Chan with a Plan

Dealing with job loss and how you can recover quickly

EPISODE SUMMARY
 
In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Jennifer Brick, a career success coach and owner of Capdeca Solutions. Jennifer gives advice on how to handle losing a job from a layoff, what to do afterwards and how to get back on your feet. She discusses the best course of action for the exit interview and finding your next job. Listen to what are some of the warning signs before a layoff and how to tell your family you’ve lost your job.
 
QUOTES
 
“The reality of the exit interview is that in most cases, it truly is a formality and it’s not going to have any lasting impact. It’s not going to change how the company runs itself or anything like that. So leaving on a bad impression, you can, but it’s not going to do anything.” -Jennifer Brick [15:56]
“Job loss is a trauma and we have to call it what it is. I know that’s a scary big word, but there is a trauma involved here, so you need to process this.” -Jennifer Brick [21:47]
“I still think the best way is to be building up a personal brand so that companies are coming to you, and just making sure that you’re leaving bread crumbs of your awesomeness anywhere that they might be looking for their people.” -Jennifer Brick [29:42]
 
TIMESTAMPS
 
[00:09] Meet Jennifer Brick
[02:28] Warning signs of a potential layoff
[05:59] How to prepare for a layoff
[10:05] How Jennifer planned a layoff
[11:46] Why doesn’t an organization shuffle people around?
[13:38] Job security at start-ups vs large companies
[15:10] The exit interview
[18:37] How to tell family about the layoff
[20:47] Plan of action after layoff
[28:10] Networking and building your brand
[31:36] Best course of action with salaries
[34:56] Jennifer’s advice for those who were laid off
[36:19] Contacting Jennifer Block
[38:44] Outro
 
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
 
Glassdoor
Capdeca Solutions
Capdeca Solutions on Youtube
Capdeca Solutions on Facebook
Capdeca Solutions on LinkedIn
Capdeca Solutions on Twitter
Career Glow Up
Jennifer Brick on LinkedIn
Jennifer Brick on Twitter
Chan with a Plan
Max Chan on LinkedIn

Workplace Etiquette: How having proper manners leads to career success

EPISODE SUMMARY
 
In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Donald Gregory James about how manners are the key foundational components for career success. Donald shares how manners helped him propel his career at NASA and his experiences interviewing candidates through his 35 years of experience. Donald also talks about the importance of authenticity and his upcoming book.
 
QUOTES
 
“But it really is more about who you are as an individual and having that personality, that essence, those manners, if you will, really reflect the genuine person in a way that, you know, people feel that they want to connect with you. -Donald Gregory James [12:29]
“The problem of assuming that because certain people look a certain way or they have a certain title that they’re not valuable to the organization. And I try very hard not to make that mistake because you never know who you’re going to be dealing with and how they can be helpful to you even subtly.” -Donald Gregory James [23:59]
“What I may call good manners for me may, in fact, be bad manners for somebody else.” -Donald Gregory James [29:10]
 
TIMESTAMPS
 
[00:07] Meet Donald James
[01:42] How manners pertained to Donald’s career growth
[06:30] How a lack of manners can hinder success 
[10:25] The importance of authenticity
[16:18] The difference between reading the book on interviewing vs authentic with their answers
[20:30] Some biggest mistakes people make entering the corporate world
[24:22] Advice for introverts to cultivate relationships
[30:19] Understanding where people are coming from
[35:41] Contacting Donald James
[37:39] Outro
 
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
 
Donald G. James’ website
Donald G. James on Facebook
Donald G. James on LinkedIn
Donald G. James on Instagram
Manners Will Take You Where Brains and Money Won't: Wisdom from Momma and 35 Years at NASA by Donald G. James
Chan with a Plan
Max Chan on LinkedIn

Breaking into tech: How to apply to big tech companies to land your 1st job in the industry

In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with A.J. Mizes, founder and CEO of The Human Reach. A.J. previously worked as a Senior HR Leader for Facebook and has over a decade of experience in career coaching and human resources. He shares what employers look for in applicants and tips that can help job seekers stick out for top tech companies such as Microsoft, Google and Facebook.
 
QUOTES
 
“Applying online can work, and there’s definitely cases where big tech companies are hiring people from an online application pool. But more often than not, in fact 80% of the time, it’s happening through referrals.” -A.J. Mizes [06:29]
“The number one thing that I tell folks is that you have to make sure that your resume is tailored, that you’re using the language in the job description on your resume, so that you have a higher likelihood of passing it to the next round.” -A.J. Mizes [09:40]
“I’m typically a big fan of hobbies and extracurricular things outside. It just makes you more of a human and it makes you really interesting. You’d be surprised at how often that part of your resume comes up as a common point for interviewers to generate rapport, so I always recommend like a hobbies or a what you do outside of the office type of section at the end.” -A.J. Mizes [15:42]
 
TIMESTAMPS
 
[00:19] Meet A.J. Mizes
[02:11] A.J’s career background
[03:32] What type of people does a tech company like Facebook looks for
[05:40] Applying online vs referrals
[06:42] Will someone actually see your resume?
[08:42] What would help your application stand out
[09:55] Applicant tracking systems (ATS), resume optimization software and keywords
[13:40] Formatting your resume
[17:10] Are cover letters important?
[18:51] How to approach networking
[21:53] What type of messaging to do in cold outreach
[24:18] How are interviews conducted at tech companies?
[28:22] How long to wait to follow-up an interview?
[29:57] How to build rapport while working remotely
[31:51] Contacting A.J. Mizes
[32:48] A.J.’s advice for job searches
[33:53] Outro
 
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
 
The Human Reach
The Human Reach on Youtube
The Human Reach on Facebook
A.J. Mizes on LinkedIn
A.J. Mizes on Twitter
A special gift from A.J. Mizes
Career Amp course
Chan with a Plan
Max Chan on LinkedIn