Career TransitionTime & Task Management

Prepared and Presented by

Ms. Mike Myers, Career Transition Trainer

Canterbury Legacy, LLC

Career Transition Preparation & Coaching

Training – Individual to Large Groups

Instructional Design – Online or Class Size

Contact: mike.myers1@comcast.net

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Career TransitionTime & Task Management

You will never "find" time for anything. If you want time, you must make it. Charles Bruxton

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. Victor Frankl

The secret of all victory lies in the organization of the non-obvious. Marcus Aurelius

When you are through changing, you are through. Bruce Barton

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Competencies to Maximize Time & Task Management

• Identify the “soft skills” in career change• Develop a file management system for companies and

contacts• Develop a weekly Time-On-Task calendar• Gather expertise to guide your search• Begin to build your network/develop your 30 second

commercial• Develop telephone “scripts” to target content• Identify a strategy to manage phone calls• Organize your work space• Set up your written communication templates

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Soft Skills in Career Transition• Learn the steps of mourning and know where you are each week:

Shock Denial Bargaining Guilt Anger Depression Resignation Acceptance

• Get “real” about time on task … it is greater than you think!• Family adjustments - spouse expectations, changed responsibilities• Process “honey do” time with family members• Care Plan – health/fitness, mental, spiritual, financial, reward system• Develop a “work week” snapshot for yourself and family members • Develop a “brand” to communicate to family and associates so they can

be co-seekers with you

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Develop a File Management System for Companies and Contacts

• Contact names and numbers in your cell• “Carry-along” system of open applications

-Laptop -Blackberry -Hardcopy file -Calendar - Posting -Resume -Phone scripts

• Develop a log sheet to document action; consider the use of “short hand” symbols

• Decide on a “check back” system and put into action- Email -Call - Letter

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Company Name: ____________________________________________________Position Applied For: ____________________________________________Contact Name: ___________________________________ Phone: _____________Email: ___________________________________________ Phone:_____________

Short-Hand Symbols≥ Sent paper application →℮ Sent Email≤ Received paper feedback ←℮ Received Email →℗ Place Phone call → L Sent a paper letter, bond paper←℗ Received Phone call

Date Action

9/20 ≥ Mailed certified, included additional info as requested on application

9/30 →℗ Reached HR in charge of interviewing. Rec’d email: HR@job.com

9/31 → L Letter of thanks to HR for email address, desire to interview for position. Offered to start w/phone interview in light of swine flu crisis

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Develop a weekly Time-On-Task Calendar6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Sunday Church/network Read, research, study Family/Care Plan

Monday Read Templates, Set up a calls log, update emails, write your “stories”, type your phone “scripts”, resume

Job clubs, Chamber, support group, “cold call” on companies you want to learn about, career fairs

Train your Family on phone call strategy

THANK

YOUS

Tuesday Job club, library research– target 15 local companies, select reading materials from library or bookstore

Set up -work station, LinkedIn, file management, call 20 volunteers, resume #2

Wednesday Network Building, Job Clubs, take a Job Coach for coffee

Call 20 former associates, send an outreach email to 30 associates/friends, resume #3

Readstudy

Thursday Read Calls, emails, refine templates, research, applications, interview prep

Job Club, Interview assistance, Counseling, Financial assistance

Friday Read Job club, Informational Interviews, career fairs

Read, research, study

Schedule next week

Saturday Mock Interviews, network

Personal Relationships/Care Plan (Spiritual, Health, Financial, Psychological)

Outside the Home - Network Building/Interviews/Informational Interviews/Job Clubs, Classes, Chambers of Commerce, Mock Interviews, lectures, support groups

In the Home – Computer time/Emails/Phone Calls/Letters/ Online Company Research/Applications, Interview Prep/File Management,/Network Tracking

Read Career Transition Books/Research Companies/Study Interview Questions/Research Resume and Letter styles

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Gather Expertise to Guide Your Career Transition

• READ! Use a broad range of materials to support career change• Select about 2-3 job clubs that make you work!• Learn how to build your network- chamber meetings, Linkedin.com,

church, former employers, emails, job clubs, association meetings• Call and thank 20 people a week from the church volunteer list • Attend 3 Informational Interviews per week• Participate in Mock Interviews• Research career postings for wording, job titles, responsibilities• Research community businesses , attend career fairs• Gather sample outreach tools – emails, letter samples, phone call

approach, “30 second commercial”• Go to lectures presented for job seekers• Explore career change options, skill transfer, tangent careers

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Begin to Build Your Network/Develop Your 30 Second Commercial

• Develop your “brand” or “30 second commercial”• Participate in the Linkedin.com webinar to learn the capacity of the website• Build your Linkedin.com profile and ask a trusted friend to critique it for you• Invite network associations on Linkedin.com and learn how to interact with them• Develop a tracking system for contacts and reference contacts in cover letters (Ask

for contacts’ pre-approval)• Develop a system for accessing business cards/contact information for network

contacts• Identify 80 people who will share in your career search. Provide a “ commercial”

or resumes if they need help promoting you• Send out periodic email updates to those on your contact list citing companies you

hope to target and ask for contact assistance• Talk to people at job clubs. Keep a list of names and expertise to help make

connections for others• Make a strong effort to connect associates with other job seekers

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Develop Telephone “Scripts” to Target Content of Calls You Place or Receive

• Informational Interview request… where, when, etc.• You are given the name of someone who might have

connections, openings, influence to promote you• You are contacted to participate in a telephone interview for

a position• You return a call to a hiring manager who wants to set up an

interview appointment• You want to place an employment agency outreach call• You return a call to an employment agency• An associate gives you the name of a hiring manager• You place a follow-up call to a company after an application is

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Identify a Strategy to Manage Phone Calls• If possible, use a cell number for all contact• Train your household on how you want calls received and

recorded … or not received but sent to voicemail• Decide if there are times you do not answer a call:– On the road - In a meeting– At the drive-in window - With family

What will your script be when you return the call?Do you have a script to gather all pertinent information?- Caller name - Caller number - Caller title

• You need your active files and calendar close at hand• Ask what time of day is best to reach this person in the future• Do they prefer phone or email contact?

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Organize Your Work Space• Make your work space a sanctuary where you can work in an orderly

fashion and achieve success. There is no room for error on a job hunt!• Establish rules of access to the household computer and printer• Gather tools and supplies so you can do your work in one space• Use heavy bond, non-white paper and matching envelopes for

applications and matching thank you notes to establish your “brand” • Prepare envelopes with stamps and return address labels with your name

only• Whether hardcopy or electronic files, manage all active job applications

and keep them close at hand• Consider posting a Time-On-Task calendar in your space for your

reference and family orientation• This is a great opportunity to model focused work skills for your children

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Set Up Your Written Communication Templates

• Tailor a “Meet-and-Greet” resume• Cover Letter templates to guide you• Tailored resumes to job postings – sales, marketing• Typed “stories” or “cheat sheets” to have at an interview• Email request for an Informational Interview• Hand-written “Thank You” after an Informational Interview• Typed “Thank You” notes to be tailored after each job

interview• Typed letter to follow a rejection letter… positive, upbeat,

asking the manage to keep you in mind• Typed “Telephone Scripts” to keep at hand

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