Stop Saying “Sorry”, Learn Alternatives

Episode 16 - Seven Ways Experienced Professionals Can Elevate Their Game for Better Career Outcomes

This episode will discuss my final 7 actions from the 31 Days of Action To Reset Your Career Project. I left these for last because although they are just as important, they should follow on from the first actions, which are the foundation steps in resetting your career. These are the finetuning and the next step in building your leadership skills, elevating your game, and being ready to take on new opportunities, responsibilities, and new jobs.

1. Register to attend a professional event.

We discussed this already in a previous episode, number 11: "What to invest in when you are job hunting: Options for 3 different budgets." That episode is jam-packed with tips and advice so that you only spend money when and if it's essential for your job search. But in this episode, we do a bit of a recap and dig a bit deeper.

2. Stop saying "sorry".

Replace:

• Sorry to interrupt WITH I'd like to add that…

• I'm sorry we couldn't meet WITH Such a pity we couldn't meet…

• I'm sorry, but I don't understand … WITH I don't understand

• I'm sorry if this is not what you want to hear WITH What I'm about to say may be out of the box…

• Sorry, I'm late… WITH Sorry I'm late – because if you are late, you should apologize.

3. Book a meeting with your manager.

If you've been following the 31 Days Of Actions To Reset Your Career, by now you have done a lot!! Pat yourself on the back, my friend! Now would be a good time to address some of your career ambitions with your manager. Remember first to listen: ask them to tell you about the key themes for the company this year, what are the most critical aspects of their work, clarify what you need to do to support them, and maybe even share with them your career interests and ambitions.

4. Send two thank-you notes.

The University of Texas Austin has done research extensively on this topic. And the results are essential for you: writing thank you notes improves your well-being, as well as the well-being of the letter recipient!

And those genuine, authentic and positive connections are what you want to build in your life and your career. They are powerful links, and when you continue to invest time in building them, you are building a solid foundation for you to thrive as a person and as a professional.

In Episode 5 of The Job Hunting Podcast, I detail the importance of giving thanks. You can find the audio and blog post here.

5. It's time to update your LinkedIn profile

LinkedIn summaries are a tricky business; I'm not going to lie! You need to follow your sector trends as well as the trends for 2020. When in doubt, be conservative: some summaries I see listed on "top summaries" in articles on the web are interesting, but not exactly great for job hunters.

• Here are my top tips:

• Write in first person, i.e., use "I."

• Think about the reader and what they want to read about you.

• Write it on Word/google doc. Check for spelling. Sleep on it.

• Recheck the wording. Send to a friend who loves English, ask them to review. Then publish.

• Use dot points.

• Use action verbs.

• In-between jobs? Finish the summary with an invitation to catch up. You've nothing to lose!

6. Get to know 2 recruiters who are specialized in your sector.

Two is just the beginning. You should have a spreadsheet with the key recruiters in your sector and your region, and this is quickly done.

• Go to job boards like Seek, LinkedIn, or Indeed

• Search for roles you would like to apply

• Check the recruitment organizations advertising them.

• The name of the recruiter may be listed there. If not, check the website

• Follow (do not connect! See the difference on my post from day 13!!) those recruiters on LinkedIn, so you know when they are advertising: usually, they will post on LinkedIn to let their network know.

Keep doing this for a few days/weeks and you will have a good list of people who can eventually help you get a job.

Considering going a step further and getting in touch with them? Or applying for a job? Remember that I have a free email template to help you connect with head-hunters, recruiters, and hiring managers.

7. Invest in your career development

This is the FINAL DAY ACTION OF THE 31 DAYS OF ACTIONS TO RESET YOUR CAREER!!! Phew! I've been busy getting these 31 actions ready for you, and I hope you have enjoyed them!!

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Episode 5 Consider doing this during a job interview

Transcript of this episode

About the Host

Hello, I’m Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I’m also an executive coach, job hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach professionals (corporate, non-profit, and public) the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress.

If you are an ambitious professional who is keen to develop a robust career plan, if you are looking to find your next job or promotion, or if you want to keep a finger on the pulse of the job market so that when you are ready, and an opportunity arises, you can hit the ground running, then this podcast is for you.

In addition to The Job Hunting Podcast, , on my website, I have developed a range of courses and services for professionals in career or job transition. And, of course, I also coach private clients.

Contact Renata Bernarde

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