Friday, January 22, 2016

Congratulations! You didn’t quit yet.

Woohoo! 

It's awesome that you're still with me! Well done, kids. Remember our numbers game? 71% of people have given up on their resolutions by now. Aww. We feel sad for them, but while they are cozying up next to a fire with hot toddies, (I know, I know - I'd like one too.) we are still out trudging our fifteen miles uphill through the snow. Queue the old man "back in my day" voice. We are still striving to be part of the extra mile club. Read that again, I said "extra" mile club. That teeny weeny percentage of people out there who actually achieve their resolution goals. #LikeABoss

Your mission - if you had chosen to accept - was to start brainstorming as the first step of the career change process. Some of those thoughts were:  What do I really enjoy? What do I want to achieve? Do I have a current resume? What kinds of companies might I be of value to?.

Today let's focus on & disrupt the way you think about resumes, your internet footprint & job opportunities. 

On Resumes -
  • No one yearns to write their resume. In spite of mountains of text, your "Je Ne Sais Quois" is no where near brightly enough illuminated. It's tough to harness your career essence in writing, but you've got to do it. You wouldn't wear all black in a sea of goth clad people if you are trying to stand out, right? No, you'd represent in something more vibrant. 
  • Re-imagine this as a career sales document. You are trying to sell your future employer on  your enthusiasm, achievements, skill set. Ensure that you highlight particular points that will be appealing to a specific organization. Ex. If you seeking an inventory control role, but your resume barely speaks to it - you are wasting not only the employers, but your time and an opportunity. Remember, it's the job of your resume to highlight why you are a difference maker and connect the dots as to how you might make a difference for them.  
  • If you are struggling, seek out a service for assistance. I promise the ROI will be way better than your monthly Starbucks investment. 
Your Internet Footprint -
  • Unless you've lived under a rock for the last 10 years, you have one. Whether you know it or not. When is the last time you googled or binged yourself? You may not want to see, but you should know what it looks like out there. Your social media identity highlighting all those super fun ladies nights in college may not align with the professional you are today. Ladders has some great advice on maintaining a squeak-clean online identity here
  • Don't believe me? According to an survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reported by Hunt Scanlon more than one-third of companies have rejected job candidates due to concerns about public social media or other results located in on-line searches. 84% of organizations recruit via social media. Unless the Big Bang part 2 happens, I'm going to go out on a limb and say I think these numbers will continue to rise. 
Job Opportunities - 
  • While it's great to look at job postings for a gut check on what's out there, allow me to offer another perspective. Focus more on what companies you want to work for. The same job will feel very different from one company to the next, pending culture, etc. You don't necessarily need to apply for a posted job to gain employment at a new organization
  • That's where I come in! Leveraging my contacts, I can serve as your career agent to market you to the companies you really want to work for instead of merely accepting an available job. Companies may create roles for candidates with the most desirable skill sets in their respective fields vs. allowing their competitors to gain MVPs. Together, we can get you to the organization that will feel like home and propel you to the next level of your career.

Stay tuned for next week’s installment of the next step in your career change process. Remember, I’m committed to success in 2016 right along with you. #YouGotThis

In the meantime, there’s nothing better than working with good people, so drop me a line!

E-mail: info at connorcaitlin.com  Twitter: @deenasullivancc

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Demolishing your 2016 goals like a boss.

You are now two days into your first work week of the New Year. Congratulations! 

You survived the holiday and potentially your first case of the “Mondays” for 2016. Like most of the United States, you probably set a New Year’s resolution – or 10! Although good intentions are set as well, a whopping 75% of resolution setters will fail or give up by Sunday. Ouch. The University of Scranton concluded that only 8% of us actually achieve New Year’s goals. Let that sink in for a second. No, this isn’t a public service ad. However, I do believe that when you know better you can do better. Perhaps you set a goal to lose weight, spend more time with loved ones, or make the career move you’ve been talking about for years. Whatever your goals are, if you want to go the extra mile (because it’s clearly not crowded) stick with me. I’m committed to being a part of that 8% along with you.

If you’ve tried and failed, there is no judgement. I’ve failed too so I don’t think you’re lazy. Most of the time people fail because they have a lofty goal, but no plan. The unfortunate thing about resolutions, is that they allow you to pick as many destinations as you want but do not require you to think through how you actually get yourself there. As Ben Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”.

Now, let’s talk about how we achieve success.


  • KISS Method. (Keep it Simple Stupid) – While a bucket list is a nice aspiration, it’s essentially a setup for doom. Trying to pull an extreme makeover on yourself will end up having a counter effect of making you feel inadequate or prohibit you from even saying “go”.  Make a list and narrow down to one or two that are top priority.

  • Set a specific/realistic goal. – Something broad or generic will not force you to create a specific plan. A specific goal will require a lot of small steps. That means all you have to do is focus on one little step at a time. Then before you know it, you’ve crossed a mountain!

  • Forget about “New Year’s”!  There are 360 perfectly good decision making days left in 2016. Start today. Make your commitment an everyday affair. Jump into your life with both feet.

  • Have confidence in your own abilities!  First you’ve got to believe you can do it. Visualize success in your head. Remember those little steps? Each one you take is a success – celebrate them!

Let’s say your goal is to progress your career. “Finding a new job” requires a lot of steps. The first one is to start brainstorming: Why do I want to make a change? What do I really enjoy? What do I want to achieve? What kinds of companies might I be of value to? What type of culture works best for me? Should I relocate for a better opportunity? Do I have a current resume? Etc, etc etc.  

Stay tuned for next week’s installment of the next step in your career change process. Remember, I’m committed to success in 2016 right along with you. #YouGotThis

In the meantime, there’s nothing better than working with good people, so drop me a line!

E-mail: info at connorcaitlin.com  Twitter: @deenasullivancc