January 2, 2023January 1, 2023

New Year, New Career Goals

Welcome to 2023! The past few years have happened in a blur, and I’ve heard a lot of hope that 2023 will be the year things finally return to normal. This year, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about my personal and professional goals, and I am excited for what is to come!

January is a big month for setting career goals, personal goals, and New Year’s Resolutions. As we move towards new beginnings, people are inspired to set new goals for the year, personally and professionally. Unfortunately, a lot of times, these resolutions don’t last. Take the gym; in the “before times,” January was the busiest month at the gyms. Waiting 20 minutes to get a treadmill, lots of new faces, long lines, and the best of intentions. Come March, the buzz has gone, classes have shrunk, and you can take your time without feeling rushed.

We have some tricks to help you stick to your goals so they don’t get ignored come March. You probably already have a career goal in mind; it could be a completely new role, changing industries, a horizontal move in a company, or maybe a promotion. While you might not know how exactly to get there, you probably have some idea of what you want to do.

Dream Big

For some people, it helps to start with your big-picture goal. Especially now, it can help lift your head above the clouds and look long-term. Picture the job you want to retire from and imagine what that looks like and where you’d like to be. Are you running your own business? A C-Level executive? Maybe you are a technical expert. It could be that your goal is to be in a comfortable position that allows you the flexibility to focus on other life priorities. Whatever that goal is, envision your future self in that role. It’s okay if it seems far away or ambitious and if this goal changes over time.

The big picture method allows you to set long, mid, and short-term goals to help you achieve that ultimate goal. By working backward, you’re able to identify more and more tangible things that you can do to move toward that outcome. The long-term goals you set should look at what you need to accomplish in the next ten years to progress toward the big goal. From there, you can place 2-5-year mid-term goals and dive deeper to set up goals for the next six months to a year. Ask yourself what three to five things you can achieve in the next year to help you accomplish those mid-term goals.

Still Deciding What You Want to Be?

If trying to picture yourself at the end of your career terrifies you, that’s fine too. It’s not uncommon for people to change jobs, industries, or career paths multiple times in their life. Instead, focus on the next two to five years for your career. Are you a recent graduate looking to break into a field? Maybe you feel stuck where you’re at and want to move forward. Imagine what that looks like and set some mid-range goals around those ideas. Then build some more tangible shorter-term goals to help you get there.

Short Term Goals

Your short-term career goals are where you want to focus most of your attention. You can accomplish these things this year to move your career forward. One way to help develop these goals is to use the SMART goal methodology. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. When your goals encompass these components, they become much more actionable. Phrasing your goals in this way gives you a solid plan on how to approach and move forward to accomplish them.

Think of your goals as living documents. Goals are flexible, and you get to make updates as your priorities change. If you want to change directions mid-way through, revisit your career goals to adjust or replace them with your new targets.

Write Your Career Goals Down

Write down your career goals

It’s not enough to develop career goals at a major transition point. After you’ve gone through all the work of coming up with SMART goals, don’t hide them away in the corner of your mind or desk drawer. By writing the goals down, you’re more likely to achieve them. A psychology study by Dr. Gail Matthews out of the Dominican University of California found that students who wrote down their goals and provided weekly status updates to accountability buddies were much more likely to achieve them. While only 43% of the students who wrote down their goals had accomplished or were halfway to meeting them, 76% of the students providing the updates had accomplished or had made significant progress toward completion.

Need Some Help?

If you need some help with making progress toward your career goals, we can help. Sound Interview Professionals can help you polish your resume and develop your brand. We offer custom coaching to help you accelerate your career. To learn more, visit our career services page, or send us a note at info@soundinterview.com.

October 13, 2021

How To Know When to Quit Your Job

Career Change

Chances are you’ve heard of The Great Resignation, and you might be wondering if it’s time to quit your job too. There are many reasons behind the movement, but burnout and suppressed career movement during the pandemic are significant contributors. Right now is a great time to be a job seeker. Companies across the country are offering hiring incentives. Hiring managers have learned that virtual employees can be successful, leading to more of these open positions. Sure, making a move is nerve-wracking, but staying in a job because it’s comfortable or you are afraid of making a change is no good either. We spend too much time at work for it not to be engaging.

You are unhappy at work

The number one sign that it’s time to quit your job is if you are genuinely unhappy at work. First, ask yourself what is it that makes you unhappy. Is it that you don’t like the work you are doing or the organization? Does the company mission, purpose, and values align with your own? If you love the company and people but don’t like your job, consider moving into a different position to try out something new.

Employees are happier when there’s alignment between their core values and the company values and mission. It is easier to work at an organization where you believe in the product and direction of the company. If this is missing for you, it could be time to find a better fit.

You are too comfortable

You might be stagnant if you have been doing the same job for more than two years without any different challenges at work. You’re so familiar with the work statement that you can do it in your sleep. When your job is comfortable, you are probably not furthering your development. If your job isn’t not staying on top of new technology or industry developments, you could get left behind for future career opportunities. If you have asked for stretch assignments that haven’t come through, it’s a good indicator that it’s time to go.

Salary growth isn’t keeping up

Inflation is at a record high for 2021, at 5.4% for September. When you’ve been in a job for a long time without any promotions, your salary probably hasn’t kept up with the market. On the other hand, maybe you aren’t being paid for newly acquired skills or education. Do some salary research for your local market on Glassdoor or PayScale to get a general idea of the range for your position. If you’re otherwise happy in your job, first try to negotiate for a higher salary with your manager. If that doesn’t work, it’s probably time to brushing up on your interview skills.

You have outgrown the company

You know you’ve outgrown the company when you don’t see viable career growth moving forward. Maybe it’s a small business, and there isn’t room for career development. On the other hand, there could also be a bottleneck somewhere in your career path. If you have outgrown your company, have an honest conversation with your leader to explain the situation. Let them know your feelings and that you’re looking for a bigger challenge. You might be surprised with an exciting project that keeps you fulfilled, but if not, at least you know it’s time to move on.

You’re ready for a significant change

You are ready to switch industries or move into a completely new career path. If this is you, congratulations on following your dreams! While it’s not always easy to break into a new area, it can be incredibly satisfying to do something you love. Be sure to update your resume to target the new position and identify interview stories that demonstrate the skills needed in the role.

Regardless of why you are leaving an organization, it’s crucial to remain on good terms with your employer if possible. You never know when circumstances change in the future. So connect with your former colleagues on LinkedIn and meet up for networking. Also, look for business alumni groups, which are an excellent way to stay engaged and leave the door slightly ajar for future opportunities that may better fit.

If you’ve decided that it’s time for a change and you’d like some help, give us a call at (206) 289-0358 or email us at info@soundinterview.com for a free consultation.

Should I Go Back to My Old Company?

September 12, 2019

One of my clients, frustrated with the job search process, recently asked me about the pros and cons of going back to their old company. Deciding to return to a former company is a pretty individualized question, and there are many factors to consider when making that decision. Here are a couple of questions to ask yourself and some tips on how to be a “Boomerang Employee.”

In the Baby-Boomer generation, people rarely switched jobs, and even fewer people ever returned to their previous companies. Now, as careers are becoming more fluid, people stepping in and out of the workforce, employers see considerable value in welcoming past employees back. Organizations are setting up alumni network groups and newsletters to keep in touch with potential boomerang talent. Most of the time, previous employees have priority status in applicant tracking systems, and in some cases, companies even abbreviate the hiring process.

Benefits of Going Back

There can be lots of benefits to returning to a previous company. For one, you will likely get paid more. Typical annual raises range between 2-5%, but when you take a new job, your salary can jump as much as 15% in a move. Second, you’re going to have an easier time onboarding. Since you are already familiar with the systems and procedures, there’s less of an adjustment period. Finally, if you still have a strong network, the chances are that you will have an established reputation there.

Why Did You Leave?

What was it that motivated you to change roles? If you left your last job because you had a great new opportunity that came up or a different challenge, going back might make sense. If you left because you felt frustrated with the company, people, or the work that you were doing, take a harder look to see if this is the right decision. Ask yourself what was it about the organization that you enjoyed, and what were the things that made you crazy. It can be helpful to write out the plusses and minuses of the company. Ultimately, if you left because something was not a good fit, ask yourself if that reason is still valid.

What’s Changed?

If it’s been a few years since you worked for the company, take some time to catch up and see what’s new. Check out news articles, company earnings calls, and talk to previous co-workers to get a feel for how things are going. You are going to be bringing some new experience to the company since you last worked there. Think about what roles you are targeting.

Getting Started

You’ve considered everything you’re ready to boomerang back to your previous company, now what? First, start with your network. Find out whom you know that still works there. LinkedIn is pretty useful here since you can search by the company and see who is in your network that works there. While you’re there, explore the group section for “Company” Alumni or former employees of “Company.” Often these groups are monitored by the organization and will have valuable information about returning to work.

Using your Network

Now that you know who’s who, it’s time to start reaching out. Find time to connect with your network, who are still at the company. Ideally, your first meeting should be someone with hiring influence at the company. Try to make this meeting can happen face-to-face and if you can afford it, pick up their tab. Ask these questions:

Are they happy there? What’s different since you left?
Are they aware of any openings coming soon that might be in line with your experience?
Is there an employee referral program, are past employees eligible, and would they be willing to refer you?

Ultimately, using your network to get back into a company is the ideal strategy. If it’s been a long time since you left and you no longer have contacts there, reach out to a recruiter and try to establish a connection. After that, start applying to the positions on the company website. You will want to include your previous job there, even if it has been more than 10-15 years since you’ve worked there. If you are looking getting started or building a job search strategy, we can help! Email info@soundinterview.com to learn more.

February 4, 2019

Job Search Tips: Networking 101

Searching for a new job can be intimidating, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve been in the market. I often hear about how overwhelming it can be, and it is hard to know where to even begin! One approach the job search like any other internet search – type some keywords into Indeed or LinkedIn and see what happens. From there, you can spend hours studying job descriptions until finding the perfect job or applying to everything that maybe, possibly, potentially could fit, and seeing what happens.

While applying online can work, we know networking leads to faster job placement, higher wages, and longer employment duration (Source). So, if networking is so great, why aren’t more people doing it? In a lot of cases, people don’t know how, or where to start. Anxiety and imposter syndrome can also sneak in and make it difficult for people to reach out. Sometimes, clients are afraid to ask for ‘favors’ from others.

Imposter Syndrome

As in, “I’ve been successful in my career, but most of that has been a result of being in the right place at the right time. Someday they’re going to find out I’m not as good as they think I am.” If you’ve ever thought something along these lines, you might be suffering from Imposter Syndrome. It can be tough to recognize the potential that others see in you and own it. The hard part about networking and job seeking, in general, is that if you aren’t confident that you can do the work, employers won’t be convinced either. Don’t let your fear get in the way of a new job. It might seem silly, but power poses and having a mantra to repeat can help build confidence. Check your body language: shoulders back, head up, take a deep breath and go! Remember, you’ve got this. You could be the perfect person to take on that stretch job.

Asking for Help

Repeat after me: “Asking for help is not a weakness.” Asking for help can build a stronger bond with you and another person. When you ask someone for help, that person feels useful, and that you trust them. Asking for help can be a powerful tool to strengthen all kinds of different relationships, so spread the love around. It’s always better to get a warm introduction to a possible employer than reaching out blindly. Here’s the catch. When you ask someone for help, be willing to return the favor. Try not to rely on the same person consistently, our you might burn them out. Also, be sure to thank them for the connection, even if nothing comes of it. A simple handwritten note or even freshly baked cookies can go a long way in building those relationships.

Getting Started

So now that we’ve overcome a couple of common obstacles to networking, where the heck do you start?! There are a few ways you can get started. First, find out who you know. You can use social media or look through your phonebook. One underutilized method of networking is to send out an email to your contacts just letting them know you’re in the job market. Be selective about who you’re sending this to, especially if your employer doesn’t know you’re looking for a new opportunity.

If that’s not quite your style, help recruiters find you on LinkedIn by setting up your job notifications. This tool will help recruiters find you more easily and match you to potential positions that fit within your expectations. You can set preferences about the types of work you’re interested in, company size, industry and more. Don’t forget to double-check that your profile is up to date and reflects your most recent positions.

Creating your Top 10 list

Need more help narrowing it down? When you build a targeted list of companies you want to work at, you can see progress as your search progresses. First, do your research – what is it about the company that makes you want to work there? Awesome culture? Cool products? Stability and benefits? Great! Check out this spreadsheet to start brainstorming (hint: download a copy so you can make edits). If you feel like you’re stuck in your job search, this is a great tool to help you get unstuck.

Each week pick 3-4 companies and do something to build a network there. It could be setting up job notifications on their website, engaging with their social media pages, setting up informational interviews or even contacting a recruiter. Then, write it down and give yourself credit for the work you’ve done. By tracking your progress, you can see what strategies work as your networking progresses.

If you’re overwhelmed with where to start and need some help building a networking strategy or getting your job search kicked off, let us know. We can help with your resume, LinkedIn profile, cover letter reviews, and overall job search strategy.

August 2, 2018

Top 10 Tips: Getting into Management

Have you thought about where you’d like to see your career go in the next five years? A lot of people I work with tell me they want to be a manager in the future, but they’re not quite sure how to get there. If you have your sights set on getting into management, these things can help make the transition easier.

#1: Ask Yourself Why

First, do a gut check to make sure that management is really where you want to be. The workforce needs managers who want the job because they like working with people, believe they can make the company better, and care about their team. It’s a hard job and comes with a lot of challenges that non-managers don’t have to face. If you end up becoming a manager but not enjoying the job, it can be a pretty uncomfortable conversation to have with your boss.

#2: Volunteer for Assignments

There are two types of assignments that you should take on. First are the jobs that are not fun, but need to get done. Second are assignments that will stretch you out of your comfort zone or have high visibility. Try to volunteer for a balance between these opportunities. Once you have the job, be sure to take it seriously and follow through. If it’s a stretch assignment, be resourceful and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you get stuck. Taking on both kinds of projects will show leaders that you are reliable and not afraid of a challenge.

#3: Lead a Group

There’s no substitute for having the hands-on experience of influencing people. Look for opportunities to get experience leading others. It could be signing up to run the next committee at work, or volunteering to lead a group at a local non-profit. Hands-on experience will make it much easier to talk about your leadership skills during an interview.

Mentor - Management

#4: Ask!

Make the most of your development conversations with your manager. You are your own best advocate, and you shouldn’t wait for management to ask you. Have the conversation with your boss and tell them about your goals. Ask them what areas they’d like you to develop to get there. Being open to the constructive feedback you might receive is essential.

#5: Find a Mentor

Look for a leader outside of your chain of command who can be a mentor. Make the most of the time you have by being prepared with topics and questions. If you build a good relationship, your mentor will be one of your strongest advocates with other leaders. Having an advocate during those closed-door leadership meetings will help accelerate getting into management

#6 Make Friends with HR

Talk to your HR team and see what resources and classes the company has to offer. HR is one of the first departments to know about job openings and can have a lot of influence on the hiring process. Get to know how the hiring process at your company works. Find out if there are rules about how long you need to stay in a position and how to apply internally.

#7: Be Kind

People don’t want to work for jerks. Remember to treat everyone with respect in the workplace and build strong relationships. Being able to disagree with someone and still have a respectful relationship is a skill that every leader should have. You don’t have to be friends with everyone, but keep it professional and stay away from the office gossip.

#8: Build Trust

Strong leaders are trustworthy and often spend more time listening to their team than talking. Start laying the groundwork and building a reputation of trustworthiness now. Ask curious questions and follow up. If you have trouble remembering details, write things down and set reminders to check in with people. Trust will go a long way in building strong relationships.

#9: Drink the Kool-Aid

Yep, I said it. If you’re not already, get on-board with the company mission, vision, and values. Leaders want to hire managers who believe in the company and will work to help the company succeed. If you’re struggling here, getting into management at that company may not be the best choice, and it might be time to start updating your resume.

#10: Prepare for the Interview

Remember to interview for the position you want, not the job that you have been doing. If you’re serious about getting into management, interview like a manager. Get familiar with the company is looking for in a leader and preparing stories showcasing your experience in that light. If you’re looking for help practicing your interview skills, I’d be happy to help.

April 24, 2018

How to Negotiate Salary

Here are some of our favorite tips on how to negotiate salary. Negotiations are one of the trickiest parts of the hiring process. Even if the offer you receive is enticing, it’s always a good idea to have these conversations with a new company. In a lot of cases, it is much harder to negotiate salary increases when you are moving around within a company.

Research the company & understand the market

Before you even begin to have salary discussions know what the market pays for that type of position in your area. You’ll want to research the company as well. Organizations fall into three categories when it comes to salaries: market leaders, at market and below market. Google and Amazon tend to pay as market leaders, whereas non-profit organizations tend to pay below market. Glassdoor and PayScale are great resources to start doing some research. If you’re considering a job in a different location, be sure to use a cost of living calculator as well to get an understanding of the local area and ensure you’re able to maintain your current lifestyle.

Know your value and bottom line

If you’ve been in your current job for a long time and have been receiving a standard cost of living raises annually (between 1% and 5%), chances are you might be underpaid. During your salary negotiations, remember to mention additional training, certifications or education that you’ve gained while being employed. Employers often won’t increase your salary when you obtain certificates or complete a degree, but an outside company usually will take it into account.

Be confident & professional

The salary negotiation is not a win-lose proposition. These conversations need to be collaborative. Ultimately, both parties are trying to achieve the same goal; you as an employee. Work together to find a solution but keep emotions and feelings out of the discussions. Always assume positive intentions from the other side, but be assertive enough to know you’re boundaries. Sometimes it’s helpful to practice your negotiation tactics. Sound Interview Professionals can help with salary negotiation tactics during our interview coaching sessions.

Build a case

As you have these discussions, you need to be able to articulate precisely why you deserve more. I’ve seen negotiations go poorly when the applicant hasn’t provided a convincing case. Tell me about the value you add to the company and quantify it. There have been candidates in the past who try to negotiate based on their expenses, and while we can sympathize, I’m not going to give you a higher salary because you have a large student loan payment.

Provide a range (if asked)

More and more places are making it illegal to ask about past earnings during the hiring process. Instead, recruiters are asking about salary expectations. This tends to come early on in the process, sometimes even before the interview. They are trying to make sure that your expectations are within their approved range for the position. If you’re asked what your salary requirements are, it’s best to provide a range. If you’re asked to provide your salary expectations, always give a range. At the bottom of the range should be at least 5-10% more than you’re currently making and add 10-20% to get the top number. For example, if you’re bottom is $100,000, the top should be around $115,000. At the offer stage, you can then negotiate salary within the range that you’ve provided.

Start with the base

It’s in your best interest to negotiate salary before talking about signing bonuses or other allowances. Companies might try to offer a one-time signing bonus to bump up to your salary expectations. The base is significant because it makes everything else more valuable. It’s also the most difficult thing to move on. While signing bonuses are nice, they don’t compound year over year, and they don’t affect your retirement contributions. A higher base will lead to increased total compensation.

Salary Negotiation Comparison

Negotiate other benefits

Sometimes hiring managers aren’t able to move as much as you’d like on the salary due to budget constraints. Be sure to ask for information on healthcare benefits, vacation, sick time, paid holidays, and other benefits before you make a decision. Our clients are often surprised to learn that vacation time is negotiable. Organizations usually have policies that outline a set number of paid vacation days based on service, but if you are mid-career, chances are you can negotiate additional days. Make sure you know about all of the perks that the company offers including modified work schedules, telecommuting, paid parking, on-site gym or childcare, employee discounts, etc. before making your final decision. Take all of those things into consideration when you make your decision.

Be prepared to walk away

This one is hard. Sometimes you aren’t able to agree in the negotiations, and you have to walk away. Before you begin, know what your limits are and stick with them. If both parties can’t agree, then the job is not the best fit. Walking away from a job offer is challenging, and you might feel guilty, but you need to make the best decision for your situation. Stay positive and be sure not to burn any bridges with the company.

June 22, 2017

Benefits: Unlimited Vacation

Unlimited Vacation

Imagine, you’re interviewing at a company, and they tell you that they offer unlimited vacation benefits. Awesome, right?! Maybe, but first, you need to do your homework. While it’s been around for a while, it’s only offered by one to two percent of companies in the United States. Netflix, GE, LinkedIn and a fair number of small to mid-sized technology companies have these types of flexible vacation plans. In the case of Netflix, they don’t track vacation usage, but they expect the time away to be reasonable and ensure that employees still get their job done. At General Electric, around 43% of the US salaried workforce can take as much vacation, sick, and personal time off as needed without any tracking involved. Since GE’s policy only applies to a particular population, it could create quite a divide among the employees that work there.

Why offer Unlimited Vacation

Offering unlimited vacation can be a smart move for business. It’s no secret that Americans have less vacation than the majority of the world, and in 2016 an estimated 662 million vacation days were given up. An unlimited plan eliminates the administrative burden of tracking and monitoring of leave usage. The biggest benefit to employers is that it removes the financial responsibility to pay out unused days to employees who leave the company. Finally, It can be seen as a great perk for employees and is used to help stand out against competitors.

While in theory, an unlimited vacation policy might seem great, it could backfire. If you are considering a job somewhere that offers unlimited vacation, be sure to do your research and ask questions. Glassdoor can be helpful to see how current and past employees feel about the benefit. Some companies offer unlimited vacation but make it difficult to get time away from work. Others might have a culture that frowns upon taking time off, even though it’s available.

Questions to Ask

When you start asking questions about benefits, choose your timing carefully. It can be a big turn off to hiring managers when applicants ask lots of benefit questions during an interview. Typically, the best approach to is to wait until you get the job offer. Here’s a list of questions you can ask that will give you an idea of how the benefit works at a company:

What are the parameters around the vacation policy?
How many days do employees typically take off each year?
What is the approval process like and how far in advance should requests be made?
What holidays does the company recognize?
How do you measure performance?

Company Culture

You also want to take into account what you know about the company culture. Anytime you are on site for an interview take note of the way the team interacts in the workplace. Often, it’s easier to get a feel for the culture from potential peers than from hiring managers, since they tend to speak a bit more freely about how they feel about certain topics. As you meet with hiring managers and peers through the interview process keep in mind the following:

Is the type of work you’ll be doing primarily independent or team-based?
Are you the only person who will be doing that kind of work?
Do people typically respond to emails at night or during weekends?
Are the leaders modeling the behavior and taking time away from the office?

The goal is to determine if employees make use of the unlimited vacation policies or if there’s a subculture that frowns upon it. Also, think about how the policy makes you feel. If you worry that you won’t take a vacation because there’s not a set number of hours assigned, it might not be the best fit.

Ultimately, this should be one data point among many when deciding to accept a new job. You want to take into account the total compensation and benefits package and the kind of the work you’ll be doing. As long as you can see yourself happily at the company for at least two years, then go for it!

March 13, 2017

How to Succeed in a Work From Home Job

Work from home

For those of us who have spent our careers in an office, a working from home sounds like a dream! No commute, no dress code, no co-workers stealing your lunch from the shared fridge and best of all, a lot fewer interruptions than those open office floor plans. While working from home can be pretty attractive. Glassdoor just released a list of 20 legitimate companies that offer work from home opportunities.

The downsides:

While the grass may seem greener at home for those of us fighting traffic each morning, be aware that there are some disadvantages associated with working from home. There are still distractions, though it shifts from your loud cubicle mate to your unending pile of laundry, dirty dishes or other nagging projects around the house. The other major complaint about those who work from home full-time is that it’s tough to maintain separation between work and personal life. When you go to an office every day, it’s easier to ‘turn work off’ when you walk out the door.

Working from home can be isolating. If you’re an extrovert and thrive on working with other people, work from home job might not be for you. When applying to work from home positions, asking questions about how the team interfaces with each other might be helpful. You’ll want to know how much of your time will be spent communicating with other people versus independent work and make sure that balance fits your personal needs.

Tips for work from home success:

Have a dedicated office space

To help with the separation from work and home, designate a spot just for work. If you have space in your house, appoint an office area. Try only to use that space for work and minimize the distractions in the room. Being able to shut the door is helpful too, especially at the end of the day. When you are done for the day, close the door and walk away from the work. Unless it’s an expectation of the job, don’t monitor emails and calls after hours to help you preserve a work-life balance.

Establish a routine

Set the alarm each morning and create a pre-work routine. Change out of your pajamas at the very least. Having a morning routine will help you transition into a working mindset for the day and build a better separation. The same goes for the end of the day too. After work, take some time for yourself and unwind. Maybe that’s going for a walk with your furry office mate, hitting the gym, throwing on sweats and catching up on a favorite show. Having a transition period after work will signal that the work is over.

Get out of the house

Work from home - get outside From time to time, you will need some human interaction. Getting out of the house will force you to put pants on and give you a change of scenery. When I asked some work from home veterans for their tips, this was a common theme. One friend recommended going to the gym for a workout at lunchtime, while another suggested never eating lunch at home. Another option is to join some extracurricular activity. Maybe you get involved with a sports team, a regular art class, or some recurring community service project. Whatever it is, make an effort to get in-person interaction on a daily basis.

Connect with your team

Make time on a regular basis to connect with your team members. That could be one-on-one meetings or whole group meetings. If your entire team works from home, building that rapport and having the chance to collaborate with each other on current work happening will help you feel much less isolated. If you’re a virtual member of a local team, you might need to over-communicate, so you’re not getting left out or overlooked. Visiting the office on a regular basis helps too if your employer is open to that.

Getting Started

Once you decide you would rather work from home, there are a couple of different approaches you can take. If you’re already employed, talk to your boss and to get an understanding of what your options might be. It’s easier to make these arrangements at a place where you have an established relationship, and they know the quality of work that you produce. Sometimes due to the nature of the business and type of position you have, that’s not always possible. Although it might be a bit more challenging to find a legitimate remote or work from home type of job, they do exist. Before you provide any personal information to companies, be sure to do your research to ensure the business is legitimate. There are a lot of “work from home” opportunities out there that are too good to be true.

February 8, 2017February 8, 2017

Jump Start Your Job Search

Congratulations, you’re ready to start a job search! Change can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. If you aren’t quite sure where to start, you’re in the right place. Before you start applying for a new position, the first step is to update your resume. Then, it’s time to start checking out the job market to see what’s out there. To help you in your search, we sharing some of our favorite job search resources and how to best leverage them.

One of the best things about using LinkedIn for your job search on LinkedIn is that you can see who in your network at companies where you’d like to work. Personal referrals are still an excellent way to find out about new positions and get positive references for jobs. The other nice thing about LinkedIn is that allows you to signal to recruiters that you’re looking, without making it known on your profile. If you are planning on using LinkedIn as a tool, be sure that your profile is updated before you start reaching out.

It’s considered poor form to send out connections to people you don’t know, without some explanation. If you come across a profile of someone you don’t personally know and want to connect, be sure to personalize the request. Introduce yourself and be clear about your intentions. If they accept the connection, be sure to follow up with a thank you note and be patient while you wait for a response. Be sure to be respectful and proofread your message before sending it off.

Indeed is my favorite site to use for a job search. The site is a basic aggregator, which means that it pulls together job postings from all over the internet. If you are only going to use one website to search for jobs, this is the one I would recommend. Indeed is easy to use and doesn’t require you to sign into an account to see the postings. Of all the sites, this one offers the most inclusive list of positions which ends up saving lots of time.

Another helpful thing about Indeed is that they don’t charge companies to post on the site. If you’re primarily interested in working for smaller companies who don’t have a big corporate recruiting budget, this is one of the places you’re likely to find the jobs.

I have to admit, as a former HR professional, my feelings on Glassdoor are mixed. I think that it’s a useful tool for job seekers, because it includes salary data and a lot of information on companies. There does tend to be a lot of noise in the system. Generally speaking, most people don’t take the time to write reviews unless they’re really happy, or really not happy. I’ve seen some unfair reviews written by individuals who had obvious issues with the company. On the other hand, there is great information about the interview processes for businesses and their interface is pretty easy to use. Overall, I appreciate that it is a comprehensive tool, just be sure not to make your decisions based solely on a few negative reviews.

Your Network

When you’re ready to go public with your job search, one of the most powerful tools you have is your network. Consider who you can reach out to that might be able to help. Your network can be one of the strongest advocates for you. They might know about positions that haven’t hit the job boards quite yet, and they can put you in touch with the primary decision makers at organizations.

Sending emails and making phone calls are both decent ways to stay in touch and reconnect with your network. If you want to make the biggest impression, make time to meet with them face to face. In-person meetings tend to drive stronger connections that will leave longer lasting impressions, so they are always preferred. Finally, after you’ve applied for positions, be sure to brush up on your interview skills and stories too. You never know when a recruiter will call you and ask if you have a moment to chat!

November 30, 2016October 6, 2016

Incognito Mode: Let LinkedIn Recruiters Know You’re Looking

LinkedIn just announced a new feature called Open Candidates, helping active job seekers go incognito. This feature lets LinkedIn recruiters know that you’re looking, without your boss finding out. In the past, we told clients not to publicize they’re looking for a new position unless they’ve conversation with their leader first. There are a lot of reasons why you might not want your employer to know you’re looking for a job. You might be worried they’ll treat you differently once they know you are looking or believe it would affect your work assignments.

Now, it might not be perfect yet, but it’s a start. LinkedIn says they’ll do their best not to let recruiters who work at your company know that you’re looking. There might be a few situations you’re current employer could find out you’re looking. If your business recruiters haven’t updated their current employer in their profile, or if your company goes by multiple names, they still might be able to see you. They assign companies ID’s, and if your company’s ID matches the recruiters, you’re not visible to them. If your business uses agency recruiters to fill positions, there might be a chance the agency recruiter comes across your profile.

How to Update your Settings for LinkedIn Recruiters

If you’re ready to open the floodgates of InMails from recruiters, here’s how you can get started. First, make sure your profile is up to date and recruiter ready. If you’re set on your employer not finding out that you’re looking, turn off your update notifications in your profile. This way your connections don’t see your profile changes in their LinkedIn newsfeed.

Once your profile is ready to go, it’s pretty easy to turn on this new feature. From your LinkedIn home page, click on Jobs. Here you can search for jobs, explore suggested jobs and update preferences. The Open Candidates feature is located under the preferences menu. LinkedIn has set your preference to off as a standard, so you’ll need to turn the feature on. From there, you can narrow down your choices. Decide the types of jobs, start availability and set an introduction to recruiters. Then you choose your interests, including industries, experience level, company size, and locations. Hopefully, providing this information will help you get in front of the right people. Recruiters will be able to see the date you flagged yourself, your interests and the types of jobs you like.

I want to hear your thoughts on this new tool; do you think that it’s going to be helpful in your job search? If you’re not planning on using it, tell me why. If you found this article helpful, please share it! Sound Interview Professionals is on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and I’d love to connect with you.