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Add You - How People Really Explore New Careers: What Does A Real Career Search Look Like?
At last you have been called to interview for the job you really want.Do you think this could this be you?Confidently sitting through your interview and being absolutely sure that you can answer any question the interviewer might throw at you. No nerves, no butterflies and no worry about unforeseen questions coming up; you know the top interview answers to tricky interview questions.Most of us would love to be that relaxed, but the truth of the matter is that most of us get very nervous when it comes to interview.What causes the nervousness is lack of knowledge and information, especially about the top interview answers. If we knew more about the main types of interview that might come up or how to discover the interviewer's hidden needs we would be well on the way and better prepared for the interview.And we really need to understand the nine key qualities that most interviewers are interested in plus the important Do’s and Don’ts and then we would start to feel better.For my money the answers to the top interview questions are all I would ask for and some good closing questions I could ask to determine the right
Take teaching, for example. You love kids and want to work with them and you don't mind earning less than your corporate counterparts. Your workday ends at three and you get su
The other day I was sifting through about 1000 business cards I've collected over the years. I noticed a few things that frustrated me:1. No email address. Come on. It's 2007. People aren't going to look online for your email, or worse yet, guess what your email is.2. Mismatched email. You have a website, yet your email is mike233@aol.com. Where's the consistency? Furthermore, using AOL, Hotmail or Yahoo takes your level of professionalism down a few clicks.3. Tiny print. I'm only 27 and my eyes hurt looking at some of these cards. Remember, there's two sides. S-P-A-C-E---I-T---O-U-T!4. TMI. Too much information. (That's what websites are for!) Pick a few important things and keep it simple.5. Folded cards. There is SOME allure to folded cards: more surface area and it stands out in people's stacks. But to be honest, if a folded card and doesn't lay flat on your stack, you're either going to throw it out or rip it in half.6. Duh! One man who works in real estate has a little heart on his card that says, "I LOVE REFERRALS!" Well DUH! Who doesn't? And once again, maybe
What's real? Serendipity and zig-zag patterns
Contemporary researchers find that nearly every career path involves an element of serendipity. John Krumboltz of Stanford University published several articles on this topic in respected journals.
Herminia Ibarra's research at Harvard Business School demonstrated that career change tends to follow a zig-zag pattern rather than a straight line, with two steps forward and one step back. She found limited value in extended introspection and self-analysis. See her book Working Identity. What about testing?
Career coaches and counselors are divided on the subject of tests. Some insist that all their clients undergo a battery of tests. Others dismiss tests entirely. One career counselor says, "I can learn more about a person from astrology than from any personality tests." One coach asks clients to define themselves as "earth, wind, fire or water."
Before you pay for testing, I encourage you to ask what you hope to gain from the time and money you invest. Be aware of the limits on what tests can do for you. After all, if you could just take a battery of tests to forecast your future, we wouldn't hear from so many job-frustrated people!
So why don't tests have all the answers?
A job is much more than a series of skills. Every career or profession includes an ambience - style, working conditions, flexibility of time. Often it's not the work itself that drives people out of the field. It's the "other stuff."
Take teaching, for example. You love kids and want to work with them and you don't mind earning less than your corporate counterparts. Your workday ends at three and you get sum
OK, in an earlier article we asked you to find out from customers how they felt about your small business. The goal was to discover why customers liked your store, and then invent creative ways to subtly repeat that information back to the customers. Essentially, you are seeking emotional ore--raw material from your customers that you can try and build on to create a stronger bond with them. You are trying to create a sticky position in their minds.The master jeweler needs the stones and the gold before he crafts that dazzling wedding ring. The same is true for the master marketer; you need to gain at least some hint of how your customers feel about your small business. And the best way to extract that info is to ask them.Let’s look at another hypothetical business, Big Mike’s Steaks and Ales.Big Mike is Michaela Geiger, and it’s her personality that’s big. Big Mike’s is your traditional Midwest steakhouse, serving the best steaks grilled with pride. Her customers love her and know they get a good deal on a great meal.But Michaela operates in a hostile environment. There are several competing steakhouses that provide a great dinner at
Herminia Ibarra's research at Harvard Business School demonstrated that career change tends to follow a zig-zag pattern rather than a straight line, with two steps forward and one step back. She found limited value in extended introspection and self-analysis. See her book Working Identity. What about testing?
Career coaches and counselors are divided on the subject of tests. Some insist that all their clients undergo a battery of tests. Others dismiss tests entirely. One career counselor says, "I can learn more about a person from astrology than from any personality tests." One coach asks clients to define themselves as "earth, wind, fire or water."
Before you pay for testing, I encourage you to ask what you hope to gain from the time and money you invest. Be aware of the limits on what tests can do for you. After all, if you could just take a battery of tests to forecast your future, we wouldn't hear from so many job-frustrated people!
So why don't tests have all the answers?
A job is much more than a series of skills. Every career or profession includes an ambience - style, working conditions, flexibility of time. Often it's not the work itself that drives people out of the field. It's the "other stuff."
Take teaching, for example. You love kids and want to work with them and you don't mind earning less than your corporate counterparts. Your workday ends at three and you get su
Many new business owners find they aren’t prepared for the decisions that have to be made at startup. Are you starting a business with a limited budget? What about your office space? Will you work from home or rent a space somewhere else? What about preparing a business plan and budget?Many new business owners are using a business concept called a business center to solve the problem. A business center is a service that provides key features of an office such as a business mailing address, phone number, fax and part-time office access. Some services even offer online tools such as web conferencing and document repository. The advantages include low-cost access to these items when you need them and a simple way to receive phone calls and faxes from your clients.Performing Critical TasksWith the right features, a business center can handle minor office tasks so you can concentrate on the critical functions of your business. Instead of organizing, cleaning and maintaining a literal office each day, you can spend time promoting and growing your business through networking and advertising. Your clients benefit because you are able to spend more time
Career coaches and counselors are divided on the subject of tests. Some insist that all their clients undergo a battery of tests. Others dismiss tests entirely. One career counselor says, "I can learn more about a person from astrology than from any personality tests." One coach asks clients to define themselves as "earth, wind, fire or water."
Before you pay for testing, I encourage you to ask what you hope to gain from the time and money you invest. Be aware of the limits on what tests can do for you. After all, if you could just take a battery of tests to forecast your future, we wouldn't hear from so many job-frustrated people!
So why don't tests have all the answers?
A job is much more than a series of skills. Every career or profession includes an ambience - style, working conditions, flexibility of time. Often it's not the work itself that drives people out of the field. It's the "other stuff."
Take teaching, for example. You love kids and want to work with them and you don't mind earning less than your corporate counterparts. Your workday ends at three and you get su
“I feel overwhelmed!” said Leanne, a store manager for the past five years. “I’m spending more on advertising but sales keep slipping. I don’t feel like I’m on top of my business anymore.”“You’re not alone,” I replied. “I hear that same refrain from many business owners in spite of our booming economy and low interest rates. All that good cheer does little to pacify a business that’s struggling to make ends meet. Do you know why sales are slipping?”“If I knew I could adjust my strategy but I can’t identify the root cause. That’s what’s frustrating me.”• • •“I’ve been marketing this way for years and it’s always produced results. So why has the response rate dropped?” asked Gordon, during a break from his print shop. “I have a great staff but if sales continue to falter, I may have to let someone go. That’s doesn’t sit well with me.”“Have you sat down with your staff and asked for their input?” I suggested. “They’re often an excellent resource. After all, they have a stake in the outcome.”“Hmmm … not really,” he replied. “I don’t want them to know the business is in trouble. That would just add to my problems. I’d rather talk
Before you pay for testing, I encourage you to ask what you hope to gain from the time and money you invest. Be aware of the limits on what tests can do for you. After all, if you could just take a battery of tests to forecast your future, we wouldn't hear from so many job-frustrated people!
So why don't tests have all the answers?
A job is much more than a series of skills. Every career or profession includes an ambience - style, working conditions, flexibility of time. Often it's not the work itself that drives people out of the field. It's the "other stuff."
Take teaching, for example. You love kids and want to work with them and you don't mind earning less than your corporate counterparts. Your workday ends at three and you get su
Put yourself in the shoes of the employer for just a minute. He or she is faced with one of three choices after interviewing you:1. Hire you2. Continue interviewing others, or3. Reject youJust for a minute let’s assume that you sent a well thought out thank you letter. Then discovered a couple of days later when you followed up by telephone that the employer is going to interview additional candidates before making a decision. What then? You gently probe to find out what the employer is looking for that you failed to deliver. Is it a lack of skill or motivation, or a concern about fit?If you are truly interested in the position and convinced about it being a great fit, consider writing a “Keeping in Touch” letter. This is the time to offer new facts that reinforce your candidacy and demonstrate your enthusiasm and persistence.The Keeping in Touch LetterDear Ms. Harris:Thank you so much for meeting with me earlier this month to discuss the bookkeeping position at Simply Thai. As I mentioned during the interview I have extensive experience using Quick Books Pro and Peachtree and have a good understanding of severa
Take teaching, for example. You love kids and want to work with them and you don't mind earning less than your corporate counterparts. Your workday ends at three and you get summers off. You get a decent pension and great benefits.
However, that's not the whole story. Your day begins as early as 6:30 AM. You give up a lot of personal freedom. There's no phone on your desk to make a call home -- and certainly no privacy to talk. A quick trip to the bathroom? Someone has to cover the class. The students go home at three - but you have papers to grade, meetings to attend, and perhaps a rehearsal to direct. Your school district rewards test results, not creative learning.
Another example. Now let's say you like to earn money and solve math problems. Are you ready for a CFO job? Each company has its own culture, of course, but in general the business world values image and style. You have to be comfortable moving through a hierarchy and giving the appearance of respecting authority.
Bottom line: Your aptitudes and values may drive you to teaching, but you will soon be searching for a new career if you are a night person who also values workplace autonomy.
If you have been working a long time, tests often show you are perfect for the job you hold now. After all these years, you've probably internalized values and attitudes of your profession -- and you obviously have enough aptitude to remain employed! Clients frequently come to me after paying hundreds, even thousands of dollars for midlife, mid-career testing. "A waste," they say ruefully.
On the other hand, your college-age children may benefit from testing, especially if they are thoroughly confused about their first career moves. College testing
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