Looking back, I have probably coached and written resumes for over 4000 executives in all kinds of industries. Here are a few things I have learned along the way that I hope you will benefit from.
Most professionals:
- Worry about things that never happen.Most clients I work with have shared numerous worries they thought would hold them back, like their age, too little or too much salary, the economy, a shrinking industry, too many jobs in the last 10 years, and being fired or laid off (just to name a few). I am happy to report that these same executives went to on achieve – and in many cases exceed – their career goals. How did they do it? Usually through a combination of the following:
- Education that the reality of their concerns was often overemphasized to the point of being counterproductive.
- Obstacles were minimized or eradicated through a well-planned marketing strategy.
- An expertly crafted resume showcased their strengths and was in sync with their goals.
- Believe they can’t successfully change industries.I love to hear the excitement in my clients’ voices when they are shown that successfully changing industries is more about their plan, their resume, their networking approach, and they coaching they receive than their experience!
- Feel they interview very well, when they don’t.“Just help me land the interviews and I will do the rest.” I have heard that dozens of times from seasoned professionals that made one simple error: They mistook their amazing charisma and people skills for great interview skills. Believe me, there is a big difference. I have seen firsthand how just answering one question the “wrong way” quickly leads to a lost candidacy.
- Can’t write an interest-generating resume.There are multiple reasons for this, such as:
- The use of industry jargon (resumes need to be written with an audience of at least 5 different departments in mind).
- The inability to write objectively.
- Failure to craft a resume from a marketing perspective.
- Writing about what was accomplished and not what happened as a result.
- Didn’t know how much career coaching and marketing would help them, until they used it.I can personally relate. I didn’t realize how much a business coach would help me until I hired one. It’s respectable to want to do things for ourselves – and there is a beneficial degree of learning in it – but if you have ever played sports and had an excellent coach, or studied under a dynamic teacher, then you have already experienced the value that a true professional can bring and the many ways they can help you to reach your full potential.
I hope if you have identified with any of these points, it will help you to quickly and easily take action to shore up areas for improvement. I promise this will result in a much more enjoyable and fruitful job search for you!
