Is a Career Coach Worth the Money

Is a Career Coach Worth the Money Coaching in general is an industry that has grown exponentially the last decade or so. It all started in sports, where the best athletes made use of a coach to improve their skills and to stay ahead of the competition. Coaching has spread to our everyday lives and nowadays you can be coached on anything from your relationship to your career. Most people have never used a career coach but they know of somebody that has. Some people will use a career coach every time they change jobs, although the rule of thumb is rather that a career coach is useful when an individual is considering a major change in their career, such as switching industries completely or relocating. The career coach will: Try to find out your life purpose and suggest careers which are aligned with this. The closer your job is to your purpose, the happier and more satisfied you will feel. Help you recognize what jobs you are suited for based on your talents, personality and ambition. These can be detected through general discussion, testing and probing questions. The best coaches are very honest and will tell you what you can and what your limitations are likely to be. Assist you to clarify your long term career goals and creating a roadmap to achieve them. This is a long process and can take a few sessions. Structure your job search, help with your application documents as well as coach you through job interviews. The career coach won’t: Tell you exactly what job you should go for. The idea of having somebody telling you exactly what you should do and make your decisions for you is not what career coaching is about. Like a Freudian psychotherapist, the coach will not be giving you the answers but rather ask probing questions for you to reach the solution yourself. Just like with psychotherapy, this can be a lengthy process so the more clarity you have already, the quicker this process will be. Know everything about you and what you should pursue. Some coaches will purport to have the answers and solutions to your career before you sign up and have your first session. Stay away from any coach claiming this, as this is impossible. It’s impossible for a coach to turbo charge your career, only you can make this happen. Come with you to interviews or write your CV. They are there to assist you with a job application process, not to do it for you. Cost time scales: The fees charged by career coaches vary greatly and you should definitely shop around for a deal. Expect to pay anything from $100 to $500 for a two hour session. Remember that being a coach is a very popular profession and there is a great deal of competition, which plays in to your hands as the buyer. The sessions are usually paid up front for a number of hours with the coach. You should be able to swing a free initial consultation, to get a feel for the coach and their methods before deciding whether you want to continue. As for the time scales, career coaching can take anything from one session to a full year program with fortnightly sessions or checkups rather. The best way to find one: Coaching is not regulated in any way and there are myriads of self appointed career coached out there. The best way to go about finding the right one for you is to ask friends, coworkers and perhaps even your HR department who they can recommend and why. You will want to find a coach that works with people in your industry, that has added value to others (a good coach should have references available) and that is within your price range. Make sure you get a coach that treats you as a preferred client and not just another appointment of the week. If the coach sounds very busy, best to check with someone that will have the time to focus on you and your needs. So is it worth it? Yes and no. The determining question here is really: Do you know what you want to do and how to get there? If so, do it yourself. If you are unsure about what career direction to take, if you have little idea of how to get somewhere â€" speak to a coach and see what they can do for you. Remember to always get a free consultation first! Image: Shutterstock Related: How Will a Career Coach Help Your Job Search?

Should I Put My High School On My Resume?

Should I Put My High School On My Resume?Should I put my high school on my resume? A few months ago, I was looking for a job as a recruiter asked me what was the best way to get back into the business. After explaining how I was leaving the industry to go into the virtual market, he said, 'Yes, you should put your high school on your resume.'I have to admit, that sounded crazy. I am a little skeptical when it comes to something as mysterious as what the resume should be like. I also do not like putting my high school on my resume. I was a little stunned at the reaction I got from this question.I was in my last year of college, and I graduated from high school in May. I did not attend my high school. I had to find some way to get into the industry without going back to my high school. For me, it was a no-brainer. My parents still work, so there is no way they are going to see me put my high school on my resume.So, in answer to the question, should I put my high school on my resume? I will say that this is one of those situations where it is better to put your high school on your resume. If you know the companies that you are applying for ask for your high school, by all means, put it on your resume. The employers will know you have been to a certain high school, so by having it on your resume, you will raise the chances of getting an interview by two to three times.I am a recruiter now, and I have heard a lot of advice on how to write resumes and cover letters, and recruiting companies are constantly giving the same advice. I also told a recruiter that he should put his high school on his resume, because the high school was the best school he attended. In his case, the recruiter made it clear that the recruiters who were most successful were those who had gone to the best schools.So, if you are a recruiter, consider asking your recruiter to put your high school on your resume. I think it would be a great idea. But I also think it is a bit more complex than that. While it is easy for a recruiter to get back into the business, it may not be as simple for a person who has just left the business.You need to make sure that you really have gotten into the game to the extent that the recruiter thinks you should have, and now you are out of high school. Make sure that you never go back to your high school. After you graduate from college, you should then consider putting your high school on your resume.Should I put my high school on my resume? My answer is yes, but you have to make sure that you are prepared to do it. It is important to know that if you are going to put your high school on your resume, you need to give some thought as to whether or not you should put it on your resume if you are doing a high school search for the first time.

Tell Us Who Should You Thank Today - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Tell Us Who Should You Thank Today - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career With the news last week about the shootings at Fort Hood and the unemployment rate soaring into double digits for the first time since the 1980s, it’s so easy to stay focused on the bad things happening around us and never take a moment to reflect on the good things that have kept us going all year. That’s why I declared 11/11 as Network Appreciation Day, so we can devote some thought and energy on the great people in our lives who’ve helped us stay sane, optimistic and motivated. Because there are wonderful folks around us who make time for us, listen to our needs, and help us in any way they can. As well as people who make us feel welcome and include us in activities that help us grow and connect us with more people. Who is that person for you? We want to know, and more importantly we want them to know what a difference they’ve made in your life, business or career. Post a comment about them below. I’d love to hear your stories. If your style is to give gratitude in a less public way, then take a few minutes today or tomorrow and do one or more of the following: Send a written note. You might have already shared your thanks in an email, by phone or even in person, but a hand written note is something that people can keep forever. Offer help in return. Check in and see if there’s anything they’re working on that you can help withâ€"whether they need some quick feedback or help spreading the word on an upcoming marketing promotion. Make a connection. Think about who else in your networkâ€"whether in person or onlineâ€"they should know and who should know about them. My favorite thing to do is to make a Twitter intro (Twintro?). Pay it forward. If they don’t need anything now, then do something nice for a stranger, or even someone you see at the office every day but have never gone out of your way for. Gratitude is meant to flow. But, if you are comfortable showing your gratitude in public, then I do hope you’ll share your story or a quick comment below. That will brighten their day AND ours. Looking forward to hearing from you! Author: Liz Lynch is author of Smart Networking: Attract a Following In Person and Online. Connect with Liz on Twitter at  @liz_lynch.

Career Girl Tip Styling Your Exhibition

Career Girl Tip Styling Your Exhibition We’ve all been to at least one trade show, exhibition or event that’s a large and very drab looking room with table after table of boring designs, setups and products. However, whenever you go to see a fashion show or an art exhibition, you can expect to see an abundance of color coordination, style and individuality. So why leave the decorators at the door when trying to market a product at a trade show? Once you have organised the more vital points of exhibiting at a trade show such as the when’s, where’s how’s and how much’s, you can reward yourself by having a bit of fun. It doesn’t matter too much what your company is selling, as long as the design and decoration compliments the service or product, you can’t go too far wrong. Get creative with tablecloths, bunting, lighting and presenting your service or product. For example, someone with an upcycling company may use an upcycled patchwork quilt as a tablecloth, with fairylights and examples of upcycled products. On the other hand, someone promoting a race car game might use the checkered finish line flag as a tablecloth and have images framed within steering wheels. Personalised pitches with high quality theme and graphics will be a lot more memorable than boring tables with no character! Whatever you bring to the table, make sure you make it your own. A company with style and character stands a better chance of gaining new contacts and customers than your run of the mill exhibition pitch, so nurture your creative side and be brave!

Tips For Writing a High School Resume

Tips For Writing a High School ResumeIt is a very common challenge that some students have to write a resume during their senior year of high school. This can be challenging at times but it can also be quite rewarding and exciting. I am going to go over a few tips for you on how to be successful in writing a high school resume. After reading this article, you will be on your way to learning how to write a good high school resume.First of all, you should always try to stick with a generic format when writing your resume during your senior year of high school. There are many ways that you can do this, but it is best to stick with the basics so that you don't have to worry about any formatting issues later on. Most employers are going to look for your experience and skills so your resume needs to be laid out as a career tool.The first thing that you need to do when writing your resume is to make sure that it is professionally formatted. Your resume will tell your potential employer exac tly what type of job you want. Your resume will help you get the right kind of job.Next, you should make sure that it is short and to the point. There are many things that employers may be looking for and most of them are very specific. Don't try to cram a lot of information into a small space. The point is to make it seem like you are someone who just wants the job.Make sure that you use clear and concise language. If you don't, then the reader may not be able to read all of your information. People who write in a sloppy manner will not be able to express themselves very well in the document that they are trying to send out.Lastly, you should highlight relevant experience that you have had throughout your high school career. You might also want to include any awards or recognitions that you may have received from any organizations that you might have been involved with. These things should be listed in order to keep things flowing.The most important component of any resume is its c ontent. Your resume is your chance to make yourself stand out among the rest of the applicants. Employers are going to be looking for strong applicants. It doesn't matter what kind of job you are applying for, but your resume is going to make or break your chances of getting hired.Make sure that you do your homework to make sure that you are making the most of your time in high school. The last thing that you want to do is waste your entire career because you didn't prepare properly for your next college career. Make sure that you utilize your senior year as a time to grow as a person.

secure job

secure job In this rapidly changing world, it is no surprise that job seekers are looking for security and stability. Honestly, who really wants to be in job search again any time soon? But I dont think that should be the number one priority in finding a new job or career. Or better yet, lets redefine what job security is. In my mind, job security means that we can take our skills and transfer them to another company when we need to. (When, not if). We cant control the decisions of a company, we can control the decisions we make. Those decisions include a commitment to develop our skills to be transferable and the knowledge to know where they transfer to. There are job seekers that are pursuing career changes into the medical field, solelybecause, those are in demand.Well, that and the fact that some of the colleges are promoting certificateprograms that make it tempting. Most of these people were not cut out to be direct care providers (Phlebotomists, nurses, CNAs, Medical office workers). Or, they didnt do enough research to figure out what those jobs really entailed (odd shifts for entry level positions, working with sick people, understaffed/overworked environments, dealing with the public). When choosing a new work environment, career, job, whatever, you need to start by assessing what it is you like doing best. I like teaching people, I like organizing work processes, I like solving complex problems could all translate into a variety of jobs and industries. Instead of focusing on where the jobs are most abundant, focus on where your passion is most abundant.

How Your Office Decor Affects Your Company Brand - CareerAlley

How Your Office Decor Affects Your Company Brand - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. If your company gets any client, potential client, or potential candidate traffic at all, its imperative your office conveys the message you want it to. Imagine a potential client comes into your office and sees an unkempt setting. Do you think they are going to plunk down a bunch of money with your company? Absolutely not. Heres how your office decor affects your company brand, and what you can do about it. The First Impression Is Everything Youve already landed the job of your dreams. Now, however, you need to make sure your company succeeds. Just as with people, your office has the ability to give first impressions and, if thats a negative one, youre already in need of a leg up in portraying a positive company brand. If you have a front desk with a receptionist, make sure he or she always keeps the area neat. Have your companys logo clearly presented, and keep any dcor sleek and minimal. Grab designer modern decor from a site like www.touchofmodern.com to avoid clutter and create a sense of refinement on first glance. Serving beverages in the waiting area is a super nice touch. Consider a cooler with sodas and water. Snacks also go a long way to make an impression. By the time they walk into their meeting or interview, your candidates will already be sold on your company, and we really mean that. Totally Technology A lot of the hot careers right now are in technology, so you dont want potential candidates and/or clients to walk around your office and see you using old computers, printers, etc. We know these things are expensive but trust us when we tell you that investing in these the latest technology will pay off tenfold in reflecting a positive company brand. Reflect Your Personality Make sure your furniture reflects your company persona. Big, fluffy papasan chairs in the waiting area tell people you have a laid-back culture, while sleek, white furniture might convey a more modern personality. Make sure the artwork on the walls matches this as well. Consider mixing in some accolades from your company, such as any awards youve received or a digital sign that reflects your companys recent profits. Of course, you only want to do this if youve been doing well as of late! Sometimes things like pool tables and office ping-pong tables might seem a little clich but, hey, if employees use these items when theyre feeling stressed or overworked, the more power to you. They certainly tell those who enter the office that you dont take yourselves too seriously. Consider making the ping pong table tournament into a fun inter-office competition with PingPongNinja.com. Home Sweet Office People who work full time in the office setting spend a good amount of their lives at work, so you want this place to feel as homey as possible while still promoting productivity. Consider investing in a high-quality music system for the office to keep up morale. Of course, everyone has different abilities to focus with distractions, so check in with employees on music and sound level, etc. Many employees dont want to take the time to go out to eat every day, as they dont want to spend the money or the time away from their work. Because of this, you should try and make the kitchen as nice as possible. Make sure this area is always clean, even if that means you need to make a schedule to have employees pitch in to keep it neat. This will also reflect a company brand that is all about cooperation, which is never a bad thing. If you have the budget, consider bringing lunch in for your employees once a week, as this will go a long way to show your appreciation. If not, though, a monthly potluck is still a fun way to break up the workday. Either way, a bowl of fresh fruit and granola bars is an inexpensive way to show you care and to help with concentration. Office decor can really help you portray a positive company brand. Follow these tips and youll be on your way to success. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+