Over the last year, we’ve had many clients who have made successful career/life transitions.  Some of these changes have been self initiated, others were in response to external circumstances such as job redundancies.

One of our recent initiatives for clients making such transitions is enhancing their marketability through effective resumes.  We have found that there is widespread misunderstanding of what a resume really is.  This is perpetuated by businesses that purport to provide “professional resumes” but are actually clueless on what it takes to create a worthwhile resume.

We recently had a client who used one of these services.  He informed us that his new resume was developed after a 30 minute conversation with someone over the phone.  The result - a document that was far from a resume - it did not even include his employment history!

Our resume writing services is certainly not for the masses. We work with experienced individuals who are serious about gaining a competitive advantage in their job search. We go through an in-depth process of information gathering, strategy building, writing, editing, designing and reviewing to create resumes that position our clients effectively for new employment.  Find out more on www.australianresumes.com.au.

If you’re a fan of Dilbert, you’ll probably be thinking of the “Pointy Haired Boss”. Or perhaps a former boss springs to mind.

But these statements are actually from research findings into the behaviours of Australian male bosses. According to lead researcher, Professor Jeffrey Braithwaite, this is part of evolutionary behaviour.

Listen to John Barron find out more from Professor Braithwaite in this audio interview or read the Canberra Times‘ take on the report.

In my mid-twenties, shortly after starting a new job, I went into my then boss’s office to explain a problem that had occurred in running one of our international events.  After listening to me, she said “Ok.  What’s the solution?”  I sat there dumbstruck as I was expecting HER to have the answers.  She said gently, “Don’t just come to me with problems.  Think of a solution and let me know”.

Those wise words have had a huge impact on me.  It has become a fundamental personal principle of mine, and has served me well throughout the years - both professionally and personally.

Thinking about problems doesn’t give you any insight or solutions.  Reorient your thinking by asking how you can solve the issue.  At work, it shows a proactive, creative and solutions oriented thinker - who wouldn’t want someone with these characteristics on their team?

This may be stating the obvious - but regardless of whether you are at a business meeting, job interview or a social gathering, ensure your handshake is a firm one (neither too hard nor too limp) . The handshake may be a simple gesture but it carries a lot of meaning.

A firm handshake is not only good business etiquette, it is an effective form of self promotion.

With the internet, I now keep in touch with my friends and family via emails. Excitement isn’t the word I’d use to describe how I feel when collecting the mail from the postbox now, as they are generally computer generated bills.

There’s one exception though…I do enjoy opening one bill. They come from one of my suppliers in South Australia. But here is what is different about the bills he sends as opposed to the other bills I get - he always attaches a personalised handwritten note. The last one said “Kathleen, thanks for the business. Hope all going well in Vic. Beautiful weather here.”

A simple, but nice touch. His service stands out because of the level of personalisation. For a small business, goodwill and rapport counts for a lot. Not only is it a good way to brand your business, it creates a personal relationship with your customers. Wouldn’t you do business with someone you liked personally who also delivered a good service?

Now fantastic as this may sound, it can backfire. I’ve read of friendships ending and tears flowing. But it doesn’t have to be bad.

Cosmopolitan Magazine asked me how people could get the most out of a rebranding party. If you choose to throw one, check out the July edition of Cosmo (Australia/New Zealand edition) with Sarah Jessica Parker on the cover. It’s on sale now. My tips are on page 79.

For starters, you are not going to have the security of a salary coming into your bank account.

On top of that, you’ve got to do more than just “your job”. At the beginning, you probably have to do almost everything yourself – from being the CEO of your company to the mail delivery person.

A client of mine who has made the transition from full time employee to budding entrepreneur said, “Sometimes I wonder if I should keep on going! There’s so much to be done, I’ve got to make tough decisions and I have no guarantees whether this would even work.”

But every time the doubt factor sets in, she somehow manages to overcome them and her resolve to keep on going becomes stronger.

I believe it’s because she isn’t doing this in a naïve manner. She’s taking the right steps. She’s doing something she loves. She’s got a team of consultants she uses to provide the necessary insight and skills sets she doesn’t have. She’s researching information and refining her business plan. She’s becoming a more savvy business person.

She doesn’t know if her business will be a massive success yet. And she won’t if she didn’t continue making informed decisions and taking the next steps.

There’s a memorable scene in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, where Jack Nicholson’s character makes a bet that he can lift a heavy sink to break the windows and escape the mental asylum. His character tries with all his might to physically move the sink. But it is impossible. As he walks out of the room, all eyes staring at him he says “But I tried, didn’t I? Goddamn it, at least I did that”.

To make your business work, you’ve got to try a whole set of different things. Success will always be out of your reach if you don’t.

It’s hard to be happy when you work in a toxic environment.

When Cindy (not her real name) attended her first personal coaching session with me, she didn’t have to tell me she wasn’t happy. It was written all over her face. Her body language shouted it out.

Things were spiraling out of control at work. Her boss had given her a negative appraisal in front of her colleagues. Cindy retaliated by confronting her boss and making an official complaint. It was investigated. Nothing concrete came out of it and Cindy was demoted.

Cindy’s previous appraisals had been very positive, and there had been no mention of her performance not being up to scratch. If her boss had thought she was not performing, she certainly hadn’t offered any coaching. Was this a personal vendetta and plain bullying?

There has been a rise in reported cases of workplace bullying in Australia in recent years. A survey conducted in the UK by UNISON revealed that in over 80% of bullying cases, the perpetrator was a manager. More alarming is that in most cases, senior management was aware of the bullying but did nothing about it.

Bullying can take many forms from inappropriate public dressing downs, to unexplained job changes and unfair assessment procedures.

Not surprisingly, many people who experience workplace bullying end up changing jobs. If you choose to stay, know your rights and exercise your judgment. Work through procedures established in your workplace about bullying or seek an arbitration service.

Back to Cindy, I’m pleased to report that she has been offered a new job and is very excited about making a fresh start.

My decision to bin the flyer was made within seconds of seeing it.  And it was based on the “feeling” I got just from looking at the flyer.  Here’s why:

1. Red text was used against a dark orange background.  The colours fought against each other which made reading difficult.  My layman’s opinion was that a good feng shui consultant would know better about using colours that harmonised.

2. The flyer was printed on cheap paper, whereas her services were expensive.

3. The text was jammed into the brochure, yet feng shui places a high emphasis on de-cluttering.

4. The flyer looked more a pizza delivery menu than a personalised feng shui service.

In short, her personal branding was incongruent with what she was trying to sell.  As a result, I did not feel confident in her expertise.

Whether you’re writing a resume for your next job, or giving a potential client a brochure of your services, you’re essentially doing the same thing.

You’re saying “This is what I can offer you, what I am worth, how I can solve your problems, and why you should select me over anyone else”.

To do so successfully, a personal branding strategy will help.

When it comes to job hunting, your resume is just one element, albeit an important one, of your personal branding.

If your resume portrays a personal brand that does not leave the hiring manager feeling confident about your capabilities, it’s likely to end up in the bin—like that feng shui flyer.

Factors to take into account in developing a personal branding strategy for your resume include:
- The image you portray and adjusting it to match the industry/position you are applying for
- Your “personality”
- How you position yourself in relation to other candidates
- Your perceived worth to the company
- The “tone” of your resume
- The qualities you want a potential employer to know you possess

Once you have determined these, you can set about crafting the words to “back up” and match your personal brand.

If you need help in developing your personal brand in relation to your career, you can always seek Clever Fox’s personalised Resume Writing Service.