Posts By virtuscareers

Networking Tip: Help People Help You!

· January 3, 2018 · Career Transition, General Career Coaching, Job Search, Networking & Social Media, Personal Brand

​Job seeker: Your networking outreach stinks! Okay, maybe not YOU, but most others.
No-no: “I’m looking for a new opportunity so please let me know if you hear of anything.”
Do some work up front to help people help you.

First:
📌Identify the kind of role you’re seeking.

Next, list out:
📌Your related experience and what you do best.
📌The value an employer will receive.

Finally, create your three-part networking conversation starter:
“I’m currently seeking a customer service team lead role. I have three years of operations experience improving processes and solving problems, which helps my employer provide better, consistent experiences to customers, increasing recent customer satisfaction scores by 12% .”

Short and sweet is key!

If you don’t know what you want, or what you do best, you are in the career discovery phase, not the job search phase. Take a step back to get clear.

LinkedIn Tip: Check Out Your Searchers!

· January 3, 2018 · Job Search, Networking & Social Media

​Job seekers: Here’s a gem LinkedIn feature you might not know about.

1. View your profile
2. Scroll down to “Your Dashboard”
3. Click “Search Appearances” box

dashboard

You’ll see 3 data points for search results you showed up in over the past week:
1. Where your searchers work
2. What your searchers do (title)
3. What keywords your searchers used
Act on this valuable information!
FIRST, are there recruiters in the list?
If so, chances are they have jobs to fill at their company. Check out the company page for each to see if there are openings that match your skills.
SECOND, view keywords you’re being found on. Are they spot on, or off base? Edit your profile SUMMARY and add (or update) a skills section at the bottom with the skills you want to attract, like this:

Areas of Experience:
Executive Coaching, Leadership Coaching, Career Discovery, Career Transition, Interview Preparation, StrengthsFinder & DiSC Workshops, Keynotes
THIRD, if you find postings you’re qualified for, click “See employees on LinkedIn” from the LI company page and see if you’re either connected to someone there, or if you have a 2nd connection who might introduce you to help you network into the company.

#linkedintip

Fear Can Inhibit Growth

· January 2, 2018 · Personal Development

​I overcame a small fear today. It’s a silly thing, but I feel victorious.
I’m collaborating with a colleague, the amazing Dawn Metcalfe, and Dawn uses WhatsApp to communicate. I enjoy learning new information, but dislike figuring out unfamiliar tools. Like you, I’m busy – I want things to work immediately.
However, I obliged Dawn and installed WhatsApp.
Then it happened.

A feeling of overwhelm. Disorientation. Frustration. What *is*this? How do I use it? Seven minutes (in vain) trying to add her as a contact. ARGH!
I uninstalled it. Who needs WhatsApp?
I emailed Dawn with other options to collaborate. She gently encouraged me to reinstall again, and she would add me.
I obliged. Reinstalled.  How do I send an audio message? I felt momentarily stupid. I took a deep breath and just starting playing until I figured it out and sent my first successful message.
Dawn’s reply to me: “I’m very, very pleased you’ve embraced this new technology.”
And guess what? I love it!
When you have the initial reaction to flee a new task or change, remember it’s the fear center of your brain speaking. It means well, but it’s not protecting you from REAL danger.
It’s keeping you from learning.
Breathe. Embrace discomfort. Push through. Growth awaits!

Got Goals? First, Do This!

· January 1, 2018 · General Career Coaching, Personal Development

​Don’t make the mistake of setting goals without first asking these questions!
1. What did I accomplish in 2017 that was important, or I valued?
2. What’s going well that I can leverage?
3. What could be different or better?
4. What’s getting in the way of improving #3?
5. What’s one thing I would change?
6. How might I get what I need to make #5 happen?

Take time to answer these questions and you’ll have a meaningful and focused foundation to plan what’s next.

What did you accomplish in 2017 that you’re proud of?

If you didn’t reach your goal, what one thing will you do differently to change that for 2018?

Managers – Does Your Team Trust You? Find Out!

· December 27, 2017 · General Career Coaching, Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Personal Development

​Are you exhibiting these 5 traits to your employees? If not, they don’t TRUST you.
A message and plea to people managers:
Employees who can’t stand one more year with their manager are getting ready to fly. I, and others, will help them leave.
Here are FIVE things you MUST do daily with your employees if you don’t want that to happen:
1. Be OPEN and HONEST. This is a two-way street: Be open with your team, and open to their ideas and input. Always tell the truth.

2. Be COMPETENT. You don’t have to know it all. If you aren’t competent in your position, your team won’t respect you. Find a mentor to help you create a plan to grow as a manager.
3. Be DEPENDABLE. Don’t promise things and not follow through. Do what you say you’re going to do.
4. Be FAIR. Playing favorites kills morale and will cost you.
5. Show you CARE. Your employees must feel you consider their well-being when making decisions and care about what’s important to them. Share their burdens.
Do you exhibit these 5 trust-builders? All five are needed. Not sure? Ask them.
In 2018, commit to invest in the time to become the manager your employees will be torn to ever leave.

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