Outplaced - Career Coaching and Outplacement Services

THE VIKING CODE APPLIED TO YOUR CAREER. We must agree with Einstein’s words, “Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted.” Deep and philosophical as his words are, an enquiring mind immediately starts to think of exceptions: things that count and which also can be counted. 10 major exceptions are The 10 Commandments of the Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, that tell us how to lead a contented and fulfilled life. Another list of 10 is called The Viking Code which certainly counted, if in days gone by, you wanted to become a true Viking. However, the Viking Code has implications far beyond the Viking Age. I think it also tells us how to have a successful career, but what do you think? Which of them is most important to your career? Here’s a modern translation. 1. Look for opportunities. 2. Help others succeed. 3. Be courageous. 4. Give advice. 5. Think constructively. 6. Take on responsibility. 7. Plan for the future. 8. Seek education and research. 9. Oppose envy and indolence. 10. Start now. #careermentoring #careercoaching #careeradvice #careerguidance #proteuscareermanagement #personaldevelopment

SUCCESS EQUALS DETERMINATION COMBINED WITH PROACTIVITY! When I came across Orison Swett Marden’s quote: “A will finds a way” it sent me hunting in my archives because it reminded me of a similar quote from Leonardo da Vinci. What da Vinci said was, “It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” Although he said this over 500 years ago it resonates exactly with Marden's quote. Whatever endeavour we take on we are much more likely to succeed if we are proactive rather than reactive. I think my Dad was wiser than I thought he was at the time, when he said to me many years ago: “Nothing will happen Michael unless you actually do something!” #careermentoring #proteuscareermanagement #careeradvice #personaldevelopment #careercoaching #proactivity

MATCH YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS TO YOUR TRANSFERABLE SKILLS. Creativity is one of your most valuable transferable skills. At the professional level, most companies are interested in people who are inventive and who use their imagination to generate original ideas and solutions to problems. However, it’s not sufficient to simply say "Yes" in answer to an interviewer's closed question, "Are you creative?" Neither is it sufficient to use the word “creative” somewhere in your CV and your LinkedIn profile to describe yourself. You also need to illustrate your creativity by giving one or two examples of achievements you have made that would have been impossible were you not creative. The same goes for all your other transferable skills: use your achievements to illustrate them. So there’s your next challenge: write down a list of what you consider to be your transferable skills and now write down at least one achievement that would have been impossible if you didn’t have this particular skill. You'll be amazed at the difference it will make to your interview performance. #careeradvice #interviewpractice #transferableskills #proteuscareermanagement #careerguidance #careercoaching #careermentoring #interviewpreparation 

PRIORITISING TASKS IN JOB SEARCH MODE. Great satisfaction is gained from completing an action and putting a tick next to it on a list. Unfortunately (and don’t ask me how I know this) the feeling of self satisfaction can become like a drug: the ‘high’ comes from seeing the number of ticks increase. “That’s 8 ticks: let’s make it 9 - ah - there’s an easy one: that’s 9! Now, where’s number 10?” The problem with this approach is that it drives us towards the easy tasks, whereas it is usually the difficult ones that are the most worthwhile, fruitful and valuable. If we are not careful the hard ones all get left to the end. As Dale Carnegie taught us, if you do the hard ones first, the easy ones take care of themselves. Whether we’re talking about seeking a new opportunity in our careers, nurturing a rewarding relationship or running a profitable business, if we tackle the difficult bits first we’re much more likely to enjoy success. If you have any tips to share that help you to do the difficult ones first please share them in a comment. #careeradvice #personaldevelopment #proteuscareermanagement #careermentoring #careerguidance #selfdiscipline #careercoaching

HOW TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING! “It’s all very well everybody telling me that 97% of what people worry about never happens. The problem comes when something I DO worry about DOES happen!” Thus spake a new client recently. “For instance," he said "I was really worried about redundancy - and then it happened! "That was three months ago and I’ve been floundering around ever since trying to find out how best to get back into the market.” John’s problem - let’s call him John - was that even though he feared redundancy he had never done anything to prepare in advance for the eventuality. These are the things he had not done: 1. Kept his personal network alive. 2. Kept his CV current and up to date. 3. Kept his LinkedIn profile up to date. 4. Kept a note of his major achievements. 5. Kept a note of his annual appraisal results. 6. Kept his future career objective top of mind. 7. Kept a note of all the positive reviews he’d received. 8. Kept a note of who had offered him career advice before. Had he done even half of these he could have hit the ground running when it DID happen! A usable self-marketing strategy would have been in place without even worrying about it. #careeradvice #careerfutureproofing #redundancy #careerguidance #proteuscareermanagement #selfmarketingstrategy #careercoaching #careermentoring

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE? Most people never ask themselves why they are here, why they are on the planet. I went to a talk by an American business and leadership coach almost 30 years ago and I’ve never forgotten one of the things she said. Most of what she was saying was motivational speak for business leaders - lots of “American one-liners” if you get my drift. It was all powerful stuff, but a bit over the top for my rather more reserved British nature. Then out came another one. “The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” Here we go again I thought, but then she paused, and as if directing herself straight at me she added a question. “So what’s yours?” That’s when I realised I didn’t know what mine was - hadn’t got a clue - absolutely no idea - I’d never even considered the question! I now know what my purpose is: I know what my aim in life is and it drives me every day. But what’s yours? Have you ever even thought about the question? I don’t want you to tell me your answer! I just want you to answer it and then to keep telling yourself. #personaldevelopment #motivation #inspiration #careeradvice #careerguidance #proteuscareermanagement #careercoaching #careermentoring 

DECISIONS: H = HOLIDAYS AND C = CAREERS. H1. Do you want an enjoyable holiday for you and your family? It all starts with an objective decision, "Let's go on holiday!" H2. Next comes the plan: the what, the where and the when decisions. H3. Your first option is to define these yourself by talking to your family. H4. Your second option is to let a travel company decide for you by looking at their brochures and taking what's available within your budget. H5. Then, before it's in the bag, you have to pay for it. To do that you need the income from your enjoyable career. C1. Do you want an enjoyable career to support you and your family? It all starts with an objective decision, "What sort of career do I want!" C2. Next comes the plan: doing what, where and for what kind of company. C3. Your first option is to define these yourself by talking to your career coach and mentor. C4. Your second option is to let a recruiter decide for you by looking at their job adverts and applying for jobs that they think you are suited to. C5. Then, before it's in the bag, you have to pass an interview. To do that you need the happy disposition and the right frame of mind that both come from your enjoyable life and career. C6. Catch 22! #careeradvice #careerguidance #careercoaching #careermentoring #proteuscareermanagement #personaldevelopment 

ANNE FRANK'S DIARY HAS A CAREER MESSAGE FOR US. Anne Frank was in her hideaway in Amsterdam with her family on Sunday 15th December 1942. She and her sister Margot had been thinking about the poor street kids in the deprived area where their hideaway was located. Anne was talking to her sister. "Imagine if we could haul one of these kids up here with a crane, wash him in the bath tub and put him in some nice clean clothes and lower him down again, then ... " "he would be just as filthy and dirty tomorrow again," interrupted Margot. Margot's implication is right. What we gradually become is defined not only by the situation in which we find ourselves but also by the habits, attitudes and behaviour of the people with whom we associate. If you are in a toxic working environment and you don't share the values of the people with whom you work, it's time to proactively change it or to seek pastures new. The Amsterdam street kids didn't have the luxury of that option - you do! #careercoaching #proteuscareermanagement #personaldevelopment #careeradvice #careermentoring #attitude #workingenvironment

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF 'WORK'? The Oxford Dictionary has 8 definitions of the noun ‘work’ and 6 definitions of the verb ‘work’. Then if we add a preposition we get a whole load of extra meanings - work out, work on, work up, work at, etc. But when we think of our careers ‘work’ means ‘an activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.’ So how are you getting on with and at your work? Here are three rather important questions for you. 1. Do you actually enjoy the work you are currently working at and on? 2. Are you happy working with and for your current set of work colleagues? 3. Do your values and drivers match those of the company you work for? Score three times ‘yes’ and you’ve hit the jackpot - stay there - you’re in the 9% who look forward to going to work. Any less than this and maybe it’s time for a career review of where you’re at, where you’re going and how you plan to get there! If you have any additional 'work' thoughts that may help others please add them in a comment. #careeradvice #careerguidance #proteuscareermanagement #careerreview #workingenvironment #careermentoring #careercoaching #personaldevelopment

MAKE YOUR INTERVIEW BUTTERFLIES FLY IN FORMATION. In the King James version of the Bible, Job says in 3:25, "For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me." In other words, the more you fear something the more likely it is to happen. One of the best examples is the fear many candidates have of failing a job interview. An interview is one of the few things in life we have to do entirely on our own, but if we are too anxious, too fearful, if we expect a negative outcome that is usually exactly what we get. It is quite natural to have a tummy full of butterflies before an interview - the trick is to get them flying in formation! To do that you need to change your self talk and there are three ways to make it happen: 1. Talk to your mentor or coach and they'll help you dispel anxiety and boost your self confidence. 2. Remember, as for most things in life, you are better than you think you are. 3. If you haven't got a coach or a mentor either get one or buy a book called "What to say when you talk to yourself" by Shad Helmstetter. #careercoaching #careeradvice #proteuscareermanagement #personaldevelopment #interviewpreparation #careermentoring #interviewskills