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Yes, you read it right. Happy Boss’s Day to you!

You are, after all, the CEO—Chief Exploration Officer of your own job search organization. You’ve climbed to the top of the ladder, and your hard work deserves recognition and celebration like all the other bosses out there.

You’re the talented boss who wears multiple hats as the chief financial officer, human resources director, receptionist, marketing guru, administrative assistant, trainer and housekeeper. Research and development, information technology and strategic planning are all yours.

Being your own boss is tougher than most of us realize. All the responsibility sits squarely on your shoulders. For lots of folks that means learning new skills and technologies to effectively search for and land a new job.

Since I can’t send you the typical Boss’s Day gift like a coffee mug, pen set, or box of chocolates, I’m giving something you can use! Practical, easy to implement tips that will help you be your own best boss and outstanding Chief Exploration Officer.

Believe in yourself and trust your instincts., write it down and let it continue to evolve.

Take action! Implement ideas knowing some will work great and others will flop. Either way you will learn something and be moving forward. Move away from the computer screen and into the flow of life.

Get clear on communicating what you job you are looking for and your unique skills to do that job.

Show appreciation for everyone who helps in your job search. Update people regularly on your progress. And how about a big ol’ shout out to your family thanking them for their love and support?

Keep your sense of humor. As Jimmy Buffett says, if we couldn’t laugh we’d all go insane. And job loss is its own brand of insanity.

Be a generous giver. Give compliments, offer your assistance, share your expertise, and do whatever is in your power to make the world a little better today.

Make a plan to find your ideal job

And last but not least, celebrate yourself as one great boss on National Boss’s Day (officially October 16). Give yourself a pat on the back, take yourself and another job seeker out for a cup of coffee, or send yourself a free Boss’s Day e-card. Just do it! Do something to recognize and appreciate your self for all the energy and focus you put into finding your next job! You deserve it! 

Happy Boss’s Day To You!

After Omarosa and Joan Rivers grated on my last nerve a few seasons ago, I quit watching The Apprentice in favor of mud wrestling (just kidding about the wrestling). I’m back this year.

All of the contestants are unemployed. They’ve been fired once and unless they become the new golden employee for Mr. Trump, they’re going to get fired again. Ouch!  

I don’t have any favorites, yet. There the usual nerve-graters and those who quickly fade into the background. The big personality is the guy who is still way pissed off about losing his job and feels entitled to a new, plush one because he’s been in sales! Talk about your unresolved baggage and overgrown egos keeping you from getting hired!

Personalities aside, Mr. Trump slipped in some real life, applicable advice for job seekers. So, in case you found something better to do with your time on Friday evenings, here are the tips from the first few episodes.

Dress for the job you want. One good ol’ boy type showed up in the boardroom dressed for casual Friday. Oooppsss! The Donald was not impressed! Dress for the job you want. Project a successful image. Pay attention to details. If the job you apply for is more casual, still look your best. Money is tight but with some ingenuity and a little dose of humility you can dress well. Check out consignment shops, Good Will stores, borrow from a friend…do what ever it takes to look sharp.

Stand out from the crowd.  Donald Trump is bigger than life persona who gets noticed every where he goes. You need to stand out in the herd and let your best self shine. The bottom line is you have to sell yourself to employers just like a product. As this week’s fired candidate drove away, Donald said unless you’re a salesperson, you won’t get a job! So, market, market, market yourself!

Be a leader. Everyone who works in an organization can be a leader. It’s not only managers and supervisors who lead. Every one can be a leader regardless of what job you have. It’s all about honesty, integrity, quality, intelligence, innovation and inspiring others to be and do their very best. So step up and let your best self shine!

If you want to hear you’re hired, use these great pieces of practical advice from Donald Trump in your job search: You stand out from the crowd by when you dress for success and believe in and display your leadership skills!

Now is the time to Let Your Best Self Shine!

Elizabeth

Most days we know exactly what would make life go more smoothly. Organize our office, update the resume, and engage in meaningful conversation (move away from the computer).

It’s just not that hard to do…until it comes to taking action.

Our best intentions evaporate without action. There are tons of reasons we chose to remain immobilized.  I imagine you have your favorites. They’re like a default setting, and when we’re honest with ourselves, most don’t reflect who we truly are or want to be.

Last week I chose to be pro active. Rather than dig into my baggage about why I procrastinate, I reached out to a couple of friends who subscribe to the same theory of “do it later”. We enthusiastically agreed to be accountability partners.

Following the KISS rule of keeping it simple, we agreed to the following:
• How and when to monitor our progress
• Keep the goals  short and manageable
• For unmet goals, you will be confronted with “Why didn’t you do this task?”
• There will be no shaming or ridicule
• Any undone tasks roll over into next week’s list
• If a task goes undone for 2 weeks, we will talk about why we’re stuck

Thankfully, it’s working! With my healthy living accountability partner, I found it’s much easier to walk for 30 minutes four times a week than admit I was just too flippin’ lazy to do it! Geezz, who wants to admit to laziness, especially if you say it aloud?

The other partner is for work projects. Last week there was major movement on a couple of things that were so mired in the procrastination muck I needed the big bulldozers to get them unstuck! Whew! I stayed super focused and got it done. 

If you’re feeling stuck and unmotivated, an accountability partner might be your answer. It’s amazing how easy tasks become when the choices are “do it” or explain why you let yourself down again! Checking off even one small task empowers you to tackle others.

How about it? Don’t put it off another day. Call a friend and say, “Would you, could you be my accountability partner?” 

And with that you can check off one thing you’ve accomplished today!

Now is the time to Let Your Best Self Shine!

Hugs and prayers,
Elizabeth

I had the best time as a guest on Sharon Marquart’s blog radio show, Living At Yes! Sharon is a spiritual life coach and a delightful, energetic woman. She is a gifted at helping people remove the stumbling blocks that keep you from saying yes to your most magnificent life. YES = You Embracing Spirit.

Her show is on every Monday evening at 6 PM and she has fascinating guests who offer tips for living a fully integrated life: body, mind and spirit. They talk about a variety of topics and simply listening to her show is healing!

We not only talked about the stress of job loss, but lots of practical tips for coping with any life transitions. For so many people, it feels like you’re running in place all the time and just can’t get a break. I hope you’ll listen to the interview and find new ways to say “yes” to living your very best!

Thanks Sharon for having me as a guest! Check out her whimsical site at www.LivingAtYes.com

Last week a friend and client asked me to write a letter of recommendation for a job he really, really wants. Nothing like a little pressure to write a great letter.

This got me thinking about how to get colleagues and friends to write an A+ letter of recommendation. After all, this is a huge part of your “hire me” campaign.

The key to an A+ recommendation letter is to make it easy for the writer by providing them relevant, quality information about you. By following these basic guidelines, you can have recommendation letters that shine the spotlight on your best skills and qualities.

While the format of the letter is important, the content is crucial. It’s possible to pack a lot of punch in one page if it’s concise and focused on your top qualities. The basic format includes:

• 1st paragraph establishes the purpose of the letter, states how and how long you’ve known one another, and the writer’s qualifications to recommend you.
• 2-4 paragraphs give details for why you are the ideal candidate for the position.  
• The closing paragraph is the wrap up. The time to finally convince this hiring manager that your are the only candidate for the job.

 Here’s the heart of what you need to know and do to get an A+ recommendation every time!

A-listers – Can your references speak with authority about your abilities, skills and character? Make sure they know you well and have the status for their opinion to be taken seriously. Beside a former boss or supervisor, you might ask friends, former customers/ clients, vendors, or professors.

Ask – Be direct and ask if this person is willing to whole heartedly recommend you.  If they are reluctant or have reservations, politely thank them and ask someone else.

Advance information -  What  made it easy for me to write a letter for my friend/client is he gave me all of the information in advance of writing the letter. You want to provide the following:

• The name, title and complete contact information of the person receiving the recommendation.
• The final date recommendation letters will be accepted
• The job position you are applying for and buzz words posted in the job ad
• Relevant dates of employment and your job titles
• Any thing you particularly want included in the letter. For example, what can you do for this organization?

 Abilities – What specific skills and talents make you uniquely qualified for this position? These are the skills you showcase on your resume and back up your job title.

Attributes – Employers today look for character and soft skills. The intangible qualities that make you who you are! For example, being resilient, empathetic, loyal, compassionate, responsible.

Accomplishments –  What have you accomplished and how can these accomplishments translate into a new position? These need to be tangible. For example: you created and implemented systems that reduced overhead by $25,000.

Action – Use clear, powerful, action verbs such as created, organized, designed.  

Associations & Awards  - Were you in any associations together? Can they speak to your leadership roles in an association? Do they know of awards you received for outstanding work or service?

Academics – If you’re a new graduate or recently completed a training program, your grades or class ranking may be important. Often professors and instructors notice a quality or trait that sets you apart from others. Promote these!

Assets – How will you be an asset to this new organization? How can you make a positive difference? If you have specialized skills or training, here’s where to focus on it. This is an excellent way to close the letter by clearly endorsing you for the job and recapping why you are the best candidate.

If the person you ask to vouch for you isn’t confident about writing a letter, here are a couple of sites that may offer some help. Check out emurse.com for lots of templates and suggestions for formatting and writing recommendation letters.

Box Free Concepts will generate a recommendation letter after you enter some information. You definitely need to read the letter and make a few adjustments, but it’s a great place to start. Don’t use this trick for all of your reference letters for the same job… or ooppsss…you’ll end up looking really dumb rather than brilliant!

And there you have it! Follow these A-list tips and you’ll have A+ recommendation letters that make your best qualities shine every time. If you have sites that have helped your colleagues write recommendation letters for you, I hope you’ll share them so we can pass them along to others.

Now is the time to Let Your Best Self Shine!

PS – Remember to thank the people who took time write on your behalf.

This is the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and those hardly folks in Biloxi, MS. are hosting the Tears to Cheers Festival. It’s a week-long celebration to remember their losses, showcase their triumphs, and look to the future. It sounds a lot like what goes on with job seekers every day: promoting your accomplishments to hiring managers and hoping they will catapult you into a brighter future.

Less than 7 days after the hurricane, I was volunteering as the only chaplain at Biloxi Regional Medical Center. The resilient, spirited folks I met stayed in my heart partly because I came away with some powerful life lessons. They taught me what it means to have the courage to believe. This phrase became a touchstone in my life, especially while I was unemployed.

So, in tribute to the people who call Biloxi home as well as all the Katrina survivors along the Gulf Coast, here’s the story from my book about finding the courage to believe.  

The Courage To Believe

From my own experience and conversations I have had with other job seekers, one trait we all seem to share is courage. It takes tremendous courage to face the reality of job loss, to stay positive in the face of overwhelming odds, and to be honest with yourself, family, and friends. The phrase “have the courage to believe” is a touchstone in my life. I’ll share the story of why these words are so special to me, in the hope that you will be inspired to continue in your job search with renewed hope and faith.

Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, I served as a chaplain at a hospital in Biloxi, Mississippi. With little warning, people lost their homes, possessions, vehicles, livelihoods, places of worship, and entire communities. They were left to mourn the deaths of family, friends, and beloved pets. Their sense of security and way of life was cruelly washed away under the cover of darkness.

Biloxi Lighthouse after Hurricane Katrina

Some had nothing but the clothes they wore and a plastic bag holding what remained of their personal possessions. As I listened to their stories, one
common theme was clear. They were thankful to be alive; and despite all of the loss, they continued to look forward to a new day. Their faith, hope, and
can-do attitude touched my heart.

I had several in-depth conversations with a man named Leopold. Reflecting on his losses, he said, “I have no idea who I am today; and I don’t know how
to figure out who I will become tomorrow.”

We talked about finding the courage to keep the faith and continue to believe. We stumbled upon the phrase “have the courage to believe.” It summed up the inner fortitude needed even to imagine rebuilding one’s life and community. Those words profoundly influenced me, and became the guiding force in my life.

Courage comes from the French word Coeur, which means heart. It takes a big heart and bold faith to believe in invisible possibilities when there is nothing solid to hold on to. The Sufi philosopher, Rumi, said it best: “Where there is ruin, there is hope for treasure.”

Having the courage to believe became more meaningful to me during my unemployment. When I hit my worst, felt sorry for myself, or wondered how to fix my unraveling life, I remembered the inner strength of those hurricane survivors. Life as they knew it was washed away, and still, they had the courage to believe life would be good again.

Unemployment continues to sweep across the United States and the world. Like a natural disaster, it can leave a wide path of destruction in its wake, affecting lives and communities. Some people survive job loss and grow into their best lives; some learn a powerful life lesson, some struggle, yet manage to keep it together; some barely hang on, and for some, life is now tragic beyond words.

I pray these words and this story will shine light into your current darkness and give you hope. May you be filled with the courage to believe. Take these words into your heart and know that when everything around you is changing or appears lost, a new day is coming. Be open, and believe in endless possibilities.

I Let My Best Self Shine Through when I live my life with courage and conviction. I have the courage to believe I can overcome any obstacles in my life. I am inspired by the way folks on the Gulf Coast continue to have hope and faith as they rebuild their lives.

So why is that?

More than likely it’s from a change in environment…getting out of the house, seeing new sites and meeting new people is a guaranteed spirit lifter. A place like Julia’s that is incredibly cozy and filled with the aroma of freshly brewed, organic coffee is nurturing and soothes the weary soul…a definite plus for job seekers.
 
Any thing new jump starts your creative juices, provides inspiration and opens wide the doors of imagination. A change in location or routine frees your mind. Those every day problems you diligently drag around can look quite different when seen from another vantage point. Lots of times we get stuck in patterns without realizing it. Changing things up in one part of your life can lead to more positive change. 

At home, it’s easy to be distracted, and staying on task can be a challenge…okay…it can be almost impossible some days! There’s often something vying for your attention: TV, a honey-do list, family, or checking email for the 10th time! Going somewhere like a coffee shop keeps you glued to your chair, focused and you’ll get more work done in less time.
 
The number one reason for getting out of the house is seeing other people! Being unemployed can leave you feeling isolated and lonely. The positive energy of an upbeat place is contagious. You feel more alive being around people talking, laughing, and enjoying the moment. Plus, you never know what connections you might make like stumbling upon a job lead…that would definitely venturing away from home worthwhile.

Getting out of the house can help you get more done, and in more ways than you might think. Simply being in a vibrant environment, soaking up some good vibes, and swapping smiles will re-energize you and jump start creativity. Both are a big plus in your job search. You’ll feel good all day and be proud of what you got accomplished. And all of this for the price of a cup of coffee or glass of iced tea. What a deal!

Now is the perfect time to Let Your Best Self Shine!

If you want to thoroughly investigate a company as a possible employer, you best brush up on your detective skills. It takes time and some clever search techniques to find out the inside scoop.

Thanks to Glassdoor much of the legwork is already done. It’s a free career site where “anyone can find and anonymously share an inside look at jobs and companies.”  Their data base covers over 84,000 companies. Information is gathered from current and former employees and companies can submit photos, videos, and other “come work for us” information.

To help you ace your next interview, there is a section of frequently asked interview questions sent in from interview candidates. Talk about having some relevant inside information.  Get mentally and emotionally prepared using some of my favorite techniques like setting clear intentions, visualization, affirmations, and deep breathing and you’re very best of who you are will be obvious to your interviewers.

Glassdoor was started by Robert Hohman and Rich Barton. They are masters of creativity, social media and information systems. Barton founded Expedia where they worked together as well as for Microsoft.

Best Features:

Check out the latest salaries by industry, company or job title.

Company reviews come from insiders and include the pros and cons, employee satisfaction ratings, and CEO approval ratings.

Read details about a company’s hiring process from job interview candidates

Check out Glassdoor’s top 50 places to work in 2010. The current top 4 companies to work for are Southwest Airlines, Mary Kay, Facebook, and Slalom Consulting.

I hope this makes your job search a little easier now that you don’t have to be a full time detective. So polish up your resume, get out there, and see what new doors you can open with Glassdoor and by Letting Your Best Self Shine!

Job Seeker In Hammock

If you’re unemployed, every week can be trying but this week has pushed a lot of folks to the emotional limits. Maybe you’re feeling it, too.

For the 99’ers, those who have been without a job for almost 2 years, anxiety is maxing out.  Congress decided to take their July 4th vacation but couldn’t decide to vote “yes” to extend unemployment benefits.  This left millions of unemployed folks dangling above a safety net that is rapidly tearing   apart as the holes get bigger and bigger. 

And there seemed to a contest among a few politicians to see who could say the nastiest, most defeating, demoralizing comments about the unemployed. Let’s see…job seekers have been called lazy, spoiled, welfare wanna be’s, who likely use drugs and enjoy the good life those whopping unemployment checks provide.

Ummmm….can it be decisions makers are out of touch with the reality of life on the unemployment roller coaster?  

This isn’t the job seekers I know. Folks I meet want with all their hearts to go back to work, be productive, and earn a sustainable income. They are resilient. Still out there after all this time diligently searching for work. They’re creative, flexible, and adaptable. Managing as best they can to make life work with what they have. They’re learning new skills and volunteering countless hours to make their communities better. Their values have changed and they know what matters most is love, family, friends, and faith.

Probably 99 % of the job seekers out there are good people who, through no fault of their own, got booted from jobs they liked, and now are giving it their best to move forward.

Supposedly, on Tuesday the Senate will take another run at getting unemployment benefits extended through November.  Can we all say: “Just Do It!”

So what can you do?
• Contact your representatives in Congress
• Tell them your story and why job seekers need this extension
• Give them some context of what it’s like to be unable to find a job
• Be empowered to stand up for yourself and others 
• Believe in yourself, envision your future and never give up
• If you’re of the praying persuasion, lift up some prayers and amen’s

If you’re a job seeker, you’re not spoiled or lazy or lavished with luxury. You are successful whether you have a job or not just because of who you are! So, Let Your Best Self Shine and let your voice be heard!

There are a lot of things I miss about not having a job besides a paycheck. I miss the sense of belonging, being valued, having my ego boosted from time to time, taking pride in my achievements, building my career, and knowing I have made a contribution toward the good of others. When you are working alone from home to find a job, there’s no one there to pat you on the back and validate your efforts. Now that you’re the Career Explorations Officer or CEO for your job search, it’s important to feel positive about your self and your hard work. Whether you’ve been a job seeker for a few weeks or you’re a veteran, it’s time to applaud your own endeavors.

You probably think your job search isn’t successful because you haven’t landed a new job. You incorporate the same work ethic, multiple skills, and inner strengths you relied on at your former workplace into your employment search. Think of all the time, energy, ingenuity, and creativity…not to mention blood, sweat, and tears that go into your job search. It’s incredible! If this project was part of your job assignment, you’d feel pretty darn successful about all you’ve done! This is no different, well, except maybe for the paycheck part!

You can take pride and find satisfaction in your job search efforts. When you truly appreciate and value yourself, you strengthen your self-confidence. A renewed awareness of the skills and effort that go into finding a job, give you a boost to better promote yourself through networking and in job interviews. You’ll be encouraged and motivated to carry on, even if you’ve been in-between jobs for a while.

So, go ahead, sing your own praises! Put your hands together and give yourself a rousing round of applause! You deserve it! It’s time to celebrate you, and everything you’re doing to find a job in some incredibly challenging times!