Don’t Arrange the Furniture Before the Sale is Final

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livingroom-1032733_1280Realtors will tell prospective buyers, “Don’t arrange the furniture before the sale is final”.

As a career coach, I tell my clients the same thing. Let me explain.

What it means, in real estate terms, is never fall so in love with a house that you are mentally arranging your furniture before you own the place.

If you’ve ever searched for a new house or apartment, you understand the feeling you get when you find what appears to be the perfect new home.

It’s fun to think of putting the TV on this wall, artwork over here, the couch over there. Closing your eyes, you imagine all the parties you’ll throw. It’s so exciting to think of your future in the new house!

What harm is there, really, with getting so pumped about a new house?

For one, the deal could fall through. You need to have your game face on and be prepared to walk away. If you’re too caught up in the fantasy, you may end up paying more than you should.

Negotiating a job offer is similar to buying a new house. When we find an opportunity that we think is “the one” we start to “arrange the furniture”.

We envision ourselves in the job, driving to the office, sitting at the desk, engaging in projects and being part of the team. We think so far ahead that we fantasize about paychecks and vacation time. There may even be feelings of relief that the job search is over.

It’s good to be excited about a job opportunity. Yet we need to keep our minds sharp, take a giant step back and remember that we don’t actually have the job yet. Nothing is signed.

Humbling as it is, the company may offer the job to another candidate.

If we do get an offer, things can change and it may not be exactly what we hoped for, or at all like the opportunity first presented to us. We should maintain complete objectivity while negotiating the best possible agreement. And be prepared to walk away in the rare instance that it’s really not right.

When we mentally “arrange the furniture”, becoming so engaged that we see ourselves sitting at the desk, we tend to lose our negotiating edge. We may agree to points that otherwise would give us reason to pause, such as salary or vacation, or even the job responsibilities itself, simply out of fear that we may lose the opportunity if we don’t acquiesce to their demands.

Keep your game face on until the ink is dry and you are happy with the terms of the agreement.

Then – and only then – start arranging the furniture, mentally hanging pictures in your new office.

Is The Job You Interviewed For Right For You?

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How do you know if the job you interview for is right for you? I get asked this question a lot.

The short answer is: you don’t. Without a crystal ball, none of us knows with certainty whether or not a job is the “right” one.

But there are clues we can pick up during the interview process that provide valuable insight.

  • Is the interview process organized?
  • Does HR call you back in a timely manner with information about the decision making process or do they leave you hanging?
  • How about the hiring manager; does he/she seem open and engaging or are they closed off, as if they are reading questions from a script?
  • When observing employees in the office, what is the vibe? Is it general work or is it stress and chaos?
  • Above all, did any of the people you met, especially the hiring manager, set off any alarms? Is the little voice inside your head telling you to heed those alarms; that something isn’t quite right?

One time I made the mistake of not paying attention to the red flags that popped up as I interviewed for a new job.

That little voice inside my head tried to tell me that something was not quite right as I was being wooed and courted with all kinds of promises. Sensing a dark side, I politely turned the job down. Yet their force was stronger and upped the ante with more money. It was an offer that seemed too good to pass up.

Thinking I had totally misread the cues during the interview process, I pushed my inner voice aside and accepted the offer. After all, I could not pinpoint exactly what was wrong with the opportunity. What did I have to lose?

Within the first two weeks I realized my mistake. That little voice inside my head had been right and all of those red flags meant “stop” and take serious notice. No amount of money could make up for the fact that this was not the right fit for me, yet now I was committed.

Ultimately, after staying for awhile, I left the company for something that was a much better match.

Word of caution: Remember, no job is perfect. Do not use your “inner voice” as an excuse to find fault with every interview or job opportunity that comes up.

Back to the original question: How do you know if the job you interview for is a good fit? Again, there are no guarantees. One thing is for certain: listen to your inner voice and look for any red flags.

When it’s right you’ll know it. And when it’s wrong, you’ll know it too.

The Best Cure for the Holiday Hangover. Or, How to Get Back to Work After the Holidays

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girl at computer-1064659_1920The New Year is starting out exactly the same as last year: with a holiday hangover.

You know what I’m talking about. It’s like someone took a giant pin and burst the bubble of fun you’ve been having for the last month. Suddenly there’s a cloud of responsibility looming; nudging us as if to say, “No more fun for you; it’s back to work!”

For just a short time we’ve been able to ignore any career-related issues. Hate your job?  Even the craziest offices settle down as the company holiday party relaxes toxic co-workers. Then your PTO kicks in and suddenly things don’t seem as bad this time of year.

Looking for a job? You tell yourself hiring slows while managers take vacation, you decide to spend this “down” time updating your resume and developing a strategic job search plan that begins on January 1st.

Yes, all will be better after the holidays.

Guess what? The New Year is here. January 1st has come and gone.

Where is the strategic plan you had in mind? How about the updated resume? New business cards?

Did you do anything aside from reveling in time off?

Yep, it’s the holiday hangover. Too much fun; not enough work.

Ironically, despite supposedly being refreshed from taking time away from work and responsibility, it’s hard to get back to our jobs or the work of a job search after the holidays.

The holiday hangover has a firm grip on us.

The best way to get back to work or to your job search after the holidays? Hit it hard, and right away. The more you dive in, the easier it is.

  • Review. What were you working on before the holidays? What do you need to pick up and what can be dropped?
  • Prioritize. Scan email for important “must do now” items. Do not get sucked into trivial tasks that can wait until later.
  • Plan. Make a list of what you want to accomplish, with specific deadlines.
  • Work. Go for it; don’t think about it. I’ve found that once I start working, it’s amazingly easy to get back into the groove. It’s the thinking about it that’s torture.

If all else fails, make plans to meet friends after work or on the weekend to have fun. We all need balance in our lives.

Remember: Review, Prioritize, Plan, Work. It’s the best cure for the Holiday Hangover.

5 Areas to Purge for Success in 2016

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new-years-day-1062608_1280I’m done with New Year’s resolutions. Never have been a fan.

The reason? More often than not, we find ourselves sad at the end of the year when we realize once again we have failed to deliver on our expectations by not sticking to those resolutions (made in a moment of insanity) before the clock struck midnight on December 31st.

So, no resolutions for me.

Something I always commit to is an annual plan, with goals for me and my business including time frames. Using a grease board, I write down my goals for the year, including strategy and tactics for achievement. I’ve found this to be more realistic and I can actually say I’ve achieved my goals. Maybe not every single one, but most of them.

Looking ahead at my goals for 2016, one word comes to mind: Purge.

It’s not so much a word for me as it is a movement towards newness and away from things that are no longer working. To me, “purging” consists of getting rid of unnecessary items, words or thoughts that are standing in the way of my success.

If I’m going to be the best at what I do, then purging those things that are no longer helping me be productive needs to be my number one priority.

Let me share what I’ll be working on; here are 5 areas to “purge” for success in 2016:

  1. Office and desk. I’ll admit I have a love affair with office supplies, especially notebooks and pens. My color-coordinated file folders are great but they need to be in the file drawer, not on top of my desk. As a result, my environment is not conducive to working which makes it tough to stay focused. Purging my desk of extra pens, notebooks and other stuff to help me focus is a top priority.
  2. Habits. Checking email, Facebook, Twitter and a host of other online sites is a habit that’s gotten out of hand. As a marketer, I can argue that all of these are necessary for my work. True, but there’s got to be a limit to when and how much time I allow myself for this. Goal: Purge the “random checking” of these sites and replace the habit with “scheduled” checking to better manage my time.
  3. Email. Thousands of emails clutter my inbox. Simple purge here: set aside a few hours one day to delete all but the most recent emails. Going forward, delete email weekly, if not daily.
  4. Resume. Despite the fact that I revise my resume at least once a year, I still need to purge items that are no longer needed and look for better ways to tell my story. This is an often over-looked task for most people, who rarely review their entire resume, only adding new information at the top as-needed. Yet unnecessary words and/or phrases may actually be harmful to a person during a job search.
  5. Thoughts. Sometimes I am my own worst enemy when it comes to moving forward with a project or idea. In an attempt to understand all sides of the project, I can focus on the negative rather than the positive. I plan to purge these thoughts and replace them with my plan for success.

There are more areas I could purge, yet I want to achieve my goals so I’ll start here. When I achieve these, I’ll add more.

Stuck with what to achieve this year yourself? Feel free to use my word, Purge. Start with your resume and move forward from there. Add your desk, maybe a habit or two; even your email if your inbox is full.

If you get really adventurous, attack your clothes closet. That’s what I plan to do next.

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE DEADLINE

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dec 25 deadline calendar-148598_1280Thought you might enjoy this work-related version of “”Twas the Night Before Christmas”. We can all relate to deadlines!

This is my second year to run this, although as a writer I’m never quite satisfied with my work and I’ve tweaked it a bit since last year.

Not sure what came over me; perhaps I had a few too many candy canes or other holiday treats. 

Wishing you the best this holiday season!

Tami

 

‘Twas the Night Before Deadline

It’s the night before Christmas

And I must confess,

My office is worse than its usual mess.

The desk piled high with all sorts of junk

Files, papers, pens and some unidentified gunk.

My job is creative yet that’s no excuse

For the piles of work that reach to the roof.

Plus Christmas is here! There’s so much to do

Decorating and singing a carol or two.

Who are these clients that want work done this week?

Will they even read email, or must I send Tweets?

So I ponder and think, and work up a sweat

Doing what most creatives do best

Putting off till tomorrow what I could do right away

The deadline can wait just one more day!

Besides, my best work is done under stress

That’s it! I’ll wait till tomorrow when I’m fresh

So I’m off to the mall to visit the Claus

Knowing the shoe racks may cause me to pause

The hustle, the bustle, the music, the fun!

It’s hard to go home when the shopping is done.

I drive past the houses with twinkling lights

Remembering mine is as dark as the night.

And that’s when the all-night decorating begins

Including trees, lights and inflatable snowmen.

I crawl into bed as the sun starts to rise;

Oh no – I forgot my deadline! I cry.

Back to the desk to write something witty.

Can I come up with something more than a ditty?

Will my clients see the humor here, I pray?

It’s Christmas, after all; not just any ol’ day.

Yet the show must go on, the release goes to press,

Despite that my work resembles a mess.

I’m trying to maintain some sort of humor

Happy Holidays to all from a creative Baby Boomer!

Festive Frantic: A New Way to Work During the Holidays

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laundry pile 3The holidays have always been my favorite time of year. Everyone seems to be in a better mood. Places – and people – are more festive, dressed up in their finest. Everywhere you go, there’s an energy that just doesn’t happen during other months.

This year? I’m just not feeling it. I’m going to blame working from home. Honestly, how does one prioritize work and clients amid so many holiday distractions?

My mood might best be described as “Festive Frantic”. Similar to “Festive Casual Attire”, the nightmare clothing category that even retailers have yet to decipher, Festive Frantic is best described as Clark Griswold meets the Grinch meets Martha Stewart.

The movie description reads: A business woman with a passion for Christmas stuck in her undecorated home has an out of body experience as Scrooge.

My home office is hardly the sanctuary needed for working during the holidays. Try as I might, I simply can’t ignore the Christmas distractions happening all around me as I commute from the kitchen to my desk.

I’m convinced that driving through traffic to a “real” office has got to be better right now. At least there might be free treats in the break room.

What? You’re not buying my sob story?

Let me share with you my tale of working amid the holiday distractions that fill my office. A.K.A.”My home”.

  • The tree is upset with me, calling to me from the living room. And rightly so. Poor guy has stood naked for almost two weeks. Friends and relatives visit our home while the Naked Tree stands next to the TV, ornaments close enough to touch but have not yet made it to cover his branches. We should at least put a cowboy hat or something on his head, maybe a belt around his middle.
  • The Christmas Cards, which were created and ordered prior to Thanksgiving, sit – untouched -on the kitchen counter. They talk loudly amongst themselves in hopes that I’ll stop working and starting addressing. It’s so annoying! Yes, they are a deadline too, but not a paying client. Finally had to put them in a “time-out” in the pantry.
  • Holiday treats? Ha! I just laughed so hard I snorted. Ingredients were purchased, but I’ve yet to find time to bake anything. Thank goodness chocolate chips can be eaten by the handful, straight from the bag. Not that I would do that.
  • The doorbell and phone both ring non-stop. Doorbell is due to package deliveries. For neighbors. Because I work from home. And the calls from strangers asking for donations! I’ve started telling them I’m a 501c3 and was about to call them for a donation myself.
  • The lack of gifts under the Naked Tree reminds me I haven’t made it to the mall yet to shop and enjoy the decorations, one of my all-time favorite holiday activities.
  • And the laundry piled on the couch – hardly a festive touch. At least it’s clean.

Holiday distractions – it’s madness, I tell you! Augghhh!

Wha..what? What just happened? I think I just blacked-out or something. Had the craziest dream – at least I think it was a dream.

We were talking about the holidays and, in a fit of holiday madness, I put work on hold for a minute in an attempt to re-gain control. These distractions are not going to win!

I turned up the Christmas carols and I put bows on top of the laundry pile, adding a festive touch. I may have said something politically incorrect to a client or two, like “Merry Hanukkah Christmas Kwanzaa”, to cover all my bases.

Shopping and cards were combined into one fun event. Once I finished my marathon shopping at the mall, I bought one of those fancy coffee drinks, found a bench and simply handed my cards to anyone who passed by. Done!

It’s possible that I’ve eaten more than my share of chocolate chips in the last twenty four hours. On a chocolate “high”, I “may” have put an “Out of Office I’m On Vacation” notice out to my clients just a wee bit early.

As I look around, the tree seems to be smiling. And I know for certain that Hubby is missing a belt.

3 Things to Remember When Asking for Time-Off at the Holidays

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As a retailer, holidays were understandably difficult. Even in the corporate office we needed at least a skeleton staff on hand to assist the stores as needed. When I moved to PR, I don’t have to tell you that it’s a 24/7 job, no matter what. News never sleeps; there always seems to be a crisis as soon as you schedule a day off.

As a result, staffing for holidays was crucial. Even if we were not present in the office, someone had to be available at all times. Still, as managers we always wanted to let everyone have at least some time truly “off the grid” and away from work to enjoy the holidays with their families.

So how does one go about asking for time-off, whether at the holidays or any time of year?

Here are 3 things to remember when asking for time-off at the holidays:

  • Start early. If you are planning a vacation, it’s best to ask in advance. Remember, almost everyone wants time-off at the holidays. Also remember just because you ask first does not mean you are a shoe-in to get your requested days. Find out if the department or company has a policy about holiday vacations. Maybe half the team gets the week before Christmas, the other half gets the week after. Or some will take Christmas and others take New Year’s; and switch the following year.

 

  • It’s all in how you ask. I’ve noticed a trend among younger workers who simply tell their manager, “I’m taking off on XX dates”. Um, no; you need to ask. Vacation requests will be much better received if you position them this way: “I’d like to take off on XX dates and wanted to see if anyone else in the department had requested those dates. If not, does this work for you?” Simply because you want to take off on certain dates doesn’t meant that you automatically can. It has to work with others’ schedules. Especially your manager’s schedule.

 

  • Confirm that your work will not be left at a critical stage. Anytime someone is away from the office, it’s tough on those left behind. Pre-arrange for someone to cover for you while you’re out. Leave instructions how to handle any hot items that might come up, as well as a list of contacts that may be of help. Have this info ready when you request time off. Your manager will appreciate your forward thinking.

Even if you are asking for time-off during the summer, these tips still apply. Ask early; be respectfully of others in your department and plan your work. Everyone will thank you!

5 Things Managers Should Never Say To Employees

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boss -boy-633014_1920I’ve often wondered what happens sometimes to people as they move up the corporate ladder. Otherwise “normal” co-workers seem to lose their ability to think rationally, losing their common sense as they rise among the ranks.

It’s possible these people never had certain skills prior to becoming a manager, a.k.a. “the boss”, although I’d like to think they had some smarts to progress upward in the first place.  Especially to the level of Director, VP or even C-suite.

If you are a manager, or when you get to manage people, here are five things you should NEVER say to employees:

  1. “I need this yesterday.”   The most frustrating phrase for an employee to hear because it’s an impossible deadline to meet. Unless the employees have manufactured a time machine and can literally go back in time. And then they wouldn’t be working for you; they’d be rich and famous.  Please say the project is urgent and, more importantly, explain WHY it’s so urgent.  Then provide a realistic deadline given the circumstances. Trust your employees to work their butts off to get it done quickly and correctly, without this worn-out phrase.
  2. “’Meets Requirements’ means the same thing as ‘Good’ on a review.”  Almost anyone who has been through a standard review process has heard something along these lines.  At some point companies decided to replace “Good” on the yearly review form with “Meets requirements”, hardly an uplifting phrase. Management knows the word “Meets” does not have the same feeling as “Good” since it always requires explanation and sometimes a memo from corporate.  Bosses, kick “Meets” to the curb and replace it with, “Way to go; you accomplished every goal we established for you at the beginning of the year.”
  3. “I’m not sure what I want but I’ll know it when I see it”.  Ugh. Seriously? You must have some idea of what you want, or at least what you don’t want. This is merely a lack of communication.  As a boss you should be able to tell your employees what you envision when giving them a project so they don’t waste precious time developing something that doesn’t meet your “secret” expectations.  If you honestly have no idea what you want or expect, please don’t waste an employees’ time trying to manufacture something from thin air that will only make you say “No, this isn’t it”.
  4. “You’re next in line for a promotion.” Promising an employee a promotion – or even hinting about it – is never a good idea. No good can come of this.  Employee expectations are now raised, with the employee laser-focused on the promotion.  If it doesn’t come true, the bubble is burst and no amount of consoling or explanation can erase the negative feelings.  In fact, you may lose the employee.
  5. “I’m only getting a 3% raise, just like you.”  Did you really just say that out loud? Because as an employee, last time I checked, 3% of your salary is much better than 3% of my salary.  Employees know that salaries may be determined in several ways, usually either across the board (i.e. all managers get 3%) or the boss is given a bucket of money to distribute among his team, which means the percentage may vary.  Bosses need to understand that, especially among younger employees, it’s no longer taboo to discuss wages and compare notes.  What used to be personal information is now shared.  Do what you need to do in terms of distributing wealth; employees want you to reward hard workers, not slackers.  But do it with empathy.  Admit that 3% is not much.  Never compare your raise to your employees. It’s not good team building.

6 Reasons to Be Thankful for Your Crappy Job

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sitting on couch feet-932346_1920

Ever feel stuck in your job?

Maybe you thought it was your “dream job” and it’s turned out to be more like a nightmare.  Perhaps the work you thought would be interesting is more than a little boring, similar to watching paint dry.  The promise of a fast track to promotion is more like life in the slow lane, with grandma behind the wheel.

We’ve all been there.  And it’s not fun.

Yet even under the most trying of circumstances, there are still things to be thankful for.  We learn best in the worst situations.

Here are 6 reasons to be thankful for your crappy job:

  1. You Have a Job.  Totally understand that you might be sick of hearing this, yet it’s important to step away from the pity-party and understand how important this really is. You.Have.A. Job.  And it pays money.  Those who have visited the Land of Layoff understand how valuable it is to have even a not-so-good job.  You have two options: develop an exit strategy, including networking and interviewing to find a better job, or put on a happy face and stay put. Your choice.
  2. Resume Builder. Even crappy jobs provide opportunities to build your skills and your resume.  Take advantage of all chances to learn something new.  If the company offers classes on-site or will pay to further your education, take advantage.  Additional skills and education will come in handy whenever you do decide to leave the company.
  3. Food. At any office there’s usually birthday cake or holiday treats, either sent by vendors or brought in by co-workers. Take advantage!  Trust me, you will miss free food if you ever decide to work from home, or heaven-forbid, your number comes up during a lay-off.
  4. Colleagues and Networking.   Even if you’re not BFFs with your work-mates, they may be valuable network connections for you in the future.  Establish professional relationships with some of your colleagues and connect on LinkedIn.  Do it now before you decide to leave the company. You never know who might be able to help you land a great job down the road.
  5. Paid Vacation and Other Benefits.  A no-brainer.  Those who are self-employed know this is huge.  Be thankful for things like paid vacations, 401Ks, health insurance, and any other benefit your employer throws your way.
  6. Reason to Get Up in the Morning. Sure, it’s fun to dream about staying home in your jammies all day.  Reality is, it gets old after, oh, two days. For many, our jobs – even if they are crappy – provide the main reason to get up and interact with others vs. retreating into the world of bad TV.  Face it; if you want to find a new opportunity or simply be productive, you’re going to have to leave the house at some point.

You may feel like you have a crappy job and I feel your pain, having been there before myself. Just remember that even the worst jobs are blessings.

5 Ways to Improve Your Resume In One Hour

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smart-watch-821557_1920If you’re anything like me, quite often you wish for more time. More time to finish a project, go to the movies, take a vacation, go to the gym, or spend time with family and friends.

You might say “falling back” with Daylight Savings Time is like receiving the gift of an extra hour. Despite my desire for more time, I have a love-hate relationship with this particular extra hour.

Love it because I get an extra hour once a year and the sun shines earlier in the morning so I’m not trying to pry myself out of bed in the dark. Hate it because it’s dark by five o’clock and it feels like midnight when I’m eating dinner at my usual hour.

Honestly, I will spend the next five months counting the days until we switch back and I lose an hour. I love the daylight that much. Not to mention I love warm weather. Hate the cold.

Right now, we’ve got an extra hour and we should use it to our advantage. Here are five ways to improve your resume in one hour:

  1. Add Social Media Links. Include a link to your LinkedIn page, as well as your website and other relevant social media accounts.  This is a good time to personalize your LinkedIn address too – www.linkedin.com/firstnamelastname. Reminder: make sure any links are live and connect to the correct page.
  2. Update Your Personal Statement. At the top of your resume should be your personal statement that tells the hiring manager who you are and what you can do to solve their problems.  If the top of your resume still says, “Seeking a job in X industry”, it’s time to start over.
  3. Highlight Career Wins. Show hiring managers what you bring to the table by sharing quantifiable success stories from each of your jobs. “Reduced operating expenses by eight percent in first quarter” or, “Developed and executed consumer program resulting in ten percent sales increase”. Show the hiring manager you mean business.
  4. Add New Skills or Awards. Did you take a course? Earn a certificate? Receive an award or other recognition?  Be sure to include any new skills, education or awards.  Remember, though, it must be relevant to your career.
  5. Out With the Old. There comes a time when our first job(s) need to be removed from our resumes. Same for irrelevant information such as street address (list only city and state), the words “cell phone” or “home phone” (simply list the number, preferably your cell phone), hobbies, personal information (age, height, political affiliation, etc.), anything related to high school, and the phrase, “references available upon request”.