot easier to see how you can fit comfortably into it. Next week, we’ll look at your role in your ideal company — in other words, we’ll narrow down your ideal job description! It may sound like a lot of work, however, the amount of time you spend doing these exercises upfront will save you years of wasted energy and frustration which directly impacts your overall well being. You only have one life. Make it a great one!

DQ’s BRIDGE strategy and job search coaching services are designed to help you identify and zero in on your target company, salary range, location, and other vital factors. Like using a Rapla lure to catch a bass, you’ll know exactly what you’re fishing for before you’re ready to cast. When you’re prepared and focused, you’re more likely to capture the opportunities that are out there waiting for you.
Dawn Quesnel, CPCC, PCC, known as Coach DQ, is a professional coach, radio show host and workshop leader. Through the use of her B.R.I.D.G.E. programs she helps marketing, advertising, and creative entrepreneurs navigate career or business transition while maintaining a healthy career-life balance. Her core belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, consistently leads clients to uncover hidden resources and strengths. B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap and accelerate your career so you can love your life now! Visit www.CareerLifeBalance.net or http://www.coachdq.com today or for more information click here or email me.

Itching to Get Out of Your Job?

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

“Start With the End In Mind” ~ Coach DQ

If you’re like many of the people with whom I communicate on a daily basis, you want to make a move. You’re practically itching to get out of your job. But you’re worried about the economy, and the availability of positions in your field or salary range. Or, you cringe at the very thought of the job search or resume development process. Or, you’re worried about the fact that you’ll end up in the same unsatisfying situation in your new job, with the same unreasonable or manipulative boss and the same ill-fitting work culture.

“Do not wait; the time will never be “just right.” Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.” Napoleon Hill

Well, don’t despair. The economy is starting to rebound, and now is the time to start becoming clear about what you want from your new position. Do you want to make a lateral move to a company with a culture you admire? Do you want to advance to an executive or high-level position? Do you want to change careers, or start your own business?

Becoming clear about what you want and need from your job is also important to avoiding career déjà vu — when you wake up in a new job to find that your new boss is the same as your old boss, your stress level hasn’t gone down, and you’re dissatisfied with the same elements of your new job as the old. Often, our unconscious patterns lead us toward specific types of people and situations. But we can break that cycle through careful planning and creative visualization.

Remember that there’s a solution to every problem—you just have to find it. You’ll never get out of your rut if you don’t take action.

Today, and over the next few weeks, we’ll be looking at solutions to help you break out of your rut and start moving forward. If you’re unhappy with your current job but aren’t sure what to do about it, I invite you to create “An Ideal Week in My Life.”

An Ideal Week in My Life. I’m sure you’ve been asked at some point in your life to describe your ideal day. But an “ideal” day is hard to come by, even in imagination-land. Instead, I will request you to take 20 – 60 minutes to sit down with a pen and paper, and describe your ideal week. Here are some elements to consider when envisioning this ideal week in your life.

•Where are you living? Are you in your current home, or elsewhere?
•What is your schedule? Are you working 40 hours? More? Less?
•How long is your commute?
•What time do you wake up? What time do you get home from work?
•What is your job like? What field are you working in? (You can be pretty general in this area, since we’ll delve into more specifics next week.)
•What do your nights and weekend look like? What creative and social activities do you make time for?

Imagine that you are a character in a novel. What emotions do you feel in each situation in your ideal week? What goals are you pursuing? What things do you look forward to? Once you have everything down on paper, take a moment to close your eyes and summon the emotions you would feel during your ideal week. Since we attract what we think about, visualizing yourself in a space of contentment, joy, creative inspiration, and forward momentum can help you attract those things.

If you’re not sure what your ideal week looks like, start by making a list of the things your ideal week would NOT include. Maybe you’d write, “My boss would not engage in manipulative behavior,” or “I would not have to drive sixty miles each way to my job.” Knowing what you don’t want is just as important as knowing what you DO want!

If you still need help getting clear, take the time to Ideal Day Exercise, which can help you identify your strengths, goals, and common life themes. Next time, we’ll take a look at your ideal week’s ideal job, and delve into your ideal company culture. Stay tuned!

“It’s the job that’s never started that takes longest to finish.” — J.R.R. Tolkien (1892−1973) Writer

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My BRIDGE strategy and job search coaching services are designed to help you identify and zero in on your target company, salary range, location, and other vital factors. Like following a track in the woods, you’ll know exactly what you’re looking for before you’re ready to aim. When you’re prepared and focused, you’re more likely to capture the opportunities that are out there waiting for you.

They say that for every $10,000 in salary you’re asking for, you should add one month to your job search. But my BRIDGE for Job Search “hunting” strategy is proven to cut job search time by 50% or more.

Now that summer’s over, the hunting season is in full swing. Don’t miss out on your ideal job.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEBSITE? Please do, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Dawn Quesnel, CPCC, PCC, known as Coach DQ, is a professional coach, radio show host and workshop leader. Through the use of her B.R.I.D.G.E. programs she helps creative professionals and business owners navigate career or business transition while maintaining a healthy career-life balance. Her core belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, consistently leads clients to uncover hidden resources and strengths. B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap and accelerate your career so you can love your life now! Visit www.CareerLifeBalance.net or http://www.coachdq.com today or for more information click here or email me.

On the Hunt
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

The other day, I had a conversation with a former client from the recruiting world. We were discussing the most effective way to target prospective employers in this brave new job world. I debated that my BRIDGE strategy — to Become clear, Research, and Identify potential employers (your targets) Develop your contacts, Get a Game Plan, Execute and Evaluate the Game Plan — is more effective, while he debated that his strategy, which was to go through every single one of his contacts on LinkedIn and see what came up, was the one which produced results.

I was intrigued. I wondered if there are more people than my former client who think this way. In my mind, his strategy was that of a farmer: he planted many seeds in many areas of his professional network, and waited to see what grew for him. I, on the other hand, am a hunter, and I encourage my clients to utilize a “hunting” strategy when they begin the job search process.

Usually, a farmer plants more than one type of crop. He nurtures his seeds patiently, pulling weeds where necessary. Sometimes, what pops up surprises him, and sometimes it fails to grow at all.
A hunter, on the other hand, goes out into the wilderness knowing exactly what she is looking for. She stakes out her ground, carefully positioning herself in the right place to hit her target, and waits. When the moment comes, she’s there, ready to jump on the opportunity. Of course, sometimes the quarry gets away, but more often than not, the hunter comes home with what she went looking for.

So, are you a hunter or a farmer?
Don’t get me wrong, there’s validity to the farming approach in a job search. You’re nurturing relationships, growing connections. You might also be cultivating several options at one time, so that if Plan A doesn’t work out, you can fall back on Plan B, C, or D. But this approach is also time-consuming, and if you’re living on a severance package (or unemployment), time may not be on your side. That’s when it’s time to go on the hunt.

My BRIDGE strategy and job search coaching services are designed to help you identify and zero in on your target company, salary range, location, and other vital factors. Like following a track in the woods, you’ll know exactly what you’re looking for before you’re ready to aim. When you’re prepared and focused, you’re more likely to capture the opportunities that are out there waiting for you.

They say that for every $10,000 in salary you’re asking for, you should add one month to your job search. But my BRIDGE for Job Search “hunting” strategy is proven to cut job search time by 50% or more.
Now that summer’s over, the hunting season is in full swing. Don’t miss out on your prize job.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEBSITE? Please do, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Dawn Quesnel, CPCC, PCC, known as Coach DQ, is a professional coach, radio show host and workshop leader. Through the use of her B.R.I.D.G.E. programs she helps creative professionals and business owners navigate career or business transition while maintaining a healthy career-life balance. Her core belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, consistently leads clients to uncover hidden resources and strengths. B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap and accelerate your career so you can love your life now! Visit www.CareerLifeBalance.net or http://www.coachdq.com today or for more information click here or email me.

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Is Your Resume SEO Compliant?
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Those of you who’ve taken my BRIDGE tele-class or followed my BRIDGE strategy for Job Search, you already know that when you’re clear about the role you’re after, it takes less time and effort to land your ideal position.

I’ve heard it said many times that when you’re applying for jobs on-line and you send your resume, it may as well have been sucked into a black hole. With the increasing intelligence of search engines, company web site databases, and online applications, it’s easier than ever to get lost if you’re not on top of the latest web strategies. First on the list: make sure your resume is SEO-Compliant (Search Engine Optimization).

The “B” in my BRIDGE for Job Search Strategies method stands for “Become Clear.” As a Coach, part of my job is to help my clients with this first, deceivingly complex step. What do you want your career to look like? What do you want your life to look like when you’re in this career? Where and for whom do you want to work?

When a client has trouble with this step or if “B” is too heavy for you to handle right now, we move to “R” — Research. We Research together to “I” — Identify — your skill set, likes, interests, motivators, values, unique attributes, target titles, target companies, and target key words. While we’re doing this, we’re also “D” — Developing— your resume, your career positioning, new contacts and “G” Getting a game plan, while “E” — Executing and Evaluating — on these strategies to help you reach your ideal position faster. This takes us back to “B” — Become Clear — at which point, you’re ready to progress to the next level.

As you Research and Identify, you’re not only creating a list of your skills and values; you’re creating a list of key words and phrases. These can be very helpful when creating an SEO-Compliant resume, since they are likely also the words and phrases which will be searched by hiring managers. You can then use these key words when researching on LinkedIn and other online resources to Research and Identify your ideal target employer.

“We have too many high-sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.” — Abigail Adams

Here’s how you can use SEO and key words to optimize your resume using LinkedIn.

Let’s say you are targeting a position on the client side as a Director of Marketing in the computer software industry. Go to LinkedIn.com, and in the upper right-hand part of the screen, click “Advanced” which is just to the right of the Search box for “People“. This will take you to the screen below:

LinkedIn Director of Marketing Key Word Search

In the Keyword box, type the title you are targeting (for this example, Director of Marketing). Note: You are typing Director of Marketing in the Keyword field not the Title field. Next, for Location, select “Located in or near” and then enter your Zip Code. Next check off under Industries, Computer Software, and click Search at the bottom.

Drill down on some of the profiles that come up in the search, and take note of the titles, the companies and the key words used to describe the position held in each profile – keeping in mind that some Profiles contain much more information than others. Use these key words and phrases to refine your target search, and then look at the LinkedIn Profiles of your potential competitors — then look at your resume. Is it compliant relative to the types of positions you’re targeting?

As you’re reading job descriptions do you notice some of the same key words? Are those key words present on your resume? It’s as simple as that! Use these words and phrases and get your resume SEO-Compliant! What most people don’t realize is the biggest value you get from LinkedIn and other job boards is the information you can obtain with simple Research.

As the saying goes, people don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan. Brian Tracy, in a recent interview said…”You can’t hit a target you can’t see… and more people spend more time planning a picnic than they spend planning their careers.”

Start planning your career today by taking advantage of my no-obligation complimentary coaching consult.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEBSITE? Please do, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Dawn Quesnel, CPCC, PCC, known as Coach DQ, is a professional coach, radio show host and workshop leader. Through the use of her B.R.I.D.G.E. programs she helps creative professionals and business owners navigate career or business transition while maintaining a healthy career-life balance. Her core belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, consistently leads clients to uncover hidden resources and strengths. B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap and accelerate your career so you can love your life now! Visit www.CareerLifeBalance.net or http://www.coachdq.com today or for more information click here or email me.
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Need help with your resume? Enter your name by September 7, 2010 by e-mailing me at DQ@CoachDQ.com win a free resume strategy coaching session! (Valued at $350)

8 Resources To Help You Build Your Network
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

I talk a lot about using social media to expand your network, look for a new job, or promote and grow your business. But how do you know which sites to use?

Which sites you choose depends entirely on what you want to achieve. Helping you figure out what you want to achieve is part of what working with a coach is all about. If you’re looking for a new job, Twitter has some great job boards, and you can get real-time updates of new listings, learn more about the companies you are target and if it’s networking you’re after, LinkedIn—and, to a lesser degree, Facebook—allow you to connect with other professionals.

There are other, less well-known social networking sites that have a lot to offer job seekers, entrepreneurs, and networkers. Here’s a partial list of business-related social networking sites you might find helpful:

• AdvisorGarage—An online directory of advisers willing to assist budding entrepreneurs.

• ConnectBeam—Social networking specially designed for corporate users.

• Doostang — An invite-only career community for professionals.

• Fast Pitch—A growing business networking community in the corporate world. It provides users with a one-stop shop network to market their business.

• Mediabistro.com—A site for professionals in content or creative industries.

• Ryze.com—A site for establishing new connections and growing networks. Connections for jobs, building career and making sales.

• Blitztime—Speed networking platform where you can network in your PJ’s. Check out their free demo to learn more.

• XING—A directory of business contacts powering relationships between business professionals.

Everything is easier when you have the right tools and you know how to maximize them. Integrating social media into your job search or business networking strategy is a great way to open new doors, stay on top of the trends and grow your network. “Opportunity rarely knocks at your door. Knock rather on opportunity’s door if you ardently wish to enter.” — B.C. Forbes

Check out some of the sites above, see who’s online, and shop around until you find the site (or sites) that are best for you. You never know who you’ll meet (or Tweet)! Follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/coachdq

Are you overwhelmed with all the resources available and you just don” onclick=“javascript:_gaq.push([’_trackEvent’,‘outbound-article’,‘twitter.com/coachdq

Are you overwhelmed with all the resources available and you just don’]);“t know where to start? Contact me for a complimentary coaching consult.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEBSITE? Please do, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Dawn Quesnel, CPCC, PCC, known as Coach DQ, is a professional coach, radio show host and workshop leader. Through the use of her B.R.I.D.G.E. programs she helps creative professionals and business owners navigate career or business transition while maintaining a healthy career-life balance. Her core belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, consistently leads clients to uncover hidden resources and strengths. If you are ready to B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap between you and a life you love then visit http://www.careerlifebalance.net or http://www.coachdq.com today.

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Play to Your Strengths
Monday, September 14th, 2009

What is the most important tool for advancement you’ll ever have at your disposal? Yourself.

Every one of us has innate strengths which make us unique, and uniquely qualified for what we do. Your best resources are the things that come naturally to you, because they’re already there, waiting to be accessed.

Many people undervalue their own abilities, either because they don’t know what they are or because they can’t see how to use them. Either way, they’re missing out: even the most mundane-seeming skills can, if applied properly, give you the edge you need to get your game plan on a roll – you just have to use them creatively. If you’re a tech junkie, why not start an e-mail or Blackberry marketing campaign to enhance your company’s visibility? If your friends call you “Betty Crocker” or “Mr. Maître d’”, could you put those hosting skills to work by moderating the next company meeting, or organizing this month’s event for your networking group? Explore what your career options are using your project management skills.

Personality traits can also be great assets, if you know how to apply them. When you consciously recognize your strengths and weaknesses, you can find ways to make every situation work for you. For example: If you’re a shy, introvert type, you’re probably scared to death of networking, and that’s okay. But instead of fading into a corner at your next event, why not put that brilliant memory of yours to work? Talk to just a few people, but give them all of your attention. While you’re conversing, file away a few bits of information about each person: when you see them again, you’ll have a ready store of conversation-starters, and they’ll feel valued. It’s all about having the right perspective.

Action Step: This week, write down at least three of your strongest traits. Be specific, and be honest. Are you solitary? Sociable? Are you a risk-taker, or are you more practical? Do you excel in project management or are you more of a conceptual, big picture strategist? Are you supremely organized, or do the little details drag you down? Are you a good public speaker? Are you brilliant at math? Regardless of whether these traits are related to your current job field, get them down on paper. These are the tools with which you work every day, even if you don’t realize it.

Now, take one of the traits you’ve written, and come up with a way to use it creatively as part of your game plan. Try to apply it to an area that’s been frustrating you – you may be surprised by what you come up with!

The Follow-Up
Thursday, August 13th, 2009

One of the biggest challenges that entrepreneurs and job applicants face is how and when to follow up.

Unfortunately, there are really no set rules that govern the follow-up, but persistence is always rewarded — so long as it doesn’t cross into the realm of being a pain in the butt. Jeffrey Gitomer wrote in The Little Red Book of Selling that 45% of business is lost because people don’t follow up for the fifth time. Selling — whether you’re selling a product or yourself as a prospective employee — is all about relationship building, and the more you are able to speak, on the phone or in person, to your prospect, the more they will feel they know you on a personal level, and the more inclined they will be to consider you when the time is right for them to buy.

You will need to establish your own guidelines for the follow-up based on what you’re seeking, and who you’re seeking it from. Here are some tips.

When you send a resume, include a note in the cover letter that indicates you will be following up. The hiring manager will then know to expect your call. The same goes for any marketing materials you’re delivering via e-mail or snail mail.

If you’re an entrepreneur cold-calling prospects, only leave a message the first (and perhaps the second) time you call. After that, try to get the person live on the phone.

After sending your resume, follow up with one or two phone messages; after that, try to get your contact live. Give the hiring manager a reasonable span of time to respond before calling back: she’s probably buried in resumes, and you don’t want to come across as insensitive to her tight schedule.

Listen to your gut. You’ll know when you’ve hit a dead end, and you’ll only feel discouraged if you continue once you know it’s futile. Also, if you’re selling your product or service, you’ll want to avoid gaining a reputation for harassment.

Build relationships through social media and networking. Once you and your prospect have something in common, it’s easier to strike up a conversation. If you have a company or are starting one, using these vehicles can help to familiarize prospects with your product before you even say a word. If you’re looking for a job, using your networking contacts can gain you an ear where you might not otherwise have found one.

Pay attention to how the conversation is going. If the dialogue is still dynamic, there’s nothing wrong with following up fifteen or twenty times.

Don’t take it personally. If a hiring manager or client doesn’t get back to you, or doesn’t respond well to your offer(s), it can feel like a real blow. But keep in mind that they have their own concerns, which may not be apparent from an outsider’s prospective. Maintain a professional demeanor at all times, and even if you don’t get the job or make the sale, you’ll make a great impression.

If you’re searching for a job, or starting to sell a product or service of your own, you’ll need to become a master at the art of the follow-up. It takes time and practice, but it’s a skill that will never fail to serve you.

CoachDQ

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