They create a calling schedule. They speak with a memorized statement of friendly and concise introduction. They have practiced and rehearsed the performance.

Some will have researched the person to speak with.  Some take their chances. All will have checked out the organization. They have done their homework.  They find interviews.

They take notes. Even where no interviews emerge, they learn. They learn important information and gain important skills.

This approach is one effective method in job search. It is worth your consideration after you are clear on who you are and what you want and how you can contribute.

To schedule your complimentary consultation or ask a question, simply contact me.  Based on our talk, I will create a career coaching plan to be emailed for your consideration.  I hope to hear from you soon!

This means getting clear on who you want to be in the world of work and what you have to offer. Many of my clients explore this question with me. Once we have learned who they are and how they want to contribute, we are on our way.  Some walk in the door with this awareness, and we are on our way. We are ready for next steps.  We are ready for the resume.

The resume which gets you the interview must be thoughtfully done, attention-getting, and error-free.

With clarity on what you want and what you offer plus an appealing resume in hand, you are ready to choose employers and ready to choose your methods. One proven method is to approach the employer in person.  Typically these will be small employers who should always be part of your search.  If you select this creative approach, you will walk in the door with resume and smile and introduction.

Richard Bolles estimates that this method has close to a 50 percent hiring payoff.  So it is clearly well worth considering. To discuss career exploration or the job search, contact me to schedule your complimentary appointment. You will leave that talk with information to decide whether my services are a good match.  I look forward to speaking!

For example, we discuss how to read job market statistics in a way that is both encouraging and accurate.

Let’s say you have read that job seekers in your age group have a 30 percent chance of finding a position within a year. You may hear that news as discouraging. And certainly it would be preferable to hear that job seekers of your age have a 70 percent chance.

However, you have two perfectly accurate ways to think of the initial statement. You can think of yourself as in the 70 percent who won’t find the job in a year. Or you can remember that 30 out of every 100 are finding the job. That becomes 300 people of every thousand who are finding the jobs.

And why shouldn’t you be one of that thirty or three hundred people? This is an example of how my clients learn to read statistics in a way that works for them.

Yes, it takes a dedicated and creative search to be in the thirty percent. If you want to talk that over, just contact me to schedule your complimentary appointment. You will leave our meeting with information you need to decide whether my services would be useful to you. I hope to hear from you today!

Great news from life/work expert Richard Bolles, internationally acclaimed author of What Color Is Your Parachute? He identifies eighteen (yes, 18) choices for conducting a creative job search.

The cornerstone (holding first place) is what Bolles calls a self-inventory to clarify what strengths you want to offer and what interests you want to pursue and what areas of work can provide that life opportunity. He considers this inventory a necessary foundation for all other search methods. To be clear on what you deeply want and what strengths and skills you can offer is key.

In upcoming posts, I will share some of the ways that my clients and I design their creative job search. To schedule your complimentary appointment for discussion of job search and/or career exploration, just contact me. I look forward to speaking!

There is the Artistic theme which covers careers ranging from fine arts to applied arts all the way to careers working with the arts, such as literature teacher.

There is the Social theme with a focus not on partying but on providing a human service. My own  work falls within the career group called Social.

There is the Enterprising theme with a focus on business and sales and entrepreneurial careers. Both Enterprising and Social are people categories and involve working with people in different ways.

There is the Conventional theme which always strikes me as oddly named for a category of careers. These are occupations that involve a strong degree of structure and predictability in the work.

And there is the Realistic theme which also seems an odd name for careers.  The Realistic category includes occupations that tend to require physical skills and often an enjoyment of the outdoors.

This a tiny intro to the seven broad groupings of careers according to interest.  Much more can be said.

There are different versions of the Strong Interest Inventory.  I prefer one that produces eighteen pages of information for  review with my clients (who then keep those results for their further review).

The Strong is an internationally popular and highly regarded career assessment tool. My clients have found it interesting and helpful for many years.  That is why I continue using it.  To discuss how career services may be helpful to you, simply contact me to schedule your complimentary appointment.  I look forward to speaking!

Whether you are creating a new career path or seeking an employer who is a good match or establishing your own enterprise, the way forward requires  that you exercise your creativity and capacity to build with others.

If you wish to schedule a complimentary appointment, simply contact me. You will leave our talk with information to help decide whether creative career coaching makes sense for you.

About a week ago, I did some research on engineering. The number of specialties is astonishing. Some I was aware of and some were brand-new. I am a career coach. Very interesting.

It is impossible to be aware of the thousands of occupations that workers perform in the world or in your region. This is why I place such emphasis with my clients on research, research, research. Learn, learn, learn. It is easy to do and it really pays off long-term.

New careers are emerging as you read.  One of those may be just the path you want. If we work together, you will choose from an informed place. My clients and I are dedicated to smart choices.

To talk over your situation and my services, just contact me for your complimentary initial appointment. You will leave our talk with information to decide whether my services are a good match. I look forward to speaking!

If you are looking, you must enlarge your search unless your field is in high demand. Most workers face tough competition, and so most need to learn new and creative ways to search. Most need to expand.

If you want to establish your own enterprise, any time can be a good time depending on how creative and thoughtful and persistent you will be.  Establishing your own small business is, by definition, playing large.

Perhaps you want to grow in your workplace. You want to play larger and give more. Creativity and communication will be key to expanding your presence and impact.

Employed or not, everyone needs to be learning. Good learners are leading in work and in life.  Everyone needs to be adding skills, updating skills, learning new subjects, performing larger.  How to do that needs to fit who you are.

To discuss how you can perform your life larger,  contact me for your complimentary appointment. You will leave with information to decide whether my services are a good fit.  I hope to hear from you!

The OOH provides the same information for each included career. Remember that this is not local information and check the publish date to see how recent the information is. Supplement as needed with information published in the current year and with info that is local.

The OOH predicts demand in the American workplace for each career. Local demand may be different. You are given ways to find additional information. That is a valuable section. General nature of the work and the usual required training are also included for each occupation.

Although the OOH must be supplemented with information specific to your situation, it is a useful way to expand your exploration. If you wish to discuss your situation and learn more about my services, just contact me to schedule your complimentary appointment. You will leave that meeting with information to decide whether we are a good match.

Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, testified to Congress that the world is seeing two economies developing at two different speeds. In what he called the industrialized economies, the speed has slowed down. That includes America and Europe. In the emerging economies, there is rapid and dynamic growth.  That includes China, India, Brazil, and more.

Consequently, we are seeing more job seekers in the slower economies expanding their searches to include the emerging and dynamic sectors. This includes experienced workers who are looking afar to see where their expertise may be in demand.

We are in a new world that calls for new eyes and creative imagination. To explore your options locally and/or abroad, you may contact me to schedule a complimentary conversation.  Perhaps I can help.