Archive for the ‘Career’ Category
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
As I announced more than a week ago, I am in the process of on-ramping, on-routing … returning to the workforce in a more traditional role. And one of the traditions of the traditional workplace is the resume. Although I started off as a career coach and have worked with countless others on their resumes, I am really dreading updating my own resume. I know I’m not alone in this dread. I hear it all the time from friends and others.
And the whole process has been made even more complex by social media, in particular Linkedin. Before social media sites like Linkedin, a person could create multiple versions of a resume, each targeted at a specific job or field of interest. These days, that level of targeting has become challenging with our lives alive and interactive online. The good news is the Linkedin offers some of flexibility in how information is presented and can offer a broader view of one’s skills, experience and talents.
This morning I struggled with how best cohesively represent the variety of work experiences and roles that I have had in recent years. In my world there is a rhyme and rhythm to my work-related experiences, each highlighting a particular skill or talent or done as a way to hone an under-developed one.
The good news is that the spark has been lit. I have begun updating my Linkedin profile and have actually gotten excited about it as a explore creative ways to describe my world of work. And this work will ultimately prove useful as I move on to my resume.
Onward and upward …
Carolyn
Mama is Having a Fit! / Apply Within Work-Life Hub
Share
Tags: Career, Linkedin, Resume, Work-Life
Posted in Career | 16 Comments »
Saturday, January 10th, 2009
The Washington Post Mega Jobs section is coming out this Sunday. And, with so many people out of work, I’m sure they’ll have lots of readers. But there is a belief in the career industry and elsewhere that by the time an ad appears in the paper, the job is often already off the table. Ads are often posted as a formality or requirement, even as positions are being filled from within or candidates are already being vetted through internal and other sources.
So, what’s the point of the help wanted ads? Well, the above may be true for some industries and not for others. They key is to know your industry and how people are hired. Are they being sought coming right out of college, MBA programs or training schools? Are they typically filled from within? Filled by recruiters? Fed through industry associations? Get connected with people in your field and organizations of interest to get the inside scoop, especially as relates to how the game may have changed in this new economy. Informational interviews are a really useful way to get valuable information to help inform decisions.
Even if jobs in your industry aren’t typically filled through the want ads, they still serve a useful purpose. For those looking for a job, one can get a sense of what types of positions are available, what job titles are being used, what kinds of skills are being sought and what the minimum degree requirements are. A job seeker can look for trends in the industry based on the most popular and least popular positions listed. And, all of this information can be used in creating more targeted resumes and cover letters based on what employers are looking for today.
For those considering a career shift or change, help wanted ads can be used as part one’s research and career exploration or discovery process. As one looks through the ads, they can also look for trends in their field of interest, gauge skills being sought, get a sense of the education or training that might be needed to enter the field. One can also find out if certain kinds of jobs are concentrated in certain areas. And, monitoring the ads over time and help determine if the demand for workers is increasing or shrinking in the area.
So, while responding to ads in the help wanted section of the newspaper or online classifieds may not be the most effective way to land an interview or a job, they are a useful and potentially informative tool that would add value to one’s job search arsenal.
Have you landed an interview or a job by responding to the want ads? Please share your story here.
Share
Tags: Career Discovery, Career Exploration, Job Search, Want Ads
Posted in Career | 36 Comments »
Sunday, December 21st, 2008
A segment last week on NPR’s Tell Me More, with Michel Martin, explored a recent report (2008 A Change of Pace) by Women’s Way that reveals that the gender gap in pay still persists and, with the added dimension of race, the gap is even further illustrated. The discussion includes an exploration of why these gaps exist (career choice, discrimation, impact of primary caregiver roles, etc.). Listen in on the discussion and access the full report from Philadelphia based Women’s Way.
Share
Tags: Pay Inequity, Wage Gap, Wages, Women and Work
Posted in Career | No Comments »
Sunday, June 8th, 2008
Last week the Today Show featured a story on how some companies are reconsidering the traditional five-day work week in favor of four days in the office — either four longer days with one day off or five regular days with one of them being a telecommuting day.
While I would love to think that organizations have finally seen the light on the whole work-life balance / work-life integration conundrum that most working parents face, and lots of non-parents as well, this is not the case. The impetus is the rising cost of fuel. According to the piece, many employers are now feeling the pinch in the wallet themselves and are considering alternative work arrangements to create a favorable situation for employees and employers alike.
While some organizations have had such flexible work policies in place for some time, the piece reports that the programs are becoming even more popular in face of the economic crunch.
Whatever the cause, my hope is that the experience will be positive for organizations and employees alike; that all will see the benefits as relates to the wallet and the pump, and also in productivity, workplace satisfaction, employee retention, the environment, and other areas as well.
While it’s disappointing that the countless ongoing efforts of so many to create this shift in support of the challenges faced by working families was not the main motivator, I do hope this shift will be incorporated into the work landscape on a broader scale as a permanent alternative.
What’s your organization’s policy on flexible scheduling and/or alternative work arrangements?
Share
Tags: Career, four-day work week, work, Work / Life Integration, work-life balance
Posted in Alternative Work, Career, Life, Productivity, Work / Life Integration | 3 Comments »
Friday, May 30th, 2008
I’ve been absent from my blog for several weeks! Earlier this spring I was offered a wonderful opportunity to be the business and operations manager (part-time) of the childcare center that my two younger children attend. I’ve long been very fond of the school and had been working with the founder and manager as a parent volunteer. This opportunity would enable me to have an even greater impact on the non-profit school and be in the presence of and have access to my kids, even while working.
It would also create another stream of income while providing a whopping discount on full-time child care for two kids. I’m entrepreneur with two active ventures (Apply Within and The Enterprising Moms) and a mom who chose to develop a portfolio career with multiple streams of income as a way of achieving better work-life integration. Because I made these decisions, in part, to have more time with the kids, I initially struggled with decision to enroll them in childcare full-time.
Finding the ideal childcare situation is one of the greater challenges that working parents face. I’m fortunate to have a place where I’m thrilled to send my kids and one that’s so philosophically aligned that I’d consider working there as well. This made considering full-time enrollment a bit easier. As a pondered my options, I realized that in this situation, full-time care is just that — an option. It’s there if I need it. I can use it or not depending on my work flow — the ultimate in childcare flexibility.
This flexibility would also give me some space to focus increased attention on my other ventures. It would enable me to have more dedicated time with the kids and with work while being fully present for each. It would also provide a more consistent rich, stimulating and educational environment for my kids. And so, I took the plunge!
It’s been a couple of months since I started and there have been some challenges, which is why I’ve been away. As with any transition, there’s a learning curve and lots of adjustments to make in many areas of our lives. New schedules and routines; new time constraints and logistics to consider. The dinner time crunch has been exactly that. I’m still working on figuring out that piece!
So that’s where I’ve been. I’m still fully dedicated to Apply Within and The Enterprising Moms and look forward to continued growth both businesses. This new opportunity has just added an additional dimension to my career and I’m honing some key skills that are useful in all arenas.
I haven’t quite worked out the right mix of work and play just yet, but the picture is getting clearer each day. Being highly flexible and adaptable is key in navigating this transition as things evolve.
Stay tuned …
Share
Posted in Alternative Work, Career, Choice, Family, Parenting, Work / Life Integration | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
Did you happen to see the main cover story in the Business Section of The Washington Post on Saturday, March 22? If not, take a look …
The story, “Career or Family? Yes.” explored the challenges faced by many working moms who struggle with work-life balance issues and highlighted several local firms, coaches and consultants that address these issues. Many assist moms in finding part-time and flexible work arrangements.
I am quite excited and honored to have been included in the story. If you’re a working parent seeking more a fulfilling and better balanced life, contact me to learn how I can help.
Share
Tags: Washington Post, work-life balance, Working Moms
Posted in Alternative Work, Career, Moms, Work / Life Integration | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, December 18th, 2007
What’s your brand? How do you set yourself apart from your colleagues and competitors? What makes you unique? And how do you share your differentiating qualities with your colleagues, clients, and those you encounter and engage?
While the concept of personal branding has been around for a while, it’s gained lots of attention in recent years and is being promoted as a highly effective way of managing one’s career and/or building one’s business.
Ten years ago, FastCompany.com’s article “The Brand Called You” drew useful parallels between one’s personal brand and that of big name organizations and offered a method of discovering the essence of one’s own brand.
Last month, A Brand New You, held a day-long summit on personal branding featuring presentations by many leaders in the field. While I was unable to participate, I was happy to see that the presentations were recorded and are available for download or to listen to online or via podcast.
And, last week I participated in a teleclass on personal branding, featuring William Aruda and Kirsten Dixon, co-authors of a new book on the subject: Career Distinction: Stand Out By Building Your Brand. The team talked about the importance of taking ownership of your career and responsibility for your career development. Through their book, they offer strategies for using personal branding to do so. While I haven’t read the book, I have added to my reading list. Once I do read it, I’ll be sure to provide a review.
What I liked about the branding concept is that it isn’t about packaging. It’s about you … getting really clear on who you are, what’s most important to you and understanding how to leverage those things to enhance and manage your career and/or business. It’s about discovering your unique talents and sharing them with those who need to know about them.
Have you developed your personal brand? If so, I ‘d love to hear about your experience in doing so and how it has impacted your career or business.
Share
Tags: Business, Career, career management, Entrepreneurship, Personal Branding
Posted in Career, Entrepreneurship | No Comments »
Saturday, December 15th, 2007
Last week, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics released it’s 10 year forecast for the occupational outlook through 2016. The projections, which are updated every two years, are used by career professionals, educators, trainers, and individuals who are interested in, planning for, and making decisions based on employment trends.
The projections offer useful information about which occupations are showing the largest growth and the largest declines. They also show the fastest growing occupations.
So, if you’re considering a career change or are interested in seeing what the future might hold based on your current career path, take a look into the future — from one perspective, at least.
Share
Posted in Career | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
The weather is turning cooler, more seasonal, and holiday decorations pepper the landscape. As we sail into the holiday season, people are shifting from intimate social gatherings with close friends and family to socially engaging winter holiday activities: holiday shopping, volunteering, attending parties and celebrations, etc.
And, while lots of people slow down and disconnect a bit from their work lives as the year draws to a close, it can be a wonderful time to create new connections and fruitful relationships as you begin a new year.
Whether a new job or career is on the forefront, (and especially if one is), here are a few tips for connecting during holiday festivities:
- Keep personal ‘business’ cards on hand
Even if you are gainfully employed, a card with your contact information and area of expertise can help facilitate new connections (no fumbling for pen and paper, no risk of misspellings or difficult to read handwriting). Don’t have any? Order some for free at vistaprint.com.
- Be able to describe what you do in a compelling way in a minute or two (over a platter of veggies and dip!)
Instead of reciting a job title when someone asks what you do, think about how you help people and/or organizations and then talk about it in a way the creates interest and intrigue. What problems do you solve and how do those that you help benefit? Ex: I help people connect with and honor what’s most important to them and live more balanced and fulfilling lives as a result … (life coach)
- Forget about the traditional concept of networking and get curious
Take genuine interest in those around you. Get really curious about who they are and what they do. Engaging based on curiosity and mutual interests creates an fertile environment for personal and/or professional relationships to flourish. Along the way, you may find out that your sister’s new boyfriend’s cousin has a contact at that company you’ve been scoping out!
- Ask for what you want
If you meet someone who might be a useful ally in your career or job change, ask for what you want. Interested in learning more about their organization? Ask for an informational interview or a tour. Do they have a friend at the organization you’ve been researching? As for an introduction. Feel a sense of connection? Ask for a lunch or coffee date.
- Consider how you can help those you meet
Do you know of a person your new contact really needs to meet? A great book you read recently that they’d enjoy? An event they might like to attend? Sharing information of interest to others is a great ways to connect (and reconnect after your initial meeting).
Whether attending the festivities of family, friends, your employer, your spouse/partner’s employer, professional associations, etc., you never know who you’ll meet and where that new connection might lead.
Share
Tags: Career, career management, holidays, job change, Networking
Posted in Career, Life, Networking | No Comments »
Friday, November 16th, 2007
It’s a dilemma faced by most working families: who stays home when the kids are sick? It can be a source of frustration and resentment in couples where one parent continually fulfills the role. And, it can create additional stresses in the workplace for that parent.
NBC4 recently addressed the topic and asked me to do so as well. They profiled one local working family in the DC Metro Area who actually had a child fall sick the morning of the taping. Read or watch their story, along with some commentary from me.
And, stay tuned for a more comprehensive look at the issue in upcoming article I’m writing. You’ll gain useful tips on deciding who stays home when the need arises. And, it will!
Share
Tags: sick kids, working parents
Posted in Career, Parenting, Work / Life Integration | No Comments »
Subscribe