Archive for job coach
Six things you need to organize your job search
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You’ve heard it before – looking for a job is a job in itself! If you’re starting a job search, you must have tracking methods to keep tabs on your action steps and progress.
The following are some essentials you’ll need to know what you’ve done, who you’ve seen, and what you need to do next in your job search:
- Computer and a printer for emailing your resume and cover letter to prospective employers.
- Quality resume paper, matching blank resume paper, matching envelopes, and stamps for snail mailing your resume to prospective employers.
- Computerized or paper calendar to track the date you mailed a resume as well as the date you need to call to follow-up.
- Computerized calendar or paper appointment book with times for scheduling interviews.
- Professional message on your voicemail to take messages from prospective employers when you’re not available to answer the phone.
- An agreement with your family, roommates, and friends as to privacy and the times they can or cannot interrupt you during your job search.
With the essential tools, self-discipline, an optimistic outlook, patience, and persistence, you will be on your way to your ideal next job!
Terry Wynne
Certified 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!
Are resumes becoming obsolete?
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Career coaching clients often ask me, what do I think of resumes and cover letters, are they still necessary or are they becoming obsolete? And what about online resumes or webpages to showcase your skills?
Resumes and cover letters are still a must. I think over time they will be delivered or provided in a different format. (Think LinkedIn or online resumes). But they’re not going anywhere. They are still a must. If the company says do not provide one or the other, follow their instructions. Both are still very important though.
Including a cover letter is important because 1) it shows your writing skills and how well you communicate and 2) it demonstrates you care enough about the position to write one and you are able to speak about your skills related to the position confidently. So even if they don’t ask for a cover letter, provide one. As an attachment – not in the body of the email. Err on the side of more formal and professional unless your field calls for something else more creative or different (marketing or advertising for ex).
Online resumes are becoming more popular. I think it’s nice to have one. It’s not a must but it depends on your industry. If you’re in technology, go for it. If you’re in a more traditional field you can get away without one, but consider it as a way to stand out from the crowd. Here’s a website I like for online resume examples: http://www.opresume.com/examples
You’ve read about people who created YouTube videos for job applications as well. These days it can seem like anything goes but that is not entirely the case. Consider these two things when you are deciding what to create for yourself:
1) What’s appropriate for your industry but will still help you stand out.
2) Ensure whatever you do is professional, tasteful and well done.
Creating a video or online resume just for the heck of it, and only doing a halfway decent job, doesn’t cut it. It’s better to skip it altogether.
Hallie Crawford
Job Coach
P.S. Are you in the ideal career for you? Find out if you’re in the right career with our Ideal Career Quiz.
When to say “No” at work
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Here is a helpful career article that I highly recommend reading, The #1 Career Mistake Capable People Make. I loved this quote from the article, “If you don’t design your career someone else will”.
You need to run ship and steer your career in a direction that you want to go in. Part of the process requires balancing when you say yes and when you say no. The most important thing is that you stay in control of your career path.
For example, it’s good to be the go-to-person at work and be enthusiastic about projects that are handed to you, but you also need to know when to say no. If you don’t say no when you should, you’ll get overextended, which can result in you not doing what you should be doing. You need to know when you’re part of a project that isn’t utilizing your skill set. If it’s not best for you, then it might be a good time to say no.
If you’d like more help with your career path, contact us today for a complimentary consultation
P.S. Need to discover your interests, preferences, and personal style to choose a career you can be passionate about? Get on the path to your ideal career here!
3 Tips to help you decide about graduate school
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I recently had the opportunity to be a panelist for a recent ‘Grad School vs Life’ Twitter chat with Black Enterprise magazine. We discussed the recent article I was featured in, Misguided: 4 Worst Excuses for Pursuing an Advanced Degree.
I wanted to share some tips from the Twitter Chat with you that are based on this article:
- Instead of going to graduate school, or in addition to going to graduate school, you should gain additional experience and education. Find ways to learn within your current job and work experiences. Some options are to volunteer or suggest new projects to your employers. The key is to look for opportunities that will allow you learn and expand outside of your job description.
- If you choose to go to graduate school, you need to have a plan, and understand what having your degree will do to advance your career, and make sure that it will. Review people’s LinkedIn profiles who are in the job or industry you are interested in, to find out if earning an advanced degree is a must-do.
- Even if you don’t know if your employer offers education reimbursement or you think they won’t, it doesn’t hurt to ask. You may be pleasantly surprised to find out that they might pay for part of it. Start with your human resources department to find out the policy, and then speak with your boss if necessary. Don’t be afraid to ask! You never know what will happen.
If you’re a college graduate and you want help taking the next step on your career journey, contact us today for a complimentary consultation.
P.S. Need to discover your interests, preferences, and personal style to choose a career you can be passionate about? Get on the path to your ideal career here!
How to get down to business in your job search
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s my latest YouTube video where I discuss how job seekers should get down to business in their job search. When should you ask for help or ask to be considered for a job? And when should you wait? In this video I explain why it’s important to balance your questions, and know when to start talking shop.
The twelve days of job search
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Happy Holidays! Here are 12 tips from our team of career coaches, designed to help you get ready for your job search this holiday season. Focus on one tip a day, and your job search preparation will be a breeze!
- On the first day of job search my career coach says to me…
Make a Career Transition Timeline – How long will you give yourself for your career change?
- On the second day of job search my career coach says to me…
Review Your Resume – Make sure it is logical and easy to read (for more help contact us for a resume review session.)
- On the third day of job search my career coach says to me…
Carry a Business Card – Have a snazzy card printed up that highlights who you are up front and center.
- On the fourth day of job search my career coach says to me…
Practice Your Elevator Speech – It should help you be able to make a great 1st impression and position you.
- On the fifth day of job search my career coach says to me…
Update Your LinkedIn Profile – LinkedIn is a vital part of your portfolio that should be reviewed and updated just like your resume.
- On the sixth day of job search my career coach says to me…
Get Organized – Sit down and get organized if you haven’t already, and then be sure to stay organized!
- On the seventh day of job search my career coach says to me…
Create Your Brand – In your job search, you have to know your brand – your brand is your identity.
- On the eighth day of job search my career coach says to me…
Conduct Informational Interviews – Informational interviews should be conducted with people in the industries you are exploring.
- On the ninth day of job search my career coach says to me…
Network – Make the most of holiday festivities and network with your friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances, etc.
- On the tenth day of job search my career coach says to me…
Be Persistent – Stay persistent throughout the application process, so that you will stand out in the crowd.
- On the eleventh day of job search my career coach says to me…
Be Yourself - This will help you find a job that suits your style, personality, and unique skill set.
- On the twelfth day of job search my career coach says to me…
Start Sooner Rather Than Later – We encourage you to start now, because this is a process that usually takes time.
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!
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.
Being sharp in your informational interview
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Informational interviews are a very important part of the career transition process. This is your chance to make a good first impression in your job search. One of the ways to do that when you’re conducting an informational interview is to prepare your questions in advance. Send them to the interviewee in advance as well.
I love it when people do this with me because it shows me:
1) This person is serious about learning about career coaching
2) They are on the ball and sharp
3) How I can help them so I feel better about spending my time with them!
So don’t just walk into your informational interview unprepared. Take the time to write out between 5-7 questions you want to ask the potential employer. Send it to them ahead of time, and don’t be shy when you talk to them!
P.S. Are you frustrated with your job search? Check out our FREE REPORT: ”Take Control of Your Career Transition: Uncover Hidden Opportunities”.
