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.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
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.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Are You Stressed Out By Your Job? (part 2)
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I encourage you to try writing as a way to express your feelings and relieve some anxiety. Writing, as a form of stress relief, can serve several purposes or take different forms. You can write in a journal - sort of like your personal log. It can serve as a good release of pent up emotions. It can also help you to keep from sharing inappropriate reactions with family, friends, and coworkers at inappropriate times.
You can also write plans. Short term, medium range, and long-term goals should be written down and should include as much detail as is reasonable. You can write out plans for your working life as well as personal, family, or life plans.
You can also do creative writing. Perhaps you would write short stories, poems, plays, or articles. Depending on a variety of factors, you may write just for your own enjoyment or expression. Or you may decide to submit something you have written to a newspaper, magazine, etc.
Some people choose to do historical writing. They research their family history and write it down. There are websites that will help you do some genealogical work to trace your family history, if you would like. It could be beneficial for you and your family. Adding dimensions to your family's roots can also help to increase your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Some people use their writing time to work on career related planning and papers. If you do not have a historical resume, I encourage you to create one. Your historical resume is strictly for your own purposes. It is typically a chronological resume and includes all positions - paid, unpaid, or volunteer jobs - that you have held. Each job should be described in enough detail to remind you of what you did and pieces you may wish to recycle to use in your next job - whenever that may be coming. Working on a historical resume can also be a boost to your self-confidence and self-esteem as you look at what you have accomplished thus far in life.
Whether you decide to do some writing or find other ways to help you cope with and/or relieve stress, it is important to find healthy outlets for stress you experience.
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.
You can also write plans. Short term, medium range, and long-term goals should be written down and should include as much detail as is reasonable. You can write out plans for your working life as well as personal, family, or life plans.
You can also do creative writing. Perhaps you would write short stories, poems, plays, or articles. Depending on a variety of factors, you may write just for your own enjoyment or expression. Or you may decide to submit something you have written to a newspaper, magazine, etc.
Some people choose to do historical writing. They research their family history and write it down. There are websites that will help you do some genealogical work to trace your family history, if you would like. It could be beneficial for you and your family. Adding dimensions to your family's roots can also help to increase your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Some people use their writing time to work on career related planning and papers. If you do not have a historical resume, I encourage you to create one. Your historical resume is strictly for your own purposes. It is typically a chronological resume and includes all positions - paid, unpaid, or volunteer jobs - that you have held. Each job should be described in enough detail to remind you of what you did and pieces you may wish to recycle to use in your next job - whenever that may be coming. Working on a historical resume can also be a boost to your self-confidence and self-esteem as you look at what you have accomplished thus far in life.
Whether you decide to do some writing or find other ways to help you cope with and/or relieve stress, it is important to find healthy outlets for stress you experience.
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.
Writing Your New Years Resolutions
As we approach the end of another year, you may be thinking that you should create some resolutions for the new year. Or maybe you remember the previous resolutions you made that were not completed - or perhaps not even begun. Well, if you have been putting off a job search because you felt the timing was not quite right, perhaps now is the time to develop a plan for a career change in the New Year.
Generally you should begin with identifying or remembering what you know about yourself - your interests, abilities, personal traits, and values that are important to you. Then you should do some brainstorming to identify potential occupations that may fit with what you know about you. Don't just think about people you know or people you see on TV at work, expand your vision of your future and maybe spend some time daydreaming of what kind of work you would like to do next.
Since you are very likely to consider a career change again during your work life, you do not have to completely remove attractive options from you list - just prioritize them. Some may just be put aside for the time being.
If you decide that you do want/need to make a change, then you can decide if you just need to change your employer or your location; other times, you find you need a career change. Whatever decision you reach, begin planning now and determine to make your New Years Resolutions a reality in 2010.
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, 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 (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.
Generally you should begin with identifying or remembering what you know about yourself - your interests, abilities, personal traits, and values that are important to you. Then you should do some brainstorming to identify potential occupations that may fit with what you know about you. Don't just think about people you know or people you see on TV at work, expand your vision of your future and maybe spend some time daydreaming of what kind of work you would like to do next.
Since you are very likely to consider a career change again during your work life, you do not have to completely remove attractive options from you list - just prioritize them. Some may just be put aside for the time being.
If you decide that you do want/need to make a change, then you can decide if you just need to change your employer or your location; other times, you find you need a career change. Whatever decision you reach, begin planning now and determine to make your New Years Resolutions a reality in 2010.
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, 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 (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.
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