Posts from the Career Coaching Category
Career Rediscoveries 2009
March 23rd, 2009 by Beth Kennedy
Wow! What a year 2009 has been for change. I recently was asked by the Director of The Beverly Senior Center if I could teach a career workshop for individuals who are 60 and over, dealing with being laid off. They received some feedback at one of there last activities that some of their Seniors had been laid off. I was so impressed they were being so proactive and focusing on this developing need.
I taught the class on 3/17 – St. Patrick’s day – I figured it may bring everyone some extra luck! I gave the group the option if they wanted to share their personal situation and most did. I admired the courage it took but also their personal motivation to engage all the activities and learn some new career strategies.
I ended the workshop with the 7 most important strategies for job search success. One of them was how important it is to connect daily with individuals you trust to share your situation and get insights. I want to thank the class, because I learned a great deal from their honesty and job loss situations. We all need to think of our careers as if we are self employed. You never quite know when your going to get the tap on the shoulder and all of a sudden you see your life change right before you. The more we can make time for relationships, focus on our own personal and professional development and take good care of ourselves…the easier these challenging transitions will be.
“When your in your nineties and looking back, it’s not going to be how many awards you’ve won. It’s really what did you stand for. Did you make a positive difference for people? – Elizabeth Dole
What Really is Linked In?
March 10th, 2009 by Beth Kennedy
If you already have a linked In profile, give yourself a gold star! If your like many of my new clients…you have been hearing about it and wondering what is this site called Linked In and is it really important?
- Linked In is a business - oriented social networking site.
- It is an interconnected network of experienced professionals from around the world, representing 170 industries and 200 countries. You can learn more at LinkedIn.com.
I have some great stories on how clients were able to use Linked In for networking that led to jobs. My latest story is a client was contacted by a recruiter because he was so impressed with his Linked In profile. Not only did the job sound like a great career fit, the salary range is way higher than my client every dreamed.
Linked In really can help connect you to others to spark success!
“Regardless of what success means to you, you can’t achieve it without the help of others.” Vivian Buchan
Love Your Heart!
February 14th, 2009 by Beth Kennedy
My family and I found out on January 30, 2009 that my sister would be having open heart surgery on February 6, 2009 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. A strange coincidence, the day of her surgery just happened to be National Heart Day. The lobby was filled with hundreds of red heart balloons when my Mom and I brought her in that morning for the surgery. The week as you can imagine was filled with all sorts of emotions. Thankfully, the surgery was a success. On our daily visits I found myself not only being thankful for all the little things in life, but but I really thought a lot about leadership and careers in health care.
I was able to observe the health care practitioners that really had a great fit! I observed their passion, customer service, presence to the patient and the great follow up they provided. My sister’s doctor, Dr. Stelzer was a true example of leadership. He provided 100% ++ customer service, he provided recognition to nurses and other floor staff, and he made such an effort to connect with every person. I observed some doctors that spoke to the nurses as if they were from a different planet with a lack of respect.
Leadership skills are so important in every career and unfortunately lacking in many professionals. We need to ask ourselves:
- “How do I want my customers to describe me?” “What is my reputation?”
- We each have an opportunity to challenge ourselves and focus on how we can be a leader and spark success in ourself and others!
Change & Transition….the continual process!
January 26th, 2009 by Beth Kennedy
I recently facilitated a training in Boston called, Individual Transition in Organizations. I really like the class because it focuses on effective strategies to get through transitions and it is based on William Bridges Transition model. The positive feedback from class participants made me realize how important this subject is right now!
We are all going through changes on a daily basis especially with what is taking place in this economy right now. The question we need to ask ourselves is how is our transition tool kit?
- Change is just an event. Transition is all the psychological elements that take place as a result of the change.
- We need to really look at how every transition is effecting our life and make some positive action strategies.
- Career coaches find that individuals in career transition actually get a job quicker when they have resilience and focus on positive healthy life strategies besides just 6 – 8 hours a day of networking and on line job search.
- Ask your self today….What changes are taking place for you right now and how are you dealing with transitions? What positive transition strategies are you using to keep yourself motivated and engaged?
“Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.” Karen Kaiser Clark
7 Strategies for Career Success: #7 – Develop or Update Your Success Vision
August 7th, 2008 by Beth Kennedy
What is success to you? Many times we focus on others’ success and then we realize later in life something is missing. Just like a cruise boat is not everyone’s ideal vacation…. but for others it comes close to perfect!!
Many of my new clients often begin the coaching process by saying they feel like their life is out of control. They describe their career or life like being on one of those hamster wheels and it just keeps going and going….! This is what happens to us when we do not have a success vision. We have to define what success means to us in our career and life.
Give yourself a goal for this week. Write down what success means to you in your career and your life. The key is to write it down. You will be excited to see your life and career become more engaging because you defined your vision. Let me know how it works out!!!
7 Strategies for Career Success: #6 – Commitment to Lifelong Learning
June 15th, 2008 by Beth Kennedy
Another important strategy is making sure you are staying up to date with the latest and greatest in your field. The exciting news is it has never been easier now with technology. If you cannot physically make a training class you can many times listen or watch teleconferences from the comfort of your own home.
Suggestions to stay up to date include:
- Make sure you belong to your professional association(s) and get involved!
- Lots of learning can take place by reading some of the latest resources in your specialty.
- Attend conferences and teleseminars that will add value to your portfolio.
- Find a mentor if you do not already have one. Great learning takes place in mentoring relationships!!
- Keep a great network so you can call others when you have questions and offer assistance to them as well.
Lifelong learning is lots of fun and can keep you engaged and ready for career success!
7 Strategies For Career Success: #4 – Understand Your MBTI Personality Type
April 26th, 2008 by Beth Kennedy
“Whatever the circumstances of your life, the understanding of type can make your perceptions clearer, your judgements sounder, and your life closer to your heart’s desire. ~ Isabel Briggs Myers
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (which was designed to implement the theories of C. Jung), is used for identifying our natural preferences and strengths by looking at our energy direction, ways we take in information, how we make decisions and our lifestyle. A major part of my training business is facilitating MBTI workshops and it is also used with all my coaching clients.
If your familiar with the MBTI you know the power it can have in your life! The benefits include:
- Improving your communication skills at work and in your personal life
- Identifying your preferences and how these are similar or different from others in your department or team
- Clarification of your natural strengths, leadership style and blind spots
- Understanding of how your preference impacts career choice and happiness
- Strategies that improve your time and stress managment
It is important if you take the MBTI to validate it with an MBTI certified facilitator. If you go to my Resource section you will see some great books that can give you additional insight. One of my favorites is Do What Your Are by Paul Tieger & Barbara Barron.
The comment I receive the most after my MBTI Trainings is “Wish I had this training and understanding of my type ten years ago.” Learn about it now it you have not already and if you have, take your MBTI knowledge to the next level. It will add more success to your career and life!
7 Strategies For Career Success: #3 – Don’t Stress Over Things You Can’t Control
April 6th, 2008 by Beth Kennedy
Even the greatest jobs can make us stressed at times! Sometimes our stress management strategies work and other times we need to think about why we are so stressed out.
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Write down a list of all the things that contribute to you feeling stressed. Now, cross off the things you have no control over. It’s pointless wasting our energy on these things. Instead, put your efforts toward changing the things you can control.
- Every day you need to ask yourself, “What am I doing today to manage my stress?” The most stress-resilient people do this without thinking. Simple, doable strategies work best. Are you getting regular exercise? Are you eating healthy? Are you including some of your interests that truly relax you, such as yoga, reading, gardening, cooking, dancing or time with friends?
7 Strategies for Career Success: #2 – Goal Setting that Works!
March 29th, 2008 by Beth Kennedy
When we think of Goal Setting many individuals think of New Year’s resolutions. Most of my clients including myself find that setting New Year goals, results in more frustration than success.
- The strategy that seems to work the best is quarterly goal setting and focusing as Stephen Covey would say, “on the big rocks!” Every 3 months I set one or two very specific goals in some key areas. The key areas could include career or professional development, friends or family, stress management or exercise, and vacation or house goals. An example of my latest goal was trying a spinning class at the YMCA. I love it and now go every week!
- My clients find it is more manageable to set smaller goals and see the immediate impact on their life!
- The best goals are something you will embrace, enjoy and in the end; grow from!
- It is amazing that when you set goals in other areas of your life it definitely sparks career success!
~~ Try it and see what you think!
7 Strategies for Career Success: #1- Having a Strategic Resume
March 24th, 2008 by Beth Kennedy
The 7 strategies for career success are for individuals that may or may not be job hunting. We often forget how important it is to focus on career development even if our present job is fine! My goal as a coach is to keep my clients prepared and ready for any change.
I suggest every 3 months you update your resume with the latest and greatest accomplishments! We all know resumes are now about making impact and not just listing job responsibilities.
- I suggest to my clients that they keep an accomplishment folder that they update once a month. Taking 15 minutes once a month to list some of those great projects you accomplished makes updating your resume quick and effective.
- The other strategy I recommend is what I call the : 10 second scan. Ask someone you trust to read your resume and then stop them after 10 seconds. Ask them what do they think are you top 3 selling points? If their not sure….It is time to make your resume more strategic. The big buzz word these days is, what is your personal brand? Can someone reading your resume understand what makes you stand out and why they should hire you for this position.
My next several blogs will share with you strategies that my clients have found to be very helpful for career success. Stay tuned in my next blog for Strategy #2: Goal Setting that works!