The ONE Overlooked Skill Most Mid- to Senior-Level Professionals Don’t Think of for Career Success open in new page
Oct 05, 2021Luck is when an opportunity comes along and you’re prepared for it.
—Denzel Washington
Hi Audie,
Welcome to the final stretch of 2021 — the last quarter! This often is the busiest time of the year at work, and if you are actively seeking your next position, it's no different. Speaking from experience, it's not unusual to have a flurry of interviews in the final 3 months of the year as companies are interviewing and extending offers so candidates can begin their new position in January. Hope this year's final quarter is productive and fruitful for you!
This month’s newsletter addresses the ONE overlooked skill most mid- to senior-level professionals don’t think of with regards to career success. Can you guess what this is? Read the featured article below to find out.
HELP ME HELP YOU! As I write this newsletter, I’m also knee-deep in creating my 4th quarter plans and focus areas for my business and how I’ll support and help my current and prospective clients achieve their goals. Will you do me a HUGE favor and take my anonymous, 3-minute survey? Your input will enable me to provide content and services that are most helpful to you … and to other mid- to senior-level executives who are ready to make a change and could benefit from my transformative coaching, guidance and support and learning proven strategies on how to conduct an effective job search campaign and land a challenging and fulfilling new position in today’s competitive market. Thank you! 🤗
Have a fabulous October, and I'll be back in your Inbox next month! 👻🎃🦇
Warm regards,
P.S. I invite you to share my newsletter with anyone you feel could benefit from receiving valuable content and insights specific to mid- to senior-level executive job seekers/career changers.
P.P.S. To learn more about Your Call To Action, LLC and how I help my clients go from being frustrated and struggling with their search, stuck in a toxic work environment or ready to take their career to the next level to feeling excited, valued and re-energized at work (and in their life) again, take a look around my website.
The ONE Overlooked Skill Most Mid- to Senior-Level Professionals Don't Think of for Career Success
Personal branding is not about you. It’s about putting your stamp on the value you deliver to others. —William Arruda
Do you ever wonder why you never heard back from a company with whom you had an initial interview (or maybe even talked with the hiring manager) … even when you were sure the job description had your name written all over it?
Or you receive a call from a headhunter out of the blue, you chat and the call seemed to go well … only to never hear from them again?
Or you’re up for a promotion at your company, there are others vying for the role as well … you’re sure you’ll be chosen, only to find out you were passed over and they selected someone else?
I truly believe that in the majority of these situations it’s a combination of what you said and how you said it AND how you showed up. Sadly, in my experience, the ONE most overlooked skill most mid- to senior- level executives don’t think of (or work on) is their messaging (branding) and being able to articulate their value to a company.
Taking this a step further, it’s not uncommon for headhunters to contact you about opportunities elsewhere. Most people are grossly unprepared for these types of calls and miss out on great opportunities to advance their careers or move to a healthier work environment.
I can’t stress enough the importance of being able to articulate your value, share your successes and accomplishments in a confident (NOT cocky) way when appropriate to your current or prospective employer. I’m talking about your branding, your messaging, what separates you from others, the value you provide a company … because if you don’t brand yourself, you’re looked at as a commodity.
Branding and messaging are among the key areas I focus on when first working with clients. In addition to understanding what they’re looking to do next, we spend time going through exercises and helping them articulate their brand/messaging. It’s this critical piece that is the foundation for updating their resume, enhancing their LinkedIn profile, and how they communicate with their network, in written or verbal communications, and during interviews.
Throughout our time together, I work with clients on how to master, be comfortable, confident and enjoy (yup! you read that right!) interviews … with integrity and staying true to themselves. There is a mindset, skillset and all-important preparation that I share and practice with my clients based on an approach I created and used for decades whenever I was seeking a new opportunity.
I'm finding most professionals are unable to articulate their brand, messaging and the value they provide their company (or a prospective company) nor are they prepared to effectively answer the most common interview questions. These are critical skills that should be practiced on a regular basis. How many times have you been caught off guard by a call from a headhunter and you initially panicked thinking “I’m not prepared to talk with him” or, worse, you talk with him and wing it through the conversation?
Whether you’re actively looking for a new position or not, I encourage you to brush up on (or learn how) being able to effectively articulate your messaging, value and how to address common interview questions.
Take action now! Your livelihood and career depend upon this.
If you are a mid- to senior-level executive and motivated to find your next opportunity (or know someone who is), I'd love to speak with you to better understand your situation, what you're looking to do, and see how I can be of help.
Book your complimentary 40-minute Strategy Session here.
I get asked by corporate and non-profit executives how to conduct an effective job search and land fantastic offers in a competitive market all the time. I have a background of 35+ years doing this for myself (while advancing my career), and since 2015, have helped hundreds of mid- to senior-level marketing, sales, operations, IT, and accounting/finance clients successfully land a fulfilling and challenging new role.
And, no matter what struggles, frustrations and doubts anyone’s dealing with, I already know it can be solved with a tweak, new strategy or approach, fine-tuning their messaging, and/or learning ways to stand out and move forward in the interview process and receive offers.
If you (or someone you know) can relate to any of the following questions and you’d like to learn more about being part of my upcoming live training and small group coaching program, keep reading...
- Are you ready to move on from a role that’s no longer challenging?
- Are you tired of being passed over for promotions?
- Are you fed up struggling with your current search or tired of being ghosted?
- Are you finally ready to make a change yet not sure the best executive-level strategies and approaches to use?
November 2021 Cohort
Begins: Monday, November 1st for 12 weeks
Time: Mondays at 2 pm Central via Zoom (90-minute calls)
Ideal Participant: Corporate and Non-Profit Director, VP/SVP/EVP, GM, C-Level (and comparable titles)
Covers: How to conduct an effective job search campaign using my proven, proprietary 5-Step Executive Job Search framework (updating your resume and LinkedIn profile, messaging and branding, interviewing, networking, negotiating an offer, onboarding at your new company, etc.), live Q&A calls, practice, time to network with other participants, and much more!
Advantages of a group coaching program: As someone who has participated in many group programs in recent years, there’s something very special and empowering being part of a supportive and encouraging community with like-minded people, where others ask questions you may not have thought of (or were uncomfortable asking), learning from and supporting others, and having an opportunity to network with other mid- to senior-level professionals in a safe and private environment where confidentiality of what’s shared and discussed is key. Plus, group coaching is generally less expensive than 1:1, and you'll still experience a high ROI for your investment.
Interested? Click here to complete the application/questionnaire, the first step in the process. Once completed, I'll then contact you within 1 business day to let you know if your application is accepted, and if so, how to schedule a complimentary consultation. During the 40 minute call, I'll share more details about ACCELERATE!, including the schedule, investment, etc. and, together, you and I will determine if it's a good fit and the best next step for you.
Last day to apply for the November 2021 Cohort: Monday, October 25, 2021
Prior to launching Your Call To Action, LLC in 2015, Audie spent over 30 years in technology sales and sales leadership roles working with C-Level and other key stakeholders at Fortune 1000 companies utilizing a consultative and value-based approach to addressing her clients' needs.
Due to the evolving nature of the technology industry, it was common to change companies due to M&A, new leadership coming in and bringing their own team, corporate restructurings, or as a way to advance one's career. Audie became very proficient — and successful — in landing multiple offers each time, and was frequently complimented on how she stood out (in a good way!) from other candidates throughout the interview process.
She leverages her business acumen, consultative and value-based approach to sales, and professional coach training (ICF Certified) in working with clients and delivering her proven methodology, strategies and tips for successfully landing a new position (after all, one needs to sell oneself, right?).
Audie is intuitive, nurturing, and compassionate yet firm—all of the qualities you should want in a coach. She is your accountability partner with a focus on helping you get real results ... and you’ll also have fun along the way!
Want to learn more? Click here to book a Complimentary Strategy Session.
