Apr 3, 2011

Career and Life Coaching Tip of the Day...



Career Integrity Coaching April, 2011 Newsletter Tips For Writing “Thank You Letters”: Approximately, less than 10 percent of job seekers complete the necessary task of “writing a thank you letter to a potential employer” which is a crucial practice of the process. It is proper business etiquette to send a thank you letter, but numerous candidates ignore this matter of courtesy. Writing a thank-you letter can be a significant reason on receiving the opportunity you are currently seeking. A thank you letter can make you be noticed from other potential candidate contenders. In our current job climate, it is smart and necessary to consider every tool that will give you the ultimate edge and advantage. A thank you letter allows you to explain, restate and clarify. In addition, you can redirect your focus on topics that you learned during the interview and re-emphasize your strengths, accomplishments, and skills. An effective thank you note should be forwarded to the interviewer before the final hiring decision has been made by the organization. • Situations that call for a thank you letter: o Immediately after you have your interview meeting. E-mail your letter/note within one day-----ASAP! DO NOT PUT IT OFF! Remember to spell check. You want to convey your interest level in the position. o After a corporation meeting or an exploratory and informational interview. o When a business associate provides a networking contact or refers you directly to an employer. • Main ideas that a Thank You letter should include”: o State your appreciation of your interview meeting and the time spent. o Articulate your interest level in the opportunity. o Re-emphasize your qualifications that match their position summary. o Provide important information that you didn’t have the opportunity to share and cover during your interview meeting. o Keep your thank you letters to one page- simple, clear, concise and short. o Assist the interviewer in remembering you by referring to specific examples and points reviewed in your meeting. o Express your continued interest and enthusiasm for the opportunity. o Demonstrate to your interviewer that you a true professional that is concerned about details. o Keep in mind, a minimal amount of candidates do not send thank you letters - This can be your ADVANTAGE! This is your last opportunity to leave your interviewer with a positive impression of you and your interview meeting Sample “Thank You Letter” Anthony F. Marano Director of Human Resources DIAL Consultants Inc. 337 Court Street Stamford, CT, 06878 April 3, 2011 Greetings Mr. Marano, It was a true pleasure meeting with you today in regards to your Assistant Controller opportunity at DIAL Consultants Inc. I wanted to thank you so much for spending a significant amount of time informing me about your organization and your operational and financial management needs. I especially want to thank you for being so kind to me and making me feel extremely welcomed during our interview meeting. The opportunity, as you presented it, seems to be a very good match in regards to my interest level and my experience in reviewing and preparing external financial reports and establishing and maintaining accounting policy. Once again, thank you for the opportunity to meet with me for this interesting opportunity with your company. I am very excited about the prospect of working with such a dedicated team of professionals. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any additional inquires. I truly look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, your name Additional Tips: • Proofread the letter before sending it: grammatical errors and typos are unprofessional. You may want to wait awhile and proofread it again. Some decision makers proofread by reading the letter backwards. • Email your thank you letter/note to a specific contact not just the company or organization in general. If you were interviewed by more than one person, either forward a separate letter or note to each person or send a single letter to a key contact for distribution. When sending more than one letter, tailor the message to each recipient. • Stick to your point and message. • Be sincere--most people can sense when you aren't being honest and genuine. • Be specific and detailed….. make certain your letter stands out from the rest. • Do not thank the person beforehand (for example, "Thanking your interviewer in advance for their help in this matter"). To do so is presumptuous and suggests you are unwilling to write a follow-up letter. • Close with either an expression of thanks or an indication of your intention to continue contact. Irene “Highly Recommends”: Connect with your interviewers and check if they are Linked In members immediately after your interview meeting. Remember, you want to continue to build your business and professional network during your job search. To a potential employer, “a Linked In recommendation” is an opportunity to review and read a reference in advance. Having strong references can only assist you when it comes to getting selected for an interview and obtaining a new position. The best way to get recommendations is to give them, so take some time to write recommendations for your fellow peers and colleagues and they will most likely will reciprocate the gesture. Good luck to all, Irene

Apr 1, 2011

What is Career Coaching?


“Go on with a spirit that fears nothing!”  Homer

Frequently Asked Questions:   

1. How does coaching differ from therapy and counseling?

Counseling:  Is an advice-giving approach.

Therapy:  Assist individuals to address root causes.


Career Coaching:  

*     Collaborative and personalized approach that provides constant encouragement.
*     Objective to achieve career goals, aspirations and ambitions based on one’s interest and values.
*     Developing and maximizing one’s specific skills.
*     An opportunity to think out of the box.
*     Problem solving and decision making.
*     Institute an active career plan.

2. The Benefits of the Career Coaching Process?

*     A Career Coach explores and uncovers the career possibilities that have never been considered or understood before.
*    A Career Coach assists you to move forward in a positive direction.
*    Career Coaching is a customized hands-on approach.
*    Career Coaching is a journey to career fulfillment.
*    Career Coaching will eliminate your self-limiting beliefs.
*    Career Coaching focuses on specific techniques and encourages a client to be accountable.
*    Career Coaching is a relationship between a coach that aligns and matches with their clients needs.
*    Career Coaching “enlightens” clients; gives a spiritual insight.
*    Career Coaching is one the most empowering experiences. It has the potential to provide a client a conscious awareness of how they truly feel.

“Control your own destiny or someone else will.
“Willingness to change is strength.”

College Career Coaching News~



College Career Coaching News-

Our highly individualized programs at Career Integrity Coaching assist students while in college and after graduation to personally and professionally progress through the stages of their lives with incredible career and life success.

5 Important Resume Tips:

1.     Should I have an objective? Yes, absolutely!
2.     Your educational history must be the top header.
3.    You resume should fit onto one page.
4.     Proofread: your spelling and grammar MUST be perfect.
5.     Leadership skills: indicate your campus organizations, community service projects, sports or club affiliations involvement.

Career and Life Coaching Tip of the Day...

Goal Setting” during your current job search”... 

"For me, goals are my road map to the life I want. They have helped me accomplish things I once thought were impossible." - Catherine Pulsifer
____________________________________________________________________________
“Goal setting” during your current job search is crucial, important and necessary. Achievers are candidates who set goals and meet them.

Goal Setting involves…….being positive, thinking in the present, having a greater sense of self awareness, creating and developing objectives, measuring obtainable achievements, being specific, being realistic, being purposeful, action-oriented, creating a vision and monitoring the progress.
Evaluation and Checklist Form for my current job search:
1. Understand what you want to accomplish.
2. Brainstorm ideas.
3. Make your questions open-ended.
4. Utilization of: email and instant message accounts, google and other search engines, blogs, linkedIn, my space, facebook, and other social networking sites.
5. Identifying: my career options, work experience, background , interests and values so I know what type of opportunity will match my personality and aptitudes the best.
6. Networking with peers, colleagues, friends and family members to discover job positions.
7. Researching and being proactive in contacting prospective firms.
8. What size firm do I want to work in? industry? Why?
9. What’s working and what’s not working?
10. I need to increase/decrease my efforts in?
____________________________________________________________________________
"You have to set goals that are almost out of reach. If you set a goal that is attainable without much work or thought, you are stuck with something below your true talent and potential." - Steve Garvey.

 

Mar 31, 2011

Career and Life Coaching Tips of the Day...

Keeping a “life balance” when seeking a “new job opportunity

 Explore and review:

o What are the key experiences that most influenced you?
o What are your core values?
o What are your key skills?
o What are your true passions?
o Remain focused on opportunities that are a solid match and are realistic to your background, experience, skills, and abilities.
• Interviewing Basics:
o Research Before You Apply and Submit your resume for consideration. Tailor your resume.
o Practice mock interviews prior.
o Stay focused.
o Behavioral- situational and action results.
• The Importance of Transferable Skills:
o Completion of projects, team player, problem solving and
goal-oriented.
• You shall find ways to practice and enjoy your creativity side.
• You shall have no greater commitment to your work than to love and enjoy it as a part of your total life.
• Smile frequently and openly to everyone you meet.
• You shall attend to ways to boost your energy sources (spiritual, physical and mental).
• ALWAYS….engage in the joy of the humor around you.
• You shall not forget to laugh out loud, often and most importantly at yourself.
• Spend time with family and friends. Take up an exercise ritual. Find the things in life to celebrate on a constant basis.

 

7 CREDITABILITY ELEMENTS SELF DISCOVERY EXERCISE~

7 CREDITABILITY ELEMENTS SELF DISCOVERY EXERCISE

1. POWER- Types:

a. Rank/legitimate power
b. Reward power
c. Punishment power
d. Access power
e. Information power
f. Expert power

2. TRUTHWORTHINESS- Demonstrated by:

a. Keeping your word
b. Consistency in actions/behaviors/non verbals
c. Sharing information
d. Following-up
e. Taking the lead

3. COMPETENCE-

a. Credibility history
b. Specialized vocabulary/language
c. Demonstration
d. Association with other competent people
e. Organized

4. GOOD-WILL-

a. WIIFM (What’s in it for me?)
b. Giving assistance
c. Past benefit/track record

5. SIMILARITY-

a. Mirroring non verbals/style of dress
b. Agreement/lack of agreement
c. Common denominator

6. IDEALISM-

a. Vision
b. Positivism
c. Enlarged View
d. Goal oriented
e. Optimism

7. DYNAMISM-

a. Speaking ability
b. Congruency (Words, Non-Verbals/Tone Voice).