Calibrating Your Career Choices

When all is said and done, it all boils down to a numbers game.  Calibrating your career can be the sum total of your efforts to date.  Whether it’s in terms of the number of interviews you have been on or the number of resumes you’ve sent out or the exact salary you are willing to negotiate to land your ideal job, all of your efforts relate to the way in which you value add your career choices and how well you play the numbers.

Your career choices add up to how much effort you put into your job search.  If you are willing to work at it vs. letting it ride on chance and luck, then you may actually move closer to your career goals faster than you expect.  When you calibrate your career you not only add up and measure your results to date, but you weigh your options as it relates to the choices you are willing to make. When you know what you want over what you do not want that is one metric.  When you know how much money you will or won’t work for again that is another metric.  Finding your balance and making the numbers work for you is a way to harness the potential of the unlimited career opportunities waiting for you to explore.

You know what you are worth and by calibrating your salary requirements by doing research on what company’s pay for similar skills, experience and education, will help you feel more powerful when it comes to negotiating your way to the top of any job offer. Here are a few other ways you can manage your career by the numbers:

  1. How long has the job been posted?  Not something a candidate would think is important to ask, but knowing how long a position has been open will give you a sense of how “valuable” the job is and if there is a sense of urgency on the company’s part to fill the job anytime in the next millennium.
  2. How many candidates have interviewed for the position? Again, knowing how long the job has been opened, how many people have been considered, if they’ve ever extended a job offer and it was not accepted are all good indicators on what the real deal is with the position or with the hiring manager of the company when it comes to summing up this as a viable opportunity for you to pursue.
  3. What is the turnover rate within the company?  This is another important and not too often thought of statistic that you can inquire about on the job interview.  Knowing the turnover percentage or if they don’t know what it is helps you to know if there is a culture issue with the company, a challenge with the hiring manager or if there is another reason why the turnover in the company is high or perhaps low. If the turnover were unusually high, like over 25%, this would be a red flag you need to pay attention to.
  4. When was the last time the company provided a merit or bonus increase? Would be nice to know if the company is on a regular merit review or bonus schedule and what the typical amount or percentage increase one might expect.  Some candidates think that it is “improper” to ask about future compensation so long as you are not asking what salary increase you will receive, you want clarity on the company’s pay practices and that is fair game when you are calibrating the numbers
  5. What is the usual time for someone to move up in the company?  It’s a good idea to know how long a person is expected to be in their position before they are considered for promotion or movement within the company.  This doesn’t signal to the hiring manager that you are looking to jump it just means you’d like to know if the company has an expectation of the length of time someone needs to be in their position before they move up or out-again, part of the numbers game in helping you calibrate your career choices.

So when you think you’ve had enough of the numbers game and all the calibrating in the world is not getting you closer to a job offer, then it’s time to rethink your overall career strategy and really ask yourself, “Who do I want to be when I grow up?

 

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50

 


Copyright © 2024 Lisa Kaye - HR & Business Consulting - The Career Rebel

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Job Panic

It’s that time of year again, no I don’t mean carving turkeys at Thanksgiving with the family & friends I mean that time of year that stares down at you like eyes on a giant stopwatch ticking away the hours towards another year, another search and more job uncertainty.  If you think a big turkey feast will make you tired and want to crash on the couch for days, think about what the uncertainty of your job future will bring when you are sitting around the holiday dinner table and telling everyone you are still looking for a job with no prospects in sight.

The holidays more than anything will bring out the best and the worst of intentions especially if you are in job transition or are miserable in your current situation.  It might seem like a lot of pressure but it’s no time to panic when the panic sets in. Your job panic is a warning sign to help get you moving off the couch and into job search mode.  You have talents, you have skills, you have a clean set of interview clothes but do you have the right connections to help you move ahead?

Job panic sets in when you have no plan of action, no prospects worth pursuing and no intentions of where you might land.  It’s the feeling in the pit of your stomach that keeps you up at night.  It’s that nervous anxiety that sets in that makes you know you are alive but makes you wish you some days you weren’t.  Finding the power to push through your panic will help you focus your attention and getting the job you want instead of worrying about how you’ll survive.

Here’s a few ways to help calm your nerves as you navigate the panic room of your career:

  1. Chillax:  Easier said than done but running around like a turkey with it’s head cut off is not going to help you figure out your next move in your job search.  Meditate, pray, journal, read, hike, paint, talk, try anything and everything that will provide an outlet for your pent up frustration and a way to release your anxiety.
  2. Make a Plan:  Write it down.  Whatever you think feels right to you learn to put it on paper.  Seeing and reading what you write helps you get clear on what it is you want and makes it easier to create a plan.  You’ve got to start with getting it out from inside your head so you don’t worry yourself silly with doubt and confusion when all you need to know is right there inside of you.
  3. Connect:  Making connections to people in your network and start getting the word out there may not land you a job offer out of the gate but certainly helps you shake the trees in getting the word out and getting some leads to follow up on. Staying connected to people and learning what opportunities are out there keeps you informed and helps take the edge off.  You do not want to be alone in this process-it’s okay to ask for help.
  4. Follow Through:  It’s not enough to talk to people and learn about new opportunities but how aggressive are you in following up?  It’s nice to be grateful for someone making an introduction but if you don’t ask for contact information or ways to follow up then what good are all of your efforts or those that someone has put forth on your behalf?  Knowing how to network for success is not just an art form it’s a necessary skill set to ensure your career survival and ward away the career panic.
  5. Give Yourself Permission:  It’s okay if you don’t land the first job offer or the interviews are not going as planned.  Giving yourself permission to just be means you are willing to put a little of your job panic in fate’s hands and put the trust out there that you will find what you are looking for when the time is right and the opportunity is what you are meant to do.

There is a path for everyone and some people have a clearer focus on that than others.  That does not mean you are a failure or you won’t ever realize your goals, it just means it may take you a little longer to get there and your road may take you to some interesting places along the way.  Being kind to yourself when the panic sets in and being your own best friend in your job search may make the journey that much more enjoyable and you may get to learn a little more about yourself along the way.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50


Copyright © 2024 Lisa Kaye - HR & Business Consulting - The Career Rebel

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Listen

It’s not enough to listen to the voices inside your head but it’s another thing to have them drive you crazy. Whether your voice is telling you to look for a new job or that you are not good enough for the job you already have, it’s important to keep in mind that you are not going mad by listening to your voice, you are just getting clear.  Whether you choose to listen to your family, your friends, your trusted advisors remember, the only person worth listening to is yourself.  If you can hold onto that you are halfway to the finish line.

Trusting yourself above anyone or anything else may take more courage than you can muster.  Self-doubt is not something to be proud of but it could have some benefits.  Keeping your self in check and knowing when it’s time to question what seems like the obvious is a good way to begin to listen to yourself.  Listening to your doubts as well as listening to what seems like inspiration, helps you sort fact from fiction when you are trying to figure out your next career move. Negative thoughts are not terrible-it’s a way for you to filter through the garbage to find you career treasure.

The saying, “If you can’t trust yourself who can you trust?” holds merit when it comes to listening to the voice within.  You are the only one who can truthfully answer whether you think the job you are in is the right one for you and ultimately what it will take to make you happy.  Trusting yourself means that you are able to discern the really important stuff from the things that are a distraction.  Knowing what you want from what you don’t want helps set yourself up for success even if you are not quite sure where the road will lead.

Listen to what resonates with you even as you try to figure out your next career move.  You may have studied film direction in school but realize that may not be what it takes to pay the bills and it’s hard to find a job.  Figuring out how to get what you want means you need to listen to what feels right for you even though others may not understand or agree with your career choices.  You are the only one who can answer what is right for you but you have to listen to yourself first.

Your career like any other choice you have to make is yours and yours alone.  All the counseling, advice, workshops, education is not going to answer the fundamental question of what it will take to make you happy and for to thrive in your chosen profession.  Listening to your gut, knowing how it feels when something is not right for you and following through on your instincts, helps you get closer to reaching your goals no matter how long the road may seem.

The next time you enter into the “crazies” and second guess every decision you make, thank yourself because you are doing the right thing in getting clearer and closer to your career goal-one crazy thought at a time.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50


Copyright © 2024 Lisa Kaye - HR & Business Consulting - The Career Rebel

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Job Whine

Everybody hates something about the concept of work-hey they don’t call it “work” for nothing! Whether your boss is a hag, your co-workers petty or you don’t much care for your commute – work in general, is well work.  Could you imagine what it would be like if you did not have to work for a living?  What if the concept of work was not something that made your skin crawl but was actually something you looked forward to each and every morning? How many people do you know (except maybe some starving artists) who can actually say they love what they do and look forward to going to work everyday?  Work was not intended to be the thing you do to pay your bills although for many that is all it is.

Work is meant to make you feel challenged, excited, accomplished, exhilarated and feel as though you are ready to take on the world whether you are helping others or helping yourself. Work is the thing you define not the thing that defines you.  Having a sense of purpose, giving back to the world and making a difference whether you clean streets or save lives, is what the concept of work is intended to propose.

We all whine about something we hate about our current work situation.  You like the work but wish it were steady, or you love the boss but hate the company or you hate the boss and love the company, the pay is too low, the work is repetitive, you could have a bigger office or an office at all, the benefits could be better and the list goes on. All the whining and moaning may make you feel better but for once in your life you’d love to wake up and run to work just to make the most of your glorious day.

If we all felt that passion, that relentless need and desire to move towards our life goals, than your job would become more than a dirty four letter word-WORK.  Wouldn’t it be nice to think how you can revolutionize the way you approach your work and create a meaningful and fun experience for yourself?  If this is where you spend most of your time wouldn’t it be nice to do something that made you happy instead of putting a knot in the pit of your stomach.

Think about all the people in other countries and civilizations that work to survive-I mean literally.  They work for their food, shelter and to support their communities.  Working is not just something they do it’s something they have become. You can work to pay the bills or you can choose to strive for something more in your life.  You can bitch and moan about how bad you have it and that no one appreciates you at work or you can move ahead and get out of your own way and do something great for yourself.

Finding your true career purpose is not a trick question.  You are not meant to try this or that in order to figure out who you want to be when you grow up.  Your job or work or career, however you choose to define it is meant to challenge you to add something better to the world and bring the gifts you have to the table to not only put food on yours, but to hopefully make the rest of your job world a better place.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50

 


Copyright © 2024 Lisa Kaye - HR & Business Consulting - The Career Rebel

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