We’re bracing for 105 degree temperatures this week, like much of the country. And with those temps, we’re praying that air conditioners hold out and black outs don’t happen … which got me to thinking.
 
Thermometers tell the temperature. Thermostats set the temperature. In the first situation, we adapt to our situation. In the second, we control our surroundings. Too often in the Fresno summer heat, I begin getting uncomfortable and forget that I have the power to turn down my thermostat.
 
There are times when it’s useful to adapt (blessed are the flexible, for they will not break!). And yet, all too often we forget that we have the ability to reset the thermostat.
 
If you’re in career transition, start by controlling the basics:
 
·      being able to clearly articulate your value and return-on-investment to employers
·      choosing industries that are experiencing an uptick
·      moving to a region with low unemployment
·      proactively selecting good-fit target companies…learning about their culture &       
       needs
·      upping the number of hours you spend on personal marketing and networking
·      asking for help from people who will give you honest feedback
·      getting an accountability partner in place—you’re 7 times more likely to succeed
       with someone holding you accountable!
·      upping the number of face-to-face or voice-to-voice meetings you have
       each week … and making sure the meetings are with people who have some
       influence in the hiring decision
·      participating in professional associations to increase your visibility
·      doing some volunteer work for people less fortunate than you to keep perspective
·      considering a part-time position to make ends meet or accepting a
       less-than-dream-job temporary position, recognizing that many of these positions
       lead to more when you demonstrate your value over time.
 
And don’t forget to control the basics in your personal life:
 
·      the amount of exercise, rest, and nutrition you give yourself
·      the amount of news media you allow yourself to consume, especially if
       discouraging news is discouraging you
·      the people you surround yourself with, whether positive and uplifting or negative
       and dispiriting.
 

Next time you feel the heat turning up, control your thermostat!

I had an anonymous reader recently criticize me for using the phrase “…NOOB (shorthand in Twitter for newbie)…” in a recent post about getting started on Twitter. He/she said:

“I have to say that your definition of the term “NOOB” actually makes you look like a n00b yourself because it is not, in fact, the Twitter shorthand for newbie – it is the internet shorthand for newbie. It’s a term that’s been around for just shy of a couple decades – much longer than Twitter.”

I stand corrected, and I adjusted the phrasing to now read: “…NOOB (shorthand in Twitter [or other Internet activities such as online gaming] for newbie, as in new user)…”

I appreciate being corrected! =) (Okay, then arises the question of how to spell it: Google it and you’ll find half a dozen options. Although it’s often n00b [those are zeros in the middle], I’m sticking with all CAPS and letters rather than the techie combination of letters and numbers–my editorial urges are much stronger than my engineering instincts!)

It also got me to thinking . . . Aren’t we all NOOBz at some time or another? What if we adopted a perpetual state of NOOB-ness about life–an insatiable curiosity about people and our professions. And, why are we hesitant to classify ourselves as NOOBz?

Here’s one of the main thoughts that the anonymous email seeded in me:

I’d like to stand in defense of the millions of timid, uncertain, and curious out there who are considering dabbling with Twitter (or anything new, for that matter), but are afraid to do so because:

• They don’t want to look foolish, set themselves up for criticism, or admit they don’t know it all
• They don’t have enough confidence about being able to master the  learning curve
• They don’t have (or don’t want to spend) the time to learn something new
• They can’t see the long-term value or return-on-investment for their time

So what does it take to step out and do something new? Here are a few insights:

• Humility: Admit your NOOB-ness: I readily admit I don’t know everything there is to know about Twitter (even though I coauthored a book on the topic!)
• Partnership: Team up with someone–you’re tons more likely to accomplish a task when there’s accountability involved. And, ask for help–that’s what we did on the Twitter book…check out our awesome 100+ contributors! By the way, Twitter is a great place to ask for help!
• Vision: Get clear on what you want from your new endeavor. If there is no payoff, you’ll be hard-pressed to persuade yourself to make the push!
• Permission: Give yourself permission to fail or not learn everything overnight: I often tell myself, “FAIL means From All I Learn” (that’s not original; I wish I knew who to give attribution to!) and “I’m learning more about ________ [fill in the blank] every single day.”
• Commitment: Let’s get real: unless you’re retired, on extended vacation, or perhaps procrastinating on some other project, few people have the time to learn something new. You must decide you’re going to do it, devise a plan, commit to it, and get some momentum going!

So, whether it’s Twitter, some other technology, or perhaps a new career skill that’s important to your future, I stand with you! And I’m celebrating your NOOB-ness, because it means you’re taking risks, stretching, learning, growing, and adding value to your life, as well as those around you.

And, may I challenge you to be on the lookout for someone who may be feeling timid, uncertain, or curious . . . and lend them a hand!

I welcome your thoughts! Why do people hesitate to learn something new? How can we support them? Do you recognize yourself (or your coworkers or clients) in this post?

By Susan Britton Whitcomb (@SusanWhitcomb), Deb Dib (@CEOCoach), and Chandlee Bryan (@chandlee)

Twitter: You’ve heard lots of buzz about it. If you’re new to Twitter, you may have even visited the site, created an account, and dabbled with tweeting. But it wasn’t love at first sight, right?

If you as a career professional, or your clients, are like most people, you’re not alone in wondering, “What’s the point? How can this cacophonous site, crammed with seemingly tangential, disconnected information be anything that can help a job search?”

Keep an open mind. Admittedly, there is a learning curve to Twitter (as there is for all good things); yet you can find value from Day One, whether just dabbling as a NOOB (Twitter shorthand for “newbie”) or committing to becoming a power user.

If your job-search clients (or if you’re reading this as a jobseeker) are in a job search or career-building mode, here are 10 reasons (among dozens) to pay attention to Twitter:

1.  Jobs Are on Twitter.

More than 1 million tweets about job openings go out every month from 7,000+ employers and 7,700+ job channels via TweetMyJOBS.com. Your clients can specify that they want to receive targeted tweets for jobs in, say, the healthcare industry in the Chicago area or accounting jobs in Atlanta. And the notices can come instantly to your client’s mobile phone, giving them the opportunity to apply quickly. This is important because (with today’s 8-to-1 jobseekers-to-jobs ratio) employers are inundated with resumes. Some are even limiting the number of resume submissions they will receive.

• Twitter Tip: Explore www.TweetMyJOBS.com and subscribe to relevant job channels. Or, check out www.TwitterJobSearch.com, which is similar to the Web aggregators Indeed.com and SimplyHired.com. The TwitterJobSearch.com site takes the fire-hose feed of all Twitter tweets and identifies which tweets are job announcements, then aggregates them into its database so you can search by job title, career field, and location.

2.  Recruiters Are on Twitter

The recruiters who are on Twitter are still in the minority (look for that to change!) but they are forward-thinking “early adopters” and they are looking for standout talent. A quick search at www.tweepsearch.com for the word “recruiter” brings up 11,000+ results.

• Twitter Tip: Search sites like www.tweepsearch.com and www.twellow.com for recruiters in your area using keywords such as “recruiter” and “Dallas” (without the “and” and the quotation marks). Another variation would be “recruiter” and “IT” (substitute your industry for IT) since many recruiters are not limited by geographic location. Follow them, engage in conversation, and brandish your brand so they come to recognize you as both a pro and a person.

3.  Employers Are on Twitter.

Any experienced job seeker knows that chasing postings at Monster.com is not enough to find a job. They must use the C.I.O. approach, which means they must target Companies, then Influencers internal and external to those companies, and finally Opportunities that materialize when talking with influencers and networking contacts.

• Twitter Tip: Although you can use the search box on the right panel at your home page or the “Find People” text link at the top of your Twitter home page, you’ll likely have better results using Twitter’s Advanced Search Feature. Unfortunately, it’s not readily findable at the site. Here’s the direct link: http://search.twitter.com/advanced – use it to search for company names and influencers (employees, customers, consultants to the target companies, and so on).

4.  Networking Contacts Are on Twitter.

Networking is the heart and soul of job search. Twitter gives job seekers a new, easy to use venue in which to create relationships that are real and authentic, where they’re sharing both professional and personal information (just make sure the personal information isn’t too personal!). And, most important, Twitter is the first platform that doesn’t require “permission” to follow, friend, link to, or engage another person. Actors and politicians aside, you can be connected to CEOs, influential hiring managers, venture capitalists, and more.

• Twitter Tip: Engage in “agenda-less conversations” with people on Twitter. These conversations lead to trust, which leads to openings for face-to-face conversations, which lead to opportunities to learn about other people’s needs, which leads to openings to talk about how you could solve those needs, which leads to employment. Remember, in job search, the employer is usually “bleeding” somewhere with problems to solve and people to serve; the job seeker is the Band-Aid.

5.  Research Can Be Done on Twitter.

If networking is the heart and soul of the job search, research is akin to the lungs. There must be air to keep the heart pumping. Yes, there are plenty of sites where job seekers can pump up their search by researching target companies and contacts (such as Hoovers, LinkedIn, etc.), but Twitter can give them an inside look at the company’s culture.

• Twitter Tip: Sites like www.tweetfeel.com can give a feel for the positive (or negative) sentiments being expressed about a company, and www.monitter.com can give the inside scoop on what’s being said about the company, its product(s), its people, and more.

6.  Career Brands Are Brandished on Twitter.

Employers don’t hire resumes; they hire people. Beyond the fit of competencies and compensation, they also want good chemistry and cultural fit. Twitter is a great place to convey that. A Twitter handle (username) that is on-brand can create attention, interest, and desire on the part of employers. For example @CIOintheKnow or @VisionMaker or @AdminExpert or @JaneDoeHRpro. On-brand tweets can confirm to hiring managers or recruiters that the job seeker is an “A” candidate. For example, “CIOintheKnow: My insights on latest trends in technology for green construction industry here: http://bit.ly/ex81g” or “AdminExpert: Key tip for time mgmt: ‘Chunk’ time; commit to 10-15 min of uninterrupted time & watch your productivity soar” or “JaneDoeHRpro: RT @SHRM shares top 10 trends for new year: http://bit.ly/7x2hp3 [I see tip #3 as crucial for our healthcare industry]”

• Twitter Tip: On-brand tweets can include personal information. Be mindful to maintain an approximate 75:25 ratio for professional vs. personal tweets. And, make sure those personal tweets aren’t TMI (too much information) or OS (over-shares). Instead, personal tweets might be (again, using our example Twitter accounts above): “CIOintheKnow: Just upgraded to iPhone 4G network; frankly, I notice big difference in speed. What are others finding?” or “VisionMaker: My hi-sch teen is considering college major. Any coaches out there who work w/ this age to identify STRENGTHS and PASSIONS and VALUES.”

7. A Vibrant Careers Community Is on Twitter.

There are hundreds of experienced career coaches, job search strategists, personal branding experts, and resume writers tweeting their insider secrets and deepening relationships amongst colleagues. Job seekers can search for hashtags such as #jobsearch, #resume, #interview, or #personalbranding for career wisdom and advice.

• Twitter Tip: Looking for a list of career colleagues to follow on Twitter? Here’s a quick list of 100, based on contributors to our newest book, The Twitter Job Search Guide: http://tweepml.org/Twitter-Job-Search-Guide/. In addition, here’s a list of career experts on Twitter that Susan has compiled: http://twitter.com/SusanWhitcomb/career-jobsearch-wisdom
  

8. “JobAngels” Are on Twitter.

One hashtag (designated by the # sign) you’ll want to check out is #jobangels. Founded a year ago by Mark Stelzner (@Stelzner), Job Angels is a grass roots volunteer effort where one person helps another person get a job. The result has been that thousands of “one persons” have helped. You can get help, and you can also help someone else.

• Twitter Tip: Enter “#jobangels” (without quotes) in the Twitter search box. You’ll find a wealth of help, job leads, and more. At the same time, think about how you can help someone else. Maybe it’s by making an introduction or passing on a job lead that you think would be appropriate for someone. Or, maybe it’s by retweeting (RT) others or sending a shout-out or #FollowFriday (#ff) recommendation for a jobseeker, networking contact, or target company. You get the picture. Be a blessing!

9. You Can Leverage Other Profiles on Twitter

Do you have an existing online profile somewhere outside of Twitter (big or small)? Use it to springboard into Twitter. If it’s a blog, mention that you’re using Twitter in a post and link to it from your profile and contact pages. If you’re on Facebook use one of the numerous tools available to drag in your Tweets to Facebook. Add it to your email signature, business card, mention it in interviews or guest posts that you might do…. etc. The same applies with any online (or even offline) presence that you have.

• Twitter Tip: Link to your Twitter page and link to it often. For example, “If you’d like to connect with me on Twitter my feed is here: http://www.twitter.com/susanwhitcomb” (substitute your name, of course).

10. SEO Gets Better on Twitter

Tweets are permanently indexed by Google. The good news is it will boost your “Google juice” (results on Google), which is good news when recruiters and prospective employers research you online. The bad news is that everything you say is on permanent record. The Library of Congress is even keeping records!

• Twitter Tip: According to Mashable.com, “the ‘lead-in’ of each tweet appears to be important for SEO as it will determine what appears in the tweet’s title tag when it shows up as a search result on Google. Approximately 42 characters are factored into each tweet’s title tag, including the account name, as well as the initial characters of each tweet. Keep in mind that your full tweet and all its characters are still being indexed by major engines, though.”

There are many other reasons for job seekers to take advantage of Twitter in their job search. If they are unsure, encourage them to choose one of the items in this list and explore it further. And, give them permission to possibly not like Twitter at first. For some, it can feel like moving to a foreign country and learning a new language—there will be some frustrations when they don’t immediately understand all the words or customs, but that will pass.

Stay with Twitter! You’ll seriously broaden your horizons, knowledge, network, and career options!

—

Susan Britton Whitcomb, Chandlee Bryan, and Deb Dib are the coauthors of The Twitter Job Search Guide: Find a Job and Advance Your Career in Just 15 Minutes a Day. Learn more at www.TwitterJobSearchGuide.com or follow the hashtag #TwitterJobSearch on Twitter.

Susan Britton Whitcomb (@SusanWhitcomb), “America’s Career and Life Coach,” has helped thousands of job seekers find the clarity and confidence to claim career success and significance. She has trained hundreds of certified career coaches and authored many best-selling books, including Résumé Magic, Interview Magic, Job Search Magic, 30-Day Job Promotion, and The Christian’s Career Journey.

Chandlee Bryan (@chandlee), president of career management firm Best Fit Forward, is a job search expert and social media evangelist. She has worked as a recruiter, Ivy League career counselor, and consultant to Microsoft.

Deb Dib (@CEOCoach) is a careers industry trend leader, career communications expert, and one of the world’s first Reach Certified Personal Branding Strategists. Known for infusing ROI value into executive branding, she is the trusted, go-to coach for leaders and rising stars who want to land faster, earn more, have fun, and change the world.

Twitter. There’s been lots of buzz about it. Perhaps you even visited the site, created an account, or dabbled with tweeting. Not love at first sight, right? If you’re like most people, you’re not alone in wondering, “What’s the point? How can this cacophonous site—crammed with apparently tangential, disconnected information—possibly help my job search?”

Do keep an open mind! Although Twitter has a learning curve (as is the case with all good things), you can find value from Day One, whether just dabbling as a NOOB (shorthand in Twitter [or other Internet activities such as online gaming] for newbie, as in new user) or committing to becoming a power user. Here are 25 tips to get you started.

1. Lurk First. Sit back and study what’s happening on Twitter before jumping in with both feet. You can do this even before setting up your own Twitter account by going directly to Twitter user’s streams (for example, you can see my Twitter stream at www.twitter.com/susanwhitcomb or my coauthors in The Twitter job Search Guide (JIST, 2010), www.twitter.com/chandlee and www.twitter.com/CEOCoach). You can also visit www.monitter.com and search keywords of interest to you.
2. Think Strategic When Setting Up Your Twitter Account. Many people vacillate between using their own personal name (such as JohnDoe) or profession (such as CFOintheKnow). There are advantages to both, but using your real name can add to your name recognition. If you have a common name that is already taken on Twitter and want to use your name, add a designation that matches your profession, such as JohnDoeCPA or JohnDoeSalesExec.
3. Write an Employer-Focused 160me for Your Twitter Profile. Twitter allows you 160 characters max to describe who you are. Give them a taste of the return-on-investment they’ll receive from hiring you. For example: “Go-to resource for publicity for nonprofits. Earned org’s cover stories in regional mags; PR delivered 10s of thousands in contributions.”
4. Point Employers to More Information. In your profile, include a link to a site where employers can get more information about you, such as www.VisualCV.com or your profile at www.LinkedIn.com.
5. Include a Professional Photo. Leaving off a photo is an invitation for people to dismiss you. Your photo should be as professional as you look when going to an interview—your absolute best. There seems to be a greater sense of connection between followers and followees when each of you can see what the other really looks like. If you use an avatar, be on brand. Some people use avatars rather than a real photo—these sites are great starting points for avatars: www.BigHugeLabs.com and www.SouthParkStudios.com.
6. Don’t Rush to Follow at First. When you follow people on Twitter, it’s likely they will consider following you back. If your history of tweets (your “tweet stream”) isn’t interesting or it’s non-existent, you’ll lose the opportunity to gain new followers. Instead, put out some interesting tweets first.
7. Tweet On-Brand. Tweet primarily about things that relate to your profession. Read news feeds, blogs, and other resources for relevant, fresh content.
8. Set Up Google Alerts for Tweet Content. Go to www.google.com/alerts to set up alerts for industry trends, news on your target companies, and more sent directly to your email. You can then be the first to tweet about it.
9. Use a Third-Party Application (API). Twitter can appear disorganized and confusing. APIs such as www.TweetDeck.com, www.HootSuite.com, and www.Seesmic.com help organize tweets into columns of your choosing, such as those that reference your name, those that contain a relevant hashtag or keyword (such as #forensicaccounting), or a list of followers you are particularly interested in.
10. Follow People Who You Want To Know You. Follow companies on your list of target companies, employees in those companies, potential networking contacts, recruiters, industry leaders, and others who might help connect you to the people with the power to hire.
11. Explore Twitter’s Advanced Search Feature. Search Twitter’s advanced search function at www.search.twitter.com/advanced to search for opportunities (e.g., #jobs #portland #finance) or people.
12. Search Beyond Twitter. Use sites like www.TweepSearch.com, www.Twazzup.com, www.Tweetzi.com, or www.Tweefind.com to find people (e.g., recruiters, finance).
13. Use the 75-25 Rule When Tweeting. When in job-search mode, approximately 75% of your tweets should be professional, while 25% can be more of a personal nature (e.g., “Looking forward to my 25-mile ride through the Blossom Trail this weekend.”). Use discretion with your personal tweets!
14. Tweet, Tweet, Tweet, But Don’t Get Sucked In. Be careful that your time on Twitter is focused and productive. Consider a 15-minute-a-day model where you spend five minutes in the morning, noon, and afternoon. During that time, you might tweet about an interesting industry trend, retweet someone’s tweet that would be interesting to your followers, and send an “at” (@) message to someone based on an intereting comment in their tweet stream.
15. Retweet—The Highest Form of Flattery. Retweet (RT) interesting tweets from your networking contacts. Imagine how impressed a prospective employer might be when he/she sees you retweeting information that will promote the company.
16. Turn Your Twitter Conversations into Phone and Face-to-Face Conversations. You’ll eventually want to shift the conversation from Twitter to a voice conversation or live meeting. Watch for opportunities, and act immediately when they present themselves.
17. Time Your Thank You’s. As you engage people on Twitter, people will recommend you, retweet you, and compliment you. Consider thanking these people at off-times (late in the evening, early in the morning) so they don’t clog your tweet stream.
18. Schedule Your Tweets. In some cases, you’ll want to schedule your tweets in advance if you know you’ll be unable to tweet. www.SocialOomph.com is a free service that will allow you to do that. www.HootSuite.com is another.
19. Go Mobile. Set up mobile alerts so you can stay in touch with Twitter friends while on the road. Tweetie is a favorite iPhone app. Android users can check out www.twidroid.com.
20. Sign up for TweetMyJobs Alerts. Every job seeker, whether a Twitter user or not, should visit www.TweetMyJobs.com to sign up for mobile-phone alerts of jobs relevant to their profession and geographic area. It’s simple and free to jobseekers, and a lot less expensive for employers than some of the traditional job sites such as Monster and CareerBuilder.
21. Use Hashtags. Hashtags, represented by the # sign in front of a word (e.g., #accounting, #finance, #programming, #healthcare), are used on Twitter to help users find all the tweets with that hashtag. Use them religiously! You can find a hashtag directory at www.hashtags.org. Or, simply watch for the hashtags used by your favorite tweeps to get an idea of the latest hashtag lingo.
22. Let Your Followers Know You’re Looking. One savvy jobseeker posted this hashtag-heavy tweet to gain the attention of employers and recruiters: “Looking to leverage my awesome #transportation #trucking #logistics & #supplychain tweeps to find #employment in #Charlotte NC. Suggestions?” Consider tweeting this type of information on a weekly basis.
23. Get Career Advice on Twitter. Follow savvy career coaches and job search strategists for great career tips (such as this list: http://twitter.com/SusanWhitcomb/career-jobsearch-wisdom) or search for hashtags such as #careercoach #resumes #jobsearch #twitterjobsearch.
24. Use Lists to Find People. Check out www.Listorious.com to find lists of people of interest in your target companies or profession. Likewise, check out the lists that other Twitter users have created.
25. Give, Give, Give Before You Go Asking for Help. As in all networking, look for ways to be of help to others before asking them for help. If you start off on Twitter with a tweet that says: “Lost my job. Anybody know of job openings?” You’ll not likely get much help.

Start now. In the words of master networker Harvey Mackay (@harveymackay), “Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty.” It takes several weeks to really get into the swing of things on Twitter… once you do, you’ll discover that Twitter truly is “the barrier buster.” Enjoy!

Recently I had the opportunity to present at The Career Thought Leaders Conference in Baltimore. I experienced many “highs” from the programs presented and especially reveled to be in the company of more than 150 career professionals—all thought leaders in their own rights, doing impressive things for clients, companies, and the communities they serve.

At the conference, I presented a session “From Stuck to Unstoppable” that highlighted some strategies for shifting from stuck, stalled, or spinning your wheels to unstoppable, stress-free, and successful. Here are just a few highlights:

Play the “Blame Game”:

I doubt that anyone reading this is blaming others for their situation, right?! However, if you know of someone who has a tendency to blame other people or circumstances for their “problematic” situation, have them try this:

• Reverse the blame game by pointing fingers at yourself.
• Ask yourself, how have my actions or inactions contributed to my circumstances?
• What can I do to change the circumstances?
• What will I do to change the circumstances? (yes, this question is different than the prior one!)

Note: I am NOT proposing a guilt trip or advocating self-deprecation with this exercise; the goal is simply to find ways that will help shift your thinking from victim to victor.

Be a Control Freak:

You read that right! Be a control freak: control the controllables and sing the theme song, “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me.” Some questions to help shift into control mode and take charge of your time (your most precious commodity):

• What do you need to say “no” to?… “yes” to?
• What do you need to re-prioritize?
• What will happen if you don’t devote time to this?
• How much time will it take you to _____? Where is that time in your schedule?
• When’s the best time of day to do that task?
• How much time are you spending on resume tweaking and/or Internet surfing?

Reframe and Reclaim:

Our limiting beliefs about challenging situations often drive us to a place of fear, frozen with indecision and inaction. If you know of someone who fits the bill, consider this exercise:

• Stand up and find a space in your room where you’ll have room to move a few feet in several directions.
• State your current perspective on the challenging situation.
• If the current perspective were at 12 o’clock on a clock face, step over to the 3 o’clock position.
• State your perspective from the 3 o’clock position by answering the question: What perspective would a trusted advisor or your most faithful advocate have about this situation?
• Step to the 6 o’clock position.
• State your perspective from the 6 o’clock position by answering the question: What is your perspective one year from now where the situation is resolved, and you’re looking back with gratitude and peace about the resolution?
• Step to the 9 o’clock position.
• State your perspective from the 9 o’clock position by answering the question: What does this situation look like from the perspective of the living legacy or eternal impact you want to have on your world?
• Finally, ask yourself, which of these positions will make me the most empowered?

Of course, adopt the position that will allow you to think and take action from a place of perspective and choice.

Interested in the entire presentation that you can deliver to your audience of job seekers or career-minded professionals? It’s just one of the products available for sale (complete with presenter scripts for all 22 slides) as one of my “Done for You” presentations. Just contact Lyndsey@TheAcademies.com for more info!

Have you ever had a “bone marrow” person in your life? Someone who was FIERCELY supportive of you? Someone who saw your potential when you couldn’t? Someone who spoke truth into your life in a way that encouraged and uplifted you?

I am blessed to have several people in my life who fall into that category. One of them is on the edge of passing from this world to her eternal address. She brought huge value to my life:

• When I fell in love with coaching back in 2001 and jumped in with both feet to launch Career Coach Academy before I had finished my foundational coach training, she read every word of my curriculum to make sure it was aligned with International Coach Federation (ICF) competencies.
• She conducted oral evaluations for a number of graduates from Career Coach Academy.
• Prior to turning my many manuscripts in to my publisher JIST, she read countless chapters . . . often with 12-hour turnaround in the middle of the night when deadlines were tight.
• And, of course, she expanded my capacity as a coach.

Here are just a few of my favorite powerful questions I learned through her modeling . . .

• What do you want this to look like in the long-run? (when I had charged ahead with enthusiasm and getting lost in details)
• What will happen if you don’t do this? (when I was wavering in courage!)
• What can you do in the next 7 days that would get you some traction? (when I was in overwhelm)

Who is this bone marrow person? Judy Santos. An ICF Master Certified Coach, founder of the Christian Coaches Network, and masterful teacher who, over the past dozen years, taught thousands of coaches through the Institute for Life Coach Training.

When she learned a few months ago that cancer had returned (after a valiant battle five years ago that earned her a clean bill of health after lung cancer), we had long talks by telephone. Over the course of our 10-year relationship, we had only seen each other three times face-to-face. I told her I’d love to fly up to her home in Bellingham, Washington to “just visit.” Despite a hectic schedule, I took three days a few weeks ago to do just that. It was priceless.

On learning that she took a serious turn for the worse this weekend, a friend asked me, “What would you want to model from her life to honor her?”

My answer: Be an intrepid trailblazer, a trust agent, and a respectful “truth teller.”

She was all of those to me, and more.

Bottom line: As a coach or person of influence, you can honor someone significant to you by modeling his or her most-admired attributes … today! And, if your “significant someones” are still alive, reach out and remind them what you admire most about them or what you appreciate learning from them. Like bone marrow, it will be a life-giving gift.

I recently had the opportunity to renew my certification as a Master Resume Writer (MRW), a designation offered through Career Management Alliance (www.CareerManagementAlliance.com). As part of the process, I submitted a few points on “what I’ve learned in the past two years” about resumes. Here are my insights:

1. Succinct | Bite-Sized | Tweet-Like

Social media and the bombardment of info-overload have caused many people to have the attention span of a lit match. Keeping this in mind, I am shifting my writing toward a more tweet-like style. Indeed, in coauthoring The Twitter Job Search Guide with Chandlee Bryan and Deb Dib, Deb took the lead on two chapters that, I believe, will change the rules of resume writing and cover letters forever. She describes processes for writing a 10-tweet cover letter, a 6-tweet resume profile, and turbocharging your resume with tweets—her ideas are brilliantly simple.

Where possible, I am much more aware of writing one-line accomplishment statements, separated by 6 pts or more of white space, to make it more inviting for readers to want to read, as well as digest the information. The length of my resume paragraphs is also something I’m focusing on shortening. Several years ago, I wouldn’t think too much about a 6-line paragraph. Now, I try to keep them to 3 lines.

Although I’ve been using bulleted paragraphs in cover letters for years, I am now fanatical about making sure cover letters contain them.

2. Integrated Resumes

Twitter cofounder Biz Stone noted, “Twitter is the new resume.” His comment implies that what we write on Twitter, or anywhere online, becomes a piece of our resume. I am advising clients that they need to be aware of this and to strategize an orchestrated plan to integrate their resume with their online identity, making sure that resumes are aligned with data appearing on a LinkedIn profile or other site.

Recruiters can, in some cases, find old versions of a client’s resume online, which may not sync with the current version a client is putting out there. That may impact a writer’s decision about whether to eliminate a problematic or short-term work entry.

In addition, I am adding LinkedIn, Twitter, online portfolio, or other appropriate links into traditional resumes, whether 1) as part of the header, 2) as a “see more information on this project at SlideShare.com,” or 3) as a footer at the bottom of the last page of the resume. I avoid shortened URLs, however, because in some cases they will go away over time.

3. Branding

Branding has made its way into resumes, whether obscurely with brand attributes woven into the summary, or obviously with resume headings such as “Brand Attributes” or “Brand Bio” as part of the resume. Although not every resume submitted in my client samples reflects this, I am much more aware of trying to convey both “hard” and “soft” elements of the client’s brand in the summary section, and in some cases including a brand tagline and colors that match the client’s brand. For example, one of my resume samples submitted used brown type with blue horizontal accent lines, matching the colors the client had used on her Web site.

Relating to branding, I’ve shifted in my choice of fonts, leaning toward sans serif fonts. A few favorites these days are Calibri and Century Gothic.

4. Shorter, in General, with Add-On Pieces

Although I still write 3-page resumes, they are the exception to the rule. When possible, for an executive or senior candidate, I shoot for 2 pages and then include a supplemental piece (or pieces) with a separate title, such as Project Highlights, Technology Initiatives, etc.

5. Mixed Messages, No Hard-n-Fast Rules

In some instances, recruiters are writing that “ugly resumes are the best,” meaning resumes void of formatting have a better chance of being “read” well in databases. While I can see this point, we also know from personal experience, conversations with our colleagues, and discussions with hiring managers and recruiters that a drop-dead gorgeous resume with plenty of visual appeal makes a lasting first impression. That also goes for ASCII resumes. One of my clients reported back that, when walking into an interview, the first thing out of the hiring manager’s mouth was “how’d you get your ASCII resume to look so good . . . I’ve never seen one this clean.”

Resume writers need to be flexible and learn how their clients plan to use their resumes before pronouncing definitive how-tos. In general, I advocate to a) get the resume into a target company’s database; b) have it hand-delivered by internal contacts in the target company to the hiring manager (not HR); and c) send it as a follow-up after meeting with networking contacts.

6. Cover Letters

The submission requirements for renewal of the Master Resume Writer require five cover letters. It was harder for me to readily come up with five resumes that met the submission requires and also included a cover letter! I realized that this is because few of my clients are requesting cover letters these days. My observations as to why include:

• There doesn’t appear to be a standardized process for receiving cover letters on corporate Web sites (some sites have space to upload or paste in a cover letter, others do not).
• Clients are less likely to write a “formal” cover letter when emailing their resumes to others. A simple note (“Looking forward to speaking more about [xyz]. My resume is attached.”) is not uncommon.
• The clients I work with are using their resume as a “leave-behind” rather than a “lead-in.” In other words, they are networking with others to learn about their needs first and, as a follow-up to the networking, sending their resumes.

7. Resumes Are Not Going Away

Articles prophesying the death of the resume seem to surface once every year (and have now for the past five-plus years). I don’t claim to have a crystal ball, but I believe resumes are here to stay. Not too many people get hired these days without having to turn in a resume. They may not be the centerpiece of the job search like they used to be years and years ago (although many job seekers tend to cling to them, hyper-focusing on them as the magic bullet that will allow them to escape the necessity of networking), but resumes continue to remain a vital element in job search. That’s good news for us writers who love our calling!

Have you had potential client prospects ask, “What’s a coach?” or “What does a coach do?” only to respond by freezing up, like the proverbial deer in the headlights? In a recent Certified Career Management Coach course class where we were focusing on marketing, we discussed options for how a coach can respond to these questions. Here are two options:

Option One: Give a definition of coaching.

• Very simple definition: A coach helps you get what you want.
• Longer definition: A coach helps you clarify what will be rewarding and meaningful, as well as increase your capacity, confidence, and courage to take action to achieve those goals.
• The ICF (International Coach Federation) definition: Professional Coaching is an ongoing professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses or organizations.

This first option leaves the prospective client short of experiencing coaching, which is why I suggest this next option as a better alternative.

Option Two: Give a sample taste test of coaching with 7 simple questions.

The second option might sound like this: “Coaching is about helping you get what you want out of your career. However, rather than give you more definitions, how about a sample taste test? [client agrees] For the sake of time, we’ll do this in laser-like fashion. I’ll be asking you a few brief questions, and then you can bullet point your answers.

1. What do you want more of in your career?
2. What would having more of that bring to your life?
3. What are three options for making that happen?
4. Which of those options are you willing to act on?
5. How will you go about that, and when will you do it?
6. How will you hold yourself accountable?
7. What did you learn from this discussion that will increase your confidence and momentum?

Voila. You’ve just experienced coaching.”

The beauty of this second option is that it allows the prospect to experience coaching instead of just get an intellectual definition (which he or she will likely forget).

How the 7-Question Conversation Might Go

Now, here’s how that conversation might sound (note that the coach “dances” with the client in the conversation, adjusting the questions and comments based on the client’s responses):

1. Coach: What do you want more of in your career?
   Coachee: I want more freedom and flexibility with my schedule.
2. Coach: What would having more freedom and flexibility bring to your life?
   Coachee: I’d be able to be home in the afternoon when my teenage twin daughters come home from school.
3. Coach: I hear that longing in your voice… that being there for your daughters is a priority. What are three options for making that happen?
   Coachee: I could quit my job.
   Coach: Got it. What else?
   Coachee: I could find a part-time job or do some consulting.
   Coach: Part-time job and/or consulting. What else? Maybe even something that’s right in front of you that might have been previously overlooked?
   Coachee: I could ask my boss for a flex-time schedule.
4. Coach: Which of those options are you willing to act on?
   Coachee: I think at this point the flex-time schedule makes the most sense.
5. Coach: How will you go about that?
   Coachee: I don’t know. I don’t know of anyone who has done that before. Any suggestions?
   Coach: One resource that’s well respected is a site called WorkOptions.com—it has templates for how to strategically approach your boss for a flex-time schedule. That might be a place to start exploring. What thoughts come up for you about that?
   Coachee: I’d definitely like to look into that.
   Coach: And when will you do that?
   Coachee: This weekend.
   Coach: What might get in the way of making that happen?
   Coachee: My kids are away at a retreat this weekend, so I have tons of time.
6. Coach: Cool, so you’re finding ways to support them while they’re away. Now, how will you hold yourself accountable?
   Coachee: Wow, good question. Could we talk again about this next week. If I know someone is going to ask me if I’ve done something, I’m much more likely to get it done.
7. Coach: That’s great that you know yourself well enough to know what works best. Let’s schedule that call now. Do you have your calendar? [set appointment] … Finally, what did you learn from this discussion that will increase your confidence and momentum?
   Coachee: I guess I learned that it’s important to remember why I want something. It’s really given me more motivation to try harder. I really need to be home more while they’re at this age.
   Coach: Pardon the poetry here… I hear you putting the “why” behind the “try” … to give you the freedom and flexibility to “fly”!
   Coachee: Wow. This has been eye-opening and energizing.
   Coach: That’s what coaching is all about.

If you’re a coach, next time someone asks you what you do, ask them what they want! Everyone can benefit from having a coach!

(Note: I’m teaching only ONE class of Career Coach Academy’s Certified Career Management Coach program in 2010 and there are just three seats left in that class, which starts January 12th. If you’ve been thinking about sharpening your coaching toolkit, learn more here).

I love serendipity and allowing room for “Life” to intersect with best-laid plans. But sometimes I sway too far on the side of serendipity and don’t focus enough on clarifying the things I would like to create and achieve.

With a new year around the corner, I sat down to think about my intentions for 2010 and wrote up my personal list. Then I got to thinking about what a savvy careerist would need to be intentional about to create a career that is radically rewarding . . . here is a suggested list of “Career Intentions for 2010” you might want to adopt or adapt:

1.     Be Intentional: That’s right. #1 on the list requires that you focus on being intentional. It all starts with awareness. What do you need to do to stay focused on your goals and not let the busyness and distractions of life take you off course?

2.     Make Space for Career Management: Like exercise, it won’t happen unless you make space for it. Set aside time, at a minimum once a month, to evaluate where you are with your career plans and what adjustments you might need to make.

3.     Find Out What Your Boss (or Boss To Be) Wants: It’s impossible to experience career success without intersecting your desires with what your employer needs. When is the last time you asked your boss “How can I help you be wildly successful?”

4.     Share with Your Boss What You Want: Frame it in the context of company goals. For example, “Mr. Boss, I’m committed to helping XYZ Company continue on its course of success. Down the road, I see myself _____ [fill in the blank – for example, “contributing in a director role and coordinating new product launches that will allow us to be first-to-market in Web-based widget solutions.”] Then ask, “What would it take to make that happen?”

5.     Leverage & Collaborate with Your Career Community: These days, it takes the cooperation and collaboration of teams to make real progress. Who are the key members of your career community—the people who can help you get where you want in your career? Who needs to be added to that community? How can you reach out to them, learn what they need, and deepen connections?

6.     Know Your Value: Can you identify how you deliver a return-on-investment to your employer? If not, start thinking about how you can make them more money, save them money, solve important problems. This will allow you to become the “hunted” and not a “hunter” of new opportunities.

7.     Know Your Values: Are you honoring your values in your current work? Do you know what your values are? Whether it be the ability to make a significant contribution, work with integrity, take risks, etc., knowing your values and living by them is the one thing you can always control during the day.

8.     Don’t Give Away Your Power: If you’re in a difficult situation, don’t resign yourself to thinking, “I’m stuck. There are no options. This is the way it’s always going to be.” Instead, remember the saying “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me.” There are always options you can take action on, even if it’s only reframing your perspective.

9.     FAIL Forward: A wise soul once said that FAIL stands for “From All I Learn.” Make 2010 a year of learning, even in those places of unmet expectations and disappointments. Ask yourself, “What do I want to learn in this situation that will benefit my career long-term?” Likewise, identify what new skills, competencies, or credentials you want to add to your toolbelt in 2010.

10. Be an S.O.S. Worker: S.O.S. stands for Serve Others Selflessly. I’m not advocating being a doormat or a candidate for abuse. I am advocating that you “find the need and fill it,” without an agenda or expectation of a payback. Trust that it will come to you. Those who persevere, prosper.

Here’s to a year of prosperity!

In a joint video with LinkedIn Co-founder Reid Hoffman and Twitter Co-founder Biz Stone, Biz notes, “People are finding that the persona they create for themselves on the web is part of their resume in many ways.”

Your public persona just became easier to broadcast with the integration of Twitter and LinkedIn. Now you can update your LinkedIn status from your Twitter account, and you can update your Twitter timeline from your LinkedIn account.

The steps for doing so, along with the Hoffman-Stone video interview, are here: http://learn.linkedin.com/twitter

Of course, you need both a Twitter account and LinkedIn account to get started, so if you’ve been hesitant to jump into Twitter, now’s the time.

Tip: When you go to add your existing Twitter account to LinkedIn, you’ll need to sign in to Twitter. Rather than use your Twitter user name (e.g., @SusanWhitcomb) to sign in, use your email address associated with your Twitter account. I discovered it doesn’t work the other way around.

And, what are the advantages for jobseekers? Here are 3 to start:

• You can extend your reach. Many LinkedIn colleagues are not on Twitter. The new integration allows you to increase your visibility with them.
• You can get greater cross-play when posing questions that need answered.
• The new “Company Buzz” feature allows you to track tweets about target companies, products, and people you may be researching and following from your LinkedIn home page.

How well does it work? The jury’s still out for me! When updating my status on LinkedIn and clicking the Twitter “share” button, my update shows in my Twitter stream. However, when adding the hashtags #LI or #in at the end of a Twitter update, the update is not appearing on my LinkedIn status (and from the looks of other people’s Twitter streams, I’m not alone).

Troubleshooting suggestions are welcome!