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TERMINATED FROM YOUR JOB? HOW DO YOU INFORM YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS?

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Negative news is always hard to relay verbally, let alone when the news touches all facets of the family. Being laid off is very emotional and trying on your mental strength and having to speak about it shortly after can be traumatizing.

Portrait of worried young businessman at workplace. Stress concept

However, don’t be like many I have heard about who have hidden their termination from their spouses and others close to them. They have brushed it aside and pretended to go to work each day for weeks after and hung around in a coffee shop all day. Then, return at night as usual as if nothing occurred.

Be smart. Be honest with yourself and others.

Open honest and constructive dialogue with those around you and all who will be impacted by the termination as soon as possible.

Lean on those around you, they can coach and champion you through this and watch as you grow and win.

Conversations will start with an emotional and perhaps tearful interaction with those closest to you and the persons who will be impacted the most. It’s OK to be upset and even angry when searching for answers. Let your frustrations out, it is part of the healing process.

However, be realistic. Once you have passed the initial shock and you are feeling more peaceful, speak with others close to you. Start the interaction by letting them know you have upsetting news to prepare their reactions.

After delivering the message, ask for their support and guidance. You want a team around you to steer you throughout the ups and downs.

Then reach out to your wider community and circle of friends, relatives and acquaintances. Time will prevail individual conversations, so be bold and open and draft an e-mail or text. Brevity is important; don’t go on and on. Say something like this:

Dear friends: I am anxious to share some unfortunate news with you. I was laid off from my work two weeks ago. Yes, it was unexpected; I am in the processing and emotional stages. During the next few days and weeks when the shock has settled, I will figure out my next career move. However, if you want to meet for coffee or something more, my schedule is open!

Stand by for many replies and calls, offers of help and sympathy. It could be overwhelming, depending on the size of your network. But, conversation, whether in-person or via a telephone call, is healthy as it provides the opportunity to air your anger and frustration. People will circle around you and generally let you vent!

The final piece of the puzzle is to share your situation on social media. This is where your extended network will be briefed about your circumstances and the social media population can provide some help and generate leads.

It’s not a sin to have been terminated. Thousands each week are asked to leave for a variety of reasons.

It’s not embarrassing. Be bold, open and honest.

On your LinkedIn profile, in the heading under your picture, tell the world you are in career transition. Write:  “Actively seeking my next challenge when I can transform the business, achieve operational and fiscal excellence.”

Stay positive, remain calm and collected as you embark on a job search. There are opportunities waiting for you.

For a free, no-obligation, no sales pitch resume critique, send your resume via LinkedIn or via email to martin@aneliteresume.com

Career Management on Social Media, 10 Minutes at a Time

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© freebird - Fotolia.com

© freebird – Fotolia.com

First of all, if you’re in career transition, social media should be an integral part of your job search time – upwards of five hours a day. But career management doesn’t stop when you’re gainfully employed, and being busy is no excuse for not staying active on social media.

Whether it’s in between appointments, waiting in line, or a few minutes before or after a meal, you can use mobile apps or focused time at your computer to check in on social media.

LinkedIn

Be furious on LinkedIn and make the most of every minute – the bulk of your social media time should be spent here. Sample 10-minute tasks include:

  • Review who has visited your profile. This could include recruiters, employers, or other key contacts and influencers. Your profile may have come up in a search result or they followed your activity on a post or group discussion. Reach out to ask if there’s anything you can help them with.
  • Elevate your stature as a subject matter expert by sharing a valuable link from an external resource, like Forbes, Inc., or a trusted industry publication. Show that you are someone who brings value.
  • Check your notifications (the numbers that appear on the top right-hand side of the screen). Respond to any direct messages or comments on your posts. Review your invitations and accept ones that fit with your career goals.
  • Browse group discussions and like or comment on other people’s posts. Become a consistent contributor to the group so your name will be recognized by other members.
  • Browse updates from your connections and like or comment.
  • Browse the LinkedIn Pulse news feed and share relevant articles with your network.

Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and other social networking sites

Employ a similar strategy on all the other active and static social networks, though of course each have their own idiosyncrasies. Think in general terms about these types of tasks:

  • Review your notifications and respond to any direct messages or comments on your posts.
  • On Twitter, thank people for RTs (retweets – reposting your update to their network) or MTs (quoting your update and then sharing it).
  • Browse group discussions and add comments or likes.
  • Share valuable resources from external publications (see LinkedIn section above).
  • Add new connections who are aligned with your career goals and brand (particularly on Twitter where anyone can see the list of who you follow – even if they’re not connected with you).
  • Be professional and consistent with your brand messaging.
  • Leave a footprint so people see you’re showing up and being active on the sites.

Social media is a valuable way of staying connected with your existing network, and also shows prospective connections how you can provide value.

 

Career Management Tips for Newcomers to Canada

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© tashatuvango - Fotolia.com

© tashatuvango – Fotolia.com

While Canadians used to be more conservative than Americans in their approach to resumes and career management, today their habits are relatively interchangeable.

Canadian resumes

What people must adapt to the most when coming to Canada from other countries is how bombastic we can be in the way we sell ourselves. Here we are seen as a commodity. Recruiters and employers select based on performance – you continuously deliver, you surpass sales quotas, you drive the business, you’re innovative, etc.

Canadian resumes must tell stories that show how you achieve and deliver those accomplishments. I blend numerous metrics into the STAR resumes I write for clients (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

In North America, you’re in a street race and there’s only a trophy for #1. This is a huge distinction from the rest of the world, particularly Europe, where resumes are much more centered around job descriptions. They don’t tend to differentiate themselves as much as we do. In the UK and Ireland, on the other hand, the traditional CV format is evolving more into our style.

Finding work in Canada

In truth it can be very difficult for immigrants to secure jobs in Canada. Yes, they can secure a resume expert to write a Canadian version of their resume, and they can network tirelessly, but that is only part of the journey.

It’s the classic Catch-22: Canadian employers say they can’t hire you until you have Canadian work experience, but how do you get Canadian work experience if employers won’t hire you?

Often it means taking a job at a lower level than you had in your previous country. A vice-president may become a senior manager, and a senior manager may take a more junior or middle management position.

Be realistic with your goals, and patient with the process. Once you prove yourself, you can move up the ranks again. I’ve seen unbelievable cases of this happening very quickly.

To work in some professions such as medicine and engineering, newcomers require additional schooling and certification, and some simply aren’t willing to go through that. Instead, they take related jobs in other professions.

For example, I’ve known prominent medical professionals who’ve transitioned into academic research and hospital administration with much success. Was it their first choice? No, but they adapt.

The Government of Canada provides career resources for newcomers to Canada, and it would also be wise to engage the services of a career management professional who specializes in helping senior level executives.

3 Simple Ways to Refresh Your Resume

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Resume CategoriesYou never know when a tap on the shoulder is going to come, either in the form of a pink slip or a new career opportunity. In either case, it is imperative that your resume is up to date.

Even while you’re gainfully employed, review your resume regularly, paying particular attention to these three areas:

1. Contact information

Provide a personal phone number (many people make the mistake of leaving this out), mailing address and email address. Never use contact information from your current position. Your current employer doesn’t want you using work time and resources for career management, and prospective employers don’t want to think you’ll be doing that when you work for them.

Also provide links to your profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google+, and your personal blog, website, online portfolio and Skype address. For more tips, see my social media strategies for executives.

2. Personal brand

Be sure your resume reinforces your personal brand. Consider the overall look and feel, font choice and sizes, and the language and tone. Be sure to convey your unique promise of value. What differentiates you from others? What are your special areas of expertise?

Use the same font and heading styles in your resume, cover letter and any other marketing materials. Hint: Sans serif fonts such as Arial or Calibri are easiest to read both on screen and in print.

For more branding tips, see my top five branding mistakes to avoid during a job search.

3. Projective section

This is my own term for the top third of the page, where you seduce the reader to keep reading. It’s a combination of what used to be known as the Profile and Objective sections.

For a compelling Projective section, answer these four questions:

  1. What ONE WORD best describes you? Steer clear of the overused, cliché terms like passionate or driven. Choose a powerful, resonating word that will stand out and be memorable. Then be prepared to defend it in the interview with stories, examples and specific accomplishments.
  2. Describe your leadership style. We all lead differently. How do you make sure things get done? How do you help team members grow and develop? How do you make tough decisions? How do you manage your time and priorities?
  3. Describe your communication style. How do you cope with different personality types? How do you get your own point across while also understanding and accommodating another person’s point of view? How do you manage high-pressure situations?
  4. What are you renowned for? How do others describe you? What stands out most about you? How will hiring you benefit the organization?

By being proactive to update your resume on a regular basis, you’ll always be ready for whatever comes your way. That puts you squarely in charge of managing your own career.

7 Ways to Make the Most of Your First Two Minutes With a New Person

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© lculig - Fotolia.com

© lculig – Fotolia.com

Do you ever find yourself in front of a stranger at a networking group, not really sure what to do next?

While networking events may go on for hours, these first few minutes with any one person are the most important. This is your chance to make a positive first impression and create the foundation for a long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship.

Here are seven things that will get you over your nerves and on to a successful potential partnership.

  1. Start with a good handshake. Firm, without being a bone crusher. You definitely don’t want to be a limpy fish. Look the person in the eye and smile when you shake their hand.
  2. Speak slowly and face the other person. Don’t be looking around the room. They deserve your full attention because you’re trying to build a relationship with them.
  3. Give before you receive. Instead of instantly talking about who you are and what you do, encourage dialogue from the other person. Be inquisitive – nosy even – to ignite a spark that makes them feel comfortable to share more details with you.
  4. Hold back. What you should never do right away is shove your business card or resume into someone’s hands. That is not how to build a relationship.
  5. Be sensitive. Watch for cues from the other person so you don’t take them out of their comfort zone. For example, if someone is more introverted they may prefer to stay in a particular part of the room, or in close proximity to the people they came with. Be aware of personal space.
  6. Inject some humour. This can put yourself and the other person at ease, and can be as simple as a lighthearted comment about the weather. Alternatively, tell a joke if that feels natural to you.
  7. Repeat the person’s name a few times. People love to hear their own name, and it helps you remember it as well. (Hint: If you ever have trouble remembering people’s faces and names, make a few notes on their business card before you move on to meet the next person.)

Practicing these seven tips can improve your confidence and results at networking events. When you make the most of your first two minutes with each new person, those minutes add up and help you grow a stronger network.