Archive for Identify Your Ideal Career
The key to successful career change
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As a certified career coach, I have worked with hundreds of clients on identifying and realizing their dream jobs. Throughout this work, I have noticed that one consistent theme separates clients who are successful in their goals, versus those that continuously struggle.
The defining factor is commitment.
I have seen this play out time and time again. A client who comes to career coaching completely confused and miserable in their current job, but makes a commitment to finding their dream career, will succeed.
So, in contemplating your own career change, consider how you can make and keep your commitment to success. Below are 3 great ways to get started:
Time Commitment
How much time are you devoting to finding your ideal career? If you don’t have a set time set aside for it, make that a priority. I suggest committing at least 30 minutes a day to your ideal career search.
Staying Open Commitment
Are you open to new possibilities or do you throw away ideas before they can be fully explored? This is a common problem for career seekers. Make a commitment to be open to new ideas and to fully explore what inspires and excites you.
Taking Risks Commitment
Let’s face it: if you do everything the same way that you’re comfortable with, you’ll stay in the same place. If you want change, you have to be willing to try new things and take risks. Exercising your risk-taking muscle in small ways will help you with the big career change you’re trying to make. Go to a new restaurant, take a new route to work, ride your bike instead of driving somewhere. Taking small risks will give you practice for making larger changes in your life.
If you’re ready to make a commitment to your career search, there’s no better way to stay on task than hiring a career coach. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation.
Improve your job search with a part-time job
Posted by: | CommentsI really want to highlight this article written by Sabine Francois because it has positive points for recent college graduates and other job seekers: http://blogs.wsj.com/hire-education/2010/08/19/whew-a-part-time-job/
Sabine shares that although she has not found her dream job, she was able to get a part-time job. She now is able to relax a little because of having some money coming in and is hoping to be able to do an internship in a field she is interested in part-time.
Like Sabine, you may not have landed your dream job yet. But, her story is very encouraging as she points out the positives of even getting a part-time job in your local area while you search.
Having a part time job allows you to gain work experience and building your resume. Even if this part-time position has nothing to do with your chosen field; you have the opportunity to be interacting and networking with clients, co-workers and supervisors. You also do not have a huge gap of no work experience in your resume.
A part-time position can also give you a confidence boost (like it has with Sabine), especially if your job search has been going on for awhile and you’re feeling frustrated. Most certainly, even a part-time job brings financial help and support.
With a part-time job, you have many options. You will still have some free time and a schedule that allows you to continue the search for your ideal career. In Sabine’s case, her part-time job will enable her to take on an unpaid internship in her chosen field when she’s not working.
And last but, not least: When you do find that perfect position, you will be accustomed to being on a schedule, as opposed to having to go from full-on vacation mode to full-time work mode.
So even if you can’t find your dream job right now, look into some part-time jobs, while continuing your job search strategy.
Hallie Crawford
Certified Career Coach Atlanta
If you need help with you job search strategy check out our Job Search Program for Professionals: Networking and Online Strategies for the 21st Century.
Exercise to identify your ideal career
Posted by: | CommentsAre you on the right track? How do you know if you are headed in the right direction in your career? Here’s a simple exercise to help you figure it out. Take a few minutes to analyze and really think about your answers here; don’t rush through this! This is a very powerful exercise when you give it the time it requires.
What would an ideal day at work look like for me? Sit with this question and for 5 minutes envision what your ideal day at work would be like and how it would feel. Close your eyes if you need to.
Then write about what you saw for at least 10 minutes. Write down everything that comes to mind (tips: location, people you work with, tasks your working on…). Next, notice what themes emerge in your writing and circle those.
These are clues to things you want to have in your dream job. Now—are those things present in your current career? If not, that’s a red flag. It may be time to re-evaluate whether you’re on the right track and even more so; what you’re going to do about it.
Here’s to finding a career you love!
Visualizing Your Goals to Identify Your Ideal Career
Posted by: | CommentsOne way I set and achieve my career goals is by visualizing exactly what I want and then creating a Vision Board. It helps me stay focused and thinking positively about each goal. You can do the same thing.
Here’s a quick overview of how to create your own Vision Board:
1. Make a list of the top 10 things you want to have or create in your life. They can be anything – tangible or intangible – like a trip to Macchu Pichu, someone to help you market your business, or a certain amount of money you want to have to give away to charity.
2. Get a posterboard or a large sheet of paper.
3. Cut out or draw pictures of the top 10 things that you want and place them on your vision board. The order or placement is completely up to you.
4. Place your Vision Board somewhere you will see it every day. Your end result should be something that when you look at it, you know clearly what you’re going for and you get excited about the possibility of having it.
My Vision Board is hanging up in my office where I can see it every day. Having my Vision Board front and center keeps me focused on my career goals and priorities.
Do you feel like you need more direction in identifying your ideal career? Download our complimentary report, Top Three Tools to Identify Your Ideal Career today!
If you want more help in your career transition contact us!
FREE Teleclass This Week!
Posted by: | CommentsJoin me this week for a free teleclass on Wednesday March 17th at 12noon ET. I will discuss the 3 things you need to know in order to make a transition to a career you LOVE.
In this FREE teleclass, I will:
- Give you the 3 keys for career transition
- Show you how to prepare for your transition
- Explain why goal setting is not enough to move you forward in your transition
Listen to an audio intro for this class or Sign up for this class
Hope to see you there!
FREE Teleclass in 1 Week!
Posted by: | CommentsJoin me for a free teleclass on Wednesday February 17th at noon ET as I discusses the top 10 things you need to consider in order to identify your ideal career.
In this FREE teleclass, you will:
- Learn the top 10 things you need to know when searching for your ideal career
- Get advice on best practices in you career search
- Receive live feedback on your questions about finding your ideal career
Listen to an audio intro for this class or Sign up for this class
Hope to see you there!
FREE Teleclass – Top 10 Tips to Identify Your Ideal Career
Posted by: | CommentsAre you in a career transition? Are you unhappy in your current career but have no idea what you want to do "when you grow up"? Are you just out of college or recently graduating and looking at your degree thinking "now what?"
This free teleclass is for YOU.
Join me on this teleclass where we will discusses the top 10 things you need to consider in order to identify your ideal career.
Go here to listen to an audio intro for this teleclass: http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/WLq2ZVGx
When: May 19, 12:00 noon ET.
Register here: www.halliecrawford.com/toptentips.html
Here's to having a career you love!
Hallie Crawford
Career Seekers Career Coach
