January Self Discovery

Are you getting cabin fever? Many areas of the country have been hit hard this winter. January is a great month to sit by the fire with a warm cup of coffee and take time to reflect upon and plan your career. Once the weather gets warmer, the days go by all too quickly. Grab a notebook and answer the following questions. Enjoy the process.


1. What did I do really well last year in my job? (Hopefully, this is on your resume and your supervisors are also aware of it.)


2. In reviewing the above responses, how could I (should I) continue to excel in those areas?


3. In what areas of my life should I give myself some slack? When working under unreasonable demands, I used to say to myself "All is well that ends well" then one day a colleague said stop being so hard on yourself, sometimes "All is well that just ends".


4. Are there things I need to stop doing (i.e. overcommitting, self-destructive habits, negative thoughts)?


5. In reviewing the past year, list 10 things (i.e. who and what) for which I am most grateful? List why.


6. Are there people with whom I need to reconnect? Make plans to do so.

New Year's Resolutions

Each January 1st, rather than resolving to lose 5 pounds or exercise more, I begin the new year by reading two professional development books. My selections are books that transcend specific industries and are more generic in their advice or findings. This information comes in handy when socializing with friends or networking with professionals who are not in my industry. With the economy starting to show signs of improvement, what will you commit to this year as part of your professional development action plan? Perhaps you will take this week to update your LinkedIn profile and photo. In fact, if you are not using LinkedIn, you are missing out on a real networking opportunity as more and more headhunters and recruiters are using this tool to solely source their candidates or review professional backgrounds and skill sets. Perhaps this month you will take the time to research a new career field and schedule some informational interviews. Another idea would be to start that blog that you have had on the back burner. Yes, the new year's economy is off to a better start than we have seen for awhile. Sieze the chance to make a career transition this year and take control of your life.

Holiday Gift Ideas

Each year near the holidays or graduation, parents of UK students contact me asking for career related gift ideas for their children. Is there someone on your holiday gift list that could benefit from such a gift? Here is a list of my favorite items.

• Leather portfolio suitable for interviews
• Business card holder
• High quality pen
• Tie
• Leather purse
• Pearls
• Business book

There are many classic business and professional development books that make impressionable gifts - especially when a handwritten note is included. Some of my favorites include: How to Win Friends and Influence People, From Good to Great, Never Eat Alone, Drive, and 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Bloomberg Businessweek recently conducted a survey of prominent professors and business professionals seeking their favorite books. What would you add to this list?

Capitalize on the Holidays!

Each year at this time I hear clients say, "I think I will take the holidays off and begin my search again in January". There is certainly a myth out there that no one hires in December or that December is the worst month of the year to be job seeking. By the amount of activity our alumni have been recently experiencing, there is nothing further from the truth! Many of you have been calling and emailing about interview tips and salary negotiation strategies. Yes, the economy is stronger than we have seen in a few years. Use this month to purposefully reconnect with former supervisors, colleagues, and clients. Send cards, emails, or simply make a telephone call wishing others a happy holiday season. Take advantage of holiday open houses and parties. This is the time of year when feelings of peace on earth and goodwill make networking much easier. Social occassions and year end networking can go a long way towards building trust and may help open doors for business opportunities next quarter.

John Maxwell Leadership Conference

Internationally renowned author, speaker, and leadership expert John Maxwell was recently in Lexington for an event that the UK Alumni Association helped promote. It was great to see so many fellow UK alumni from several different industries represented at the conference. There also was a youth leadership track where UK and high school students participated in sessions led by Dr. Tim Elmore.

Dr. Maxwell shared from his recent leadership book Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What The Most Effective People Do Differently. His presentation was an excellent reminder that success is really just being able to connect with other people. Similar to networking, we need to be conscious of other people and how we can help them. We are either a plus or a minus, adding to or subtracting from relationships. Essentially, connecting is more about character and relationships. The following are some suggested tips for connecting. Be available and open for others. In getting to know someone new, ask them questions. Be conscious of what you can do to help others. Create experiences that make time with others more enjoyable.

If you are not already a fan, consider reading a few of Dr. Maxwell's leadership books to help with your own professional growth and development.

FREE- Professional Development Video Downloads

Last Spring we launched a UK alumni "Third Thursday Networking" series. Each program featured a speaker or panel on a job search/professional development topic. The content has been amazing and alumni who have attended have been able to take away some wonderful contacts and information that has helped them to explore and make successful career transitions. Fortunately, these career downloads are available free for alumni around the world. We hope that you will take advantage of this Alumni Association benefit. The topics include:

Job Search Strategies - Panel of Executive Recruiters and HR Professionals
Generations At Work
Brand You: Marketing Yourself To Employers
How To Land a Non-Profit Job - Features a panel of Non-profit employees
Tips on Making A Successful Career Change - Panel of Successful Career Changers
How To Get A Job At UK - UK HR

We welcome your ideas for future programs. Remember, even if you do not live close enough to attend the event in-person, you can take advantage of free career downloads.

LinkedIn Tips for Your Summary Section

Social Media expert Jason Alba is a "go to" person for tips on using LinkedIn (LI). You may be familiar with his book I'm On LinkedIn Now What? or his DVDs on how to use LinkedIn more effectively. He recommends the following four tips for making the most of your LI Summary section.
1) You are allowed up to 2000 characters in this section - use them.
2) Don't cut and paste your resume in this section (it should go in the Profile section).
3) Tell up to six compelling STAR (Situation/Task, Action, Results) stories emphasizing prior work accomplishments. Quantify when possible (i.e. #, $, %)
4) Load up on industry key words and phrases. Remember to make sure that you stay on brand. Also, communicate what you are passionate about and what you bring to the table.

By utilizing these tips, your LI summary section will be much stronger.