Common Sense @ Work Career Blog

Career Advice: Goals and Plans, Not Dreams, Lead To Career Success

2009-11-18T09:45:00.000-06:00

In my last posting I discussed the common sense conclusion that "Goals and Plans, Not Dreams, Lead To Career Success."

Most ambitious careerists agree with that truth. Why then do so many let time slip by, seemingly content with the notion that career goals can be attained without well-thought-out goals and plans to reach them

Five excuses most often come into play:

1. Goals are unnecessary.
2. Fear of not reaching goals.
3. Believe it is not possible to plan ahead.
4. Can't decide among options.
5. Paralyzed by size of effort to reach goals.

There are five steps we can take to exorcise these excuses.

1. Get rid of groundless fear that goals and plans are forever. Neither imposes an irrevocable life sentence. It may seem paradoxical, but good goals and plans take into account that new circumstances may dictate course changes along the way. It’s okay to switch goals, if our notions of success change. However, it is not healthy to change goals if we are running away from obstacles and hard work.

2. Define where we are now. What are our qualifications? What are our interests? What drives us? What price are we willing to pay to reach our goals.

3. Define in writing the mega-goal we aim to achieve by a specific time in the future, say three to five years. It can be a stretch goal, but not an unrealistic one. The mega-goal can be somewhat broad in nature, but not vague. It has to be more than “I want to be rich.” Rather, the goal should be along the lines of “I will own my wholesale electronics business with annual sales of at least $3 million by my 30th birthday. I will live in Metro City, headquarters of my business."

4. Spell out action steps to reach the mega-goal. Include due dates.

5. Define the anticipated rewards.

Setting goals and reaching them is tough going, but the payoff can make it all worthwhile if you are truly hungry for success.

To paraphrase the legendary merchant, J. C. Penney, “Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I will give you a successful manager. Give me a stock clerk without a plan and I will give you a stock clerk.”

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Career Advice: Goals and Plans, Not Dreams, Lead To Career Success

2009-11-16T15:10:00.000-06:00

It’s very difficult --no, it's impossible-- to get there if we don’t know where we want to go.

Do you know of anyone who disagrees with the common sense wisdom of setting a final destination and having a plan for the journey before beginning a trip?

Then why do many of us act as if we can drift along day to day, thinking somehow we can achieve our dreams of career success without defined personal goals, as well as plans to reach them? Dreams won't make the car payments.

Five Excuses For Not Setting Goals

If you are stymied in setting personal goals, a look at five of the excuses people use when they fail to make plans for their futures should help.

1. Goals are not necessary. Research conducted by Yale University of one of its graduating classes found that only 3 percent of graduates had taken all the steps necessary to set career goals and plans; 10 percent had done some of the necessary things; 87 percent very little or nothing. A study 20 years later, revealed the 3 percent had accomplished more than the remainder of the group combined in terms of career positions and financial rewards.

2. Fear. We are afraid that if we set goals and don’t reach them, we will be seen as failures. We are afraid to commit ourselves for fear we will go down the wrong path to a dead end of frustration and unhappiness from which there is no escape. Or we dread the accountability inherent in a stated goal.

3. We simply may not believe it is possible to plan ahead. We tell ourselves, “There are just too many variables and imponderables in life. Besides, successful people are just lucky or have 'pull'."

4. We have so many options and can’t decide among them. We are like the proverbial blind dog in the meat locker. But common sense tells us we can’t have it all. We have to decide on a few specifics and go for them.

5. We may be paralyzed by the feeling that our hopes are so enormous that they are beyond our reach. The first step seems so insignificant, so we sit there, mesmerized by our dreams and overawed by the enormity of it all, hoping something will happen. It is at this point that we start to believe we have goals when what we really have are wishes.

In a follow up posting on Wednesday, I will provide career coaching about overcoming these excuses that block us from making the plans that are necessary for career success.

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

KNOWING WHAT OTHERS EXPECT FROM YOU IS A BIG ADVANTAGE

2009-11-03T11:25:00.000-06:00

Career Coaching:

Understanding the different expectations held by your boss, your direct reports and your peers is crucial to achieving career success.

That’s the word from Bill Neale, a founding partner of Denison Consulting, a firm dedicated to studying the link between organizational culture and leadership to bottom line results.

Here’s a quick summary of research conducted by Denison:

The boss expects you to set and achieve strategy and objectives that support the long-term mission of the organization. “You can be the greatest team player in the world, or a wonderful ‘people person,’ but if you ignore the mission of your organization you’ll never satisfy the boss,” declares Neale.

Your direct reports expect you to promote teamwork, delegate authority and responsibility, as well as encourage personal development to reach career goals. Neale says getting direct reports involved, motivated and committed is crucial. “If you don’t truly engage the folks who work for you, you won’t win a vote of confidence from them, and you’re not likely to fully leverage their energies and talents.”

Peers expect you to be adaptable and consistent, and committed to the organization’s principles and values. Organizational peers are a difficult group to satisfy. “They may have less information about you, or view you as a competitor,” Neale says. “Peers, however, do place a high value on flexibility, the ability to surmount organizational boundaries and constraints, and to push alignment in the workplace.”

Neale says organizations are complex and demanding. Each is unique, so there is no simple formula for assuring personal career success. “If you’re serious about succeeding, however, the first order of business is to become familiar with the various expectations—both spoken and unspoken—you need to satisfy.”

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Career Advice: You've Been Passed Over; Now What?

2009-10-31T09:58:00.001-05:00

Career Counseling

You sincerely believe you are the best qualified among the candidates for the promotion to manager of your department. You believe you deserve it. Your friends agree.

But, wham! The rug has been pulled out from under you. The position you would have given an eyetooth for goes to someone else. Your ego is trampled. You are mad and disappointed. You to tell the boss where to go. You are ready to quit.

But hold on. Apply a little common career sense before you go off the deep end. You've still got your job and this is a good time to consider where you want to go with your career path.

Force your chin up. Congratulate the winner right away. This will be painful, but it actually will help you regain your balance. Moreover, it will strengthen your position as a team player.

This is a dangerous time for you. Simmer awhile before you act. Brood and grieve a little in private if it makes you feel better. Reject bitterness; it's poison. Look beyond your ego. Sure, your feelings have been bruised. No need to be ashamed of that.

But really has all of this been damaging to your long-term career goals?

Time To Be Objective

Your greatest need at this is to understand the "why" behind the situation.

Start with a discussion with your boss. Remember, you are there to gain information, not to argue your case. Don’t beat around the bush. Admit you are sorely disappointed. Assure your boss thatyou are not resentful. Pledge 100 percent allegiance to the team. Admit, however, that you are concerned about what has happened and what it may mean for the future of your career.

Focus on the critical questions. Has your past performance been at least up to par? Are you as qualified or better than the competitors? What might you have done to improve your chances to win the promotion?

Did you miss some signals from your boss, telling you to improve you performance? Were there any bonafide indicators saying you were a candidate for promotion? Or have you been engaged in wishful thinking?

What qualification did you not have? Will there be other chances to win promotions? What can you do to improve your qualifications for advancement?

You must listen carefully to both what is said as well as what is implied between the lines. Be aware that you will be strongly inclined to hear the best side of the story.

And don’t forget, it is the most natural thing in the world for the boss to try to soften the message. Besides, if you have been doing an adequate job in your present slot he will want to keep you around.

Now you are ready to get to the bottom-line. Review all of the facts. Do you agree with what you learned from your review with the boss? Have you been treated fairly? Were there legitimate reasons you were passed over?

Do you care enough to take the necessary action to win the next time? Do you have a reasonably secure future in the organization? Can you be happy where you are? What are the acceptable alternatives to achieve your career goals?

Being passed over may be a blessing, although if it is, it appears to be quite will disguised. You have an opportunity to gain a more realistic view of where you are, where you want to go and what you have to do to get there. Or you may conclude you are satisfied with your present position, so you can relax with more time to smell the roses.

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Career Advice: Admit You Need Help, Build Your Strengths

2009-10-22T11:21:00.001-05:00

Forget the macho mode. You are not expected to know everything or to be perfect in all regards as your pursue your career goals.

Never be afraid to admit you need help and then ask for it. Many careerists, otherwise smart and capable, hamstring themselves by believing they lose face if they say, "Hey, I don't understand this problem, much less what to do about it. Please help me."

Career Tip: Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is just the opposite; it is a sign of strength and maturity. When you ask for help, you are paying a compliment to the one you ask. You are saying, "You know something I don't know. I trust you."

Everyone likes to be asked to help.

When you put your ego aside and seek help on your career path those you ask for assistance find themselves in your debt.

None of this is to suggest that it is always easy to ask for help. Admitting a shortcoming tramples a bit on the ego.

If you've made a mistake, admit it right away. Nobody is perfect. You have a right to make a few mistakes. If you act promptly, there is usually time to correct the situation. It is well to heed Confucius who declared, "Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes."

If you are working for a boss who doesn't accept this premise, you are in a relationship that doesn't bode well for your career path.

Career Tip: Don't make a habit of asking for help to duck responsibility, to take a shortcut, or so you can sit on your butt. If you've made your best effort and you still come up short, then reach out for assistance.

Volunteer to help others. Step in to offer a hand in finishing a tough project. Let it be known that you are ready to help those with less experience.

When you get help, don't be shy about sharing credit with those who gave you a hand and shared their knowledge.

When you ask for help and get it, be sure to seal the transaction with a sincere, "Thank you." That simple step, often overlooked, paves the way to ask for more assistance when it is needed.

If you ask for assistance and no one steps forward to help, look out. You are in an unhealthy situation.

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Don't Blame Yourself For Rejections In Your Job Search

2009-10-13T15:22:00.001-05:00

Career Advice

All of the vibes seemed positive. You've had a series of interviews with a potential employer, beginning with the human resources officer heading up the job search and moving through to the manager to whom the position reports. It looks like a perfect fit for your particular education and experience. There's even been discussion of a starting date. Lunch with the division vice president, which you are told is really just a sign-off, couldn't have gone better.

It looks like a marriage made in heaven. You want the job; the organization seems to want you. You've been told that you'll get the final "welcome aboard" notice within a few days.

Days and finally weeks go by with no offer. The feedback from your follow-up calls is positive. In the meantime, you have put your job search on hold. You've passed up some attractive leads for other opportunities.

Then, the bomb drops. You get the dreaded e-mail: "We appreciate your interest in joining our organization, but we have decided to select another candidate whose particular set of skills and experience more nearly meet our needs. We wish you success."

Four lessons from this scenario are loud and clear:

1. Never fall in love with one position. Be flexible; play the field.

2. Never take anything for granted. The deal is never complete until its signed, sealed and delivered.

3. Keep your search on the front burner until you have a job firmly in hand.

4. Don't blame yourself. You made your best effort and realize that much of the influence on hiring decisions is beyond your control.

The latter point is particularly critical if you are experiencing multiple rejections. Ofer Sharone, an assistant professor at MIT Sloan School of Management who is researching this topic declares:

"It is personally devastating to start thinking there is something wrong with you. People start to believe that they are flawed...that there is something internally and deeply wrong with them. This (leads) to discouragement and people stopping the job search. If you start to think that it's your fault you're not getting a job, in many cases once you get to that stage it's very hard to continue job searching."

He says this typically happens for those who are unemployed for six months or longer and becomes stronger with time.

Sharone concludes that there are always significant elements in any job search that are beyond your control.

I wish your career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Career Advice: Think Twice Before Relocating For Job

2009-10-08T10:50:00.002-05:00

You've been sitting on the edge of your chair, waiting for that offer for the job you badly want. Bingo! The offer comes through. But there's just one hang-up: you'd have to move to a new location half way across the country.

You should back off and carefully analyze your needs as compared to the cost of the opportunity. That's right, "cost", because there's a price tag on every opportunity along the career path.

Consider these career tips:

1. Compare the cost of living between where you currently reside and the new location. What appears to be a raise may not be a raise after all. For example, the cost of a house or rent in Warren, Arkansas, a town of 6,000 or so, is far different from, say, Chicago. There are more differences to consider: taxes, food, transportation, etc.

On the other hand, for example, you might gain from a move Chicago to Warren.

2. Would your new employer pay your moving expenses? What about guaranteeing you against loss if you sell your house? What about the cost of temporary housing while you look for a new place?

3. If your spouse has a job in your present location, would your new employer help him/her find employment?

4. How would the move impact your family? Leaving relatives behind is a tough business. The same is true for life-long friends. Would the new job require travel or a work schedule that impinges on your family time?

Beyond these considerations, you need to have a solid degree of comfort as to the new work-place environment. If possible, meet the new boss and co-workers.

Make a family visit to the new location. If you are a parent take your children to visit the new school.

If you decide to make the move, be prepared for some rough sledging for three of four months. You'll likely be homesick. Getting reasonable comfortable in new surroundings, new people, and new conditions at work takes some time for acclimation.

Margie Newman, at flackrabbit.com> writes: "Know this: you are going to dislike your job, be homesick and wonder what the heck you've gotten into for the first three months. Be prepared to think you've made a mistake--relocating is scary stuff--but trust your gut and know this is a smart move."

Make no mistake. Pulling up stakes and moving to a new job across the country or across town, for that matter, is no walk in the park. Nevertheless, done properly it can be a very smart and productive step forward in your career path.

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Career Advice: Are You Getting The Respect You Deserve??

2009-09-15T09:33:00.002-05:00

No doubt about it, most of us at one time or another can identify with Comedian Rodney Dangerfield's trademark lament, "I don't get no respect." That's not surprising because our need to be appreciated along our career path is not always satisfied.

But stop and think the next time you are tempted to moan and groan about not getting respect and appreciation on your job.

Are you sure your boss and your peers are short on respect for what you do? They may not show it in tangible ways, but are you missing the positive signals?

Often, subordinates are reluctant to express their appreciation and respect because they don't want to be seen as sucking up. Or they could be blinded by envy. In any case, at the end of the day, it's their willingness to rely on your leadership and expertise that counts in totaling up the respect account.

Your boss may fail to verbalize his respect and appreciation for you because he knows you will carry out your assignments without pats-on-the-back. He needs all the time he can get to push other less motivated people and to clean up their mistakes.

The boss may believe that you are a professional, paid to do a job, so stroking is not necessary.

It could be that he doesn't really understand how vital your contribution is to his success and that of the organization. For example, the boss who came up the route of manufacturing may be slow to pay respect to the job the public relations staff is doing because he doesn't understand the function.

You may feel that this is not the way it should be; but we are dealing with the real world here.

Respect That Really Counts

What kind of respect really counts toward your career success? Sure, it's nice to get compliments about your job performance. A "thank you" for a job well done is always appreciated. A bronze plaque is a special "feel good." But these expressions of respect and recognition are short term.

But what really counts at the end of the day is respect measured by the assignment of more responsibility that leads to a promotion with more authority and a bigger paycheck.

Steps You Can Take

What's to be done if you feel that you are not getting the respect you feel you deserve?

First of all, take inventory of what really counts in the career rewards you receive for your efforts. The respect and recognition account is short on the balance sheet of your career, take steps to be sure your peers, your boss, and your subordinates understand your contribution.

This is a delicate task. You don't want to come off as a braggart who's hogging the spotlight. But you do want the organization to recognize your true worth. Get the help of a third party--a respected mentor, a career coach--who can advise you and speak up for you.

If you believe your increasing responsibility and paycheck don't reflect respect and appreciation for your contribution and your employer is unwilling to correct the shortfall, you may want to look elsewhere for a job that will result in these true measures of respect.

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Career Advice: Friendship With The Boss Won't Insure Success

2009-09-09T09:30:00.001-05:00

Never depend on a friendship with your boss to insure career success. Think of the relationship as a business deal on your career path. You have something to sell--your skills and knowledge. The boss is a buyer. The price paid is an investment by your employer that must earn a profit if the employer is to stay in business.

Bound by his own ambitions and the rules of the workplace, your boss can't carry out his assignment of supervising you on the basis of friendship. There comes a time when your boss has to say "no" when a friend would say "yes." If you think otherwise you are on the road to frustration and pain.

Spend as little time as possible alone with your boss, because ever minute one-on-one is an opportunity for him to probe, get too involved in your affairs. The more time together the more time there is for differences of opinion and conflict.

It is also wise to avoid becoming attached on a personal basis with your fellow workers, peers or subordinates.

Career Tip: Personal relationships on the job will inevitably cloud and restrict your judgment and leeway for action.

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

FREE CAREER ADVICE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE

2009-08-29T10:19:00.001-05:00

The path to career success is going through a rough patch in a troubled economy environment. The need for common sense career coaching has not been greater in recent memory.

Turbulent times not withstanding, I can help you to translate your ambitions into the rewards you deserve: promotions, money and personal satisfaction. No charge, no obligation.

What's my payoff? I've been fortunate to enjoy a successful and rewarding career. Now, I want to share what I have learned with you and others who are working diligently to achieve career success. My reward will be in knowing that I have helped you to succeed to the best of your abilities.

The career advice I provide is based on my experience in major corporations, including American Express. My qualifications also include experience as an entrepreneur, professional director, consultant on career and business strategies and author.

I deliver my career coaching via my free semi-monthly newsletter, The Career Accelerator (c); my blog, and one-on-one career counseling.

You can subscribe to The Career Accelerator by going to the sign-up form to the right. As a bonus, I will also send you a copy of my e-book, HOW TO GET A RAISE.

You've already found Your Blog For Career Advice (c). Here's your opportunity to comment on my newsletter, post your opinions on career-related issues and engage others in discussions. Plus, you can get one-on-one career advice.

You'll find recommendations for books, articles and other newsletters that will help you accelerate your career.

You'll also be able to access the archives of The Career Accelerator going back to January, 2004.

For more information please visit my website: www.commonsenseatwork.com>

E-mail me at mailto:ramon@commonsenseatwork.com with your suggestions for adding other resources.

You have everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose except the roadblocks on your path to career success by subscribing to The Career Accelerator and participating in Your Blog For Career Advice.

I wish you success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Career Advice: How To Make Gossip Work For You

2009-08-26T09:34:00.001-05:00

That headline deserves an explanation, or else you'll think I've taken leave of my senses...or least that I am an off-the-wall contrarian.

Okay, gossipers wouldn't exist along the career path, but we all know the world has its imperfections a plenty. Gossip and gossipers are here to stay. Deal with it if you want to achieve career success.

A survey by a research firm known as ISR showed that 63% of U. S. employees get all or most of their information about their companies from "water-cooler talk".

The fact is that every place of employment functions with two channels of communications. One is the official channel. The second is known by various names: gossip, rumors and grapevine.

The official channel is where your employer's version of the goals and procedures of the organization, the rules of the road, if you will, are laid out. The gossip mill is where you hear what your peers think of these plans, along with their assessment of them and those who sent them forth. The rumor mill provides more information, ranging from malicious and personal attacks, to harmless chatter about who is flirting with whom, and what's on sale at the local mall.

Career Tip: Separate The Wheat From The Chaff

I don't mean to be cynical, but the conclusion is obvious. Gossip will exist whether you participate or not, and it will include some nourishing wheat along with a lot of worthless chaff. If you are not plugged into the back channel, as well as the official channel, you will be isolated. Therefore, you will not know what's going on in the environment in which you work. If you don't know the score, you cannot move ahead toward your career goals.

Here are six steps you can take to separate the outrageous chatter from the meaningful information so the gossip mill works in your favor:

1. Don't waste your time jousting with windmills. Recognize you can't eliminate gossip, even if it is trash; but also know that if you try to shut down the gossip mill you will be cut out of the information loop.

2. Tune out the chatter that deals in personalities, especially the malicious stories that do damage to people and the organization that employs you.

3. Feed positive news into the grapevine at every opportunity.

4. Be alert to gossip about the workplace. Verify it or rule it out.

5. Identify the most active purveyors of gossip. Rank them according to their reliability and interpret their messages for what they are.

6. Confront the originator and set the record straight if the gossip is about you and it is untrue.

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Weird Complaints Against Co-Workers

2009-08-20T10:03:00.003-05:00

Career Counseling:

Humans are mighty strange beings, I'd say. You don't agree? Consider a report compiled by CareerBuilder.com and reported in The Chicago Tribune regarding some of the oddest complaints employees have about their associates, and you're likely to change your mind.

• Employee is too sun-tanned.

• Employee has big hair.

• Employee is so polite, it's infuriating.

• Employee is trying to poison me.

• Employee wants to check co-worker for ticks.

• Employee wore pajamas to work.

• A male employee keeps using the ladies room because the men's room is not as tidy.

• Co-worker reminded employee too much of Bambi.

• Employee's body is magnetic and keeps deactivating my magnetic access card.

• Employee smells like road ramps.

• Employee breathes too loudly.

• Employee is personally responsible for a federally mandated tax increase.

• Employee spends too much time caring for stray cats around the building.

Are you encountering these kinds of complaints along your career path?

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Career Advice: More About The Myths Of Success

2009-08-17T10:08:00.000-05:00

In a previous posting I let off some steam about the scams that rascals run around the idea that there are some myths that you can follow to achieve instant career success.

I said "baloney" and I say it again.

A myth that seems to be growing in popularity holds that everyone is entitled to the rewards of success. The world of work doesn't work that way. Work for organizations that provide opportunities and recognize effort and results if you want to earn the rewards of career success.

There's another myth that flies in the face of reality: The workplace is a democracy. Not so. Organizations cannot be successfully run by committees of equals where the majority rules. Organizations that survive and prosper operate with a chain of command at the top of which sits someone who is empowered to collect facts and opinions and make final decisions.

Successful organizations are meritocracies, systems in which winners emerge and are moved ahead on the basis of their achievements. You must prove your merits if you want solid gold career success,

(I know, I know, this may not appear to be true at any given moment, but over time the truth of this law takes hold.)

One of the cruelest myths of all is that organizations are warm and cozy places that provide security. If you believe that myth you are exposing yourself to disappointment. Security occurs only when you have prepared, planned and worked hard so you can have confidence in your ability. Security comes when your employer needs you more than you need him. Security comes when you have options.

A companion myth is that your boss is your friend. Your boss is your boss. You cannot rely on friendships for lasting, fulfilling success. The way to maintain a positive relationship with your boss and enhance your opportunities is to excel at your job, make him look good.

Don't believe the myth that your accomplishments speak for themselves and that you will be rewarded accordingly. The recipe for success is simple: achieve results that pay off for your employer; make sure your employer knows what you have accomplished that contributes to his bottom line. Only then will you be rewarded for your true worth.

Lasting success comes to those who prepare themselves and are willing to work hard to take a career path to achiever career goals.

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Career Advice: I'm Fed Up With Myths of Success

2009-08-13T10:35:00.000-05:00

I'm fed up with being bombarded daily on the Internet and via snail mail with get-rich-quick schemes about career success. How about you?

These schemes are based on myths that there are secrets, waiting to be discovered that will propel you along a successful career path with little or no effort. Does that pass the test of common sense? I think not.

Not long ago I received a mailing assuring me that I could "learn the secrets of how to radiate magnetic charm and command the balance of power in every situation through 'the magic' touch with everyone". All I had to do, I was assured, was to listen to a few DVDs at night and put these powerful techniques and methods into action the very next day! All this for three easy payments of $50.00 each.

A few days letter I saw an Internet posting hawking a book titled How To Be An Expert Persuader...in 20 Days or less. The blurb went on to declare that tens of thousands of people have been helped in winning more friends, captivating the opposite sex, instantly get liked and trusted, enjoying unlimited wealth and persuading others to give them anything they wanted.

Baloney, I say!

There Are No Secrets For Career Success

Common sense tells me there are no secrets, no short cuts on the career path to success. The gold rings go to those who know what to do and how to get it done. Career rewards are not easy to garner. Anyone who promises otherwise is a liar. Career success depends on a positive attitude, focus and hard work.

Save your time, energy and money looking for the Eureka secrets of success. You won't find them because they don't exist.

When the rubber meets the road, career success goes to those who master the skills and knowledge that their jobs require; to those who employ these assets with common sense; and to those who work hard to gain the rewards they crave.

I'll have more to say about the myths of success in a posting Monday.

In the meantime, I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Career Advice: Don't Kill Your Resume With Dumb Errors

2009-08-10T10:38:00.001-05:00

Career Counseling

Don't doom your resume and cover letter to the trashcan by sending them out with dumb mistakes such as misspelled words.

"If you make errors on your application materials, the assumption is you'll make mistakes on the job," says Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of 'Job Hunting for Dummies, 2nd edition'."

Three-fourths of the executives surveyed by Accountemps declared just one or two typos in a resume kills an application. Four out of ten declare that one typo means the axe.

Incomplete sentences or missing words can also kill your chances for getting even a cursory review of your resume, to say nothing of serious consideration.

There's no excuse for such errors. You can avoid them by taking these steps:

1. Run your documents through the spell-check on your computer. (Keep in mind this is not fool-proof. Your computer is not going to know whether your mean there or their.)

2. Avoid cliches and catch phrases that may be popular for the moment.

3. Read your covering letter and resume aloud. Track word for word with a pencil. This is the time to check your punctuation.

4. Set your materials aside for at least 24 hours. Go back and repeat steps 1, 2 and 3.

5. Have a third party read your materials for context, as well as the type of errors we are considering here. Get their opinion as to whether your presentation makes a logical case for your application.

Of course, it is best that this third party be a professional career coach, but that may not be possible. Any review by another pair of eyes is better than no review at all.

As a final step, take an objective look at your materials. Are you using quality paper for the printed versions? (No colored stock.) Is the typeface a standard one? Are you sending your application to a real live person with a title? Are your contact points correct and readily available?

It's difficult enough to get your covering letter and resume seriously considered without making dumb killer mistakes.

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

You've Been Passed Over; Now What?

2009-08-03T10:33:00.000-05:00

Common Sense Career Advice

You sincerely believe you are the best qualified among the candidates for the promotion to manager of your department. You believe you deserve it. Your friends agree.

But, wham! The rug has been pulled out from under you. The position you would have given an eyetooth for goes to someone else. Your ego is trampled. You are mad and disappointed. You want to march in, tell the boss where to go and leave the place.

But hold on. Consider some common sense career tips before you go off the deep end. You've still got your job and this is a good time to consider where you want to go with your career.
Force your chin up. Congratulate the winner right away. This will be painful, but it actually will help you regain your balance. Moreover, it will strengthen your position as a team player.

This is a dangerous time on your career path. Simmer awhile before you act. Brood and grieve a little in private if it makes you feel better. Reject bitterness; it's poison. Look beyond your ego. Sure, your feelings have been bruised. No need to be ashamed of that.

But really has all of this been damaging to your long-term career goals?

Time To Be Objective

Your greatest need at this is to understand the "why" behind the situation.

Start with a discussion with your boss. Remember, you are there to gain information, not to argue your case. Don’t beat around the bush. Admit you are sorely disappointed. Assure your boss you are not bitter or resentful. Pledge 100 percent allegiance to the team. Admit, however, that you are concerned about what has happened and what it may mean for your career goals.

Focus on the critical questions about what happened and why. Has your past performance and your preparation for the next step been at least up to par? Are you as qualified or better than the competitors? What might you have done to improve your chances to win a promotion?

Did you miss some signals from your boss, telling you to improve you performance? Were there any bonafide indicators saying you were a candidate for promotion? Or have you been engaged in wishful thinking?

What qualification are you lacking? Will there be other chances to win promotions? What can you do to improve your qualifications for advancement?

You must listen as you have never listened before to both what is said as well as what is implied between the lines. Be aware that you will be strongly inclined to hear the best side of the story. And don’t forget, it is the most natural thing in the world for the boss to try to soften the message. Besides, if you have been doing an adequate job in your present slot he will want to keep you around. Or he simply may be testing you for a bigger assignment.

Now you are ready to get to the bottom-line. Review all of the facts. Do you agree with what you learned from your review with the boss? Have you been treated fairly? Were there legitimate reasons you were passed over?

Do you care enough to take the necessary action to win the next step forward on your career path? Do you have a reasonably secure future in the organization? Can you be happy where you are? What are the acceptable alternatives? Do you want to find a more rewarding situation elsewhere?

Being passed over may be a blessing, although if it is, it appears to be quite will disguised. You have an opportunity to gain a more realistic view of where you are, where you want to go and what you have to do to get there. Or you may conclude you are satisfied with your present position, so you can relax with more time to smell the roses.

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Tension's Brewing Over Use Of The Internet; Be Sure You Know The Rules

2009-07-31T09:25:00.001-05:00

Career Counseling

There's tension building between employers and their staffs on their career paths over use of the Internet at work for personal and business uses.

Younger staffers, who are usually more tech-savvy than their bosses, are pushing for more access to social networking and others sites, both for work purposes and for when they'd like to take a break from their jobs.

Some find that the sites they are expected to use for researching and communicating for work are blocked; and they are unable to take a break to read a news story on line or check their personal e-mail or social network accounts.

Meanwhile, employers want the advantage of Internet technology, but are concerned about security for confidential competitive information, time being wasted and legal exposure. The result is that many lean toward blocking all or most access.

"Wide-open Internet access is the risky approach," says Chris King, Palo Alto Network. But to close off all access is "increasingly untenable for cultural and business reasons."

The wise careerist makes sure he understands his employer's policy before blogging, tweeting, sending personal e-mails, to say nothing of watching sports and downloading movies. (Nearly half of U.S. employers have policies against visiting personal networking or video sharing sites during work hours.) If there's not a policy in place, it's smart to ask for guidance.

The American Management Association reports:

76% of the companies surveyed monitor Internet usage;
55% store and review e-mail;
51% use video surveillance;
50% store and review computer usuage;
22% record telephone calls.

Career Advice For Electronics

The Associated Press offers these "Tips for web, cell phone use at work":

• Remember that anything you do on a company-issued computer or cell phone--in or out of the office--could be tracked by a boss, the courts or a regulator. Many employers monitor web site use, keystrokes, instant messages and e-mail. Some even archive text messages on work cell phones.

• Avoid mentioning your company, boss or co-workers in outline postings unless you have permission to do so.

• Avoid using any device to take or transmit any company-related photos, videos or other recordings without permission from management. This includes any images of company buildings or logos and embarrassing or unprofessional photos of co-workers or clients.

• Know your company's policy on social networking, video web sites, e-mail and other tech-related activities.

• Regularly delete personal e-mail from your work account.

• Remember when searching for a job that many employers check social networking sites, blogs and other online activity.

A final piece of common sense career advice: Never post anything on a company-owned electronic device that you wouldn't want to appear on the bulletin boards where you work.

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Tales from the Resume Reef: 9 "Killer Shark" resume errors to avoid.

2009-07-26T11:14:00.003-05:00

Career Advice: Tales from the Resume Reef: 9 "Killer Shark"...
Resume Errors To Avoid

This resume guidance from a pro, Greg Lachs, is well worth heeding. He writes:

Doing your own resume? Please pay attention to detail!

In today’s economy, employers can be even more fussy about the resumes they want to look at. So, it is more crucial than ever to avoid what I would call “killer shark” resume errors. These are ones who will most likely get your resume ignored, lost or not taken as seriously as you deserve.

These are the kinds of things I’ve fixed for other people in over a dozen years of working with resumes. Repairs of the “killer shark” problems didn’t guarantee results; the repairs did, though, remove obstacles to getting a resume read and for a candidate to be taken seriously for opportunities.

If you do your own resume, avoid the following “killer shark” errors.

1. Old contact information or contact information missing: This is a “killer” simply because it’s hard to reach you if you don’t provide the correct information. Make certain your contact information includes an email address you use regularly. If you put in your phone number, make certain you include any number you’d be ok with an employer calling. For most of us, it’s a cell phone.

2. Spelling Errors: This is a “killer.” Spell check exists in pretty much all word processing programs and most email clients as well. If you don’t spell check your resume, you are sending the message that you aren’t detail oriented. Not a good thing for an employer to see.

3. Handwritten Corrections: I’ve seen this more than I ever thought possible. There is NOTHING professional about using handwriting to update ANY information on a printed resume. If it means going to a friend’s house to type a resume from “scratch,” that’s better than someone seeing scrawled “corrections” on your resume. From experience, I can tell you that resumes with handwritten edits very quickly go to the bottom of the pile, if they are kept at all.

4. Additional Pages Without Contact Info: Here’s another “killer.” In today’s so called “paperless” world, we print out more than ever before. If you have a multipage resume, but your contact information is only on the first page, how does someone know that the other pages are part of the same resume? That becomes a kind of puzzle that hiring folks don’t have time for. Just put the same contact info (including your name) that you have on page 1 in the upper right corner of EVERY additional resume page.

5. Tiny Font Sizes: Ever seen something in print that was so small, you feel like you’d need a microscope to read it? I’ve seen resumes where 4,6 or 8 point fonts were used. Most hiring folks don’t keep a microscope around to read resumes. Use a font between 10-12 points: most folks are comfortable reading documents that are sized such. Anything smaller is potentially an eye test. And if it means your resume is a little longer, isn’t it better that it’s one that someone can read easily?

6. Space Killers: Not talking about “Alien” here. Don’t use a large font (over 12 points) throughout your resume to make it look “longer.” No one thinks it’s a better resume: just that you are eating up space. If you are filling out your resume that way, you NEED to shorten it. Switch to a 10-12 point font. If it means a “short resume,” change your default margins to 1” all around and increase the font size for your first page contact info to 14 or 16. Remember when you answered essay questions for tests? It wasn’t the length of the answer that the instructor was looking at: he or she was looking at the content of the writing. Same thing is true of a resume!

7. Personal Information: Leave your SSN, DL, date of birth, names of kids, name of spouse, date of wedding, etc. behind. I have seen these on a number of resumes, particularly those with a lot of work experience. These information bits are “killers” because you are giving away private information others can use for potentially bad purposes. Plus, employers DO NOT want to see info on marital or child status on the resume. They don’t want it, can’t ask for it and you don’t have to give it to them!

8. The Nefarious Bad Copy Killer: If your resume prints out oddly, or you have some poor copies made, don’t use them! I’ve had resumes faxed to me that were clearly not in good shape to begin with, considering I couldn’t read the fax. Make certain you are sending a “clean copy” no matter how you send it. Again, it relates to perceptions of professionalism. Hiring folks tend to think “If this person sent me this bad a copy of a resume, how detail-oriented is he/she?”

9. The Dark Fancy Paper Killer: Most of us print resumes in a dark font, and black is a good color to use for text. However, don’t let ANYONE talk you into putting that resume onto dark red, dark blue or any other dark paper color. Simply, it’s just very hard to read. Fax that, and it’s even more difficult for someone else to read. Plain white paper is just fine: if you want to use fancier paper for mailed resumes, stick to something like ivory or crème colors.

It’s easy to avoid “Killer Sharks” in the resume world. Keep things simple, professional and easy for someone else to read.

If you have more questions on resume writing, you will find tips at The Job Search Dolphin!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Career Advice: Help-wanted Sites Match Interests With Opportunities

2009-07-14T09:37:00.001-05:00

Career Coaching

I've just read an article in The Wall Street Journal by Sarah E. Needeman, which I recommend to anyone searching for a job.

"Finding a job in a recession is tough, let alone one that suits your background and interests." writes Ms. Needeman.
"But a strong fit is important. Chances are you won't be happy if, say, you're an introvert and vegetarian working as a sales rep for a foie gras purveyor."

She goes on to report that there are now some help-wanted sites that offer to identify free of charge ideal career opportunities "much as dating sites pair up singles" that match interests.

She writes about three of them: Jobfox.com; Trovix.com; and CareerBuilder.com>

Check them out. They could be the key to your job search.

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Career Advice: Six Steps To Protect Your Career In Tough Times

2009-07-08T09:38:00.001-05:00

Career Coaching

It's an unsettling fact: we are in one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression. Layoffs are being felt across the board. Indicators suggest that more are yet to come.

Better to face reality than to hide our heads in the sand. It's time to recession-proof your job so as to move forward on your career path

One school of thought holds that it is better to keep a low profile with the hope that you'll be overlooked when the man with the axe comes around. That's bad career advice. If you aren't making a noticeable contribution to the success of your employer and getting proper credit, you will be an easy target.

Laying off someone who is quiet is much easier than pink-slipping the person who works hard and has earned visibility and creditability.

Six-Step Action Plan

Here are six steps you can take, beginning now, to protect and advance toward career success in these tough times.

1. Know what's going on with your job, your department, your employer. Stay in the loop. Lunch and take coffee breaks with associates. Carefully study memos from the boss. Read trade journals.

2. Perform. Work hard and be seen as working hard.

3. Make yourself and your boss stand out as producers.

4. Don't complain when you are asked to come in early and stay late. Be ready to take on extra work. Volunteer for special assignments. Suggest ways to improve your performance and that of your department.

5. Document your accomplishments. Make sure your employer is aware of your good work.

6. Be prepared to make a move if you are laid off. Keep up your contacts inside your organization and in your field of work. Learn new skills. Update your resume.

Hang in there. These trying times will pass. A new world of opportunity will emerge.

I wish you career success.

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

P.S. If you found this posting helpful, you will be interested in my semi-monthly Internet newsletter, The Career Accelerator. No charge...No obligation. It's loaded with common sense career advice. Click here for more details.

Apply For Unemployment Benefits-Reasons To Take Action Now By

2009-06-23T10:08:00.004-05:00

Here's an article by Carl Stevens that provides good career advice for those who are unemployed.

Over half of Americans who are out of work are not receiving unemployment benefits.
For some of those not receiving benefits, there is an understandable explanation. They may have been ineligible to receive benefits, or their benefits may have expired. For many people, however, the reason they are not collecting benefits simply because they do not apply.

If you are about to get laid off, have recently been lost your job, or even if you have be out of work for months, there are many good reasons why you should apply. Below are four good reasons to apply for unemployment insurance:
A financial buffer. At an average of more than $300 per week, unemployment checks can add up. Think about the funds as covering a certain portion of your expenses. If your unemployment benefits manage to cover your rent or mortgage - great. If the money also covers the cost of your food - terrific. While the amount you collect will be less than you earned while working, be thankful for the money. It will help protect your personal finances, and lessen the amount of spending required on credit or from savings.

The window will close. If you do not apply for benefits within a year of losing your job, you run the risk of no longer meeting the eligibility requirements in your state. This applies even if you meet all of the other eligibility criteria.

Flexibility to find a job you like. Unemployment statistics show that, on average, it takes almost five months for people to find a new job. Without unemployment benefits, financial circumstances may require that you take the first job opportunity that presents itself. By receiving unemployment compensation while you you are seeking work, you will have more flexibility to think about different career possibilities and choose the job that is right for you.

No shame. Do not allow yourself feel bad about applying for unemployment benefits. The unemployment insurance system is funded through employer payroll taxes. Employers are required to pay a percentage of your income to support the unemployment pool in your state. In essence, this is money that would have been paid to you.

Visit http://www.SmartUnemployment.com/blog/ to learn more about filing for unemployment benefits. There, you will find helpful tips, and a detailed guide about how to apply for unemployment insurance.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl Stevens

I wish you career success.

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Career Advice: Beware! Scumbags Are Working The Job Market

2009-06-16T11:32:00.000-05:00

Career Coaching

Beware of scam artists who are exploiting those who are struggling to land a job in these turbulent times. They are stealing identities and collecting fees by offering to land jobs that don't exist.

Surely, there is a special seat reserved in hell for those scumbags who prey on people who are suffering because of they are out of work.

Consumer advocates advise exercising extreme caution when replying to job ads online to keep from being victimized.

"Put as little personal information (such as your Social Security number your age, driver's license, banking information) as possible on your resume," says Kayce Ataiyero, columnist for The Chicago Tribune. Use a P.O. Box instead of your home address; open a separate e-mail account.

Check out the potential employer's history. Call the organization to verify its existence. A good source is the Better Business Bureau. Avoid ads that ask for personal information not usually called for in legitimate job offers.

Back away in a hurry from those asking for an upfront payment for training or background checks and other services before a face-to-face interview. Don't pay for help in getting a government job.

Don't be scammed by guarantees of employment and salaries that are just too good to be legitimate. Be wary of offerings for jobs overseas.

Career Tip: "The bottom line: don't let eagerness or desperation to get a job cloud your judgment," advise Ms. Ataiyero. "Scrutinize the ad and investigate the company to help prevent" a rip-off.

Your first and best line of defense against scammers is your own common sense.

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

Career Advice: Seven Steps To Make Your Vacation Work For You

2009-06-09T10:24:00.000-05:00

Career Coaching

I'm scrambling around preparing to take off for vacation. My family--all 11 of us in various combinations, depending on who can get away from work and when--are going to be spending the time together at a house we rent each year on a North Carolina beach.

We always have a great time on our family vacation. It's a time to kick back and recharge our batteries. But we know that we must deal with many factors that can detract from the pleasures and benefits of getting away.

Here are seven common sense steps that will help assure that your vacation helps to move you toward your career goals.

1. Come to grips with the fact that your employer (readers and clients) can get along for a few days without you. However, it is to be hoped that your absence will cause everyone to recognize how much you do contribute when you are on the job.

2. Reject the macho idea that long hours with your nose to the grindstone demonstrate strength and commitment. It's what you produce that counts. Even an ox needs time out of the yoke.

3. Hold to the dates you've scheduled for vacation, come hell or high water. Cancel it only on a direct order from the boss. If your employer forces us to cancel your vacation, make sure he has a good reason. Absent a reason, consider whether you are working in an environment that will nurture your growth.

4. Establish a plan to cover your responsibilities. Do work in advance. Delegate. Advise those with whom you work of your plans and what you expect to happen while you are away.

5. Leave a contact point with a “gatekeeper,” who will respect your down time, through whom you can be reached. Don’t check with the office while on vacation. They’ll call if you are needed. Don’t panic if there is no contact.

6. Flush work out of your mind. Put the components of your life in perspective. Recharge your batteries. Read things totally unrelated to your work. Get plenty of rest.

7. Be prepared to double your efforts when you return from vacation to catch up and go ahead with your work.

It’s well to remember that there is no record of anyone wishing on their deathbed that they had spent less time on vacation.

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

So, Your Boss Acts Like A Jerk

2009-06-01T12:53:00.000-05:00

Career Coaching

Unless you are among the rarest of the rare there are times on your career path when you encounter a boss who is a real jerk, a pain in the rear.

But hold up a minute, if you want to achieve career success, you'll be well served to consider the reasons behind his behavior before you throw a fit. Understand, please, that I am not saying there are reasons that justify a bad boss, but when you understand what's going on with your boss, you'll be better able to cope and to manage the relationship with him so that you can advance toward your career goals.

Consider these scenarios:

1. Your boss doesn't know how to be the boss.

It may not be his fault. The workforce is filled with people occupying the position of boss who have had little or no training for the role. They have simply stayed around long enough to climb up the ladder by virtue of seniority.

2. You boss is dumb as a post. He may be, but it could be that he just has a different way of doing things.

3. Sometimes he's moody, rude and abrupt. You never know what to expect.

There's really no excuse for such behavior, but the reality is you have to deal with it. Consider the possibility that your boss is reporting to someone who is riding him unmercifully to improve results. Or maybe your boss is going through a rough patch in his personal life.

4. Your boss is afraid to make a decision. He may be scared out of his wits trying to fill a position for which he is not qualified. Maybe he feels that his job is in jeopardy.

5. He always insists that things be done his way.

Consider the probability that he knows more about the situation and the assignment at hand than you do. Maybe you haven't proven that your way is better.

6. He won't share information.

Maybe he is bound by his boss to keep things close to the vest. Or it may be that he doesn't have the information to share. Or it could be that you haven't shown you can handle information properly.

7. He never pays any attention to what you do and never gives you any feedback.

When your boss ignores you, he may be paying you a compliment in his own way. That is, he could be "ignoring" you because he feels confident that you will carry out your responsibilities without his looking over your shoulder.

8. He takes all of the credit. He is jealous when the spotlight shifts away from him.

These are sure signs of an inferiority complex. His ego needs feeding. Does he see you as competition for his authority? Are you being greedy for attention?

You no doubt have some relationship problems with your boss. Take a deep breath and get use to it. You'll always have a boss. Boss problems are a constant. Another constant is that relationships with your bosses along the your career path will determine you success.

The basic strategy for building positive relationships with your boss is simple: understand the reasons for his
conduct; support him and make him look good; where he is lacking know-how provide it; prove that he can trust you and that you are team player.

Perhaps you can help your boss to get promoted and you will be moved up to take his place.

I wish you career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work

How Does Your Salary Compare?

2009-05-18T10:46:00.000-05:00

Career Coaching

You need to know how your salary compares with others in your field, as well as the industry in which you work and the area where you live, in order to manage your career path.

Fortunately, this information is readily available via a least two new Internet sites: Glassdoor.com and Jobnob.com> Contrary to some of the older sites that provide pay ranges of average income for a position in a particular geographic area, these two focus on pay scales for particular employers.

They operate on a vast amount of data. Jobnob, only three months old, posts more than 400,00 salaries. That number will soon grow to more than four million. The information contains average pay, plus the high and low range.

Check them out. If your employer is listed, you can learn how you salary stacks up. Thus informed, you can act in your own best interest in a variety of ways:

1. Be grateful your salary is in the top range.
2. Ask for a raise based on a valid comparison with what others are receiving.
3. Upgrade your skills to a better paying job.
4. Find work with another employer where the compensation is higher.

I wish your career success!

Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work