Tag Archive for: career success

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I Need a Job Now: Making Room for Serendipity

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Interested in discovering the best way to find a job and stop repeating the I need a job now mantra? Career success and job satisfaction are waiting for you.

Best way to find a job: Immerse yourself in things you love

Best way to find a job: Immerse yourself in things you love

If your mantra has become “I need a job now” it may be time to ask yourself a few questions. How did you fall into your career track? Did you follow in the footsteps of a parent or someone you admired? Did you possess a specific talent? Oftentimes, when you look back on the lives of your children and other people you knew as children, it’s easy to identify the precise moment when they made that choice. They met an entrepreneur who showed them that being your own boss could be fun, they volunteered at an animal shelter, they were inspired by a scientist’s passion for their research during a school visit, or they were praised by an Olympic athlete. They leafed through their first Vogue magazine and were in awe of the designs, or they couldn’t stop talking after watching a movie about an environmentalist’s quest.  And it all seamlessly aligned from that point on: They enrolled in certain programs, sought adults who could guide them, became involved in every activity related to their newfound interest.

For these lucky children whose parents made room for serendipity, the job they finally found was likely the perfect fit. One that brings them satisfaction and, therefore, great career success. You’re unlikely to ever hear them say: I need a job now because they don’t consider what they do “a job” but their passion.

Rubin, Burkell, Quan-Haase Serendipity Model (2011)

Rubin, Burkell, Quan-Haase Serendipity Model (2011)

In our quest to identify the best way to find a job, we tend to forget that, very possibly, the best way to find a job is to explore things you love. To replace some of the traditional job search approach for one that makes room for serendipity. To stop repeating I need a job now and start immersing yourself in what catches your attention.  In other words, open the door to experiences that might show you aspects of yourself that you don’t even know yet.

Allowing more serendipity in our lives is not only a better way to find a job but a better way to discover yourself. Whenever I step away from my computer and go for a walk, lunch with a friend, or a visit to the museum, I come back with one or two completely new ideas. Usually, these ideas are free associations of things I’ve seen, people I’ve encountered, or small attitudes that awaken something in me.

Serendipity happens

Serendipity happens

The same thing happens when you stop looking for jobs on the Internet and start meeting people who work in fields you know nothing about. Striking up conversations where these acquaintances (or total strangers!) share what they do and why they love what they do can be a source of great inspiration and the best way to find a job you didn’t know you wanted. So the next time your old mantra I need a job now pops into your head instead of turning to the job search sites pick up the phone and arrange a meeting with someone who’s career excites you.

Career Quiz: Are you ready to move up the ladder?

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Career Quiz: Are you ready to move up the ladder?

Career Quiz: Are you ready to move up the ladder?

Do you sometimes wonder whether you’re ready to move up the ladder?  Do you question your interest in taking on more responsibility or even going through any required training?

Undoubtedly, in order to move up the ladder you’ll need to take some risks and accept stretch assignments that present you with challenging situations. You might need to work extra hours and perhaps learn a new skill. The advantage is that more and more companies are looking for ways to promote their female and diverse talent. So if you have an inkling that you want to move up the ladder and expand your career opportunities this Quiz can help you assess how close from your goal you are. It will put you in touch with signs you ought to be looking for and strategies you may need to devise to move up the ladder in your career.  Go ahead, take it and then tell us how it went!

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Now, are you ready to find out if you have Executive Presence? Take our Quiz! 🙂

Inspiring People: Promoting Women Advancement in the Workplace

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Katherine Salazar, Associate Director, Consumer Healthcare Products at Valeant Pharmaceuticals

Katherine Salazar, Associate Director, Consumer Healthcare Products at Valeant Pharmaceuticals

We often look for inspiring people among the world’s celebrities. The truth is that we are surrounded by stories of inspiring people, many of which are not public figures. Katherine Salazar is the perfect example. Having moved to the U.S. at 8 years old from her native Mexico City, she has lived in six states before settling in Phoenix, AZ where she’s raising her son. Not only is she a fighter and a role model for women advancement in the workplace but she’s also one of the most inspiring people you’ll meet in her industry. With an MBA from Point Park University and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Walden that she just recently completed, Katherine is the Associate Director, Consumer Healthcare Products at Valeant Pharmaceuticals. She focuses on Hispanic Marketing and is making a big difference by approaching her job with a deep interest in the community she serves.

What are some of the major changes you’ve seen in the last twenty years around women advancement in the workplace?

I started my career exactly 20 years ago in retail, when decisions were made in the golf course and women were not welcomed at dinner meetings (it happened to me!).  I have seen some change in women advancement in the workplace but it is twofold.  I am much more secure now about myself and what I can accomplish and that gives me the strength to approach my CEO with ideas and get approval to start new projects.  That sense of empowerment and accomplishment has helped me open doors to new opportunities I could not have dreamed of 20 years ago.  The industry is also changing and adapting to women leading at the highest levels.  More needs to be done to have a balance of men and women leading organizations, but at least I feel we are getting closer to parity.

As a professional woman, what are some of the biggest challenges you face in your job and how do you manage to overcome them?

My biggest challenge in the last year and a half has been work-life-balance.  As a mom, it is a constant challenge to ensure I give over 100% to my job and to my son every day.  I can honestly say that it is impossible at times and more so when I have to travel.  My hope is that my son can learn through my actions the importance of loving what you do and always giving it your best.  As for work, I hope they understand that while my mind is at the office, my heart is always with my son.

We find you to be one of the most inspiring people in the industry. What inspires you, what do you find the most satisfying part of your work?

The most satisfying part of my job is when my marketing efforts make a difference in my consumers’ lives.  I am very passionate about building cause-related marketing efforts that give back to the Hispanic community.  This, by the way, is the topic of my doctoral study.  At Valeant, through one of my brands, we have been giving a percentage of sales to a non-profit organization that helps Hispanic students enter college and graduate.  We also give away scholarships, and when I learn the stories of the recipients, I feel proud of the work I do.

What advice do you have for women advancement in the workplace? Any particular suggestions for those who have unusual or challenging career goals?

Don’t take no for an answer!  I started my marketing career when someone told me I couldn’t do it.  A boss I had 12 years ago gave me a challenge looking forward to seeing me fail, as he had.  To his surprise, I succeeded and was promoted out of his department and into marketing.  Know what you want and fight for it with knowledge and hard work.  And remember, ask for what you want.  Don’t ever assume others above you know your goals.  Be vocal and be visible.

Give us an example of how you’re currently pushing for women advancement in the workplace.  What are you doing to help women fulfill their career goals?

I am a chapter leader of the Women’s Initiative Network at Valeant.  Our goal is to help women at Valeant reach their career goals through mentoring, training, and development.

Could you mention one or more women who have helped you get to where you are now?

I have to thank my mom for teaching me how to be a strong woman and to not be afraid to fight for my dreams.  She has been the strongest female influence and example I have had in my life.

Women advancement in the workplace: Don't be afraid to fight for your dreams

Don’t be afraid to fight for your dreams

You can contact Katherine directly at: Katherine.salazar@valeant.com

 

What’s the Best Way to Find a Job?

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Best way to find a job: Keep calm and diversify your search!

Best way to find a job: Keep calm and diversify your search!

By Susan Landon, Managing Partner New York, Alexander Hughes Executive Search Consultants

You know the feeling.  Your company has had a downsizing, and you’re out of a job.  Or your job is relatively secure, but you hate it.  Either way, you need to figure out what’s the best way to find a job. So what way is that?  Job board postings?  Recruiting sites of companies you’re interested in? Headhunters? Networking events? Informational interviews? Networking with friends and former colleagues?

The answer is “Yes.”  All of those methods can be the best way to find a job, and people have found jobs through every one of them.  If you only knew which one holds your job, then you could focus all of your energy on that one.  Unfortunately, your new position could come from any of those methods, so you need to pay attention to all of them.  Statistically, one method might generally be more successful than another, but your dream job could be waiting for you on one of the other channels.  So maximize your chances by pursuing multiple methods and combining your approach across methods.

Use job board postings and company recruiting websites, but don’t just submit your resume and hope for a response.  Research the company and find someone in your network who works there or knows someone who works there and ask for an introduction.  Companies are much more likely to hire someone who is known to and recommended by one of their employees as opposed to someone who just submits a resume on line.  Making some kind of personal connection dramatically improves the odds of landing that job you found on a job board.

Potentially the Best Way to Find a Job When You Have a Diverse Background

If you can’t find someone already in your network, search the company’s website for someone you have a connection to through an organization or a school you attended, and reach out to that person. An underused but often successful strategy is to reach out to the company’s Diversity and Inclusion department and Employee Resource Groups.  These groups may be the best way to find a job in a company where you have no other connections. They are highly interested in increasing the diversity in their company and may go that extra mile to help you in your search. They might even forward your resume to the recruiting manager.

And don’t just hide behind your computer screen.  Go out and meet people!  Go to networking events, trade association meetings, college alumni events, community events, etc. etc. etc.  You get the picture.  You never know who knows someone who knows someone who can make an introduction for you or even offer you a job.  Most jobs are filled by this word-of-mouth, personal-connection networking.  So if you hide behind your computer screen day after day, you’re only fooling yourself that you’re doing all you can to find your dream job.  On the other hand, don’t ignore what can be found on-line.  Knowing what companies are hiring and what’s going on in a company you’re interested in can inform your networking.

Don’t forget about headhunters.  But don’t over-rely on them.  You want to be on their radar in case they are searching for a candidate with your background.  But, if they don’t currently have a search that’s a fit for you, they won’t be actively looking on your behalf.

The bottom line is that you have to actively pursue all possible job search paths in order to maximize the likelihood of finding the perfect next job.   There isn’t just one best way to find a job.

Susan Landon, Managing Partner New York, Alexander Hughes Executive Search Consultants

Career Coaches: Men Mentoring and Coaching Women

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Men mentoring and coaching women - Career Coaches

Men mentoring and coaching women – Career Coaches

Men Mentoring and Coaching Women

Many of the powerful women I interviewed for my book Find Your Inner Red Shoes shared that they had received most of their mentoring and coaching from men. Some had early male career coaches or mentors who made a big impact in their journeys. Some sought out male mentoring and coaching as they moved through the ranks and became these men’s protégés. Regardless of the industry these women were in, they all found men who saw the value in helping them become leaders in their desired field.

The Real Role of Career Coaches

When you look for potential mentors to coach your female employees up the organizational ladder, it’s easy to settle for the more common role of a career coach: Helping people advance in their careers by refining their strengths and overcoming their weaknesses. What is harder to find are career coaches who guide your employees through a process of self-discovery that eventually leads to a better alignment between their inner strengths and passions, and their career track. Someone who functions as a catalyst for your employees’ ambitions and who guides them in the path to self-fulfillment which is the surest way to heightened career engagement and productivity. This is exactly the type of mentor that the successful women I interviewed had!

The Real Role of Career Coaches: Having a Career

The Real Role of Career Coaches

As you look for potential career coaches to match with females on the fast track, keep in mind that mentors don’t need to look like their mentees. For good mentoring and coaching to occur, it’s less important for it to be delivered by someone with the same background/gender as the mentee than by someone with the ability to unleash their mentees’ interests. In addition, what makes a mentor/coach most valuable is the ability to help mentees crack the code for career advancement in the organization—who to approach for what, what strategies will land them a seat at the table, best ways to leverage their background, and so on. In the best-case scenario, as the relationship progresses, mentors become sponsors introducing their mentees to key players and becoming conduits to bigger and better career advancement opportunities.

The Advantage of Men Mentoring and Coaching Women

When the goal is to promote more women to leadership positions and the dominant demographic in power is men, it’s important that men do some of the mentoring and coaching of the high potential women (particularly women from diverse backgrounds) to create a succession plan that includes both genders.

There are many advantages for your company to have men as career coaches for women:

  • Men can help women decipher the unwritten rules of the organization, the ignorance of which can affect women and other groups negatively.
  • Men can become powerful sponsors of the women they are mentoring and coaching, vouching for their abilities and integrity when a desirable position becomes available.
  • The exposure to women’s thought process, collaborative style, and approach to problem-solving can help men see the value of including more women at higher decision-making levels.
  • The positive impact of working with smart women who are advancing through the ranks can help change the perception that they are a threat to men’s power and elicit more support for women in the organization.
Career coaches

Career coaches

Potential Disadvantages of Men Mentoring and Coaching Women

Because men and women have very different management and leadership styles and because in most companies the top echelon of the organization is highly male, when you assign men as career coaches for women there is a  risk of perpetuating the stereotypes that have created the disparity in the first place. So it behooves you to identify the right men for the job.  Men who embrace change and welcome different approaches and ideas. Those who feel comfortable sharing knowledge and power because they understand that in the end the strategy will benefit the entire organization.

Finally, to achieve your goals of promoting more women to the highest decision-making positions, you might need to assign both a male and a female career coach to your fast track employees. The first one will share insights on the way men climb the ladder and the second will hopefully offer the tweaks necessary to succeed as a woman in your particular company.