Elena Bajic, Ivy Exec Founder & CEO

It is never easy to get everything you want.  Before you get down on yourself, find out what you really need.

In this article, Elena Bajic tells how to align what we want with what we need in life, so that we can truly feel we have it all.

Check out the full article on Forbes

Rona Carr, an Ivy Exec protégé from the public/non-profit arena, explains how mentorship helped her sanity check the impression she made with recruiters and interviewers, and more…

IE: Why did you seek mentorship?

RC: I wanted an objective assessment of: (1) the first impression I make; (2) what I could do differently when I interview; (3) whether my resume presents me as a “must have” candidate for the public/nonprofit sector; and (4) whether, at this point in my career, it’s necessary to be willing to relocate.

IE: Who is your mentor?
RC: John Reed, CEO of Quinn Reed Associates (QRA)*

IE: How did it go?
RC: John was enormously helpful. We discussed my resume, my experiences and how I work. John had doable suggestions such as: connecting with community service organizations (e.g., Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs) to speak at member meetings, and marketing myself to small and medium-sized business owners who may not post jobs on job boards.

IE: What are your next steps?
RC: I’m following up on many of John’s suggestions, and am revising my resume to better emphasize the executive coaching, employee engagement and retention program development and implementation I’ve done.

IE: What are your takeaways from the mentorship experience?
RC: Mentoring was the most important step I’ve taken. It’s definitely accelerated my career plans, and I’m moving forward confidently with new approaches I think will yield positive results.

IE: What advice would you give other protégés?
RC: Be open to new ideas and ways of working. Ask questions about any and everything, no matter how small. Learning and understanding the changes you may need to make will make a difference in the level of success you can achieve.

Facing career hurdles?  Get one-on-one guidance from The Ivy Exec Mentor Network.

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*John Reed PhD is CEO of Quinn Reed Associates (QRA), a corporate psychology and management consultancy, and an Ivy Exec Mentor. He authored Pinpointing Excellence, a guide to finding quality executive coaches.  He holds an AB and MBA from Dartmouth, and is a licensed corporate psychologist and certified executive coach.

1) Aim for excellence.

To be indispensable means you do your work with excellence. If you aim to be better each day you go to work, people will notice your efforts. This doesn’t mean you have to work extended hours and become stressed out. It means using your time intelligently to deliver the best work you can, and, if and when necessary, giving any extra effort needed to complete your work. Try your best to promptly deliver consistent quality.  If you build this kind of reputation, you will eventually lead the pack.

2) Keep your promises and commitments.

You must honor your promises and commitments — be there when you say you’ll be; submit  reports as promised, etc.  Be efficient and clear when communicating with your boss, clients, and co-workers. If you think you cannot deliver as committed, make sure you let concerned parties know as soon as possible. Be accountable — even for the most disappointing of outcomes. What is important here is earning people’s trust.

3) Stay informed about current trends.

Don’t just sit back because you’re doing well in your own “corner.” Stay up-to-date with current events and trends — not just in your industry, but in other sectors and the economy at large, as well. There is connectivity among industries and sectors that may not be readily apparent, but may be vital nonetheless. If you can situate your company’s place within the industry’s current trends, you will be able to contribute more to its performance improvements, creating better chances for career growth for yourself.

Similarly, an understanding of the market and how your company performs against competitors is critical for an employee who seeks to be indispensable. You will be in a better position to contribute in strategic business discussions if you are well-informed about your industry and market trends. Read broadsheets, blogs, industry publications, and other articles. Subscribe to newsletters to stay up to date on the latest events and products in your company’s market. Attend different seminars and forums related to your line of work. Enroll in online courses to obtain more relevant skills. Above all, keep on learning.

4) Initiate and be innovative.

An indispensable employee doesn’t wait for assignments to land on his/her desk. If you want to make a good impression, volunteer and take initiative. If you have brilliant ideas, be sure they are heard. However, do not volunteer just for the sake of being noticed.  Volunteer genuinely to make a difference. Give suggestions and do not be afraid to innovate. Make an effort to actively participate in the execution of your proposals. People need to see that you are not just a “talker,” but you’re a “doer,” as well.

5) Be optimistic.

People usually hang out with those who  have a positive “vibe.” Staying on top is all about attitude. So, stay positive and extend a helping hand whenever it is needed. This piece of advice is critical to the success of any endeavor, big or small, because it is optimism that motivates a person to strive harder, regardless of failures.

6) Foster internal rapport.

To succeed, it’s not just about the things you know, or the bright ideas you have, but the people with whom you’ve built relationships. Make sure you cross departmental lines to  assist other business units, gaining exposure to and building your reputation with executives of those business units as you go. Your chances of moving up the career ladder are greater if you’ve worked successfully with other business units and have fostered a strong rapport with them. If you demonstrate excellent work habits, other business units will take note of your abilities, and may remember you favorably when career opportunities arise.

7) Go the extra mile.

If you are given a task you think is outside the scope of your job description you should undertake it with the same efficiency and dedication you demonstrate doing your “real” job. Even when an assignment is obviously outside the scope of your responsibilities, never say “no — it’s not my job.”  As long as it is not illegal or inappropriate, do the work the best you can with good cheer.  You’ll be doing your boss or whoever assigned you the work a favor that could eventually work to your advantage.  Everything you do, whether it is your job or not, is valuable to your organization. This is how an indispensable employee looks at the world and thinks.

8) Take the lead.

Don’t be afraid to demonstrate your leadership ability. In fact, volunteer to lead an effort or project, even if it’s small. Do your very best to deliver quality deliverables, on time and on budget. Build a solid rapport with your project team and make every effort to bring out the best in them. By doing this, you are not just building your own reputation for positive leadership and teamwork, but your teammates’ reputations, as well.

To be indispensable, you have to go above and beyond. If you put your best foot forward, day in and day out, no employer will want to lose you.  You will be “indispensable.”

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1. Look at Your Capabilities

Think your capabilities through. Look at what you can bring to the party. Think about what it is you’re trying to do. It seems a simple question to ask yourself but think about what the end game is. What is the end point of this?

2. What’s Your Idea?

In order for you to start coming up with ideas for a business or new career, you have to be clear on what it is you’re trying to achieve. Once you know this, it’ll be easier to brainstorm ideas.

3. Have a Plan

It’s important to practice preparedness. There is so much to think about. For instance, we need to think about any new skills we’re going to need and how we’re going to acquire them. It’s really beneficial to think about this as early as possible so that you have the time to work out how you’re going approach your second career in parallel with whatever it is you’re currently doing, whether it’s another job or bringing up your children.

4. Get Support

Look at the support network that you’re going to need to make this work. The ways you’re going to tap into this network will have been planned over quite a long time, if you’re smart. Launching a second career is not just about executing an idea; it’s also about using the people around you. (…and finding mentors!)

5. Work Out Your Finances

Don’t forget the key issue of economic return. Think about how much you need to be earning in order to generate a worthwhile income from your second career.

6. Assess Your Assets

We need to consider our skills and experiences and how those help us. When we’re dealing with the idea of launching a second career, we’ll have a certain level of fear but we can gain self-confidence by reminding ourselves of what we’re good at and what we’ve overcome and achieved in the past.

7. Pick the Right People

If you’ve decided to start a business as your second career, you have to decide who you’re going to run it with, if anyone. Are you going to go solo or are you going to go into business with another person or a group of people? Do you want to work with friends? The answer to this is usually no. Boundaries need to be drawn clearly for everybody and they need to be redrawn at regular intervals. A business partnership can be a career minefield and any ensuing explosions may well create great stress if contingency plans haven’t been put in place from the start.

8. Take Your Time

If you’ve been spending a lot of time parenting and are now looking to fill that time with your second career instead, step into it tentatively and prepare for new routines that both you and your children will have to adapt to. It’s really worthwhile just getting used to leaving your children with somebody else by doing so for the odd day or so here and there before you start your new career in earnest.

9. Think About Presentation

Take a long, hard look at your clothing, shoes and accessories. Smarten yourself up in terms of your appearance so that you’ll be treated like the professional you are, right from the start.

10. Do Your Research

How much deep-dive homework can you do to get into the swim? When you were working full time it was second nature to know all about, say, project management. If you’re returning from a career break, what do you need to know about the changes in the world of project management? Also research how you’re going to telegraph to others what you’re doing. Don’t feel alone but instead seek out people who seem important to your field and who are able to support you in your new endeavor. (The Ivy Exec Mentor Network has mentors who can help!)

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This article was contributed by Simon North, Founder of Position Ignition, one of the UK’s leading career consultancy companies.  Simon is an expert in managing the world of work.  He has been featured in the HR industry’s leading publications such as HR Director, HR Magazine, OnRec and HR Zone. He also regularly contributes to the national and business press which includes: Management Today, Director Magazine, Recruiter Magazine, The Financial Times, The Sunday Times and The Guardian.

Liz Colodny

Liz has held leadership roles in talent acquisition/staffing across many industries, ranging from consumer products (PepsiCo) to professional services (Towers Perrin) and financial services (Citigroup, Chemical Bank.)

She is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer.  And, as a career coach, she’s assisted hundreds of individuals (in virtually every sector and function) to gain confidence and become more effective at identifying and marketing their strengths.  She has an MBA from Northwestern – Kellogg and received her BA from the University of Chicago.

Help from an in-the-know resume professional is one of the best investments you can make in yourself!

To get personalized advice on your resume from Liz, or to inquire about Ivy Exec’s resume writing options, please email resumes@ivyexec.com

You hopefully know by now that networking is the only real way into your dream job. But are you doing it right?  Last week I experienced the ultimate networking experience. Let’s say hello to Ginny…

Ginny emailed me a week ago. Her subject line was, “I think I love cupcakes more than you.” She got five points in my book right off the bat. See, on my blog’s “About” page, I talk about my cupcake addition. So she clearly knew who I was and had read my blog, wrote a personal email to me (she didn’t copy and paste) and added a fun touch instead of trying too hard to be overly professional.

Ginny said that she, too, was an American who had recently moved to New Zealand and was trying to getting into digital marketing/social media. She knew I was busy, but would I horribly mind meeting up to tell her a bit about my job and what I do?

Her email was short. Just four or five sentences. Another five bonus points.

Because her email was so charming, I said yes. Plus, it’s rare you meet other Americans in New Zealand, so it was really a treat for me!

She got another five points by being flexible with her schedule. I said I was busy and could only meet Friday afternoon. I chose a cafe right next door to my office and she didn’t complain about having to come to me. Instead, she researched the location, arrived early and offered to buy my coffee.

Then, she simply blew me away with her charm. She asked questions, talked about her experience and I told her a bit about my day-to-day. She was professional without being stuffy and was clearly looking for a job, but never shoved her resume in my face or demanded an interview. She was clearly and genuinely interested with my industry, career and listened to what I had to say. Add five points.

She didn’t keep me for more than an hour. She respected my time. THEN, she ended by giving me a little gift. She brought me a cute notebook with a cupcake on the cover. Plus one million points.

The next day I woke up to an email from her thanking me for my time and TELLING ME EXACTLY HOW I HELPED. She puffed up my ego and made me feel good about myself without brown-nosing.

For the past two years, Ginny is the only person I’ve ever met who’s really impressed me.

More often than not, people network like this:

1. Cold emails that get sent to anyone and everyone.

2. Expecting people have hours of time to devote to helping someone they’ve never met.

3. Sending through their resume before you even get to know them.

4. When you do help, they never thank you.

What kind of networker are you? Do you make these mistakes or do you really personalize the experience? I promise you 40,000 points that if you do like Ginny, you’ll be just fine.

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Brazen Life is a lifestyle and career blog for ambitious young professionals. Hosted by Brazen Careerist, Brazen Life offers edgy and fun ideas for navigating the changing world of work.

Marian Schembari is a blogger, traveler (hails from Connecticut and based in New Zealand by way of London) and social media strategist for an agency in Auckland. She also runs the site, marianlibrarian.com where she blogs on social media, travel, and growing up Gen Y.

Reinvent Your Career

Is your career at a dead end? Have you exhausted your options? Or, are you just tired of working in a certain field? Do you just want to erase everything and start over? If you have asked yourself any of the above, you just might be ready for a career change. In fact, you may be ready to completely reinvent yourself professionally. But, can you make that leap?…

Here are some initial steps you need to take to begin a career reinvention process:

You need to reassess…
Switching careers is never easy. In fact, it’s an uphill battle. It takes time and requires substantial effort, beginning with soul searching and serious self-evaluation to understand what’s driving your need for change. Once you clearly know why you want to switch your career, you can start thinking about how to make it happen.

You need to repackage your skills…
The more years you spend in a field, the more “pigeon-holed” you become. You’ve become that “round peg that fits in that round hole.” This is both “good” and “bad”:  the “bad” is that pigeon holes are devilishly hard to climb out of, making reinvention “tricky”; the “good” is that, while in your “pigeon hole,” you have honed specific skills that may well prove to be your ticket to flying high again.  The beauty is that your well honed skills – slightly repackaged and often freshened/upgraded — can be your springboard to a different career track because they are often applicable in different contexts. As an example, your managerial skills or project management skills may help you effectively manage a new team of workers in a completely unrelated field. For skill areas that are seriously outdated or non-existent, you will need to figure out ways to update them/foster them with classes, or through volunteer opportunities.

You need to refurbish and rebuild your professional image…
Switching careers is also about rebuilding and refurbishing your professional persona – your personal brand, your professional network, your resume. If you can afford it, get professional help with your resume. It’s worth every penny. Think of it as an investment in your future. Actively take advantage of social media and reconnect with your Alma Mater’s alumni groups for networking purposes. And reach out to mentors and managers from the past for advice and guidance, as well as for references.

The career economy is rapidly changing given new and rapidly evolving technologies for connecting, engaging and collaborating with people around the globe. With the career landscape in such flux, the timing is better than ever for reinventing yourself and rediscovering your passion for your work. You can rediscover the passion!

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This article was contributed by Maciej Godlewski, the CEO and Founder of Fired Up Digital, a digital marketing firm in New York City. Maciej writes on entrepreneurship and career issues facing the digital workers of tomorrow. 

What makes you special?

When employers see hundreds or thousands of applicants for each position, they are no longer satisfied with candidates who are qualified. Qualified isn’t enough any longer – With so many applicants available to choose from, employers seek candidates who offer more than just being qualified.

However, most of you haven’t been taught how to write a resume that portrays you as special.

Why? Because we have been taught how to paint ourselves as commodities … we were trained to emphasize that we were merely qualified to do a job.

In times of candidate shortages, it didn’t matter that we were trained to be the same as everyone else … commodities. In addition, hiring managers had tools (Applicant Tracking Systems) to micro-target exact skills, making it impossible for candidates to portray themselves as just commodities.

The truth is that hiring managers have always sought candidates who demonstrate they are special. In times of candidate shortages, the candidates who have something extra are quickly hired – because employers compete to hire candidates with something extra  to offer.  During times of job shortages, hiring managers also look for candidates who can show they are special — that they are beyond just qualified.

So how can you portray yourself as a job seeker with something special?

1. Stop considering yourself as “qualified”: When you think of yourself as merely qualified, you can’t help but communicate it.

2. Figure out what you do better than anyone else: When you start to think of yourself as unique, you start to concentrate on what you do better than anyone else.

3. Find companies with problems that you’ve already solved: Having a way to show you’ve got special skills is nice, but finding a way to match your special skills with employer problems you’ve already solved … is a match made in heaven to hiring managers.

4. Understand hiring manager priorities: When you understand hiring manager priorities, you can start to focus on the hiring managers who need the very things that make you special to solve their priority problems.

5. Customize: It’s impossible to present yourself as a candidate with something special, if you send the same resume (or just a tweaked resume) to each employer. Make sure your resume demonstrates why you’ve got something special to offer that specific employer.

So how will you write your resume? Will you continue to portray yourself as a commodity? Or will you find what makes you special … and make it the focus of your resume?

Phil Rosenberg is President of ReCareered, helping great people break through the challenges of modern job searches. Phil had managed the Chicago suburban Financial and Technology consulting practices for recruiting industry leader, Robert Half International.

Elena Bajic, Ivy Exec Founder & CEO

A new member in the family doesn’t mean you need to give up on your career,  find out how to achieve work/(new)life balance!

Ivy Exec CEO & Founder, Elena Bajic, presents a “how to” guide in this Forbes article.

Check out the full article on Forbes

Why is body language important? Quite simply, body language is the way we speak truthfully. Unless you are a fantastic actor or an accomplished hustler, your body language will betray your true sentiments. If you speak “sweet” words to someone you in fact dislike, the tension in your shoulders and your stiff smile (among other things!) will tell the person you really don’t mean what you say. In short, while it may possible for some of us to lie easily with our words, only very few of us can lie effectively with our bodies, as well. So, Interview Rule #1:  Never lie because chances are that the interviewer will pick up tell-tale signs – and they will do so unconsciously – that you are not being completely truthful.

There are 3 fundamental elements of your non-verbal communication in an interview situation:

1. Your eyes:  Making eye contact comes across as a mark of honesty.  So, while you speak to an interviewer, as well as when you listen, maintain eye contact. This does not mean staring.  It means looking at the person, showing genuine interest in what they are asking or sharing, and paying close attention to their reaction when you speak.  In short, this means making an “eye connection” — creating a rapport — with the interviewer. In a panel interview situation, move your head slowly, making eye contact with each of the panel members – forget one and they won’t forget you!  A last word about eye contact…A friend of mine has a “difficult” habit.  He frowns when he concentrates. Can you imagine the impression he makes in interviews (or in meetings for that matter?)   What is this relevant?  Keep in mind — it’s not just your eyes, but your entire facial expression you need to control. While it starts with your eyes, it certainly doesn’t end there!

2. Your smile:  Your smile is your most powerful piece of body language. Whereas eye contact and the third element addressed below are subject to cultural variations, no such constraints apply to a smile. A genuine smile is a universal sign of warmth that you can send, knowing it will be understood and welcomed by all. I recently experimented by consciously smiling at complete strangers.  Every person responded with a smile of their own. What was going on there? Think about it.  What goes through your mind when someone smiles at you? How about, “I feel comfortable with that person!”  Or,  ”That person seems nice.”  Or even, “Our meeting will go well because that person is on the same wavelength as me.”  A smile elicits all sorts of positive thoughts.  It puts us at ease, even with complete strangers.  It creates the first thread of trust. So keep smiling and develop that rapport —  that trust — during an interview.  If you don’t smile in an interview, you will, in fact, have to work twice as hard to be credible

3. Your handshake:  You might be surprised that I am addressing the handshake last, but — think about it — during those few seconds before you shake hands, you will be making eye contact and smiling at your interviewer. However, if you do well at making eye contact and smiling, but deliver a poor handshake, the negative impression from the handshake will be the lasting impression.  A solid handshake — mano a mano — will  project both strength of character and openness of mind!

To get your interview off to a brilliant start, and in fact win over your interviewer before you have even uttered a single word, just gaze into their eyes, smile and shake their hand confidently!  Before your interview, you may want to practice with someone who can  give you constructive feedback, rather than simply practicing in front of a mirror. You really do need to know about any facial mannerisms you have that may be off-putting to a stranger. I remain a firm believer that preparation is a key success factor in interviews, and this applies to body language, as well. Once that door opens and the interview begins, be sincere and share yourself authentically, channeling the warm person you know you are, and the wonderful professional you know they desperately need!

Read further for the second article in this series that focuses on the Really Bad (–> read: “T-E-R-M-I-N-A-L”) body language mistakes that can ruin an interview and your prospects with a company.

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Our contributing author — Alexandra Sleator – is Founder of Coaching for Inspiration and an Ivy Exec Mentor.   She is an Executive and Career Coach who helps ambitious, high-performing professionals tackle their frustrations at work, resolve complex problems, find ways out of difficult situations, and achieve personally meaningful objectives.  Alexandra had a 23 year career in global finance, reaching from Paris to London via Wall Street, before launching her coaching business.  Please click here to view the original articles.