Resumes, and Alternatives!
February 1, 2010
When we’re faced with a job search–by our own dissatisfaction or by our employer’s decision to let us go–one of the first concerns is our resume. Know that it’s a piece of the “How do I get a Job?” puzzle, but is often given more credit than it deserves. To save yourself time and money, check out the book, What Color Is Your Parachute? 2010: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. This comprehensive book, revised annually, is written by Richard Bolles.
In Parachute, see Chapter 5, Resumes and Contacts. Here he talks about the limitations and values of a resume, and recommends cover letters and job-portfolios as alternatives. There’s also a great section on how to jog your memory to come up with achievements (for resumes and interviews), and how to network with your contacts for help. More soon about these topics.
For an easier, more effective job search campaign, I highly recommend, especially in light of today’s economy, a current edition of What Color Is Your Parachute? as a reference book throughout the process. I trust and recommend all that Bolles writes; it’s well researched, clear, helpful. Actually, the beginning of my career counseling work, even before I started working on my master’s degree, was reading this book (earlier edition!) years ago, and sharing what I was learning and using myself, with returning adult students looking for new careers.
Networking for Fun and Ideas!
December 12, 2009
Any time we get to know people and genuinely connect with them is great! It’s enjoyable and often good for reciprocal business leads. I want to tell you about an especially wonderful networking experience I had today.
I have these two delightful, ambitious girlfriends; we’ve been friends for years, and were meeting for lunch once a week for the past couple years. In the past two months we got hooked on hiking together on Saturday mornings. We share what we’ve been doing in our lives and in our work, and ask each other for the help we’d like to receive and offer the assistance we’d love to give.
This gets more and more exciting, as the skills and knowledge we have are utilized to assist one another. Recently one offered to assist the other two with powering up our websites to attract more clients, and asked in return for us to tell others about the good results we’re getting. Easy enough to do!! Another asked us to be part of a brainstorming group for a project she’s working on, and we may become a part of this project, a very large and inspiring project. I was asked by one to take a photo of her for her website; we took pictures this morning, she chose one, and the third friend (the techy one) put the photo onto the friend’s site this afternoon.
Think about ways you and your friends can collaborate and assist one another. It’s great fun to receive assistance and to share talents. Enjoy!
Have you asked Spirit your career questions?
August 25, 2009
Have you asked Spirit?
Do you have lots of questions about your current career, such as, “Is what I am doing really me?” “What is my purpose in life?” “How can I be more in alignment with who I really am and use more of my own gifts in my work life?” “What would I really love to be doing?”
If you have lots of questions, congratulate yourself. We are all continually expanding and developing more of who we are. Asking the question moves you at least half-way to the answer.
So where are the answers? I have come to the conclusion that many are within us. Taking time, maybe 5 minutes in the morning, to sit down at your computer, or a with a notebook and pen, or while you are outside walking is a wonderful time to ask a question and then listen to what you hear from Spirit within. Ask the question, and then listen; pay attention, to what you are hearing or getting and then write what you am hearing. You might think of this as asking and listening to God, Spirit, Source Energy, the Universe, your Spirit Team, or your own inner wisdom. We have many words for different ways of thinking of Spirit. For me, sitting at the computer and inviting guidance for the day, has become a wonderfully centering time during which I find I can easily access guidance.
I encourage you to take the time to invite spiritual guidance each day, regarding your career or any other aspect of your life. Besides the wisdom,you will probably sense an outpouring of love coming your way. This is a beautiful bonus! So much loving assistance is available to us, just for the asking.
Looking for more satisfaction in your career?
August 23, 2009
Are you looking for more fulfillment from your work? Do you wake up in the morning wishing you were anticipating the day ahead of you? Know that it is indeed possible to enjoy your work, to love what you are doing and to be energized by the very doing of it.
Suggestion: start by looking at yourself. Take a sheet of paper and divide it into 3 columns. For the first column, titled “Work,” make a list of the various jobs or work you have done — starting with your most recent job and working backwards. For the second column, titled “Likes,” write the things you liked about each job–across from that job. For the third column, titled “Dislikes,” write the things you did not like about each job, again across from that particular job. When you are finished, take a highlighter and note the things that show up repeatedly under Likes; and then the repeats under Dislikes. This will give you an idea of what you are wanting to have as well as wanting to avoid in your next career. Be aware that you may find what you are looking for in the same career field but in a different employment situation. Or you may be looking for a new field.
If you have questions and would like to talk about this, initial consultations by phone, 520-321-0157, are free, and I would love to talk with you. See the web pages here for additional contact information.
Enjoy your wonderful day, and look for things to appreciate!
Initial Free Career Counseling Phone Consultation
July 15, 2009
If you are liking what you find on this site, or if you have questions, please call me, at 520-321-0157, for a free consultation regarding career counseling. I’d love to answer your questions and learn more about you and your career goals. Are you looking for more career satisfaction? Or a career change? Would you like help writing a resume or preparing for a job interview? Are you looking for more job search strategies? I’m glad to tell you about my approach for helping you achieve your career goals.
Usually the conversation is about 20 minutes. Sometimes we can do the free consult right then, but we can also schedule a time to do this later.
I live in Tucson, Arizona, and this is one of those states that does not observe daylight savings time. During the part of the year when most are on DST, think of Arizona as being on Pacific Daylight Time when you’re calling here. I look forward to hearing from you soon!