CAREER STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING A STRONG AND LOYAL CUSTOMER BASE

CAREER STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING A STRONG AND LOYAL CUSTOMER BASE

No matter what industry you are in or what profession you have chosen, below are some tips and advice on how to build a stronger customer base.

I coach people all the time who are in mid-life with their careers or maybe just starting out in their new profession. They are always looking for new ways to generate revenue and build new relationships with customers or clients and maintain stronger relationships in business.

It’s so important to know who you are, what differentiates you and what your value proposition is. Take some time to really ask yourself these questions. Also, I would recommend that you buy books that Thom Singer and Peggy Klaus have written. The books they have written are great tools to use and they share a warehouse of information with the reader that will help increase business success.

TIPS!

1) First ask yourself “what is unique about you” and how you personally and professionally are different from your competitors. In today’s world people are buying from people, not companies anymore. So you will always need to differentiate yourself and learn how to communicate a stronger value proposition. Do you know what your value proposition is?

2) Make sure you have profiles on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. You will need to market yourself, your brand and your business products and services to everyone, not just the same old audience. Our customers come from all ages and backgrounds. Reaching a younger audience is also imperative to your success.

3) Build a contact database and send out newsletters, tips, strategies, and information. Give people options. If you have a database start using it. ICONTACT and CONSTANT CONTACT are great newsletter programs and are really affordable.

4) Build a schedule for yourself and devote at least 3 hours per day on prospecting and cold calling.

5) Don’t give up. The harder you work the luckier you are!

6) From a product standpoint you will have to become an expert in your product but also know your competitors products and learn how to sell against them while never showing the customer that’s what you are doing.

7) Link your products with their needs. Conduct a lot of research up front about the customer or potential customer and really make them feel like you understand their business and want to help their business. It’s all about saving money and generating a profit, so if you can’t help them save money on then show them how you can help them improve their business operations, and reduce their risk and liability, etc.

People don’t trust big companies anymore and they sure don’t trust financial institutions. So keep telling your customers or potential customers how you are different. Find out what their personal and professional goals are long term and help them to achieve their goals.

9) Increasing their exposure! How can you help them market their businesses? Can you set up a referral program? QUID PRO QUO – give to get!

Using Social Media in the Higher Education Job Search

Using Social Media in the Higher Education Job Search

I just wanted to share an article that I thought was interesting. We were interviewed in the article as well, which is exciting for us because our mission at dear jane Inc. is to communicate real-time, up-to-date career management tips, techniques and strategies as well as real life client stories to help you land a job, get a promotion, and stay plugged in today’s job market!

Using Social Media in the Higher Education Job Search
by Jenna Spinelle

With Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and many other tools in cyberspace, the need for both recruiters and job searchers to be strategic is greater than ever. Both job seekers and university employment professionals say that clear objectives and goals — not number of followers or fans — should drive social media efforts.

Jennifer Pedde, a Syracuse University graduate currently looking for a job in higher education, joined Twitter a year ago after hearing about its power as a professional connection tool.

“I lived abroad in Korea for two years and wanted to start making contacts when I came back,” Pedde said. “I found that it’s been the biggest help in my job search because it’s so easy to connect with other people — if you start following someone, chances are they’ll follow you back and respond to your messages.”

Pedde also participates in Twitter’s Job Hunt Chat, an event held every Monday at 8 p.m. where the community weighs on questions posed by job seekers. Although a Twitter account is required to participate in the chat, anyone can follow along by searching the hashtag #jobhuntchat on Twitter’s search engine.

Jacqui Washington, an Atlanta-based career coach, said she encourages her clients to use Twitter to connect with companies and, if possible, recruiters and hiring managers. She also maintains a Twitter account that she uses to find leads for her clients.

“I encourage people to think outside the box and work toward creating the job they want, rather than waiting for jobs to be posted,” Washington said. “These tools can help them take those steps.”

While Twitter provides quick connections and communications, LinkedIn allows job seekers a chance to list more detailed information about themselves and their companies, connect with current and past colleagues, and have longer conversations in groups geared toward specific professions and interests. Rebecca Martin, a career coach and founder of Dear Jane Inc., said an updated and polished LinkedIn profile is nearly as important as a resume in today’s job market.

“If you don’t have an updated LinkedIn profile, it really looks like you don’t know what’s going on,” Martin said. “Recruiters and hiring managers are starting to consider a LinkedIn profile just as important as a resume.”

Elements of a good profile, Martin said, include clearly-defined career summaries and objectives, information about non-work activities, and mentions of any awards or honors received.

“Most people don’t sell themselves enough,” Martin said. “If you don’t put the information out there, recruiters and hiring managers may never know about it.”

Pedde said she uses LinkedIn to connect with people she meets on Twitter, so that she can learn more about them and they can see more detailed information about her and her career objectives. Her social media efforts recently landed her a spot on “Extreme Candidate Makeover,” an online talk radio show where job seekers have their resumes reviewed by job coaches.

“They gave me a great set of tips and a lot of new ideas to think about and it was all because of a post I responded to on Twitter,” Pedde said.

What do you do when you have been forced or pushed out of a job you loved

I have coached many clients and people (myself included) on how to deal with being forced to resign or being pushed out of a job that they really liked or even loved.

Most of us have had this happen.  If you have never experienced this type of treatment in your career you are blessed. If you know anyone that has, please forward this message on to them.

I have been coaching people for 13 years and I have been working for the past 25 years. I have seen a lot of abuse, mismanagement, harassment and unbelievably disturbing and bizarre behavior in my corporate career and in my client’s careers.

I am writing this blog entry today because I just finished writing to a client and coaching her on how to deal with this issue. So hopefully this will help you or someone you know. Most of us are shocked when this happens to us. It comes out of nowhere. One day we are on top of the world, everybody loves us at work, we can do no wrong, then, in 24 hours, our manager, the executives, and co-workers CHANGE THEIR MINDS AND BEHAVIOR towards us and we become the enemy, the pariah and the outcast. We then feel threatened, confused, shocked and dismayed. The battle begins to keep our job and our wits about us.

Most of us know why this happens IF we take 10 minutes to think back on the actual date and time that memorable “event, conversation, or thing” occurred or took place that affected our fate at work.

We can usually trace it back to something we didn’t go along with, or something we challenged the boss on, etc. On that day we sealed our fate. We became the enemy. Unfortunately, for most of us that are ethical and don’t play games and just work hard for a paycheck so we can take care of ourselves and our families and hopefully derive some sort of satisfaction out of our jobs, have been putting up with or going along with some type of unprofessionalism for a long time before the day we just decide to say STOP. I am not going to have you push me anymore or go along with the unethical or bad behavior anymore.

That is when we became the TARGET! I know if you are reading this blog you know what I mean or have dealt with a similar situation or know someone that has. In 2007 I had 4 clients with cancer, one on medical stress leave, and one that had a nervous breakdown and all because of things that happened in their careers.

And believe me, these are professional upstanding corporate citizens that didn’t do anything wrong. They did their jobs and they were ethical and professional.

How do you deal with this? Like most of us. The manager works hard at removing you from the situation and you work hard at getting what you need from the management and the company to transition you out of the situation.

So first you need to know that there is nothing you can do about changing their minds about keeping you in the current role. So accept and move on to your action plan of TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF. No matter how hard it is during this time it is SO IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR PROFESSIONALISM INTACT and your sense of humor.

I want you to work with management to get you the best package you deserve. This will have to be done privately and confidentially with management and your key confidante within the organization.

Don’t involve Human Resources because they have to support the company that is their job. So they have to be neutral.

People say to me all the time, there is no way I can ask for all of this or there is no way they will even listen to me or help me transition out. This is NOT TRUE. They have guilt (well some people do) and they usually will help you transition quickly.

You are right sometimes, they might not be able to help you but you can always ask. First I ask my clients, find someone in the organization that you really trust. Go to this person first and confide in them. Ask them to help you get what you need to transition out of this job. Tell them your personal situation. Let them know you need financial help and time to get another job, that you need medical benefits. Yes you need to humble yourself. It’s ok. This is not about begging this is about taking care of your family and having to make business decisions that will help you do this. So if you have to tell people more personal information that you have in the past, well that’s ok.

Taking care of yourself and your family is the most important thing you have. You can ALWAYS get another job.

So I have documented a general statement or demand letter that I have been using for the last 15 years. Please try and get what you need, if you ever have to endure this type of situation. Don’t be afraid. You have NOTHING to LOSE. All you have to do is ask.

“I wanted to discuss my employment with you. I have been thinking a lot about what happened regarding my employment this past month…. When I was told that I needed to resign or get another job two weeks ago… I was completely taken back and a little shocked. However, because I am a professional and was told not to tell anyone which by the way has put me in an uncomfortable position throughout these last couple of weeks, I realized that I didn’t communicate what I needed because I was in shock. I need help through this transition so me and my family are not heavily impacted.

As a professional and a person with a lot of integrity, I would like to ask you for a couple of things as I go through this transition (that was completely unexpected). As you know I have loved my work and been extremely successful in my role. We both know that we are dedicated to making this a smooth transition for both parties involved. Since I was not ready to make this transition financially and I have a family to support (or maybe you are single and have a mortgage), I would like you to consider the following:

 I would like to remain in my position until I find other employment. Let’s revisit this every two months. As you know I am looking for a new job in one of the worst job markets in the history of our economy. I also need medical benefits for me and my family. Based on my research and I am sure you know that it takes approximately 3 months to get a job in a perfect economy. It might take me longer than the amount of time you are giving me to get another job. I don’t want to feel more pressure especially because of a decision that was made on my behalf and for no apparent reason.

As I stated, I am a professional and have kept my word and haven’t told anyone the reason why I am leaving, however, this puts me in a very awkward position with new hiring managers because basically I am being asked to lie about why I left. I do not like to be put in this position.

So once again, I will go along with your request (just until you get out of the company and then you can tell all of your co-workers the truth) but I need to request some things from you. 1) I need a severance package. 2) I need benefits until the end of 2011. 3) I need all my vacation paid out. 4) I need to stay employed until I find a job and I am willing to work at my home office. 4) I will need additional compensation to hire a career coach or work with a career transition services company that can help me through this transition. (this is assuming they don’t offer this to you and don’t forget to put a dollar amount on the career coaching).

Good luck and don’t forget to write us at clientservices@dearjane.info and give us your feedback on this blog post.
Regard,

Rebecca Martin

CEO, dear jane Inc.

Should I join the military in my teens?

Should I join the military right out of high school?

I have been asked this question a lot. Below is an answer I have submitted in the past. I know how many young people need financial help with their future education and how they also need support in today’s job market. Some young people don’t feel that they have anyone supporting them and joining the military creates an instant family. My thoughts are based on my career in coaching and not based on my personal feelings one way or another in terms of the military.

dear jane’s advice: Hi, I have been a career coach for over 13 years. I have worked with people from all ages, backgrounds and professions. I have also worked with miltary clients who are now trying to work in the private sector. First I would ask yourself, Why do I want to join the military? Second, have you interviewed with the military and asked them a lot of questions? Do you like their answers? Also, if you are looking to get your education paid for it’s a great way to go. It’s a short commitment and it looks great on a resume and you get paid. So unless you are worried about going to war, I would say just do what your intuition tells you. Trust yourself. It’s hard when you are young and you can’t make any mistakes in terms of your career because when we interview people about their specific career and education choices, as long as you tell the truth of why you made those choices, most human resource professionals and hiring managers understand because they are people too who had to make similar choices at your age. I hope this helps.

Thoughts from the Bart Station

Thoughts from the Bart station!

By Rebecca Martin

Founder, dear jane…a career services company…

 

As I drove into the Bart station this past Tuesday morning I was amazed at how crowded the parking lot was. I was pleasantly surprised. In my world, people are either on the verge of losing their jobs or have recently lost their jobs. As I locked up my car, I felt the hurried and frenetic pace of people running and racing to catch the 7:30 am Bart train. Thank goodness I didn’t have to be one of those people that day. I was on my way to San Francisco to deliver career transition services packages to two individuals who were being notified that they were going to lose their jobs that day. (aka – getting their pink slips).

 

They were being notified at 9:30 am and I only had to visit with two of them which was a relief.  I wondered to myself what it was going to be like and having witnessed and been engaged in these situations before for the past five years, I thought to myself, will they cry? Get angry? Or have the deer in the headlight look? I have seen it so many times over the past 5 years since I have been a career coach. Sometimes I see terror, fear, shame, guilt, and embarrassment in their eyes. Their faces become flush and they become very quiet and detached. It’s awful and rarely do I see someone who is happy and when I do it’s a relief.  

 

I don’t know how people survive days like this. Especially when it comes as a complete and total shock. I think they are numb for the first 48 hours and maybe even a week. What I know today, is the panic and fear is more than just losing their job, it’s about CHANGE, about PRIDE, what their family and friends will think of them, what their spouses or children will think of them, what their grandparents and parents will think of them, especially if the individuals are from different cultures, they take it the hardest and feel the most shame.

 

It is so sad because they now have to worry about feeding their families, a lack of income, property, prestige, and it’s about feeling that they did something wrong, that they failed their companies, themselves and most of all their loved ones. How do people get through these tough times?

 

I wonder how they feel when they have to tell their loved ones, spouses, kids, parents, neighbors? Do some people even tell their loved ones? Some don’t. If you haven’t seen the movie the Full Monty you should rent it. J It really chronicles the life of several men who get laid off and how they all deal with it on an individual basis and at a group level.

 

Most clients I work with and people that I know always worry that it’s their fault, that they did something wrong to cause themselves to be laid off.

 

I know from experience, since I have been a career coach that I can’t fix their problems and relieve their anxiety, but I can help ease their fear and share with them that they are not alone and that they have a lot of options when it comes to getting a new job. I can show true compassion and kindness instead of treating them like they are pariahs.

 

For me it’s about BASIC NEEDS, Food, Water and Shelter. My approach to coaching is all about helping the individual identify what their needs are in terms of salary, time frame, etc. People need to do what’s best for them and their families and they need to start taking care of themselves first.

 

People have so much shame and embarrassment around losing their jobs which is normal. Even in this market when everything around them is crumbling and everyone around them is getting laid off, they still take it personal. Well it’s so hard not to, but I am here to tell you that it might have been the best thing that could of ever happened to you. Most of us won’t make a change even if we are unhappy or even miserable. Change is so scary.

 

I was pushed out of my last corporate job because I didn’t fit the corporate culture. The manager inherited me because his company purchased the start up I was working for and I happened to be the Top Sales Producer at the start up during the acquisition. After six months from the sale of the company, and after my six figure guarantee ran out, I was kicked to the curb. My manager went cold and treated me like he didn’t know me or like me. It was so bizarre. He stripped me of my sales territory and at the time I was 41 years old. I had to train my 27 year old replacement. It was so tough and basically hideous.

At that time I was so tired and ended up quitting. I would have never started my company if that didn’t happen to me. So thank you to the old company. They did me a huge favor but at the time I didn’t see it that way. J So good things do come from being laid off, well ok sometimes.

 

One of the hardest parts of my job is helping people process unusual behavior right before they get laid off. For example, when I talk to clients and they tell me that there manager had just promoted them and given them a $10-20K raise one month before they were going to be laid off. Or when their managers told them “not to worry,” they wouldn’t be on the targeted list of people losing their jobs and then the next day or week they get laid off. It’s so confusing and it feels like a betrayal. I do know after talking to a lot of executives and managers that sometimes their direct managers really didn’t know.

 

Another hard situation to help people with is when they get laid off right after they increased revenues for their company which affected the top line growth and they still get laid off and sent packing! That always boggles people’s minds.

 

It’s never about anything personal. “Yeah that’s what they all say.” And what do we always hear, it’s business and the company had to RIFF people to remain profitable and to please wall street. Well I don’t agree necessarily, IT IS PERSONAL to the person losing their job. It may not be personal to the company or the management team and it’s easy for people to say these kinds of things but it is personal. So don’t feel bad about taking it personal. I just don’t want you to take it so personal that you go into a deep depression or isolate and stop focusing on your strengths and everything that is unique and great about you! Remember there are thousands of jobs and hiring managers that are just waiting for your resume to pop up in their inbox. So send your resumes and start cold calling into companies!

 

I survived 7 RIFF’s at my last company and the only reason I survived was because the executive management team trusted me, my work ethic and my ability to deliver. They liked me because I was low maintenance and I also got lucky!

 

So what it boils down to is that change is inevitable and half of us and maybe more didn’t even like our jobs or some of the people we worked with. We really wanted to change but didn’t know how to make CHANGE happen.

Please buy the book “Who Moved My Cheese.” It’s a great book and also while you are buying that book, I want you to buy the book “Brag, The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn.” You will love both of these books.

 

Let’s start working on the FEAR of Changing and Change in general when it comes to your job search and your career. I know, I know, this isn’t the best market to make changes in but REMEMBER THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF JOBS WAITING FOR EACH ONE OF YOU READING THIS BLOG ENTRY. JJ

 

So take some time to reflect on what CHANGE represents to you? Or what losing your job and getting laid off represents to you and makes you feel. Is it a lack of control, power, security, “You” decide. Work through this and make sure you feel the feelings and process the feelings.

 

Join a therapy group or a job search support group; start conducting informational interviews to find out about your next career move; join linkedin.com and start networking with people from your past or present.

 

Don’t isolate and think you are the only one feeling the way you do. Trust me, I talked to hundreds of people per month that feel the same way you do!! YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Good luck!

Are you bored? Are you interested in finding part-time work while you look for a full-time job?

Networking Tips

 

 

What is Networking?

• The exchange of information or services among individuals, groups or institutions. Sharing information by having personal and professional conversations.

 

Why is Networking so important to your job search?

• It’s the best way to get your own message out there. It’s about gathering information such as: Company, Salary, Market, etc.

 

What is the “hidden job market”?

• It refers to positions that are not posted or advertised on job boards, in newspapers, on company websites, etc. — and it’s best uncovered through networking.

• Hiring managers don’t want these positions advertised for many reasons:
• They might be confidentially replacing someone already in the role.
• They might prefer to interview only referrals and people they know.
• They might not want to be buried under hundreds of resumes.
• Networking is the key to uncovering open positions in the “hidden job market.”
• Getting a job in this economy by uncovering the “hidden job market” will require you to push yourself out of your comfort zone.

 

People want to network with you because…

• They are networking, too! They might be in the same position in the future and want to build their network.
• They operate on the “good karma” principle — they are nice people who want to help you.
• They want to help their friend who referred you.
• They might make money! If they refer you for a job opening within their company, they’ll probably get paid a referral bonus if you get hired.
• They might have a position open that isn’t posted.
• It’s free! They don’t have to pay a recruiter to find you.

 

What is Social Networking?

•          A social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Popular methods now combine many of these, with Facebook widely used worldwide; MySpace, Twitter and LinkedIn Nexopia Bebo, Hi5, dol2day Tagged, XING; Skyrock Orkut and Friendster, Multiply, Xiaonei and Cyworld, Nexopia, Bebo,Hi5, MySpace, dol2day, Tagged, XING; Skyrock, Orkut, Hi5 Friendster, Multiply, Xiaonei and Cyworld.

www.dearjane.info                blog: www.dearjanedialogues.com           www.youtube.com/dearjanedialogues

(925) 292- 9019                    email: clientservices@dearjane.info         Toll Free: (866) 822-7298

 

Women in Technology Conference www.witi.com

Hi everyone, I know it’s been awhile since I have blogged and I have missed it. The good news is that dear jane…is getting a lot of exposure and we are trying to get the message of hope to the public and to those that really need to get back to work. Julie and I and the dear jane…team are working hard to get people back to work. We have been asked to speak at a lot of the local librarys and we were just interviewed by Cheryl Jennings at Channel 7 for a segment on “Beyond the Headlines.” Don’t miss it!

We are proud to announce that we are one of the sponsors at the Women in Technology Conference in Santa Clara, CA this weekend. check out their website at www.witi.com. So come by and say hello if you attend.

So they made you an offer….

I need a raise…Can I negotiate for more money in this economy?

I need a raise! Can I negotiate for more money in this economy?

Most people right now are being treated like they are lucky to have a job. Right? Well wrong, we aren’t lucky to have a job, the employer is lucky to have us. Why? Because we are doing three times the amount of work for 3 times less pay.

I talk to clients all the time that tell me, “Rebecca I need a raise but I don’t know how to negotiate.”  Or “Rebecca, I will take any job that I can get right now.” They are so afraid that they won’t be able to get a job in this economy.

I tell my clients that if you are ready to lose your house or spinning out of control with fear and anxiety then yes, taking a job right now with less pay is understandable and the right thing to do. 

So how does one get a raise or the money they deserve? It’s easy, you need to do your research if you want more money. Our clients that are prepared get the money and salary they want.

Go to salary.com, indeed.com, and salaryexpert.com to find your market value. Visit dearjane and sign up for the salary and negotiation class or buy the career e-guide and learn more. Get What You’re Worth!  Let the experts show you how to effectively negotiate salary and compensation. Let the pros show you how to comfortably negotiate salary as well as compensation packages to ensure you get your value.

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