(RE)BOOT YOUR CAREER A BLUEPRINT FOR FINDING YOUR CALLING, MARKETING YOURSELF, AND LANDING GREAT GIGS TIM RAGAN and PAUL GIBBONS ii DEDICATION While data show that many people are unhappy in their jobs or unfulfilled by their careers, few decide to do something about that. Fewer act. Fewer still persevere in reaching their full potential. This book is for those who persevere. Tim Ragan & Paul Gibbons: Copyright Text by Tim Ragan and Paul Gibbons All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the authors. Tim Ragan: http://careerconstructors.com Paul Gibbons: http://paulgibbons.net First edition – September 2016 ISBN - 978-0-9976512-0-1 iii Table of Contents PREFACE: About This Book .................................................................... vi INTRODUCTION: Careers in the 21st Century ......................................... 1 SECTION ONE: The Inside Job – Building Your Foundation .................. 12 Stage 1: Beyond the Pursuit of Happiness ..................................... 14 Step 1: Completing the Flourishing questionnaire Step 2: Scoring the questionnaire Step 3: Reflecting and journaling Step 4: Talking to two or three confidants Stage 2: Components of a Rewarding Career ................................ 18 Step 1: Reflecting and journaling Stage 3: Personality—How Am I Wired? ....................................... 20 Step 1: Completing the PAVF Work-Styles Profiling Survey Step 2: Scoring your survey Step 3: Understanding your PAVF profile Step 4: Reflecting and journaling about your PAVF profile Stage 4: How Do I Describe Myself? .............................................. 28 Step 1: Creating a first cut word pile Step 2: Doing the career ad exercise Step 3: Consolidating your first cut list of Descriptors Stage 5: Unpacking Your Backpack ................................................ 32 Step 1: Listing your work and life accomplishments Step 2: Correlating descriptors and accomplishments Step 3: Reducing your word pile Step 4: Getting feedback from trusted sources Stage 6: Declaring Your Mission, Vision, and Values..................... 35 Step 1: Creating a mission statement Step 2: Constructing your vision Step 3: Declaring your values Step 4: Sharing this work with your confidants Section One Recap ............................................................................... 43 iv SECTION TWO: Developing a Personal Brand – Your Compelling Value Story ..................................................................................................... 44 Stage 1: Building Your Résumé Step by Step ................................. 48 Step 1: Showcasing your accomplishments Step 2: Learning through imitation Step 3: Giving your accomplishments weight Stage 2: Creating an Impressive Opportunity Sought ................... 54 Step 1: Brainstorming your Opportunity Sought Step 2: Developing and testing your Opportunity Sought Step 3: Testing your Opportunity Sought (checklist) Stage 3: Describing Your Capabilities ............................................. 61 Step 1: Building first cut Capabilities, then iterating Step 2: Testing your Capabilities section (checklist) Step 3: Sharing your work with a trusted confidant Stage 4: Constructing Your Résumé ............................................... 65 Step 1: Building page 2 of your résumé Step 2: Assembling your (second) résumé Stage 5: Creating Your Biography and Tagline............................... 71 Step 1: Writing your biography Stage 6: Using LinkedIn and Social Media ..................................... 74 Step 1: Mapping your biography and tagline onto LinkedIn Step 2: Researching your current online reputation Step 3: Cobbling together your social media strategy Step 4: Picking through the cluttered social media landscape Step 5: Considering other essentials Section Two Recap ............................................................................... 92 SECTION THREE: The Outside Job – Modern Networking and Job-Hunting Skills ................................................................................. 94 Stage 1: How the Job Market Actually Works ............................... 95 Step 1: Confirm your career search time budget Stage 2: The Science of Networks and Human Connection ........ 104 Step 1: Schedule events and prep your work – now! Step 2: Schedule some Exploration Meetings now! v Step 3: Read, summarize, then practice, practice, practice Stage 3: Managing and Progressing Opportunities ..................... 116 Step 1: Creating a “pipeline” spreadsheet Step 2: Assessing relevant opportunities Step 3: Managing formal applications and interviews Step 4: Submitting formal applications Step 5: Prepping for formal interviews Stage 4: Negotiating and Closing ................................................. 136 Step 1: Negotiating your package Step 2: Responding to a first offer Step 3: Negotiating your benefits package Step 4: Working to create multiple offers Step 5: Finalizing and accepting an offer Step 6: Celebrating (and writing about it)! Section Three Recap .......................................................................... 152 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................... 154 vi PREFACE: About This Book vii Why Should I Read This Book? We find, in our work as consultants and coaches, that people struggle with seven categories of career problems. If one or more of these sound like you, then (Re)boot Your Career will help you get the results you want. 1. “I’m just starting off, and don’t have a clue what I want to do with my life.” You’re the reason we called this book (Re)boot and not Reboot, because you are looking to boot up your career for the first time. Our blueprint will provide you with self-awareness and tools to do that. The sooner you start a process such as this, the greater the lifetime benefits. 2. “I’ve applied for countless roles, but haven’t landed a job.” We often hear about people who apply for dozens (or hundreds) of roles online and don’t receive any feedback, let alone an interview. If this is you, you need to do two things: (a) rebrand your application materials, but more importantly b) circumvent the “numbers game” that is online job applications. We provide you with some useful tools to accomplish this. 3. “My current job is unfulfilling.” Perhaps you are unchallenged, coasting through the day, feeling as if you use 10% of your skills and abilities. You don’t necessarily want to leave your organization; however, you definitely need to figure out how to enjoy your work more, find opportunities to do more meaningful work, and reap the rewards of your greater contribution. Our insights on finding your passion and developing a personal brand can help you find more fulfilling work in your current company. viii 4. “I’m not sure I’m in the right line of work.” Perhaps you are second-guessing your decision to work in a certain field. You have invested much in your education, and aren’t sure how to transfer your education and skills to another environment. We show you how to articulate your capabilities and package them as highly transferable. 5. “I’m in a career transition.” You have decided to leave your company, or perhaps the organization laid you off. You might be trying to reenter the workforce after having raised a family or finished school. You might want to work in another industry, or just want to shift gears, learn new skills, and set out on a new path. You need to navigate through the uncertainty of a major career transition and discover your perfect job. Follow our process for a successful transition. 6. “I’m soloing.” You left the traditional employee role to embark on your own. You might refer to yourself as an independent, a freelancer, a consultant, a contractor, or a “solopreneur.” You want your soloing to be based on a realistic assessment of your skills and values. We will help you develop a solid value proposition and guide you through communicating that message to your target audience. 7. “I’m of retirement age, but have no desire to retire.” While you have formally retired from your job, days filled with golf, cable news, and shopping aren’t fulfilling. You know you have more to give back, but aren’t sure what that looks like. The possibilities seem almost endless. This book will put structure and discipline into how to make that transition. Other clients have had different situations, but these seven are the most common. Many people live with these circumstances for ix decades, either from not having the courage to change or a road map of how to do so. How Exactly Will (Re)boot Your Career Help Me? This book provides a blueprint, tools, and action steps to make better choices and create magnificent opportunities. The four sections of this book are building blocks that help you develop clarity, sense of purpose, and disciplined habits to help you advance your career. Some of the tools, such as the résumé and social media tools, can be used on a standalone basis. Despite this, we recommend that you take on the book sequentially, because it provides a holistic process that will lend power to your résumé and social media presence. This, we think, produces greater results. By reading this book and completing the numerous exercises, you will: Understand yourself better and your career choices; Grow confident in your career niche and the contribution you