Archive for career direction
Improve your job search with time management
Posted by: | Comments
My career coaching client, Dan, recently texted me saying he needs to stop going on so many job interviews so that he has time to breathe and really think about his long term career direction. This is a nice problem to have!
Are you managing your time to the best of your ability? It is is crucial to stay on top of networking in your job search, but it is just as important to be efficient and stay organized along the way. Don’t let yourself get too overwhelmed with interviews and applications. Take the time to sit back and really manage your career path. Remember, quality is always better than quantity.
Way to go Dan on securing your interviews through networking and job boards. I agree, it’s time to take a step back and make sure you’re not entering the land of diminishing returns.
Hallie Crawford
Career Path Coach
P.S. If you would like more help with your job search and networking, be sure to check out our Free Resources Page today!
FREE webinar for career seekers!
Posted by: | Comments
Mom Corps has asked me to be part of a webinar series, and I am excited to do my first webinar with them on May 10th about defining your career direction.
In this 30 minute webinar, I will teach career seekers how to find fulfillment in their work by using my “CREATE Your Career” system.
1. Learning what’s essential to you in an ideal career
2. Understanding why fulfillment is a vital component to defining your career direction and career success
3. Moving beyond the obstacles that prevent you from enjoying your work
4. Discovering how to expand your thinking to find greater professional fulfillment in a way that is both practical and passionate
This is an FREE webinar! If you are interested you can learn more and register here: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/688837974
Have you narrowed down your career ideas too much?
Posted by: | Comments
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.
Dig below the surface to define your the ideal career!
Posted by: | Comments
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!
4 steps to help you meet your career goals!
Posted by: | Comments
I had the privilege of being on a radio show for Q100 here in Atlanta last week. We talked about staying on top of New Year’s resolutions. Here are 4 steps to help you meet your goals that I shared on the show:
- Create a job search plan that includes your ideal career direction, plus two other possible ideas related to it, in case you need to expand your search over time.
-
Firm up your elevator pitch. What makes you unique? You have to know your brand or your value. Understand your strengths and what you bring to the table.
-
Network, network, and network. Networking is still the best way to get a job. Employers are still going to be hesitant to post jobs because they still get flooded with resumes. Set up as many informational interviews as possible.
-
Go for what you really want. The job market is getting better, but you have to realize it takes work and time. Sometimes a new approach to your job search is needed to stand a better chance to land the job you really want.
If you’d like help at achieving your career goals this year, contact us today to set up a complimentary consultation.
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.
How to spice up your job search today!
Posted by: | Comments
A key element to spicing up your job search is to ask for information. After working with many career coaching clients recently, I’m finding that people aren’t using the right networking strategy for their job search. Here are some key tips to spice up your job search:
- Informational interviews are resonating and helpful in your jobs search. Talk to the people in your network who work in an industry you want to be part of. Ask them for 15 minutes of their time to learn more about what they do. Don’t ask for a job, ask for information.
- Go places where people are, such as professional associations. Instead of going to job fairs and places where people are unemployed, this can be a great way to make connections and learn more about your preferred industry.
- A good networking strategy is critical and includes LinkedIn. Update your LinkedIn profile right away if you have not done so in the past 3 months. People still don’t get on LinkedIn and use it effectively. 80% of recruiters are searching here. We have a career coaching client who upgraded her account to paid and is reaping the rewards of seeing the actual traffic to her account. There are many ways to use this actively to run your search.
- Soft skills are important, and another area that job seekers often don’t fully understand. Soft skills are skills that an employer can’t teach you like work ethic, management skills, or your ability to work in a team.
I hope these tips are helpful to you. If you are motivated and want to spice up your job search more, contact us today to set up a complimentary consultation.
Hallie Crawford
Ideal Career Coach
P.S. A great way to receive free help regarding your career direction is to our Free Monthly Newsletter. Check it out today!
Tips for your job search – Before you contact a job recruiter
Posted by: | CommentsCheck out my latest YouTube video. I talk about the 3 things you need to have in place before you contact a recruiter to help with your job search. Recruiters can’t help you with your career direction. You have to know your direction before you reach out to them.
Go with your grain
Posted by: | Comments
I recently gave a speech at the GA Tech Alumni group. They are a wonderful group of people who are really committed to finding greater fulfillment in their careers. We talked about the analogy of painted versus stained wood that I normally use in my speeches. It’s about not letting your authenticity be painted over so to speak by a coat of paint, like paint over wood. Instead, imagine that you use stain instead to bring out, or enhance your authenticity and tap into it.
Tap into your natural talents and gifts to be more authentic in your work. As I’ve said before in previous posts, go with your personality type in a job, not against it. That’s an uphill battle not worth fighting when you can try to find another career direction that better suits you.
Hallie Crawford
Certified Career Coach
P.S. Be sure to check out or Facebook Fan page and “Like” us for more free tips, tools and advice. It’s a great opportunity to connect with our team of coaches!
