Archive for Career Transition
Solidify you strengths for a successful job search
Posted by: | CommentsWatch my latest video as I discuss job search and knowing your brand. Before you embark on your job search for your dream job, you need to fully understand your strengths. What do people compliment you on or come to you advice for? What comes naturally to you? You need to understand your audience, and yourself to be successful in your career transition.
Pick up the phone – Schedule informational interviews today!
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I was on a group coaching call a few weeks ago and my client Farah shared a great success story. Farah has decided that she wants to become a medical illustrator. As part of her research into this field and to learn more about it and whether it would be a fit for her, I suggested she try to find illustrators she could talk to for a few minutes to learn more.
She didn’t have anyone in her network so she found an association online where she found a directory of their members. She started with the letter “A” in alphabetical order and picked up the phone and started calling each of them. By the letter “D” in the list, she had already conducted 5 interviews with people who were very friendly and willing to speak to her! Not everyone will have as a great of a success story with this process, but it goes to show that networking works!
Don’t be shy when it comes to finding the right career. Pick up the phone and do what it takes to start scheduling those informational interviews!
P.S. Be sure to check out our FREE REPORT: “Take Control of Your Career Transition: Uncover Hidden Opportunities” to further help you in your job search.
Applying for jobs? Remember QUALITY versus QUANTITY
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This is a great article from a Google recruiter. One of the points I want to highlight is quality versus quantity regarding the number of applications you send out.
It is much better to spend more time applying for positions you truly want and that you are most qualified for. This should be done in addition to submitting your resume and spending time networking your way into the organization. It is much better to take extra time making your application the best it can be, than sending out a mass of resumes that aren’t tailored to the positions, and for which you may not be a fit.
Yes the job search game can be a law of numbers, but you’ll increase your odds if you spend more time on each one.
Hallie Crawford
Job Search Coach
P.S. Are you in the ideal career for you? Find out if you are on the right track with this quick Ideal Career Quiz!
Get the real scoop on where you want to work!
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I wanted to share this website with you as resources for you career search:
This site can be very helpful in your career search. Assisting you in learning what it’s really like to work at the organizations you’re interested in. It can give you a behind the scenes look at the company based on the anonymous reviews provided by their employees.
*Keep what they say in perspective however.
People who go on sites like this could be the most disgruntled employees as opposed to the happiest. So you have to realize that you may be getting a one sided review. But finding themes in what they are saying CAN give you some insight into what it’s really like to work there. If people are saying the same thing over and over, there really could be some truth behind what is being said.
Hallie Crawford
Certified Career Coach
P.S. For more career help and resources like these, be sure to sign up for our Free Monthly Newsletter that is specially designed to help you in your career direction.
How do you handle awkward moments in job interviews?
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I was talking to a friend the other day, and she told me about her brother who went on an interview at a daycare center in Kansas and they told him during the interview they don’t typically hire men. Oops! That’s not something that’s smart for an interviewer to say (and why were they interviewing him anyway?) It’s an awkward situation for the candidate.
How would you handle this? A good solution could be to simply ask them why they don’t hire men. You could get huffy about it and threaten them with discrimination, but you’d have to consider if it’s worth it first. Do they think men can’t work well with children or is it something else? Sometimes simply being curious is a great way to glean more information from a non-defensive stance.
Let us know your thoughts below in the comment section.
Hallie Crawford
Career Transition Coach
P.S. Don’t forget to check out February’s contest – Win our Video Program for free! Click Here for more details.
Does your internal compass point to fulfillment?
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How do you find a job that fits you? Start with fulfillment. All of us want to feel fulfilled in some way shape or form by the work we do, whether it’s in our careers or outside work in volunteering etc. I spoke about this at GA Tech recently, here’s some of the information I shared.
“There’s good news and bad news…Bad news is recent studies show that 87% of Americans don’t like their jobs and 80% aren’t passionate about what they do. The good news is it doesn’t have to be that way. We all have an internal compass that tells us when we are on or off track. And we have to learn to listen to it. Often we get so busy we ignore this internal voice, and end up years later with a life or job that isn’t quite a fit. So tune in to your internal compass, your passion or sense of purpose, in order to get back on track with creating the life you want.”
If you find this helpful to you, please check out our FREE REPORT: “Take Control of Your Career Transition: Uncover Hidden Opportunities“.
Can you find your dream job on your own?
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A lot of potential career coaching clients will ask me, “Why do I need a career coach, can’t I figure this out on my own?” The truth is, usually they haven’t figured it out on their own, which is why they’re talking to me. What I tell them is this, “Yes many people can, and have figured out their career direction without the help of a career coach, which is great!” I’ll admit that I’m a little jealous of those people, because I wasn’t one of them.
Many people have trouble finding their dream job for various reasons. They’re confused with so many career ideas in their head. They have too many people giving them advice, and it’s steered them off track. Maybe they don’t know themselves well (that was me!) or maybe they’re simply too busy to really take the time to figure it out in the right way. Whatever the reason is, I tell my career coaching clients, “Yes you may be able to figure it out over time, and perhaps by a process of elimination. But eliminating ideas over time can take a while.”
When I was stuck I felt like it would take me 10 years to figure out my dream job through process of elimination – trying different jobs over time. I really didn’t want to wait that long though. It would’ve been too painful. If you’re having trouble with it, it’s more effective and efficient to get right to the heart of it, and figure it out as quickly as you can. Life’s too short. If you can figure it out on your own, that’s great! But don’t settle or waste time in a job you don’t enjoy.
If you are interested in learning more about our services and how a career coach can help you, please contact us today for a complimentary consultation.
Don’t listen to your friends…even though they mean well!
Posted by: | CommentsIn this video I expand on advice from an article about finding your dream job from Forbes.com. In order to find your dream job you have to know what you want first. Then listen to your friend’s advice and take what works for you, leave what doesn’t. You have to filter anyone’s advice by what works for you at all times so that you don’t get off track, and take a job just because someone else suggested you’d be good at it. Listen to yourself first, at the end of the day you know what’s best for you.
Read the article from Forbes.com here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeswomanfiles/2012/01/03/finding-your-dream-job-from-the-bathroom-floor/
