Phoenix Career Coaching Blog

Remember those days in science lab when you and your lab partner had to put some poor specimen under the microscope and analyze it.  That’s how most people feel when they are the interview candidate.  Sometimes an interview can feel like our debut on Broadway in a one woman show and all spotlights are shining directly on us in a pitch black theater. Talk about stressed!

However, empowered interview candidates understand that the interview is their opportunity to assess the organization and their potential role within that company.  One of the jobs of a savvy interview candidate is to hone their assessment skills.  These assessment skills can be a powerful tool. Your assessment of the organization begins from the time you hit the front door and continues until the time you depart.

Remember, your interviewer is assessing you.  Since all is fair in love and war and since sometimes finding the right fit feels like a battle, do your reconnaissance and follow your gut.  It usually isn’t wrong.  Use the opportunity to try and assess the organization, the position, as well as the other person that is sitting on the other side of the table.  Afterall, they do represent the organization.  Also as part of your assessment, don’t forget to try and assess the personality type of your interviewer.  Here’s where your instincts and people skills kick in.  No, you are not trying to psychoanalyze this individual, however this strategy can certainly be a helpful tool in trying to gauge the pace of the interview as well as the pace and mindset of the interviewer.

The March 23, 2009 issue of Time Magazine had a cover story by Barbara Kaviat entitled “ Jobs Are The New Assets “ The catchy title caused me to ponder. After reading the quite interesting and engaging article, I thought to myself that if jobs are the new assets – then how exactly do we protect and manage them? The answer that came was ….

We must acknowledge that our careers should be cared, nurtured and up kept – just like we would if we had invested our hard earned money in buying a home. In both our careers and in the home, it’s always easier to maintain a reasonable semblance of stability when we stay on top of our game. A home is easier to manage if it is cleaned and things are repaired & addressed regularly. The same thought is applicable to one’s career/job. A smart career strategist (something we all need to be) understands the value in keeping their skills fresh, current, and relevant to the marketplace and to the employer.

As in many households, seasonal changes prompt a re-evaluation or an assessment of what needs to be tended to and/or spruced up. With spring, comes the garden and the washing of the windows. With summer comes the deck or terrace furniture. Fall brings the raking of the leaves. Winter welcomes the shoveling of the snow and the holiday. Seasonal decorations (plus let’s not forgot all that yummy food!!)

The savvy career strategist / professional should re-evaluate and assess their goals, skill sets and that never ending professional to do list on a quarterly or seasonal basis as well. By doing this, one will find it much easier to stay on top of their game. Employers want people who have inititive, focus and drive to stay current. Especially those of us that are in the 45+ age category. Business today is moving at an incredible pace and it is not going to slow down . If a person wants to protect their career /job, they need to take the quarterly re-evaluation seriously so that they can uncover what needs to be accomplished next in order to keep pace with what the marketplace is demanding.

Finally, any homeowner worth their salt would have a network of repairmen that can be called. The same is true for anyone who wants to stay competitive in this marketplace. Networking is a critical component for today’s workforce. Hence, sites like LinkedIn and Facebook are growing exponentially. In its’ simplest terms, networking is nothing more than the building of relationships. It is these very same relationships that, many times, create or lead to career opportunities.

Taking the steps mentioned above does not guarantee one a job for a lifetime. Those days are gone. However, what is the worse case scenario if one is downsized, despite having done all of the things to manage and protect their asset. Well, to be frank, some things are out of our control. However, if I am going to be forced to join the ranks of millions of people looking for work, I would rather be a cut above the average and be prepared to walk into interviews confident that my skills and knowledge are current and with a clear understanding of how my expertise and experience can address the needs and priorities of the potential employer.

I happened to walk past the TV recently and caught the tail end of a commercial. The tag line was finding true north.  As a Career and Workforce Development Coach, I talk to countless women who are all searching for their true north. The preverbal rug has been pulled out from underneath us and we’re struggling to figure out what’s next. The May 11th issue of Business Week ‘s cover story centers around the fact that the US has 3 .0 Million job openings .

However, there is a divergent gap between the skills that employers are seeking and the skill sets that many of our workers have to offer. As crazy as it may sound , the ‘ reset ‘ period that we are currently in will force us to emerge much stronger . The entrepreneurial wheels are turning for many and new businesses will grow out of this period. From every walk of life , women who have been thinking about going the entrepreneurial route or some combination there of , are now taking a good hard look at their skills and analysiziying what their options are . In many cases their spouses or partners can not find work. In many other cases, women are simply seeking a better sense of work/life balance. Truth be told, it could be any one of a million more reasons why a women would attempt to find her “groove”. All be it in the workforce, in her own business or a hybrid combo situation which is an emerging trend.

Even for those that have a steady paycheck coming in, they find themselves not being able to keep pace with the cost of living. Wages are continually being cut, workers are being furloughed, and employers are leaning down at a staggering rate . In order to survive and flourish, yes I said flourish, we need to become the CEO and Career Strategists of our own LIVES . Once an individual takes on this mindset , miracles happen . The universe starts presenting things and opportunities that one would not have imagined. I’ve encountered this not only in my life but with others as well.

Like any other trip or journey that one might take , it is always best to do some planning. Here are some tips that I pass along :

1. Surrender yourself to the fact that finding your true north takes courage, resiliency, iron in your bones and fire in your belly.
2. Be flexible and open to the options that the universe will present to you.
3. Create a support network of like minded individuals. There has been no greater time than now. There are online support groups, entrepreneurial groups, coaching groups, etc. Support may not always come from family and friends. How wonderful though if it does!! . If it does not , remember the many times people find it hard to support you as you pursue your true north because they most likely have settled and are too scared to go on their own journey .
4. Introspection and assessment time is on – going and critical . Evaluate your skill sets. They are your passport on this journey. Figure out what you are good at, what you like to do, and what is the marketplace demanding.
5. Learn from your mistakes
6. Find a mentor or coach
7. Stay in your lane – do what you are exceptional at – and figure out who to hire , collaborate , or network with in order to fill in the gap(s)
8. Understand that life is a learning process

We have the ability to create the work/life situation that suits us . We may not be able to have all of it at the same time . However, we should take one success or milestone at a time . It does take effort, resources, resourcefulness, the ability the think outside the box, oh and yes ….. VISION.

Here’s to hoping you find your true north.