How long Do I stay in a job?

According to an Economic News Release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median number of years a worker has stayed with a current employer is 4.6 years.  However, by age, experience and level it is a bit different.  Employees age 25 to 34 have the median tenure at 3.2 years and for those 65 and older was 10.3 years.  For those in management, professional, and related occupations had a median tenure of 5.5 years.  Service occupations had a median tenure of 3.2 years.

Strategically planning you career

The numbers above, I say, could be fitting for anybody that is looking for good solid advice to answer the question of how long you should stay in a job.  The overall median number (4.6 years) is a good number to follow, but I would advise you to pay particular attention to the age, experience, and the experience level, as it relates to you. 

The question, “How long do I stay in a job” should be answered by 1) Avoiding being a job hopper, 2) Having a steady employment history, 3) Knowing when you are becoming stagnate, and 4) Paying attention to the trends of the times.

Avoid being a job hopper

A job hopper is someone who finds a new job every year or less.  Now I mentioned to avoid job hopping, and I meant it on a general bases.  This will not be the case for everybody, but probably applies to most people.  Most workers should avoid starting in a job and shortly thereafter leaving it, especially as you get older.

Employers will find those with a number of jobs in a short time unreliable, undedicated, and at a higher risk to hire.  From an employer’s stand point, money is spent on advertising the job, paying finder fees, spending time interviewing and training new employees.  Hiring new employees often takes away from productivity time, which could mean money isn’t' being earned.

Now, contract workers or consultants are okay job hopping.  There are professionals that do contract work, which they work for a new employer almost every three months.  IT contracts are perfect examples.  They are called in to work for companies on short term projects.  Once a project is finish then the contractor moves onto another job / company.  If you are not a contract worker or a consultant, avoid jumping from one job to another.

Have a steady employment history

It would be wise to have a work history that reflects steadiness and loyalty.  When employers see a steady employment history they see someone they can invest time and money into without it going to waste in the short future.  Having a steady employment history means being with one employer for a few years followed by another employer for a few years and so forth.  For this purpose, it doesn't mean always being employed, but more or less having a steady employment history - showing that you have had one job at least every three years (give or take a year). 

Knowing when you are becoming stagnate

If you are completely bored, not being challenged, or not learning new skills or abilities at a job you have been at for a while, then you are becoming stagnate – I like to say you are deteriorating and losing your “A game.”  Get out of that position sooner than later and develop skills and talent, learn new tools, network with new people, and make yourself more valuable and worth more. 

If you are caught in job for too long and you have not been developing professional skills and talents that are useful outside of the company you are with, don’t expect to get paid more once you make a move.  You may expect to be paid less.  Also, don’t expect other companies to view your value when you can only offer skills that will only work for a past job / employer. 

After about 2-3 years at a position, you might start feeling pretty comfortable and confident in your ability for that particular role.  This might be a time to evaluate your professional growth and challenge yourself so you won’t be deteriorating.

Paying Attention to the Trends of the Times

10+ years ago it was common for a professional to switch jobs or employers.  Today the trend is about 3 to 4 years.  Today is a faster pace and upbeat professional world than was experienced years ago. 

Employers have different needs than yester-years and they are not afraid to obtain that outside of their company – they have to, to keep up with the fast pace market demands.  Employees look to stay on top of the high demands of the so many technologies and tools that are out there.  Competition to remain marketable is so high that employees have to constantly look outside their current employer to remain employed and receive a good pay.

It is very much know among employers and employees that the competition today is in at a much faster pace than it was 10+ years ago.  Hiring managers can expect and are familiar with seeing resumes that list people being in jobs for 2-3 years.  Keep up with the trends and when noticing trends, ask why things are trending like they are.  You need to keep up with the changes and keep competitive too.

How to Handle Those Morning Job Interviews

Morning interviews can be a struggle for those who call themselves a “night owl.”  For morning interviews, you may be still waking up and you’re not as alert and sharp in the morning as opposed to an interview later in the day when you've had time to become alert and get your brain warmed up.  Often times those morning interviews give you anxiety because of less time you have to get up, get ready, make sure you have everything you need for the interview, and then get to the interview.

Below are some good steps for handling those morning job interviews.  The big key is to Plan Ahead!

1)  Get to bed early  You need to be alert and pay attention during the interview.  So go to bed early so you can get up early.

2)  Set out what you are going to wear and bring to the interview the night before (2-3 extra resumes, pen and notepad to take notes, ID cards, etc.)

3)  Rise early  Get that brain working, alert, and ready to answer questions and to have open discussions with those who will interview you.  You need to be upbeat and talkative while in the interview so start out early that morning getting your body, brain, and mouth moving.

4)  Read something  The best practice to be in the mindset to get your mind warmed up is to start the day with reading something.  Read the job description you’ll interview for, read the newspaper or online news and just read something to get your brain warmed up.  Take a good 10-15 minutes to read that morning before the interview.   Take time to concentrate on the job and why you want it – how you will convey that desire in the interview.  Go over the questions you have prepared to ask and go over you strengths.

5)  Have an early morning conversation  To be talkative and answer questions in an interview, get those muscles in your mouth moving.  You will be better to articulate words and won’t be groggy, but alert and attentive.

6)  Eat breakfast  It is the best way to start your day.  If you are hungry during the interview, you won’t be able to concentrate because your nutrient and energy levels will be low.  You mind and your functionality will not be at high enough levels to mentally and intellectually ace an interview.

7)  If you drink coffee in the morning, don’t overdo it before the interview.  Too much coffee will make you jittery and intensify your nervousness to an unappealing fashion.  Going cold turkey off coffee the day of the interview is a no, and I think we all know why.

8)  Get to the interview on time  Know in advance the route and what kind of traffic will be on your way.  Doing this will reduce your anxiety and make sure you show up on time.  Sometimes you have some traffic issue unexpectedly.  Do yourself a favor and just leave earlier than you think you would and if you get to the interview early, just sit in your car waiting to walk in.  Better safe than sorry, right?

TOP 3 Tricks to Getting YOUR Resume Noticed!

Does your resume go into the black hole once you submit it for a job opening?  Every day I sift through 10 different job openings and in each job I have hundreds of applicants.  Where does your resume fall? What increases your chances of being “REJECTED” and what gets you NOTICED?

1)      READ EVERY JOB DESCRIPTION CAREFULLY!  While sifting through multiple openings and hundreds of applicants I see one thing in common.  Over 50% of the applications aren’t even remotely qualified for the role.  The most impressive thing that gets noticed over hundreds of candidates is the candidate that has applied to 2-3 openings based on the best fit for their skills.  You can tell a candidate has taken the time to read the description and put’s thought into each application.  I know, I know! THIS TAKES TIME!  But believe me, it will pay off.  

2)      Make sure the skills listed under the requirements section are listed in your resume.  Most managers and recruiters will browse your resume for 3 SECONDS before deciding to move on to another resume.  The most impressive resumes will reflect the pertinent skills at the top of the resume, in each job descriptions you have used that skill at, or in BOLD.  For example, if you are a Software Developer with J2EE and Spring experience but only list a vague description such as "developed applications" on your resume, it will not be noticed.  However, if the job calls for J2EE and Spring and you know you have it but it’s not listed on your resume, find a way to integrate it into the top portion of your resume as well as in each job description you used that skill.  Preferably in the TOP bullet points of each job description.  

• Bad Example: Developed Applications in an Agile Environment. 

• Good Example: Developed Java applications using J2EE and Spring in an Agile Environment.

If you know the job is asking for J2EE, Spring and Agile then bold those skills or at the very least add them to your resume.  

IMPORTANT - When reviewing a resume, recruiters and hiring managers use staffing technologies that allows them to do searches for key words on resumes.  The technology pulls resumes with key words off the internet the recruiter or hiring manager are looking for.  If a resume does not have those key words, it will not be seen by the recruiter or hiring manager.  In addition, if the key word, like J2EE, is not mentioned very often on the resume, that resume will be second or third to other resumes.  So, if you have a skill set that you have much experience with, make sure that skillset key word is used often.

3)      Think strategically!!  When visiting a website or multiple websites make sure to BE SELECTIVE when applying to roles.  It’s a common misconception that applying to any and every role that might fit your skill set will better your chances.

Whatever you do, don’t and I repeat DON’T apply to multiple jobs within a company with the idea that more applications increases your chances.  Take under careful consideration each opening for which you apply.  It will be noticed and your resume will QUICKLY stand out from the rest.

By Samantha McGary - Corporate Recruiter

Successfully Navigating the Recruiting Process

Deciding what you want to do for a living while still in college can be very difficult. I didn't decide on a major until my third year of college and didn't choose what industry I would work in until my forth year. As a result, my undergraduate education was a five-year experience and that is OK. However, those who decide on a general field early in their education are at an advantage because they can tailor their college experience towards a desired career path. 

Once you decide what general field you would like to begin your career in, you should learn what the terminal degree required for that field is. You should learn what the typical hiring process is for that industry. For example, to work as a geologist in the oil industry, a Master’s degree is required. Also, oil companies hire almost exclusively from their past intern pool. They find their interns by a very structured recruiting process on select campuses and at professional meetings. So when I am approached by someone who has finished their undergrad geology degree, has no plans for grad school, has not done an internship, and is now applying to internet job postings at oil companies; I know they have a very difficult path to getting their foot in the door. You can learn what entry level job requirements are required for your field by networking with established professionals as early in your education as possible.

Once you know how to tailor your education for your desired career path and what the recruiting process is for your industry, you work on secure interviews. But before the interview, a recruiter’s first impression of you is your resume. Take the time to have a few different people look over your resume looking for errors. An established professional can look over your resume and make sure that you have emphasized the correct things. I generally prefer simple, concise resumes without flowery language or unusual formatting. 

The primary purpose of the interview is for the interviewer to learn as much about the behaviors and skills of the candidate as possible. The best way to predict a candidate’s future behavior is to learn about their past behaviors and the consistency in which they demonstrated those behaviors. To obtain this information, interviewers will simply ask. If they ask you about your leadership skills, that really is what they are trying to learn about. They are not likely asking trick questions. A good response to an interview question includes an action you took that displays a behavior or skill and the positive effect it had on your organization. 

Want to really impress recruiters? Demonstrate understanding of a key principle of the industry you are applying to. You should understand the values and value drivers of the company you are interviewing with. You should understand what things they consider important, their strategy, where they operate, and how your skill set would add value to them. They are looking to hire someone who will be a good fit into the culture of their organization. They are probably looking for someone who works well in teams and is someone that they would enjoy working with. Coming across as a likable and genuine person goes a long way. It is a competitive job market, considering these small things can prove to be the difference of being hired or passed over.

By Tyson Perkes

Tyson Perkes is a geologist and corporate recruiter in the oil industry.

LinkedIn Profile Editing Tips

What really is the purpose of having a LinkedIn profile?  What are the benefits of having one?

LinkedIn is a social networking site tailored toward professional interactions.  A LinkedIn profile is customized by the owner by listing work experience, education, and other accomplishments on the profile page.  The profile is used as a visual resume presentation.  Because it is online, it is an easy access to recruiters and companies that are hiring.   The key is, the more connections you have the greater chance you have to be seen.

Basic membership is free and members can establish connections with someone he/she has worked with, someone he/she has gone to school with, and professional connections.  Basic membership also allows for connections to groups, companies, jobs, and articles.  In today’s tech savvy and online social networking mindset, it is professional smart to set up a LinkedIn profile.

The following are just a few keys to improve you LinkedIn profile and to use it as a marketing tool for career and professional purposes.

LinkedIn Key #1 – Good image, Title, & Summary

First impressions are everything.  LinkedIn is used my many recruiters and hiring companies and your image, title, and summary will be the first thing they see.  Make sure you image is not blurry, too small or big, or unprofessional, etc.  Make sure you have a photo.  No photo is a “do not.”

Your title (current position / expertise) could be searched.  It is a best practice that you optimize your title so that it is easily searched.  If you have multiple titles / expertise add those key words, but do not make the mistake and add words just to add words.  For example: “Recruiter at XXXX | Resume & Career Consultant | Blogger.”

For the summary have something catchy or something that provides a good introduction of who you are, what your standards are, and what your expertise is.  You want to set a skilled background for readers that can gain a hint of what opportunities you bring to the world.  To find some ideas of what you can write, visit some of your connections and read their summaries.

LinkedIn Key #2 – Update Regularly

Your LinkedIn profile is your online resume.  So, update it regularly.  Your LinkedIn profile will probably be seen more than your paper resume by people you don’t know.  You will want to have your profile up-to-date as to not have a potential opportunity pass you up.  Updating should involve updating:  work history, new connections, projects, and sections such as Skills & Expertise, interests, groups and organizations, and who you follow.  Make sure you contact information is update often too.  It is helpful if you post website addresses (personal / company), blog, or twitter information.

LinkedIn Key #3 – Connect with many

Connecting is networking.  Increase your number of connections all the time.  Once you hit 50 connections LinkedIn starts suggesting connections.  LinkedIn offers the “People you may know” tool.  Use this tool to find people and establish business connections that may bring opportunity in the future.  The key is, the more connections you have the greater chance you have to be seen.  The profile is used as a visual resume presentation.  Because it is online, it is an easy way for recruiters and companies that are hiring to find you through links of friends and colleagues.

Keys to Salary Negotiation

You will probably agree with me that once you find a job that you find interesting, you want to make sure the price is right.  The salary is probably in your top two decision making factors, the other being working in a career you want and know how to do.

Use the following keys to help you negotiate the salary you want.

Negotiation Key #1 – Research before hand

Find out what the high, medium, and low salaries are for your job.  Find out the salary average for your city and state.  Research your field of expertise as it relates to your experience and time you have in the field.  Look at the salaries for those at the company you are looking to work for.  Also research the benefits that will come with the job you are applying for.  Do all this and you’ll have items and knowledge to negotiate with.

Negotiation Key #2 – Wait for the offer

Do not jump the gun on talking about salary.  Wait until they make an offer.  When they make the offer they want you, not all the other candidates.  Do not make the mistake of cancelling yourself out before you are even offered the job.  Once the offer is made, give thanks and ask for time to consider it.  The first number is not the end, but the beginning, so come back, after you have prepared yourself for negotiating and offer a number to your liking.

Negotiation Key #3 – Counteroffer a little higher

Once you have an offer on the table counteroffer a salary a little higher than you want.  If you get that higher amount, great!  The purpose of this higher counteroffer is to prepare for a counteroffer from the company.  If that happens they will probably offer something close to what you want.  You make sure that once you start working you prove your worth.

Negotiation Key #4 – Specific numbers

When negotiating a salary, provide specific numbers, not whole or rounded numbers.  It is all about the appearance.  You will be seen as someone educated and has done research.  You will catch their attention and find favor in you.  Instead of $51,000 offer $51,200.  Research has found that specific numbers is more effective – round numbers add nothing.  Once you offer a specific number be ready to give your reasoning.  That is why we do research.

Negotiation Key #5 – No Fear

Do not let fear stop you from getting what you want, especially when it comes to pay.  It never hurts to ask.  It really does not.  Remember, negotiation should start after you have been offered the job.  This should give you confidence to know they want you and that they are willing to hear you.  If fear is a big problem for you, do yourself a favor and force yourself to spit it out – that is to ask for a higher pay or whatever you want.

Negotiation Key #6 – Kind threats

Research has suggested that little delicate threats could help you in negotiations.  Be poised and considerate of the favor the company has just offered you – the job.  The purpose of this key is not for you to get in an argument with the company or offer a threat that is careless and insulting.  The purpose is to emotionally connect with the company so that they offer a favorable salary in your eyes.  Do not say, “If you don’t offer me this, I’m walking.”  Say something subtle like, “That salary seems okay, but I am looking for something higher.  I may need to think about the offer a bit longer and go over my options.”  **Please note:  Do not try to get companies to outbid each other.  You will find that that is ineffective and insulting and you may find you have no job offer anymore.  

Negotiation Key #7 – Negotiation has boundaries

Do not think you are the All Power OZ and deserve a certain salary.  You do not want to be perceived as arrogant and non-compliant.  If they can’t meet your high request, they shouldn't have to say no many times.  Push for what you want, but do not upset a manager.  Understand the concept of a win/win situation – there is always a little give and not room for fixed mindsets.  Be prepared to stop negotiations if things are not going good.

Negotiation Key #8 – Silence is good

Once you have been offered a salary, sit there quietly.  Have an uneasy look on your face.  The one who offered you the salary will see that uneasiness and ask what you think about the offer.  They will probably feel an obligation to meet your requests and needs because of the uneasiness you caused with your quietness.  This is when the negotiation begins -when you pull out all of these negotiation keys to help you negotiate the salary you want.

Negotiation Key #9 – No negotiating the salary

Frequently you will not be able to negotiate the salary.  In these situations try to negotiate other areas.  There are bonuses (signing or performance), vacation and sick days, or other benefits.  There could be a list of areas that you can look into for negotiating the conditions of your job offer.  Ask about paying for gym membership.  See if they will contribute a certain percent amount to a retirement account. Ask about these other alternatives and see if they will accommodate your wishes.

Negotiation Key #10 – Good environment

 A way you will be able to negotiate is making sure there is a good environment, a good feel, a trusting relationship.  This should be on your mind when you first talk to someone at the company you wish to work for.  Keep conversations good and fun.  Avoid negative or demeaning conversations that might make someone uncomfortable.   If you build relationships of trust you will be negotiating with a “friend” who will do their best to meet your requests.

Ikea Job Interview...

Job Interview questions

Here is not a list of questions to or not to ask in a interview.  Here are a few tips to think about.

You can search the internet to find a list of questions to ask or not to ask while in a job interview.  You'll find common ones and you'll find some unique ones.  Find those questions you like and put them in your list of questions to bring to the interview.  Make up your own list of questions as well.  Now you have a long list of questions to ask.  Great, right?  You betcha!

But hold on!  Are your questions the right question to ask?  To find out, ask yourself the below questions about each of the questions you have in your list.  The point of doing this to make sure you ask prudent questions.  In this context, prudent would refer to carefully selecting questions that relate to you securing a job offer in the short future.  Prudent is defined as showing care in providing for the future.  In the following, we'll go into a little detail of what we mean by in asking prudent questions.

Questions for your Questions
1) When will be the appropriate time to ask this question?
2) Is this question appropriate to ask?
3) Is the topic in this question going to help me get the job or could it hurt my chances?
4) Do I already know the answer to this question?  Should I know the answer?


1) When will be the appropriate time to ask this question?
To give an extreme example; don't ever let your very first question be about what benefits.  When you ask appropriate questions at appropriate times, you are engaging with the interviewer about what they want to know about you...at that time.  The interviewer has the upper hand - they have a list of candidates they can offer the job to not just you.  If you are in the first or second interview phase, you'll be asked questions to see if you're qualified.  So, it might be a good idea to ask questions about job responsibilities of the position.  These questions will lead into conversations in which you can tell about your qualification.  Give the interviewer confidence in the fact that you are the best candidate.  When you are asking the right questions, at the right time; the questions give you an "in" to have a discussion with the interviewer.  When a discussion develops, you'll be able to talk about your abilities.

2) Is this question appropriate to ask?
You may have a number of questions that aren't necessarily appropriate to ask.  Experts suggest you ask 4-5 questions in a interview.  However, bring more than five questions, as some may be answered during the interview without you asking them.  You want to ask the important questions.  Please realize you are in a interview, which means you are being evaluated.  here is an example: in your interviews you've asked about working half days on Fridays, because that is what you have been used to with a previous employer.  This could be considered a inappropriate question to ask.  Questions like this shows lack of discipline and commitment.  Ask appropriate questions that relate to the job responsibilities, company culture, team goals, etc.  You want to give the interviewer the idea that you are a hardest worker and the best choice.

3) Is the topic in this question going to help me get the job or could it hurt my chances?
The purpose of this question is to make sure you aren't bringing up something may be a concern to the interviewer.  This is the first or perhaps one of the few times the interviewer has interacted with you.  They don't really know your work ethics or your personality.  An interview is the opportunity for you to not give the interviewer any reason to question your abilities, your work ethics, or commitment.  You also don't want them to think that you could be a problem if you are hired.  We can use the same example as in #2, "Would I be able to work just half days on Fridays?"  This is a topic you can bring up once you have started working in a new position.  A question like this could hurt you and bring on some unwanted and unrecoverable judgment from the interviewer.  It's better to ask this question after you have the job and you have a chance to recover if it is frowned upon.  In the interview, one chance is all you get.

4) Do I already know the answer to this question?  Should I know the answer?
You ask this question to help yourself not to look incompetent in front of the interviewer.  Just about every company has a website.  If a answer to a question is on the company's website, in a obviously way, you better not ask that question in the interview.  A good example of knowing the answer already would be to ask if the job is a work from home type of a job.  If the job description said so, it would be so.  Obvious answers to questions should be known already.  If you ask the question without doing research you'll probably face issues that were brought up in #3 question above - the interviewer will make a quick judgment that you will bring a problem to their work environment and will end the interviewing process with you.

Be Thankful

Thank You Notes.....Should I?

Believe it or not, thank you notes are part of the interview process. The thank you note is another way for you to influence the interviewer. There are many candidates that don't send thank you notes. However, it is important for you to send a thank you note, because interviewers will read your thank you note and think positive of you. Some candidates have received a second chance because of a thank you note.  In fact, one individual made it to a third interview in which he received a phone call from the HR director informing him that the thank you notes after each interview really influenced the HR director and the hiring manager.  If you take a few minutes to write a thank you note, you'll come to know it is well worth your time.  Keep reading for a list of guidelines to help you write thank you notes for after a interview.

Here is another piece of advice: Show gratitude in all occasions.  Thank yous are not just meant for notes.  Vocalize your thank yous with sincerity often.  As mentioned before, you'll come to know it is well worth your time.  This is where the power of persuasion is introduced.  Remember the story above about the interviewer who wrote thank you notes after each interview?  The thank you notes persuaded the interviewers to keep him in the potential candidate lineup - doing him a favor.  He got the interviewers to do what he wanted them to do because of his sincere gratitude toward them.  People work with and help those they like.  That is common sense, we all know that.  But maybe you need to be told that again, to remind you.  You can thank me later for the refresher :)

Here are a few guidelines to help you customize a thank you note or even to vocalize a thank you.

1. Mail / hand deliver / email letter within 24 hours of the interview
2. Gather interviewer(s) full name(s) and titles(s).
3. Always thank the interview for his/her time.
4. Mention something you learned from the interview.
5. Mentioned your strong interest in the position and why you will fill the position well.
6. In the case of multiple interviewers, send a letter to each of the "Decision Makers" or one to each person that you perceived are important to develop a good relationship with.
7. Send a letter after each interview, whether it is the first or third interview.
8. Spell and grammar check your letter two or three times after you have customized your letter.
9. Use your best judgement for hand writing and delivering your letter.  To help with this decision, do an internet search on when it is best to hand write, hand deliver, email thank you notes after a interview.
10. Keep notes short and sweet.
11. Keep your letter professional.  Avoid extra designs and "busy" things, like happy faces.

"I Didn't Get The Job!" Outrageous!

Rejection happens, but you need to move on!  Here are a few tips to move onward...

Maybe you can use this post as a motivation speech.  Let it just light that fire underneath and give you the determination not to give up, but find that company that will hire you!

If you are currently looking for a new job and have had some rejections already or if you foresee yourself visiting that paradise of looking for a new job then I hope this post gives you a little advice on how to handle those "thanks, but no thanks" job rejections.

First tip of the day - Talk about it.

The fastest and most effective way to diminish your inner thoughts and feelings about a job rejection is to talk about it.  You literally become tired of focusing on it if you talk about it.  Get with a spouse, best friend, family member, trusted co-worker and just talk until your heart is content.  I did not say vent but talk.  Venting involves strong emotions, which can be uncontrollable and unhealthy at times.  Talking, on the other hand, keeps emotions in check, keeps you professional, and keeps brain chemicals in balance.  Why mention brain chemicals?

Have you ever heard of catharsis?  It is the act of purifying, cleaning, or purging of your emotions.  In a way, venting is catharsis.  The You Are Not So Smart blog explains catharsis and how it relates to venting.  Here's a little section out of the blog:

Releasing sexual tension feels good. Throwing up when you are sick feels good. Finally getting to a restroom feels good. So, it seemed to follow, draining bad blood or driving out demons or siphoning away black bile to bring the body back into balance must be good medicine. Be it an exorcism or a laxative, the idea is the same: get the bad stuff out and you'll return to normal.

It's drug-like, because there are brain chemicals and other behavioral reinforcements at work. If you get accustomed to blowing off steam, you become dependent on it.

Common sense says venting is an important way to ease tension, but common sense is wrong. Venting – catharsis – is pouring fuel into a fire. 

(Read the entire blog post @ http://youarenotsosmart.com/2010/08/11/catharsis/).

When you talk, you control your emotions.  You also keep yourself open to options and advice from those you talk with.  You are also emotionally able to view a different picture of your job rejection (read second tip below).  You remain professional and stand ready to move on to another job opportunity when you talk.  You won't be aggressive and make rash, non-thought-out decisions.

Second tip of the day - Recognize.

You probably weren't the only talented one being interview.  It might have been the luck of the draw that someone else was offered the position over you.  It is a good chance that the hiring manager just had to pick someone because many candidates were a good fit, but they couldn't hire everyone.  You may not have been rejected.  Recognize that you were well qualified, but many others were just as qualified and a decision had to be made for one of you.

Third tip of the day - Reflect and Move on!

After you have taken some time to talk about your job rejection, take a moment to think about the interview and see how you can improve.  Review the interview questions that were asked and the answers you gave.  Think about any documents you may have submitted (e.g. resume) and how you may have acted in front of interviewers or around the potential employer’s place of business.  In all these areas that I just listed, ask yourself “what can I do to improve on or do differently?”  See what could have made you more attractive and appealing to the recruiter or hiring manager - on paper and in person.  When you find something, educate yourself on that area and make improvements.

Once you have done a self-evaluation, move on to new job applications, new interviews and regain that momentum you had before the job rejection.  The effects of the rejection will only last as long as you allow them to last.

Social Media Usage Professional advice

Samantha McGary ‏@Samantha_McGary3h

In the professional world it might be better to put your #social media page on private. @DavidMcNary @TylerMcGary pic.twitter.com/xCRwiaTZju

 Retweeted by Tyler McGary

Why A Career Coach?

Do you know the real purpose of Career Coaches?  It may not be what you think.

Recently I read a few articles about career coaching, just to gain a little more insight on the topic and to update my knowledge on new skills or trends.  As I read these articles I thought perhaps there were a few things worth spreading the news to others.

To start off, I pretty sure we all have an idea of what a career coach does.  I sometimes get the impression that we kind of know what a career coach is, like the broad description of a career coach - someone who helps you select a good career or guides you to a better career.  However, I feel we miss the underlining purpose and description of how a career coach can influence someone.

To make the definition of a career coach comprehensible, a few synonyms are: Supporter, Motivator, Life coach specializing in work life, facilitator (facilitates your career progress), and adviser.  A career coach is NOT a counselor or therapist.  They look into your past briefly and find out what your present situation is like, but they are not going to dwell on the past or repair emotional or mental struggles.

A career coach focuses on where to take your career.  They implement a change for the better.  They assist you in career goals AND develop confidence within yourself.  A career coach is also an insider to many different ways to help you be successful.  They know about up-to-date strategies, techniques, trends, and venues that will benefit you.

In my profession, I have perceived that the biggest hold up for people to make career adjustments, whether that be a entry-level person or experience person, would be not knowing the know how to accomplish their goals.  I' m talking about a complete dumb struck on how to start.  No ideas or even a clue to know where to start.  A career coach would be that smart brainstorming buddy you want in your group because they have all the answers.

Let me close with a bit of advice: two minds are mightier than one.  Often times we find a way out of a hard situations because we confide with some else of our struggle.  Just talking to a trusted friend calms our nerves and brings about some unthought ideas for alternative outcomes. Use and view a career coach as a second mind to overcome your struggles and to generate new ideas.  And remember, view a career coach as a friend with expert career advice.  And do view them as a friend - they do find great joy in your success.