Author Archive
Have you narrowed down your career ideas too much?
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I recently spoke with my career coaching client, Damon. He said something to me that I often hear as a career coach and I wanted to share it with you. He said,
“Don’t just focus on 1-2 aspects of your life or what you want in a job because that was where I went off track before. I hadn’t looked at other areas of my life to help me determine the big picture of what I wanted in a career.”
You want to narrow down your career ideas to just a few in order to help you make a decision, but be careful of narrowing down too soon. If you focus too much on 1-2 things in identifying your ideal career direction, you could be narrowing your options TOO quickly and end up with something that’s not a fit.
Try to look at the big picture as well. Consider what would be fulfilling to you, in addition to what you’re good at and the salary you want to make. You also need to consider the right work environment and your personality type. When I work with clients there are actually 8 different things I have them consider on my Ideal Career Model to define their dream job. So think outside the box and look at the big picture. Once you have done that, you can narrow down your ideas from there.
If you feel like you would benefit from career coaching, please contact us today to set up a complimentary consultation!
Hallie Crawford
Atlanta Career Coach
P.S. If you are interested in furthering your career direction, be sure to check out these free tools, specially designed to help you on you career journey.
Inner or Outie? Know which one you are to define your ideal job
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One thing that everyone must consider when defining their ideal career direction is whether they are more introverted or more extroverted. This can be a make it or break it for whether or not your job is a fit for you. It is also a critical piece to figuring out the best work environment for you.
I had a job a long time ago that did not match with my more introverted nature. I was required to be extroverted for much of the day and I tell you, I was exhausted at the end of the day and wanted to go to bed every night at 8:00 pm! Not great for my personal life. So think about which way you lean. Are you more introverted or more extroverted? Remember we’re all a combination of both and you want to have the right balance of time with your peers at work and time alone. For example, I am 40/60 – 60% introverted and 40% extroverted so I can pose as an extrovert when I need to. But I require a lot of down, processing time during my day so working at home alone fits well for me.
What percentage are you? And does your current job match with that percentage, or are finding yourself drained at the end of the day?
Hallie Crawford
Certified Career Coach
P.S. Find out if for sure you’re in the right career. Is your dissatisfaction a passing phase or a sign it’s time to move on? Check out our Free Ideal Career Quiz!
Should you speak up about why you’re leaving?
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I had the privilege of being interviewed for this article for WSJ.com, How to Quit Your Job Gracefully.
In this interview I was asked how honest an employee should be about why they are leaving their company. I’m careful to advise people about this in a general statement, because it’s a touchy subject and varies widely depending on the situation, the relationship you have with your employer, and how open your employer truly is to receiving feedback.
Most people advise against truly speaking your mind and as a general rule, I agree with that. However, there are times when if you’re employer will be receptive. It’s worth considering being more honest about why things did not work for you at your organization, if it will result in some kind of improvement in their management style or policies.
Tread lightly and be careful what you say in your exit interview, because you don’t want to burn any bridges, especially so you will be able to get a reference. In some cases you can consider how honest you want to be, and if it will provide some positive feedback for the greater good.
Hallie Crawford
Dream Job Coach
P.S. Are you frustrated with your job search? Check out our FREE REPORT: “Take Control of Your Career Transition: Uncover Hidden Opportunities“.
It’s true – Finding your ideal career is possible!
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I am thrilled that my career coaching client, Damon, has decided what he wants to do long term with his career. He is combining his past experience as a business owner with his passion for managing projects and having a tangible outcome with real estate. He has decided what he wants, has a business plan in place and is already making connections in the industry.
After putting time and effort into evaluating his career path, he’s figured it out. The key to finding your dream job is figuring out what is fulfilling to you. Through our career coaching process, Damon thoroughly evaluated each of his ideas, including mediation as one possible path, and decided real estate was the best fit. Congrats Damon!
If you are having trouble finding fulfillment in your career, it’s time to get right to the heart of it. Do what it takes to find your dream job as soon as possible. If you’d like to learn more about career coaching and how it can help you, contact us today!
Hallie Crawford
Ideal Career Coach
P.S. Get one of the most information-rich career newsletters on the web delivered straight to your email inbox! Check our our Free Newsletter to help you along your career journey today!
Immerse yourself in your industry
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It is important to consistently stay in touch with your peers in your industry, not just for networking purposes but to rejuvenate your interest in your field. I was excited to attend a CTI workshop recently, and this workshop really rejuvenated my interest in coaching. CTI is a coaching school that I attended years ago, and being back there with my fellow coaches for this workshop was like coming home for me. I felt like I was with “my people” again, and it renewed my energy and enthusiasm for being a coach. This is really something I think we all need to do. We can feel stale sometimes when we’ve been doing the same thing for a while!
I also wanted to mention to you a cool benefit I’m happy to give you. From that workshop, I have $200 off coupons for CTI’s core fundamentals course. If you would like one, I’m happy to mail it to you. They can be used anywhere in the US and would be useful for anyone wanting to improve their leadership skills, management skills, and relationship skills inside and outside the workplace. Just let me know! Here’s the CTI website to learn more: www.thecoaches.com
Hallie Crawford
Certified Career Coach
P.S. If you are looking for career fulfillment, check out this FREE REPORT: ”4 Keys to Career Fulfillment and Effectiveness”.
Six steps to structure your networking strategy
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Here is a great article I wanted to share with you from the Harvard Business Review, Find a Job with Massive, Structured Networking. Networking is fundamental to any job search. Here’s an excerpt from the article:
The best source of possible jobs is networking. The way to succeed at networking is to reach out broadly to people who can help. The way to fail is to limit your contacts to the few people you know well. Massive outreach is the only reliable path to victory.
There are many ways to network effectively today, whether it’s virtually, online, or in person. I completely agree that no matter what method you us, you have to have commitment and be organized. You have to have courage in your job search, and do what it takes to stay on course. This article shares six great tips to help you with your networking strategy. I particularly like this one:
3. View discussions as learning opportunities, not just job inquiries. Ask about more than jobs. Ask about the industry, how to succeed, and how to position yourself. Approaching these meetings as conversations breaks the ice. It’s disarming. What you learn may lead you to shift your target, like Isabel did, or change the way you present yourself.
This is what it comes down to in your job search. You have to take the necessary steps along the way to learn and grow through the experience. This will help you in the long run be more knowledgeable and prepared for any opportunities that come your way. Step outside your comfort zone!
Dig below the surface to define your the ideal career!
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I was talking with my career coaching client, Margaret, the other day. She was giving me positive feedback on our career coaching process, which of course is always great to hear. One of the things we discussed I wanted to share with you, because it’s something you can do to help you define your ideal career direction. Many people I encounter have thought about their career direction but wind up confused with either too many or not enough ideas. I find that many times, the problem is they’re not digging below the surface of their ideas to help them get to the root of what appeals to them for a career.
Here’s an example: I had a career coaching client, Chris, who thought of being a landscape architect. When I asked him why, he said because he liked being outside. This is one reason it was appealing to him but didn’t give us much to go on in terms of career direction. When I asked him for more details and to dig further into this idea, we were able to come up with much meatier answers.
These are some of the questions I asked him that you can use for your own purposes: Why did this appeal to him in addition to being outside? What did he enjoy about being outside? Does he really want to be outside all day every day? Or was this idea more about life balance for him and wanting to be able to go outside when he wanted to?
Ask yourself the WHY questions as much as possible, to get to the heart of what you want. Don’t just skim the surface of your ideal career.
Hallie Crawford
Ideal Career Coach
P.S. If you would like more help identifying your ideal career, be sure to take our Free Ideal Career Quiz!
What can time do for your career journey?
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I was very impressed when I received this email awhile back from my career coaching client, Robin. Check out how prepared he was for his career fair. It went really well after all the time and effort he put into it!
I researched all 120 companies attending and wound up with a list of 12 I thought were good fits. Further research pared the list down to 4 and I received an invitation from a fifth who saw my profile on the career fair web site and asked me to come talk to them. I prepared folders with my resume, a business card and a cover letter slightly customized for each company. That seemed to be very well received and was an indication of my level of professionalism.
Having a plan and being prepared with information about the company and the positions they were looking to fill was invaluable. The lead company did not even list the position I wanted in the booklet we all received. It was an interesting and very fruitful discussion. Because I knew who I wanted to talk to and what I was interested in, I feel all of the discussions went well and expect good results. None of them may ultimately result in a job, but not for lack of preparation or execution.
When dealing with your job search, it’s always worth going the extra mile. Follow Robin’s lead and put the extra time and effort into preparing for your networking events and interviews. It will pay off!
Hallie Crawford
Job Search Coach
P.S. Is your resume ready for your networking events? Read this article to help you get organized and prepare for the big event!
