1. Research what employers want. Start looking at job announcements to see if you have the skills, certifications and degree that the employer wants. If you don’t posses those items get those skills, certifications or the degree required.

2. Keep skills up to date. It is your responsibility to keep your skills current not your current employers. Once you have identified what certifications are trendy or most requested sign up for a certification program. Get certified. Do not have long periods of date gaps where you have not attended a refresher course nor did something to keep your skills up to date. Don’t let your education section on your resume make you look outdated or old.

3. Update your resume. Keep your resume updated but don’t lie. One area I see many people failing to update is their computer skills. They have listed programs that were popular five or ten years ago. I recommend you visit your local community college and attend some of the classes for newest versions of the computer programs.

4. Use social media correctly. Social media is a tool that hiring managers are using to see who you are before they call you for an interview. You must be visible on LinkedIn and other social media platforms. Again keeping your information current is key to job hunting success. Your profile must reflect you are job hunting and use the key words that hiring managers will be using to search for you. If you don’t advertise you are job hunting you won’t be asked to apply for a job, notified about a job or even looked at to join the company.

5. Networking. Networking is not begging for a job. Networking is not kissing someone’s backside. Networking is allowing your family, friends, and other contacts know you are job hunting. It is letting them know that if they hear of something you may be interested in that they are welcome to give your contact card to the hiring manager or get their card for you. Networking can be done online and offline. You will want to have contact cards made to provide to people you meet in person and to the hiring managers you meet at career fairs and job fairs. People can’t contact you or refer you if they don’t have your information readily available. A professionally designed contact card will help sell you.

6. Professional Appearance. Do not neglect you appearance. Research the latest trends for your industry. You may want to contact someone skilled in this area to help you determine what styles work with your body type and to help you go through your wardrobe and eliminate outdated items. A professional stylist will also be able to help you maximize the pieces you already own. Start looking at hairstyles too if you are leaving the military. You won’t want to sport an outdated style or your current military style. You don’t want to intimidate or look dated.

7. Be open to feedback. You must listen and not get offended when you are provided criticism. The feedback may come from a hiring manager who wants to see your resume in a different format or from your coach who wants you to work on certain areas of self improvement. Be willing to listen to constructive feedback and invest in you.

Remember, the employer wants employees that will help grow the business. It is your responsibility to keep your skills current. Times have changed no longer do employers invest in employee professional growth. It is your responsibility. Invest in yourself before your next performance review and before you begin job hunting for a new job. When you implement my seven tips you will be prepared to provide value to the employer and you will get hired.

It is a day to make time to examine what you are passionate about, what interests you, and your level of expertise so that you can be successful and turn your dreams into reality.

There are several ingredients needed to bake the perfect pie. If you are contemplating becoming an entrepreneur or you are currently an entrepreneur and experiencing burnout this exercise will help you regain focus and clarity. If you are job hunting or reinventing yourself this exercise will also help, you will get a clear vision of how to live life on your terms.

In this course, we will focus on three main ingredients needed to bake the perfect pie (accomplish your goal). When baking your perfect pie you will need Passion, Interests, and Expertise.

Please complete the form below to receive the free course.

Delivering value is done by ensuring you have business systems and standards that are adhered to daily. You must ensure that your product and customer service are consistent. You cannot waffle and offer a great product one day and a lesser product the next.

Does your brand reflect your business and personal values? Is your brand consistent in your various marketing materials? Do your employees reflect your brand in their appearance? I was recently watching an episode of American Restoration and one of the employees showed up wearing a purple t-shirt which was not the prescribed uniform. Rick, the owner, told him he must wear the uniform t-shirt. The employee grumbled and I admit I fell asleep before seeing the outcome. Your employees are a reflection on you and your business. Ensure that you have a dress code that they follow so they reflect you and your business in a positive manner.

Social media is here to stay. It is a great way to educate your customers on industry standards, the latest trends, and allow them to learn about you. You can write articles for publication and then post them to your blog. You can share snippets of this article as social media updates too. Writing a media release is also a great way to establish you as the expert.

Another way to be seen as the expert is by attending live events. When you are an attendee or a presenter at events you will want to share this news with your audience. This again can be shared through the use of social media, media releases, your newsletter and articles. When you attend events your customers will know that you are staying abreast of the latest trends and keeping your skills up to date. As the presenter at various events you will show your audience that you are recognized as an expert by those in your industry. They want to work with the expert.

You must be seen online and in your community. You cannot hide and expect to be seen as the expert. Ensure you are offering value with each transaction. Ensure your brand is consistent in all your social media and marketing materials. Keep your followers and customers abreast of changes you are making to improve your skills. I challenge you to start posting your diplomas, course completion certificates on your website in your media room and on social media. Share articles you write for your newsletter and publication. Post the published articles in your media room on your website and again on social media. Lastly, have a professional headshot and ensure it is current. No one likes seeing a photo then meeting the person and the person looks nothing like the photo. It is deceptive.

Be authentic, provide value, brand you and your business, and educate your followers so you are seen as the industry or niche expert.

When ringing in the New Year people are filled with hope for the future. Resolutions allow us the opportunity to start over on reaching a desired goal and permit us to dare to dream. Without goals, dreams and resolutions how would we be inspired to move forward personally and professionally in our lives? Resolutions fall into four main categories: self-improvement, weight loss, money or finance, and relationship success.

Many people fail to turn their dreams/resolutions into reality because they don’t treat them as something they can truly attain.  They don’t believe in their own abilities. People also don’t want to put in the hard work to see their resolution come to fruition. Resolutions for many are wishful thinking and dreaming.

New Year’s resolutions can come true by applying the SMART acronym. Goal Setting requires the use of the acronym SMART. Goals must be:

S- Specific – The goal must be specific. Don’t just say you want to earn more money or own a vacation house. Be very specific. How much money do you want to earn. What type of house do you want to buy? Where will the house be located?

M – Measurable – How will you be able to measure success? Do you know the steps necessary to make the goal achievable? List the steps so you can see how you must proceed.

A- Achievable – How are you going to achieve the results? If you need to go back to school or update a resume then those are steps necessary to make the goal achievable.

R – Realistic – Is the goal realistic? You cannot become a doctor within one year if you have no college education or if you do not have the time necessary to attend medical school. Ensure your goal is realistic.

T – Timely – Be sure you place your goal in the proper category such as short term or long term. You must be able to complete the goals in a timely manner. Again if you want to become a doctor and have no college experience then it will take more than five years to complete the goal. So that goal would be placed on a very long term goal list. The short term goal would be to take the college placement exam and enroll in classes. The long term goal would be to get a bachelor’s degree because that can be completed in 3-5 years.

When applying the SMART acronym you will design a strategic plan to work on making your resolutions come true. Resolutions can come true by those willing to put in the hard work.

Coach Jaynine is hosting her 5th Annual Roadmap to Success workshop to help you design a strategy so you achieve your goals in 2013.

Pinterest recently announced Secret Boards. You have only three boards you can make secret. You cannot make a public board secret. However, you can make a Secret Board public. Below are my top ten ideas for using Pinterest Secret Boards.

1. Create boards to share with VIP Clients – post new content for them first or exclusively. This can also be where your VIP clients share their ideas and solicit feedback.

2. Create boards to advertise specials for VIP Customers only. What better way to save on mailing advertisements or promos? Invite your followers to participate on your Secret Board. Your small business could run a contest to spark engagement. You could even charge a small fee to be part of your inner circle.

3. Collaborate with your team. Post new ideas for projects and let them post too.

4. Store ideas for branding. When working with your graphic designer you can pin new ideas to share and he or she can also post updates to your special branding projects i.e. logo design, website, advertisements etc.

5. Prepare boards for upcoming launches. Prepare your boards in advance to your big seasons i.e. wedding season, holidays, anniversary etc. This will save you time and frustration. You can make them public when you are ready.

6. Membership Boards – create Secret Boards that only your paying members gain access. We often have great content to share that people are willing to pay to access.

7. New Hire Videos. Instead of having to show a new employee how to do something send him or her to your Secret Board where he or she can watch a short video. Make a series of training videos.

8. Gift Registry – are you getting married? Make a Secret Board of all your favorite things to include a link to the website or gift registry site. If you are vendor of wedding products or services make a board for your VIP clients so that the links go back to your products or services.

9. Bucket List– product inspiration. We all need a private journal or diary. Let Secret Boards be your visual notebook, photo album or journal.

10. Keep an eye on the competition. Yes, as a business owner you must keep an eye on the competition. Secret Boards let you pin things you need or want to keep an eye on.

Pinterest Secret Boards can be a great way to market your business, engage your clients and customers as well as sharing content with your team. You are only limited by your imagination. I challenge you to think outside the box on how you can grow your small business and maximize profits using Pinterest Secret Boards.

Founded in 2006, Dream Catcher Business & Career Coaching is a woman owned and veteran owned business. Jaynine is a member of the Carteret Chamber of Commerce and a graduate of the Leadership Carteret Class of 2011, Veterans Chamber of Commerce, and the American Psychological Association. She is also a retired United States Marine and former psychotherapist who works with Veterans and those on Active Duty. Dream Catcher is where your desire to succeed and your commitment to grow personally and professionally meet so you can turn your dreams into reality. You can contact Coach Jaynine to schedule a strategy session at 910.539.2810or email her at Jaynine@coachjaynine.com

I will cover how to use Secret Boards and discuss whether or not to switch your Pinterest to a Business Account. I will also be sharing some of the latest updates to Facebook.

Please sign up to reserve your seat.

1. Don’t answer phone numbers you do not know. Do not get caught off guard by answering a call from someone you do not know. Do not answer a phone call when in a noisy environment, when eating or worse using the bathroom. Let all unrecognized numbers go to your voice mail and return the call when you can focus on the conversation and present yourself in a favorable manner.

2. Be in the position of high demand. Don’t answer the phone on the first ring. Let it ring 3-5 times. Do not be available for the first job interview time available. People will remember you better when you create an impression that you are in high demand and unavailable. It is human nature to want what we can’t have. Make them want you.

3. Develop chemistry. A hiring manager will sum up whether he or she likes you based on how you answer the telephone. Be sure you answer the phone with a friendly yet professional tone.  Your voicemail greeting can also help you or hurt you. You will want to take a few minutes to develop rapport with the interviewer.  I recommend using the mirror technique. Mirror his or her form of speech and tempo. If he or she is very forma be formal. If he or she is relaxed be a bit relaxed. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. If your personality does not fit with the hiring manager or person you are speaking to you may not want to be employed with that company.

4. Research the company: Hopefully you did this before submitting your resume.  Research the company to learn about its culture, mission, and vision for the future. If not, now is the time to do it. Follow the company and hiring manager on LinkedIn. Watch the news to see how it may impact the company.  These things will help you when you get the face to face interview. When you watch the company on LinkedIn you will want to keep an eye on if people are leaving the company and where are they going. Who is joining the company and where are those people coming from. When you see a lot of people leaving a company it is ok to ask why they are leaving. This may prevent you from getting hired by a company that is a sinking ship or has an abusive climate.

5. Quiet Environment: The day of your phone interview you will want to ensure you are in a quiet space. This may mean you take the dog to doggie daycare, send your spouse and children to the local park. Turn off your cell phone and television. I recommend also posting a note on the front door altering people that you are in conference and to not ring the doorbell or knock. You do not want background noises when you are conducting business. This interview is serious business.

These five tips will help ensure that you are prepared to present yourself in the best light possible when conducting a phone interview. The phone interview is often the first step leading to a face to face interview. You may not even realize that you are being interviewed so ensure you are following items one thru three above before returning a phone call or answering the phone.

Coach Jaynine is the coach for the military. Her work as a business, career and life coach has been recognized by professional organizations throughout the nation. She is the host of Military Mainstream, a radio show, heard Sunday mornings at 7:30 on The Talk Station – FM 107.1 and AM 1240 or http://www.wtkf107.com/. Each week she provides expert advice on how to prepare for your next mission and make a successful transition from the military to the mainstream.

Coach Jaynine’s Three Steps to Shift Your Mindset from Employee to Business Owner:

1. Recognize what task you are doing. Is it a task that can be delegated to an employee? As the business owner you should be focused on growing your business, managing employees, and delegating tasks. You must have time to review your revenue streams, sales goals, marketing and make adjustments. I want you to think “billable hours”.  Identify what you are doing and evaluate if someone who earns a lower wage should or could do the task just as well or better. If the answer is “yes” then make the business decision to delegate that task.

2. Write business systems and job descriptions for you and your employees. You must learn to hire people to do the tasks that you are not the expert in doing or that you do not like to do. I highly recommend that you outsource your bookkeeping, administrative tasks, web design, graphic design, and cleaning. You must focus on revenue producing activities. Business systems that are written down will ensure that all employees can perform the tasks. This will also ensure that employees do not skip a step. Systems help you to provide consistency. They also save time from having to reinvent the wheel. Employees will not forget a step and you will not to micromanage. If you do not have a budget to afford paying for workers get creative. Maybe you know someone that is willing to work for free in exchange for having work experience for his or her resume. Depending on your state you may be able to find a student intern who will work for free. You may also want to ask family or church to volunteer.

3.  Learn to lead and delegate.  Business owners need to focus on running the business and not get caught up being one of the worker bees. You cannot do every task in your business. Your focus must be on managing your team and their projects or workflow.  Working with a coach can help you acquire new leadership and business skills while providing you a confidential environment to learn.

Your business revenue will grow faster when you make a conscious shift in your mindset. You must perform like a business owner and not an employee. Most businesses fail because the owner runs out of steam and is not willing to put in the 14-18 hour days needed in the beginning to run the business. When you learn to delegate you will have more time to focus on the behind the scene tasks that are necessary to keep the business running. You will also have more time to spend with your family and friends. Balance is important in order to prevent burnout or delivering sloppy work or products. When you are busy burning the candle at both ends something will suffer. You do not want it to be the delivery of your product or service or the way you provide customer service. You must have energy too and a fresh brain in order to be productive.

My three steps will help you make the necessary mindset shift from worker bee to business owner. This mindset shift will help you get off the merry go round of average results and get you on the zip line to over the top profits. Next time you look in the mirror you will see yourself as the head of a successful delegating work, following up on projects and making sound business decisions.