Tag Archives: tips

Job Search – Do Your Email Address and Voicemail Message Help Your Job Search?

Posted on 16 May 2013 by Wendy Mason | Leave a comment

Job Search – Do Your Email Address and Voicemail Message Help Your Job Search?

Your email address and voice mail message are part of your personal brand – they send a message about you to potential employers. When you are applying to jobs you need to make sure that they say the right things.

You need to have a professional looking email address and a voice mail message that sounds warm and friendly but also business like. Jokey email addresses, and those which look like they are meant for a family, are not going to work to your advantage. Exactly the same thing goes for your voice mail message – this is not the time for that celebrity voice – nor friendly family greetings or jokes. An employer will consider an unprofessional voicemail message like this means you are not professional in your approach.

Here are some guidelines to getting it right!

Voicemail message

Before you record your message think about what you are going to say – it can be a good idea to write your message down
Include your name in the message, mention you’re unavailable to answer the phone. Then ask them to leave their name, number and message, and say you will get back to them as soon as possible. (Then do that, of course)
Keep it simple. For example, “Hi, this is Simon Jones. I’m sorry I’m unable to take your call now, but please leave your name, number and message after the tone and I’ll return your call as soon as possible. Thank you.”
Take time and trouble recording your message – find a quiet place with no background noise of any kind
Speak clearly, and sound professional and polite when recording your greeting.
If you want to be taken seriously avoid background noise including the sound of the family, joke messages and any kind of gimmick.

Email address

Consider creating a new email address specifically for your job search. This will help to prioritize your job search emails.
If possible, include your name in your email address, for example firstname.lastname@abc.com. That will make it much easier for a potential employer to find your emails in their inbox or folder.
You could create an email address that corresponds to the work you do or your profession, for example simonjonesprojectmanager@abc.com if is appropriate.
Make sure your email address is as simple, logical and easy to type as possible – long strings of numbers may well generate mistakes. That might mean you lose out on a precious job offer.

Your email address and voicemail message are key to your personal brand in your job search. Keep them clear, simple and professional. Then they will increase, not decrease, the chances of you being contacted by an employer.
In job search, paying attention to these small details can greatly improve your prospects of being hired.

I have started a new Job Search Group on LinkedIn where you will find lots of tips and other resources in due course – you can join it by clicking here

Wendy is the The Career Coach – helping you to find fresh perspectives on your Job Search and Career. Career Coach. Wendy, helps you work towards your goals and aspirations, in a way that fits in with both work and home life. Email her at wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com, find her on Skype at wendymason14, or call +44 (0) 2081239146 (02081239146 for UK callers) or +1 262 317 9016 if you are in the US.

A free trial/consultation allows you to try phone coaching from the comfort of your own home and without risk. Don’t forget to ask about the Summer Special Offer

CV review and interview preparation and coaching to improve your confidence and self esteem are a speciality

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Posted in Job Search

Tagged Career Coach, Career Coaching, Job Search, job search tips, tips

Management: 6 Simple Tips For New Managers: A Checklist

Posted on 30 April 2013 by Wendy Mason | Leave a comment

Management: 6 Simple Tips For New Managers

All managers have a first day in the job. And it is never easy! So here are some tips to help you on your way;

Understand your organization; its rules and culture. Your team is part of a wider organization and you need to understand that wider context. How do people behave – what are the rules (written and unwritten)? Spend some time finding out and talk to your HR department about what they expect of you as a manager
Understand the work requirement. What are you there to do and by when do you have to do it? Be clear about the objectives of your own manager and their expectations of you. If you don’t have anything written down yet, try to agree a time to do that. What do your team, and each member of it, think they are there to do? Does it line up with what the organization needs and the team objectives?
Be consistent – firm but fair. Don’t have favorites and treat everyone in the same way. Try to be consistent in how you behave – don’t let your bad mood or your “off day” be reflected in how you behave. If you do it will confuse and de-motivate your team. Above all reward or penalize the same things over time. Do your team understand the standards set for their work? Does your behavior reflect them?
Kindness goes a very long way – kindness engenders kindness – show and encourage appreciation. Being kind doesn’t mean you become a “soft” manager that people can take advantage of. Kindness is an extension of being fair. Do you treat people as you, yourself, would like to be treated? You will be surprised what a difference to your life as a manager it will make when you have your team’s support. Kindness will help gain you that support.
Work on you own confidence – confidence inspires others. Learn how to look and sound confident even when you don’t feel it. This will hep your team to feel more secure and able to give their best work. Do you have a problem maintaining your feelings of confidence? If so work with a coach to learn some techniques to help – my contact details are below.
Learn to make quick and effective decisions – dithering bosses lose the confidence of their teams. Do you know how to identify relevant information quickly and then to weigh evidence to help you make a decision. Be willing to take risks – making decisions means being prepared sometimes to take a risk. Giving someone the benefit of the doubt or even delegating effectively requires you to take risks. Do you understand risk and how to take it? Learn about risk and how evaluate how much of it you are taking and how to manage the consequences. At the end of the day, as the manager, you “carry the can” and that is something that good managers learn to live with.

I am sure you will be a first class manager. It isn’t easy but it can be immensely rewarding. Good Luck. If you would like my help, please get in touch

Wendy is the Happiness Coach and author of The Wolf Project and a new novel, Blood Brothers, to be published in Summer 2013. As a life and career coach and blogger, she helps people reach their goals and aspirations. As a novelist she hopes to entertain. Oh and she writes poetry too! To find out more email wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com, find her on Skype at wendymason14, or call +44 (0) 2081239146 (02081239146 for UK callers) or +1 262 317 9016 if you are in the US.

A free trial/consultation gives you an opportunity to try phone coaching without risk. Remember there are great benefits to be achieved by being coached in the comfort of your own home by phone or Skype .

CV review and interview preparation a speciality

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Posted in Management, Tips

Tagged Management, new manager, tips, tips for managers, tips for new managers

Five Tips to Help You Feel More Confident

Posted on 8 February 2013 by Wendy Mason | 2 Comments

Five Tips to Help You Feel More Confident

This is a post I published a few years ago now but I believe it still useful.

Having a healthy amount of self-esteem and self-confidence is something that helps to make your life happier and more successful. Having confidence in yourself and your abilities goes a long way whether you’re facing a tough decision, adapting to a new situation or facing major change. Here are some tips on how to build your self-esteem.

1. Stay relaxed

Staying relaxed in general can help you see the bigger picture and not sweat the small stuff so much. It’s also a good frame of mind to be in when you’re taking a close look at the things you’re not so good at. There are lots of simple relaxation techniques around that can help – simple breathing exercises are easy to learn and really do help. Try this link.

2. Understand your strengths

Everybody’s good at something, and many people are good at quite a few things. Even if you don’t have a talent or strength that you’re aware of, you probably have some interests you can develop into strengths.Make a list of a few things you’re good at and a few things you’re interested in and would like to be better at. Share this list with someone you like and trust – this is a good exercise to do with a partner who also wants to work on their confidence. They can probably help you find other things you’re good at, too, and help you come up with a plan for developing other skills and interests.

3. Realize your limits.

Remember no one is perfect and no one can do everything. It may not always seem this way, but it’s true. So if you are not the chief executive or a millionaire – that’ is OK! You have a personality and a perspective on the world that’s all your own and completely valuable.

4. Stop criticizing yourself. Now!

This is one of the things that stop us achieving our goals and feeling good about ourselves. You are a mixture of strengths and weaknesses just like everyone else.Concentrate on the good bits! If you don’t do well at a particular project or task the first (or even the second time), it doesn’t mean that you never will. Perhaps you weren’t prepared or the time simply wasn’t right. It doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with you or that you’ll never succeed. It is natural to feel disappointed but don’t get hooked on it – let it go and move on. You’ll be that much closer to achieving what you want if you do.

5. Celebrate the good things.

Notice all the good things you do in a day even the small things.Everything – the favor you do for a friend – the help you give a relative – it’s all good.Notice it and give yourself a big pat on the back.Get hooked on feeling good about what you achieve – it will become a habit. You could always keep a celebration journal to reflect on when you are feeling down. Don’t be afraid to treat yourself when you do something good.

Wendy Mason is the Happiness Coach. Wendy is a life and career coach and writer. She is passionate about helping people find happiness at work and at home! She helps people reach their goals and aspirations, without sacrificing their home and personal life. She believes coaching requires compassion, warmth and empathy. Wendy helps people reach their career goals and aspirations, without sacrificing their home and personal life.You can contact Wendy at wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com and find out more at http://wisewolfcoaching.com

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Posted in Confidence and Self Esteem

Tagged advice, Competencies, health, Job Skills, Self confidence, Self Esteem, support, tips, Unemployment

Leading people who are different from you!

Posted on 10 December 2012 by Wendy Mason | Leave a comment

Leading people who are different from you!

I started my professional career qualifying and working as a nurse. I can’t remember that the differences between the people were an issue in that world. It was later on, when I moved to work in a government department, that I had problems. Or, rather, one particular problem!

I had a very junior member of the team who was very much older than me. She found it difficult to accept my right to lead and manage her; she preferred working for men. Eventually, and with a lot of work by both of us, we found a way of working together, but it was never easy. Over the years, I learned a few lessons and got better at working with people who were very different, including of different ages. Here, are some of the things I learned.

Recognize that people are different. People are different for all kinds of reasons; age, sex or ethnic background, being just the start. But don’t assume that just because they are old/young, male/female, black/white etc that they will be different. Get to know your people and find out exactly what it is they need from you to succeed.

Recognize and give credit for wisdom. Different people bring different learning and experience. But most will bring something – for example, school-leavers may well be able to tell you about new trends. Find out what each person brings to the party and be grateful for it.

Stand your ground, but do it with respect for difference. If you are the leader and accountable for results, do your job. People will be looking for you to lead and they can, quite rightfully, feel resentful if you leave them lost and without leadership. But lead with respect for all.

Be ready to learn from them. Be honest when you don’t know how to do something. If someone does have the answer, be humble enough to let them show you. It’s okay that you have some things to learn. We all do! You will be respected for your honesty.

Don’t avoid issues or fail to handle conflict. Don’t be tempted to make excuses for not knowing something, pretend you have more experience than members of your team or duck issues that arise between team members. Those who have the experience will see through that type behavior, you will lose their respect and unresolved conflicts fester.

Be honest with people. Most people in the world value honesty expressed with courtesy, regardless of their age, sex etc. Treat them as you would like to be treated.

Practice patience. People may be more or less culturally, technologically, or trend savvy. That doesn’t mean they will not be valuable. Take time to find out about them, then train where necessary. Different kinds of people may need different forms of communication or you may need to explain something in a different context.

Above all, enjoy the experience that working in a team with people from a mix of backgrounds brings.

Wendy Mason is a career coach. She helps people reach their goals and aspirations, without sacrificing their home and personal life. Before working as a coach, Wendy had a long career in both the public and private sectors in general management and consultancy as well as spells in HR. She now divides her time between coaching and writing. You can contact Wendy at wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com and find out more athttp://wisewolfcoaching.com

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Posted in leadership, Leadership styles, Management, Managing Change

Tagged difference, diversity, leadership, leading, Management, managing, managing different people, Team Management, tips, valuing difference

Embedding Change – Making It Stick And Creating A Culture

Posted on 26 October 2012 by Wendy Mason | Leave a comment

Embedding Change – Making It Stick And Creating A Culture

Here are some ways to make sure the change in your organization is successful

Give them the evidence Show people over and over that the change is real. Provide them with a steady stream of evidence to prove that the change has happened and is successful. Set out to deliver real results at regular intervals in your change process and then tell people about them – don’t just wait for the big bang at the end. Get people involved and then get them to talk about their involvement. Make sure everyone hears the news.
Financial reward When loyalty and the joy of the job are not enough to keep people, they may need some financial or other rewards. The promise of future reward may be enough to keep them engaged but make sure it isn’t too far out to be enticing — usually reasonable reward needs to be within a twelve-month timeframe. This risk is that when the reward is gained, you may lose them. If you want them to stay, you may need to keep a rolling “golden handcuff “ system
Build change into formal systems and structures After a while, institutionalized things become so entrenched, people forget to resist and just do what is required, even if they do not agree with them. So you can make changes stick by building them into the formal fabric of the organization, for example, in standards and personal objectives.
Give them a new challenge A challenge is a great motivator that can focus people on new and different things. Get people to keep up interest in a change by giving them new challenges related to the change. Make sure the challenges really stimulate them and keep them looking to the future.
Reward people for doing the right things. A surprisingly common trap in change is to ask (or even demand) that people change, yet the reward system that is driving their behavior is not changed. Asking for teamwork then rewarding people as individuals is a very common example. So when you make a change, make sure that you align the reward system with the changes that you want to happen.
Rites of passage Rituals are symbolic acts to which we attribute significant meaning. A celebration to mark a change is used in many cultures, ranging from rites of passage to manhood for aboriginal tribes to the wedding ceremonies of Christian and other religions. Such ritual passages are often remembered with great nostalgia, and even the remembrance of them becomes ritualized. When a change is completed, celebrate with a party or some other ritualized recognition of the passing of a key milestone. You can also start a change with a wake (which is a party that is held to celebrate the life of someone who has died) to symbolize letting go of the past. Create new rituals to help shift the culture to a new form. Use these, if possible, to replace the rituals that already exist.
Socializing Build your change into the social fabric. A change that is socialized becomes normal and the ‘way things are’. When something becomes a social norm, people will be far more unlikely to oppose it as to do so is to oppose the group and its leaders. Seal changes by building them into the social structures. Give social leaders prominent positions in the change. When they feel ownership for it, they will talk about it and sell it to others.

If you have other ideas for embedding change and making it successful, please share them here.
Wendy Mason is a career coach. She helps people reach their goals and aspirations, without sacrificing their home and personal life. Before working as a coach, Wendy had a long career in both the public and private sectors in general management and consultancy as well as spells in HR. She now divides her time between coaching and writing. You can contact Wendy at wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com and find out more at http://wisewolfcoaching.com