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.

October 1, 2020September 5, 2020

Write an Awesome Interview Thank You Note

Interview Thank You Note

A well-crafted interview thank you note could be the tie-breaker that sets you apart from your competition and helps you get the job. If you’re even remotely interested in the position, I strongly recommend sending a note. While it’s standard interview advice, most applicants still skip this step for some reason. Here are a few things to keep in mind while you’re crafting a note to the interview team.

Keep it Professional

When you are crafting a thank you note, it might feel like you’ve made a great connection with the hiring manager and it’s okay to let down your guard a little bit. Keep in mind that this person isn’t your friend, and they aren’t even your boss yet, so maintain the tone professional and make sure you do everything possible to eliminate spelling and grammar errors. One of my favorite tools to check myself is Grammarly. They offer both a free and a paid version, and they tend to catch a lot more errors than traditional spell check does. Take the time to read it over before you send it, and make sure you’ve spelled the person’s name right. Using too casual of a tone and errors are both turn off’s for a potential employer.

Personalize it

Personalized Interview Thank You notes — Sending a personalized note will help you stand out to the interview panel.

You can find form thank you note templates all over the internet, but some of the most memorable letters I have received from candidates were personalized. They spoke directly to me and mentioned specifics that I either did or discussed that they appreciated it. These thank you notes showed me that the candidate was paying close attention to what was happening in the interview and they felt much more genuine.

Granted, individualized thank you notes to everyone on an interview panel can be tricky. Getting everyone’s email addresses from the team can be hard. First, try asking for their business cards at the end of the interview. It’s okay to tell them that you want to follow-up with a thank-you note, provided you be sure to do so.

If you can’t get the emails of everyone on the panel to send them each a personalized thank you note, send one overall thank you to the team. It’s okay to include brief messages to each panel member and ask you contact, either the recruiter or hiring manager to pass the note along.

Send it within 24 hours

In my experience, 95% of the thank you notes I have received from candidates were via email. While email is a bit less informal than a handwritten note, it is much faster than sending it through the mail.

When you’re sending a thank you note, speed is important. Make every effort to send the email within 24 hours of the conversation. Once managers are at the interview stage in the hiring process, they’re looking to move quickly. They’ll make a decision soon after the last candidate, leaving a short window to influence their decision.

To make things easier on yourself, start writing the thank-you note before your interview. By having it written ahead of time, you’re not starting with a blank slate. You can fill in the specific details afterward and send it off quickly. Just make sure to proofread it very carefully before you send it off.

Ask for Feedback

If you don’t take the time to ask for feedback on the interview thank you note, you’re missing a tremendous opportunity. First of all, when you ask for feedback, it shows the hiring manager that not only are you open to constructive feedback, but you seek it out. Know that in a lot of cases employers have pretty explicit policies about providing feedback, but that shouldn’t stop you from asking. Without asking, you won’t have any information on improvement.

The Sample Interview Thank You Note

Subject: Thank you

Hello [manager name]

Thank you for taking the time to interview me for [position]. I appreciate the chance to learn more about [your company/this job etc.], and I’m excited about the opportunity to join the team. Thank you for taking the time to [insert specifics here] It helped [provide more clarity/put me at ease/etc.]

You mentioned that one of the challenges for this role was XYZ. I am confident that with my previous experience in ABC, I’d be able to [develop a strategy/work towards a solution/etc.].

Regardless of the outcome of the interview, I would appreciate any feedback you would be willing to provide so I can continue to improve my skills. Thank you again for your time and please let me know if you have any other questions or need any more information from me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best Regards
[your name]

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.

November 30, 2016September 26, 2016

Social Media for Job Seekers Part 2: Using Social Media to Get a Job

In the first part of our Social Media series, we talked about platforms job seekers should use to build connections and find positions. In part two we’re giving you our best tips on how to use social media to get a job, networking and building an audience.

Introduce Yourself

If you want to use social media to get a job, you need a summary. Use this section to talk about your professional skills, experiences, and what interests you. This information should be public, so double-check your settings. If you haven’t told your boss you’re looking for a job, don’t mention it in your profile, unless you are ready for an awkward conversation later.

LinkedIn: Focus on your summary, work history, education, certifications and volunteer experience. LinkedIn allows plenty of space to create an engaging summary and walks you through setting up a complete profile.

Twitter: You only get 160 characters, so focus on your career, industry, and interests, but avoid buzzwords that aren’t meaningful (perfectionist, strong performer, etc.).

Facebook: You can make the “about me” section public, but keep personal details out of it. Recruiters don’t need to read about your home-brew hobbies or the heavy metal band you play in unless it’s related to the jobs you’re applying for.

It’s best to leave out personal information, especially in your summary. Marital status, children, sexual orientation, age, religion and political views are illegal to ask about in the hiring process. Yes, it might be easy to tell from your name or photo some of these things but providing extra personal details isn’t going to help you get a job.

Be Active

Get noticed by posting new content, starting meaningful conversations and asking thought-provoking questions. By engaging with others, you’ll increase your audience and your chances of getting noticed by a recruiter. Search for industry-specific groups to join and events in your city where you can network in person. These groups will help you stay on top of your industry and learn about jobs before they get posted.

Once you landed the job, stay engaged. You’ve spent a lot of effort building a network so don’t abandon it. Keep your network open and post to it at least weekly. You never know when you might need help, or be able to be a resource for someone in your network. Also, hiring managers love to engage passive job seekers, people who aren’t looking for a job because they’re already employed. The next fantastic opportunity could be around the corner

Be Professional

Anytime you are using social media to get a job; your profile should be professional. That includes user names, photos and ‘about me’ sections. Use your real name and a professional email address like first.last@email.com for all professional communications. Ensure that you are using professional usernames, vanity URL’s, and photos for these accounts. Anyone can still click-through your previous profile pictures on Facebook, even if your profile is private.

Ask yourself if you’d be okay with your supervisor seeing your content or comments before you post it. If not, don’t post it. Recruiters and hiring managers will judge you based on your posts. Proofreading is especially important when you are looking for a job. Double check spelling, grammar and content to make sure it’s work appropriate.

Be On Topic

You’ve started a Twitter account, LinkedIn profile, and joined some Facebook groups to begin networking, Fantastic! Now the next step is to make sure that the content you’re posting is on-topic and relevant. Use caution with controversial topics; they are tricky, and it might be better off to avoid them, at least at first. If you decide to go down that road, they should be related to the industry, promote thoughtful discussion, and a have balanced perspective. Watch the content carefully and shut it down if it becomes offensive.

It’s important to keep in mind that just because you have separate personal accounts doesn’t mean that recruiters won’t find them. Recruiters are getting excellent at researching candidates these days. When you post content on your personal accounts, there’s still a good chance it could be seen. Double check your privacy settings and beware, even if you do have strong privacy settings, someone could take a screenshot, and your post could end up all over the internet.

Be Positive

We all know the one person from work or school who is ALWAYS complaining. This person might be fantastic at what they do, but their attitude affects everyone around. Don’t be that person on social media. Consistently complaining or posting negatively will drive hiring managers away fast. Yes, we’re looking for individuals who can do the job, but we don’t want to kill the culture at the same time. So, don’t badmouth your bosses or companies, and don’t vent. It’s okay to disagree with someone as long as you’re respectful. Stay away from personal attacks and negative comments because they’ll just make you look bad.

Be Resourceful

Are you curious about what it’s like to work at a company? Most companies have social media accounts that you can follow. You’ll learn about their values and the initiatives they have in work. Search for people who list the company as their employer and see what they are saying. If you are using LinkedIn, personalize any connection requests that you send!

To connect, send a friendly note introducing yourself and ask a few questions. After you’ve had a successful exchange, consider asking if they’d be open to a short (15-20 minutes) informational interview on the phone. If they agree, prepare questions about the work, company, the challenges & why they like it. The intent is to learn about life at the organization, not to try to sell yourself.

If you have an upcoming interview, you can search for the interviewers to learn about them. Look for things you have in common so you can bring up topics to casually build a rapport. For example, If you learn that the hiring manager is a big baseball fan, you can ask if they saw the game last night (without mentioning you looked them up of course!). Be tactful in how you approach these conversations, though, you don’t want to come across as creepy.

We concluded our Social Media series in Part 3, with examples using social media to get a job (and some that didn’t work so well). Be sure to subscribe to our blog, so you don’t miss out!