Follow the Clues to Discover Your Passion: Many people come for coaching and initially say they want to do something else with their life but they have no idea what they want to do. When I ask them to describe their passion, they are often at a loss and say they have been doing the same thing all of their life and don’t know what else is out there. I have found most people who have reached adulthood...
Q & A: I’m unemployed and new in town, what do you suggest? Obviously, you like a challenge. Since 90% to 95% of jobs come through networking, not through job sites, and you are new to the area, you need a network, fast. First, be clear what work you want, because you will need to be focused. Second, consider who needs to know about you? This is your target. These are the companies, associations...
The mind can do amazing things. It has been proven if one imagines doing a task successfully, i.e. hitting a golf ball, improving a serve in tennis, it has a significant impact on the results. Why not use this same technique when going on a job interview? Cynthia came to the coaching session hunched over, eyes looking down and speaking so softly I could hardly hear her. It was clear that she was lacking...
Take a guess, who are the most ebullient people I meet the Tour ? That’s right, budding entrepreneurs. In a typical downturn, 7% of the unemployed become entrepreneurs. Over 50% of the Fortune 500 companies today were started in down economies. Robert has been an executive recruiter for years and now envisions his own firm with multiple offices. Melinda has worked in retail for 20-years and has...
Tip: Claim Your Expertise Annie loves cooking with peppers. She knows the local growers, the location of roadside stands, and all the various ways to prepare dishes showcasing various, types, flavors and degrees of spiciness of peppers. Fueled only by love, she started a website. Annie wrote about all things peppers, including where people can find local growers and stands. What happened? Turns out...
Sam has a dream of becoming a film maker and eventually own a production company. He talked about his life long love of movies, though he never actually made a movie. When I suggested he try his hand at creating a video and put it on you tube, he responded he had a great camera, though he never learned how to operate it. I expect this will remain a dream, unless he takes steps to develop the skills...
Susan has a goal of become a Human Resource Manager for a School District and is presently pursuing a Master's of Education Administration. She believes she would be good at this because she had experience substitute teaching and feels her understanding of what it takes to be a teacher, along with her organizational ability and experience taking on leadership opportunities in her church would help...
Alisha, after 3 semesters, has decided on a degree in music therapy, but her school doesn't have one. Should she transfer? Few students realize they can mix and match programs and customize their degrees. Here are your tools: 1. Interdisciplinary study 2. Independent study 3. Transferring credits 4. Exchange programs You can mix courses from other departments and other schools to create the degree...
When Barry introduced himself to me, he described himself as unemployed. As we talked, I learned that to survive, he is generating income helping people with computer repair and setting up web sites. When I suggested that he was a Free Agent, in business for himself, I could see an immediate shift in his confidence. Even if the goal is to get a job in a corporation, the way we think and label ourselves...
Now that we are in the age of social media, it is easy for prospective employers to find out a full range of information about you. You want to come across as someone that is responsible and trustworthy, someone they would be proud to have on their team. On whatever network you are on, I recommend that you delete photos of yourself drinking, drunk or in any sort of compromising position, as well as...
In our fast paced, stress filled world, most job candidates don’t take the time to follow up with a thank you note. Receiving one can be a welcome surprise these days, particularly if it is hand written or typed on professional stationary. Here are some perspectives on the value of this form of follow-up: It demonstrates that you are conscious of etiquette It reinforces the fact that you are...
A major element of the job search, is the opportunity to be rejected. It is likely to happen to most, if not all of us. Rejection can be incredibly powerful. It can stop you in your tracks, get you to give up on finding what you want and lose sight of what you have to offer. OR, it can be used to motivate you to keep at it, to continually get out there without giving up. It can motivate you to prove...
On my first radio spot of the morning, I chose to share this advice: stop talking about the past. How ironic, my next job seeker was a "past expert". As soon as Charlie was greeted by two young women, he starts talking about his past. He tells them that he has 40 years of experience driving trucks. He has driven trucks all over this country; he has driven every type of truck, and he knows...
Are you at a crossroad in your career where you want to or need to change and you have no clue how to go about it? A strategy that my clients have found useful is to have a detective mindset. Rather than focusing on the sales aspect, see yourself as Sherlock Holmes or Nancy Drew. Look for the clues that can lead you to the best match: First, look for the clues that might suggest a direction that would...
One of the best things you can do for yourself while unemployed is to volunteer at a non-profit. Yes that’s right, work for free. Here are seven reasons why: You can gain valuable leadership experience that expands your skills: marketing, membership drives, event planning, treasurer, etc. Board members and committee personnel often are well connected people. You get to work side-by-side and develop...
Have you lost your job? Is the work you have been doing for years disappearing? Are you angry? sad? frightened? Perhaps you are at a loss of what to do next? This is normal. You may be feeling that a piece of your identity has been taken away. Once the initial shock is over, you may want to look at this time as an opportunity to have a fresh start, to reinvent yourself. Several of the people that I...
