When I take in information for coaching, however, I am going deeper.  I am not a psychologist and don’t even want to be in that category, but I do know that there is a lot of unhappiness going around these days about what a person is doing in their working world.  This affects everything.  People go on for years, making a livelihood doing what they really dislike or working around people who are totally obnoxious.

 I don’t find this particularly in taking in a résumé.  However, I have worked with people for over 20 years and I can pretty quickly sense this or my client talks about job dissatisfaction within the first 10 minutes.  I can make adjustments to the job course, but to gain real insight takes a little getting to know each other, trust each other, not as best friends, but in the client/coach relationship.

 Just as an athletic trainer can do a better /deeper job to help you, so can a coaching process.

Deeper clues:  I like to assist in several directions, but my client has to do the real work “finding” himself/herself and that is through dreams, imagination, fact finding, analyzing, and more.

Samples:

Perhaps there was a lost dream somewhere along the way.  Perhaps the love-of-your-life job was teaching, but you quickly realized sales made more money – and there you go— sales it was.  But now after 15+ years a good salary, mortgage, etc. you realize you and perhaps your spouse are really unhappy.

I can’t say you need to cut your salary in half and go into foreclosure, but I can say with a little or a lot of  work you can find a fulfilling career – not just a job with good salary but perhaps a position that has more of a sales engineering / teaching focus of product and less management concerns.

Can you make the same? I find that people who love what they do make money at it because, you see, they don’t see it as work.  Rather they experience what they do as an extension of themselves.

I once had a client for a résumé, a blue collar worker who told me what all he could do in welding, etc.  I took all the information in (and this was year’s ago, by the way, before I saw myself and trained to be a coach) and we concluded the information session.

As he got to my door, he turned around and said to me, “You know years ago as a kid, I could draw anything, then I started painting, painting in some oils even and then my dad told me only sissies did that so I never did that again.

Don’t listen to old messages or discard old dreams.

And remember that an old dream is still part of you.  You can’t go back, but you can pick up the part of the meaning that the old dream gave you: a ‘time stand still’ feeling, a love of life, a feeling of deep satisfaction, a Fritz Perls’ gestalt.  Mary Ann

If you are planning a job change, feel a hint of trouble coming in your job, are having marital problems and under pressure to get a new job – here are some thoughts:

You need to approach change with determination and belief that it is possible, because it is!  All you have to do is go back in history and there are story after story of people who have made dramatic changes in their lives.

 But you have to be determined, well, sound in spirit, and willing to work as hard for yourself as you have for your company.

If you are depressed – try hard to come to terms with it and know it is quite common today in changing jobs, losing jobs, living a little in an uncomfortable financial zone.

 There isn’t any coach who can “fix” someone or their situation, if he/she is depressed.  It feels on my side as if I am pulling someone along who doesn’t want to come.  Maybe he/she is saying they want a new résumé or coaching for a new job change, but as a matter of fact they are dead weight that I am dragging along.

No coach is a doctor.   I do not believe that it takes years of life coaching  for change to happen.  That, my dear friends is just the cash cow of a coaching service.  I use 30-60-90 days as the longest period and prefer 3 to 5 sessions.  If you are willing to work that is all you need until you perhaps get further down the road and need help with the interview challenge.

 I just wanted to say all of this because this week I sent someone home after one session, because I just knew, regrettably that the depression was so deep that my coaching wouldn’t work.

It is just like you wouldn’t go to a training coach, if you had a fever.

Get well, strong and determined with true belief that you want and can have a better life because we all deserve it.  We can get off track so easy in our world today.  The money thing, you know, and then if you have settled for that there is just misery and a hum drum life that is grueling. So tell your doctor the truth, get a little help and then come to me to be bushed-up and polished to go on to a better life.   Mary Ann

Whenever I interview a senior executive, the question that comes up first is to ask “Who are we writing to? A specific company within or outside his/her industry, recruiters? How this question is answered forms how the résumé is formatted and the approach of the cover letter.

A cover letter is extremely important at this level. The résumé forms the “what I have done” part and the cover letter says “what you can bring.” The part in between is the Profile and states clearly your branding message.

Up front then – the cover letter – has the opportunity to preface all of your qualities that you can offer a company.  I particularly like to write a cover letter because it permits a looser style, it can speak from experience, oh yes, and can address a negative, before it happens. 

Leave this little jewel out and you have only half the power of your communication.

In a letter to a recruiter, you also can state a range you are looking for and if there is more than one job search – defend what you could bring to each type of position.  You can quickly gather that this is not as easy in the information of the résumé experience.

Coming soon will be e-booklets that will give specific examples.  They are only meant to be examples.  The cover letter that gets attention is one that is written specifically for your intentions.  Cookie cutters are worthless.  Examples, however, will serve to give you a sense of style – the words still come from you.

People have so much trouble writing what they are thinking.  I suggest you talk with your spouse about what you can bring to a new organization.

Another way is to buy one of these little digital recorders – speak your thoughts on the way to work and then a few days later listen to yourself.

My clients always are able to tell me what they want to say – they just get hung up when they try to write it.  It is just a skill that got lost in college somewhere as they smacked our hands for putting in too many or too few commas, but left out the self expression part.   

More to come on the Senior Management résumé Part B  Mary Ann

 I’d like to make you aware of these differences, by writing about each one and giving you a snap shot version of each type.  In my 20-year history, if we averaged that I have written 200 resumes for each year – and that is a low estimate, I think you will understand that I know about what I speak.

So let’s began with the top – CEO, Board Member. This particular CV/Résumé  that I am demonstrating actually is 10 pages long. Senior level experience in its entirety must be told.  However, the first page with the Profile still contains the greatest impact

Beginning with the cover letter, carrying over to the résumé, and following with proof of experience, I am totally concentrating on developing your brand.  This is true at all levels.

Each one of you is unique and must define what differentiates you from the next candidate.  I will repeat this statement in many ways throughout this series, because at every level this is so.

 Let’s begin: Example: I

 RESUME

EXPERTISE   President, CEO, Chairman of the Board

PROFILE        

Chief executive leadership with a broad range of experience running large-cap corporate structures in excess of $3B. Develop overall strategies and planning to implement objectives of the board; oversee their implementation by operations and distribution across six (6) subsidiaries. Responsibility for P&L with intuitive skills in finding areas for revenue growth and cost reductions overseeing implementation of effective plant and corporate operations.

Advancement through the ranks of this Fortune 500 company that began as a management trainee, adds the extra perception necessary to discern and spearhead indisputable leadership.

 (This actual résumé has a longer Profile, but showing this much gives you an idea of what to do.  At the same time you have your résumé written, it would also be good time to write a bio that could easily be constructed from this Profile.

After the résumé is proof read, I develop this Profile into a Bio.  By that time, I know and understand what makes you tick, have put everything in your voice, and can add the extra ingredient of a bio. 

Other levels don’t usually need this, but the CEO does.

NEXT…_

EXPERIENCE

XXXXX                                                                                                                             Dec xx – Current

Strategy Committee Member

Group executive and principal officer in 10-member executive committee. Responsible for enterprise-wide and worldwide corporate planning, and govern directives of all companies within the corporation

Corporation, INC, City, State – (all spelled out please; not a zip abbreviation)            Dec xx – Current

President and CEO

Highlights: Manage P&L accountability across seven organizations to accomplish an integrated execution of core strategies, support business matrix based on stated objectives and goals, control costs, and identify leverage points and how quantifiable results will be accomplished by stakeholders.

Responsible for corporate operations and fifteen (30) manufacturing plants and facilities, encompassing xx corporate and salaried employees involved in operations, engineering, equipment maintenance, R&D and quality assurance.  This also includes 4000 union and non-union plant employees.

— Contributions of impacted areas include:

• Delivered $300MM in profitability on $1.6B in sales, $XXMM in operating cash flow and $XX free cash flow. 2007 was a record year in profitability for XXXXX
• International Executive Management includes:

—         London, England, and XX, Germany:  Trip encompassed ……

(Of course this is longer than what you are seeing here, but you can see how I develop the section. 

Keeps the reader’s eye going from text, to bulleted text to “M” lines or dashes.  This presents an interesting results oriented look and keeps back that dull flat look of paragraph that I see on older résumés. 

Remember the first reading is fast – keep the reader interested.  Even if you are well-known in your industry, you can still get boring on paper.  What happens?  The reader quits reading.

 The most important text is on the first two pages, after that very short paragraphs, but put them in –  because your underpinnings are very important.  Don’t cut yourself short.

 Next:  Finish the rest in a CV kind of look – by that I mean lists, very few facts:

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Board of Directors /  Policy Committee                                                                                        Current

Executive Committee Member –Manufacturers Institute, Washington, D.C.                                    Jan 2009

PRESENTATIONS

Keynote speaker (re-invited) for the 2009 XXX Conference – Topic –. Rated the #1 presenter out of 43 presentations;

HONORS AND AWARDS

Recipient of the 2008 Memorial Award for outstanding civic leadership.                                        Aug 2008

RELATED ASSOCIATIONS & ACTIVITIES

National Alliance of XXX- Past Member

EDUCATION

Masters in Business Administration University, City Sate

Continuing Education

Continue on with everything you have taken since your degree. In list style.

(There are other things that could follow, or not. 

For instance, for a real family man, I might say Personal:  My wife and I have three children.  This is a nice touch given to me by a local news anchor and astute business man.

 And then there is the cover letter.  If you leave this out, you are foolish, because the résumé is a stiffer format and cannot express your gut feelings, what drives you, what has made you great.  I love cover letters – they are my passion.  Never, never leave one out.

 Mary Ann

They are sterile words, meaningless words, that is, unless you’re part of the Recession Package of today.  I’ve promised to tell you a few stories that I have encountered – so here goes the first one.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a résumé for a mechanical engineer working in manufacturing in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Reason – Layoff.

As she described what had happened to her it made me cringe.  The lady is African American and although that really doesn’t make a difference to the story; it does.  She earned her degree in 1985 – not only a mechanical engineering degree, but another B.S. in Applied Math – graduating cum laude. 

I think for any women this would have been an accomplishment.  I asked her why she happened to enter that discipline – one that is usually for men (at least in 1985 it was).  She told me that her home economics teacher was the impetus.  Saying to her home-ec teacher that she wanted to be a teacher like her, the teacher answered that she had more smarts and needed to go into higher education with even higher goals.  She did just that and graduated with high honors.

 Then she entered manufacturing – a hard row to hoe for a women in a man’s field, let alone a black woman in a white man’s field.  But she did just that and you know what? She was and is well liked and received.

 She grows on you, this woman.  You can feel her steadiness and character.  No wonder they liked her.

 Now about the layoff part: for the past year her manufacturing company has let people go.  As theydid so they have asked her to take on more and more assignments – same pay scale – that of course –  didn’t change.

 Also, they asked all employees to bring a box or backpack to work in case they got fired that day.  No, they didn’t use the word, “fire. ”  That is too emotional; they use the more sterile words that are politically correct in this recession – you know layoff, downsize, reengineer.  Something that doesn’t carry emotions.

 But think about it.  How would you like to go to work every day – take on the workload of three people and all the time your empty box is sitting there waiting for your belongings to be plopped in quickly while you vanish from the work force.

 That my readers is the real hurt behind the sterile words of this recession; the real demeaning of our colleagues who work hard, overcome obstacles everyday, and earned their way with a cum laude, overcoming racial issues, overcoming gender issues, but not able to overcome the empty box issue.  Mary Ann

 Next biggest question is: will my age hurt my chances out there?

 My answers:

 I see a big serge on the job market.  I heard from someone last week who had secured a job in South Florida.  He has promised me a testimonial and I will get that on my site as soon as it’s available.

 I think the construction people and people that surround that industry are still in a struggle.  Outside of this industry, I see this new serge.  Since the beginning of the year, I have written for lawyers, medical personnel, sales, manufacturing executives, engineers, foundations, IT, and nonprofits.  All of these people have new jobs since January.

 Because of the rush at this time of year (yes the résumé business has its seasons), I asked all my clients for a 7-10 business day turnaround rather than the 5-day.  They all agreed.  And then without exception, I was called to hurry up because they had heard from a recruiter or seen the perfect job.  So you see – it is happening!

 Now about age:

 I think the same about age that a did a year ago and in earlier years past:

 Age does not hinder you. (Period)  Strangely enough I am asked this – no matter what age someone is. :) You would think that the world is run by 17 year olds.  But you know it is not.   The best employees are seasoned – the way you are. 

 What is wrong is how you pull your résumé together.  Employers want confident people who know their stuff.  That is what you need to market you.  Go back and re-read my statements about branding.  Differentiate yourself from everyone else at the top of the résumé by opening up the document with YOUR BRAND.  Make a compelling statement and then back it up with facts.  No, no, I do not mean TOP PRODUCER – type statements, but rather a statement that defines you differentiates you from every other candidate out there.

You say you can’t.  Ask your wife.  Ask you husband.  Ask a trusted friend.  And when you hear the same statement more than once about what makes you great – aha you are on to your brand.

That folks will sell you every time – no age problem either.  Because your brand goes with you – it is portable job to job.  It is part of your life and no one has exactly the same experience, wisdom, temperament, etc. that you do.    Mary Ann

 A little history:

www.Resumecounselor.com was actually my very first website brought together by Kevin Skarritt of www.Acorncreative.com – way back in the 90’s and is still to this day a successful website – delivering the information for information about my résumé services.

The recent new button on the site that leads to this blog was developed by Emily Bloss of www.websitecleanup.com.  Emily is the behind-the-scenes genius in all we do here on the Internet.

 The Future

In coming months the blog will offer not only helpful advice, but actual booklets to specifically help in guiding you to success.  The first that will appear soon is a booklet on Retire, Re-Create, and Restart based on a Webinar with four panelists. Again the cover is by Acorncreative.com  and the entire process will be available because of Emily Bloss’s genius. 

 Think this is a strange beginning in a recession year.  No, because one of the best elimination tools for corporate is to offer early retirement.  I hear from many of you who ask, “What do I do now?”

 Following this will be a series of “How To” résumé writing booklets that will be added throughout 2010.   So keep coming back to visit.  I think you will like what I am going to add and it will help you in your own career pursuit.

 So you see we are busy here and committed to making your career change or advancement easier.

 If you have a request, interest in a special area, comments – please speak up.

 Again welcome to résumé counselor visitors

 There is something else that seems to me very prevalent today and that is job dissatisfaction.  Some of this is about people having two to three jobs added to their job descriptions, but some of it is finding out that where they are headed is not where they want to go.

I often look back on a résumé to see what people took in college and to see how far away from their selected major that they have drifted. Sometimes it’s a good thing.  Many of my CEO’s have Psychology or Anthropology degrees.  They have had a curiosity about people that somehow actualized into leading a company and negotiating between the board and senior management.

But on the other hand, there may have been a left-behind dream that is far from being actualized, and if so, that may indicate a problem. They have a job, but they do not have a career.  There is a Big Difference. 

We usually select what we want to do in life because of our dreams or awareness of ourselves.  Later that stops whenever the pursuit of money becomes the essential estimate of one’s worth.

Even in a struggling economy, however, I find many of my clients struggling more to see what is missing in their lives.  A recent press release from www.conference-board.org says that U.S. Job Satisfaction is at the lowest level in two decades.

“While one in 10 Americans is now unemployed, their working compatriots of all ages and incomes continue to grow increasingly unhappy.” Says Lynn Franco, Director of the Consumer Research Center of The Conference Board. “Though both economic boom and bust during the past two decades, our job satisfaction numbers have shown a consistent downward trend.”

 I’ll offer one explanation.  We are a very free people.  We dare to dream.  Yet we find ourselves strapped with high interest rates on credit cards and the belief that the future will take care of us – and all of a sudden realistically find – it isn’t so.  We become aware of passage of time, finding ourselves in a place that we never meant to go, and all of a sudden, stopping in our tracks to appraise a life that is going in the wrong direction.

 Thus, dissatisfaction. Mary Ann

I think when I move there I am going to donate some time to National Jewish Hospital to help teach asthmatic children.  That is a personal goal.

I also have a personal goal to write my very best for you and help each and everyone of you gain momentum in where you want to go.  I am good at this, so take advantage, please. And if you think you can’t afford me, you can at least write me and gain some answers to a question or two that might spur you on your way.

I had a client recently who is extremely competent – one of the best in his industry, but his self esteem has bottomed because of a work situation in which his superiors are poking around and diminishing him.

Has that happened to you?  If it has, you need to move out of that situation, because no one needs to be diminished in their career.  If they are or you are then it is a job to sustain you.  It is not your career. 

A career is about actualizing, being thrilled with what you do.  Doing what you love, what is easy for you, because it is part of your DNA talent.

Yes, work needs to feel easy and fulfilling, not hard.  I don’t know Bill Gates, but I bet if he had to work in a mill, it would feel hard to him.  He may do it well, but it would be a drudge. No one pokes around at him, but I bet they have tried.  But, you see, he has operated from the power of his innate talent and no one can touch that. Not Bill Gates and not you.

Life can’t wait for you to find yourself.  You must do that on your own. Then when you feel the momentum and feel light as air – skip a little bit, then you are in your zone, in your talent base.  Remember that the next guy isn’t so comfortable in your zone.

We forget this.  We think if it is easy for us, it is easy for anyone.  THIS IS NOT SO. 

So look for what you love to do and what is easy for you and start off your goal for 2010 ( that is fun to write – try it)  finding what is fun, interesting, challenging and moving away from people who do not appreciate you as you are.

Happy New Year —-Mary Ann

p.s. And write me.  Complain to me.  Ask me questions. Sometimes I feel that I am writing to an empty Internet.  It is like singing in the dark.

I’ll answer too.

So, those coming to me with dire emergencies are going to have to wait in line!

And so can it be for you too.

Begin by enjoying this holiday at whatever point you find yourself and relax.  Because it is getting better and no matter what you read out there I can tell you that the business world is moving again. 

January is going to be a good hiring month.  I know of more hiring right now – and I work across country, not just Midwest — more hiring than I think the entire rest of the year combined.  That says a lot.  And believe me, I am not going to say something on this blog that I don’t believe is correct.

My thoughts for you is to work with what you’ve got to make it a beautiful Christmas.  Give gifts of yourself not $$$ gifts.  Have fun; laugh a lot.  Take walks.  Play with the kids.  Turn off TV or turn it on if that makes you happy.  But just take in the moment.

Because that is exactly what I am going to do.  I may blog again next week – because that makes me happy.  But I am stepping back from the business  and just enjoying the week with my Denver family – 3 year old girl and 23-day old boy<):

And while I do this, I am going to began to journal about how I can help you more.  I think remaining calm and refusing emergencies is a beginning.  I will attend a very important conference of all the leaders in this industry that I admire and learn from — that is not until March.

What I want to do most is bring to you all that I know, plus a calm encouragement of what I believe is true for each one of you. Help you see that you can rely and believe in yourself again.

The work is ahead of us – we both know that.  But it is now the time for stopping, not worrying, looking at each family member and friend as a treasure.  That is all – nothing more.

So, enjoy the season, each other and just know that if you really decide to restart your life, get back to work, do something new — it will happen.

A beautiful Christmas everyone, Mary Ann