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.

Interview Tip: Know Your Value & Personal Brand

How many interview tips have you stored in your memory only to forget them during an interview?  There's so much information out there about interviewing it can be overwhelming and confusing.
Not to mention that one career expert often contradicts another.  Have you experienced this?  When I was a recruiter, my candidates would complain about this constantly.

The best question to ask is this: "If I were interviewing a potential employee, what would be important to me when hiring?  What would I like to see conveyed in the interview?"

INTERVIEW TIP 101 - Know Your Value & Personal Brand

If you don't know why you should be hired over the next guy, don't expect the interviewer to know either.  If you convey one thing only in a job interview, know what makes you unique and how you can add to their bottom line.  It's no longer good enough to say, "you want to hire me because I'm hardworking."  Truth is, you're expected to be hardworking when you're getting paid to do a job.  Nowadays, you have to stand out (see blog: "Common Job Interview Pitfalls")

So, next interview be prepared to answer the "Why Hire You?" question.  A good way to do this is to:

• convey your unique traits, strengths, talents
• talk about your work accomplishments
• back everything up with specific measurables

Knowing your value is something you should be prepared to discuss without pause and with total conviction.

"Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are."

~ Malcolm Forbes

"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you're having trouble figuring out your special uniqueness, please email at lrcareercoach@gmail.com, and I can help point you in the right direction.  

What Does An Employer Really Want to Know In A Job Interview?

In today's competitive job market, it's no longer good enough to just show up at a job interview looking spiffy with a nicely written resume and an enthusiastic attitude.  Actually, that was never good enough.  Most of us liked to fool ourselves into thinking it was (or maybe I did).  In the small window of opportunity of the average interview, we have to demonstrate how we're more unique than the 100 people who are waiting to be interviewed for the same job.

Ask yourself, "what does an employer really want to know about me"?  In my previous posts I've talked about the importance of knowing one's accomplishments, transferrable skills and how you can add to a potential employers' bottom line.  Obviously, one has to  convey that during the interview (even if not asked!).  A job interview is not the best place to be shy about tooting your own horn (of course don't be obnoxious either.  That could be another post).


So, where am I going with all this?  While it's crucial to know your unique value, you also have to be prepared for some classic (and unoriginal) questions that will be hurled your way.  As a former recruiter, I've heard of interviews that went south because the most basic questions were poorly or inappropriately answered.  The question in question is, "why are you interested in this position"?  I have typically heard, "I'm interested in this position because it's an opportunity to learn a new skill and I enjoy learning."  No one ever got hired because they enjoy learning.  They get hired because of what they can bring to the table from day one with the transferrable skills they have developed.  Of course it's important to be interested in learning.  You don't keep your job or get promoted if you don't learn.  But it's not enough reason for a potential employer to hire you.

The next time you're asked the obligatory question, "why are you interested in this position"? the answer that's likely to impress is, "this position seems to be aligned with my capabilities and it gives me opportunity to utilize the skills I've developed in an impactful way."

No one ever said the interview process was easy but it's less likely to be intimidating the better you're prepared.

"Fortune favors the prepared mind."
- Louis Pasteur

"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

Make Your Career Goals Work For You

If you're like me (and millions of others), ringing in a new year brings mixed emotions.  I've always felt a sense of sadness and could never put my finger on why I felt that way.  Nonetheless, the feeling of melancholy taps me on the shoulder every January 1st  and hangs with me for the entire day.  Do these feelings sound somewhat familiar?

For many of us, the new year represents a second chance, a new beginning, renewed energy and an opportunity to look at life through a different lens.  We tend to get caught up on our own expectations that we often miss the pleasure of the dream, aspiration or goal we set for ourselves.  If we stop dreaming or striving, parts of us dry up and die.  As a coach, I believe working toward a goal (and reaching it) is life affirming and can put a person on the path to a more joyful and fulfilling life.

Working on goals can be very challenging but extremely rewarding with the right attitude.  So enjoy the ride with all it's bumps and setbacks, keep your eyes on the intention, rejoice in the smallest of your successes and share them with those who care about you.   No matter how small, do something every day to get a little closer toward your goal.  After all, Rome wasn't built in a day (who said that?).


"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you've imagined!"
~ Henry David Thoreau ~

"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

PS - To learn about my coaching program on how to set goals and ACHIEVE them, contact me at lrcareercoach@gmail.com.

Time To Leave Your Job If....

Have you found yourself running out of excuses when calling in sick because you've used up all the believable ones already?  Do you feel dread on Friday that you have to go back to work on Monday only to sit near a colleague you can't stand and a boss who is unappreciative and demeaning?  Does putting in another day at the office feel worse than having a tooth pulled?  Do you feel depressed, angry or sad a lot of the time?

If you "suffer" from any of these feelings, it might be time to think about dusting off the 'ole resume, buying a new interview suit and hitting the pavement for a new job.  There's nothing worse than being in a job where you are unfulfilled, unchallenged, underpaid, overqualified, undervalued, etc. etc.  Got the point?  I'm not saying you should go out and just quit your job without a safety net, particularly in this shaky economy.  What I am saying is that being in a place that has such negative impact, ultimately takes it's toll on your entire life (not to mention the people around you).

If you can relate to any of this, you might want to see what options are open to you.  Keep your job while you take your time to explore new opportunities.  While it may feel scary to start all over, it's a whole lot scarier being in work hell.

"How can I think outside the box when I work inside a cube?"
~ Quote seen on coffee mugs


"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you're out of work or jumpstarting your career and need some helpful pointers on "Staying Positive While Looking For Work", tune in (live streaming) to the October 17, 2012 Couplespeak Relationship Forum Blog Talk Radio Show (www.blogtalkradio.com/susanlager).  There are plenty of tips that can help you get through the challenges of job hunting.

How To Answer A Tough Interview Question

If you've been interviewing for a job, more than likely you've discovered it can be a hair raising experience.  It feels like a giant test that you had better pass.  In some ways, the interview is a test.  So, you have to be prepared.

One of the toughest interview questions you have to be prepared to answer is, "What is your biggest weakness?"  Everyone dreads this question.  No one likes talking about something that makes them look vulnerable, particularly in a job interview!  The best way to approach this question is to turn your "weakness" into a strength.  Here are some examples:

~ I'm intense and find it hard to let go of my work at times

~ I'm tough on myself - I'm a perfectionist

~ I tend to overanalyze/overthink things

~ I take my work home with me

~ I have high expectations 

These so-called "weaknesses" are really in favor of an employer.  No one ever got fired because they worked too hard at their job.  See my point?  Chose your words wisely to put a positive spin on your weaknesses.

"All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind."

~ kahlil Gibran

"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you'd like to enhance your interview skills, please contact me at lrcareercoach@gmail.com to learn about the program I'm offering, "How To Ace The Interview".