Archive for dream job
When choosing your dream job, don’t be like Pollyanna
Posted by: | CommentsCheck out my latest video where I talk about what is realistic to expect for from your dream job and what isn’t. When thinking about your dream job, don’t be like Pollyanna. It’s not going to be fabulous all the time. What is important is that the pros outweigh the cons in your chosen career path.
Identify your dream job BEFORE you graduate
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Here are 6 tools that can help you figure out what your dream job is, before you graduate:
1. Internships – Internships give you exposure to fields that you may be interested in, so that you can learn whether or not you like them. They also can help you develop networking connections in the real world, learn professionalism outside of school, and get work experience for your resume. You can learn something from any work situation that you are in. Even free internships give you these same benefits if you have to.
2. College career centers – College career centers provide free resources and advice. You should take advantage of as much as they have to offer including alumni networking and take their career assessment. This is a free resources so you should use it!
3. Career assessments – Career assessments can help point you in the right direction for you career. They help by giving you some ideas for careers while helping you understand your skill set at the same time. It’s not the end all be all,but a very useful tool.
4. Informational Interviews – Have informational interviews with people in fields that you think you may be interested in. Informational interviews is a good way to create networking connections and help you get your foot in the door. They’re also a great way to learn more about your industry, while practicing interview skills.
5. Classes – Take classes that interest you to expand your education for your career. You can audit some to see what if you like the experience. The only way you’ll figure it out is if you research different things that might be a fit.
6. Career coach – Career coaches can give you individualized attention for your career direction, in ways that a career center cannot. If you are really struggling with your career path, I highly recommend considering it. If you’d like to learn more about how a career coach can help you, contact us today for a complimentary consultation!
Hallie Crawford
Atlanta Career Coach
P.S. Get one of the most information-rich career newsletters on the web delivered straight to your email inbox! Check out our Free Newsletter to help you along your career journey today!
Three ways to prepare your letters of recommendation
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Letters of recommendation are still important steps to the job search process. There is nothing like a third party recommendation to provide support or evidence for your work performance.
Here are three ways to prepare your recommendations:
On Paper – Having a letter to hold in your hand can really make a great impression. Keep a hard copy to have on hand for during or after an interview. We get so comfortable with social media and email these days that we easily forget the value of pen and paper.
Online – You want to have a copy that you can access and email quickly. Don’t just depend on your hard copy. Keep your recommendations on your computer just in case a digital copy is needed as well.
LinkedIn – Incorporate your recommendations onto your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn makes it very easy for your connections to recommend you directly on your profile. Make sure your connections are aware of this feature. This is critical as employers and recruiters are using LinkedIn more and more these days to find employees.
Try having as many options to provide recommendations as possible. This could be a crucial step to landing your dream job. Make sure that your recommendations are appropriate and relevant to the job you are applying for. Also remember that having recommendations does not guarantee you will land the job. You can use them as a tool through the interview process but you, as an individual, are still in charge of making an impression that counts.
Hallie Crawford
Ideal Career Coach
P.S. How do you know if your resume is good? Take this Resume Quiz to find out how to keep your resume out of the trash can.
4 ways to determine the right work environment
Posted by: | CommentsCheck out my latest video as I give you 4 things you need to consider to know the best work environment for you. Your work environment is a make or break in the search for your dream job! So don’t overlook this crucial step in your job search.
LinkedIn links your childhood to your dream job
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Want help finding your dream job? This new LinkedIn tool and study is very cool, and I wanted to share it with you. I liked this quote from the LinkedIn press release:
“The dream jobs we aspire to as children are a window into our passions and talents,” said Nicole Williams, LinkedIn’s career expert. “Identifying and understanding those passions are key to improving our performance and enjoyment of the jobs we currently do, even if they aren’t specific to the careers we dreamed of as kids.”
I wanted to be a mermaid when I was a kid. I grew up in Florida and watched the mermaids at Weekie Watchie with jealousy. They got to wear cool costumes and swim around in the water all day. I just thought I wanted to be as beautiful as they were. How does that relate to my being a career coach? It doesn’t…necessarily. But some of the things I enjoyed as a child do relate to being a career coach. I was on TV a couple of times and loved it. I enjoy the speaking and marketing element of what I do as a business owner a lot. Also as a child I was always the one people would come to talk to or share their secrets with when they were having a hard time. I enjoyed being someone they could lean on.
There are possible clues to your dream job in childhood aspirations. Look at them and keep these two things in mind:
- First, look at and consider your childhood aspirations for ideas for your career path, but don’t just look at them at face value. Look underneath, what were those aspirations about and what was beneath them? Helping people, entertaining them, or inspiring them? Just because you wanted to be a fire fighter doesn’t mean that’s your dream job. Some of the reasons you wanted to be a fire fighter might give you some themes to pursue as a start. Or it could be exactly what you want to do. Either way is ok; just don’t be too rigid or literal about it.
- Second, don’t get trapped in thinking “I’ve always wanted to do this” or “I’m so good at it I HAVE to do it mentality.” I worked with a career coaching client, Zach, recently and he was continuing to pursue a career path just because he felt he should since he was good at it – even though he didn’t truly enjoy it. When finding your dream job you have to try to not get caught up with what you “should” do.
If you’d like more help with identifying your dream job, career coaching could be exactly what you need. Please contact us today for a complimentary consultation.
Hallie Crawford
Career Path Coach
P.S. Are you frustrated with your job search? Check out our FREE REPORT: ”Take Control of Your Career Transition: Uncover Hidden Opportunities”.
You have to pay your dues to find your dream job!
Posted by: | CommentsCheck out my latest video as I share how my group coaching clients recently asked, if they aren’t able to jump into their dream job right away, does that mean it’s the wrong career path to take. You’re going to have to pay your dues to get your dream job. Just because you’re not landing into your dream job right away, does not mean it’s the wrong career path for you. That’s part of the process, and it’ll be well worth the wait.
Are you prepared to make adjustments to your career path?
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I wanted to share this Pew report with you, Young, Underemployed and Optimistic. It has some great job stats for people of all ages. Here are a couple of points that I wanted to pull out and highlight…
Most of us believe that “young adults are having the toughest time of any age group in today’s economy—and a lopsided majority says it’s more difficult for today’s young adults than it was for their parents’ generation to pay for college, find a job, buy a home or save for the future.” I do believe this is accurate, and it doesn’t mean they have to give up on their dream job. It just means the plan may need to be adjusted. Or the path to get there looks different than it used to. More people are probably taking jobs they don’t really enjoy just because they need to be financially stable.
I honestly don’t think this is any different from the past. College grads in years past have done the same thing. They need to take care of themselves, so they take what they can get. The key is to realize that this job is a stepping stone towards something better long-term. You have to have a plan for transitioning out of it when it’s time to make the leap. It’s about making a plan in the first place, and then adjusting it as needed to the times and what’s required based on that, whether it’s your living situation or the economy.
There’s no point in living in the past and being frustrated that today can’t be different. Look at how things are now and how you can tackle those challenges. If you need to wait an extra year to get married to save money, or stay in that job you don’t like an extra 6 months, then that may be what you need to do. I stayed in my bridge job an extra 8 months beyond what I felt I could handle because I would be vested in my retirement if I did so.
Although it can be seen as disappointing that young adults have to adjust, we all have had to do this to a certain extent at one time or another in our lives. Just be smart about it and don’t give up on the ideal career for the long run.
P.S. Are you in the ideal career for you? Find out if you’re in the right career with our Ideal Career Quiz.
Find a bridge job to get you to your dream job!
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I was talking with my career coaching client Scott in New York when I was reminded of the concept of finding a bridge job. A job that will get you the experience or skills you need to land your dream job long term. Not many people can just walk right into their dream job. Most of us have to have something in between to get our foot in the odor, and that’s okay. It’s part of the process and something you need to consider in order to keep you moving forward.
When you’re looking at your long-term, career path goals, remember that 9 times out of 10 people need to have 1-2 jobs to help them get that long term position. The key is to plan, set goals and stay focused on the long term vision. Set a time frame for how long that bridge job will be so that you’re clear about how long it should take you, and when it’s time to move on. This will make you feel like you’re in control and will move you forward when it’s time to leave.
I needed a bridge job when I was starting my coaching practice. It took me 2 years in a part time position to help me pay my bills while I coached on the side. After that time, when my income from career coaching matched my income from the part time job, I was ready to fly the coop! You can too, just plan for it and stay focused.
If you’d like more help with your career path, please contact us today.
Hallie Crawford
Atlanta Career 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!
