by Hope
This morning I rose at 6:00 am, early for a 9am start girl, and made my way to a local Job Transition group. And that is where I will start. This group is faith based and was very welcoming.
I don’t know what I will do at this juncture…do I try to return to corporate, do I continue with my current consultant structure and resume marketing in the same manner, do I try something new, do I just get any job I can, or do I take the time and really do something out of the box???
I LOVED what they focused on today….essentially they said, that for any of your skill sets that you are considering pursuing as a job…make a 30 second commercial or spiel. Not that you film yourself but that you have a card with a couple of bullet points that at any given time, you can “sell” yourself. It’s alot harder than you think.
I think I am going to look for a few other networking opportunities that I can jump in on while I am transitioning to whatever comes next.
I am working really hard to not let panic mode take over and instead focus on the positives….
- At this point, I will get to really focus on my kids wholeheartedly right around the holiday season, how cool is that!?
- I do have several resources I can sell…my car being the big one that comes to mind. And the inspiration for slowing down before I make any quick decisions I might come to regret.
- My ex husband is to be starting a new job within a week or two and has committed to stepping up to help me.
- While we are still living pretty frugally there are a few places I can cut back…
- Cancelled Netflix (we don’t have cable) as we can use Amazon Prime which is paid for the year for entertainment – $9 month savings
- Cleaning out storage which I should be able to cancel by the end of the month – $70 month savings
- Changed the animals food to a cheaper brand which I can get even cheaper on Amazon – $60 month savings
- I’m sure there are more that I will come up as I move forward.
- This gives me the chance to really start over if that is what I should do as far as jobs go without really letting anyone down.
I will end with this and it’s probably the most important part right now….
I have really struggled over the past year or so in trusting myself and my decisions. My prayers have been that if I was not on the right path, I needed that made CRYSTAL CLEAR. This might just be that CRYSTAL CLEAR sign that I needed to push me in a different direction. I can’t say that for sure, but I am totally and completely open to whatever God may have in store for me/us next. He has a plan and I will put my faith in Him as I certainly cannot do it myself.
Hope is a creative, solutions-focused business manager helping clients grow their business and work more efficiently by leveraging expertise in project management, digital marketing, & tech solutions. She’s recently become an empty nester as her 5 foster/adoptive kids have spread their wings. She lives with her 5 dogs in a small town in NE Georgia and prefers the mountains to the beaches any day. She struggles with the travel bug and is doing her best to help each of her kids as their finish schooling and become independent (but it’s hard!) She has run her own consulting company for almost twenty years! Hope began sharing her journey with the BAD community in the Spring of 2015 and feels like she has finally in a place to really focus on making wise financial decisions.
My goodness, Hope, sorry to hear about the job loss! But if there is any clearer sign that you are on the right path, I dont know what it is! Can you imagine if this had happened two years ago, before you got your finances in order? Or a year from now when you might have made housing or traveling commitments that would strain your ability to take other work?
What are your chances of getting a similar position that would replace this job?
I came to say the same – imagine if this happened a year or two ago! We are going through something similar, my husband is losing his job, and I am so thankful for the $60,000 of debt we have paid off in the last few years. Sounds like you are already making good plans.
My boss sent this out to our group the other day. Maybe you will find it helpful also.
Self-marketing ‘vital to career success’
0 Comments Post Comment
By Attracta Mooney 13 October 2015
Asset management professionals who want to get ahead in their career should look to build their personal brand, career experts say, warning that hard work is no longer enough to be successful.
Morag Slater, career development coach at Career Balance, says that what “underpins” success in a person’s career often comes down to “how they market themselves”.
“In this very competitive environment, it is trying to put yourself across in the way you want to be seen,” she says.
This concept of self-marketing is often described as personal branding. Jennifer Holloway, author of Personal Branding for Brits, says: “A strong personal brand quickly tells people two things about you: what you have to offer and who it is that’s offering it.”
The first part – the what – tells others what experience, knowledge or skills you bring to the table, while the second part is about “conveying your personality, behaviours [and] values”.
“You can’t have a successful career based just on one part or the other; for instance doing a good job isn’t enough these days to get ahead. There are lots of people doing good jobs,” says Ms Holloway.
“Instead it’s the mix of the two that conveys your individuality and helps you stand out from the crowd.”
Sarah Dudney, a careers coach at Ignite Career, says personal branding acts as “a silent shorthand” that allows people “to see what your values are very quickly”.
“Personal branding is not just about the shoes you wear. It is about how you communicate in writing and in speech,” she adds.
Ms Dudney says Aberdeen chief investment officer Anne Richards is a good example of a person with a strong personal brand in the asset management industry.
“She has carefully built a personal brand that is strong on technical content and also presents very well on radio and also on industry panels and conferences,” says Ms Dudney.
Few people ever think about how they want to come across, but taking the time to do so can be vital to success, experts say.
Ms Slater says marketing of products is readily accepted, but many people feel uncomfortable with the idea of marketing themselves.
However, she says the simple idea behind personal brand is thinking about “how do I want to be viewed and what do I stand for”.
Ms Slater adds that fund professionals should take time to “understand themselves and their strengths”.
“If someone asked you what you are good at, how would you sum it up?” she says.
Ms Holloway says it is important to find the time “to sit down and really think about what makes you tick and the part that’s played throughout your career so far, and what you’ll need going forwards”.
She says that when she works with clients, she looks at six areas around personal brand – values, drivers, reputation, behaviours, skills/strengths and image.
Ms Slater says your image – such as how you dress – “does matter in terms of the overall package”.
“You want to make a good first impression,” she says, likening it to buying a product in the supermarket.
While price and other factors come into play, many people will also be swayed to buy “something that looks well packaged”.
Consistency is one of the most important parts of a successful personal brand, experts say.
“However people come into contact with you – whether it’s via email, in person, on the phone, at an event, online – if they’re getting the same brand time and again, they’ll quickly come to trust it,” says Ms Holloway.
“But if you throw them a curve ball at any time, for example, having an unprofessional photo on your LinkedIn profile, it will make them question how accurate the brand is.”
Ms Slater says Richard Branson is an example of someone who has built a strong, consistent personal brand. “He lives his brand,” she says, pointing out that he does not try to come across as perfect.
Instead his personal brand is all about “giving it a go”, “taking risks”, being entrepreneurial and hardworking. He is consistent with giving off this impression, whether he is tweeting, blogging or talking to the media.
“He seems genuine. That’s what people like. It’s not about perfection. It’s about being yourself,” she adds.
Ms Slater adds: “If you want others to view you as dependable, you need to meet your deadlines and get your work done.
“If you want people to see you as producing accurate work, you’ll check it or you’ll get a second opinion.”
Ms Dudney says this focus on being consistent extends beyond meeting rooms.
She says: “Do you want to be known as the person who is always solving problems in your business and has a ready smile?
“Then everyone needs to see that from the cleaner to the chief executive. Personal branding means you have to be consistent.”
Ms Holloway adds that getting feedback from others on how they see you “in order to spot any inconsistencies” can be worthwhile.
She adds that being “clear … and authentic” is very important.
“What people should aim for is the best version of what and who they genuinely offer already. Then share that with people in everything they say and do,” Ms Holloway says.
I’m so sorry to hear about this chain of events. I think you are handling it as well as could be expected, I especially like your focus on the positives around this normally joyous time of year.
I would echo others’ comments that the progress you’ve made in the last couple years, especially in cutting down your housing expenses and getting rid of your car debt, have put you on much firmer ground. I hope this will let you weather the storm.
I don’t have any good advice on your next path, but I wish you and your family all the best!
Hope,
Your last lines in your post say “I can’t say that for sure, but I am totally and completely open to whatever God may have in store for me/us next. He has a plan and I will put my faith in Him as I certainly cannot do it myself.” Indeed He does have a plan and He will reveal it. I know this because I have seen Him do the same thing in my life. When I didn’t think there was a way, He made one. Thanks for sharing your journey with us. I believe you will come out better when this part of your journey has past.
Sorry about this. I can’t imagine how you were feeling.
Please make the changes to your outgo now– you can always put them back in later but save money where you can now, so that your EF will last longer if it needs to– cut Netflix, cut the pet food, clean out the storage and have another garage sale/on line sale/craigslist sale etc.
I’m so impressed with you! This was a tough blow, but you haven’t panicked, are looking at your blessings, and are taking your time to make some big decisions. My two cents is to continue to take your time making a work/job decision. Put some feelers out and be open to suggestions, don’t count on your ex’s help (continue to only rely on yourself), check with other current customers to see if they need more help, and see what happens. It’s wonderful that you have some wiggle room to see what develops!
We’re all cheering for you!
Good luck, Hope! I am thinking of you and your family during this difficult time. Trust your gut! I know firsthand job loss can be a roller coaster, but it looks like you are finding the silver lining with your family. Things will work out. 🙂
Hi Hope,
Put your faith in God for he will never leave you or forsake you. God does not shut one door without opening another, that’s for sure.
I read a few pages of my easy read Bible each morning as I rise and the end of each day along with thanking God for my blessings. In the past I had a lot of debt and unhappiness, but I refused to give up, and put my all in “one step at a time and did my hardest to keep looking ahead instead of around or behind me, I am blessed to say my debts have now been halved and God willing will be all re-paided by Christmas.
Ask God what he would like you to do, keep asking and he will show you the way and he will be by your side to guide you.
I wish you all the very best, my prayers for you that God will show you the path sooner than later.
Blessings to you and your family
Jacqueline
God helps those who help themselves. Make a plan and a plan “B”. Stick to it. Having been successful in your entrepreneurial endeavor thus far, I seriously doubt you would welcome the corporate humdrum. Get out there and hustle some clients. Brand yourself. Market yourself. Only you can sell you. Have a “sale” on your rates. Send out fliers to potentials. Really examine your skill set. Have you now learned things that aren’t on your resume? Do you have a website? Dig in and show your kids through example how when the going gets tough, the tough get going.
Connie,
Great advice and pretty much the path I’ve been following over the last week. Thanks for the encouragement!