Note: This content originally appeared in my April newsletter.  I’m re-posting it to the blog because I got so many interesting emails back. And I’ve since had a number of great conversations within my network about the idea. If you are a newsletter subscriber and didn’t read the last one (shameful!), now you know!

What is a portfolio career?

A portfolio career is made up of multiple jobs instead of just one.  And if you already have two jobs to make ends meet, you are already doing it.  But if you’ve been in a traditional career all your life and would like to have more variety and more flexibility, it’s something you should consider.

Here’s why:

The days of being reliant on one company to keep you secure are dwindling.  Stable is a term we can’t use any more.  So spreading your talents a bit wider sounds like it might be a good idea.  If you are in a traditional job and worry that the rug may be pulled out from under you, here are a few things to ponder:

What business, service or hobby could you begin to develop now for the future?

Do you have an entrepreneurial bone in your body?  Are you hungry for independence?

What tolerance do you have for risk?

My Story:

Back in 2007, during my job search, I decided I would begin to establish some action plans around my idea book (a place where I kept around 36 business/product ideas). During my job search period, I decided to act on three of them and release the rest to the world.

That decision kicked off a five-year period where I have been plotting my take over of the world.  I started with the Quixoting blog and a blog called Spin Strategy which is now Tim’s Strategy. After I found my next job, I kept writing, creating, planning and speaking on these ideas.  About six hours a day while working full-time.

And then when the “pull” got too strong, I quit my VP Marketing job to begin a career that was very unlike my prior 23 years.

That steady progression has my heart and soul now living in three main focus areas:

Tim’s Strategy – You know about the job search, career and life content (you are here now!) and you should know that I am releasing (soon!) a new piece of software for those in transition and those thinking they will be shortly. You have just a few days to sign up to be notified before we go into our first stage of public  beta.

Fix, Build and Drive – About eight months ago, I started a marketing, branding, social networking and business strategy consulting practice.  I have five awesome clients and love this role I play in the world.  A few of you have referred me into your companies.  Thank you!

brilliant. – And here’s a really new one.  I’ve teamed up with a few friends, Katie and Mike, who are very strong in social media and website traffic and conversion strategies.  We started a small agency called brilliant. We work with clients (four so far!) that are looking to establish a stronger brand and online presence. After working solo most of the time, it’s fun to have coworkers again!

So, the question you are probably asking: “Tim, are you rolling in big green dollar bills?”

Nope.

And here’s an important warning: this is not easy.  It is not automatic.  You will be working harder than ever in your career. But if have the DNA or are truly ready for a different mix, it is an incredibly rewarding path.

So what could this look like for you?  And how long would it take to establish an income that rivals your traditional total compensation?

Are you already doing this? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

If you’d like to establish a plan for your own portfolio career, consider scheduling a power hour with me. Sixty minutes that might get you on a path to a much more fulfilling career.

Thanks raissa caselas for the great image via Flickr

Just in case a topic we covered is on your “need help with that” list.

You can also go watch them on my YouTube channel – that way you can see my snazzy new intro video.

But no matter where you see them, video can be a great and productive way to learn.  And while it’s not a replacement for someone being there with you, at least it gets you and I one step closer to being in the same room.  Working on your job search or career strategy.

If you ever want to spend some productive time with me, I have a simple program for that now.  Have you heard about my Career Power Hour?

Here are the video links:

What is a Self-Performance Evaluation?

How often do you sit down and analyze your own performance at work?  You know your boss will do this once a year, but it’s a good idea to do it on your own as well.

Self-assessments are used to help you think through your own performance, to identify strengths to build on as well training opportunities for the future and to identify gaps in understanding between your thoughts and those of your boss.

So in addition to a conversation about your strengths, questions may include “what challenges did you face and how did you respond to them?,” “what results did you achieve against your objectives?” or “how can you get better at your job and how will that happen?”

And even if your boss doesn’t require one, a self-assessment is something you should do on your own in advance of a performance review.  This way, you are prepared to share specific successes, ideas and opportunities to improve your performance in the coming year.

 Top 5 Reasons To Quit Your Job

The decision to quit your job is a big one and should not be made without really thinking it through. The decision should be based on some deeper reasons and not just because it sounds like a good idea to change things up.

So here are 5 really good reasons to quit your job:

1.  Find a better one (internal/external)

2.  Start your own company

3.  Escape a bad boss

4.  Change industry/function

5.  No opportunity for advancement

So think it through to avoid an impulsive decision.  But once you have decided to leave, do so with confidence.

Tips For Informal Job Search Networking

If you are looking for work today, there are many places you can go to network for a job. You deliver your elevator pitch and hand out business cards in a structured environment.

But there’s also great value in networking more informally.  Do this by meeting people in your neighborhood, in the line at Starbucks or in the waiting room at the car dealership.

Your next job lead can come from anywhere, right?

So be ready to talk about who you are and what you are looking for at any time with these tips:

1.  Smile and make eye contact

2.  Start by saying “hi”

3.  Ask questions

4.  Don’t lead with “I’m out of work”

5.  Be positive about your future

6.  Share small wins

7.  Offer specifics about your ideal next job

Follow these tips and you will be more interesting, easier to help and more memorable when job leads are passed around.

I hope these videos are helpful and please don’t forget to subscribe to the YouTube channel:

More videos are on the way!

I like it when people tell me I have influence.  A little validation goes a long way.

I’ve written about Peer Index and Empire Avenue as other ways to understand your ongoing influence.  Although don’t get me started on Empire Avenue’s inability to throttle the faux blogging of many of its highest value members (no one writes 64 blog posts each week, do they?)

But here’s my problem with Klout lately.  It’s become too mainstream and perhaps has moved toward a profit driven business model too soon.

How?

Klout launched a cool program early on called Klout Perks that allowed people with Klout in different areas to receive perks.  Rewards for being an influencer.  Some really influential people were getting cars to drive for the weekend, trips to Europe and other really cool opportunities.

And I think those people deserved it.  They worked hard to develop an expertise as a travel blogger, Apple app lover or Microsoft Xbox game reviewer.

But now we are just getting silly.  Maybe Klout wanted to include more people – so they went from cars and plane rides to Qtips.

Klout perks, at least the ones I’m seeing,  are now just PR opportunities for big companies.  Here are some I’ve seen recently:

• I got a tiny bottle of Axe (I think) hair gel in the mail

• I was offered (but was too late) for 10 sample packs of Lipton tea

Sorry, these are lame.  I was embarrassed to get these offers. I didn’t feel rewarded for my influence but rather I felt “advertised to” – a very different feeling.

Maybe my Klout doesn’t warrant a better perk.  And that’s fine.

But here’s the worst part:

The perks page featuring the small sample packs of tea was full of member reviews that made me want to lose my lunch.  Here’s a sampling:

“I LOVE Lipton teas! I can’t wait to receive my sample for Klout. Thanks, Klout!”

“It was very tasty and refreshing. I was wishing that I had more!”

“I LOVE Lipton tea, I can’t wait to get mine in the mail!”

“Tea is the perfect perk for me! haha”

“Tastes GREAT! My fiance is a HUGE Tea fan and he could just die for this!!! YUM”

Really?  Was this a cure for a critical disease? Nope.  It was a few sample packs of tea.  A street value of about $2.99.

It’s almost as if the entire PR/Marketing team at Lipton got in there and chimed in.

This reminded me about when a famous blogger writes an average post and gets showered with hundreds of supportive comments within a few hours.  Everyone clamoring for a chance to be seen and heard in the stream or to be recognized by the blogger in some fashion.

Has Klout become so popular that gushing over spices is worth any recognition that comes as a result? Am I missing something about the value of a few tea bags?

So what to do now? Maybe we all need to find a big harbor somewhere and dump the evidence.

And move on to something more important. 

What do you think?

A breeding ground for candidate frustration.

And to make it worse, you finally found something that is a pretty good fit for you and it doesn’t work out.  Because pretty good isn’t good enough in a tight market. Your transferable skills aren’t transferable enough.

In a more balanced market or in a market (soon, I hope!) where there are more jobs and fewer candidates competing, companies will operate differently.  They will begin marketing to the candidate and the skills you have will transfer much more easily.  Companies will go back to hiring “the best athlete” not just the most qualified.

You will successfully step in to the new shoes and wear them well.

Because it is so logical that selling experience in consumer goods should translate well to the apparel industry.  It’s still selling.  And as long as you know your strong product line, are good at closing and treat your customers well, you should be able to do it.  And you can.

If … someone decides to take a risk on you.

Now you might say:

“A risk, really? I’ve been selling for 25 years! I’ve won more sales awards than anyone in my industry.  What is the risk in hiring me?”

If there is someone out there with more experience or a tighter fit with the job description, hiring you instead feels risky.  What if it doesn’t work out.  What if those transferable skills aren’t as portable as you think. Or what if it takes longer than it should.

And what if the boss isn’t happy and blames the hiring manager for ignoring better qualified candidates.

My own recent experience:

If you read the newsletter (a few typos this time, sorry!) you know about my goal of building a portfolio career.  One that is not reliant on a single company.  But allows me to enjoy working with a variety of great companies.

So as part of that goal I started a marketing consulting company called Fix, Build And Drive™ to help companies with marketing, brand development, social media and business strategy. And to help them build new business momentum.

A few weeks ago I got a lead on a great consulting opportunity to help a company build a big strategy to build their brand online.  They wanted someone who had an ability to work with and sell their board on a new strategy. Someone with significant marketing and strategy experience. And someone who was social media savvy.

Perfect for me, right?

Yep.  All until they found someone even more perfect.  Someone with all that same background AND experience in their industry (healthcare). And someone who didn’t have a transferable skills issue.

So they’ll pursue that candidate first. And I probably would have made the same decision if I was in their shoes.

And my reaction to them? “Thanks for the opportunity”. Not an argument. Not a big push back on how I really am perfect.  I believe and have said this before: if they want you, they will call you.

Sometimes a bitter pill when you really want something. But the right course of action…

What are you hearing as you try to stretch and transfer your skills to new industries?  Any good news out there on this front?

Let me know in the comments! or join the LinkedIn group and add to our small wins discussion!

Thanks MJ/TR for the photo via Flickr

But the way we met is the theme of this post.  So it matters. 

We met on the way to my presentation in Newport Beach, CA.  A little informal networking.  It was either “park in the $18 lot” or park across the street.  And I took the road less traveled by.  I parked across the street and walked through the construction, across a busy road and got lost.

Luckily I met Sanjay.

He was lost too.  But together we quickly figured out which building we needed to find. And had a nice walk to get to know each other.  And now we will schedule a coffee.

And – “Shazam” – a new friendship is in the making.  Simple, right?

But who is this Sanjay anyway?

Sanjay Choudhuri is a global marketing leader and brand builder.  And, as it turns out, he was heading to the ExecuNet meeting to hear me speak that morning. If you’d like, you can also follow him on Twitter. I do. And because I decided to “hoof it” instead of park in the structure, I made a new friend.  And so did Sanjay. A small win for us both.  We also share a background in marketing for consumer goods.

So what did Sanjay and I do differently that morning?  Well, first, we both decided to walk.  Second we allowed our meeting to happen by making eye contact and openly admitting we were lost (hard for men to do, right?) and then we decided to walk the rest of the way together.

The other option? Avoid contact and move along sheepishly. No thanks.

So now Sanjay and I have created some inertia toward a friendship.  One that never would have been enabled had we not each done our part.

Are you doing your part?

Here are my recommendations for you:

1.  Look to meet new people – even when it’s not intuitive

2. Start new conversations with strangers simply by saying “Hi” or “Do you know where the library is?”

3. Become an opportunistic extrovert – try it today – instead of avoiding someone, look to interact with them

And when serendipity leads you to a small win, come share it on the LinkedIn group (look for the discussion on small wins).

Share your informal networking stories here in the comments, on the LinkedIn group, on Twitter or on my Facebook page.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks timsackton for the great photo via Flickr

And when I do, there is a disturbing trend that I’m seeing.

Are you seeing it?  And hearing it?

It is a colossal increase in people saying nasty things about other people.

Specifically people they work with and are supposed to be getting along with in the office.

They complain.  And I’m tired of hearing it.

Almost every time I’m out, my ears pick up a nasty tone from the table behind or to the right.  It’s usually a table of two.  Two employee members of the same department who don’t like the boss. Or the new gal in accounting.

And instead of trying to find a way to adjust or a way to succeed together, they take the easy road:

Find a sympathetic employee to commiserate with for an hour.  Someone to help feed the fire.

Where rumor and innuendo are the kindling and the constant lunches and coffee breaks are the oxygen to keep the fire burning.

I can’t imagine something more toxic than two employees going to lunch, bitching about a fellow employee over a cobb salad and then returning to the office without a thought.  But it happens all the time.

If the company was like a car, it would be like stabbing a knife into all four tires.  And slowly letting the air out.

Sure the car will still roll.  But momentum is lost.  And everyone is looking around wondering why everything feels so wobbly and bumpy.

If this is true, they might as well wear a t-shirt to work that says “Negative” or “Toxic Attitude”.

Now let’s assume this happens to some extent every day in most companies.  That all departments are being savaged by employees wielding conversational knives.  And not realizing the damage they’ve done.

So why are these meetings happening?  And is the “complain rate” as bad as I’m suggesting?

If so, what’s causing it to get so bad?

Well, gosh, let me think.

The average employee feels unhappy.  Unsatisfied.  Unappreciated.  And the only pleasure available some days is to open up a big valve on the septic tank and take a bath in the stench of a negative conversation.

The scariest part?  The tone of voice of the protagonist is one of celebration.  As they detail the mistakes of the gal in accounting or there is a weird vibe as each detail is communicated.  And the other party says: “I know.  I hate that too!”.

So we need more people to find jobs they can truly love in environments where they feel enabled and utilized.  And we need to say “no” to the toxic conversations about another employee.  Not easy to do as they are very tempting.

Especially during a bad day, a complain fest probably feels like an umbrella in a rainstorm.  But it’s not.

What’s your view as to why this is such a big issue?  How have you reduced this toxic activity in your department?

Thanks aturkus for the great photo via Flickr

Every once in a while I have an interaction on LinkedIn that I simply can’t explain.  I work back through how it all got started, tracing my steps, my comments and the way that I attempted to reach out to someone.

I did it right. 

I wanted to meet someone on LinkedIn to ask them a question about a new project I’m working on. Perhaps they could help? I used another connection to get introduced and wrote a short note to explain my interest and how it might benefit them. It was personable and asked only for a quick phone call to explain.

This person does business development for his company.  I wanted to do business with them and he had no interest.  In fact, he pushed me away with a sarcastic comment about how he couldn’t think of a thing we could talk about.  And, instead, suggested (jokingly) that talking about the NCAA final four might be more worth our time. Jerk (too harsh?).

Grumble.

I did it right because I know how much I appreciate the little things like personal connection requests, well-written recommendations and people who strive to use LinkedIn the right way.

In fact I write on LinkedIn tips often enough that I am acutely aware that I need to do it right myself.  Or at least try as hard as I can to be thoughtful as I grow or communicate with my network.

I won’t bulk email my connections on LinkedIn because I want a note from me to be more personal than that.

So when I go out of my way to purposefully connect with someone and get attitude or overt sarcasm, I want to slap those people with a rubber chicken or borrow a pack of stink bombs from my kid’s closet and throw down a firestorm.

So my message to you people who act with arrogance, ignorance or find fun in spitting your sarcastic static toward others (jerk), I have one thing to say:

You stink.

Have you ever faced a stinky person on LinkedIn?  Someone who acts as if your simple request is such a burden that they need to let you have it?

Here’s the profile of a stinky person, a jerk, using LinkedIn:

• They’ve never really needed to use LinkedIn – they just collect connections like seashells and tuck them away in a drawer.
• They’ve never been out of work before, never been a sales person or someone who, at least in part, uses LinkedIn to ask for help in some way.
• They don’t understand that not everyone wants or needs a sarcastic comment.  Or they don’t score high on EQ tests (emotional intelligence).

Now please understand.  There are so many using LinkedIn the wrong way that I’m sure many have been burned.  They’ve experienced the old bait and switch enough that they just don’t trust people any more.

If you’ve been bitten in this way, here’s my advice:

• Don’t give up on people.  Don’t throw out the baby with the stinky bath water.
• Respond to any connection request that’s written purposefully and personally.  At least try to see how you can help.
• Go to the person’s profile and read their bio to see if they are legitimate (or are trying to be).
• Read their recommendations and see if others seem to like them
• Because . . .

Someday.  I promise.  You’ll need us.  So play nice.

What’s your advice?  And what experiences shape your connection policy and interactions on LinkedIn?

Thanks Brianfit for the great photo via Flickr

He didn’t say it with a biting sarcasm or a pompous attitude.  He said it with a laugh that told me he had a few negative experiences.  But he wasn’t trying to be a jerk about it.

We talked about his experiences and they are not uncommon.

Unfortunately, there are many people who are still trying develop good networking habits.  And there are those who are still lost in the old ways of social networking.

But my first reaction was:

Really?

Not because I haven’t met my share of job seekers struggling to communicate. Many are impatient, selfish and the like.  But because he so quickly categorized “job seekers” as horrible.

Maybe if I was a pool cleaner, he would have said “pool owners are horrible networkers.”  Now I’ll never know.

But I think he, like a lot of other fully employed and forever employed people, has this perception that isn’t going anywhere.

What’s your reaction to his statement?  Any truth in it for you?

Are job seekers any worse than accountants or insurance salesmen or financial planners?

Here’s my reality:

Despite a few exceptions, job seekers are among the best I’ve met at in-person networking. And those who’ve been through job search at some point in their career are even better (because they’ve been initiated into the job search fraternity).

This is because they’ve learned from experience. Have been humbled through the process. And understand that successful networking a lot of giving.  Not just getting.

But realize that my friend’s comment is not unusual.  Employed people expect you to struggle.  Because they’ve met a lot of people who make mistakes.  During informational interviews and other interactions.

The cool thing is that you will wow them if you become a good student of networking best practices.  You will stand out.  And get more effective results.

What are ways that you stand out from the rest?  And how can you help others do so?  Your advice?

Thanks Candida.Performa for the photo via Flickr

It may come from a concerned friend.  A distant family member who knows better. Or you may simply overhear words like these at a party or in the stands at your kid’s baseball game.

And whether you are a man, a woman, the primary breadwinner, a secondary contributor, old, young, white or blue-collar you may hear these words and cringe.

Part of you will think they are right.  After all, we are here on this earth to work and contribute.  You’d be working and bringing in something.  And at least you’d get these people off your back.

It is a complicated question. And one that, in the end, is a very personal decision. I will never criticize you for making a well thought-out decision.

But I will be disappointed in you for settling for the wrong job when you haven’t thought it through.  When you settle at the wrong time and for the wrong reasons.

Because if you haven’t thought it through, you are reacting.  Not deciding.

Need someone to help you think through your current offer?  Hire me for a power hour or use my SidebySide job offer evaluation tool.

Here’s a scenario you won’t like:

• After significant prodding from friends and family you go out and start looking for a job that is well below your skill level and experience.

• As you start to review the job, the role you’ll play and the money you’ll make – the idea makes you feel “less than” but you keep going for the reasons identified above.

• As you apply and are told you are over-qualified again and again, the thought pops into your head “I can’t even get a job as a (insert job here)”.  And it knocks you down some.

• When you finally get an interview for this lower-level job you have a brief moment of pleasure.  Somebody wants to talk with you.  But they are not asking you the right questions about management or strategy.  Instead, they are asking about your ability to work nights. Or whether you still have any connections with purchasing managers at your last few companies.

• You get an offer well below your pay grade and take it. To make some money and get back to work.

• The first day comes and the early rush of optimism turns into a “whoops, what have I done feeling”.  You examine the contents of your cubicle’s desk drawer and realize that you don’t have a pair of scissors. You’ve never had to ask for a $4 pair of scissors before.  So you don’t.

• You suffer for three months and eventually quit.  You are angry at your boss for hiring you at that salary.  And at yourself for giving in.

• You are now back on the market.  Confused and unsure how to explain to friends and family (and the next company) what happened and why you decided to pursue and take that job.

Now, as I said above, I’m not saying there isn’t potential for a positive version of this playing out.  There are companies and situations where you can succeed by shifting down temporarily.  Where people will hire you at a lower level and give you a chance to reset your career in a tough economy.

And in this positive scenario, your first day will feel better and you won’t hate your boss.  You will adjust nicely to the new company, its staff and your new office environment.

This happens when you go in with both eyes wide open.  You’ve asked all the right questions and you are accepting this job with a strategy in mind.

Not just because it provides a temporary solution.

What questions should someone be asking themselves and the hiring company before taking a job below their prior level of pay or responsibility?

Thanks dxbach for the great photo via flickr

We toil long and hard week after week.  And are left with a sense of deep satisfaction. Or a sense of longing for something different, something better or something more fulfilling.

If you know what makes you happy at work, you will be able to work in a job that brings a smile to your face each day.  Or at least the smile comes easier than when you were working in a job that was simply a poor fit.

Are you satisfied or longing?

If you find yourself longing for something different in your career, then here’s something to consider.

Start working for yourself.

I know after speaking to many of you that the idea of starting your own business is a real option.  A few of you are buying into a local franchise opportunity.  A few are consulting or coaching others.  And some are going the traditional entrepreneur route and launching a new product.

So for those of you with an open mind to starting something new, here’s something to think about:

Become a business coach – click here to learn more

Does your personality, work-style and business background line you up well to coach others?  Has starting a coaching business been on your mind?

Typically a business coach has a background as a highly skilled, past mid-senior level business executive, operator and/or owner.  Is that you? Watch my video below filmed for About.com which asks a few questions to assess the right career choice based on your personality and work-style:

So how did you answer these questions and how does working as a business coach fit?

If you have been a consultant during your job search transition, you know how it feels to work “with” vs. “for” a company.  You know that it provides flexibility and a chance to use your experience to help a company grow in a very specific way and at an important time.  It also provides less security vs. a full-time role.  So you should understand the pros and cons completely before making a decision.

Here’s how coaching works and who should consider becoming a coach:

What is business coaching?

What is a Business coach? Business coaching and business coaches are a strategic tool used by business owners and executives to drive growth and change. Coaches are sometimes referred to as executive mentors or business consultants.

A good opportunity for baby boomers?

Boomers with the right experience can be great coaches.  If you have experience in management, marketing, sales, manufacturing, accounting, legal, human resources (HR), operations or have been an entrepreneur or business owner, becoming a business coach is an option you should at least consider.

How are coaches used by businesses?  What role would I play?

Business owners and executives are facing challenges faster and more forcefully than ever before. They use coaches to navigate a variety of critical business issues such as:

1. Increased competition
2. Shortage of good, new employees
3. Speed of information and decision-making
4. New business models are challenging established processes
5. Time challenges, both personal and operational.
6. Money. Making more and keeping more.
7. Exit Strategies. How can a business owner sell the business, or an executive groom a replacement?

To learn more about becoming a business coach and to understand if the lifestyle and workflow is right for you, click the link below:

Click here to learn more

Finally, here are a few questions for discussion (leave your thoughts in the comments below):

How many of these issues can you help to solve? 

How would you like to solve them as the owner of your own coaching business or franchise?

What other options should job seekers consider if the path to the next job has been difficult or the idea of going back to an office job has you less than motivated?

Looking forward to your feedback as always!

So when we see that we have “(1) new message”, the optimist in us believes that this is it.  The big voice message, email or text that will lead to our next job.  And a path out of job search transition.

Of course, you can become obsessed with new messages to the point where your excitement over them exposes a true desperation on your part.  It causes you to over-react to opportunities and have a negative Pavlovian response every time the little red light blinks or the little “checking mail” graphic starts to move.

Read my post from 2009 about the blinking red light on a Blackberry and how too much focus on new messages can be a negative.

But today the focus is on how your being “fresh and new” can be a real positive. How that can help you develop a more positive attitude. And how it can position or re-position you as a fresh solution to a company’s problem.

So how do you solve a problem for a company?

You deliver yourself in a unique and compelling way as often as possible.  And you realize that your skills will one day be a perfect fit for the right company.  One day in job search, someone will say: “make him/her an offer”.  And that him/her will be you.

The only rub?

Hiring managers, recruiters and HR staff get way too many messages so be open to the fact that they won’t be as excited to get a “new message” from you.  Because for many it simply translates as “new work”.

But there is always hope.  No matter what role you are in.  Because we posted the job for a reason.  And so finding your resume in the pile always has the potential to solve the big problem in the department (i.e. who’s going to manage the sales team until we find someone?).

And I’ll bet even the resume tracking software robot feels some small glimmer of excitement when it finds a great match.

So here are some ideas to be the fresh, new and relevant candidate that companies are looking for:

• Practice the art of updating via social media and job search platforms. Follow the link to a post that explains how to keep your candidacy fresh in the minds of the hiring community.

• Keep your networking fresh and productive by attending new events each month and looking for new people instead of just old friends.

• Introduce yourself to new people at your target companies by using these company penetration strategies.

• Write a blog, offer to speak to your industry group meeting – anything to become relevant and a person of influence in your community.

• Change up your elevator pitch by updating it with positive news about your search.  Show people your positive attitude and momentum and they’ll want to help in a bigger way.

• Update your resume format to one that quickly expresses your value.  And learn to write great accomplishment statements so that your potential impact can be felt immediately.

Implement a few of these ideas and you may just have a few people in the hiring community just a little more optimistic about opening their next email.

How have you found success in staying fresh and new during an extended job search?

Thanks Zooey_ for the photo via Flickr

• On the plus (do more of) side was getting the new software done, doing more business development to find consulting clients, getting in better shape and spending more time with my family.

• On the minus (do less of) side was social media, blogging, email and networking. All (except email) are things I enjoy but worry are sometimes unproductive distractions if not kept in check.

The goal was to create an environment to get some big things done and not worry so much about the smaller stuff. Kind of like an author who rents a beach house for a week to finish that novel.

So what happened?

I didn’t get as much done as I thought I would.  I was unproductive because in some ways I had too much time to be productive.

I was reminded through this experience that I really need to be busy.  I thrive on deadlines.  And on a variety of focus areas each and every day.

And while I did not give up networking, speaking and blogging completely (see my series on improving the hiring process over at Fix, Build And Drive™), my lower level of engagement reduced my productivity. I was lacking social structure.

So what does this have to do with a cowbell?

If you are not a fan of Saturday Night Live or a fan of Blue Oyster Cult, you may not be aware of the skit featuring Will Ferrell “playing” the cowbell in “Don’t Fear The Reaper”.  You don’t have to watch much of the video to get the point, but if you have a few minutes and appreciate the power of music, you’ll love it.

Despite the humor, the cowbell provides an important cadence to the song.  And as I look back on the last 29 days I was missing cadence in my daily routine.

Despite the potential for distraction while talking to people on Twitter, posting updates to Facebook or commenting in LinkedIn Groups, I realized that social networking in any form is a necessary distraction.  It plays an important role not only by keeping us in touch with our network but also in providing a “beat” to work by each day.

Social networking is my cowbell.  And I gotta have more cowbell in my career.

Now I am reminded by my own experience how critically important engagement has become.  Whether I am meeting with a job seeker, speaking in front of a group or talking with someone online, being with people energizes me.  And it does so in a way that 29 days in a log cabin cannot.

Social networking grounds us, provides important introductions, momentum, structure and feedback. Used with a purpose, it is a critical part of building a successful career today.  You can no longer avoid it or write it off as child’s play.

And for those of you wondering about my results for the month, they were mixed.  I am in better shape (lost 6 pounds by running and doing 100 push-ups/sit-ups every day), I learned to be a better sales person for my consulting business (created three new opportunities) and the new job search strategy software is now much closer to launch (a few weeks!).

But I felt a little off pace.

I’ve decided that February is going to be my re-alignment month.

Why?

As a blogger, entrepreneur, marketing coach, author, career strategist, speaker I’ve worn a lot of hats over the last few years.  It’s been an amazing journey full of unexpected surprises, great opportunities and, as you might expect, a few frustrations.

But, just like in job search, we have to be ready to push through the frustrations and obstacles in our path to get where we said we wanted to go in life.

So what does a realignment mean for me and how can you use the idea to help re-energize the things that are important in your life right now?

My realignment and focus for February can be expressed simply like this:

Now if you have a first reaction to this chart, it might strike you as counter-intuitive.  Everything on the right is what you might know me for supporting.

And I do.

But these are also areas that can be somewhat unproductive.  And unappreciated after you’ve been doing them for a while.  So a realignment will help me both reassess my focus in these areas and, after February, reassert their role in my longer term strategy.

Know that the minus sign does not indicate “STOP” but rather a reduction in time and focus.

Temporarily. 

So I can hit much harder on those items under the “PLUS” column.

Speaking of the “PLUS” column, you may be wondering what they are and why they are there:

Software – As many of you know, we just finished an initial private beta (testing) on a new piece of software to help job seekers build a powerful strategy for their search.  We are estimating another four weeks to implement the changes, improvements and fixes.  If you’d like to be on the need to know list for when we are opening the curtain, sign up here to be notified.  This software is the culmination of all the heart and passion I’ve put into Tim’s Strategy® over the last four years.  It is the deliverable.  And to deliver it on time, I have to dig in.

Business Dev - In addition to Tim’s Strategy, I also own Fix, Build and Drive™. I blog there too but mostly it is a home for my relatively new coaching/consulting practice.  The focus there is marketing, branding and business strategy targeting emerging and established companies or organizations.  It’s about helping the stuck get unstuck.  And strengthening companies so they can begin the push out of this economy. Learn more about my coaching and consulting services or send me a note.

Healthy Living – The one thing you think you finally have time for is getting in shape.  And eating right.  But I really haven’t done that very well.  Oh, I’ve had my moments.  And I do work out a few times a week.  But it’s not enough.  You and I could be doing so much more, right?  So now I will. For at least 30 days.  To see how I feel (broken or on fire for more). 

Family – The other thing I said I would do is spend more time with everyone I love.  But the truth is that the pressure to succeed as an entrepreneur (for me) makes that hard.  It is really hard to separate work time from family time.  A balancing act between being where I need to be and making the advances in my business required to keep doing it.  The cool thing is I’ve been able to see almost all my kids sports events over the past year.  But I’ve been missing mentally at many other key times.

So what does all this mean?  Will I disappear for 30 days and reappear magically a new man?

Possibly.

But I doubt it.  More likely, I will have achieved great things at a time in my life when I really needed it.  And made time for important actions and people. At at time when they really needed me.

So if I don’t respond to an email right away. Or respond to you on Twitter or Facebook within the hour, it’s not that I don’t dig you.

Because I do.

So quietly cheer me on. Send me a mental tweet. I’ll probably get it.

If you want to join me on this February realignment journey, download a similar chart here: My February Focus – your own place to choose a focus for the month.

To see what happens for you.

Same with phone messages.

While I keep trying to reduce the amount of incoming email, more seems to come.  So I try to keep up and respond to everything.  But I can’t.  And I’m not alone.

Part of the problem is driven by the holidays.  That 4-6 week period where we all spent more time relaxing with people than emailing them.  Or responding to them in other formal ways.

And then everyone gets back to work or back to the job search and there’s new work on top of the work they left behind.

If you are wondering why so few people are getting back to you right now, there’s your answer.  Somewhere someone is choosing to either act upon your request or ignore it.

So what can you do?

How do you get your requests handled before the requests of others? And before too much time has passed?

Here are 5 ideas to release the pent-up demand and get people focused on you:

Ask them again – while being a pest is certainly a possibility when you are trying to get your needs taken care of, there’s nothing wrong with one strong follow-up.  A friendly reminder to someone who never intended to ignore you.  But did.  So you’ll probably get a “so sorry, sure glad to help” answer. They feel bad for not answering sooner and you get what you wanted.

Try a different medium – if your first attempt was via email, try a phone call this time.  Think of a time during the early AM or late afternoon when someone is at their desk and may reach for the phone.  Be prepared to quickly remind them of your request and offer to send a follow-up or reminder via email or text. One they can easily reply to.

Do something nice – write a recommendation for them or their company on LinkedIn.  Re-tweet something on Twitter they wrote and add a nice comment.  Comment on their blog posts (everyone likes comments).  Give them a +K on Klout. Buy their stock on Empire Avenue.  Or get old-fashioned and drop off a small gift.  Each of these are like poking your face in their car window.  But without the creepy aspect.  You are getting back on their radar.

Make it easy or convenient – if the thing you need is an introduction to a target company, write an intro for them so they can just tweak and forward it along.  Same with recommendations on LinkedIn (worst case, remind them of your accomplishments while you worked together).  If it is a meeting you want, provide specific times when you know you can be available (and just so you know, “how’s next week” will not move things along). Or offer to meet them at a Starbucks near their house or a close freeway entrance.

Remind about relevance – sometimes we need a kick in the pants as to why you need something done.  And why now.  Maybe there is a time sensitivity and you can remind them about that.  Maybe the thing they are supposed to do will actually help them in the end.  Not you.  Reinforce the reason why you are asking and the benefit of their acting.  And you may get moved to the front of the line.

How about you?  How do I get you to move when I need you to?

And what has been successful for you?

Thanks waterarchives for the great photo via Flickr

And it’s a big fat truth for anyone else out there trying to build a consulting practice, start a small business or succeed in a sales career.

Especially if your transition to this stage in life is recent.  And you just left a job with a traditional 8-5 company.

Here’s why:

When you work for a traditional company you are given structure.  Both in the environment (office, desk, computer, pens, stapler, conference room) and the calendar (meetings, phone calls).  Someone expects you there by 8 and working until 5.  You are accountable to your boss, your team or the board of directors.  And responsible for specific parts of the business or product line.

Your job is, in part, reliant upon you being good at reacting to situations and the needs of internal and external customers.

So what is job search like?

It is almost completely the opposite.  It’s like waking up from a really long sleep and not knowing what time or day it is.  And you may not realize that you are now completely without structure.

And that leads to unproductive behavior, impulsiveness and, for some, a long period of time working without a strategy.

Something you never would have done in your old job.

And as we enter into private beta this week on the new job search strategy tool, my sincere hope is that this tool does for you what it did for me (back in ’07) when I had a solid strategy for my search.  This new tool is all about building that strategy.  Want to know when we enter public beta?

Sign up To Be Notified

Yesterday I was interviewed on Minnesota Public Radio with Kerri Miller about branding and job search strategy.  A follow-up to the interview with Tess Vigeland on Marketplace (American Public Media).  During the call yesterday, Anna called in and asked about job search with ADHD.  And I talked a little bit about how building a structure might help her stay on task and I offered some examples.

But the big fat truth is that most of us struggle with a lack of structure. 

After 10 or 15 years in a traditional job, you begin to take many things for granted.  And I meet far too many people who spend their first three months acclimatizing to the environment and chasing their tail.

So here are a few ideas for you:

Establish clear job search objectives

This way, when someone asks “what are you looking for in your next job?” you can tell them. And share crucial details that will help them engage with you.  This is one thing you will do early on if you sign up for the new job search tool. You will be better prepared when job opportunities roll around.

Set goals each week

Sounds simple enough, right?  But very few of you are doing it (based on the answers I get when asking this question at my speaking events).  Most of you are impulsive. And spend far too much time at home, online or going with the flow.  If you need it, use a goal card for job search like this one.

Join or start an accountability group

Why aren’t more people starting and joining accountability groups?  Here’s an accountability group post I wrote that includes an easy-to-use  template for structuring a group.  Oh, and start one today and you can help people while building a bit of local influence.  You could also start or join a job search book club or reading group.

Structure your days in advance

On Sunday night, sit down and plan out your week.  Email new connections from the week before and set up quick 30 minute meet-up.  Identify the best networking events happening in your area and put them on your schedule.  Then ask yourself these three questions about networking with a purpose.

Of course there’s much more here. But pick one or two these suggestions and see if it doesn’t get you more focused on how you spend your time.  All while you are trying to accomplish something really important for your career.

How have you added structure?  Tell me your secrets!

Thanks Anthony Shemmans for the great photo via Flickr

I see it a lot on LinkedIn. Less often today thankfully.  But there must be some old handbook for LinkedIn lying around that says “go get as many as you can.” Within my LinkedIn group sometimes it pops up and in other groups across the platform.  What am I seeing?

“I accept all invites!”

Please don’t do this and if you do I don’t want to hear about it.  Because I manage my LinkedIn group pretty tightly, there aren’t any random “connect with me now” posts.  But every once in a while, someone will share this sentiment in their introduction.

I don’t accept all invites.

If you accept all invites, my goal here is not to embarrass or belittle your network building strategy.  But rather to tell you why I think it is a really bad methodology for building a network on LinkedIn.

It is the ultimate in laziness on a business network where social credibility really matters. So don’t be lazy on LinkedIn.  And don’t treat your connections (and potential connections) like they are a dime a dozen.

Treat them like family.

At least like a distant Uncle.  Please take a few minutes each time you consider accepting a connection request or think about requesting one.  If you don’t what are the odds that the connection will go further?

Why? Here’s my belief:

That 95% of connections on LinkedIn never get consummated.  Pollination never occurs.  And the larger social ecosystem on LinkedIn is left in the lurch.

A little dramatic I suppose.  All the great friendships envisioned are now left shuddering on the social networking floor.

Imagine a huge apple orchard full of fresh blossoms, lots of bees.  This time the bees land and leave without doing their business.

The result? No apples.

My advice? Do your business.

Start pollinating.

If you don’t start a connection with (at minimum) a personal introduction on LinkedIn, you will kick-off each connection (relationship) with such a small amount of commitment that you might as well avoid connecting altogether.

And then I hear people say “I’m building my network for when I need it”.  Which I agree with, by the way.  But you are doing it wrong.  Connecting with a few hundred people without even a small interaction leaves you with nothing.  Because “being connected” means nothing if your first attempt to use the connection leads to a dead-end.

If connecting with as many people as possible is truly of value, we should just go ahead and ask LinkedIn to save us the time and connect us all automatically.  That way we can all say we have over 100 million connections on LinkedIn. And then start from scratch on another platform.

But I don’t think they’ll go for that.  Will you?

Thanks LadyDragonflyCC for the great photo via Flickr

This is part two of a two-part series on millennials in the workplace. Read Part One. Specifically, how to communicate across generations – a common issue at the office and during a job interview.  This series was guest written by Aaron McDaniel, the author of the Young Professional’s Edge blog (YP Edge)

If you interview with enough companies you are bound to come across an awkward situation or two, yet few are more uncomfortable than when you realize that you are older and more experienced than the person on the other side of the interview table.

While it is only natural to have a “who is this cocky and clueless person interviewing ME” reaction when you are being interviewed by someone a few (or many) years your junior, don’t start to jump to conclusions or blindly accept stereotypes. It is important to keep an open mind and not assume that you are better and smarter than your interviewer, primarily because it will show through in how you answer the questions you are asked and also because the “young gun” interviewing you can offer you key insights into what it is like to work at the company you are interviewing with.

Besides showing the “young gun” interviewer that you are the best candidate for the job, there are a few other strategies that can help you sound better to the millennial on the other side of the table:

Show that you understand technology

Beyond illustrating how you understand the Microsoft Office Suite, you want to make sure to talk about your understanding of technology and its importance in the workplace.  Show that you have an open mind to new mediums (from social networking to technological tools).  While you can keep this understanding at a macro level, you still want to go beyond a surface understanding (otherwise your interviewer may think it is “cute” that you are attempting to sound hip and up with the latest thing).

Ask for their opinions

In the presence of an older and more experienced person, young people (and millennials are no exception) are looking for any opportunity to show their value and communicate that they bring as much value to the table as someone who is as experienced as you.  The best way to do this is by getting your interviewer to talk about themselves. Be genuinely interested in what they are saying and think of ways to encourage them on to describe more with supportive statements (for those that are parents, think about how you encourage your kids.

For those that aren’t, think about the lessons from Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People). This strategy will do a few things including helping you learn more about what the company is like and helping you gain rapport (so that your interviewer likes you more)

Say you are flexible and are comfortable with change

(Note: if you really are not comfortable with change then don’t lie about it but think seriously about adapting this mindset). The ability to be flexible and change quickly is much more important to a millennial than being strong and steady and “staying the course.”  The corporate world today is fast-moving and the agile (not the strong) will survive.  Do all you can to show the breadth of your experience and not just the depth. In answering questions, reference examples from many different positions.

When I started my career I routinely found ways to talk in a manner that made me seem more experienced than I really was. I even made my appearance give the illusion of more experience than I had (including growing a goatee).  In this case you want to do the opposite.  For example, don’t explicitly say that an experience you had was from 20+ years ago, instead say that it was an experience from a “few years ago.” Focusing too much on a long career of experiences will not get you as far as showing a diversity of experience and general intelligence.

Ask questions to them about culture

Start by asking your interviewer questions about company culture and immediately follow it up with references to how you like, have experience in and fit with similar types of corporate cultures. Moreover, talk about passions you have and who you are outside of work.  “Young guns” appreciate understanding these types of things about you and it can help you stick out amongst the pile of resumes (i.e. if you talk about how you climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and have been to 25 countries it will help brand you in a more positive way than if you only stick to business topics during the interview).

Now that you know some secrets to interviewing with a “young gun” you are a step ahead of others who don’t take the time to understand who is on the other side of the table asking questions.  Remember that no matter what your age or amount of professional experience, you can always show that you are flexible, intelligent and young at heart while still communicating that you have the solid experience that will make you successful in the job you are applying for.

Aaron McDaniel (aka “Mr. Business”) is the author of the Young Professional’s Edge blog (YP Edge). He is a corporate director, entrepreneur, public speaker, community volunteer, author and avid world traveler. He has experience in sales, customer care, marketing, operations, strategy and business development and has managed over 110 different direct reports and organizations as large as 60 at a Fortune 50 company. Read more from Aaron @ http://ypedge.com

Thanks budgetplaces.com for the great image via Flickr

This is part one of a two-part series on millennials in the workplace.  Specifically, how to communicate across generations – a common issue at the office and during a job interview.  This series was guest written by Aaron McDaniel, the author of the Young Professional’s Edge blog (YP Edge)

Most of us have heard of the famous John Gray book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. One of the overarching ideas within is that men and women fundamentally think differently.

Just like people from different parts of the world, the same can be said for each generation of people; we think differently at a fundamental level.  For the sake of illustration, let’s say that as a baby boomer or Gen Xer you are from Switzerland, while millennials are from Japan.

Being from Switzerland (Boomer/Gen X) you are used to speaking a certain language, eating regional food and fulfilling certain cultural traditions.  Because you grew up in Switzerland all of these customs are practices are normal.  Someone from Japan (millennials), however, may see what you do as weird or more appropriately, foreign, because of the environment they grew up.

The same can be said for people of different generations. Each generation grew up in different political, economic and technological environments.

To succeed in this type of landscape the goal should not be to focus on how someone from Japan (in our analogy) or another generation is “different” or wrong, but instead should be to understand the differences so you can work together.

Let’s explore some ways that you can relate to and communicate with Young Gun millennials:

Use technology

Millennials are accustomed to communicating their multiple mediums.  Routinely I will email a friend about having dinner, receive a text message back, and call my friend to work out all the details; posting a Facebook status when we actually get together. Millennials are digital natives (as MIT’s Mark Prensky puts it), growing up in a world of the internet and mobile phones.

For those that are more digital immigrants, it is important to communicate in the way that millennials do.  Even in a professional environment a text message or an email may be just as effective as an in person conversation for a millennial (plus you will have a record of what exactly was said).

Work does not equal our entire life

For older generations the typical concept discussed related to this topic is work-life balance.  For millennials, this is an obsolete term.  A more appropriate moniker is work-life integration.  For a millennials it is normal to go to work all day, grab dinner with friends and then go back home and log in for some late night work emailing.

Do not rush to put rules on millennials saying that have to do something the way you would do it.  Allow freedom and set clear expectations for the results you want. More often than not you will get the results you are looking for, and more.

Explain the “Why”

The whole “because I said so” argument does not sit well with millennials.  They need to understand why they are being asking to do a certain task or why a goal was set the way it was.  Moreover, explaining how they will benefit and gain experience from fulfilling a certain task will allow you to connect better with a millennial and foster better results from him or her.  Ultimately explaining the impact (s)he will make generates buy-in and motivation.

Now that you have a better understanding of how to communicate with millennials, the next (and most important) step is to leverage this understanding. Diversity is a great thing. Just like experiencing different cultures can enrich your lives, valuing and utilizing the talents of millennials can be a huge advantage for you.

Appreciate and channel a millennial’s energy, focus their creativity and use their desire to gain experience to reach your goals.  Remember that even if you are from Switzerland, Mars or Venus doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give sushi a shot.

Read Part 2 Now

Aaron McDaniel (aka “Mr. Business”) is the author of the Young Professional’s Edge blog (YP Edge). He is a corporate director, entrepreneur, public speaker, community volunteer, author and avid world traveler. He has experience in sales, customer care, marketing, operations, strategy and business development and has managed over 110 different direct reports and organizations as large as 60 at a Fortune 50 company. Ready more from Aaron at http://ypedge.com

Thanks Ed Yourdon for the great photo via Flickr

It’s A New Year. 

Time To Get Serious About Job Search.

Mission Viejo, CA – After personally helping thousands of job seekers with their process, Tim Tyrell-Smith has something significant to share with the job search community.  He’s making his strategy available to a much broader nationwide community.

Tyrell-Smith announced today that a new online job search strategy tool has just entered private beta.  Members of his LinkedIn group and Facebook page were offered the chance to participate in this first testing process.

Why this strategy tool and why now? 

“I meet hundreds of job seekers every month who are working without a strategy and have admitted to wasting months without a focus around their effort,” said Tyrell-Smith.  “This strategy tool solves a major problem for job seekers at a critical time in their lives. “

“For anyone who is stuck in a job search, feels inefficient without a structure or needs to plan for a pending layoff, Tim’s Strategy is now ready to help a lot more people,” said Tyrell-Smith, a popular career blogger, author, strategist and founder of Tim’s Strategy™.

The new online software tool, simply named “Tim’s Strategy” (named after the blog) delivers a structured and strategic process to help users create a personal and customized job search strategy.  Described by one user to be “like tax software for your job search,” the software breaks down a complex and unfamiliar process into smaller, easier to chew pieces.  Video help is included throughout the process.

Tyrell-Smith stresses that his tool is not a replacement for a career coach or resume writer.  In fact, he encourages use of career experts via a career expert directory he initiated on his site.

“If you need significant help with your job search and have the money to invest, you should consider hiring a career expert. But for job seekers who have the interest and skills to create their own strategy and materials, this tool will help you do it right,” said Tyrell-Smith.

For an initial upfront fee (and a small annual maintenance fee), users will be guided thorough a five stage process that includes profiling, branding, marketing, networking and interviewing guidance.  Highlights of the tool include the identification of target companies, the dynamic creation of marketing materials and the development of targeted networking connections.

For more information on the tool, screenshots of various steps and sneak-peak access for media, please contact Tyrell-Smith directly or call (949) 829-2149.  To be added to a notification list for when the tool is available to the public, click here.

About Tim Tyrell-Smith and Tim’s Strategy

Tim Tyrell-Smith is the creator of Tim’s Strategy, a ground-breaking online job search and career strategy tool.  As a blogger, Tyrell-Smith has been a regular contributor to U.S. News and World Report and is the author of two career books (“30 Ideas” and “HeadStrong”). Tyrell-Smith’s blog “Tim’s Strategy™ – Ideas for Job Search, Career and Life” has more than 4,000 subscribers and is read in 126 countries. You can learn more at http://facebook.com/TimsStrategy and follow him on Twitter (@TimsStrategy).

So today I’ve compiled a summary of reader favorite posts of 2011.  And If you haven’t read them yet, maybe you should since someone else apparently has.

And if you get really interested, you can get nostalgic and read the favorite career advice from 2010.

Perhaps a few of the posts from earlier this year are now more relevant than before.

Or perhaps you have a little more time this week before the new year to think a little deeper about your career or life situation.

Would love to know your thoughts on these 11 posts, of course.  What impact, if any, did they have on your thought process or action plan.  Of course, I hope they helped you!

Our Group: A LinkedIn Success Story

Earlier in the year, LinkedIn had a request for nominations of people or groups on LinkedIn that were making a difference.  The Tim’s Strategy LinkedIn group was nominated for being a group with a great purpose on LinkedIn.  And the group was chosen as a success story to help highlight LinkedIn’s growth to 100 million members.  A great success story for LinkedIn and an exciting bit of recognition for all of us that participate in the group.  If you are not a member of the group or not an active member, resolve to be one in 2012.

10 Signs You Are Being Lazy On LinkedIn

If you send generic (not personalized) LinkedIn connection requests or neglect to upload a great photo to your profile, you are being lazy on LinkedIn.  And I don’t want that for you.  Because it means fewer people will find you there and those who do will find you less interesting.  This post also included a scoring system.  How dd you score?

Using Twitter: A Simple Daily Checklist

Like LinkedIn, Twitter has so much potential as a social networking tool for job search.  And for simply staying in touch with your network during your career.  But I noticed many people simply have trouble building a basic amount of inertia.  Or they see the bad aspects (silly updates and spammers) of social networking and decide to stick with what they know.  Avoiding social media is a bad move in this new modern job search.  So I decided to keep it simple and write you a basic daily checklist.  I like checklists and I figured you would too.  Thanks for sharing this one.

 Recruiters Insider Secrets To Getting The Job

While I don’t really like the title I wrote for this one, the idea was one that you clearly wanted to read about.  This post was a result of a great conversation I had with CPG Jobs about working with recruiters.  It was a tele-seminar with Tom Bolt and Gail Houston.  If you go to this post you can read the summary of my comments or listen to the tele-seminar.  Especially if working with recruiters is on your list of “things to improve” for 2012.

 Tell Me About Yourself: What’s Your Story?

This post worked for a couple of reasons.  First it focused on a big and scary question we get at the beginning of almost every job interview (and one you have to nail).  Second, it offered advice from a very well-respected story-teller, Kathy Hansen of Quintessential Careers.  Kathy and I met for the first time at a career conference this year (she was on my must meet list) and I had the unique opportunity to drive her from Las Vegas to Los Angeles.  You learn a lot about someone in a long car drive!

 Should Your Resume And LinkedIn Profile Be Carbon Copies?

Sometimes a lingering and important question gets answered in a way that really works. This guest post was written by Melissa Cooley.  Melissa is a career consultant specializing in resume writing, interview coaching and job search strategy.  She is also an approved career expert here at Tim’s Strategy™.  So many of us wonder if we are doing it all right.  Melissa’s post gave you a great answer to this particular question.  Thanks Melissa!

How To Sleep Like  A Baby During Job Search

Despite our best efforts, we don’t always have the confidence during job search that we’d like.  In fact, if you are missing this key ingredient, it can get to you during the entire day and sometimes at night when you are supposed to be sleeping.  I remember a couple of bad sleeping nights in 2007.  Not always because I was nervous or worried, but because I couldn’t shut off my mind.  If this is an issue for you, I hope this post helps to settle your mind in 2012.

How To Wake Up With A Smile On Your Face

This post carried a similar message to the one above.  Except it was about how to get “up” for a new day.  It featured a great YouTube video of a young girl getting herself ready for the day with a Tony Robbins style pep talk to herself.  I loved the energy of her message and, while I’m not asking for your video version, I’d love to know how you do this each day during job search.

Using LinkedIn: A Few Simple Reminders

LinkedIn is such an amazing tool.  So many people sign up, create a profile, connect with everyone they know and then stop using the platform with any real purpose.  This post was my push back on you to start using LinkedIn with a purpose and to not allow yourself to fall asleep at the wheel.  What have you done to really use all that LinkedIn offers? And how will you change that in the new year?

 10 Reasons Why People Get Fired

The idea of getting fired really rattles people.  Either because they’ve been fired before and know the feeling or they worry about the outcomes in a tough economy.  But there are some basic reasons why it happens.  Sometimes the result is good news for you (that particular job was a bad fit for you).  Other times there is no good news at all.  But if you read through these, you’ll find that there is often a pattern and a rationale behind the decision.  And a way out.

Resume Infographic:  One Man’s Journey In Pictures

It’s tempting to try to new things during job search.  Especially with so many new tools coming out these days.  Try them all, yes.  But be careful which tools you actually use to show your value to recruiters, HR folks and hiring managers.  This post was about one job seeker’s attempt to create his own infographic – his career in pictures.  This post did well because we’re all curious about these new tools but often need an independent voice to help us decide the risk and reward.  What did you think of this attempt to create a visual story?

So those are your top 11.  I hope I helped you get better and smarter in 2011. And that your job search, career and life went a little smoother as a result.  Let me know will you?

And to all of you who count on me as a resource, a friend and expert, thank you for including me in your life.

I wish you all a very happy and successful new year.