Finding Your Big Comfy Chair to Career Success – Part 2

June 25, 12:49 PMMinneapolis Career Resiliency ExaminerSteve Beseke

Last week, I highlighted the first two legs of your “Big Comfy Chair to Career Success” – please see previous article. I discussed the important steps of defining your personal brand and the art/science of networking. Now, let's talk about the other two important legs...

As I’ve mentioned in my last article, all of us have career strengths, life passions, unique personality traits and a myriad of talents that help make us successful in our careers and lives.

Sometimes, however, these talents are not always seen by others and believed in by ourselves. Knowing and being comfortable with yourself will empower you to stay career – and life – resilient as you search for your next great opportunity. It also allows you to sit comfortably in your comfy chair with four sturdy and dependable legs.

The last two legs in your chair are: Applying all your job search strategies and continuing your resilience and having fun. In combination with the other two legs I’ve discussed, this comfy chair approach will give you the adaptable and resilient framework to find your individual path to success in your career and, most importantly, life.

The final two legs:

Applying all your rock-solid job search strategies. Posting your resume on Monster, Career Builder and other job search sites is a necessary first step. But please don’t think this will yield nirvana. You also need to create a marketing plan for yourself that includes the best ways to network, your personal branding and marketing statement and additional ways you can achieve success if that right job does not come forward right away - including consulting.

This is where your inner resiliency comes into play. What can you do to keep your name out there for the world to see? Too many of us rely on companies to give us a call after applying. Instead of sitting by the phone hoping, there are several proactive ways to promote yourself and your brand.

A few of my favorite examples:

- Linkedin is a great professional way to promote your skills and keep folks updated through adding connections. The most important way to use this site is to actually network with your connections.
- Set up coffees or lunches with your contacts and continue getting better known by so many folks. If you meet with 20 connections, the key is to ask for introductions to at least two of their contacts. That alone means you will get to know 40 or more new people.
- You can also use the social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, but I feel Linkedin is all about establishing professional connections, instead periodic chit-chat. The important takeaway is to strategically use the sites you feel most comfortable.
- Another example that has kept my name in front of folks is through volunteering. You may think looking for the next great job doesn’t allow you enough time to participate on a city commission, volunteer for your neighborhood or industry association or even help a local group publicize an important topic. Actually, I have found volunteering is an opportunity you cannot afford to stay on the sidelines. My last two full-time nearly $100k positions were found by folks I have volunteered with on a variety of levels. While volunteering with an organization or professional association, you are establishing positive relationships, promoting your brand and letting everyone know your terrific skills/qualities and personal attributes. Also, most companies see your community involvement as showing strong initiative.

Also, when you’ve landed an interview, be prepared with your rock-solid answers to the top 50 interview questions. You should provide a 30-second story for each question and always be prepared beforehand with these vignettes. This way, you are not caught off-guard by a surprise question or two.

There are many web sites that list the top 50 interview questions. One I think is helpful is: Concordia University of Nebraska’s http://www.cune.edu/1030.

One other note on actual interviews: Keep highlighting your personal attributes for the job, and always stay in the present. I’ve been tripped up in the past when I drifted to the future about how great I think this particular job will be. Sticking to the present when interviewing will not allow you to worry about the past or what might be in the future.

A additional resiliency opportunity is to write a blog and/or create a web site highlighting your career sand life talents. Such “out of the box” approaches help demonstrate your abilities. I also have found them a very healthy way to approach life and all its stresses.

- Continuing your resilience and having fun. The last leg to your comfy chair is having fun…really??? Yes, life is serious business and we are judged partly on the success we have in our careers. But healthy life resilience means more than just hitting the pavement and staying focused every minute of your day. It’s also about stepping back and being thankful for all the good in your lives. Your family, your friends, your colleagues…but most importantly yourself.

By any stretch of the imagination, I’ve not always been thankful to be me. In the past, I sometimes think of my negative aspects far more than my positive ones. To curb this, I now try to do one “enjoyable” thing everyday. That might mean reading a good book, stopping by a lake and watch the gentle waves rolling past or just sitting down, or possibly closing my eyes and thinking of our family’s next wonderful vacation – maybe to Hawaii. All of us have different “triggers” that help us move successfully to our fun zones.

Taking a break from promoting your personal brand and finding the next great job is very rewarding. ..and re-energizing. Getting too wrapped up in the moment – even a challenging personal moment – does not allow you to see possibilities for the future. A personal example: I have a physical disability called Cerebral Palsy, which does not allow me to walk normally. Well, recently, I stubbed my toe and fell. I hit my head on a granite floor and went to the emergency room for tests and observation. Instead of feeling lucky I did not hurt myself severely, I was just embarrassed I fell in front of many of my work colleagues.

Then, in the emergency room, I thought of something my father once said, “Don’t worry about the things you can’t control, just enjoy every moment you have on this great Earth.” While I had a bump on my head, his words allowed me to enjoy that I was still alive – and able to walk another day.

This realization helped me sit comfortably in my big comfy chair again and find my fun zone. You, too, can sit easily in your comfy chair by paying attention to its legs and making sure they stay strong. Your personal and constant resolve to keep these legs stay sturdy will help you feel much more confident and ultimately ready to tackle the next great/healthy adventure: Your successful life and career.