A Guide to Choosing a Career Coach or Counselor

When looking for career coaches or counselors the basic truth is: all the coaches and counselors divide basically into three groups:

a.) Those who are honest, compassionate, and caring, and know what they're doing.

b.) Those who are honest but don't know what they're doing.

c.) Those who are dishonest, and merely want your money-large amounts, in a lump sum, and up front. These are often so-called executive counseling firms-some executive counseling firms-rather than individual counselors.

Your job is if you want help and do not want to waste your money, you have to learn how to distinguish one from the other. When looking for coaches see if they give you a bad vibe if they do there is a good chance that they are just in it for the money and you should stay away from them. Coaches and counselors can help you find a job easier and prepare you for the interview, but it is solely up to you in order to secure that job when you go for the job interview. You need to believe in yourself and have confidence in who you are and what makes you stand apart from others.

How to Deal With Your Feelings

Trying to handle your feelings can be tough, especially if you are in a depressed mood about not being able to find a job. However, with these ten easy ways given below, you will be able to deal with your feelings when you are unemployed.

1.) You can catch up on your sleep.

2.) There are other things that you can do to keep yourself more physically fit while unemployed.

3.) You can do something about the physical space around yourself.

4.) You can get outdoors daily and take a good walk.

5.) You can focus on other people.

6.) You can go on fun mini-adventures.

7.) You can deal with your feelings by expanding your mental horizons, and learning something new.

8.) You can talk, talk, talk with your loved ones, or a close friend, about all the feelings you have.

9.) You can pound a punching bag or even some pillows, to get some of the angry energy out of yourself.

10.)  You can make a list each day of the things that make you grateful, glad, or even happy, day by day.

Finding Your Mission in Life

When taking a closer look at what the word "mission" means, it has always been considered a religious concept. It is defined as "a continuing task or responsibility that one is destined or fitted to do or specially called upon to undertake." There are three secrets to finding your mission in life and they are described below:

1.) Your first Mission in life- To seek to stand hour by hour in the conscious presence of God, the One from whom your Mission is derived.

2.) Your second Mission in life- To do what you can, moment by moment, day by day, step by step, to make this world a better place, following the leading and guidance of God's Spirit within you and around you. 

3.) Your third Mission in life- To exercise the Talent that you particularly came to Earth to use-your greatest gift, which you most delight to use, in place(s) or setting(s) that God has caused to appeal to you the most, and for those purposes that God most needs to have done in the world.

Understanding Who You Are

One of the most effective job-hunting methods includes answering the question of, why does an inventory of who you are, work so well in helping you find work, after other methods have failed? The answer to this question is seen below:

1. By doing this homework on yourself , you learn to describe yourself in at least six different ways, and therefore you can approach multiple job-markets.

2. By doing this homework on yourself, you can describe in detail exactly what you are looking for.

3. By ending up with a picture of a job that would really excite you, you will inevitably pour much more energy and determination into your job-search.

4.By doing this homework, you will no longer have to wait to approach companies until they say they have a vacancy.

5. When you are facing, let us say, nineteen other competitors for the job you want-equally experienced, equally skilled-you will stand out because you can accurately describe to employers exactly what is unique about you, and what you bring to the table that others do not. 

6. If you are contemplating a career-change, maybe-after you inventory yourself-you will see definitely what new career or direction you want for your life. 

7. Unemployment is an interruption, in most of our lives. And interruptions are opportunities, to pause, to think, to assess where we really want to go with our lives. 

There Are Over Eight Million Vacancies Available Each Month

To start off, job-hunting has changed dramatically since 2008, yet the job-hunt hasn't really changed at all since 2008. The surface behavior of the job-hunt is always changing, for the most part dramatically. This has to do with the technology. Once new technology arises the job-hunting alters. Many people ask "If there are typically eight to ten million jobs available each month, why didn't I get one of them?" Well the answer to that is stated below:

1. Job-hunting is not a science; it is an art- There is help, coaching, counseling, and advice-online and off.

2. Job-hunting is always mysterious- You may never understand why things sometimes work, and sometimes do not.

3. There is no "always wrong" way to hunt for a job or to change careers- There are degrees of likelihood of certain job-hunting techniques working or not working. But it is crucial to know that likelihood.

4. There is no "always right" way to hunt for a job or to change careers- There are degrees of likelihood of certain job-hunting techniques working or not working. But it is crucial to know that likelihood.

5.  Job-hunting is, or should be, a full-time job- If your job-hunt is not working, you must increase the amount of time you are devoting to your job-hunt.

How to Start Your Own Business

Have you ever been so frustrated in not being able to find a job that you think to yourself, what if I became my own boss? Well, today we learned the proper steps that should be taken when trying to start your own business. The four steps that a person should follow include: write, read, explore, and get feedback.

1. Write- Before you can start a business you have to understand more fully who you are. Therefore, get out a piece of paper and start jotting down ideas of things you are good at and things you love to do. From there make a list where the first two lists overlap one another. Then ask yourself, "will anyone pay me to do these things?"

2. Read- What you want to do next is read up on how to run your own business. The Internet has a ton of information out there on how to successfully start your own business, so make sure you take advantage of this awesome opportunity.

3. Explore- Make sure you take time to interview others who have started the same kind of business as you want to start up, in order to see what works and does not work for them. There ends up being three steps taken in order to summarize this simple formula: A-B=C.
A.) Is the skills, knowledge, or experience it takes to make this kind of business idea work.
B.) Is the skills, knowledge, or experience that you have.
C.) A-B, This list ends up being what is required for success in such a business, that you may not have, but are willing to go out and hire those who have it.

4. Get Feedback- Before you officially go out and start your own business, first seek feedback from fellow peers and colleagues to see what they think about you becoming your own boss. This feedback is critical for you, because it helps you to seek advice and helpful tips on how you can succeed in your own business. Remember there is always some risk in trying something new, but do not have that discourage you from trying new things. You only have one life to live, so why not make the best of it?

Choosing or Changing Careers

There are five ways that can be taken in order to choose or change a career.

1. The Internet- It is a digital, online house of information that is consistently up-to-date. This will allow for easy access of career options to be found, due to the wide variety of career openings that can be retrieved on the internet. 

2. Test- These assessments can help guide you to finding that perfect insight needed to choose or change a career. Before taking one of these tests you have to know that you are absolutely unique and no test can measure YOU, rather it can only describe the group to which you belong. Also, try not to figure out ahead of time how you want the test to come out, stay open to new ideas. Never just take one test because it can lead you down the wrong path, instead make sure to take at least three. The tests can be helpful  to give you clues and suggestions at what career fits your personality the best.

3. Using The Flower Exercise- This requires careful, thorough, step-by-step process, for ensuring that you are choosing a career that fits you like a glove: a dream career, or dream job. Based on the answers you give for each question, will allow for a new career to be built. 

4. Changing A Career In Two Steps- There are two parts to a job: title and field. Title is really a symbol for what you do. Whereas, Field is where you do it, or what you do it with. The way to successfully choose a new career is to change one part, either the title or field, but not at the same time so you have the ability to have work experience in more than one job-setting.

5. Finding Out What The Job-Market Will Need- This is not based on your needs or wants, but on projections about the coming needs and wishes of the job-market. This is an excellent opportunity for you to see what fascinates you while at the same time allowing you to see what the job market will need in years to come.

Everyone Is Handicapped

No matter what job you apply for or wherever you end up working, everyone is handicapped. The true meaning behind being handicapped is having a dis-ability. There are just some things that people do not have the ability to do. Therefore, there is no excuse in not being able to get a job.

The best way to overcome this mindset of having a dis-ability is to write down the skills you do have and what skills you do not have. By doing this it allows you to be aware of who you are as a person and how you can learn to improve on your skills.

The worst part about job-hunting is getting denied the job even though you meet all the criteria. One reason for this denial is due to the fact that the employers are prejudice against you as a person and not really looking at what you are capable of doing but rather what you may look like. Some employers look for how long you've been out of work or are prejudice against returning veterans, ex-offenders or ex-mental patients. 

One thing to try and avoid doing when job-hunting is being shy. No one likes a shy person because employers feel like you are unequipped to deal with any situations that may come your way. So my  number one advice to give you is to go after jobs that really interest you because you will be more enthusiastic about what you are applying for. Also, having a high self-esteem allows you to be confident in what you do and what you are willing to learn.  

Choosing Your Dream Job

We learned today that job-hunters get to choose where they end up working. Many people do not realize that they are in charge of their own life and get to decide where they get to work,
but realistically they do. The five steps that job-hunters have found helpful if taken in the correct order are:

First, you need to find out what careers or jobs your flower points to.

Second, you need to try on careers before you decide which ones to pursue.

Third, you need to find out what kinds of organizations have such jobs.

Fourth, you need to find names of particular places that interest you.

Fifth, you need to learn as much as you can about a place before formally approaching them.

All these steps allow you as a job-hunter to find the perfect job that fits your interests and allows you to succeed in your career of choice. Take a chance and explore your options before accepting a job because you never know what is out there unless you look.

Twelve Best and Worst Ways To Look for a Job

What to do when your job-hunt isn't working? Never give up. Finding a job may be difficult, however, there are a lot of different ways to look for a job.You just have to find the best fit for yourself.

1. Looking for employers' job-postings on the Internet. This method works approximately 4% of the time.

2. Posting or mailing out your resume to employers. This works at getting you a job 7% of the time.

3. Answering local newspaper ads. This method works somewhere between 5% of the time, all the way up to 24% for those people looking for low-level salary jobs.

4. Going to private employment agencies or search firms for help. This apparently works somewhere between 5% of the time, on up to 28%.

5. Answering ads in professional or trade journals, appropriate to your field. Method works only 7% of the time.

6. "Job Clubs." The job-hunting success rate is usually around 10%, if that.

7. Going to the state or federal employment office.  This method works 14% of the time.

8. Going to places where employers pick up workers. This method will find you work 22% of the time, however, most of the time it will be a short-term job. Such as, for trades or construction.

9. Asking for job-leads. This is a great method to use because it works 33% of the time.

10. Knocking on the door of any employer, office, or manufacturing plant. This works best with small employers (25 or less employees) because the method works up to 47% of the time.

11. Using the Yellow Pages. This method might seem outdated, however, it still works approximately 65% of the time.

12. The Parachute Approach. If this method is followed, step by step, than it can work up to 86% of the time which is amazing to think about. You have a twelve times better chance of finding work using this method, than if you had just sent out your resume.

Every approach can help someone find a job, but not all approaches are successful for that one person. Therefore, my advice to you is try each one out until you find that perfect match and job that you love.

Salary Negotiation

A golden rule when job-hunting is to make sure you discuss salary before you agree to take the job. Afterwards try to "negotiate" your salary so you end up with the best salary ever. However, you do not need to be scared because there are six simple secrets to keep in mind when trying to negotiate a salary.

1. Never Discuss Salary Until the End of the Whole Interviewing Process. If you really shine during the hiring interview, the employer may-at the end-offer you a higher salary than they originally had in mind when the interview first started.

2. The Purpose of Salary Negotiation Is to Uncover the Most That an Employer Is Willing to Pay to Get You.  The employer's goal is to save money when hiring. Whereas, your goal is to bring home the most money you possibly can. Therefore, it is good to have a range of money you are willing to accept in a negotiation in mind before the hiring process takes place.

3. Never Be the First One to Mention a Salary Figure. The employer is trying to pay the least they can for you and you want the employer to pay the most they can for you. If you mention salary first it might be at the low end of what the employer was planning to hire you for and they might accept your offer right away without further negotiation, which is not what you want. You want to hear what they have to say first and then negotiate from there.

4.  Before an Interview, Do Some Careful Research on Typical Salaries for Your Field. Do research online and off in order to see the salaries for particular positions, occupations, or industries. This research gives you a good idea of what salary is appropriate to negotiate.

5. Research the Range That the Employer Likely Has in Mind, and Then Define an Interrelated Range for Yourself, Relative to the Employer's Range. When negotiating you want to be somewhat on the same page as the employer because this allows you to negotiate a better salary. Before you go in for the interview, figure out an "asking" range for yourself. This asking range should "hook in" just below the employer's maximum, then go up from there.

6. Know How to Bring the Salary Negotiation to a Close; Don't Leave It "Just Hanging." Salary negotiation is not finished unless benefits are discussed as well. Make sure you come to the interview with an idea of benefits that are most important to you. Also, always get the negotiation in writing with a signature because you never know if the employer will forget what you discussed during the interview when it comes to your salary.

Tips About Interviewing

Interviews can be intimating for anyone, especially if it is your first time. However, by following these sixteens tips when being interviewed there should be no more fear present.

1. There is no such thing as "employers." This means each "employer" is different from the next individual, therefore, no one can generalize "employers."

2. An interview should be prepared for, before you ever go in. This means do research on the company you are interested in so they see you really want the position and they are impressed that you took the extra time and effort to find out about the company.

3. Honor agreements. Make sure if you are the one who asked for the interview you set a time limit and stick to that time. This shows you are a woman, or man of your word.

4. An interview for a job is a lot like dating. The interview is to decide if the employer as well as yourself want to both "try going steady." Both get to learn a little about each other before making a drastic decision in life.

5. Questions to expect from them, then questions to ask. "Tell me about yourself" is an important question asked because it gives room to answer and can truly make a person stand out from all the other perspective candidates for the position offered. Make sure to talk about experiences, skills, or knowledge you have, that are relevant to the job trying to be filled.

6. During the interview, determine to observe "the 50-50 rule." Make sure you talk 50% of the time and then listen the other 50% of the time. This makes the interview run smoother and more efficient.

7. In answering the employer's questions, observe "the twenty-second to two-minute rule." Do not drag an answer on too long because this makes the interviewer not as interested. Keep it short and to the point.

8. The employer is primarily concerned about risk. An employer is afraid that once they hire you you will not end up working out. In many cases, you cost the employer a lot of money. Prove the employer wrong and show them how you will be dedicated to the work at hand.


9.  It's the small things that are the killers, in a job interview. Your appearance and personal
habits are what stands out during an interview, therefore, dress appropriately and have confidence in yourself.

10. Be aware of the skills most employers are looking for, these days, regardless of the position you are seeking. Employers are looking for people who are dependable, have a good attitude, are driven and have a great sense of enthusiasm, are punctual, can handle people well, and use language effectively.

11. Try to think of some ways to bring evidence of your skills, to the hiring interview. Bring portfolios of the work you have accomplished in life that also relates to the job you are trying to fill.

12. Do not bad-mouth your previous employer(s) during the interview, even if they were terrible people. This is excellent advice to follow because future employers wonder what you will say about them if you end up not working out for the company.

13. Throughout the interview, keep in mind: employers don't really care about your past; they only ask about it, in order to try to predict your future (behavior) with them, if they decide to hire you. This means talk about your past in a positive way and assure the employer you are a dedicated individual really for anything life has to offer.

14. As the interview proceeds, you want to quietly notice the time-frame of the questions the employer is asking. This allows you to measure how the interview is going. Which gives you a good sense on whether or not the employer likes you or not and sees you as a potential employee.

15. Before you leave the (final) interview there, assuming you have decided that you like them and maybe they like you, there are five questions you should always as: 1. "Can you offer me this job?" 2. "When may I expect to hear from you?" 3. "Might I ask what would be the latest I can expect to hear from you?" 4. "May I contact you after that date, if for any reason you haven't gotten back to me by that time?" and 5. "Can you think of anyone else who might be interested in my skills and experience?"

16. Thank-you notes must be sent after every interview, by every job-hunter.  By doing this, many employers can recall you and see the interest you truly have for the company.
   

Writing Your Resume

Writing a resume may seem stressful and scary at first because one may not realize what to write about. However, the first step to writing a resume is grabbing a piece of paper and pen and writing down the answers to the following questions: what are your personal skills that you possess or learned along the way? What skills are you proud of and make you stand out from others? One of the most important features to include in a resume is using quantitative information because future employers like to see a mention of dates, dollars, money or time saved. or brand names in resumes.
 
Resumes are made for a job-hunter to stand out from their competition. The usual time it takes an employer or the HR department to look through a resume is about 8 seconds. In those 8 seconds a person's resume better stand out to the employer in order for them to stop and really examine the job-seeker's resume. Some helpful information to include in a resume is: volunteer, community, and unpaid work, educational experience, administration, and customer service background. It is also important to include responsibility roles given, computer skills, and any positive feedback from customers or companies employers.

The final step when writing a resume is either posting it everywhere on the Internet, where everyone can see it or you can send it to particular employers whom you have targeted. After your resume is out in the open all you have left is the waiting game in which you wait and see who reaches out to you for potential hiring. Not every employer is the same and looks for the exact same type of resume, that is why it is your job to do some researching before putting your resume out and into the open Internet.

Job-Hunting

Job-Hunting is a reality that many people have to face, especially for those straight out of college or have been unemployed for years now. However, there are key principles for successful job-hunting in the 21st century. A principle component when looking for a job is one must ask themselves three main questions: What? Where? and How? The what refers to the skills you must love to use. Where would you love to see yourself using those skills, for example in what field, setting and with what kind of people? Lastly, how do you go about searching for the name and title of such jobs.

Many people still believe that resumes are the best way to go about looking for a job, however, that is a common misconception. An employer is already overwhelmed with how many resumes are on their desk. Therefore, the best approach one should use is make yourself known and stand out for your future employer. The best way to go about this is by joining a job-club with a step-by-step program, or using the yellow pages of the phone book. Also, it has been proven that if a person knocks on the door of any employer, preferably those with 50 or less employees it has 7 times the success rate of resumes.

Now a days everything is switching to online and the best way to search for a job opening is by using various search engines specifically for job positions. A popular search engine is Quintessential Careers which has been around since 1996. If you are not familiar with technology, a computer to be more specific, that is my number one recommendation in order to help you find the job of your dreams. Becoming fluent in technology will help tremendously in the job market scene and will help you become more familiar and up to date with the careers that are out there.