Written by: Todd Calongne, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Getting a call or an email from a prospective employer for an interview invitation is one of the early signs that you are heading in the right direction in your job hunt adventure. It means that you have set the correct tone in your resumes and networking, and you were able to get the hiring manager's attention.
Responding to the invitation with a YES right away is so tempting! However, before you fully commit to that critical meeting, assess yourself properly with the following questions: Do you have the right kind of energy to ace that interview to land your dream job finally?
Recruiters, leaders, and CEOs can see your exhausted and drained demeanor a mile away. If a manager feels a vibe of exhaustion or frustration, you'll probably be out of luck in your career shift. The only option left is to shift your energy or keep missing opportunities.
Trade Show Energy
Ready for a new position to show up on your doorstep? One trick I offer clients is to imagine they are at a trade show designed to host hiring leaders for their dream jobs.
I ask them to envision they are at a trade show with a booth to showcase them. The attendees at the trade show are their target audience or hiring managers looking for a candidate with their specific expertise. As they picture the folding tables draped with fabric with the pipe and drape curtains behind each booth, I ask them to imagine themself standing in their booth.
I usually start with, “It’s five minutes before the doors open. What’s your energy like?” They think about the energies they’d be emitting. Usually, it’s a variety of excitement, enthusiasm, swagger, confidence, openness, inviting, vulnerability, or "it's in the bag!" I often think of Michael Phelps before he swam at the Olympics, totally in the zone. As the attendees walk by the booth, they are not drawn in by the logoed fan or pen or any swag you may be offering. Attendees are drawn in by a presence, a smile, and eye contact. I call this 'Using Trade Show Energy.'
Try the visualization exercises below to gauge your ability to apply the trade show energy.
Scenario 1: Envision yourself in the trade show. Your booth is ready, doors open in five minutes, and you are ready. Your swagger is on point, and your confidence is through the roof. Then, all of a sudden, you look down at your phone. It’s a call or text from a tedious and or drama-prone person in your life. Think of that person’s name appearing.
What would you do?
Here is where it gets interesting. Think about the people in your life that pull you away from your best energy. We all have at least one of what I call energy vampires in our lives. Intentionally or not, these people can infiltrate your energy field with their constant drama, low self-esteem, and 'cup half empty' outlook on life. But are they keeping someone from progressing in their professional lives? Absolutely!
When your professional life is at stake, you must put yourself first. If this is you, ponder the following questions: How much time do you give to this person(s)? Do they deserve my time and energy? Do I have time and energy to spare? How does this person contribute to my happiness and well-being?
These are difficult questions to answer for you to move forward and be free of unnecessary negative energy.
Now, back to the booth. You lose valuable time if you decide to answer that person’s call or message. You must understand that the time spent dealing with frustrating people or similar tedious issues is the same amount of time people stay away from 'your trade show booth.' These are the moments, hours, or even days you are not attracting that invite for a job interview or offer letter.
If you respond, you may allow this person to drain your energy before this important event. Most will send them to voicemail or a text such as: "Can't talk now; in a meeting."
Which one are you?
Scenario 2: Imagine starving during a trade show, but the booth is getting significant attention from your target people. Excuse yourself from the interested attendees and tell them to come back. What would you do? Take an hour lunch? Or do you grab a quick snack and return to the booth as fast as possible? Which do you think is the best answer?
Most say they will sprint to get something and bring it back to their booth so as not to miss an opportunity. What’s your answer?
Scenario 3: It’s late, and the booths are closed for the night, so you spend time writing follow-up emails. When are those emails going to be read? You won’t know for sure. However, you must keep in the target energy for when recipients open their email. The trade show doesn't end, which goes the same with your trade show energy. When they think of you the next day, we can’t have you annoyed with your friend or mother-in-law over stupid things (out of trade show energy).
The Moment of Truth
If you faithfully visualize the scenarios above and honestly answer the questions in your head, in your notes, or on paper, you know if you can practice and apply trade show energy.
Here are some additional questions you can answer to assess what may be holding you back from being your best self.
Are you constantly being pulled out of a mental 'trade show energy' throughout a week or even a month by tedious work or frustrating people?
How many hours do you spend outside of this target energy?
How much of your time do you allow others to dictate your focus?
How can you take more control of your time to put that focus where you choose?
The key to the Trade Show scenario exercise is to identify the things that pull you away from the 'trade show energy’ and realize that the trade show doesn't end.
Your job is to dismiss these distractors more quickly than you have in the past. You can work on getting back to where you need to be faster. Because as soon as you get back, the people who will lead you to success are waiting ‒ you don’t want to miss this by being “out for lunch.”
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Todd Calongne, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Todd served as a senior people leader for the US Government and has since moved on and become an experienced Executive Coach and Hypnotherapist working with clients online. He has advised and built trust with CEOs, entrepreneurs, cabinet secretaries, foreign dignitaries, and members of Congress through his forward and often very direct approach. He leverages his political savvy and communications expertise to ensure his clients are effective leaders and help them reach their goals.
