Blog ~ Page 32 of 35 ~ Committed to Your Success Coaching & Consulting

May 24, 2010

Seven Sources of Career Indecision

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If you are unsure about your career path, regardless if you are a recent entry to the job market, are returning to work, or have questions about career decisions, there may be reasons why. According to Callanan & Greenhaus (1990), there are seven sources that lead to career indecisions that result from either limited experience or knowledge and which they term “developmental indecision.” Here are the seven sources – see where you fall in:

Lack of Self-Information – not knowing your talents, skills, abilities, values, etc.
Lack of Internal Work Orgranization – not being aware of career opportunities that may be available in your current organization
Lack of External Work Information – not having enough knowledge about opportunities that exist for your occupation, such as companies, industries, locations, pay, status
Lack of Decision Making Self-Confidence – this involves an inability in your confidence or self-assuradness to make decisions
Decision-Making Fear and Anxiety – this can involve fears or worries of making the wrong decision that can stall or prevent you from making a decision
Nonwork Demands – you may feel conflicted to choose between your personal career desires and family needs or demands
Situational Constraints – these are personal constraints that may result due to financial considerations, your age, schooling or years invested in your current career

The key to overcoming career indecision is to do your homework – analyze, assesss, research, and uncover the information you need to help you make a good decision. If you find that you are having difficulty, it would be beneficial for you to seek support, whether that is a friend, family member, or a career coach. I’d love your feedback if you’ve faced career indecisiveness and what you’ve done about it.

May 21, 2010

Up Your Value: How to Be a Superstar Employee

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In the workforce, there are several levels of employees: (1) those who survive, (2) those who thrive, and (3) superstars. The key to effective career management is to be that “superstar”. According to Zig Ziegler, superstar employees are more productive as they not only know and love their jobs, but they are also constantly growing both personally and professionally. Other traits of superstar employees:

they are team players to the Nth degree, which increases productivity
they get along well with their fellow employees
they fully support the mission of the company
they are excited about the work they do
they make an effort to know and understand their roles and that of other workers and how they fit into the organizational structure
they take time to develop and maintain relationships with both management and coworkers
they are available to help fellow employees or to answer questions or to give assistance
they are truly interested in helping others succeed

The last attribute will help you move up in the company faster and become more valuable, which increases your longevity and helps you to master your career. “You truly can have everything you want if you will just help enough other people to get what they want.”

May 20, 2010

Should You Be Working with a Career Coach?

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If you have been umployed for longer than 3 months, you need to find a career coach – and fast! Here are some benefits:

1. they can help you to regain composure when you feel thrust into unemployment and help you to regain your equilibrium

2. they can help you become focused and to set new career goals with action steps

3. they can give you “the scoop” on the job market: who is hiring, where to leverage your skills and experience, using technology to market yourself

4. they can coach you on job search techniques, such as resumes, interviewing, business etiquette, and salary negotiations

5. they can help you to find your purpose and passion and take that into the workforce

6. they can help you to resolve workplace conflicts or stressors and help you learn more adaptive skills to cope with work life

7. they can help you to learn to manage your personal life and your work life

8. they can help you decide if you want to retire, and then help you exit the workforce on your terms

9. they can help you to leverage your skills and talents into a career path, possibly to get paid for what you know

10. they can help you to understand yourself better so you can manage your emotions and increase your attitude to be a highly engaged, highly motivated, and highly productive employee

A job search can become tedious and demoralizing, as job searches are done and resumes are sent but there may be no responses. It can become very depressing and frustrating. Hiring a coach and spending money may seem like an impossibility, but the money you invest in yourself, and in your job search, can pay off enormously. Having someone who knows the industry and who is focused on your success can help save you time that could be better spent on the right direction rather than the traditional way of job hunting. A career coach can help you gain more money and benefits through salary negotion; they can help you to see how valuable you are to an organization. A coach can help you to see your worth, to take more risks, and to grow your ego-strength, all of which will help you to believe and act on your behalf. The end result will be a successful job search that will help you effectively manage your career and give you the preparation for the future should you need it. Of course, these tips do not apply only to those who have lost a job as they serve well to all job seekers. Shouldn’t you make the investment in yourself?

May 19, 2010

Find Your Entrepreneurial Spirit

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In this age of layoffs and rampant unemployment, one option is to start your own venture. I believe that everyone has their own talents and skills that can be transferred into services that people want and need. I think there are people out there who have the creativity and adeptness at making new ideas into reality. With more people continuing to be unemployed, this is the perfect time for people to leverage their all their skills, talents, creativity and know-how into their own business. There are plenty of job sites where people can freelance their services. There are programs out there to get training, some for cheap or free. There are plenty of teleseminars you can access on the net to learn and get ideas for what other people are doing that one can make their own. I question why would someone want to remain out of work when you have skills and experiences that could turn into a service or product that people want and need. I read a story today that referenced a woman in Florida who was an administrative assistant in a past life before she was laid off; she has sent hundreds of resumes with no luck. I don’t know why she has not looked at becoming a Virtual Assistant and using all her administrative talents to help small business owners – I could use one!

As a career coach, I see the pain that some people are going through – the blockages created in their own mind. I enjoy helping people to uncover their strengths and see the potentials that await them. Of course, there are some people who do “better” in an office environment; out economy wouldn’t survive without them. And then there are people who can’t handle being their own boss. I don’t think they’re “lost”. They just need the right tools – opening up their mind to the potentials, banishing the negative thoughts and self-talk, and having the right resources – to bring services to people who need them and increase our financial economy. I believe that should be a message given to people. Organizations would help themselves, as well as those employees that are being laid off, by providing, or encouraging them, the services of a career coach who could help them prevent the discouraging feelings, help them uncover skills and how to leverage them, tap into effective coping skills, and help them navigate their job search. If anything, we would have emotionally stronger individuals who will come out on the positive side of this downturn.

May 17, 2010

Making the Most of a Career/Job Fair

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Career fairs are a great way to find a job; however, it takes knowledge, preparation and saavy to navigate one successfully. How do you stand out in a crowd of 2,000 or more and get the attention of a handful of employers?

Here are some tips to help you from preparation through the job fair and after:

Preparing for the Career/Job Fair:

1. Make sure you have an updated resume that highlights your skills and experience and that quantifies your benefits

2. Research companies attending the fair to see which ones you want to target and then learn more about those companies

3. Pull together a professional outfit; also, make sure your hair and nails are clean and styled

4. Get a babysitter for your children – do NOT bring them

5. Prepare a short, 30- or 60-second commercial of how you will introduce yourself and what benefits you offer. Tie this in with your brand – what are you known for?

Things to Bring to the Career/Job Fair:

Copies of your resume (25-50), depending on the size of the even and number of employers you want to see
A briefcase or professional-looking notepad or binder
A networking card that lists your contact info and your 60-second commercial
Your 60-second commercial
Information about the companies you are interested in speaking with
A list of questions you may want to ask employers
Energy – show your excitement

At the Fair:

Have a plan or strategy on how you get in front of employers
Arrive early to secure a good spot and ensure you will get representatives while they are fresh
Once inside, locate where your targeted companies are
Make sure you extend you hand for a professional handshake – firm but not too strong or too wimpy
Ask your questions and how they relate to your career goal
Ask what are the next steps for after

After the Fair:

Be sure to send a handwritten note or card to each employer you spoke with to thank them for their time, to reiterate your tag line or benefit to them
Express your interest in a meeting or to have further discussion
Follow-up on others you may have networked with – you never know who they know!

These are some tips to help you make the most out of a career/job fair and to be effective as a job search strategy. What other tips have you found that have led you to be successful at a job/career fair you’ve attended?