Simply Hired Blog

3 Steps to Creating a No-Fear Career

By Robin Fisher Roffer

Trying to foresee or control the future is pointless. With a tough economy, technology advancing every minute, hiring and firing policies changing on a dime, an election looming, and employers continuing to operate from fear, things have never been more uncertain or the challenges so great. 

Where we fall short is in our response – when we look for someone to blame – rather than let go and surrender to what’s happening and manage the chaos one step at a time with grace, and with faith. 

Today we are all being called to move forward in the face of unpredictability and to deal with the here and now. However, not all of us are finding the fortitude to answer the call. Many of us are stuck – longing for a time when things were easier and opportunities just came our way. 

If you are feeling stuck, consumed with that aching feeling of failure or you’re frozen with fear, try these three steps to creating a no-fear career so that you can gain greater recognition, a higher income and more satisfaction.  I call them “The Three A’s.”

Step One: Accept

Instead of pushing yourself and everyone else up against a wall, tune in to the truth of your situation by making a list of every single thing you must accept that you can’t control or change. In my own career I’ve had to walk away from jobs, clients and business ideas that simply were not working out.  Accepting that a certain project or business relationship is going nowhere is progress, not failure. 

Step Two: Adjust

Once you accept the truth of your situation, it’s time to adjust without blame or judgment.  To do so, start by really living in each moment fully -- not in the future or the past.  Then, get into action by mustering the courage to make big changes. 

Why change?  Well, I was recently sent a report from Oxford Economics entitled “Global Talent 2012” by Scott Muff at Bellevue University.  According to the report, to stay competitive in the global marketplace over the next decade, American workers will have to possess four skill sets:

• Digital Skills:  The fast-growing digital economy is increasing the demand for highly skilled technical workers.

• Agile Thinking:  In a period of sustained uncertainty, where economic, political and market conditions can change suddenly, agile thinking and the ability to prepare for multiple scenarios is vital.

• Interpersonal and Communication Skills: HR executives believe that co-creativity and brainstorming skills will be greatly in demand, as will relationship building and teaming skills.

• Global Operating Skills: In a global economy, the ability to manage diverse employees is seen as vastly important over the next five to ten years.

Taking courses to learn one or more of these skills is an adjustment that will be well worth your investment of time and money.  If you possess any of these skills now, make sure to shine a light on them wherever possible. 

Step Three: Access

Moving through uncertainty and demonstrating that agile thinking that’s so prized in the workplace requires stepping out of fear and into faith.  When you quiet your mind and access your highest self, you’ll find the confidence to do the next right thing.  My recommendation is that you don’t do it alone.  Pull in your biggest supporters and co-create a new vision.  When you do, you’ll access that part of you that’s exceptional, generous, forgiving and truthful.

It’s about living big and going deep.  We all have unique qualities, but only some of us live them big. To have a no-fear career, you have to have a clear mission and be able to communicate it to the world.  And you have to practice these three steps consistently.  In this way, you will make fearlessness a habit—ingrained in every action—so you can change with the times and make them your own.

Robin Fisher Roffer, founder and CEO of Big Fish Marketing, is America's leading personal brand strategist for executive level career professionals. She's the best selling author of 3 books including The Fearless Fish Out Of Water: How To Succeed When You're The Only One Like You. 

To learn more and get a No-Fear Career free training, sign-up at: http://bigfishmarketing.com/no-fear-career-training.

3 Ways to Start Your Simply Hired Job Search

One of the best indicators of your future job is your most recent job title. However, you are likely to explore multiple careers in your lifetime. If you come to simplyhired.com and are not sure what to put in the search box, consider using these three tools:

1. Browse Jobs: On the homepage, you should see a list of categories. If you do not see it, clear your recent searches or select browse on the bottom. Click on these categories to launch a search. Alternatively, by selecting the browse job listings at the end of the list, you can explore jobs by: job category, location, company or industry. See purple boxes below for links.
2. Trending Jobs: Simply Hired recently introduced a new trending jobs feature. This can be found on the Simply Hired home page as a ticker. Use this tool to explore up and coming searches. See orange box below.
3. O*NET Search: If you are exploring career paths, you should consider checking out the O*NET site. The O*NET program is the primary source in the U.S. for occupation information and classification. The site offers the opportunity to explore occupations based on categories including bright outlook and gives excellent details regarding the requirements for specific occupations. Whenever you come across an O*NET code you find interesting, you can search for it on the Simply Hired site by putting in the keyword- onet:(insert number here). See the red box below for an example.

Keep Your Job Search Organized

The job hunt can be a long and painful process with lots of paperwork. It is essential to keep organized during your job search. Follow these three tips to help you stay organized:

1. Save jobs of interest: When you find a job of interest on the Simply Hired site, click the save button. It is easier to save the jobs that you are interested in at that moment than to find them later.

 2. Folders: For every application you submit, you should be tailoring your cover letter and resume to the job. Keeping track of all the paperwork can be difficult. The easiest way to handle it is through folders on your computer.

• Start by creating a folder called "Job Search".
• For every application you submit, create a sub folder with the company name.
• In the company specific folder paste your tailored resume, cover letter and a copy of the job description.

Some companies will pull a job description once they have received a large volume of applications. By copying the job description, you are prepared for when they request an interview.

3. Status Tracking: When you submit multiple applications, it is essential to keep a record of the details. We recommend keeping a simple log in a spreadsheet or even on paper. Below is a sample log.

Company Name	Job Title	Submission Date	Contacts	Company research
Example Inc.	Island Caretaker	8/22/12	Ginger Grant Gilligan

As soon as you find a company of interest, write down the company name and job title in your log. Since the majority of hires come from referrals, it is essential to research if you have any contacts at the organization. Make a note of any contacts in the company and reach out to them ASAP.

Before you engage in any interview, you need to have a basic understanding of the company and their values. A lack of knowledge about a company is a red flag for most employers. Include any website links or facts about the company from your research on your log so you can refer to them in future.

By following these tips, you should be prepared when you receive the email or phone call for an interview. Do you have any other job search organization tips? Share them in the comments below.

Thank You Notes are Not Dead

Do post interview thank you notes get read? Is it a complete waste of a job seeker’s time?

The answer is that a thank you note is still an essential part of the interview process. A thank you note:

1. Expresses your interest in the position. During the interview process everything from your tone to word choice should express a sincere interest in working at that organization. However, some of those signals may have been missed by the interviewer or you may have been exhausted by the time you reached the final interview segment. A thank you note is your opportunity to reaffirm your interest in the position.
2. Shows you have manners. Yes, your grandmother was right about manners. They do matter. In the working world after meeting with a customer or partner, it is essential to follow up with them. By sending a thank you note after your interview, it is an indicator that you already have the skills to properly represent an organization.  
3. Can tip the scale in your favor. A few hours in an interview does not provide the insight that working with someone for a few months can provide. For that reason, most interviewers are not 100% certain of which candidate to hire. Often at the end of the process, it is a tossup between the top two candidates. A thank you note can be the tie breaker.

When writing a thank you note:

• Keep it brief. It essential to express your interest in the position. However, that does not mean you need to write an essay on the topic. Limit your note to a few paragraphs. Keep in mind, that interviewing candidates is typically done in addition to an interviewer’s normal work. Be considerate of their time.
• Write a note for each interviewer. It takes more time to write a note for each interviewer. However, it is worth the extra time. Keep in mind that they are likely to see each other notes, so make each note a bit different. To prepare for the note writing, at the end of each interview segment ask the interviewer for their business card (if you do not already have their contact information).
• Clarify your answers. Did you stumble on a question during the interview? A thank you note can be your opportunity to fix that blunder. Use a couple of sentences to give some additional insight into your answer.

Do you have any other tips or questions about thank you notes? Share your thoughts in the comments.     

What to Wear to Your Next Interview

Research proves that 65% of all communication is visual.  What are your clothes saying about your personal brand?

By Robin Fisher Roffer

I’m off to New York this week to land a major piece of business, meet with my agent to deliver my latest book and give a speech to career professionals.  I’m completely prepared to “wow” everyone I’m seeing with the content I’ve created, but without looking the part of “World-Class Brand Strategist,” no one will listen to a word I say. 

To make sure that I’m seen and heard, I carved out a couple of hours on Sunday laying out each outfit – carefully considering my mostly media-savvy audience. I thought about what they would respond to and feel comfortable with.  Then I mixed all the pieces in unexpected ways in keeping with my personal brand.  In the suitcase went a red sleeveless dress with a lightweight long beige jacket, a tailored dark grey Jackie-O type dress cinched with a studded leather obi and funky black jacket.  For casual client dinners, I threw in a pair of skinny jeans and some fun tops to go under the jackets.  Everything went into one small bag so I could carry on.

If I were a guy doing the same business trip, I would have packed two closely cut suits with crisp dress shirts in unexpected colors.  No tie.  I’d make sure that my watch and eyeglasses (if I wore them) were the latest style.  I would be conscious to not look old school or worn.  I’d show up in the NYC relevant and of-the-moment.

If I were in a more conservative field such as finance, politics or law, I would pack two beautifully tailored suits neatly folded between sheets of tissue with tasteful accessories that tell the world, “I’m confident about who I am. I have a unique approach and bold ideas.”    

When getting dressed for a big meeting or interview, it’s important to align with the company culture and visually relate to it with your own unique expression.  It’s also key to think about the part of the world you’ll be in.  For example, when doing business in Los Angeles, I lighten my look and wear high heels.  If I’m in the south, I put on strong colors and statement jewelry.  My goal is always to fit in without blending in.

Why should you go to so much trouble packaging yourself for your next interview with such clear intention?  Because you’re branded the minute you walk in the door, so you never want to give anyone a reason to say “no” based on your appearance.  That’s why when professionals come to me for private career-building workshops; we always go shopping as part of the experience.  In doing so, they create a personal brand that’s authentic inside and out. 

How you dress for an interview should express your professionalism and creative energy – fearlessly communicating your personal brand at-a-glance.   

So… does your dress say schoolteacher when it needs to say business development?  Does your hair say wild child when it needs to say capable executive? Does your computer bag say accountant when it needs to say Web designer?  Are you wearing jeans to interviews when a suit or adding a great jacket would speak volumes about your professionalism?

Research shows that 65% of all communication is visual, so if you are not looking the part you play with your own special flair then you may be running the risk of being forgettable. And, in this tough job market, that is not something you want to be.

Robin Fisher Roffer, founder and CEO of Big Fish Marketing, is America's leading personal brand strategist for executive level career professionals. She's the best selling author of 3 books including The Fearless Fish Out Of Water: How To Succeed When You're The Only One Like You. Discover Robin's secret formula for igniting your career with a personal brand at 8 Steps To Igniting Your Personal Brand.