How Being Proactive Will Help You Get Hired

Are you one of those people that always makes assumptions?  Rather than know the reality of a situation, do you make a wild guess and base your decision making on that alone?  If you're one of those people (and I can be too), you may be doing yourself more harm than you know.

It can be emotionally costly to make assumptions particularly when it comes to one's professional life.  It's really the lazy way out of something by making an assumption rather than being proactive and finding out the real deal.

I contacted a career development director at a university a few weeks ago to see if she was interested in contracting my coaching services.  I received a promising email back that she was waiting to find out about the fiscal budget and if she'd then have the money to hire me.  When I didn't hear back from her, I ASSUMED it was either bad news or she forgot about me completely.  Needless to say, I got myself worked up, felt disappointed and ruined my own day.  On what basis did I have to make this assumption?  Absolutely none.  I made a calculated guess based on pure emotion.  It had nothing to do  with reality.  So, I decided to be proactive and email her.  She genuinely seemed glad to hear from me and said she was still waiting on an answer but thanked me for following up.  Not only did I get an answer, but I also looked professional in the process.

If you're looking for a job, please don't be hard headed like me and make assumptions.  It will get you nowhere except frustrated and discouraged.  Being PROACTIVE will help get you hired.  And…you'll feel like you're in control.

"I like to encourage people to realize that any action is a good action if it's proactive and there is positive intent behind it."
~ Michael J. Fox

"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

Is This Job The Right Fit?

Looking for a job is a job in itself.  There's research, networking, resume posting, interviewing, follow up, waiting for an offer, more follow up, negotiating the offer, blah blah blah.  It's exhausting just thinking about the whole process.  Does this sound familiar to you?  If you're one of those people who has had one job your entire career, you've been spared what some consider hair raising.

If you're offered a job and done your due diligence, you'll ask yourself (before you accept) if this is an environment you can see yourself spending 8-9 hours a day, 5 days a week.  Can you relate to the people you'll be working with or do they seem like aliens from another planet?  Will you be comfortable in a business suit when you're used to dressing in jeans?  Will the style of management be conducive to you being productive or will you work for someone who is disrespectful or a raging lunatic?

Company culture is VERY important when considering a position.  Ask yourself if you'll be out of your element or does this feel like a comfortable shoe that "fits".  If it doesn't feel comfortable, find yourself another pair of shoes.

"A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers."
~ Plato

"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you feel undecided about your next career move, contact me at lrcareercoach@gmail.com so I can help point you in the right direction.

My Job Is Great So Why Am I Uninspired?

Does this sound like you?  "I'm well compensated, respected and valued at my job so why do I feel discontented and disconnected?"  This is a recent concern coming from one of my coaching clients.  He's been working at the same company for 7 years and knows "he has it made"  but feels an inexplicable unrest.  The company is solid so he's not working in an unstable environment.

Do you have similar feelings about your job and reflect on the same question, "My job is great so why am I uninspired?"  Perhaps it's time to take a hard look at what's really going on.

I'm a firm believer that even though we may be well compensated at work, if we're not challenged or inspired, it might be time to re-evaluate what's important and make a change.  If you're like me, you thrive when you're motivated and have opportunity to use your skills and talents.  Isn't this one of the reasons you spent a zillion dollars in getting a degree so you could develop an expertise, gain  knowledge and put it to use?  And if you never got your degree, more than likely you've tried to position yourself to acquire a certain skill set.  Either way, you've paid your dues in some form and want to reap the emotional benefits.

Being true to ourselves requires honesty, courage and kindness.  If we want our professional lives to be fulfilling, we just might have to step out of our comfort zone…

"We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment."
~ Hilaire Belloc

"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you're feeling uninspired with your career or job, contact me at lrcareercoach@gmail.com to learn about my program to help get you "unstuck."

The Big No-No At Networking Events

Many of us know how important networking can be particularly if you're in career transition, job search or want to develop new business relationships.  There are so many ways today we can connect on a professional level with others since social media has become all the rage but networking remains one of the best ways to meet other professionals who just might be in a position to help you and vice versa.  Meeting others face to face can be the most effective way to leave a lasting impression (I'm referring to a good lasting impression).  This was not my experience the other night when I went to  a professional networking event.

I attended an event in a club where there were about 50 people scattered around in groups talking to one another while sipping their drinks - very social and "network friendly", right?  What surprised me was the number of people who were by themselves talking/texting on their smartphones.  Is this a new form of networking I'm not familiar with?  Maybe they were talking to someone across the room but were too shy or lazy to meet face to face?  Have you experienced this at professional networking events and did you have the same response as me?  Do you find this a professional "no-no" and a turnoff?

How can we expect someone to want to engage with us if we appear disengaged?  What kind of message are we sending out?  Networking can be challenging and uncomfortable but it gets easier with practice particularly IF YOU TALK TO PEOPLE AND PUT AWAY THE DISTRACTIONS!!!!

People are more likely to want to connect with you if your lasting impression was a positive one….

"Many believe effective networking is done face-to-face, building a rapport with someone by looking at them in the eye, leading to a solid connection and foundational trust.,"
~ Raymond Arroyo

"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you need some tips on how to become a better networker, please email me at lrcareercoach@gmail.com and I can give you some pointers.