Melissa Anzman's Blog, page 5

Making it Work

Make it Work t-shirt pic from Wire and Twine

Oh how I love Tim Gunn on Project Runway when he utters the words, “Make it work!” How many times a day do you have to utter those same words to yourself when something goes off-track? If you are me, it’s several times a day… and this week (yes, I know – it’s only Monday), has been a make it work experience.

When you are at work, inevitably we don’t always get our way. It’s frustrating, annoying, and sometimes downright demotivating. Especially when you know you are right. But I digress…

I’ll admit that I used to react to adversity at work in a reactive manner. I’d get argumentative, press my perspective or point of view, shatter the other person’s concept with a line-by-line dissection. Pretty, no? As I’m sure you can imagine, I didn’t win any friends with this approach.

So I tried something different and shifted my reactivity into troubleshooting. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever been given is from a sales manager who told me to never come to the table with only the problem. Present solutions in the same breath. So here is the best solution I’ve come up with when you really want to react to the annoying stuff around you.

How to NOT Get Huffy

I’m certain that most people would react like I used to – get somewhat personally offended and want to respond (maybe even loudly). Now I make the best of the situation and start attacking the solution, instead of dwelling on the problem.

Scenario 1 (from today): My work laptop broke.

It won’t turn on. It won’t load. And it definitely won’t allow me to do the work I need to do. Awesome start to a Monday, no?

Old reaction: total freak out; yelling at the HP guy who wanted me to pay him $99 to just tell me if there is a problem with my computer, followed by perhaps some ranting and raving about how ridiculous the whole thing is, and ending with running out and getting a new computer because I *may* have done some harm to it.
New reaction: This is not an ideal situation, but I’m going to make it work… read some online forums, tried a bunch of things that didn’t work, searched for a local computer fix-it person, and figure out other ways to get work done.

See the difference? So perhaps not the ideal example, but when you are work – you can use the same principles.

Scenario 2 (at work): You are going to miss a deadline for a big project.

It happens. No, it’s not ideal, but sometimes you just aren’t able to complete something on time – regardless of whose fault it is.

Old reaction: Make excuses and try your best to CYA (cover your a$s) to your boss and perhaps pass the blame on to someone else.
New reaction: Notify your boss as soon as you know it’s going to happen and take full ownership of the situation. Don’t just come with the problem, but also a solution. Something like…

“Unfortunately I am not going to be able to meet this deadline. I ran into some issues with X when trying to solve Y, which set me back in time, but ensured I stayed on track. To that end, I would like to propose an updated timeline, although late, of XX. In addition to the original scope of work, what would you think if we did Y as well to help ease the issue of the missed deadline?”

Being able to make it work in any situation will greatly improve your work persona and your reputation at work. It presents a cool, calm and collected demeanor, even if on the inside you are freaking out (or cursing someone out). By focusing on what can be done next instead of what’s already happened, you will be the go-to person for just about anything. You will be known as the “fire-fighter” instead of fire-starter, which is awesome. And a great talking point when your manager is ready to discuss your readiness during Talent Management meetings.

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Entrepreneurship – Year One and Counting…

Jenny Blake from Life After College is offering a ridiculous program today for a May Mastermind. This is a one-month intensive program with direct access to Jenny – with special guests Paul Angone and me (?! um, what? So freaking excited). We will be sharing our lessons from our careers and help you get onto the right path. Want to join us or learn more?

Check it out!!!

This week officially marks my first full year of being a solopreneur. It’s crazy really – in so many ways the year went by extremely fast, and in other ways it feels like an eternity ago that I was working for someone else. The list of lessons learned and knowledge gained could be a book in and of itself (wait – should that be my next book?). Some of these lessons I’ll be chatting about in Jenny’s May Mastermind, but here are some general thoughts…

Year One: The Insanity of Entrepreneurship

No matter how much you prepare for it, it’s still strange to have complete control over your work time and schedule.
It’s extremely easy to become a hermit and/or a workaholic.
You will experience extreme mood swings in the beginning. And the middle. And, well, always. When things are going good – you are more excited than ever. When they aren’t, there may be some “de-ledge” discussions.
Maybe you are smarter than me, but I have yet to get my estimate earnings budget on-target for the month.
What you think your business will be, will probably turn out to be something different.
Your website mechanics (design, layout, tinkering, etc.) matters waaaaay less than you think it does.
There’s no reason to obsess over “numbers” like traffic, comments, shares/likes, etc. You will drive yourself crazy if you do.
If you hear the advice, “write epic sh*t to get a huge audience,” one more time, you will start ignoring all advice.
Your family probably doesn’t understand what you do or why you are doing it – that’s ok, they are proud of you anyway.
Diversifying is the best idea you’ve ever had. Just like your money portfolio, the more buckets and income streams you have, the more potential you have to make money and sustain bumps.
You will be disappointed in other people, particularly those who you thought would help you along the way. This will happen time and time again, but you will have one bump from someone and it will restore your faith in others wanting to help out.
Don’t waste your time in the weeds – focus on incoming generating items as much as possible… because that’s how you get paid.
Your clients will most likely come from people you know. Stop wasting your efforts (and money – omg, the money) on casting a huge net around the web. Start with your people – and grow outward from there.
You will run into a lot of negative nellie’s. You can either let their opinions sway you or stay the course. When you stay the course, you will be more successful in the long-run.
Think outside of the box to earn income. All of those stories where they put their shingle up and make $10k in their first month, aren’t really true. Don’t expect that – and think of all of the ways to generate income to help you reach your goals – freelance gigs, expanding your skills/business, partnering with others.
You will experience more pride in your accomplishments than ever before. Bask in this feeling, enjoy it, and celebrate it. Remember these when you have a bad day, or month (they will happen).
Keep your “why you do it” statement and your personal balance scale, in front of you at all times. Pull it out when needed and stay firm in your pursuit.
Find someone (or a few someones), who are in a similar boat/business as you. Build strong relationships with them and be vulnerable.

I could go on and on and on. There were many bumps, ups and downs, extreme wins, and some losses. But at the end of year one, I am excited. I know that the best is still ahead and I have so many lessons in place to help me get through new obstacles.

The most important lesson: Be grateful and show your gratitude to the people who help make this possible – your clients and supporters. So THANK YOU!!!! I am overjoyed and honored to be able to do this full-time. Cheers to the next year of solopreneurship!

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Practical Tactical Thursday – What to Bring to the Interview

Landing an onsite interview for a position you are excited about, is a huge win. Phone interviews are great for people who know how to “schmooze” and win a popularity contest. But onsite interviews are equal opportunity impression points! And once you are onsite, you need to make sure you make the best of the opportunity.

Showing Up – What You Need to Bring to the Interview
Dress for success, regardless.

If I have to review proper interview attire one more time, I may scream. In a nutshell (do you think of this when you see this word?) , wear a suit and dress your best. I know that there are a small number of companies (i.e., Google), who frowns upon a “corporate” look and feel during the interview process, but even if you are interviewing at a company that has a casual feel, you are still there to win them over. And nothing says, “I’m taking you seriously” more than presenting a polished visual.

Bring copies of your resume.

After applying for a position, we may take a closer look at our resume (ahem), and realize that there was a spelling error or perhaps some important relevant bullet points missing. Instead of making a big deal about it during the process, just be sure to bring updated resumes to the interview with you. Most interviewees will have copies of your resume already, but some may have forgotten to print it out. So be prepared, and supply them!

I usually recommend bringing three more than the number of people you are scheduled to meet with. I can’t tell you how many times, especially with a strong candidate, we have pulled other people into the interview room without warning, to try and tackle as many “meet and greets” as possible.

Package your resume materials as though they are marketing materials.

These said copies of your resume, need to be presented well. In other words, if you have a two-page resume, print it on one sheet of paper. Make sure that the print out is correct – top of the front of the page is also the top of the back of the page. Less paper means there is a better chance of all of your qualifications staying bundled in one neat little package.

Also, upgrade your paper. No, DO NOT go out and get that old school linen paper, but do spring for the white copy paper that is a bit thicker and has no see through/bleed through. (Did my paper/office supply nerdiness just come out?).

Create a portfolio.

People who work in fields that have outputs/deliverables such as graphic design or marketing, tend to instinctively know that they need to create a portfolio… and everyone else doesn’t have this on their radar. Every single candidate can WOW the interview team by bringing a portfolio.

But Melissa, how can I possibly have a portfolio if I work in HR/Finance/IT/enter field?

Oh, I’m so glad you asked. In every job, you deliver things. You work with people. You make sure that things get done. So look back and review all of these big blocks that you have worked on throughout your career, and figure out how to present them visually.

For example, if you worked in HR and was part of a major benefits package overhaul, you can print out a mini-brochure about what was delivered, or going even more basic – snag a graphic email or flyer that was used in promoting these changes.

If you worked in Finance and was part of a major cost savings that led to increased profits, save a copy of the press release or create a graph showing what your work’s impact was to the business.

This step will take some time as most likely you will be creating new materials, but the output is a visual win and gives you a talking map through the interview. It also roots your experience in ACTUAL projects and deliverables. The best part – one you create your portfolio, you can easily continue to build it up going forward.

Be prepared, but not a robot.

Finally, show up knowledgeable. Know about the company, what they value, what their mission is, and what the position is all about. Don’t be caught like a deer in headlights. Study the position and take the interview seriously. But don’t be too practiced. The whole point of an interview is to have a conversation – so listen to the flow, and respond appropriately. Don’t plan on a script or a “if he says this, I’ll answer that.”

 

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New on LAC: 5 Ways to Craft Your Work Persona

My newest post on Life After College discusses 5 Ways to Craft Your Work Persona (and a few other information nuggets you should have learned in college… but were probably absent that day).

Your work persona is what you are “known for” at work. It’s not a complete picture of who you are, but it’s how you represent yourself. It’s the perception that you craft and hone. It’s the things you want to be known for. It’s what helps make you successful at work – and define to others, what success means to you.

Many of us enter the workforce as though we are entering another classroom or a date. “Just be yourself.” You show up as you are, and get to work.

Great advice if you are dating, but it could lead you astray in an office environment… especially if you are working in a cross-generational work-space. You don’t need to change who you are, but you do need to craft your work persona.

I learned this the hard way. (Of course I did!)

Check out all of the knocks I had along the way and the 5 questions to ask to create your work persona.

Continue Reading…

 

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My Balance Scale Test

One of the pillars of my career, has been the concept of my personal balance scale. Essentially, every career move had to have a specific redeeming quality in order to hold my interest and keep me put. In the corporate world, my two balance pillars have usually been Interesting Work and Making Money.

The funny thing is, that I have continually said how money isn’t really a motivating factor to me. But that’s kind of a lie. Or perhaps not a full truth.

Outwardly, it was easy to say that. It was easy to say yes to projects that were fun, exciting and interesting. And if it brought in money while doing so, even better.

But out of the side of mouth, in the back of my mind, I often muttered, “But yeah – wouldn’t it be great to make a lot of money doing it too?”

I have never admitted that to anyone. I don’t know if it’s because I know how tough it can be when you are not making a ton of money, particularly when you are a solopreneur, or if I am more materialistic than I thought. But I did think those words when an opportunity arose.

Based on that thought process, I have taken on projects or clients in the past that were probably not my “ideal” situation. Not because they were awful opportunities, in fact, just the opposite. But I took them on because I thought of the earning potential in the long-run. Ugh, that sentence alone embarrasses the hell out of me.

It usually worked out ok – the project was completed without issue; the client was beyond happy; and if I struggled a bit, it wasn’t drastic or long-lasting. Until a few months ago. It all came to a head.

And it was UGLY.

Essentially, I knew that I had signed on for something that wasn’t a great fit. I knew that I was making a decision to say yes because of the earning potential. I knew that I wasn’t following my gut or honoring my balance scale or making “the right” decision. But I did it anyway.

And it was excruciating for me. My life was literally turned upside down. I was beyond stressed out, beyond being able to find any redeeming qualities in my experience, beyond deep breaths. People – I resorted to drinking wine smoothies. (Yes, there is such a thing and don’t judge – it was an impulse purchase an it was actually pretty darn good).

After the dust cleared and I pondered the situation for a few months, here’s what I know for sure.

I can’t just suck it up anymore for the sake of money. It’s not enough for me.
I am grateful for the opportunities I currently have, the income I’m making, and the people I get to work with.
I will never again not trust my gut. Period, end of story. I learned this beyond the hard way and let’s just say, this lesson has been checked off.
We all have hard limits when it comes to work – and it may be a bit painful or clumsy to work through them at the time, it’s much better on the other side.
Experiences like these are essential to help us align our beliefs with our work – and when they aren’t lined up, something needs to change.
You will continue to experience a situation until the lesson is learned. (And for the record – this experience helped me learn so many lessons that months later, I’m still finding new ones! How awesome is that?)
NO ONE is able to validate your balance scale for you – and similarly, it may be difficult for others to understand when you go against “the norm” when learning these lessons. Trust yourself – you’ve got it right.

Have you had your balance scale challenged at all? I’d love to hear how you responded to it and what you learned.

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Practical Tactical Thursday – Communication Channels

There are too many ways for us to connect with each other. There. I said it – apparently I’m getting old because I am starting to get annoyed with all of the available communication methods, devices, channels, and the etiquette for each one.

Or should I say the lack of etiquette?

Communication Method Guidelines
1. Texting is NOT ok.

Unless you are my friend or I have specifically asked you to text me, don’t text me (or the hiring manager or the recruiter). Seriously, don’t do it. Texting is for quick conversations, back-and-forth interaction, last minute communication. It’s not for following up on a resume, or application submission, or for expressing interest in working with me.

Use this rule of thumb: Never text a potential hiring manager, recruiter, or other professional contact without expressed pre-approved consent.

2. Telephone

Most recruiters these days, loathe getting unsolicited follow-up telephone calls. Think about it from their perspective: they sit on the phone talking to candidates all day long; they have the potential for a zillion “follow-up” phone calls; and have to fit in their own work/calls in between. Getting one more can easily spiral them into a free-fall.

For positions at the manager and above level, you should follow-up – and phone is a viable option. However, remember these things:

Leave ONE message – speak clearly, provide your name and the position you applied for, along with your phone number, and a short “wanted to express my interest” sentence. Then hang up.
Do not keep calling until you reach a live person. Companies have caller ID – they see you calling every single time you do. And they are probably hoping you leave a vm. So call once, leave a message, and move the heck on.
When you reach someone live, keep the call under five minutes (I’d say ideally no more than three, but for all of you talkers out there…). The intent is to follow-up, get your resume at the top of their pile, and reaffirm why you are awesome. Think of this call as your elevator speech on why they need to interview you. Say your piece, let the person talk, then hang up. Short, sweet, simple.

3. Email

Glorious, glorious email. Obviously this is my favorite communication method, and many recruiter’s favorite as well. They can read it when they are able to carve out time for it; they can take instant actionable steps post-reading your email; and they can easily follow-up with you if needed.

Your email follow-up should be different than your original application. In other words, don’t resubmit your cover letter and resume – especially if you applied with those via email. Instead, your follow-up email needs to be short, concise, and provide either additional information that was not included in your original submission, or strongly highlight a significant attribute/skill set that you have that the position is seeking. Think of it as a flashing billboard of one particular accomplishment – pique the recruiter’s interest in you.

An email also makes it easy for the recruiter to click on certain things of value. If you have a website or a hosted version of your resume, add that link directly into the email.

DO: Hi, I’m Sally Smith and I’ve applied for…
DON’T: Hi, I’m Sally Smith and you can read more about me here: http://entersomerandomlonglink (dot)com.

4. Twitter

I saw a new technology of application through Twitter this morning, and I almost screamed. I’m sure I’ll be eating these words in a few years, but people – do not follow-up with a recruiter via Twitter. Seriously? How many things do you miss in your Twitter feed? And that was the only work-appropriate defense I could add in this post.

Other reasons include… it’s not as effective/impactful to the majority of corporate recruiters out there; Twitter is blocked as a service at many companies; it can be seen as “lazy” – or not really applying your people-interaction skills to follow-up; I’m not sure how awesome you can be in 140 characters or less; what else is in that Twitter stream of yours; and so on.

5. LinkedIn

I am a fan of LinkedIn and the capability it allows all of us to connect for work. When I see an awesome resume or get off a phone interview, I absolutely look someone up on LinkedIn. So use that to your advantage. Some people will only accept people they know personally, others like to expand their network to include potential candidates.

Bottom line – if that person is applicable to you, as in – you are not collecting friends, then send a request to connect or a LinkedIn mail message. No harm, no foul people – stop wasting time thinking if it’s “appropriate.”

6. Facebook

See number one and number four above. No, do not do this. This is never ok – the end.

What communication channels are driving you batty these days? 

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Being a PC in a World of Macs

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I made a BIG purchase a few months back… I bought a Microsoft Surface – you know, the iPad/computer mix with all of those dancing/clicking commercials. It took me forever to decide on it – not because it was a big purchase (which it certainly was), but because I had to choose if I really am a PC instead of a Mac.

Let me step back a bit. I am from a large family, and every single one of my four siblings own an iPhone, all have an iPad, and there are several Touches, Nanos and Shuffles mixed in. I am the “hold-out.” My phone is android-based that is a few years too old, and my Shuffle is from the 2008. I love the technology and interface, but absolutely loathe being tied to one central purchasing system. It feels wrong. (It’s also why I’m not a huge fan of the Kindle… but that’s another story).

I am competent on both PCs and Macs, but for my personal operating systems, I have chosen PCs because I already owned so much software. But a portable device is different. The iPad is the obvious answer… right?

I couldn’t do it. The iPad just wasn’t right for me. I needed a portable device that I could work on as though I were at my desk. I needed a real keyboard, with programs that I used daily, and the ability to literally take my work with me. I’m sure other devices have some of that, but the only product that truly met all of those things for me was a Surface.

And I knew that from the moment I started my research. But I refused to buy it. I felt guilty for not considering an iPad. I stalled my purchase by several months because I couldn’t “justify” my deviation from the norm, to my friends and family.

WHAT?

I’ve come across this feeling before – haven’t we all? I want to quit a job, I want to pursue a job at a different company, I politely decline a job offer at a “dream company.” You know… all of the choices we know we make for ourselves, but constantly question our decision-making capabilities because of outside influences?

We all fall prey to it at one time or another – and for me, it was a technology decision. But our culture has made being a Mac or a PC a… thing. I am an online solopreneur. I work on/build websites for fellow coaches. I should be a Mac – you know, the cool, technologically inclined vision that they have created. But I’m not.

Instead of embracing that and going for the thing that works for me, I went without. And pondered my decision. And drove my friends insane with my constant vacillation.

While I am more than happy to discuss how much I am loving my Surface, all of the fun things I’ve used it for and so on, it’s not about the device. (It never is…)

It’s about owning who you are and trusting your gut when making decisions.

It’s about finding what works for YOU. Not what works for your friends, family members, or society. Isn’t that why there are so many options out there?

And that includes making career decisions.

Stop pursuing jobs that make you miserable, only because you are good at them. Stop staying at companies because they have a BIG name if you are unhappy. Don’t relentlessly pursue someone else’s dream and career path.

I know, easier said than done.

But it starts with making a simple statement when the time comes – are you a Mac or a PC? And does it really matter if you are following your own path?  

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Around the Web…

So there a few awesome things from around the web that I wanted to share with you. Enjoy!

New today on Life After College: Not Getting Hired – The Fallout and Recovery

I don’t tend to get attached to companies – especially during the interview process. I use the “apply to anything that is interesting and you meet the requirements at 70%” rule when searching for jobs. And help us all if I kept a record of all of the jobs I’ve applied to over the years – the list could comprise a phone book (remember those?).

But there was one job that I wanted more than anything else. It spoke to me. I was moving across the country and wanted to have a job to go to while I transitioned – you know, to tell me that I was making the right decision (and I suppose, to finance the move as well).

The job couldn’t have been more tailor-made for me if they had asked me what my dream job is.

Read more on Life After College

From Emerging Local Government Leaders: Executive Search with Melissa Anzman

Today we hear from author and blogger Melissa Anzman. Her blog, Loosen Your White Collar, is one-stop shopping for navigating the corporate ladder. Melissa is ahead of the curve in acknowledging the importance of incorporating social media in our professional careers. Tip of the hat to Mac Prichard and Jessica Williams of Mac’s List for bringing Melissa’s work to our attention.

Read More on ELGL

From Secrets of the Job Hunt: How to Create a Job Search Strategy

There is more to landing a new job than simply searching online and applying. In fact, leveraging only that approach may find you endlessly seeking. Finding a new job should be approached with as much forethought and strategic planning as any project you would tackle at work, or in your personal life.

You need to create an individualized job search strategy to ensure you get the most out of the time you are putting into the search, and converting opportunities into offers.

Read More on Secrets of the Job Hunt

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Why You Want to Be Unhappy at Work

You enjoy being unhappy at work – don’t balk at that statement, think about it sincerely. We all know that the only way to change our state of being, is to change something that is in our control. Unhappiness is combatted through eliminating things that make us unhappy, rebalancing our perspective, or making a drastic change.

Day in and day out, we keep showing up at our jobs being unhappy… or resentful, or downright done. But we keep doing it – in a great “Groundhog’s Day” exercise. I have often said that people want to be unhappy at work, to which I always get a defensive response. I am certain it’s true.

When I was in miserable jobs, and believe me – there were plenty of those, it took a LOT to make me change my state of mind. And if I’m honest, I simply kept changing jobs – my unhappiness and triggers of dissatisfaction followed me to the next job.

At work, we are surrounded by other unhappy people. It gives us a common bond, a similar theme to discuss. It unites us – our unhappiness, our complaints, our pain points. It doesn’t matter what our backgrounds are, what our differences are, what our output is – we can always gather around the water cooler and lament about the same miserable things.The person in Marketing is just as unhappy as the Finance team.

It’s what we have in common – unhappiness.

How many times have you been a part of a lunch conversation when someone was dissing the boss, the company, the latest product? I recall some very heated lunchtime chats… and being somewhat ambivalent about my boss, until I heard my colleagues share some recent interactions/details. It changed my opinion about her – drastically. And of course I had to add onto the conversation, she was my boss after all.

The point is, we do like having a community – even if it’s one we arbitrarily build seeped in unhappiness. It is uncomfortable to be the person at lunch who sticks up for the boss, who provides an alternative perspective, who walks away from the table.

That’s how I know you are ok with being unhappy at work.

It’s hard to change something that we are conditioned to do – be part of the team, collaborate together, share opinions and thoughts, let others sway us. In part, it helps us not only stay unhappy at work, but also keeps us attached to the very things that we think are making us unhappy.

Now What?

When reflecting on your miserable job (or boss, or company, or whatever), do you immediately think of excuses of what you can’t change the situation?

“I am the breadwinner. There’s no way I’ll be able to make as much money elsewhere.”
“It’s a tough job market, no one is hiring.”
“I’ve applied to positions, I’m just not getting any hits.”
“I’ve been here for so long, I can’t let my seniority go.”

These can be reasonable excuses (ahem, explanations), but at the core – they are what is keeping you in a perpetual state of unhappiness at work. Not judging you – in fact, I’ve stayed unhappy in a job for AGES. My excuse was that I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do, so I may as well make as much money as possible while I was waiting. Even if I hated my job, my boss, and was losing respect for the company, daily.

You can only change things that you can influence. You cannot change what a jerk your boss is (oh, I have so many awesome stories about this!), you can’t change the company’s hierarchy or priorities, or how they view/treat their employees.

What you can change is:

Your state of mind: Make a decision that you are going to be happy at work. I talk about how to do this extensively in Stop Hating Your Job. But essentially, you need to pick a day and declare it to the world! I am NOT going to be miserable at work anymore! I won’t!
Change your environment: If you truly are unhappy, you have to make a change. Change won’t come to you without any work or effort (trust me, I’ve waited for years for something like this to arrive on my doorstep). Stop getting behind excuses and start making moves.
Eliminating the negatives: When there are everyday things that continually make you groan, figure out a way to eliminate them. Come up with a better/more efficient process; see if there is anyone else that you can hand it off to; create a reward to look forward to. I know, not perfect – but if you are really unhappy with something, start making moves.

Remember – only YOU can influence your state of mind and perspective. So change it – and stop being unhappy… you’ll still be a part of the team.

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Hiring Experts

I’m not going to win any friends with this post – in fact, I am probably going to lose a few. But I just can’t help myself – I’m tired of sitting by watching YOU get scammed.

In the past few weeks, I have been bombarded with “experts.” These are people I know personally, online, or just random peeps sent my way. And the one thing that many of them have in common, is they aren’t QUALIFIED to be experts.

And you’re falling for it. And wondering why you aren’t getting your desired results or moving forward. I just can’t stand seeing you being taken advantage any longer.

Experts, Have Expertise

When you want someone on your team, you want the best – the person best suited for the job, position, role, and so on. For some reason when we look to hire consultants, coaches, or experts online, we forget this concept more often than not.

Instead we look for a close referral, someone we’ve crossed paths with before, someone Google told us was ranked high, or someone who “looks” like they can be a good match. These are all superficial… and will lead you to getting scammed.

So while I will be burning some bridges, here are a few key things to look for when you are hiring an expert.

What to Look for When…
Hiring a Resume Writer

To be honest, it’s extremely easy to put a shingle out providing resume services, since all job seekers need a fabulous resume to use during the job hunt. However, before you pay a resume writer, make sure that person has FIRST-HAND experience in Human Resources, Recruiting and as a hiring manager. Not one of the three options, but ALL THREE touch-points. Each of these experiences adds valuable insight and input to create an awesome resume for you.

They can’t just be someone who is saying they are a resume expert. Or someone who wants to be a graphic designer. Or someone who thinks that they know best because they have hired a team before.

He/she needs to be intimately experienced with the various programs, processes and conventions of how people get hired – particularly through online applications and networking. Stop thinking that someone who has a blog is qualified – that has nothing to do with it. Unqualified resume writers may “pretty up” your resume materials, but it’s going to still be lipstick on a pig.

Hiring a Coach

I am going to get a lot of hate mail for saying this – but holy sh*tballs people, I can’t keep it in anymore. Hire a coach that has DIRECT life or work experience in the area that you are seeking guidance with.

Don’t pick a writing coach that hasn’t been published by a traditional publisher. A career coach who hasn’t worked within the career and/or HR industry. A fitness/health coach who isn’t in tip-top shape. A life coach who hasn’t truly lived (years and experiences) or accomplished things that you aspire to.

A warm body or someone you “get along with” isn’t enough of a qualification to coach you to success. Choose wisely – otherwise you will end up spilling your guts without anything in return.

Networking/Sales Advice

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: the best networkers out there are salespeople, people who have climbed the ladder well, HR (if we’re talking about career networking), and self-made entrepreneurs (variable – but if they are successful, they probably had to do a ton of networking). So why in heavens are you looking to people without any of those qualifications to teach you how to connect with others?

Stop looking for the quick fix here and start looking for people who have successfully networked their way into BIG opportunities. Let them share what worked/what didn’t… don’t take advice from a new grad who just landed his/her first job (although they clearly did something that worked, once does not create a system).

Getting the Drift?

Blogging advice from someone who has created a wildly successful blog.
Marketing advice from a true marketer – consistently converting and delivering.
Entrepreneur advice from someone who has launched a successful (you can define success on your own) business (and even better if they have failed at one beforehand).

You need to surround yourself with experts who have delivered what you are seeking – who are the desired outcome. For me, I would be a horrific health/fitness coach – I’m not awesome with the consistency factor (yet). Could I put a shingle up and call myself a fitness coach… yes I could, and you would probably find my site. But I wouldn’t excel at it because it’s not one of my strengths in my own life.

Bottom Line

Do your own research to determine if that person/blog actually adds qualified value and most importantly, has experience delivering and achieving what you are seeking.

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