[Think As Inc.] August 11, 2008 Newsletter/ USING FEAR PROACTIVELY http://ezezine.com [Think As Inc.] August 11, 2008 Newsletter Something to Think About: USING FEAR PROACTIVELY Inspirational Quote: ARSENIO HALL News and Upcoming Events: LIVE CAREER COACHING EVENT ON AUG 20 Your life is a business. You have a: MISSION: the reasons you live your life; BRAND: the message you project to the world; PRODUCT LINE: the skills and qualities that are your unique assets; BOTTOM LINE: your financial picture; CLIENT BASE: professional, personal, and don’t forget, yourself. Your life is YOUR business, and you are its CEO. USING FEAR PROACTIVELY An established executive lamented to me how much he was dreading the job search at his age (past mid-40’s). I have heard other preconceived fears that paralyze jobseekers– my school isn’t a top 10, my education wasn’t business-related, my experience isn’t analytical enough, there is a glass ceiling for women anyway. The subtext is, “Why bother trying?” When fear inhibits action, it is not helpful. However, it is not feasible or even desirable just to ignore fear. In fact, fear can be quite useful. It sends a signal that something needs attention. There is age discrimination out there. Sometimes companies require quantitative experience. A second-tier school, unrelated major, lack of analytical experience, and, yes, gender discrimination (and other forms) may also affect a search. Therefore, rather than dismiss a fear outright, a proactive candidate anticipates possible outcomes and develops strategic responses to combat these. If a company is going to discriminate by age or school or major or gender, they can do this easily via the resume. Knowing this, a candidate who fears having a red flag should spend more time and energy getting to know decision-makers directly. Take the resume out of the picture. Besides, relying on someone to read your resume and select you, even if your credentials are outstanding, is ceding control over your search to whomever happens to see your resume. Network and make your pitch. Craft a compelling letter that entices an employer to want to meet you. Conduct an informational interview with intelligent, business-savvy questions that show employers that you know their industry and their company and therefore you deserve to be their colleague. By taking action around your fear, you move past the paralysis and empower yourself to be responsible for your search and your career. An empowered candidate is confident, and confidence attracts. In a down market, a candidate with a positive, can-do spirit is especially appealing. You may not even encounter resistance around the fears that you have, and you may never know whether what you feared was ever an issue. But don’t just try to ignore it or convince yourself not to care. You fear what you fear, so use your fear to make yourself a better candidate. INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE I don't possess a lot of self-confidence. I'm an actor so I simply act confident every time I hit the stage. I am consumed with the fear of failing. Reaching deep down and finding confidence has made all my dreams come true. -- Arsenio Hall NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS I am speaking live in Manhattan on Wed, August 20: How The Hiring Process Really Works: An Insider's Guide to Getting The Job Sponsored by the Penn State Professional Women's Network of NY Please RSVP to psunyprofwomen@gmail.com Learn real-world tactical strategies to get a job in this market from two former recruiters who have hired from thousands of candidates just like you. If you've always wanted an inside view into how the hiring process really works, bring your questions for this interactive and engaging discussion. Learn the six steps to landing the job you want where you want Find out the three categories of candidates and how to know where you fit (and what to do about that!) Discover a common mistake that many candidates make to blow the offer (usually right before the offer comes) *Bring your questions and get candid, no-nonsense responses. Led by SixFigureStart success coaching co-founders Connie Thanasoulis and Caroline Ceniza-Levine, HR professionals with 40 years of combined experience who have recruited for Accenture, Booz Allen & Hamilton, Citigroup, Disney ABC, Merrill Lynch, Oliver Wyman, Pfizer, Time Inc, and more. New York MetLife 420 Lexington Avenue, 15th Floor Between 43rd & 44th Street New York, NY 10170 Wednesday, August 20 from 6:30-8:30pm Lite snacks and beverages will be served $30 per person for members of PSUNY $45 per person for non-members Advance registration is required. Please RSVP to psunyprofwomen@gmail.com If you have friends who may want to join the distribution list, please have them visit http://home.ezezine.com/2034/ to sign up. You can also see previous newsletters at that link. All information is copyright © Caroline Ceniza-Levine 2008 www.thinkasinc.com