Q:  I am applying for a new position and they have asked for references. I have several people who support me in my career endeavors as standard references. Is it ok to use them for this new position?

A:  If an organization asks for references you better believe that they will call them. The standard is 3 references that can speak to your professional abilities and conduct. It is imperative that you ask your references for permission to use them as such every time you apply for a new position. Not only because this is the professional right thing to do, but because when you re-connect with your references you can give them a copy of your current resume and tell them why you are interested in and qualified for this new opportunity.

I like to think of it as empowering your references to speak well on your behalf. There is nothing worse than being called for a reference check and having no clue about the person or the position they are seeking. That has happened to me a time or two and it made for a very awkward conversation with the employer.

You also want to make sure that you have accurate contact information for your references. If they call or email someone you list and the information is not accurate then it reflects very poorly on you. Take the time to connect with your references and it will make for a stronger recommendation in the long run.

Q:  I’m looking for a new job because I was recently laid off. Everyone has told me I need to network but I am panic stricken about doing the wrong thing because I’ve never networked before. What are the rules and guidelines for good networking?

A:  Think of networking as building your community and as an opportunity to develop professional relationships. The number one rule is not to ask for a job when you network. This puts your contact on the defensive and can make for a very uncomfortable conversation.

The key is to ask for information from your contacts and be prepared to talk about what you are looking for when it comes up in the conversation. Even in a thriving job market, 90% of jobs are filled by referrals because employers hire who they know and trust. Building and stewarding your network will make you visible to people who may be able to recommend you for a position at some point in time.

Here are some basic rules to networking:

• Do your research and ask relevant questions of the people with whom you connect. Seek out people in a field or organization that interests you and do your due diligence to learn something about them before you meet. Start with warm leads and ask for referrals.
• For your initial contact try calling instead of emailing and be prepared to leave a brief and articulate voice mail with your contact info and the reason for your call.
• Don’t stalk your contacts, some people will not respond due to lack of time or interest. Move on if they don’t reply to your first 2-3 attempts and don’t take it personally.  There are other people out there who will be helpful – find them.
• Steward the relationships you build and be sure to keep in touch and thank them for sharing their time and expertise.
• When you do land a job, be sure to tell the people who have helped you along the way. Offer to be of assistance if they need information down the road.  Willingness to pay-it-forward is a great quality in a networker.

Networking isn’t just for job seekers. You can network to find information about a variety of things such as a great restaurant, feedback on a childcare provider or insight about a neighborhood where you are contemplating a home purchase, for example.  Build your community and you will find a wealth of information at your disposal.

Q:  I will be graduating with my BS in Marketing in May. I’ve been with my current employer for 7 years. How do I get them to recognize my new accomplishment and consider me for promotion and upward movement within the company?

A: Congratulations on the imminent minting of your degree! The timing is perfect for you to schedule a meeting with your boss and take the lead on a new kind of performance review where you articulate your value add to the company.

So few people take the time to show their bosses what they are doing well and the reality is that most supervisors are so busy with their own work they don’t have a realistic understanding of what you are doing to distinguish yourself in the organization.

The key is humble confidence – approach the meeting without arrogance or a bragging mindset but simply an opportunity to illustrate what you do well. The new degree should be at the top of your list and be sure to mention relevant courses that have empowered you to be successful in your current position. Perhaps you have gone above and beyond on a particular project or exceeded quotas in a given time period – now is the time to talk about these successes as well.

Consider putting together a brief portfolio that illustrates your message with examples of what you have done, new skills, and the completion of your degree. If you are serious about staying with this company, create a game plan to show your boss how you want to grow your career there. Give specific ideas about how your talents could be used in the company and be sure to articulate your 7 year loyalty to the organization and your interest in taking on new challenges to earn upward mobility.

By scheduling a good news appointment with your boss, you will have his/her undivided attention when you share your accomplishment portfolio and future promotion track plan. Have your hard copy portfolio to leave behind so your boss can share it with the powers that be in the organization. Be an empowered employee by taking the steering wheel of your career car. It’s perfectly acceptable to talk about what you do well and propose a plan for personal growth.  The proactive individual often gets promoted faster than others who wait to be recognized. Go for it!

Q: I will soon be returning to work after a 5 month maternity leave. I want to maintain my current position in the company and career path but I’d like to negotiate a four day work week or something like that. Since I have an infant at home, it’s difficult to “work” at home.  I’m willing to take a pay cut but need some advice in how to approach this topic with my boss. I want to make sure I ask for enough so I create a good work-life balance but yet not jeopardize my career.

A: It will be quite an adjustment getting back to work, dealing with childcare, and acclimating to your work schedule. The re-entry may be overwhelming at first so give it at least a week back at work before you ask your boss for any kind of adjustment. Don’t negotiate from home before you even get back to the office!

Once you have re-established to your boss and colleagues how valuable you are to the organization, you can begin to negotiate. Every organization is different so you will need to determine if there are others in the office with flexible schedules. If there is a precedent for this kind of flexibility then your negotiation will be much easier. Check with Human Resources to find out what the existing policies are so you can structure your proposal within these parameters.

Next, come up with a plan (in writing) that lists your ideal situation – perhaps that 4 day work week and a slightly adjusted salary for a test period. Have contingency strategies if the initial plan is not well received or approved but take the driver’s seat and articulate what you need to get the most out of your negotiation. You should help your boss understand that your long term plan is to grow your career with the company and this adjustment will empower you to serve in the best way possible.

The key is to be confident and well prepared when you are making your negotiation pitch. Never apologize for your request. Be clear in demonstrating the unique value you bring to the organization, your enthusiasm for the company, and your intent to deliver on the job with this new, flexible arrangement.

One of my favorite resources is the book: A Woman’s Guide to Successful Negotiating by Lee E. Miller and Jessica Miller. Do check it out for some terrific negotiating strategies. Men have been negotiating for generations – it’s wonderful that you are an empowered woman ready to ask for what you want in the workplace. Cheers to you!

Q:  I have a new small business that has been growing steadily.  I’m getting most of my leads from a lead generation company (Service Magic) where I pay a small fee for each lead and they have been working out great.  But, I also have a web page and I’m trying different things to get my name out there so a new prospective client can find me in a Google/Bing search.  I’ve only secured one client this way and want more clients to find me through a web search. Do you know what I can do to get my website more visible? Thanks!

 A:  Congratulations on your new business! First, I suggest you utilize all the free Social Media resources out there to announce your new business. Set up professional profiles that include your website on LinkedIn, Facebook, Plaxo, Biznik, F (press releases), Merchant Circle, and Alias which are currently the top sites that get the most traffic. Blast and build your connections with targeted messages about your new business and perhaps offer a slight discount, perk, or incentive to those who find your business via one of those Social Media venues.

Your first goal is to establish a presence then you need to expand your reach so you can nurture your relationships and maintain your presence.  You should register with:  Help a Reporter Out (HARO) and respond to national press inquiries that relate to your business area of expertise. Your product or service story might get picked up by regional or national press looking to quote you as an expert in an article or news story.

Lastly, know your demographic and identify who your very best customers are and what they need? Frequent the blogs and websites that this demographic is using regularly. Ask complementary businesses to list you on their website or blog roll as a resource to increase your web traffic. This only works with non competing businesses but it can be a great resource and a sure way to boost your online hits!

Q:  I recently graduated from massage and skin care school, I currently work in a spa and I have to give up 50% of what I earn. I think I am ready to go on my own. I am afraid of this step and have not much knowledge on how to go about it. How to get clients etc… I don’t have any money to open my own business but was offered a room to do massages and skincare in the school where I learned massage. It sounds good but how do I get clients in this economy? The spa is slow!

A:  Since you need to cultivate clients and build your network to be successful I suggest you utilize as many free resources as you can to build your brand and get the word out about your unique services. Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter would be great places to start as well as a referral system for current clients based on an incentive. For example, with every 2 new clients booked from the referral of a current customer, offer the original client a perk – perhaps a discount or free service. Let your satisfied clients be your best advocates for new business.

You should also consider your local Chamber of Commerce as they may have special networking events for new business owners and this can be a great way to build your clientele. Consider utilizing a free SCORE small business counselor in your community who can offer advice about your business plan, marketing and financing of your new business. Your local newspaper or radio station may be willing to feature you in a story – this is great free publicity.

Since opening your own shop may be financially out of reach at present, I suggest you strongly consider providing services at the room you were offered in the Massage and Skincare School to incrementally build your client base. You may also look for other practitioners in the salon field who can complement your services without being direct competition when the time comes for you to branch out into your own space. You might find someone to share rent, marketing costs, etc. The multi service co-op is a great business model that is proving to be very successful with first-time entrepreneurs.

Q:  I seem to be stuck in my current position.  I’ve been here for 5 years and others are getting promoted above me…what can I do to better position myself for a promotion?

A: You have some serious self reflecting to do about your job. Are you happy in your position? Is your work challenging, stimulating, and playing to your strengths? If not, it may be time to consider new opportunities. If the job is a good fit and you are simply in a rut – it’s time to create a portfolio!

Your portfolio is a professional scrapbook that showcases your strengths on the job. It’s a great tool to utilize in a performance review. Often our bosses don’t know exactly what we do on a daily basis so this archive can rearticulate your strengths and accomplishments especially when it’s time for promotion consideration.

There are several good books on building professional portfolios available and a Career Coach can also help you create this self empowering tool. Remember in this job economy you need to show your value to your organization clearly, network internally, and be ready to speak with humble confidence about what you do well for the team at all times.

Q:  I’ve posted my resume on every job board I can think of but I’m only getting illegitimate-sounding work-from-home offers.  What am I doing wrong?

A: Once in a blue moon the job boards actually work but don’t wait for that to happen. In reality, would you hire somebody solely based on their paper credentials? No – you would meet them, interview them and determine if they were a good fit for your organization.

Step away from your computer and pick up your phone. Reach out to people and organizations and plan to meet face-to-face. With the advancement of technology I see people drastically lacking interpersonal communication skills. You can’t build a meaningful relationship by emailing or texting – get to know people and learn to showcase your strengths and why you would be a fabulous hire to a specific organization. The job board is not going to respond to you – but a person will!

Q:  I’ve applied for hundreds of jobs that I’ve found on job boards but no one’s calling me back.  What am I doing wrong?

A: There is a new normal in the job search reality. If you are stuck behind your computer applying for jobs and sending out resumes all day long you are not going to be successful. Get yourself out there and meet people! Attend networking events and professional organization meetings in your industry. Seek out informational interviews and invite your network to lunch or a coffee break. Put your best professional foot forward by dressing the part and making a great first impression. You will not be noticed if you are not seen and heard in the job search – email is not to be relied upon as the only way to communicate. Put down your Blackberry and start building relationships. The results may not be immediate but the investment will pay off greatly if you steward your network and step away from your computer every day.

Q:  I think I have a really good idea for starting my own business, but I’m afraid to make a move that direction.  I’d like to jump right into it, but I can’t quit my job because I can’t afford to lose the money.  Where can I go from here?

A: This economy has inspired many entrepreneurs to give their business idea a shot. While small business loans are not as readily available as they were even a year ago, you may have to keep your hand in the day job (at least part time) until you are solvent enough to make the break 100%.

There are some amazing resources for entrepreneurs that are free like SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business and the Chamber of Commerce workshops in your communities. Seek out mentors and advisors who can help you create your business plan and establish what you need to make your business successful.

I have interviewed many women entrepreneurs who have utilized online resources like: Savor the Success and Ladies Who Launch to gain best practice ideas from successful entrepreneurs. Remember the trade and barter system is a great way to swap skills and services with other entrepreneurs without incurring costs.

If you can’t unearth the resources at the beginning to leave your day job and finance your new venture, develop a plan to roll out your new business incrementally. Work with a business coach who has experience in this area and create a realistic timeline that allows you to meet your goals.