THIS Week’s Workshop: LinkedIn Task #1…Thursday, September 6th @ 9 AM at The Egg and I

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This week, Thursday, September 6th,  we’ll focus on TASK#1 in your LinkedIn account… Your personal profile.

THIS week Thursday’s Workshop: we meet  at The Egg and I Restaurant in Addison (NW Quadrant of Montfort and Arapaho)… 

Map to The Egg and I

Come prepared to work on your LinkedIn profile… Are you at 100%??  Take this week’s POLL in our LinkedIn Group.

I will be set up by 8:45 to review your LinkedIn Profile if you’d like a quick assessment.  YOUR “follow-up HOMEWORK” is to increase your first level contact list on LinkedIn by TEN NEW individuals… and add ONE NEW GROUP to those you have already chosen.

 Who should attend Thursday’s workshop?

  1. Those who might ask… HOW do I get more benefit from my ‘digital footprint?’
  2. Those seeking a systematic, focused, more predictable way to perform well in their job search;
  3. “Regulars” who need a ‘booster shot.’… and bring a guest;
  4. New Comers and tire kickers… this is a great session to supplement your job search effectiveness with!

NEXT Week’s Workshop: Achieving CareerFIT…Thursday, August 30th@ 9AM at The Egg and I Restaurant (NW Quadrant of Arapaho and Montfort) in Addison

Please SHARE THIS POST with your network.  This week Thursday, August 30th, we will focus on a strategic, more career-oriented, definition of FIT,  answering your questions and concerns at each step of the way… this is a great place to start for new-comers as the other Core Topics will follow in sequence.

A new offering from DFWCareerpilot Please anticipate our return to WEEKLY scheduling starting in September.

Map to The Egg and I THIS WEEK’s Workshop…  Achieving CareerFIT brings focus to those elusive decisions regarding positioning and targeting your efforts.  The first five steps of the 12 step process, from assessment to beginning the evolution of your LinkedIn Profile, will be discussed.

Who should attend?

  1. Those who might ask… What DO I want to do next in my career?
  2. Those seeking a systematic, focused, more predictable way to conduct any career transition, including simple job search;
  3. Those who feel they need a more dynamic way to answer the question, “Tell me about yourself…” THE most asked question during job search!
  4. “Regulars” who need a ‘booster shot.’… and bring a guest;
  5. New Comers and tire kickers… this is a great session with which to kick-off your job search effectiveness!

Tomorrow’s Workshop: WHY Embrace The OTHER Job Market?

Thursday, August 16th, our workshop provides the introduction and overview of our core philosophy:  Embracing the OTHER job market.  As always, we will start at 9 AM and go about 1 1/2 hours…

SHARE THIS POSTING with others…bring a guest.  This is a great place for a new comer to start.

The notion of an “unpublished or hidden” job market is far from new.  However, knowledge of “The OTHER” job market, and your ability to execute your Personal Market Plan in it, will create both focus and productivity in your career transition. 

In the OTHER Job Market, buyers and sellers hold equal responsibility for the recruitment process…

When employers have a need for someone to fulfill a specific role, often the most desired candidates are employed individuals with the credentials they seek. 

Thus the employer must sell their Company to potential employees in the marketplace in order to attract the best of the lot.  Once identified, they simply select their choice and buy their services. In the OTHER market, however, the commodity is productive WORK being assigned to the most qualified individual who ‘fits’ the employers needs. 

Often, this WORK has not been clearly defined yet and the employer has not approved an open job requisition.  Timing is everything in the OTHER job market… meaning that you will probably not get results to brag about in the first day (or week).

Participation in the Other Marketplace of work is most effective when executed as a career strategy, making the whole process a part of what you do within your career… NOT just a job search methodology.

Strategy is the why and what part of your social media activity. Strategy seems abstract and that is why people often go directly to tactics. Tactics feels more like real work. Curb your itch to go for the new shiny tools and make some plans first. Very much like building a house–you shouldn’t buy materials before you have the blueprints of what you want to build.

First get your mindset straight. Using social media means long term commitment. You can’t hack it with a four week blitz. You have to be there for the long haul… Like your PMP, for the rest of your working life.  Your social media strategy and your career strategy are entwined like DNA molecules.

MORE >> EmbracingOTHERMarket-Tech

NEXT WEEK’s Workshop: Embracing The OTHER Job Market…Thursday, August 16th @ 9AM at The Egg and I Restaurant (NW Quadrant of Arapaho and Montfort) in Addison

Please SHARE THIS POST with your network. 

This week Thursday, August 16th, we will overview the entire 12-step process, answering your questions and concerns at each step of the way… this is a great place to start for new-comers as the other Core Topics will follow in sequence.

A new offering from DFWCareerpilot I’ll be re-tooling all the handouts, on the RESOURCES Page (see tab above) to be more centered on the use of technology and social media.

Map to The Egg and I NEXT WEEK’s Workshop…

Who should attend?

  1. Those who might ask… What the heck is the OTHER Job Market?
  2. Those seeking a systematic, focused, more predictable way to conduct any career transition, including simple job search;
  3. “Regulars” who need a ‘booster shot.’… and bring a guest;
  4. New Comers and tire kickers… this is a great session with which to kick-off your job search effectiveness!

This week Thursday is available time for ACCOUNTABILITY PAIRS/ Teams…

Only a couple of more opportunities to take advantage of this FREE offer of my time in facilitating the actual implementation of your Personal Marketing Plans.  Simply call or email me before Wednesday noon to schedule your time slot.

New to DFWCareerpilot, or wanting to ‘kick the tires’ of accountability with a job seeking friend?  This available time is for both ‘regulars’ and new-comers to our Thursday morning group.

The article linked below was written in a job search context and applies to ALL job seekers …

QuintCareer Resource

Simply Click ON the logo above.

THIS WEEK’s Workshop: Money Talk II, POST Offer Negotiation…Thursday, August 2nd @ 9AM at The Egg and I Restaurant (NW Quadrant of Arapaho and Montfort) in Addison

Please SHARE THIS POST with your network. 

What IS your NEXT position WORTH?

While most any working condition of employment and relocation is often negotiable, it is to your advantage to negotiate utilizing the total monetary value of an employed position.

  1. Base Salary… That structured part of total value that is paid to you on a regular and frequent basis.  This is usually the most visible, and emotional, component of the value package, your position worth.
  2. Structured additions to salary, or other actual monies… also paid on a regular and frequent basis.  For example, sales commission or project completion bonuses.  Once paid, it is your to keep.  These first two items are regulated to factor in to 401K Plans, and often drive pension formulae…

     And now “the rules” shift…

  1. Unstructured additions to salary, or any discretionary monies… these payments can be huge or insignificant (a holiday turkey), taxable or not, and come in a wide range of creative descriptions.  They are typically not used in retirement or pension equations– but can be.  Discretionary is the keyword, here.
  2. Benefits… For budget purposes, standard benefits are usually calculated at a fixed percentage of structured salary monies.  Health care, sick pay, short term disability, etc can represent 20-50% or more of structured monies within a position’s worth.
  3. Perks… Payments made on behalf of an employee, before or after taxes.  These are usually non-standard things relative to certain positions, like company cars, country club memberships, special equipment allowances, expense money, etc.
  4. First Year Vacation… While most companies pay vacation money on a very standard timetable, it is paid out of existing budget–usually your structured salary monies.  This makes vacation monies essentially a negotiation giveaway for those who ask.  Using the fairly standard two weeks, that’s roughly 4% of position worth.
  5. Start Date… Yes, start date.  For employed professionals making a career transition, even start date may influence their total value package.  Once again, the drivers are structured monies paid to the employee.

***

This week Thursday, August 2nd, we will overview the entire 12-step process, answering your questions and concerns at each step of the way… this is a great place to start for new-comers as the other Core Topics will follow in sequence.

Map to The Egg and I THIS WEEK’s Workshop…

Who should attend?

  1. Those who might ask… Negotiate an offer in TODAY’s market?
  2. Those seeking a systematic, focused, more predictable way to conduct any career transition, including simple job search;
  3. “Regulars” who need a ‘booster shot.’… and bring a guest;
  4. New Comers and tire kickers… this is a great session with which to kick-off your job search effectiveness!

NEXT WEEK’s Event: Closing The Deal-MONEY TALK…Thursday, August 2nd @ 9AM at The Egg and I Restaurant (NW Quadrant of Arapaho and Montfort) in Addison

Please SHARE THIS POST with your network. 

This week Thursday, July 19th, we will focus on interviewing and MONEY TALK II-POST-Offer Negotiation Approach.  This stuff is worth your practice time in anticipation of that terrific offer you’ll get!

A new offering from DFWCareerpilot Accountability teams active… have YOU identified YOUR partner yet for August 9th?

Map to The Egg and I So, Come prepared to work on YOUR most difficult or challenging questions that you’re asked either on the phone or within actual interviews.

As it is important to be prepared for pre-mature discussion of salary…

“He who mentions money FIRST, loses!”

When an offer is extended to you, you should feel prepared to respond appropriately AND consider optimizing the package offered.

Who should attend?

  1. Those who want to perform more effectively in actual interviews–get to the offer, then optimize it!
  2. Those who might ask… HOW do I optimize any offers I will get?
  3. Those seeking a systematic, focused, more predictable way to conduct any interview and discussion of salary;
  4. “Regulars” who need a ‘booster shot.’… and bring a guest;
  5. New Comers and tire kickers… this is a great session with which to supplement your job search effectiveness!

Accountability Partners… the job seeker’s “buddy system”

A good accountability partner can make a major difference in one’s job search. I have seen many job seekers flounder because they launch their search efforts before they are totally prepared for the unique adventure ahead.  The power of partnering comes in to play when two well prepared job seekers come together to hold each other accountable for the activities and time management involved in productive search efforts.

You can call this coincidence if you want, I did for a while until I saw it happening over and over, and the people using the accountability partner were giving them the credit for their success. Or you could call it peer pressure … but whatever you call the ‘fuel.’ The resultant energy cannot be denied… it works.

From QuintCareers.com, one of The Careerpilot’s favorite online career resource sites…

What do deep sea diving, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and a job search have in common? Success and sometimes even survival depend on using the buddy system.

Most extreme sports enthusiasts agree that having a buddy for support is the key to success; but in a job search, having a fellow job-searcher to network with and for accountability can propel your success.

>>MORE<< from QuintCareer Resource

***

6 Reasons You Need An Accountability Partnership

A partnership can be you and one other person, like how we start at DFWCareerpilot…or it could be a group of 3 or more like minded individuals. We start with each grouping being facilitated by a skilled and experienced facilitator.  Having had a lot of experience with facilitating accountability teams and partnerships over the years, I offer the following reasons why such activity will boost your individual job search efforts…

1) Someone to bounce around ideas with…

It can be productive when you’re stuck and not sure how to proceed on an idea or maybe with a target organization—or an individual you’re having trouble connecting with. 

2) Get that extra push you need at times

Sometimes you just need that extra little push. Maybe you’re stuck on whether or not to move forward on a certain opportunity… or maybe you’re not sure if it’s even ‘the right timing’ to proceed. On a normal day, you would probably hem and haw over what direction to take and spin your wheels but an accountability partner will be there to help you make a decision and get things done.

3) Someone who can be totally honest with you

There are times where you might feel that you are choosing the right course of action, or taking appropriate ‘next steps,’ but you’re really not. In this case, you need someone who will be honest and who feels comfortable telling you like it is, in a nice but firm way.

4) Someone you can stay accountable to

In a typical Accountability Interaction, either by phone (when necessary to stay REGULAR) or in person (preferred) you will follow a set agenda that creates a special bond with your partner(s).

It’s really rewarding to have someone to tell when you have accomplished specific goals and/or tasks. Or on the flip side it’s nice to have someone there if you’re starting to feel overwhelmed and they can bring you back to reality. It’s great to know you have someone there that is counting on you to take action!

5) You drastically increase your productivity

You are focused on the most important tasks and are less likely to be drawn to all the mundane distractions, the “honey-do” list, time away from ‘all the stress,’ out of town visitors and visits—the list seems endless. You will find yourself much more productive, I promise you!

REMINDER: THIS Thursday’s Event: Closing The Deal-MONEY TALK…Thursday, July 19th @ 9AM at The Egg and I Restaurant (NW Quadrant of Arapaho and Montfort) in Addison

Please SHARE THIS POST with your network. 

This week Thursday, July 19th, we will focus on interviewing and MONEY TALK I-Pre-Offer Negotiation Approach.  This stuff is worth your practice time in anticipation of that terrific offer you’ll get!

Map to The Egg and I So, Come prepared to work on YOUR most difficult or challenging questions that you’re asked either on the phone or within actual interviews.

PRE-Offer vs POST Offer…

These two forms of negotiation call for very different skills.   Staying with our context of effective PRE-OFFER Negotiation tactics, let’s utilize the basic guidelines for answering questions effectively, this time relative to the discussion of money…

  1. ANSWER THE QUESTION… The implication, here, is that you have heard and fully understand the nature of the question.  If this is true, simply answer the question in a straight forward, brief manner… and then stop talking!  Often the challenges come in knowing when to stop talking. For example, Q: What was your base salary last year? A: I am quite surprised that you’re ready to talk money so soon.. How can we possibly discuss the right money for the job before we discuss the job requirements?  Could you tell me about… (a context issue)? 
  2. LISTEN FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO INTEGRATE AND CONFIRM YOUR STRENGTHS… Your purpose is to drive home your communication strategy–that set of key words and strengths that define your “message.”  So, when a question is asked that relative to a job related strength, answer the question and confirm the strength by stating a behavioral example.  For example, Q: We need to discuss salary… could you tell me what you were making last year? A: Yes, of course (the answer…now confirms a strength), you must like my proven ability to conduct needs analysis looking at least one year forward in the operational plans.  As you recall, I was able to develop and implement recruitment strategies, unique for each of our operational centers… resulting in 80% cost-per-hire savings. for Johnson Controls… what sort of pay could I expect here at the ABC Company?  Whenever possible, state actions and results as a value add to your purpose.
  3. AT LEAST ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF A QUESTION Before blocking, turning around, or in any other way changing the subject… Salary negotiation, illegal questions and other non-standard questions often call for extraordinary responses.  Stay focused, get results… but never manipulate or deceive with your answer.  Q: How much did you make in base salary last year?  A: Last year?  My former position was worth $ X, but the responsibilities we have discussed seem to be worth a base salary much closer to $ X+… don’t you agree?

What is a position WORTH?

While most any working condition of employment and relocation is often negotiable, it is to your advantage to negotiate utilizing the total monetary value of an employed position.

  1. Base Salary… That structured part of total value that is paid to you on a regular and frequent basis.  This is usually the most visible, and emotional, component of the value package, your position worth.
  2. Structured additions to salary, or other actual monies… also paid on a regular and frequent basis.  For example, sales commission or project completion bonuses.  Once paid, it is your to keep.  These first two items are regulated to factor in to 401K Plans, and often drive pension formulae…

     And now “the rules” shift…

  1. Unstructured additions to salary, or any discretionary monies… these payments can be huge or insignificant (a holiday turkey), taxable or not, and come in a wide range of creative descriptions.  They are typically not used in retirement or pension equations– but can be.  Discretionary is the keyword, here.
  2. Benefits… For budget purposes, standard benefits are usually calculated at a fixed percentage of structured salary monies.  Health care, sick pay, short term disability, etc can represent 20-50% or more of structured monies within a position’s worth.
  3. Perks… Payments made on behalf of an employee, before or after taxes.  These are usually non-standard things relative to certain positions, like company cars, country club memberships, special equipment allowances, expense money, etc.
  4. First Year Vacation… While most companies pay vacation money on a very standard timetable, it is paid out of existing budget–usually your structured salary monies.  This makes vacation monies essentially a negotiation giveaway for those who ask.  Using the fairly standard two weeks, that’s roughly 4% of position worth.
  5. Start Date… Yes, start date.  For employed professionals making a career transition, even start date may influence their total value package.  Once again, the drivers are structured monies paid to the employee.

THIS WEEK’s Event: Closing The Deal-MONEY TALK…Thursday, July 19th @ 9AM at The Egg and I Restaurant (NW Quadrant of Arapaho and Montfort) in Addison

Please SHARE THIS POST with your network. 

This week Thursday, July 19th, we will focus on interviewing and MONEY TALK I-Pre-Offer Negotiation Approach.  This stuff is worth your practice time in anticipation of that terrific offer you’ll get!

A new offering from DFWCareerpilot Accountability teams active… have YOU identified YOUR partner yet for next week?

Map to The Egg and I So, Come prepared to work on YOUR most difficult or challenging questions that you’re asked either on the phone or within actual interviews.

As it is important to be prepared for pre-mature discussion of salary…

“He who mentions money FIRST, loses!”

When an offer is extended to you, you should feel prepared to respond appropriately AND consider optimizing the package offered.

Who should attend?

  1. Those who want to perform more effectively in actual interviews–get to the offer!
  2. Those who might ask… HOW do I optimize any offers I will get?
  3. Those seeking a systematic, focused, more predictable way to conduct any interview and discussion of salary;
  4. “Regulars” who need a ‘booster shot.’… and bring a guest;
  5. New Comers and tire kickers… this is a great session with which to supplement your job search effectiveness!