What to aim for when you write your CV/Resume

This question came up recently and it's a good one:

What are you aiming for when you write your CV?

Here's one potential answer:

"I'm aiming to write my CV, dummy!"

A fair answer. It's technically correct too but it's also not the whole story. (Perhaps summed up best by the comedian who once said, "Technically correct. The worst kind of correct.")

I have asked this question a lot recently: What are you aiming for when you write your CV? (Although I do avoid asking it at parties. It's a bit of a mood killer)

[Communication - see more at Saundra's Flickr Photostream here]

If we ponder it a little more for the moment, perhaps the most common answer to this question is: "To get myself a job."

Technically correct once again. When you sit down to write your CV or Resume, the reason you do it is to get your next job or because you need a new job.

But here's where you can turn technically correct into the best kind of correct. An answer that is best for you and your career.

What about: "To get myself a job that I want."

We all know the difference between work and the work we enjoy doing. If we're searching anyway, why not look for a job that we want?

So here's one last question if you are writing your CV or Resume right now:

What are you aiming for?

All the best for now,

Paul

Chance and your career

What's the difference between taking your chances and taking a chance?

✪ We need to take our chances to move our careers forward

✪ To take a chance with your career is too great a risk

Are chance and opportunity related?

✪ To take our chances is to seize opportunities

✪ To take a chance is more opportunistic

[Taking his chances? - see more at Saundra's Flickr Photostream here]

Why explore this together?

✪ For our careers to be successful we need to know the difference

✪ Opportunity can be managed but chance also plays a role

So what's your opinion?

All the best,

Paul

Interview with Lamar Smith

There aren't many people with a career that includes Air Force Special Forces attack pilot (decorated), successful CEO and published Author. Lamar Smith can claim all three!

Lamar has very kindly answered a few questions for us here on work/life fusion about his newly published book, There's More to Life than the Corner Office. So without any further delay, it's over to Lamar himself...

1. What was your intention behind writing this book?

Motives in approximate order of priority:

✪ I want to leave a legacy that I was here and may have paid attention to life and the dynamics that drive us all.

✪ I want to offer “service” to others. We need to learn from each other. If I can shorten my learning curve by paying attention to the offerings of others, I want to “pay back” by offering some things I have learned in return.

✪ I love people, God’s highest creation. He constructed each uniquely and for greatness. I wish to encourage others to claim as much of each as possible.

✪ I love America, the land of the people. The power of America is the collective power of the residents and citizens. I want to have positive effect on individual power and see America benefit.

✪ I have written much, but not fiction and not commercially. I wanted to see if I could meet the challenge.

2. What kind of people do you expect to read it?

Any one who wants to engage in personal development. “Fellow travelers” in life who want more…more hope, joy, significance, purpose, connection, clarity and effectiveness. Additionally, those who have much to offer others can benefit from reading the book and seeing how the mentoring process can be used to pass on benefit to others. The skillful mentor mostly asks questions.

3. What would you like your readers to say about this book?

For a tiny investment of dollars and time, the “pay off” in life change was HUGE. And I want readers to tell others about it IF they find it beneficial.

4. Was there an Al Crafton figure in your early career? (Al Crafton has a coaching/mentoring role in the book)

Not one in a ‘bright and shining’ category by himself. David Swartz, PhD, author of The Magic of Thinking Big and a college professor of mine was first, then George Talley CEO of First Command 7 years while I served him as President came along. There were others on the list for sure in early career as was the audio programs of Zig Ziglar. Later, a friend named Bill K came along and really added great mentoring value, which continues to this day.

5. To what do you attribute your own success?

All involved in an enterprise, effort and/or transaction must win. Attention must be paid to that basic fact. I spent much time analyzing each party’s likely perspective and I asked many questions to try to understand. I was slow to move until I had a pretty clear path/picture to follow that I had confidence would deliver success to all. Hard work is key too. Successful people show up, apply themselves, and take responsibility. Success is 5% inspiration and 95% perspiration.

6. Do you expect the book to have a lasting effect on people and their careers?

The lessons and principals presented in the little story will have a transforming effect on the people who apply them consistently and use the book as a starting point (or booster) to a personal development commitment.

7. Patrick's journey in the book relies heavily on regular meetings with Al Crafton to keep him moving forward. What support are you offering to readers once the book has got them asking fundamental work/life questions?

Some supporting material is available on my website and I expect to add to it as this experience continues to unfold. Keep in mind that major themes of the book are the uniqueness of each of us and the joy of taking personal responsibility. “Empower yourself” is the message. Those who really engage this message will not want a confining, step-by-step formula, but will enjoy the self-discovery of defining their own specific path.

Lamar Smith, on behalf of the work/life fusion and our readers, Thank You for answering these questions and good luck with the new book!

For more information about Lamar and his new book visit: http://www.improvingyourbalance.com/

Best Regards for now,

Paul

The Learner's Progress - Past, Present & Future

I'm posting over on the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog today.

Here's a direct link to the article: The Learner’s Progress – Past, Present & Future

In other news, look out for a new post on work/life fusion next week where I interview the author of the new book, There's More to Life Than the Corner Office. If you can't wait, check out the book's website here.

Have a great weekend wherever you are!

All the best,

Paul

A Hole in Your Career?

Have you ever done a good job but no-one told you so at the time?

Sometimes our work is good but no-one tells us and that can leave a hole.

Is a hole a good place for more digging?

Here’s one example: Two colleagues worked in the same office for years. Marley helped Scrooge all of the time: Scrooge never thanked him once. Years later when Marley was leaving the company, Scrooge quietly cornered him and said, “It was a pleasure working with you. I’ll never forget how much you helped me. It won't be the same without you.”

Although it changed Marley’s view of Scrooge forever that moment filled a big hole in Marley’s career understanding as well. He always knew that he had done good work for Scrooge but he never completely believed it until he got Scrooge's feedback.

Marley also learned something important about the holes in his career. He now understood that they wouldn't go away if he ignored them. From then on Marley challenged himself to act differently whenever he found a hole. First, he resolved to climb in and dig around. Second, he would start to fill it in. Never again would Marley ignore or walk away from a hole in his career.

[Thought - see more at Saundra's Flickr Photostream here]

Your Experience:

✪ What’s the longest you have waited for positive feedback?

✪ When you got it, what did it challenge or confirm?

✪ How did you feel or act differently after getting it?

My Experience:

Marley taught me to be a lot braver about my career. That doesn't mean I now act carelessly. If anything, Marley's experience showed me how to act positively whatever the situation, however big the hole! My only regret is I never met and talked with Marley years ago.

Our Experience:

✪ Where are the holes in our careers?

Comment here and let's see what else we can find!

All the best for now,

Paul

Managing Career Change II

If you stopped by last October, you might recall reading about Prem.

Prem wanted to break into a new industry but he was finding it difficult. He was battling the perception that his experiences had no relevance outside his old work.

✪ Could Prem change these perceptions?

✪ Could he prove his experiences were valid in this new field?

✪ Could he get anyone to give him a break?

When Prem and I first spoke, he was already feeling like his choices were running out. To give us both the lift we needed, first we focused on the good news: at least Prem had choices!

We followed this up by establishing a shared belief in the fact that Prem's choices were actually the biggest single factor influencing his career success. Prem's intention to move his career into a new industry was his choice and his chief motivating factor after all.

[Louvre Voyeur - - see more at Saundra's Flickr Photostream here]

Managing Your Career

✪ Are you in a situation like Prem?

✪ Have you successfully switched from one industry to another?

✪ How did you get your big career break?

✪ What does managing our careers give us in common?

Comment is welcome & free!

All the best for now,

Paul

Related posts:

✪ Prem's story: Short & Long-term career planning

✪ Managing career change

✪ Career choice