I Heart ATTASK (Part 2)

Finally, I get to write this most awaited second part, and it's now sort of a big deal (for me!). For 13 months now in AtTask, I have accomplished many milestones that I have set for my new career. I have passed 6 certifications few months ago, learned our product and got to know our clients really well in the past year. I could proudly say that I have experienced success in sales in a very short amount of time.

I always like to note down my lessons learned here as a personal wisdom that I can share to all. I have proved that I didn't have to be the smartest tech geek in understanding our technology to reach my sales potential in our software company. But there's two things I did have for sure - I have the aptitude to learn and to achieve something in my company, and I have the "happy and grateful" attitude coming to work everyday.

What I am really happy and grateful for my company is that - I have finally found my "match"... I like to learn, and I got trainings. I like to be challenged, and I got targets to hit. I like to be motivated, and I got recognition. I like to be a success, and I got a road map to get there.

Recently in late May, I accepted a promotion to become an Account Executive in our sales department. My main responsibility now is to bring in new clients, and uncover new sales opportunities in our existing clients. What I love about my new role is that I get to help my clients better understand and organize their work using our portfolio and project management software. I share with them my passion and our company's vision of work management and going social which is the future of work. I feel like a heroine bringing positive change in the workplace and the world for the next generation....

Here's why AtTask is such a BIG deal!!!

Yes, You Can Land Your Dream Job!

Whenever I would meet old friends and colleagues who knew me from my old job a year ago, they always asked me how I found my job now and how I turned my career around in this recession and struggling economy. I usually light up like a bulb when I tell them because I'm so passionate about my career and I thought I had an amazing story to tell anyone who've lost their job or wanted to quit their job and looking to upgrade their job for a better opportunity and make more money. (Why not?).

I wanted to share to all my personal recipe for landing not just my dream job that I have now, but for directing my life to a long-term promising career as well. Here's few wisdom for all who'd like to reinvent themselves. And yes, you can land your dream job!

1. HAVE A PLAN
Job hunting with a plan will land you to your dream job faster. Decide what you love to do and go for it. Draw your own road map (where do you want to be 6 months from now, or a year from now?). Have a target to shoot for and be specific (what industry, position, salary, driving distance, etc.). Have a mission for achievement, a vision for future, and a passion for success... Know your strengths, assess your skills and value. Write it down in detail. I had my career plan written down and I was very clear for what I wanted to get when I was on the job market.

2. ANNOUNCE YOUR INTENTION
Marketing your self effectively in the job market is probably the best thing you need to master right away. I made my job hunting public in my LinkedIn, my Facebook, my Twitter, my blogs, in all the networking events I go to. I also reached out to significant people whom I know professionally could help me get some inside scoop on opportunities to my target industry (Software/Technology Sales position in Utah County for my case). Announcing your intention to get a new job or that you're in between opportunities may be a little too humbling or humiliating or risky for others. But think of this, you are not unique. You have nothing to be ashamed of. There are millions of people job hunting right now.

3. KNOW YOUR GOOD REFERENCES
Sure you have a killer resume, cover letter and online profiles, you slammed your first or second interviews, you have the education, the talent, the skill, the experience for the job... But when your future employer calls your former employers, your colleagues in the industry, are you confident enough that you have their recommendation for your character and work ethic? When they Google your name, what do they see, and what do they read of you? References can make or break you in landing your dream job.

4. FEED YOUR HEAD
If you've listened to Jim Rohn's motivational audio programs on Business and Life, then you must have heard this and I quote: “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” I am a huge advocate for both. I have hired personal, career, and success coaches in the past years aside from my own personal coaching and readings. I listen to my audio books every single day, to the point that it has become my way of life. Implementing this self-education also means learning new skills, new language, new technology, new processes, new techniques, etc. The more you know, the more valuable you can become.

5. FIX YOUR MINDSET
If you have a scarcity mindset and have lost hope for your dream career, you must be watching lots of depressing media like MSNBC or CNN, or talking to negative and complaining people a lot... Stop that habit and mentality right now because it will only drag you down to gloom and doom and you will never achieve anything in life. If you want a serious career change now so you can change your life situation a year from now, then have a prosperity and abundance mindset instead. Have a positive attitude in life and an attitude of gratitude in everything that you have now. Be excited. Be prepared. Be happy now. Expect that your dream job is coming to you. Feel what it is like... Then you know you can attract your ideal job to you and you can experience your dream career and live a success-filled life.

I found this video among many success stories in career change and landing your dream job.

My Life Lessons on Success

The last nine months of my new found career has been a blessing in my life. My personal attitude towards my career and other aspects of my life has been nothing but positive, exciting, and abundant. It is very humbling to even think that a year ago, my life was so different...

A year ago I had this strong intuition that a significant change in my career is about to come and that I had to prepare for it. I had no clue at the time on the "how" and "why" or "what's next", but I knew the feeling was good and exciting and that I was ready to embrace it with all the faith and energy that I got. One thing I knew for sure back then... I was determined to find something new and challenging for myself to discover all my potentials and pursue my true passion for success. (As you can see in all my Facebook status, I talk and think of it all the time!)

Sales is my chosen profession where I have visualized for myself to find true meaning and purpose in my life. This sales profession has opened my eyes to many future possibilities and has taught me valuable lessons on the power of having positive attitude, setting and achieving my goals, being inspirational to others, attracting more abundance and leading my destiny to live the life I wanted.

Sometimes, I would ask myself, "why is this dream-career-success-stuff such a big deal for me?" I would spend the time networking and attending motivational self-empowerment and inspirational personal development conferences just to be around like-minded people. And most of the time I would invest more in hiring a life vision coach, career coach, success habits coach, dream and intuition coach, image therapy coach, positive attitude coach, then read more books and listen to more audio books to learn it all again... over and over again! Hopefully, one day I can answer this clearly for myself.



Or maybe I already know the answer.... I AM JUST ABOUT TO BREAKTHROUGH!

I Heart ATTASK!

It's been more than two months now since I started working for ATTASK, INC. in Orem (Utah), and I've been waiting for this right time to finally blog about it!

I am very pleased now that I've made this strategic career-change decision and chose to move in to AtTask. At first, I was really nervous as this is a big change in my environment and a big challenge for me "technologically..." But I was confident with myself that I can learn this new business.

Coming from a completely different and chaotic world, I would admit that learning new processes and understanding my technology sales job within my first month was painful and inevitably, that's the only way to get through it. I learned the true meaning of patience, sacrifice, and flexibility... It also made me realize the value of my 15 years of experience in hotel sales and customer service. I truly believe now that I was destined to be prepared to take on this new role.

I was hired as an account manager to join AtTask's new sales team called CSR (Customer Success Representative). My main job is simply to manage and maintain a long list of existing clients. I develop and execute my strategic account plans to protect and expand AtTask's renewal revenue, maximizing my clients' use of our products and services, and offering all the possible support to ensure their successful implementation and adoption of our project management tool. I also develop solid relationships with my clients' executives and senior management, usually CIOs, CFOs and PMOs. I also dedicate myself in learning our product through continuously trainings.

(To be continued in Part 2)

New Career Mission Accomplished

Few months ago, I decided to go public during the most exciting time of my life in this year's peak of unemployment and US recession: HUNTING DOWN MY NEW DREAM CAREER in the technology industry. After 6 weeks of full time job seeking, hard work, 110% hope, quadruple self belief, and daily dose of my Cheetos... I have finally landed my top target job, the one that I exactly wanted. More than a month ago, I have started training and working for AtTask, Inc., a project management software developer based in Orem, Utah, as an account manager, also called Customer Success Representative or CSR.

I am a great fan of navigators, maps, and methodologies. I read a lot of How-To books and articles. Everything I learned, I practically implement it in my life in general. I have time lines in my life, Plan As, Plan Bs, short term and long term goals, list of tasks to accomplish today, tomorrow, etc. Several times, I have created my own work and life flow so I know I am in control of all the situations I can control, including my career.

For weeks and weeks, this is what was posted in all of my public profiles, and before I update all of them in the next few days, I'd like to remember THIS ROAD MAP THAT I MADE FOR MYSELF that made a huge significance for me in landing my new dream career. This is what I call "my career mission and vision."

Industry: SOFTWARE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Division: SALES AND CLIENT CARE OR SERVICES

Title: ACCOUNT MANAGER, CLIENT EXECUTIVE, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Location: Orem, Provo (Utah County)

MY KEY POTENTIALS AND VALUE PROPOSITION TO MY TARGET EMPLOYER:

ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT:
* Protect and expand your company’s revenue streams. Develop and execute your strategic account plans. Maximize your customers’ use of your company’s products and services.
* Represent your customer as a single point of contact. Quota Responsibility for the renewal of support contracts, and contribute to your pre-sales activities.
* Develop and maintain solid relationships with your clients’ executive and senior management.

ACCOUNT/BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT:
* Team-driven sales of company’s product, services and solutions. Handle leads and sales within a geographic region.
* Strong prospecting and development of new business. Set goals to generate leads and improve sales.
* Demonstrate your company products with a variety of clients.

MY TARGET COMPANY:

• Stable organization who is leading in their market that offers competitive products, solution and services that are a MUST to improve their customers’ business quality and revenue in the new economy. Have proven large (and global) accounts like Fortune 500, etc.
• Takes pride in hiring only the best, and known for their vibrant, dynamic and rewarding workplace. Takes pride in creating exceptional work experiences, encouraging innovation and being involved.
• Committed to challenge me to reach my potential, and will allow me to grow within their company.

MY KEY EXPERTISE AS SALES AND ACCOUNT MANAGER

• Account Development
• Executive and Customer Relationship Building
• Sales Training and Team Leadership
• Region and Territory Expansion
• Sales Presentation
• Negotiation and Closing Activities
• Solution and Consultative Sales Models
• Account Retention
• Customer Service Delivery
• Integrated Sales and Marketing Plans
• Quota Achievement

MY PROFESSIONAL PROFILE:

Goal-driven, dynamic sales and management professional with 15 years of experience in sales/marketing and building record of success in developing and implementing sales strategies, marketing campaigns, and solutions that generated 7-figure revenue growth. Excellent motivational skills to build and sustain momentums for peak performance. Expert in managing all phases of sales development cycles from prospecting and cold calling through detailed presentations, negotiation to closing and follow-up activities. Able to develop and maintain solid relationships with clients’ executives and senior management.

Check out My Online Resume at http://www.utahgigs.com/CzarinaTrinidad

Contact me at Czarina1975@yahoo.com.

Obviously, the rest is now history. This case is now closed and this major accomplishment has already brought some breakthroughs in my life - which I will be happy to note in my future blogs.

In every memorable moments in my life, I always pick a song to remind me what it was like, so this is my song for my new found career.

5 Criteria to Define My Ideal Future Employer

Just like companies are investigating their prospect candidates, I also do my own company intelligence research as well, before I shoot them my job application.

What are the qualities of the computer software company that I want to work for? This was my most important strategy, to target only my hand selected companies.

When you want to work for the HR, or accounting, or admin, it may not matter.... But for me as a picky salesperson, the company brand and reputation is the most important for me. It is the company brand that will identify and carry my name in that industry, my professional email address, my business cards everywhere I go, and it is their corporate brand that I will stamp as well on all my websites, resume and portfolios. As a personal branding enthusiast, I only want to represent brands that are the best in their niche.

Here's my top 5 list of criteria in finding my ideal company to work for.

1 BEST PRODUCT IN THEIR FIELD. If it's a web analytics company, it better be the best in web analytics. If it's a project management software company, it better be the best in project management software. They must be well known for their leadership in innovation in their industry.

2. BEST REVENUE GROWTH IN 2009. It's supposed to be tough to make more money in the recession. But certain computer software companies stand out in growing more revenue year after year, and their 2009 revenues are proof. This can also tell that their products are in demand, and there's more potential sales in the future. That's awesome for a salesperson like me. Ka-ching! This is also a good sign that they can afford me.

3. VENTURE CAPITALIST Hot-List: If a venture capitalist invested millions and billions of dollars in this company in the last 12 months, it's a sign of trust in that business and the potential for maximum growth of that company is expected in the next 12 months or so.

4. BEST WEBSITE: A company's website is the company's best talent recruiting tool. If the company knows how to position themselves in their market through a dynamic website, whether they are marketing or selling something, it's a sign they're competitive. Need I say more?

5. BEST PEOPLE: I network with the people at the company's Sales Department and see how they treat me on the phone, and on social media. I engage with their Twitter and connect with them via LinkedIn. If the people are well-treated inside the company, it will show in their voice (or text) and in their enthusiasm to connect with me.

I know these criteria only makes my target list shorter, but I don't need 50 interviews to find out the ideal one for me. Just trusting my intuition, I will know in just one look if the company fits me.

10 Keys To My Successful Career Change Job Search

Seeking for a perfect-match job and employer in a new industry field for me is like looking for a perfect-match spouse.... It takes courage and strategy to analyze how you could get to the top 1% of global talents to even get noticed. In the past 6 weeks that I was actively job-searching in the computer software and technology world, I have discovered so much about myself... I never knew I had so much self-belief that I could break in an opportunity to change and challenge myself to adapt in a highly technical environment.

I have attended several webinars for a successful job search. I have networked with technical recruiters, job coaches and professional resume writers, but I found out that only me can do what I have to do to land something for my self. I believe that I am a key talent in this global war for talent and I believe that the perfect-match employer should not let someone like me just pass them by.

To other job-seekers in my level, here's my 10 Keys to my Successful Job Search that I'd like to share with you all as I noted from a free webinar by Get-Hired Bootcamp.

1. GOAL IMAGERY. I am focused and I have clear goals. My case is a career change from hospitality sales to software sales. I anticipate 'technical' objection but it is not going to stop me. I am aware of the high unemployment rate and the recession, but I chose to stay positive. I only envision my end-results - Account Manager position in one of the best software company in the industry. I won't settle for less.

2. CREATING JOB SEARCH ACTION PLAN. I'm task oriented. I have a laundry list of activities for the day. There is a day for updating resume, practice interview, creating profiles in different job search sites, face-to-face and online networking, etc. Looking for the perfect-match job is a serious full-time job.

3. PRESENT THE BEST 'YOU' POSSIBLE. Here's where my Personal Branding strategy in my new career change takes the center stage. My resume strategy is all about positioning my sales management strengths, qualifications and past accomplishments. I want to sell my confidence in the sales process, and not the un-technical hospitality background. I used all my personal and professional websites to brand myself as a talented enterprise software sales professional. This is where I spent most my time at first. After a few weeks, I started to get noticed.

4. ACCESS HIDDEN JOB MARKET. I networked consistently online and face to face. I went public with my job search so people can find me and refer me to different companies and recruiters.

5. HARNESS THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA. All my public profiles matter to me and I want to standout. I cleaned out my online presence so my relevant connections in Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter will notice that I'm serious in my job search. I built my online resume, and my own website. I googleg me all the time to make sure people will find the best and relevant information about me.

6. MARKET YOUR POTENTIALS, NOT YOUR PAST. I see people successfully changing industry and careers all the time. So it inspired me to pursue high-tech! I used all my public profiles to market my potentials and credibility.

7. OVERCOME PHONE PHOBIA. I didn't get this far yet but it is on my activity list this week. I assume my target employers get thousands of resumes. And I just have to make that call to tell them "I'm serious. You should meet me."

8. PRESENT YOURSELF EFFECTIVELY IN NETWORKING. This is something that is constantly in the works for me. I now have printed my own business card to give away. It was weird for me the first time to give a 60-second commercial when you're looking for a job. It's all about creating good lasting impression, and building better rapport.

9. INTERVIEW LIKE A ROCK STAR. I never know what to expect so I come prepared. I research about the company's culture and vision, and my interviewer to see if we have something in common. I study the position I'm aiming for. My personal motto in my job search is that the one who stands out with confidence and the most prepared gets the offer. The hiring manager may or may not care about my answers to their questions. All they want to know is if I have the qualities they are looking for. It's easy to pick these qualities in sales and I know I have the best qualities of a salesperson.

10. NEGOTIATE YOUR NEXT EMPLOYMENT OFFER. This is something that I'm expecting every after my interviews, and this is something that I need to learn fast. I need to get inside the minds of my target employer and understand how they view me and my value proposition in their company. This is all about positioning myself as an asset to my target company.

There are more keys to successes in career change and job search but these are some basics that I'm currently doing and mastering.