Briefcase Coach's Career Briefs: Job Search Smarter

Dear Reader:

I have an activity for you. It will just take a minute. First, I don't want you to look down at your shoes.

What are you thinking about right now? I bet it's your shoes.

Next, I don't want you to yawn. I know you can do it. Don't yawn.

Did you yawn? Yup, me too. Just typing "don't yawn" made me yawn.

Here's the thing: Your subconscious mind does not understand the word DON'T.

In Dr. Bob Rotella's book, "Golf is Not a Game of Perfect," he shares that the mind is more like a picture book than a paperback. Whatever you tell it, it will imagine. When you say "don't miss," you are re-imagining the missing, the shame, the doubt, and the fear. You get tentative and miss.

According to Jaqueline Edmondson's book, "Venus and Serena Williams: A Biography," Richard Williams was a master at subliminally coaching his daughters. He was notorious for posting signs around the tennis court that would remind Venus and Serena's subconscious minds of their goals.

"Venus, you must use more topspin on your ball."

"Serena, you are a champion tennis player."

He told their subconscious mind what he wanted to be their reality.

Baseball players do it, too. Why do you think Ronald Acuna walks up to home plate "Fiesta & Calle" and Anthony Santander's "Me Gusta"? Baseball is a mental game--music can influence your thoughts, feelings, & behaviors.

I've found this personally true-- a great song can give me the boost I need to run faster on my treadmill.

Positive self-talk before an interview can have the same effect as a great walk-up song. Self-talk is your internal dialog or the unspoken thoughts that run through your head. In turn, these conversations that you have in your head become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Brené Brown perfectly illustrates this in her book Braving the Wilderness. She says, "Stop walking through the world looking for confirmation that you don't belong. You will always find it because you've made that your mission."

As you look in the mirror, tell yourself things like:

"I am qualified enough to get an interview."

"I look my best."

"I am great at connecting with people."

"I am good enough."

"At the end of the day, if I don't get the job, I am proud of myself for getting this meeting."

A positive internal dialogue can help you beyond a single interview. It transforms how you present yourself as a job candidate, and that confidence carries into your workplace attitude. Once you understand that you're worthy of a position, you'll be more comfortable asking for a raise, making connections, and confidently carrying yourself professionally.

Before you seal the deal with a future employer, you have to seal the deal with yourself.

Rooting for you,

Briefcase Coach Original Content: Navigating an outplacement offer from your employer

Outplacement services offered by an employer in the layoff process are not all created equal. Many companies don’t offer these services at all. Only about 44% of employers offer third-party outplacement services. It's important to consider whether these services are truly beneficial for your career transition. In this article, I share advice and recommendations for assessing the package offered and determining if it will enhance or impede your future job search.

Debunking myths about your job(s).

Are you familiar with the term "workquakes"? While familiar with curveballs, I discovered this word in a recent article I read in Entrepreneur magazine. According to the article, "workquakes" are the pivots and swerves in our careers that cause us to change our thoughts about our job(s). The author, Bruce Feiler, attempts (successfully, I think) to debunk three myths about jobs, including that careers are not a linear "path," that one has a "career," and that even when you are only receiving a singular paycheck, more than likely you have multiple jobs including what the author coins as a "ghost job." I highly recommend reading this one.

The practice of delaying starts for new hires

I was honored to share my thoughts with the Wall Street Journal recently on consulting firms continuing to delay start dates for many recent graduates. A practice that is causing a gap year that many were not particularly excited about. Firms like Deloitte, KPMG, Boston Consulting Group, and McKinsey are not bringing on some recent recruits until 2024, and some are even paying new graduate hires thousands of dollars to spend during their unanticipated gap year. Many of these young professionals are trying to tread water productively, moving in with family and scrounging for part-time work or internships to pay the bills. Many are getting $10,000 to compensate for the later-than-anticipated start dates, while others are paying affected graduates $2,000 monthly. Some firms are reluctant to cut jobs to ensure sufficient staff when business rebounds.

In need of a good laugh? In this Wall Street Journal piece, recruiters share their wildest stories from working with applicants seeking jobs and the companies considering hiring them.

Neurodiversity adds new skill sets to the workplace.

Neurodivergent workers bring unique talents, skills, and perspectives to the workplace, benefiting organizations' mission and productivity. Employers increasingly focus on hiring these workers, offering a competitive edge and measurable financial and cultural benefits. In a recent article published in The Guardian, author Rachel looks at how employers find that hiring neurodivergent employees benefits the company and its employees - especially in the arts industry and law profession. While efforts are being made to diversify hiring, barriers to work remain high for many neurodivergent people, with unemployment rates among neurodivergent adults still as high as 30-40%.

Bringing workers back to the office with… childcare!

Working parents with young children are struggling with the ever-rising cost of childcare. Childcare costs rose 6% in July, relative to last year, as pandemic-era federal aid came to an end. As the corporate world is grappling with the reality that post-pandemic, the traditional office model may be forever changed, childcare activist Erica Stephens offers a potential solution: on-site childcare centers. As we navigate the post-pandemic world, companies must think creatively to adapt to the new normal. “By addressing the pressing needs of working parents, companies can not only enhance their workplace culture but also position themselves as leaders in the evolving world of work,” says Stephens.

Many senior executives oppose a full return to office according to recent McKinsey study

A recent McKinsey study looked at remote work trends and the corporate push to return to the office. The study found that many senior executives were pushing back on a total return to the office and, in some cases, passing up offers from other companies due to their lack of flexibility to work from home despite a pay increase. According to the Wall Street Journal article, many companies are finding creative ways to lure employees back to the office or make hybrid work feel more personal.

An argument for exciting break rooms and enjoying lunch at work.

As more and more people return to the office post-pandemic, lunch breaks and a comfortable break room are increasingly crucial for managers to consider. The break room and kitchen are valuable spaces at work where coworkers can get a rare glimpse into the personal lives of their coworkers. In this piece, blogger Andrea Villareal shares some funny quips and quirks about these standard rooms. They come with some unspoken rules:

• Avoid microwaving stinky foods.

• Wash your dishes.

• Don't leave your food in the fridge too long.

• Wipe down the microwave if your food explodes.

Benefits to taking a lunch to work include healthier options and budget-friendly. Making your lunch at home can help you stick to your budget. These 50 easy, healthy lunch ideas are affordable and delicious.