Your contact list (your ‘circle of influence’ as I like to call it) is worth far more than gold and should be treated as such. By nurturing and building these relationships you’ll be able to tap into numerous opportunities about which you may otherwise never have found out.

Adopting an approach of regularly sharing relevant information and supporting your circle of influence should create an environment of reciprocity so that when you need to seek support your contacts will be far more open to supporting you. It’s a win-win situation. 

If you’re still unsure of the best way to cultivate your growing circle of influence, below are 5 tips that I recently shared on Twitter on how you can keep in contact with your connections in order to develop in positive and professional relationships.

Tip One: @annemariecross What have you done for yr network today? Send someone an article they’d be interested in and that will support them in achieving their goal.

Read a newsletter, article or online report that you know would be of benefit to one (or more) of your connections? Send them a copy of the article to support them in achieving their goal.

You many like to include a short note to demonstrate that you’ve been thinking about them and that you are genuinely interested in seeing them achieve whatever they are working on.

Tip Two: @annemariecross What have you done for yr network today? Volunteer to help out at an event. Your contact will be very grateful for the support.

Supporting your contacts by volunteering at their cause or event is a great way to strengthen a relationship. Extending a hand of friendship in any way, large or small, is certainly a wonderful gesture and one I’m sure will be greatly appreciated.

Additional benefits of volunteering include the ongoing expansion and development of your skills and knowledge base, while meeting additional people who can also become part of your network.

Tip Three: @annemariecross What have u done for yr network today? Make contact with someone & invite them for a coffee & chat – just because you can.

Life and work often get so busy that we HAVE to make the time to just sit back and ‘smell the roses’.

Similarly, with your circle of influence, the contact you have with them does not necessarily need to be ‘work’ focussed all the time. Inviting someone out to coffee and a chat is a fantastic way to strengthen your relationship without having that corporate-like approach. Remember, people recommend and/or do business with people they know, like and trust. Aim to build relationships that are founded on integrity and trust. 

Tip Four: @annemariecross What have u done for yr network today? Send a card or tell someone how much you appreciate them for their ongoing support.

Receiving a card, a phone call or note from someone who is showing their appreciation is a gesture that I’m sure all of us appreciate. So why not do the same for people in your network.

Has someone helped you out of a bind; sent you information that has been helpful in your job search/career; or has just been there for you no matter what? Reach out to them today and let them know you are grateful for their help and support

Tip Five: @annemariecross Building your network? Find out the interests of one of yr connections & ask them about this next time you meet.

I’m sure all of you have one activity – a hobby or interest about which you are very passionate. So how impressed would you be if one of your connections asked you how about this and whether you’d had a recent opportunity to immerse yourself in this area? I know I would be!

As the tweet post states, find out about the interests of your connections and make a note of it on your network database so the next time you know that person is going to attend a networking event, you’ll be able to ask them about it. A great icebreaker and a way to build rapport while strengthening your relationship.

So which of the five tips will you be implementing this week? My coach’s challenge for you this fortnight is to pick a minimum of two, and implement these with at least three of your contacts.

Annemarie

After initial introductions and the ensuing handshake he commented “I’m really sorry to take up your valuable time. I know you must think I’m a nuisance, and I don’t mean to be such a bother.” Even his body language indicated a serious lack self confidence, which was really saddened me. I could just imagine him repeating this comment at a networking meeting or worse yet, at an interview.

Whether you are representing yourself at a network meeting, an interview or even just having a coffee with a network contact – it is vital to portray a professional and successful image.

Unfortunately this person did not realise that the message he was conveying, could be viewed as negative or weak by some people, and by projecting anything less than his absolute best could harm his reputation.

To avoid becoming a casualty of communication catastrophe and undermining yourself and your abilities try some of the tips provided below:

• Avoid using weak and ineffective communication when promoting your ideas such as “You probably won’t like this idea but how about…” or “I’m probably way off track but …” Instead use strong communication when presenting your ideas; if you don’t believe in what you are saying or what you stand for, how can you expect others to?
• Emulate the physical ‘presence’ and mannerisms of self-assured and confident people. Stand tall with your head held high. Use a firm (although not hand crushing) handshake, smile, and remember to speak clearly and maintain eye contact with the person to whom you are communicating with. 
• Don’t beat yourself up if you make a mistake, but rather view it as an opportunity for continued learning and personal development. Everyone makes mistakes, but it is in the way you learn from these and pick yourself up that makes all the difference. One of my favourite quotations is ‘There is no failure, only feedback.’ So, if a situation did not deliver the outcome as planned, review it and understand how you can improve on it, so that next time you are in a similar situation you can achieve a better result.
• Learn to accept congratulatory praise and compliments and don’t lessen the impact of your achievements by saying “Oh it was nothing really.” Be proud of what you have accomplished! Instead say ‘Thank you!’ to demonstrate your gratitude for being acknowledged.
• Avoid using negative comments about yourself or your skills as this not only projects a poor self-image, but does little to enhance your self-esteem. Stop feeding your negative self-image by diminishing your skills and abilities, but rather be proud of who you are and what you have to offer.
• Don’t portray or describe yourself as a victim when faced with a problem. Rather, take on a proactive demeanour by demonstrating your ability to face challenges head on, even if that means asking for support from those around you.

Remember, how we interact and communicate with people around us and with ourselves (through internal communication/thoughts) can significantly impact how we are perceived. Ensure you are perceived in a positive and professional way by adopting some of the above tips!

By the way you’ll be pleased to know that after spending some time with the person I mentioned earlier, we were able to work on his marketing documentation as well as his communication and presentation style. He’s having far more positive results within this job search, which is pleasing to hear.

If you feel like you could be jeopardising your (online and offline) networking and interviewing efforts by not projecting a professional persona, then come and listen in to our upcoming radio show ‘Help! I need a job’. We’ll be sharing important online and offline networking communication strategies to help you win that job.

Dear Annemarie

Do you have any suggestions how I could make a career change over to a Research Analyst role, or incorporate it with my 10 years Information Technology experience?

- Marleen G.

Dear Marleen,

Whenever considering a career change, one strategy I like to adopt is the principle of ‘starting with the end in mind’. This involves finding out specifically what your target role entails, the [minimum] qualifications required, the person specifications/characteristics, any other helpful information and then planning out the steps you need to take to get you there.

In your research it’s important to find out whether:

• you need to undergo further professional development and if so what is recommended;
• does this require extensive study or could you complete shorter courses to build on your existing knowledge, qualifications and experience?
• there is necessary demand and opportunities in this field; and
• you have the qualities, characteristics and talents hirers will be looking for

Gather further information about the role and industries by sourcing people already working in the role and conducting informational interviews. Also consider:

• Speaking to lecturers/tutors teaching courses in this field; or educational institutions who should be able to provide further information and/or additional people/organisations you could speak to;
• Seeking professional organisation’s (that Research Analysts are members of) and consider adding them to your network. They will certainly be able to provide you with further information and possible contacts.

Once you have an understanding of what is required then you can map out a plan of action steps you need to take to get you to your ultimate goal of becoming a Research Analyst.

All the very best, Drop me a line at info@a-e-c.com.au and let me know how you go.

Annemarie

This fortnight’s question comes from Moira, when she asks

Dear Annemarie

I am in IT and have been for 10 years and have been a Project Manager for the last 5 years. I have known for a long time this was actually not my vocation and I needed to be in a position where I am working with people, in a team and helping people on a daily basis. I have finally made my mind up to do something about it this year and am trying to move to a role in social care work. I would like to secure a role on a scheme or project working with the elderly / vulnerable adults where I can play my part in bringing about a real difference and raise the profile of services available and bring about efficiency and effectiveness.

– Moira.

Hi Moira,

Building up your skills in your ‘preferred’ job is certainly a recommended move, so well done! This information can be used within your resume to demonstrate relevant transferable skills and abilities and more importantly your achievements and successes. How you have contributed and made a difference within your work is extremely important so should be highlighted within your resume. And, the resume (generally a job seeker’s most powerful and influential marketing tool) is often where the issue lies.

My initial question to you would be: [click here to read more]

All the very best, Drop me a line at info@a-e-c.com.au and let me know how you go.

Annemarie

Mobile post sent by AnnemarieCross using Utterli.  Replies.  mp3 ]]> http://career-coach.com.au/blog/discovering-your-personal-brand/feed 0 http://career-coach.com.au/blog/how-do-i-address-career-breaks-in-my-resume http://career-coach.com.au/blog/how-do-i-address-career-breaks-in-my-resume#comments Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:44:20 +0000 Annemarie Cross http://career-coach.com.au/blog/?p=304 This fortnight’s question comes from Susanne, when she asks:

Dear Annemarie

Due to family-related circumstances I had to give up my job some 18 months ago and am now looking at re-entering the workforce. Is it proper to put on a resume "Sabbatical" or should it be explained more?

– Susanne.

Dear Susanne,

An important point to remember is that your resume is a marketing document with the sole purpose of promoting your skills, achievements and overall value you offer an organisation. A resume is not so much a chronological history that has to account for each and every movement you have made in and out of your career.

So in your case Susanne, I would not dwell so much on the issue of your ‘career break’ but rather on developing a powerful, results-driven resume that communicates your expertise, qualifications and contributions within the workplace, specific to the role for which you are applying. Concentrating on these areas should detract the reader’s attention away from your short career break, while understanding exactly what it is you are offering their organisation.

Your aim is to demonstrate not only how you can fit into the role, but also how you can contribute to the organisation’s ongoing success. I’m sure you have heard the phrase “sell it … don’t tell it” when developing your resume. However not only is the wording and content imperative, but also the way in which your document is formatted and presented. Strategic advertising concepts can also be used within resume writing, successfully detracting the reader’s attention away from your short career break by highlighting your expertise and therefore catapulting your candidacy to the top of the pile.

If you’d like to try your hand at developing your own resume, step-by-step instructions on how to develop a powerful marketing document are outlined in our Powerful Resume e-course.

All the very best, Drop me a line at info@a-e-c.com.au and let me know how you go.

Annemarie

Mobile post sent by AnnemarieCross using Utterli.  Replies.  mp3 ]]> http://career-coach.com.au/blog/informational-interviewing-secure-your-success/feed 0 http://career-coach.com.au/blog/interviews-how-do-i-tackle-illegal-interview-questions http://career-coach.com.au/blog/interviews-how-do-i-tackle-illegal-interview-questions#comments Fri, 10 Apr 2009 06:24:08 +0000 Annemarie Cross http://career-coach.com.au/blog/?p=299 This fortnight’s question comes from Sharon, when she asks:

Dear Annemarie

During a few recent interviews, I have been asked ‘inappropriate’ questions by interviewers about children and my age. I thought these types of questions were illegal?

– Sharon.

Dear Sharon,

Unfortunately, I’d have to say that quite a few of our subscribers have been asked inappropriate questions, namely women, around age and children.

Funnily enough, the ‘age’ question stretches from younger women through to more mature aged women. I had one woman contact me a few weeks ago, furious that a recruitment agent had contacted her and after the initial introductions etc, one of the first questions was about her age. The recruiter sounded extremely young on the telephone and the candidate was quite shocked by the question and asked the recruiter what relevance her age had to her being able to perform the functions of the role properly. Of course the recruiter couldn’t answer the question and as you can guess, the candidate had no further contact.

As you may be aware, here in Australia you cannot discriminate against so many things, including religion, age, gender, political affiliation – and the list goes on. A company/recruiter needs to be extremely careful about what they state in advertising the role right through to interviewing the candidate. So if a company needs to find out pertinent information from a candidate, it’s how they frame and structure the question that can make a huge difference.

Several months ago I was working with a client who worked in the construction industry as a Workcare/OH&S Safety Inspector. Now that industry is a male dominated industry to say the least, however she had far more experience and qualifications than many of her male counterparts. So we put together a strong case right from the outset. We knew that the interview panel would probably have concerns about her working within this industry (which can get pretty rough and tough) so rather than leaving this potential concern unspoken and leaving any doubts and concerns in the minds of the interviewers, she brought this discussion to the table herself and presented examples and situations of how she (as a woman) had handled herself, even in the thick of confrontations with angry construction workers etc, and how she had continued to make significant contributions in the industry. Bringing this out openly was a strategic move on her behalf and the fact that she was a woman no longer was an issue.

Perhaps her story may provide some insights on how you could approach this situation?

All the very best Sharon. Drop me a line at info@a-e-c.com.au and let me know how you go.

Annemarie

Hi Annemarie

After a recent retrenchment (from a job I didn’t really like so it’s great timing really), how do I go about finding out what the ideal career is for me? I have no idea where to start.

– Penelope

Hi Penelope,

I’m sorry to hear about your retrenchment. Taking the opportunity to consider your future career options is a very good strategy as studies have proven that people perform at much higher levels (and feel quite motivated and fulfilled within themselves) in comparison to people who are working in jobs they dislike.

There are a number of things you will want to consider when discovering your ideal career. Assuming that you have had a number of jobs or work experience throughout your career, ask yourself:

Q: What specifically did you not enjoy about your previous role?

Generating a specific list of the tasks and functions you didn’t enjoy in your last job will provide you with a good checklist of tasks to avoid as you consider your options. So many people I work with say they dislike their jobs, however when asking the above question and getting really specific about it, uncover that only a few certain areas of their job were disliked, or the environment/setting rather than the entire industry or role itself.

Q: What was it specifically about these roles that you have enjoyed and could see yourself doing in future roles?

Quite often clients disregard their previous roles although it may not necessarily have been the job in its entirety that they did not enjoy, but rather certain elements (such as a specific activity, the work environment, selected colleagues etc).

Q: What are you particularly good at?

What are your skills and strengths? What comes naturally to you? And, more importantly, would you like to use these skills and strengths within your future role?

There may be skills that you would enjoy performing, however that you are not necessary skilled at, so therefore this would be something that you could put on your Career Action Plan as a possible future Professional Development opportunity.

Q: What are you interested in?

For instance, in our Career Directions Program, participants are provided with six General Occupational Themes and are ranked according to the selections they make during the assessments.

Here are two of the General Occupational Themes:

The Realistic occupational theme’s interests involve working with machinery, computer networks, athletics and working outdoors. Some jobs may include Landscape/Grounds Manager, Horticulturist, Mechanic, IT/Network Administrator and the list goes on.

The Conventional occupational theme’s interests involve organisation, managing data, accounting, investing or working with information systems. Some jobs may include Financial Analysis, Accountant, Bookkeeper, Administrative Assistant and the list goes on.

Q: What are your career values?

This is something not many people consider when thinking about their careers, and is possibly the most important element, because generally when someone is no longer happy in their role, it means that one or more of their career values is not being met.

Values could include: accuracy, imagination, risk-taking, status, competition, influence, service to others, stability, efficiency, practicality, and the list goes on. What’s important to you in terms of your career values, Penelope?

I hope this has given you some idea of how to get started with your career exploration. If you would like support in discovering your ideal career I can highly recommend our Career Directions Program or our Purposeful Careers Program. All the very best, Penelope.

Drop me a line at info@a-e-c.com.au and let me know how you go.

Annemarie