X-Roads Advisory

Career Transition: What’s your SOAR story? A few weeks ago, we looked at what’s important to you in your career and in considerations for a career transition. Interestingly Pay & Benefits was 46% of what’s important, followed by culture at 27%. Continuing the series, when I work with clients exploring their career transitions, we focus on their SOAR stories. These short - 20-40 second “elevator” stories capture the essence of WHO you are & HOW you work. An example I have from my practice is a client who wanted to work at a particular company. Turns out the company was not currently hiring. The client learned that the original company was contracting out some work. The client got hired by the contractor, did really well on two projects for the original company, and 9 months later the original company hired the client as a full time employee from the pool of 50 contractors! QUESTION: In addition to being a tight, concise story, what do you take away and/or perceive about this person that went unsaid? Here are (the original) 6 questions to get you started on your career transition. 1. What's your Story? 2. Does your resume reflect your story? It's YOUR story to tell. 3. What's important to you in your career?, e.g., culture, leadership, title, scope, mission, pay, benefits, flexibility, etc. 4. What is your "elevator pitch" or SOAR story? 5. Which organizations embody your values? 6. Who do you know that works there, knows someone or knows someone who knows someone? How you proceed matters. Let's talk it over X-Roads Advisory #career #careertransition #change #coach #careercoach #job #story #storytelling #howyouproceedmatters https://lnkd.in/giT5wKFY https://lnkd.in/e69NmkzX https://lnkd.in/e49hFMRa 

Beautiful day for a site visit at the dynamic and evolving Wayne Theatre as we prepare for the next session of the Next Generation Governance Initiative sponsored by the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge #community #nonprofit #leaderdevelopment #coaching #consulting X-Roads Advisory

Career Coach: How you proceed matters: Intentionality & 4 Red Flags When Interviewing Interviewing is inherently nerve wracking, exiting and exploratory. How you proceed matters. In short, act like it's your 1st day on the new job. Go in to the interview with the intentions of 1. how do I want to show up today in this moment? 2. what do I want to get to SHOW in the interview? 3. what do I want to get to KNOW from the interview? 4. what impression do I want to make with this person? Eva Chan, CPRW in Harvard Business Review hits some good flags for candidates when interviewing as well Red Flag #1: Dishonesty Red Flag #2: Rude Language or Behavior Red Flag #3: Criticizing Past Employers or Coworkers Red Flag #4: Lack of Preparation A coach can help you find your voice, be a sounding board, and an accountability partner. How you proceed matters. Let's talk it over today X-Roads Advisory #HowYouProceedMatters #interview #resume #career #careercoach #leadercoach #job #professionaldevelopment #coach https://lnkd.in/ertxjyBd

Career Coach: You face challenges, choices and changes in your career. How you proceed matters. X-Roads Advisory's coaching practice is centered in clarifying what you want & what you need as you navigate change & clarify expectations. X-Roads Advisory provides coaching as an accountability partner and confidential confidant. #careercoach #career #change #leader #transition #changemanagement

While I’ve been coaching for 20+ years, I continue my education with Emory University - Goizueta Business School’s Executive Education, and obtained a new certification: Executive Coaching Foundations Certificate, and next step to my ICF certification (ACC) with International Coaching Federation #leadersdo #executivecoaching #emory #leadercoach #careercoach #leaderdevelopment #coaching International Coaching Federation (ICF) Virginia Charter Chapter

Career Transitions: What’s important to YOU? What's important to YOU in your career?, e.g., culture, leadership, title, opportunity, scope, mission, pay, benefits, flexibility, etc. STEPS TO TAKE Determining what's most important to you as you manage through or prepare for a career transition is an important part of taking the next step. 1. Clarify your values, wants and needs. 2. Name what you hope to give and get. 3. Talk to people: share what you hope to give and get. Ask for connections.  4. Network to meet people who work at organizations where you want to be to see if their experience matches what the organization says it does Remember that you'll be working with and potentially collaborating with people internally and externally to an organization. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER -Does the mission of the organization align with your values? -Is the organization able to pay you what your worth and need? -What level of autonomy versus direction works best for you? -What opportunities exist to grow your career? -What support is available to grow your career? -Are there benefits that cover you and yours in ways that truly matter? -What’s the policy and practice for flexibility for family, health, telework, etc.? -How do leaders show up? -What are the expectations of you? -What is valued by the organization in terms of deliverables and accountability? Ready for a career transition? How you proceed matters. Let's talk it over X-Roads Advisory #career #careertransition #change #coach #careercoach #job #story #storytelling #howyouproceedmatters #resume #resumereview #tellyourstory #careercoach X-Roads Advisory https://lnkd.in/giT5wKFY https://lnkd.in/e69NmkzX 

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE COME TOGETHER When great minds, kind hearts and rolled up sleeves across business, government, nonprofits and academia come together, we CAN do incredible things across Housing, Childcare, Transportation & Workforce. It was an honor to facilitate and work with the talented team at the James Madison University's Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue led by Lori Britt, Rob Alexander and Kara Dillard along with Amanda Kellogg from James Madison University School of Professional & Continuing Education Orchestrated by the talented team at JMU Office of Economic & Community Development, the summit was a HUGE success in connections, ideas, and actions! Thanks, especially to Nora Sutton, MA, MPA, Keith Holland & Anthony Tongen AND great to have support with sponsors to make it accessible Virginia Housing, Atlantic Union Bank, James Madison University School of Professional & Continuing Education, Shenandoah Valley Partnership & Shenandoah Valley Airport! #itTakesAValley #collaboration #innovation #community #Housing #Childcare #Transportation #Workforce #solutions #SVEconSummit. X-Roads Advisory

Career Transitions: Resumes: It’s Your Story to tell Once you have your story together, it’s time to share it! While most would agree that a resume isn’t a great storytelling device, it’s the one that employers are using. That said, take control of the story you’re telling! You need to customize your resume for each and every job - as well as a cover letter. WHY? It’s important that your resume is -honest -accurate -reflects your experience DO -tell your story:customize your resume to the job, and include how your experience shapes your story -seize this opportunity to make your story standout. Focus on what makes YOU the right fit for this specific job. -include keywords of the posted job (see my post Career Coach: Getting Hired: Using the Bots to Get Around the Bots:https://lnkd.in/eauvBnXS) Do NOT -simply hit “easy apply”: the chance of your LinkedIn matching the keywords of the job are a gamble. Take the time to apply for the jobs with a custom resume -use AI without using your Innate Intelligence to review and be sure that it’s accurate, truthful and nuanced to the job -send a same to everyone cover letter. It, too, is used to search for key words -spend time formatting your resume to “look good.” The bots don’t care, and it might in fact make it challenging to upload. Here are 6 questions to get you started on your career transition. 1. What's your Story? 2. Does your resume reflect your story? It's YOUR story to tell. 3. What's important to you in your career?, e.g., culture, leadership, title, scope, mission, pay, benefits, flexibility, etc. 4. What is your "elevator pitch" or SOAR story? 5. Which organizations embody your values? 6. Who do you know that works there, knows someone or knows someone who knows someone? How you proceed matters. Let's talk it over X-Roads Advisory #career #careertransition #change #coach #careercoach #job #story #storytelling #howyouproceedmatters #resume #resumereview #tellyourstory #careercoach https://lnkd.in/giT5wKFY https://lnkd.in/e69NmkzX