Celebrations!
Tell me your story! Let’s inspire others who are still on the hunt for something new!
Just landed! Pam J., Marcia P., Greg H., Jenny C., Pam S., Diane E., Sally O., Marcia R., Shane S., Paul K., Brian P., Jackie D., Ben K., Mike M., Toniy H., Chris P., Kent M., Israel A., Brenda G.
How fantastic is that? 19 people! And the most amazing thing is that many of them are landing their dream jobs. Keep the faith. Keep up the hard work. It will pay off. I know there are more of you out there landing jobs in the Change Your Stripes community. Let us know so we can celebrate with you!
Success Stories
This month, there are so many great stories of daring, perseverance & faith. The message from them all: “You have to do the work!” Allow me to share a few:
Brenda: “I took a bridge job in August, and kept networking for my dream job. In the end, I got 3 offers all at once! The one I really wanted was below my target salary, so I asked for what I wanted and I got it! $12K more than their original offer!” How did she get it? Networking.
Mike: “I did it! It took a few months of persistence and patience, but I go the job I wanted! At much more than I used to make! My big differentiator was my preparation for the interview. I tailored my resume down to 2 pages – mapped right to their job posting. I created leave-behind folders for each person I interviewed with. After the first interview, I added to that resume the skills and specific examples that pointed to what they needed. No other candidate did this, and it worked.”
Upcoming Events: Come Change Your Stripes™!
Do you know about a group or association that needs a speaker? Let me know!
- We are adding events regularly, so please check our website for the latest list.
- CALL US if your group would like to host either a 2-hour, 1-day or 4-part workshop series.
Thurs. Mar. 18th 1pm-3pm: Plymouth, MN. FREE and open to public. Job Transition SOS workshop
Fri. Mar. 19th 11am-1:30pm: St. Louis Park with 7DegreeCreativ! FREE and open to public. Job Transition SOS workshop
Thurs. April 8th from 7-9pm: Eagan, MN FREE and open to public. Job Transition SOS workshop
Tues. April 13th from 1-3pm: Maple Grove, MN. FREE and open to public. Job Transition SOS workshop
Get the help you need:
I love seeing you at my workshops, but that is simply not enough. Are you taking the right kind of action each and every day to get the job you want? It’s what you do with your time that makes the difference. Your time is precious. Stop guessing. Get the answers you need! Here are THREE ways ARBEZ™ can help you do it right:
Thank you! Thank you for trusting me with your stories, your journeys and your dreams. Thank you for sharing my belief that everyone deserves to do what they love for a living. Your insights, feedback and staunch support keep me going. Together, we can do so much more.
Now go Change Your Stripes!
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Stripe Changer News!
March 2010 | Sixth Edition
In the News!
Check me out on Fox 9 News this Friday March 19th in the 7am hour! My network television debut … to talk about the workshop I am leading Friday over lunch.
In Defense of the Introvert
Let’s face it: successful job hunting demands a lot of activities that are traditionally loved by extroverts and hated by introverts (meeting lots of new people, talking about yourself, etc.). It’s time to honor those who are stepping out of their comfort zone each and every day, and call out their strengths.
First, I’d like to share a simple definition that seems to resonate with all the introverts in my life. It certainly woke me up to better understand, and appreciate, them:
Introverts – Recharge by spending time alone.
Extroverts - Recharge by being around people.
One highly successful introvert I spoke with said this, “Group settings leave me drained and desperate for some “cave” time. My job demands that I meet new people every day, sometimes present on stage and work in teams regularly. Many times, I am so irritated with small talk, or getting trapped by a yapper (non-stop talker) that I just want to walk away. But I do my job, and I do it well, because I love the problems I get to solve and the rewards it brings. But I MUST get my cave time – every day - to recover.”
Now, I’d like to highlight 3 things that make most introverts superb networkers (which, as you know, is a critical career skill for anyone … especially those looking for a new job):
- They don’t just listen. They hear what people have to say (and often what they do not say). Many of the best networkers I know are introverts. Why? Because they talk less, observe and listen more. Because they focus on quality over quantity, they tend to build richer relationships.
- They add value to other people’s lives, both professionally and socially. Introverts who keep “How can I help you?” at the forefront of every interaction are superb networkers, and add value to everyone they meet. Why? Because they always follow up, and often come through with meaningful ideas, resources and connections that delight. When I receive an introduction from my introverted friends, they look something like this: “Tom, Catherine, you two need to know each other. Tom, your organization empowers people to change their lives. Catherine empowers people to take control of their careers and find the work they’re meant to do. As if that is not reason enough, you’ve both been to Africa and love to eat sushi. If you choose to meet for lunch, I suggest Kyoto in Eagan. It is FABULOUS!"
- They prepare well for everything. For instance, they might head to a networking meeting with a goal (like “I want to meet 5 new people today, and set appointments with 3 of them”) – and achieve it. They embrace the 30-second pitch (and actually use it) – which makes their networking much more effective than others). They prepare very well for job interviews, and stand head and shoulders above their competition because of it (see Mike’s success story).
So … now that you know what makes you great, my lovely introverted friends, what are you going to do with it? Hopefully the following:
Get out. Get connected. Scary? Yes. Critical? Yes.
Celebrate and honor every time you step out and do something scary! Stop, take notice and pat yourself on your back. And do something scary every day. Pick up the phone. Ask someone for a coffee meeting. Go to a networking event. It will pay off: you’ll find the job you want - faster and easier.
Do more of what you do well. If you are a classic introvert, then you have fantastic written communication skills.... Clear, effective and often inspiring. This is an enormous advantage; use it! Social media is your friend. Without the annoyance of small talk and noisy group environments, you have the opportunity to do what you do best, so harness the power of modern technology. Pick your target audience and a topic you’re an expert in, and go share it with the world. It may take you longer than others to make connections, but once you make them, they will be rich and fruitful.
“Online social networking and introverts are a match made in heaven.” – posted anonymously by “Super Admin”
Handle your blind spots. As for your blind spots (like “What do I say when I meet someone?!”) your skills at preparation will serve you well. I talk a lot about creating a 30-second pitch. Get one! You need it, and it will give you the confidence and the platform from which to do the things you must do to get the job you want: network.
Famous Introverts
Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan, Johnny Carson, Barbara Walters, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Clint Eastwood, Monet, Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln, Al Gore, Christina Aguilera.
Check this out
Lastly, this Slideshare called “The Shy Connector” by self-proclaimed introvert Sacha Chua is a wonderful story on how to network effectively as an introvert: http://www.slideshare.net/sachac/the-shy-connector. Look at the value she is adding to this world!
Ask Cat:
Send me your questions!
Q: “What should I do when there is a great big pregnant pause in an interview, right after I answer a question? It is bizarre. It happened to me yesterday, and I’ve heard other people have had the same experience.” – Heather C.
A: We are, especially in America, uncomfortable with silence in conversation. In an interview, it can be downright unnerving if you’re the candidate. You immediately assume you said something wrong, or that the interview is trying to find a way to end the interview. Here is the great news: the person is probably just thinking. Yup … just thinking about what you just said, and where to go next with the line of questioning. Just like you, they are trying to make the most out of the meeting. You can do something next time this happens. In fact, after 10 seconds or so, you should ask a clarifying question. Check in and ask “Is that what you were looking for? Did I answer your question?” On the other hand, let’s be honest: maybe you did dodge the question (intentionally or unintentionally … it can be easy in the heat of the moment to either talk too much or dodge the direct question). Perhaps they are disappointed in your answer. The best way to find out, and recover, is to ask for feedback. The interviewer will appreciate it, and you’ll find out what the great big silence is all about. |
