Last week I attended a training course facilitated by Professor Jim Bright on Career Coaching, Counselling and Assessment. The first question he asked was “have you arrived in your current job by choice or by chance?” Jim is the co-author of the book called “The Chaos Theory of Careers” and this training covered how our careers are often shaped by unplanned events. Continue reading “Being in the Right Place at the Right Time”
Category: Career
Career Change, Job Search, Career Transition, Employment Market
Turn Wishful Thinking into an Action Plan
Do you aspire to do things differently or make changes for the better but end up making excuses and doing nothing? Changing habits is about making a commitment to changing our behaviour or actions in areas that are important to us, such as health, money, work and relationships. It’s about identifying what you’d like to improve and taking manageable steps towards making this change.
I’ve written previously on the topic of procrastination and wanted to expand on this with some more strategies to get you moving forward. To get you thinking about how you can make a change, here are five questions to ask yourself: Continue reading “Turn Wishful Thinking into an Action Plan”
The Wonder of Remote Interviewing
A Prague job interview for an Irish woman travelling in Rajasthan, by Genevieve Ward
This month I’ve taken some time out from my business to travel through parts of India. My partner and I are two thirds of the way through a tour of Rajasthan, where we’ve visited palaces and forts, walked through small farming villages and market places, interacted with some of the local people and enjoyed their delicious food. It’s been an amazing experience so far. Continue reading “The Wonder of Remote Interviewing”
Being Paid for What You Love
I admire people who recognise that their chosen job is ‘not for life’ and then do something about it. My Mum started studying for a university degree in her 40s and has since transitioned from working as a Personal Assistant to working in mental health as a Carer Consultant – a role which she thoroughly enjoys.
Being open to a new career path and exploring ways to make this happen, can pay off when you find yourself being paid for what you love. Here’s a couple of career change stories to give you some inspiration:
- Article in Canberra Times (27 May 2014) – How Many Careers Should You Have
- Audio from Radio National Life Matters (22 July 2014) – Alison Ware, Therapeutic Harpist
Cheers, Gen
Going the Extra Mile
When employers are assessing job applications, one of the things they look for is how you can add value to their organisation. As they review your application or listen to your interview responses they will want to know what makes you stand out above the others. Similarly, when potential clients want to hear about my career coaching services, I let them know that I not only help with writing their resume, but also give extra job search tips in our discussions and keep an eye out for suitable job opportunities. Continue reading “Going the Extra Mile”
Are you on LinkedIn?
When I meet new people in a professional setting I often ask if they are on LinkedIn. They may be a potential client, someone who can add value to my business or a job seeker I’m working with. LinkedIn is a professional networking site and many companies use this tool as a means of recruiting staff.
When it comes to landing a job, your LinkedIn profile acts as the online version of your resume. I’m going to share with you 10 ways to strengthen your profile and ensure you are optimising your professional brand with this online platform. Continue reading “Are you on LinkedIn?”
Quote for May
The best careers advice to give to the young is ‘Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it.’ ~ Katherine Whitehorn
Delaying the Inevitable
Ever heard the saying ‘Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today’? I recall my mum using this phrase when I was a teenager and watched a lot of television to avoid studying. Now, I’m having those moments (or hours) where instead of doing business stuff, I’m eating chocolate and catching up on the latest episodes of Rake. Yes folks, I’m procrastinating.
I’ve started thinking about what changes I need to make to improve my business. I’ve identified that the hard stuff for me is making sales calls. I’m good at the softer side of marketing via social media, posters and paid advertising. I do well with networking as I love getting out in the community. However, when it comes to contacting businesses to talk about what I do, I feel out of my comfort zone. So, how do I change this? Continue reading “Delaying the Inevitable”
Seeking Feedback
When it comes to final stage of the interview process and it’s between you and one other applicant, you can congratulate yourself for making it here. You’ve put in a great effort with your resume, cover letter, interview(s), and perhaps some psychometric testing or even a role play! You expect the phone to ring at any moment and fingers are crossed for positive news. In preparation for the outcome being against you, remember to thank them for the opportunity, but also ask the recruiter ‘How did I interview?’…or … ‘What could I have improved on?’
Structuring a Professional Cover Letter
Drafting your cover letter may seem like an easy feat, but many people struggle with this task. It’s about finding a balance in the structure, formatting and clarity of your words. It should sell the writer, grab the attention of the reader and make it easy for the reader to see how you are the solution to their needs.
The Good Life Careers 