Certified Career Coaches Blog

Work In Progress

2008-02-22T16:30:00.002-05:00

Very soon we'll have more content to offer as we continue to develop our blog and a different look. Stay tuned!

~ Maria
www.CertifiedCareerCoaches.com

Seven Strategies for Reducing Stress During a Job Search

2008-01-28T12:13:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Barbara Safani

Job loss ranks high on the list of most stressful situations. Many report going through a grieving process, similar to the stages people go through after the death of a loved one. Shock, denial, anger, and depression are all common reactions to the loss of a job. These emotions are important and you should acknowledge them. Unfortunately, some people become stuck in one of these stages and this is detrimental to a successful job search campaign. Below are seven strategies you can use to reduce stress and generate acceptance and enthusiasm during your search.

Maintain a Routine
Many job seekers report that creating routine alleviates stress during a job search. Keep the same schedule you had when you were working. Wake up at the same time and leave your house at the same time. Plan to be somewhere at 9 am. Go to the library to do research on a target company, plan a networking meeting, or go to a scheduled event.

Volunteer
When you volunteer you are doing something positive for a particular group or community. It allows you to channel your energy and develop focus. It is also a way to help others in need and it can help put your current situation in perspective. By volunteering, your name becomes known among the organization's members. Chairing a committee or event allows you to showcase your skills in a particular area or gain new skills that can enhance your overall job profile. [Continue reading...]

Maximizing a Salary Offer

2008-01-21T09:10:00.000-05:00

Featured Article and Career Coach: Meg Montford, MCCC

It's a proven fact: To return to work following a layoff, you may have to accept a lower salary than the one you enjoyed in your previous position. However, there are a few strategies to employ to try to boost your financial point of entry.

-Take some time to consider any salary offer. Ask for at least 24 to 48 hours. Silence is golden - or it can become so when you let it "hang" there awhile following an initial offer. Don't rush to fill the quiet void.

- Weigh any offer against the company's expectations of you in the position rather than your personal needs. The company has put itself on the line with its offer. Rest assured they have a cap, but you may have some wiggle room based upon how much value the company perceives you can bring them.

- Prior to any job interview, compare salaries for similar positions. Websites such as Salary.com offer tools for research. Knowing your own worth, and why a company would want to hire you, gives you bargaining power. A salary offer itself is testament to the fact that the company perceives your value. [read more...]

Certified Career Coaches.com will help you find a career coach who meets your specific coaching needs and can provide you with the support to overcome any roadblocks you might be facing. At no cost, we provide key career coaching resources to inform and help individuals to take that first step toward a more exciting and rewarding career. Visit us today!

Why You Need To Be An IntraPreneur--Managing Your Career Like A Business

2008-01-14T06:49:00.000-05:00

Featured Article and Career Coach: Elizabeth McAloon

When a client asks me if I think he or she is a good candidate for starting a new business, I ask several questions (see our free assessment, "Are You an Entrepreneur?"). But the truth of the matter is that these questions are similar to ones that I'd ask someone who wants to move up in an organization or find a new position elsewhere. When people call an executive coach after deciding to make a change or being laid off, those who have treated their career like their own business will have a much easier time.

Having an entrepreneur mindset is a necessary asset for being recognized and rewarded in your organization. The employees who are primarily reactive will not reach the top. Sure, they'll be rewarded to a point for their faithful and accurate adherence to the established goals of the organization—but these are not going to be the people calling the shots for the big games. An entrepreneur mindset means thinking of the gestalt, or whole, of the organization and recognizing where you fit into the scheme of things; recognizing the impact of your actions on the system and how you can craft and increase that impact. It means having great relationship abilities and an uncanny knowledge and intuition of your "clients"—your colleagues, senior management teams, and your staff, as well as external customers.

Entrepreneurs are always taking temperatures—of costs, profit margins, marketing effectiveness, visibility, shifting needs of the market, new trends, and so on. The difference between entrepreneurship and career management—intrapreneurship—is that your thinking about these topics is focused internally. Your visibility is not limited to your organization's ultimate service or product: it's about you as a product. [read more...]

Make your work life and personal life exciting again by taking control of your career. Visit CertifiedCareerCoaches.com! Certified career coaches provide expert advice, guidance, and take time to learn about you, what you want to gain from your career, and will stay with you every step of the way to ensure desired outcomes and goals are achieved.

Make Your Network Work for You

2008-01-08T07:11:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Barbara Safani, CCM

Networking is the art of building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships. Frequently when I coach people who are in a job search and we discuss networking within the context of job search, many will say "Does that really work?" Like anything else, networking requires a bit of practice and finesse, but if done correctly, networking can be an invaluable part of your job search campaign. Here are a few tips to help you develop a network that works for you.

Be a Teacher -
Not everyone you meet will understand what networking is or how they can help you. Many think that the best way they can help a job seeker is to take their resume and pass it on to their human resource department. While their intentions are noble, their strategy is seriously flawed. HR managers, like recruiters, may only be motivated to take action on your resume if there is a current job opening within the organization that matches your skills. If a position is not available, they have no incentive to contact you and the connection is lost. Rather than giving your contacts a resume, thank them but tell them that what you would really like is an introduction to someone at that company so you can learn more about the company, share information about yourself, and begin to build a relationship. [read more...]

Learn more about the benefits and value of working with a career coach to help put your career into gear. CertifiedCareerCoaches.com can help you find a career coach who meets your career coaching needs and can provide you with the support to overcome any roadblocks you might be facing.

Etch a Sketch to Oil Painting: Where Do You Need To Take A Stand?

2007-12-17T19:18:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Elizabeth McAloon

Maybe can be a great place. It’s full of possibility, it can feel like there’s an escape hatch available at all times. Maybe can also be what holds us back the most.

Take the Etch A Sketch, for example. One of my favorite childhood toys. Full of temporary satisfaction, and a great place to play with maybe. Sometimes we get stuck in the Etch A Sketch place in our lives, carefully keeping one eye on the exit. Etch A Sketch life is a great place to try things on: dating without commitment; temping at a job; renting instead of buying; testing a business instead of truly owning it; dabbling at being leader without claiming it. It can be a valuable place—a testing ground on which to get a sense of what it might be like.

There are deeper Etch A Sketch places, too.

I often hear from clients that their number-one frustration is that they feel as though they’re not making an impact—or at least that impact isn’t palpable. They feel as though they’re in the soup in their jobs and lives and that there’s no distinct footprint they’re leaving behind. They are in the Etch A Sketch place of making daily transitory impressions, but nothing long lasting—there’s no momentum of purpose.

And they’re hungry for it. [read more...]

Learn more about the benefits and value of working with a career coach to help put your career into gear. CertifiedCareerCoaches.com connects you with a career coach who meets your specific coaching needs and can provide you with the support to overcome any roadblocks you might be facing.

Working Within Limitations

2007-12-11T06:43:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Coach: Sharon Good

While we all dream of having ultimate freedom to be and do anything and everything we want, the hard truth of the matter is that we all face some limitations, large or small. Limitations may be things you've dealt with all your life, or they may come upon you suddenly through an accident or change of circumstances.

But limitations don't have to be a jail sentence. In art, for example, while complete freedom can be glorious and expansive, sometimes the most innovative ideas come from solving a problem. Having boundaries forces you to use your resources in imaginative ways, and a limitation viewed as a challenge can inspire you to create something completely unexpected.

Limitations can take many different shapes. The most obvious are health or physical disabilities and limited financial means. Others are limited time or energy; lack of skills, knowledge or credentials; and reduced opportunities due to age, gender and/or racial bias or economic background. A change in status due to divorce or job loss can also be a limiting factor. [Continue reading...]

Want to learn more about the benefits and value of working with a coach to help put your career into gear? Let us help you find a career coach who meets your specific coaching needs and can provide you with the support needed to overcome any roadblocks you might be facing.

Bringing Your Individuality to Work: Brilliant or Taboo?

2007-12-03T07:10:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Elizabeth McAloon

"Personal branding" is the latest buzzword. It's a topic that cuts across a number of career management areas. The concept can be extremely helpful, but the language leaves many people feeling that there's a big mystery out there about how to be successful. Let's demystify it right now!

There are products, and there are brands.

What's the difference? Well, a brand is made up of all the intangible associations that go along with a particular product: the romance of Chanel No.5; the sexiness of a Ferrari; the cachet of a Rolex. To the working world, you are, in part, a product. Sure, you've got that dazzling smile and you're the one everyone wants to sit next to at the holiday party—that's part of the product. But it's more than that.

Your brand is the unique special recipe of you—your experiences, skills, personality, talents, creativity, wisdom, ability to connect with people. It all adds up to what you specifically add to an organization.

I've asked dozens of people about their brand, and very few can convey it with any clarity. Personal branding is not your title. Personal branding is the "youness" that you bring. It's not necessarily what you do, but the particular way you do it.

Let's look at some examples: [Read more!]

Coaches specializing in the careers industry help people overcome hurdles that are preventing them from moving forward. Coaches also help managers and corporations improve their methods of leadership to build and maintain productive employees while building their overall personal and corporate value. These are just a few examples how career coaches can make a difference. Visit CertifiedCareerCoaches.com to discover what career coaching is all about!

Your Job: Should You Stay or Should You Go?

2007-11-26T11:10:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Robyn Feldberg

Have you been thinking about a new job or career? For most people, the idea of launching a job search is as exciting as it is nerve-wracking. Looking for a job can be a daunting task requiring time, effort, and preparation-not to mention the emotional and financial investment. Adding to the stress is the reality that if you're successful, you'll face change, which isn't always synonymous with improvement. Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side but not always.

Jobs are like marriage; they have peaks and valleys. Most adults accept-even expect-some job dissatisfaction, and maturity often helps us deal with minor job grievances and frustrations. After all, work is work, and expecting to love every aspect of your job every day is as unrealistic as expecting every day of your marriage to be pure bliss. That said, you're not married to your job, and there are legitimate reasons to find a new one. Here are 14 factors to consider when deciding if it's time to brush off your resume and start looking at your other options:

1. Industry/Type of Business: Are you motivated and engaged at work or do you regularly feel bored? Do you find the type of business you're in interesting and personally rewarding? Do you dread Monday mornings or look forward to them?

2. Company/Organization: Do you feel that you work for a good company or that it falls short of acceptable? Do you agree with its policies? Does it treat employees fairly?

3. Company Culture: How comfortably do you mesh with the company's culture? How well do you get along with your coworkers? How in sync are the company's atmosphere, size, and mission with your personality and style? [continue article...]

Let Certified Career Coaches.com help you find a career coach who meets your specific coaching needs and can provide you with the support needed to overcome any roadblocks you might be facing. We provide key career coaching resources to inform and help you to take that first step toward a more exciting and rewarding career!

Working with Purpose - Doing A Job That Matters

2007-11-19T15:38:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Sonia Lakshman

There are few things more soul destroying than doing a job that at really means nothing to us. How many of us have got to the end of a working week to think - "Well, what have I actually achieved" -only to be less than satisfied with the answer. There are only so many email backlogs, ill planned projects, ceaseless targets and endless meetings that the human soul can tolerate. Sooner or later we cry out - "I've had enough, I'm off."

This doesn't mean that we are a generation of must-have-it-alls. On the contrary - we're wiling to slog our guts out, put up with office politics and the tube, if it MEANS SOMETHING at the end of the day. More and more of us are seeking meaning in our work - something that actually MATTERS to us and that satisfies the things that we consider important. This is the age of the individual with each of us demanding more from our lives. It is also the age of a new global consciousness - where we hold the world and ourselves accountable for the state we live in. [Read more!]

Search our database to find a career coach 24/7. It’s strategically designed to search by career coaching specialty and each search result provides names of certified coaches, contact info, business names, profiles and highlights, and website links. Visit us today!

Top 10 Networking Tips

2007-11-12T09:46:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Kim Batson

Without a doubt, the key to successful executive networking begins with careful preparation. Here are my top 10 tips:

1) Develop an action plan
View the creation of a networking plan as you would any executive or business plan. Know your goals and the outcome you desire before you start and stay focused. Decide what you will do and when you will do it. Then execute your plan systematically. Determine to do at least one thing every day to touch your network.

2) Prepare your self-marketing message
Ask yourself: "How do I want to be perceived? How am I perceived at work? What message is consistent with my strengths and my unique contribution in the marketplace? What information will be relevant and important?" Have your sixty-second sound bite and your two-minute self-marketing message prepared, smooth and concise. A coach and a personal brand strategist can help you put together and articulate a powerful and unique value proposition.

3) Gather valuable information
Research using search engines, an online company information database, the library, business journals, news articles, and informational interviewing to determine which companies you are interested in. Then find out all the information on them that you can, including products/services, market position, competition, industry trends, mergers and acquisitions, customer satisfaction (or lack of), financial stability, and current company challenges.

4) Think connectivity beyond the norm
Focus on connecting with individuals and executives that are not only working for, but are vendors of, clients of, or distribution partners of your target company, or who are in some other way connected. They don't have to work there to be a key connection for you. [read more...]

Certified Career Coaches.com serves to educate, inform, and help individuals move their career forward and put their career plans into action. We've eliminated need to spend countless hours searching the web for credentialed career professionals.

Search our database to find a career coach 24/7. It’s strategically designed to search by career coaching specialty, service location, and/or consultation preference. Each search result provides names of certified coaches, contact info, business names, profiles and highlights, and website links. You can also email the coaches directly via posted articles to ask questions.

The ABC's of Career Transition

2007-11-06T10:16:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Robyn Feldberg

A: Accept that you are responsible for your career and your life.

B: Believe that change is possible and that you deserve to be happy.

C: Clarify what you want in your career.

D: Dare to dream big; be determined through hard times; don't let anyone tell you what you can or can't do: define that for yourself.

E: Engage in activities that are congruent with your goals.

F: Find your faith in what really matters; face your fears; focus on what you want; forget perfect.

G: Give yourself permission to try; remain grateful in all things.

H: Hire a trained, certified career coach to help you achieve your career goals more quickly and easily. [Read more...]

Coaches specializing in the careers industry help people overcome hurdles that are preventing them from moving forward. Coaches also help managers and corporations improve their methods of leadership to build and maintain productive employees while building overall personal and corporate value. These are just a few examples how career coaching services can make a difference.

Networking - The Key to Finding a New Job

2007-10-29T06:38:00.000-04:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Joyce Fortier

Networking entails establishing a network of contacts who could conceivably help you in the development of your career - or put another way - it is the exchanging of information and resources and ideas in such a way that builds relationships. Talk to everyone you know. Tell them you are looking for a job. Let them know what kind of work you have done in the past and what you would like to do in the future. This information gives them a clear picture of what you are looking for, and they just might know of someone who could help.

Networking seems like a lot of work, so you might wonder if it's worth the effort. In a word, yes. Networking is the single most powerful tool in the career changer's toolbox. It is the opportunity for you and the other person to establish and maintain a connection and open up new possibilities for your future.

The more you network, the more you create a community of professionals who will serve as referrals for you. Some studies show that as many as 60% of individuals find a job through an informal network of family, friends or colleagues. The bottom line is that who you know may be more important than what you know. [Read more...]

Take advantage of the many resources available. Read career articles and note what certified career coaches are saying about achieving career success. Certified career coaches provide expert advice, guidance, and take time to learn about you, what you want to gain from your career, and will stay with you every step of the way to ensure desired outcomes and goals are achieved.

Secrets of the Holisitic Career Search

2007-10-22T13:37:00.000-04:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Steven Provenzano

Every day I talk to Fortune 500 Executives who can't get a grip on their overall job search. They ask the same questions: "Where should I start? Whom should I talk to? Should I just start calling recruiters?" Finding a job is a job in itself.

It starts on the inside: step back, do a gut check and take a holistic approach. Ask yourself:

1. Why consider a job search in the first place?
2. What's really going to make me happy on the job, 40-60 hours a week?
3. What trajectory do I want my career to take?
4. If I start a search, what are the first steps to take?

#1: Why consider a search?
This is your key to success because it targets your motivation. In Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life (Zondervan) he says you need to get right with God. This cuts to the core of your spirit, your personal dream, and your overall satisfaction.

Is it all about money? (hint: that's almost never the case). A greater career challenge? Are you stressed out or just tired of your boss and the working conditions...or are YOU the boss and just bored with the industry, the company or the people around you?

Action:
Write down a few keywords or sentences about your real motivation and level of commitment. How much time are you willing to spend creating a resume, learning & conducting internet research on target companies, calling them personally and doing personal networking? Will you keep track of your calls? How long can you be unemployed? [Read More...]

Learn more about the benefits and value of working with a career coach to help put your career into gear. CertifiedCareerCoaches.com can help you find a career coach who meets your specific coaching needs and can provide you with the support needed to overcome any roadblocks you might be facing.

Networking

2007-10-16T05:35:00.000-04:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Mike Aquino

What is "networking" and why it is one of the most successful job hunting tools?
Networking is establishing new relationships with people who can help you in life, your job or career transition. One of the most important career management skills you can develop is the ability to network.

Unfortunately, for some, the thought of working a room" or placing business cards into other people's hands can be intimidating. But networking does not require bold tactics to be effective. In fact, it's this perception -- and others -- that discourage many job seekers from networking in the first place. Like anything else, you will become comfortable after a few attempts and you will be pleasantly surprise how well you are received. [Read more...]

Coaches specializing in the careers industry help people overcome hurdles that are preventing them from moving forward. Coaches also help managers and corporations improve their methods of leadership to build and maintain productive employees while building overall personal and corporate value. These are just a few examples how career coaching services can make a difference.

Making Money While You Create

2007-10-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Sharon Good

Very often, while we're building our creative careers, we have to find other ways of making money. We may fall into jobs we began in high school or college, developing additional skills and getting better positions. Computers have opened up a myriad of well-paying jobs that you don't have to "take home" with you and that don't carry the stresses of waiting tables. If the work is pleasant enough, pays enough, and doesn't drain your creative energy, these are certainly viable options. But another possibility is to adapt your creative skills for the market.

Make a list of the skills and resources you've developed in and around your craft. How else can you apply these skills? Do they fit into an existing job, or can you create something new? [Read more...]

Take that first step toward a more exciting and rewarding career. Access latest career news, read articles and find out what career coaching can do for you. Find a career coach today to help you exceed your career expectations!

Interviewing Authentically

2007-09-24T06:22:00.000-04:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Barbara Safani

The goal of the interview is to showcase your accomplishments while developing a relationship with the hiring manager. The quality of the relationship hinges on the job seeker's ability to build credibility for their candidacy and effectively gain the hiring manager's trust.

Despite this, many job seekers continue to "spin" their responses to interview questions. This is often the tact that job seekers take when they are asked questions with a negative slant to them such as "What is your greatest weakness?" or "Tell me about a mistake you made" Perhaps candidates spin their answers in an effort to downplay any blemishes in the their background or maybe because it's the strategy that so many interview preparation books teach. Either way, candidates that lack authenticity are easy to spot and the outcome of the interview is severely compromised when job seekers chose to spin their responses to tough interview questions. [Read more...]

Let Certified Career Coaches.com help you find a career coach who meets your specific coaching needs and can provide you with the support needed to overcome any roadblocks you might be facing. At no cost, we provide key career coaching resources to inform and help individuals to take that first step toward a more exciting and rewarding career. Visit us today!

Finding Your Dream Job

2007-09-17T16:11:00.000-04:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Maureen Cullen

We all have a light inside of us, ready to shine on the world. The light is your dream for yourself. Sometimes the light is buried deep within us. As a child that light was strong and steady.

As we grew into adulthood we began to listen to the voices of the world, the people who said don't do that, do this; you can't be that your not smart enough, not (fill in the blank) enough. These voices were our families, teachers, friends, employers and people in your community. They sent the message to us to be someone else and so we did.

We turned away from our dreams and lived someone else's dream. We had grow-up responsibilities now and we believed we could never have that childhood dream. Or perhaps we don't even remember what that dream was anymore as it is buried so deep within. [Read more!]

Coaches specializing in the careers industry help people overcome hurdles that are preventing them from moving forward. Coaches also help managers and corporations improve their methods of leadership to build and maintain productive employees while building overall personal and corporate value. These are just a few examples how career coaching services
can make a difference.

Creative Job Hunting

2007-09-10T11:03:00.000-04:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Sharon Good

In the old days, looking for a job meant searching the classifieds or contacting an employment agency, hoping to squeeze yourself into a prescribed slot. You acquired skills to suit the job. But the new way of job hunting is to create a job that suits you. A job that fits *your* skills.

One way to do this is to create a vision of your ideal job and let it find you. What are the qualities or essences that you want? A friendly, cooperative environment? Challenging, satisfying work? Congenial working companions and a compassionate boss? Do you want to work for yourself? And don't forget about the down-to-earth logistical issues. Do you want a short commute or to work at home? No overtime so you can spend more time with the kids or on your own interests? A large company with room for advancement? [Read more!]

Certified Career Coaches.com serves to educate, inform, and help individuals move their career forward and put their career plans into action. We've eliminated need to spend countless hours searching the web for credentialed career professionals. We've compiled key resources to help get your plans underway to effectively manage your career and succeed.

You've Been Laid Off... Now What?

2007-03-09T17:20:00.000-05:00

By Sixto Ortiz Jr. -- Houston-based journalist who has been writing about information technology since 1996. Source: http://www.dice.com/

In Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream, author Barbara Ehrenreich goes undercover, posing as a job seeker looking to reenter the workforce. The book is a sometimes funny, sometimes heart-rending look at the netherworld of career coaches, focus groups, and endless networking that displaced workers are thrust into as they try to rejoin the ranks of the gainfully employed.

If anything, the book proves getting back into the workforce can be tricky, confusing, and above all else, frustrating. The last thing a job seeker needs is questionable strategies that won’t work. So, here are some effective ways to effectively get in gear and into the workforce after a job loss.

Cast A Wide Net

Most experts agree that networking is an absolutely critical element of a successful job hunt. Dave Opton, CEO and founder of ExecuNet, a career placement firm focused on executives earning over $100,000 per year, says “…without fail, networking has emerged as the single largest source of interviews and job leads every single year.”

After a few years on the job, most experienced IT workers usually collect an impressive number of business cards from vendors, consultants, or colleagues working in other companies. So, those falling on the wrong end of a lay-off are wise to take their Rolodexes along for the ride when their employer lays them off. A brand new opportunity may be just a few flicks of the finger away.

And while employed, IT workers should take advantage of networking opportunities. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind and neglect the chance to cast a wider net. Trade shows, consortiums, even the occasional lunch outing with that seemingly annoying sales person may provide that career-saving contact.

Katherine Spencer Lee, Executive Director of IT staffing firm Robert Half Technology, points out that lots of people presume the first thing they need to do after they’re laid off is to start responding to online job postings as quickly as possible. But, she says, that alone isn’t enough: candidates should research companies that are hiring, scour their network, and make sure their skills are current.

Here’s a strategy that doesn’t work: according to ExecuNet’s Opton, the fewest job opportunities for executives looking for work was broadcast resume campaigns directed toward companies. “While it’s not unheard of for someone to find a new opportunity by sending unsolicited resumes to dozens of companies, it is rare.”

Keep The Saw Sharp

And speaking of skills: maintaining a current skill set, especially in the fast-paced world of IT, is also critical to successfully reentering the workforce. Katherine Spencer Lee, Executive Director of IT staffing firm Robert Half Technology, says IT professionals wanting to rejoin the ranks of the employed need to ensure their skill sets are up to speed. “IT is one of the fastest moving industries around, and if their tools are outdated, they will have a hard time even getting interviews,” warns Spencer Lee.

So, she adds, displaced workers should make sure their resumes reflect recently learned skills, projects they have worked on, or certifications they have earned.

This is especially sound advice for today’s rapidly improving job marketplace: companies today are hiring again, and that also includes skilled IT workers. As ExecuNet’s Opton points out, the demand for MIS/IT professionals remains strong. So, Opton adds, as the job market improves formerly “passive” candidates are now actively seeking employment, and the overall competition for the most attractive opportunities is heating up.

But, candidates tempted to strike quickly while the iron is hot should temper their enthusiasm just a tad. “It’s also very important,” Opton adds, “not to jump the gun and enter the market before developing and refining a professional resume, a well-researched target list of companies, and polished ‘elevator speech’ that highlights who you are, where you’re going, why, and what you can contribute.”

Older, Wiser…And Unemployed?

Age discrimination is a hot topic in corporate America today. Numerous lawsuits have been filed by older workers who felt organizations unfairly forced them out due to their advancing age and higher salaries.

According to ExecuNet’s Opton, “…anecdotal evidence suggests that an executive under the age of forty will typically have twice as many interviews as an executive over the age of fifty.” The facts seem to support Opton’s assertion: statistics collected by the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) indicate unemployed older persons – 55 or older – take longer to find work than younger job seekers. According to the AARP’s research, the average duration of unemployment in 2005 was 24.1 weeks for those over 55 and just 17.8 weeks for those under 55.

In spite of these sobering statistics, older job seekers shouldn’t lose hope. “Overcoming age bias in a job search,” says Opton, “starts with being prepared to counter stereotypes head-on by demonstrating an ability to adapt to change, a comfort with relevant technology, and enthusiasm for tackling the challenges that lie ahead.” In the IT world it is critical that job seekers, he adds, demonstrate they are current and well versed in the latest relevant technology.

A State of Mind

Sudden job loss is a traumatic and tough experience to deal with. But, it is essential to maintain a positive attitude, even in the face of adversity. Dave Opton recommends that job seekers give themselves time to get past the shock and anger of a job loss and point their energies in a positive direction. And, says Katherine Spencer Lee, “the best tonic for recovering from a layoff is to remain active.”

At the end of the day, a job search is a sales job, and as Dave Opton points out, “you are now the sales manager for a product called ‘you, inc’.” Presenting that product in the most positive light greatly increases the odds of closing the sale and landing that new career opportunity.

Sixto Ortiz Jr. is a Houston-based journalist who has been writing about information technology since 1996.

Food for Thought: Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest. —William Shakespeare

Stop spending countless hours searching the web for credentialed career professionals. Certified Career Coaches.com provide you with key resources to help you get your plans underway and to help you effectively manage your career. Search our database to find a career coach. It's strategically designed to search by career coaching specialty, service location, and/or consultation preference.

Each search result will provide you with names of certified coaches, contact info, business names, profiles and highlights, and website links. You can even email the coaches directly via their posted articles or by clicking their "Meet Your Coach" link. Visit us today!

Employee Ratings of Senior Management Dip

2007-02-15T15:36:00.000-05:00

While employee ratings of senior management shot upward earlier in the decade, those numbers dipped slightly in 2006, a survey by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a global consulting firm, has found.

Watson Wyatt's WorkUSA® 2006/2007 survey of 12,205 full-time U.S. workers across all job levels and major industries showed that senior management's ratings from employees have dropped slightly since 2004. In contrast, many of those ratings had risen considerably from 2002 to 2004. Only about half (49 percent) of employees said they have trust and confidence in the job senior managers are doing, down from 51 percent in 2004. Fifty-three percent said that senior management makes the changes necessary for the company to stay competitive, down from 57 percent in 2004. And 66 percent of employees said they have confidence in the company's long-term success, down from 69 percent.

Employees' Favorable Ratings of Senior Managers Decline Slightly

Questions:

Employees have trust and confidence in the job of senior management?
51% (2004); 49% (2006)

Senior management makes changes to stay competitive?
57% (2004); 53% (2006)

Senior management takes steps to control costs?
59% (2004); 55% (2006)

Senior management behaves consistently with the company's core values?
57% (2004); 55% (2006)

SOURCE: Watson Wyatt WorkUSA 2006/2007

The survey also found considerable disparities among companies in the frequency of senior management's communication with employees. Forty-three percent of employees reported that their firm's senior management takes an active, visible role in communicating to employees, down from 45 percent in 2004.

Watson Wyatt's survey found that highly engaged employees were much more likely to report receiving communication from senior managers at least once a month. More than half (56 percent) of highly engaged employees receive communication from senior management at least monthly. In contrast, 42 percent of low engaged employees say they receive annual communication or no communication at all.

Copies of the Watson Wyatt WorkUSA 2006/2007 Survey are available here.

Food for Thought: Character is much easier kept than recovered. —Thomas Paine

Certified Career Coaches.com serves to educate, inform, and help individuals move their career forward and put their career plans into action. We've eliminated need to spend countless hours searching the web for credentialed career professionals.

Search our database to find a career coach 24/7. It’s strategically designed to search by career coaching specialty, service location, and/or consultation preference. Each search result provides names of certified coaches, contact info, business names, profiles and highlights, and website links. You can also email the coaches directly via posted articles to ask questions.

Being Self-Employed May Be A Tough & Lonely Road While Being Exhilarating

2007-01-24T16:30:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Marcia Merrill, CCMC, JCTC
Marcia's Article: Being Self-Employed May Be A Tough & Lonely Road While Being Exhilarating

According to the US Small Business Administration (SBA) there are approximately 17 million businesses with only one employee (the Owner, President, Principal or Founder--whatever you call it, it's JUST you. Having your own business can be exhilarating! After all, YOU & YOU ALONE decide on what you do--you're your "Own Boss!" After all, You and You alone, are responsible for making your business thrive or take a nose dive and "crash and burn." Sixty-six percent of new businesses fail in first three years, according to the SBA.

You and you alone are responsible for your financial income! You and YOU ALONE. The SBA cites that lack of entrepreneurial qualities, lack of planning and lack of information as the basic reasons why small businesses fail. [read more]

Food for Thought: We cannot have expression till there is something to be expressed. —Margaret Fuller

Let Certified Career Coaches.com help you find a career coach who meets your specific coaching needs and can provide you with the support needed to overcome any roadblocks you might be facing. At no cost, we provide key career coaching resources to inform and help individuals to take that first step toward a more exciting and rewarding career. Visit us today!

New Years Resolutions?

2007-01-02T09:49:00.001-05:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Vivian VanLier, JCTC, CEIP, CCMC
Vivian's Article: "New Years Resolutions?"

Do you make New Years resolutions? I gave up making New Year's resolutions years ago. I found that by about March, not only wasn't I on track to attain them, but I had forgotten what they were in the first place. Resolutions, or declarations, without specific, attainable goals AND action steps to achieve them, create a recipe for frustration and personal disappointment.

That said, the approaching New Year is a good time to take a personal inventory of how your lifestyle measures up in terms of work/life balance. Are the critical elements of your life in balance today? Make a list of what matters to you in your life. Include key elements such as: Work/Career, Friendships, Family Life, Spirituality, Leisure Time & Pursuits, Community, Personal Growth/Education, and Health & Fitness. On a scale of 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with each of these areas? Are you making time for all of the elements of your life that are important to you?

Ask yourself questions such as:

Do you find satisfaction in the work that you are currently performing?

Are you optimizing your potential in your position?

Do you balance your need to make a living with your need to express your inner passions and utilize your capabilities to their fullest? [read more]

Food for Thought: Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship. —Benjamin Franklin

Certified career coaches provide expert advice, guidance, and take time to learn about you, what you want to gain from your career, and will stay with you every step of the way to ensure desired outcomes and goals are achieved. We've eliminated need to spend countless hours searching the web for credentialed career professionals. We've compiled key resources to help get your plans underway to effectively manage your career and succeed.

Search our database to find a career coach 24/7. It’s strategically designed to search by career coaching specialty and each search result provides names of certified coaches, contact info, business names, profiles and highlights, and website links. You can also email the coaches directly via posted articles to ask questions. Visit us today and start the New Year with a GREAT start!

Career Health for the 50+ -- Don't Neglect This!

2006-12-05T07:02:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Marcia Merrill, CCMC, JCTC
Barbara's Article: Career Health for the 50+ - Don't Neglect This!

Many of the 50 + crowd are concerned about their health--exercising, eating right, and getting fresh air--but, don't forget-career fitness/ health is also important! It is vital to being part of the health for 50+.

Of course, career satisfaction is critical for all ages, but, as more "baby boomers" turn 50--about 17,000 a month. one report states--one takes stock of her life and feels satisfied or not if she hates her job, dreads going to work, grinds her teeth, overeats out of frustration, has relationship difficulties due to her depression at not liking what she does--wishing she'd done something else.wishing she'd followed her dream.

Here is a simple checklist for career health for the 50+ [read more]

Food for Thought: To find fulfillment, don't coexist with life—embrace it. —Jim Beggs

Coaches specializing in the careers industry help people overcome hurdles that are preventing them from moving forward. Coaches also help managers and corporations improve their methods of leadership to build and maintain productive employees while building overall personal and corporate value. These are just a few examples how career coaching services can make a difference.

Top Ten Excuses Why People Don't Network

2006-11-20T09:39:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Career Coach: Barbara Safani, CCM
Barbara's Article: "Top Ten Excuses Why People Don't Network"

I don't want to ask for a favor.
Many people think that when you network you are asking someone for a job. But this is not the goal of networking. When you network, you never ask for a job. You ask for information about an industry, company, or position

Fear of rejection.
Many people fear that if they ask for information the other person might not be willing to talk to them. While it is true that not everyone will agree to meet with you, many people will extend help to you and you have nothing to loose by asking.

Lack of awareness regarding the effectiveness of networking.
Most people in a job search spend too much time canvassing the open job market, the market everyone gets to see through job posting boards and recruiters. Far fewer explore the hidden market; the jobs that are never posted, but instead are filled through connections. The odds of finding a position through the smaller, hidden market are greater than those in the open market. [read more]

Food for Thought: The struggle to the top alone will make a human heart swell. —Albert Camus

CertifiedCareerCoaches.com serves to educate, inform, and help individuals move their career forward and put their career plans into action. Search our database to find a career coach 24/7. We’ve eliminated the need to spend countless hours searching the web for credentialed career professionals. We’ve compiled key resources to help get your plans underway to effectively manage your career and succeed!