As we approach the end of 2010 some people will begin to think about resolutions they plan to make for the new year. If this is a new idea for you, this message should still be helpful. If you have frequently written out a set of resolutions that have seldom been kept or realized, then this entry is particularly for you.
I have been guilty of writing resolutions sometime between Christmas and New Years and not looking at or really thinking about them again until maybe Easter or Memorial Day. Well, by then, many months have gone by and that generally decreased the likelihood of my actually fulfilling my resolutions for the year. Certainly some people resolve to quit smoking or to lose weight or to start exercising and those are good ideas because they would represent improvement in your life style. Others plan for changes in their routine or life roles.
Whether you are considering relatively small or fairly large changes in your life for 2011, it helps to do more than just think about what you plan to do differently. You should certainly write down your ideas/plans and it is best to include specifics or steps you will need to complete to reach each goal. You should also include some time frames or dates by which you should complete each step or review your progress. Having some realistic plans are one way to increase the likelihood that this year's resolutions will not be on your list again next year.
Good luck and Happy New Year.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/ for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Keeping Active in Your Job Search During the Holidays
I have talked with several people recently who were considering putting their job search activities on hold during the holidays. Although it may be tempting to do, it is probably not the best move to make. Even though the economy is still sluggish and many employers have not actively begun to fill vacancies, there is every indication that at least some jobs will become available after the new year, if not sooner.
The best opportunities still will most likely come from someone you know who knows someone in an organization that has decided to fill some positions in the near future. Even that does not mean you should stop looking at the want ads or selected job sites. Although the majority of your job search time should still be spent networking, etc., you should still check the obvious places for notices of job vacancies. Think about organizations/companies you would be an asset to and see if anyone you know knows someone who knows someone who works there. Perhaps they can put you in contact with that person so you can network with them also.
Some employers have advertised temporary positions during the holidays. Although that may not be ideal, it may be worth considering. In some instances, some of those temporary jobs may develop into something more permanent. At least that would give you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and value to the organization. In that event, the organization may find a way to make you an offer for a more permanent position.
So enjoy the holidays and all they mean to you, but if you are looking for work, I encourage you to continue those activities as well.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
The best opportunities still will most likely come from someone you know who knows someone in an organization that has decided to fill some positions in the near future. Even that does not mean you should stop looking at the want ads or selected job sites. Although the majority of your job search time should still be spent networking, etc., you should still check the obvious places for notices of job vacancies. Think about organizations/companies you would be an asset to and see if anyone you know knows someone who knows someone who works there. Perhaps they can put you in contact with that person so you can network with them also.
Some employers have advertised temporary positions during the holidays. Although that may not be ideal, it may be worth considering. In some instances, some of those temporary jobs may develop into something more permanent. At least that would give you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and value to the organization. In that event, the organization may find a way to make you an offer for a more permanent position.
So enjoy the holidays and all they mean to you, but if you are looking for work, I encourage you to continue those activities as well.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Monday, November 15, 2010
November is National Career Development Month
The week of November 15 - 19, 2010 has been designated as National Career Development Week, during this special month. This is an opportunity to celebrate you as you celebrate with us. I have been a member of the National Career Development Association for about 20 years and during that time I have met many people who say they could use some help developing their career. Many of those people have successful careers but feel they could be doing something more enjoyable or more fulfilling with their lives.
Sometimes those needs can be addressed by activities in which they are involved outside of work. Other times, those needs go unmet until/unless the individual consciously decides to make some changes. It is very easy to get 'caught up' in a title or position and be reluctant to let go of that in order to find more satisfying work. That is where you need to determine what is more important to you and decide what could serve as an appropriate direction for you to pursue.
If there is something missing from your life, I encourage you to figure out what could fill that void. It may mean finding some volunteer activity in which to become involved. It may mean making some changes in your work situation to add a bit more of what is missing. It may also mean making a change to a different employer or into a different line of work. If you could benefit from some guidance through that process, remember, it is National Career Development Month and there are career counselors who could provide assistance in your search.
Mary Ann Davis, M.A., is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She meets with individuals in person and on-line. Mary Ann is recognized as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Please visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/.
To contact Mary Ann, please call and leave a personal and confidential voice message at (513) 665-4444 x3 or send an email to YourCcareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Sometimes those needs can be addressed by activities in which they are involved outside of work. Other times, those needs go unmet until/unless the individual consciously decides to make some changes. It is very easy to get 'caught up' in a title or position and be reluctant to let go of that in order to find more satisfying work. That is where you need to determine what is more important to you and decide what could serve as an appropriate direction for you to pursue.
If there is something missing from your life, I encourage you to figure out what could fill that void. It may mean finding some volunteer activity in which to become involved. It may mean making some changes in your work situation to add a bit more of what is missing. It may also mean making a change to a different employer or into a different line of work. If you could benefit from some guidance through that process, remember, it is National Career Development Month and there are career counselors who could provide assistance in your search.
Mary Ann Davis, M.A., is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She meets with individuals in person and on-line. Mary Ann is recognized as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Please visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/.
To contact Mary Ann, please call and leave a personal and confidential voice message at (513) 665-4444 x3 or send an email to YourCcareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Interviewing for Information (part 3)
My last entry provided some potential questions to ask as you conduct your interviews for information. There are just a few additional tips I would like to share with you. Not only should your interviews be scheduled in advance, but it is also a good idea to send a confirmation/reminder message to your interviewee. If you don't have their email address, it is OK to leave a voice message. Either way, that message should be sent at least 24 hours before your schedule meeting time, although a little more notice would be good.
In keeping with your professional approach to this process, you should also prepare your questions in advance of the meeting. Many people think about what kinds of questions they are seeking answers to as they are considering who they can or should ask. Depending on the individual's current position and background, there may be some questions they can't answer or at least not with the foundation of information that would be most helpful to you. So consider what you want to find out as you think about who you can ask to interview with you.
Also, as you are considering your questions, it is very important that you not ask things that could easily be answered by reviewing their organization's web site. (This point also applies to the questions you ask in employment interviews.) These days, almost every organization has a web site, some more sophisticated and detailed than others. You may be able to access it just by entering the company's name and adding ".com". Generally, if that doesn't work or if you aren't sure what that address is, you should be able to find it by doing a title search on line. It will also be more helpful if you write your questions so they don't have a straight "Yes" or "No" answer, but would indicate you would like the interviewee to share some of their insight.
Naturally, you would send a thank you note to your interviewee as soon after the interview as possible. It can be an email message, but a neatly handwritten note and sent via post mail is a very nice touch. It is good to include some comment about your discussion, perhaps a point you had not considered or some advice specific for you/your situation. If you have already been able to contact a person they referred you to, you may want to indicate that in your note as well.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, grief work, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She meets with individuals in person and on-line. Mary Ann is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
In keeping with your professional approach to this process, you should also prepare your questions in advance of the meeting. Many people think about what kinds of questions they are seeking answers to as they are considering who they can or should ask. Depending on the individual's current position and background, there may be some questions they can't answer or at least not with the foundation of information that would be most helpful to you. So consider what you want to find out as you think about who you can ask to interview with you.
Also, as you are considering your questions, it is very important that you not ask things that could easily be answered by reviewing their organization's web site. (This point also applies to the questions you ask in employment interviews.) These days, almost every organization has a web site, some more sophisticated and detailed than others. You may be able to access it just by entering the company's name and adding ".com". Generally, if that doesn't work or if you aren't sure what that address is, you should be able to find it by doing a title search on line. It will also be more helpful if you write your questions so they don't have a straight "Yes" or "No" answer, but would indicate you would like the interviewee to share some of their insight.
Naturally, you would send a thank you note to your interviewee as soon after the interview as possible. It can be an email message, but a neatly handwritten note and sent via post mail is a very nice touch. It is good to include some comment about your discussion, perhaps a point you had not considered or some advice specific for you/your situation. If you have already been able to contact a person they referred you to, you may want to indicate that in your note as well.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, grief work, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She meets with individuals in person and on-line. Mary Ann is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Interviewing for Information (part 2)
Last time I wrote about Interviewing for Information as a resource in your career decision-making. It is important that you approach those meetings, whether in person or by phone, in the same professional manner as you would an employment interview. You should, of course, prepare your questions in advance and have them written down (or typed and printed). One reason to consider typing them is because, depending on your handwriting, it will probably leave a better impression. Long ago, I was meeting with a young man who was interviewing me and he had written his questions out - only he had a hard time reading what he had written. I guess he had written them rather hurriedly and used some abbreviations that he couldn't quite remember, which of course, did not impress me.
So, some questions to consider for your informational interviews:
1. How would you describe your "typical" day?
2. What are the biggest obstacles you face in trying to do your job?
3. Which skills do you use most often in your work?
4. What personal traits are most helpful to you in doing your work?
5. How did you begin your career in ________?
6. Are there particular suggestions you have for an aspiring _______?
7. How extensive is your interaction with ___________?
8. If you had it to do over, would you pursue this same field, or go a different direction? Or prepare for it differently?
9. Do you see opportunities in this field increasing - or is this field limited in terms of the kinds of organizations where one could work?
10. What is the typical educational background of people in this field? Are there specific experiences that would make me most qualified to work as a _________?
Other good questions can be worded to indicate you have done some homework - for example, I read where the National Association for __________ is involved in ____. Is there ___(local activity...)____? OR, I saw where the __________ meets on the second Tuesday of the month. Are those meetings open and do you think it might be beneficial for me to attend one?
Generally, you would also want to ask if they can recommend one or two other people you could talk to regarding your interest in that field. It is also a good idea to ask if you can use their name when you contact anyone they suggest.
Depending on the amount of time you have been given, you may only have the opportunity to ask a three or four questions, but it is better to have more questions than you will need. That also gives you the flexibility to ask some different questions depending on the direction the interview takes.
In my next blog entry, I will add some additional comments about interviewing for information.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, grief work, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She meets with individuals in person and on-line. Mary Ann is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
So, some questions to consider for your informational interviews:
1. How would you describe your "typical" day?
2. What are the biggest obstacles you face in trying to do your job?
3. Which skills do you use most often in your work?
4. What personal traits are most helpful to you in doing your work?
5. How did you begin your career in ________?
6. Are there particular suggestions you have for an aspiring _______?
7. How extensive is your interaction with ___________?
8. If you had it to do over, would you pursue this same field, or go a different direction? Or prepare for it differently?
9. Do you see opportunities in this field increasing - or is this field limited in terms of the kinds of organizations where one could work?
10. What is the typical educational background of people in this field? Are there specific experiences that would make me most qualified to work as a _________?
Other good questions can be worded to indicate you have done some homework - for example, I read where the National Association for __________ is involved in ____. Is there ___(local activity...)____? OR, I saw where the __________ meets on the second Tuesday of the month. Are those meetings open and do you think it might be beneficial for me to attend one?
Generally, you would also want to ask if they can recommend one or two other people you could talk to regarding your interest in that field. It is also a good idea to ask if you can use their name when you contact anyone they suggest.
Depending on the amount of time you have been given, you may only have the opportunity to ask a three or four questions, but it is better to have more questions than you will need. That also gives you the flexibility to ask some different questions depending on the direction the interview takes.
In my next blog entry, I will add some additional comments about interviewing for information.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, grief work, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She meets with individuals in person and on-line. Mary Ann is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Interviewing For Information
Interviewing for information is a wonderful way to learn more about an occupation that you are considering. Whether you are deciding on a major in college, planning to make a career change, or looking for volunteer ideas, I encourage you to do some research, including informational interviews. As I mentioned in last week's blog, I do encourage you to do some reading first so you have at least some basic information about the occupation(s) in which you have interest, but reading alone will not usually provide the same sense about the work that you could get in informational interviews.
When you interview for information, your goal should not be to get a job offer, but to learn more about a particular occupation. In an ideal situation, though, it may allow you to make a connection with a person who might work for a prospective employer or someone you would otherwise like to add to your network of contacts. The purpose of interviewing for information is to do just that, talk to someone who has information that could be useful to you - information about a particular career/occupation, a particular industry, or a particular organization. You may have an opportunity to discuss your transferable skills with someone who is doing the kind of work you would like to do. It can also serve as a test of your interviewing skills, in preparation for a job search.
Of course, you will need to identify people in the line of work in which you are interested. It may help to ask people you know if they know anyone you might wish to interview. Generally, your initial contact is through a letter introducing yourself, explaining what you would like, and indicating when you will follow-up. Some people prepare a script to help them through the follow-up and you want to be sure to prepare your questions before the interview. If at all possible, you would like to meet the person at their place of work and have at least 15 to 30 minutes to talk.
Following the interview, you should send a thank-you note to the individual. If the two of you made a real connection, you may offer to keep in touch and let them know how you are progressing. It is also a good idea to review your performance to determine if there is anything you need to do differently next time.
Look for my next blog entry for some potential questions you may want to ask when you are conducting your interviews for information.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She meets with individuals in person in Cincinnati and on-line. Mary Ann is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
When you interview for information, your goal should not be to get a job offer, but to learn more about a particular occupation. In an ideal situation, though, it may allow you to make a connection with a person who might work for a prospective employer or someone you would otherwise like to add to your network of contacts. The purpose of interviewing for information is to do just that, talk to someone who has information that could be useful to you - information about a particular career/occupation, a particular industry, or a particular organization. You may have an opportunity to discuss your transferable skills with someone who is doing the kind of work you would like to do. It can also serve as a test of your interviewing skills, in preparation for a job search.
Of course, you will need to identify people in the line of work in which you are interested. It may help to ask people you know if they know anyone you might wish to interview. Generally, your initial contact is through a letter introducing yourself, explaining what you would like, and indicating when you will follow-up. Some people prepare a script to help them through the follow-up and you want to be sure to prepare your questions before the interview. If at all possible, you would like to meet the person at their place of work and have at least 15 to 30 minutes to talk.
Following the interview, you should send a thank-you note to the individual. If the two of you made a real connection, you may offer to keep in touch and let them know how you are progressing. It is also a good idea to review your performance to determine if there is anything you need to do differently next time.
Look for my next blog entry for some potential questions you may want to ask when you are conducting your interviews for information.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She meets with individuals in person in Cincinnati and on-line. Mary Ann is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
What Do You Know About the World of Work?
I have done a fair amount of academic advising during my lifetime and yet I continue to be surprised when I ask a student about their major and why they chose it. More often than I would expect, students do not have a great deal of knowledge about what they could do in the world of work with their major or what the work they are preparing for is really like. Some of the clients I work with in my counseling practice have the same kind of response when I ask why they chose the major they selected.
So, when I am working with my clients who are looking at making a career change, in addition to doing a self-assessment, I encourage them to do some research on the work they plan to pursue or are considering. I believe it is vitally important if you are considering a job or career change, to consider how much you know about the kind of work you choose to pursue - preferably before you begin to prepare for it. There is a reference book published from the government called the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). The DOT contains brief descriptions on approximately 20,000 jobs. Obviously, that is more jobs than any one needs to know about, but it would probably be good to be pretty comfortable with the amount of information you have about the kind of work you are planning to pursue - especially if it requires continuing your education or obtaining other training. Another publication I refer clients to is the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). It has only a few hundred occupational clusters, but much more information than the DOT on each of those clusters. Since it comes from the Department of Labor, it does include some national salary figures, as well as brief descriptions of the work, companies who employee people to do that kind of work, and more.
Both of those books are generally available only in the Reference section of the library, but both are now also online. You can access the information from the DOT through O*NET at http://www.onetcenter.org/. The online version of the OOH is available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://www.bls.gov/. How much information you want to have depends on you, but it is good to have some sense of general requirements for the position and demands of the job, as well as availability, average salary, whether or not jobs are fairly available within your travel distance, and if the demand for that type of work is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable. Much of that information could be found by doing research - reading books or online at one of many sites with job information.
I also encourage my clients to do some informational interviews where they talk to people who are doing the kind of work they would like to do. If it is possible to visit a person's place of work, that is even better, but at least having an opportunity to get a sense of the job from someone else's standpoint could be helpful - and getting viewpoints from a few different people would be even better to have. You would tap some of your networking resources to set up interviews, but look for the next blog entry for more on informational interviews.
By comparing what you know about you with what you know about the world of work, you can look for areas of overlap and are more likely to be able to plan for a new career direction (or first career direction) that will be a good fit for you. With actual information related to your decision, you do not have to make so much of a guess, but would have some basis for making decisions about your career direction.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Please visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/ for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
So, when I am working with my clients who are looking at making a career change, in addition to doing a self-assessment, I encourage them to do some research on the work they plan to pursue or are considering. I believe it is vitally important if you are considering a job or career change, to consider how much you know about the kind of work you choose to pursue - preferably before you begin to prepare for it. There is a reference book published from the government called the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). The DOT contains brief descriptions on approximately 20,000 jobs. Obviously, that is more jobs than any one needs to know about, but it would probably be good to be pretty comfortable with the amount of information you have about the kind of work you are planning to pursue - especially if it requires continuing your education or obtaining other training. Another publication I refer clients to is the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). It has only a few hundred occupational clusters, but much more information than the DOT on each of those clusters. Since it comes from the Department of Labor, it does include some national salary figures, as well as brief descriptions of the work, companies who employee people to do that kind of work, and more.
Both of those books are generally available only in the Reference section of the library, but both are now also online. You can access the information from the DOT through O*NET at http://www.onetcenter.org/. The online version of the OOH is available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://www.bls.gov/. How much information you want to have depends on you, but it is good to have some sense of general requirements for the position and demands of the job, as well as availability, average salary, whether or not jobs are fairly available within your travel distance, and if the demand for that type of work is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable. Much of that information could be found by doing research - reading books or online at one of many sites with job information.
I also encourage my clients to do some informational interviews where they talk to people who are doing the kind of work they would like to do. If it is possible to visit a person's place of work, that is even better, but at least having an opportunity to get a sense of the job from someone else's standpoint could be helpful - and getting viewpoints from a few different people would be even better to have. You would tap some of your networking resources to set up interviews, but look for the next blog entry for more on informational interviews.
By comparing what you know about you with what you know about the world of work, you can look for areas of overlap and are more likely to be able to plan for a new career direction (or first career direction) that will be a good fit for you. With actual information related to your decision, you do not have to make so much of a guess, but would have some basis for making decisions about your career direction.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Please visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/ for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Could Career Coaching Benefit You? (part 5)
This entry is the final post in this series. In addition to the various ways that a career coach could benefit you that I already discussed, a coach is someone you can talk to about other issues that relate to your career decision, or inability to make a decision. They can discuss potential obstacles in your path and help you identify ways to overcome them.
Consider these questions:
1. Are you planning to or would consider relocating?
2. If you have a spouse/partner is he/she currently working and willing to relocate?
3. If you have already begun a job search, are you OK with the pace of your activities in your search? Or have previous job searches gone about as you had anticipated?
4. Do you have a disability that would not effect your work performance, are you confident about how disclosure of it might impact your search?
If you have read the entire series and answered the questions posed in each, you may see that there are many ways a career coach could benefit you. For almost all of the questions, if your answer was "YES", then you are pretty confident and should be able to manage your job search on your own. Although, you may still want to talk with a career coach or counselor about a specific aspect of your search.
If your answer was "NO" to many of the questions, it may be that you could benefit from the assistance of a career coach (or a career counselor). A professional can help you address issues or concerns you have about making a change and help you sort through fact from fiction abut today's world of work.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling or life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCarerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Consider these questions:
1. Are you planning to or would consider relocating?
2. If you have a spouse/partner is he/she currently working and willing to relocate?
3. If you have already begun a job search, are you OK with the pace of your activities in your search? Or have previous job searches gone about as you had anticipated?
4. Do you have a disability that would not effect your work performance, are you confident about how disclosure of it might impact your search?
If you have read the entire series and answered the questions posed in each, you may see that there are many ways a career coach could benefit you. For almost all of the questions, if your answer was "YES", then you are pretty confident and should be able to manage your job search on your own. Although, you may still want to talk with a career coach or counselor about a specific aspect of your search.
If your answer was "NO" to many of the questions, it may be that you could benefit from the assistance of a career coach (or a career counselor). A professional can help you address issues or concerns you have about making a change and help you sort through fact from fiction abut today's world of work.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling or life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCarerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Could Career Coaching Benefit You? (part 3)
In part 2 of this series, I talked about the basic written materials you will need for a job search. Obviously, those materials should be designed to attract the attention of a potential employer. Although it is a good idea to check your newspaper and identify an on-line site or two where you may want to post your resume, you will not want to depend on those advertisements for the majority of your job search efforts. In today's market, the large majority of jobs that are filled are not advertised, so you must supplement that search with your own marketing campaign.
You will want to identify organizations that have your target position(s) or may need someone with your qualifications and background. Much of that research is conducted by talking to people that you know and other people they know. Your career coach can help you prepare to conduct informational interviews and to prepare for an active marketing campaign.
Obviously, you must still be prepared to handle the job interview process as a professional. If it has been a while since you conducted a job search, you may be a little concerned about how you will perform in an interview. These days, many initial screenings are conducted via telephone and more in-person interviews are conducted in a small group, not just one-on-one interviews. So, although you will need to prepare your written documents, you should also be prepared for the interview process.
Consider these questions:
1. Are you able to speak clearly and present a professional appearance?
2. Are you able to talk about yourself and your accomplishments without
sounding as though you are being boastful?
3. Are you comfortable and able to maintain your "cool" during stressful
interviews and group interviews?
4. Are you comfortable with your negotiating skills?
Again, your career coach can provide assistance and guidance as you market your skills/background and prepare for interviews. S/he can also talk with you about what might be a reasonable request in negotiating.
Check back for continuing entries on this topic.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
You will want to identify organizations that have your target position(s) or may need someone with your qualifications and background. Much of that research is conducted by talking to people that you know and other people they know. Your career coach can help you prepare to conduct informational interviews and to prepare for an active marketing campaign.
Obviously, you must still be prepared to handle the job interview process as a professional. If it has been a while since you conducted a job search, you may be a little concerned about how you will perform in an interview. These days, many initial screenings are conducted via telephone and more in-person interviews are conducted in a small group, not just one-on-one interviews. So, although you will need to prepare your written documents, you should also be prepared for the interview process.
Consider these questions:
1. Are you able to speak clearly and present a professional appearance?
2. Are you able to talk about yourself and your accomplishments without
sounding as though you are being boastful?
3. Are you comfortable and able to maintain your "cool" during stressful
interviews and group interviews?
4. Are you comfortable with your negotiating skills?
Again, your career coach can provide assistance and guidance as you market your skills/background and prepare for interviews. S/he can also talk with you about what might be a reasonable request in negotiating.
Check back for continuing entries on this topic.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Could Career Coaching Benefit You? (part 4)
This is the fourth segment of a series, Could Career Coaching Benefit You? One area of a job search that many people don't think about is their references. Many employers still ask for references from job candidates and it is important that you have professional references to provide. A career coach can help you identify people to serve as your references, if needed, and help you communicate with them so they will be of most value in your search. They can also share suggestions for ways in which you should "take care of" your references.
In today's job search, your references could be a very significant part of your background. It goes beyond asking a co-worker or your former supervisor to serve as a reference. Ask yourself these questions:
1. Are your references the RIGHT professionals for you to use?
2. Do you and your references understand their role in your search?
3. Do you know how to improve the performance of your references when
they are talking about you to a potential employer?
4. Can you make the reference-checking process easier for your references?
A coach can also help you adjust to your pending (or current) transition and assist you through the decision-making process to select your next direction. S/he can also assist you to determine the feasibility of your new goal(s) and help you develop a plan to achieve them. Consider these questions:
1. Are you considering making a change in your profession, career path or industry?
2. Have you identified your transferable skills?
3. Are you concerned that you might be 'stuck' in your current industry or profession?
4. Do you know if you have the skills needed for your desired direction?
Having appropriate professional references will add to your overall marketability, but you must help prepare them to take on that task. Once you determine the direction in which you would like to take your career, then you can decide which individuals will be the best references to use for the search. Your career coach can help you with the preparations for your search and can provide support, encouragement, perhaps information as you work through your decisions.
Check back for the final segment in this series on career coaching.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
In today's job search, your references could be a very significant part of your background. It goes beyond asking a co-worker or your former supervisor to serve as a reference. Ask yourself these questions:
1. Are your references the RIGHT professionals for you to use?
2. Do you and your references understand their role in your search?
3. Do you know how to improve the performance of your references when
they are talking about you to a potential employer?
4. Can you make the reference-checking process easier for your references?
A coach can also help you adjust to your pending (or current) transition and assist you through the decision-making process to select your next direction. S/he can also assist you to determine the feasibility of your new goal(s) and help you develop a plan to achieve them. Consider these questions:
1. Are you considering making a change in your profession, career path or industry?
2. Have you identified your transferable skills?
3. Are you concerned that you might be 'stuck' in your current industry or profession?
4. Do you know if you have the skills needed for your desired direction?
Having appropriate professional references will add to your overall marketability, but you must help prepare them to take on that task. Once you determine the direction in which you would like to take your career, then you can decide which individuals will be the best references to use for the search. Your career coach can help you with the preparations for your search and can provide support, encouragement, perhaps information as you work through your decisions.
Check back for the final segment in this series on career coaching.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Could Career Coaching Benefit You? (part 2)
This post is the second in a short series of entries about career coaching. When many people think about what a career couch might do, they think about help with preparing for interviews. That is one area where you may or may not need a lot of assistance. Some people are just more comfortable with communication than others. If it has been years since you conducted a job search, you may find it very helpful o discuss today's interviewing processes and typical or frequently asked questions.
But before you get to the interviewing stage, you will need a basic resume, cover letter, and other letters. There are individuals who will create a resume for you, for a fee. A career coach generally will be able to review your written documents and may recommend changes to enhance your presentation. Also, having another person review your documents is always a good thing, as you may have missed a typo or other error.
Additionally, you may need to consider these questions:
1. Do you already have a current, up-to-date resume?
2. Do you know how to create a cover letter that generates interest in you?
3. Do you know how to revise your resume to fit different situations/positions?
4. Do you know how to market yourself to organizations that have not advertised a position?
If not, it may be that you could benefit from some of the services offered by a career coach. This topic will be continued in the next entry.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourcareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
But before you get to the interviewing stage, you will need a basic resume, cover letter, and other letters. There are individuals who will create a resume for you, for a fee. A career coach generally will be able to review your written documents and may recommend changes to enhance your presentation. Also, having another person review your documents is always a good thing, as you may have missed a typo or other error.
Additionally, you may need to consider these questions:
1. Do you already have a current, up-to-date resume?
2. Do you know how to create a cover letter that generates interest in you?
3. Do you know how to revise your resume to fit different situations/positions?
4. Do you know how to market yourself to organizations that have not advertised a position?
If not, it may be that you could benefit from some of the services offered by a career coach. This topic will be continued in the next entry.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourcareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Could Career Coaching Benefit You (part 1)
Career coaching is a relatively new field. There have been other types of coaches for years and you can probably think of some of the more famous ones, but in the last few years, there has been a niche created for career coaches. If you are considering conducting a job search or need some input regarding managing your career, you may benefit from the services provided by a career coach.
This is the first in a four-part series of entries regarding the benefits of career coaching. As with other kinds of services, the extent of assistance provided to you by a career coach may vary, but in general, they can assist you with identifying who you are, clarifying your goals, and determining the fit between them. Some of the activities a coach may assist you with include gaining a better understanding of your skills, values and interests; identifying and researching occupations and industries of interest to you; and helping you determine the kinds of work activities that do and do not appeal to you or fit with your qualifications.
Additionally, the following questions may help you decide if you could benefit from some help:
1. Do you know "who" you are - professionally?
2. Are you clear about your career objectives?
3. Do your skills and qualifications match your objectives?
4. Do you know the industries in which you are interested and will be focusing your search?
Your career coach can also help you to develop a job search plan and the tools you will need to carry it out. Marketing is a very large part of a successful job search today and a coach can help you select the best marketing strategies to use. A coach can also be very valuable in helping you prepare for networking; which is also vital in today's job search.
Additionally, the following questions may help you decide if you could benefit from some help:
1. Do you understand that the job search process is similar to the sales process?
2. Do yo understand that YOU are the product you are selling and that you must effectively merchandise and promote that product?
3. Do you know how best to optimize your networking contacts and results?
4. Do you know which job advertisements to respond to and which to ignore?
Your career coach can help you determine your best job search strategy and the possible benefits of the various marketing strategies.
Check back for the continuing entries on this topic.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
This is the first in a four-part series of entries regarding the benefits of career coaching. As with other kinds of services, the extent of assistance provided to you by a career coach may vary, but in general, they can assist you with identifying who you are, clarifying your goals, and determining the fit between them. Some of the activities a coach may assist you with include gaining a better understanding of your skills, values and interests; identifying and researching occupations and industries of interest to you; and helping you determine the kinds of work activities that do and do not appeal to you or fit with your qualifications.
Additionally, the following questions may help you decide if you could benefit from some help:
1. Do you know "who" you are - professionally?
2. Are you clear about your career objectives?
3. Do your skills and qualifications match your objectives?
4. Do you know the industries in which you are interested and will be focusing your search?
Your career coach can also help you to develop a job search plan and the tools you will need to carry it out. Marketing is a very large part of a successful job search today and a coach can help you select the best marketing strategies to use. A coach can also be very valuable in helping you prepare for networking; which is also vital in today's job search.
Additionally, the following questions may help you decide if you could benefit from some help:
1. Do you understand that the job search process is similar to the sales process?
2. Do yo understand that YOU are the product you are selling and that you must effectively merchandise and promote that product?
3. Do you know how best to optimize your networking contacts and results?
4. Do you know which job advertisements to respond to and which to ignore?
Your career coach can help you determine your best job search strategy and the possible benefits of the various marketing strategies.
Check back for the continuing entries on this topic.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Identifying Your Transferable Skills
In the last post I talked about writing stories that demonstrate your transferable skills. Those stories, or information within them, may help you in responding to questions from a potential employer during an employment interview. Several people have suggested that, although they have stories they have written, or could write, they are not sure about how to identify which of their skills would be considered transferable. In general, transferable skills are those that, although they were learned and/or developed in one particular setting/work situation, they are also applicable to other work situations or settings or for other purposes.
With the growth of the Internet, there is a great deal of information available fairly readily, that used to require more digging to uncover. One option is to do a search and just type in your computer application search box, "transferable skills'. It should return a list of sites that have information related to various skills. Some have lists of the "preferred" skills or the ones most frequently sought after by employers. A few sites that I believe are worthwhile to visit include Ohio Learns, the University of Southern California Office of Student Affairs, and the University of Toledo.
Ohio Learns includes a Self Assessment: Transferable Skills Survey in their Student Services tab. Although my guess is it is intended for people who are looking into educational opportunities, it likely could also be used in your employment assessment. You could go to their home page at www.Ohiolearns.org and find the assessment or you could enter through www.ohiolearns.org/get_a_plan. Scroll down the page to the list of "Tools" and select the 'Self-Assessment Surveys'. The skills survey allows you to determine your level of ability - none, enough to get by, some, or strong ability - in five broad skill areas. After you respond to the survey, your feedback includes the two or three top skill areas you identified. Their site also includes an Interest Survey and Values Survey.
The University of Southern California Career Planning & Placement Center has a page with brief descriptions of 9 broad transferable skill areas. It can be found at http://careers.usc.edu/docs/handouts/Transferable_Skills.pdf.
The University of Toledo Career Services office has a checklist of more specific transferable skills with brief descriptions of each. That can be found at www.utoledo.edu/utlc/career/pdfs/transferable_skills_checklist.pdf.
Whether you check out one of these pages, find another site, or use/create your own list, I believe it is important and helpful to identify your transferable skills. It does not matter so much where you learned or developed a particular skill. So your list may include some work-related skills and some skills used in volunteer activities, or skills you have developed in your home or community activities. The key here is to identify the skills you possess that could be used in other situations.
Knowing your transferable skills can be a clue to your next career if you are considering a change. And if you are in the midst of, or plan to make a career change, I believe it is vital to be able to identify and share those skills that would be needed in your next work situation. Not only should you be prepared to discuss some of your transferable skills in a job interview, it could also be a boost to your self-esteem to review your skills - especially during those times when you are not feeling particularly needed or valued.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
With the growth of the Internet, there is a great deal of information available fairly readily, that used to require more digging to uncover. One option is to do a search and just type in your computer application search box, "transferable skills'. It should return a list of sites that have information related to various skills. Some have lists of the "preferred" skills or the ones most frequently sought after by employers. A few sites that I believe are worthwhile to visit include Ohio Learns, the University of Southern California Office of Student Affairs, and the University of Toledo.
Ohio Learns includes a Self Assessment: Transferable Skills Survey in their Student Services tab. Although my guess is it is intended for people who are looking into educational opportunities, it likely could also be used in your employment assessment. You could go to their home page at www.Ohiolearns.org and find the assessment or you could enter through www.ohiolearns.org/get_a_plan. Scroll down the page to the list of "Tools" and select the 'Self-Assessment Surveys'. The skills survey allows you to determine your level of ability - none, enough to get by, some, or strong ability - in five broad skill areas. After you respond to the survey, your feedback includes the two or three top skill areas you identified. Their site also includes an Interest Survey and Values Survey.
The University of Southern California Career Planning & Placement Center has a page with brief descriptions of 9 broad transferable skill areas. It can be found at http://careers.usc.edu/docs/handouts/Transferable_Skills.pdf.
The University of Toledo Career Services office has a checklist of more specific transferable skills with brief descriptions of each. That can be found at www.utoledo.edu/utlc/career/pdfs/transferable_skills_checklist.pdf.
Whether you check out one of these pages, find another site, or use/create your own list, I believe it is important and helpful to identify your transferable skills. It does not matter so much where you learned or developed a particular skill. So your list may include some work-related skills and some skills used in volunteer activities, or skills you have developed in your home or community activities. The key here is to identify the skills you possess that could be used in other situations.
Knowing your transferable skills can be a clue to your next career if you are considering a change. And if you are in the midst of, or plan to make a career change, I believe it is vital to be able to identify and share those skills that would be needed in your next work situation. Not only should you be prepared to discuss some of your transferable skills in a job interview, it could also be a boost to your self-esteem to review your skills - especially during those times when you are not feeling particularly needed or valued.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Your Accomplishment Stories
As a counselor, I believe that writing can be a very beneficial activity for a number of reasons and situations. As a career Counselor, I encourage my clients to do writing as they consider their next career direction and as they prepare for job interviews. This blog entry addresses writing in preparation for job interviews.
I mentioned last week in the "Interview Questions" blog entry that I encourage my clients to think about their past and write five or six accomplishment stories. As they encounter various questions during job interviews, there will likely be opportunities to share at least pieces of some of those stories as answers.
Before you begin to write, you will want to think about the various accomplishments from your life - these may all come from work-related situations, but could also involve volunteer or community activities or personal/educational goals. So think of things from your past in which you take pride; preferably things you enjoyed or found challenging, but you learned something from the experience. They need to be situations that would be appropriate to share and you should have been the 'main character' in the story.
You will want to create five or six stories which demonstrate transferable skills that you enjoy using and/or personal traits which would be beneficial to a potential employer. The stories do not have to be very long, but should include specifics about what the situation or problem was, how you got involved, what you did, and some results or outcomes. You may need to mention other people who were also involved with you. It is a good idea to include something about why you are proud of that particular accomplishment or what about the story would be appealing to a potential employer.
Not only could those stories be ideas you may want to share during an interview, but they can also serve as a boost to your self-esteem. Sometimes during a job search your self-confidence may take a dip as you are unsuccessful in landing a job you really wanted or have contacted people and don't seem to see any real results yet. Remembering a time when you felt good about what you have done can work wonders for your mood and emotional health - no matter what the reason you remembered.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, grief work, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
I mentioned last week in the "Interview Questions" blog entry that I encourage my clients to think about their past and write five or six accomplishment stories. As they encounter various questions during job interviews, there will likely be opportunities to share at least pieces of some of those stories as answers.
Before you begin to write, you will want to think about the various accomplishments from your life - these may all come from work-related situations, but could also involve volunteer or community activities or personal/educational goals. So think of things from your past in which you take pride; preferably things you enjoyed or found challenging, but you learned something from the experience. They need to be situations that would be appropriate to share and you should have been the 'main character' in the story.
You will want to create five or six stories which demonstrate transferable skills that you enjoy using and/or personal traits which would be beneficial to a potential employer. The stories do not have to be very long, but should include specifics about what the situation or problem was, how you got involved, what you did, and some results or outcomes. You may need to mention other people who were also involved with you. It is a good idea to include something about why you are proud of that particular accomplishment or what about the story would be appealing to a potential employer.
Not only could those stories be ideas you may want to share during an interview, but they can also serve as a boost to your self-esteem. Sometimes during a job search your self-confidence may take a dip as you are unsuccessful in landing a job you really wanted or have contacted people and don't seem to see any real results yet. Remembering a time when you felt good about what you have done can work wonders for your mood and emotional health - no matter what the reason you remembered.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, grief work, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Do You Know Yourself?
As I talk with people who are thinking about making a job or career change, I ask what they know about themselves. Some people feel they have a pretty good sense of who they are, their likes and dislikes, and various work preferences. Others may think about it for a moment then reply - frequently with some story - about how they have not really thought about those aspects. Perhaps they didn't even choose a major in school, but just followed along a path suggested by a parent, teacher, or sibling. Often they were hired by an organization that either sought them out or they met at a college or career fair. They didn't really think about their career preferences or aspirations; what came along seemed pretty good, so they went with that.
For some people, that approach seems to have worked well, or at least was OK for a while. Others have never really been very excited about what they have been doing, but it was a way "to make a living". When I suggest that before they can make an informed decision about next steps, we really need to have some information about them, many of these folks are not surprised and most are excited about the opportunity to do just that. I think that being comfortable with what you know about yourself is an important step before making any big decision and many small ones. That certainly applies to career decision making or even just changing jobs in the same career field.
I encourage my clients to consider not only their interests and skills/abilities, but also their personality type or traits, strengths, and values. There may also be particular things about life right now that they would also need to take into consideration, as they are making career decisions. That would include things such as ability or willingness to relocate, to continue their education, or to work a different shift, amount of travel, etc. There may be other factors you would want to keep in mind for your particular situation.
So, in addition to doing a self-assessment, you will want to make note of the other factors that impact your decision. How you do your self-assessment also depends on a number of factors. Some people just start with a notepad or a blank word document on their computer and start writing in things that they know about themselves that would be relevant for a career decision. Others buy or borrow one of many self-help books on careers that include some type of assessment and some choose do do an assessment on line. Many career counselors, including myself, offer career assessments to clients who would like to do more of a structured informal or formal assessment. Depending on a number of factors, a variety of assessment tools and information may be available through a counselor.
Whatever assessment method(s) you use, it is important to have a pretty good picture of who you are before you get into making a decision about your next direction. Many people find that having a guide through the process can be very helpful. If you have an interest in talking about the process, I would be happy to do so. A self-assessment is the first step in becoming clearer about what you may want to do next with your life and your career.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, grief work, coping with an empty nest and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an e-mail to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
For some people, that approach seems to have worked well, or at least was OK for a while. Others have never really been very excited about what they have been doing, but it was a way "to make a living". When I suggest that before they can make an informed decision about next steps, we really need to have some information about them, many of these folks are not surprised and most are excited about the opportunity to do just that. I think that being comfortable with what you know about yourself is an important step before making any big decision and many small ones. That certainly applies to career decision making or even just changing jobs in the same career field.
I encourage my clients to consider not only their interests and skills/abilities, but also their personality type or traits, strengths, and values. There may also be particular things about life right now that they would also need to take into consideration, as they are making career decisions. That would include things such as ability or willingness to relocate, to continue their education, or to work a different shift, amount of travel, etc. There may be other factors you would want to keep in mind for your particular situation.
So, in addition to doing a self-assessment, you will want to make note of the other factors that impact your decision. How you do your self-assessment also depends on a number of factors. Some people just start with a notepad or a blank word document on their computer and start writing in things that they know about themselves that would be relevant for a career decision. Others buy or borrow one of many self-help books on careers that include some type of assessment and some choose do do an assessment on line. Many career counselors, including myself, offer career assessments to clients who would like to do more of a structured informal or formal assessment. Depending on a number of factors, a variety of assessment tools and information may be available through a counselor.
Whatever assessment method(s) you use, it is important to have a pretty good picture of who you are before you get into making a decision about your next direction. Many people find that having a guide through the process can be very helpful. If you have an interest in talking about the process, I would be happy to do so. A self-assessment is the first step in becoming clearer about what you may want to do next with your life and your career.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, grief work, coping with an empty nest and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an e-mail to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Employment Interview Questions
As you prepare for employment interviews, you should include preparing for the questions you may be asked in an interview. Of course, there is no way to know exactly which questions you will get, but you should think about the kinds of things a potential employer may want to ask you. After you have determined questions you may get, you will also want to prepare your answers to those questions. The idea is not to memorize your answers, but to have an idea of what you plan to include in your responses.
Frequently one question you may be asked is something similar to "Tell me about yourself". This is not an invitation to tell your life story. Your response should be brief and include relevant highlights from your background, such as specific accomplishments and/or recognitions.
Another question that I frequently asked when I conducted employment interviews was, "Why do you want to work here?" This gives you an opportunity to share something you have learned about the company and something else about you that would be beneficial to them.
As an interviewee, I was frequently asked to share what I was most proud of from my experiences. I typically used an example from my working life, but if nothing comes to mind from your background, you could use something from another aspect of your life, such as volunteer experiences or something about your education.
Additionally, these days, more employers are asking behaviorally-based or situational questions. This may take a variety of forms, but basically, they are something like, "Tell us about a time when you __________________". So, depending on how the sentence ends, you would want to respond with an appropriate story about an accomplishment related to that situation. they may ask about something positive such as , "... led a group" or "... learned a new task", etc. But it could also be about a negative experience, such as, "...failed to meet a deadline" or "experienced failure" or "were frustrated at work". To the extent possible, you will want to share something that was not a huge negative. More importantly, I believe, is your ability to demonstrate how you were able to turn a not so pleasant situation into something positive or a learning experience.
I encourage my clients to think about their past and write five or six accomplishment stories, in preparation for their employment interviews. That way they don't have to try to recollect things from years ago, but just from recent memory when they wrote their stories. I will talk more about your accomplishment stories in the next post.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, grief work, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/ for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Frequently one question you may be asked is something similar to "Tell me about yourself". This is not an invitation to tell your life story. Your response should be brief and include relevant highlights from your background, such as specific accomplishments and/or recognitions.
Another question that I frequently asked when I conducted employment interviews was, "Why do you want to work here?" This gives you an opportunity to share something you have learned about the company and something else about you that would be beneficial to them.
As an interviewee, I was frequently asked to share what I was most proud of from my experiences. I typically used an example from my working life, but if nothing comes to mind from your background, you could use something from another aspect of your life, such as volunteer experiences or something about your education.
Additionally, these days, more employers are asking behaviorally-based or situational questions. This may take a variety of forms, but basically, they are something like, "Tell us about a time when you __________________". So, depending on how the sentence ends, you would want to respond with an appropriate story about an accomplishment related to that situation. they may ask about something positive such as , "... led a group" or "... learned a new task", etc. But it could also be about a negative experience, such as, "...failed to meet a deadline" or "experienced failure" or "were frustrated at work". To the extent possible, you will want to share something that was not a huge negative. More importantly, I believe, is your ability to demonstrate how you were able to turn a not so pleasant situation into something positive or a learning experience.
I encourage my clients to think about their past and write five or six accomplishment stories, in preparation for their employment interviews. That way they don't have to try to recollect things from years ago, but just from recent memory when they wrote their stories. I will talk more about your accomplishment stories in the next post.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, grief work, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/ for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Your Interview Questions
If you are about to begin, or are in the midst of, a job search, you should be prepared for interview questions. In addition to thinking about your answers to the possible questions an interviewer might ask you, you should also be prepared to ask questions of the interviewer.
Some questions could be the same ones you ask of each interviewer you meet, others would need to be specific dependent upon with whom you are speaking in the organization. Many organizations now have committees do the initial screening interview. Those committee members may or may not be in positions directly related to the position for which you are interviewing. So you will need some general questions you can ask, as well as more specific ones for those who may know more about the responsibilities of the position in which you are interested.
Create questions to ask that indicate you know something about the organization and the industry. Current trends and their impact on the organization are good to ask about. These days you can look on line for information to help you prepare for your interview. Of course, some of that research should have been done before you contacted the organization.
So in your job search, prepare for the many phases of the interviewing process. Once you have created your questions, you may want to write them down in case you don't remember them during the interview. By having your questions written down in a notebook, you can refer to them, if you have a momentary lapse of memory.
The job search can be a fairly stressful process, so the better prepared you are, the less stress you may experience. Being prepared for the possible questions you may get in an interview and creating your own questions can help increase your confidence through the process.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, grief work, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Ms. Davis, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Some questions could be the same ones you ask of each interviewer you meet, others would need to be specific dependent upon with whom you are speaking in the organization. Many organizations now have committees do the initial screening interview. Those committee members may or may not be in positions directly related to the position for which you are interviewing. So you will need some general questions you can ask, as well as more specific ones for those who may know more about the responsibilities of the position in which you are interested.
Create questions to ask that indicate you know something about the organization and the industry. Current trends and their impact on the organization are good to ask about. These days you can look on line for information to help you prepare for your interview. Of course, some of that research should have been done before you contacted the organization.
So in your job search, prepare for the many phases of the interviewing process. Once you have created your questions, you may want to write them down in case you don't remember them during the interview. By having your questions written down in a notebook, you can refer to them, if you have a momentary lapse of memory.
The job search can be a fairly stressful process, so the better prepared you are, the less stress you may experience. Being prepared for the possible questions you may get in an interview and creating your own questions can help increase your confidence through the process.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, grief work, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Ms. Davis, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
What Are You Waiting For?
Sometimes when I talk with people about their work and career direction, their response is something like, "Well, I used to want to ______" or "I thought about _______". Those types of responses prompt me to ask "What are you waiting for?" Often they are not sure, but their sense is that they are either comfortable where they are or they are not really sure that is what they want.
Change, planned or unplanned, can be stressful and can be very scary, so sometimes we decide not to make a change. Unfortunately, I have also talked to many people who had not planned to make a change but were forced into it by their employer - through cutbacks, layoffs, and shut downs. Our sense of being 'comfortable as is' is tenuous at best these days. Preparing for "what if" can add a sense of some security in that you would already have a plan in place - if you happen to lose your job. Sometimes the 'what if ' plan is so attractive, they decide to launch it anyway.
For those who are not sure that what they have dreamed of is what they still want, then we can work at clarifying that picture and gaining more information and insight about that particular dream. Doing some informational interviews and reading research can help increase your knowledge base. Comparing what you know about you and what you know about a particular line of work can then be done based on some fairly solid data. Some people are able to do some volunteer work closely related to that dream work or shadow someone who is in that area. Both of those opportunities allow you to sort of 'try on' a different type of work. Be creative in coming up with ways to learn more and, if possible, 'try it on before you buy it.' If you already have a plan, at least partly developed, it can make an unplanned transition easier to cope with.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including a career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Change, planned or unplanned, can be stressful and can be very scary, so sometimes we decide not to make a change. Unfortunately, I have also talked to many people who had not planned to make a change but were forced into it by their employer - through cutbacks, layoffs, and shut downs. Our sense of being 'comfortable as is' is tenuous at best these days. Preparing for "what if" can add a sense of some security in that you would already have a plan in place - if you happen to lose your job. Sometimes the 'what if ' plan is so attractive, they decide to launch it anyway.
For those who are not sure that what they have dreamed of is what they still want, then we can work at clarifying that picture and gaining more information and insight about that particular dream. Doing some informational interviews and reading research can help increase your knowledge base. Comparing what you know about you and what you know about a particular line of work can then be done based on some fairly solid data. Some people are able to do some volunteer work closely related to that dream work or shadow someone who is in that area. Both of those opportunities allow you to sort of 'try on' a different type of work. Be creative in coming up with ways to learn more and, if possible, 'try it on before you buy it.' If you already have a plan, at least partly developed, it can make an unplanned transition easier to cope with.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including a career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
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