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When to hire a career coach "Being laid off is a fact of business today," says Elaine Varelas of Keystone Partners. "It's not personal." But that doesn't mean it's any less of a shock. Career coaches can help you navigate almost everything: handling emotions, defining skills and goals, and even adapting to a new workplace. When you're competing with top talent, the old saying is even more important: You don't get a second chance to make a first impression. "That's why it's important to have your act together," says Bettina Seidman. "A career coach can help you do it right the first time." That includes working with you to hone your two-minute pitch so you can quickly and effectively describe yourself and your accomplishments, preparing you for the interview, and proofreading your resume to catch the typos that can torpedo your chances. "You can get a lot of information on the Web or in books," says Cheryl Lynch Simpson. "But a coach can help you apply that information to your situation and work with you to create your unique 'brand'." Before you sign on with a coach, ask for his or her credentials and check the bio and client information, advises Anita Attridge. Also, "ask to contact previous clients." There is no governing body that certifies coaches. The Career Management Alliance (careermanagementalliance.com) and Career Directors International(careerdirectors.com) have directories, but at the best way to find someone is through word of mouth, says Simpson. And experience is more important than certification. Some coaches charge up-front fees that range from $5,000 to $20,000. Hour fees run between $100 and $500. Clients looking to change jobs may need four to six hours; to change careers, 10 to 14 hours; to get performance coaching, three to six months. "Make sure the coach doesn't insist you start from scratch if you have already don some of the footwork," Attridge says. How to use career-matching sites Maybe that job you just lost wasn't really right for you in the first place. Maybe now is the time to evaluate your true interests and the jobs that might match up with them. You can start with these online aids. profiler.com Artifacts conservator or airline mechanic? This site uses the reputable Campbell Interest and Skill Survey, a 320-question multiple-choice test, to winnow nearly 60 occupations and find the best bets for you, using the responses of people employed in those fields as a metric. Cost: $18--and worth it if you're looking for any and all clues to self-knowledge. vocationvacations.com These guys will arrange for you to spend a weekend - at least a cost of several hundred to a few thousand dollars - with someone who does exactly what you think you might want to do, whether that's acting or alpaca farming. Profiles introduce mentors - an archeologist, a landscape designer, a dog trainer, or a coffeehouse owner, to name a few of the 150-plus possibilities - and describe what you'll do together. Your E-portfolio/Website Sometimes a paper resume is just so 20th-century. Thanks to hosting sites like visualcv.com, coroflot.com, and carbonmade.com, you don't have to be tech-savvy to create a digital resume or e-portfolio. And you control access, unlike with a personal website. Start with your resume, then add supporting information -- examples of your work, sales charts, published articles, letters of recommendation, images, or videos. "It's an opportunity to build your personal brand," says Pierce Resler of VisualCV. Studies show that hiring managers and recruiters Google many job seekers to see their online presence. If you're considering creating a personal website, reserve your domain name today, says Randall Hansen. (Try godaddy.com or register.com. You'll pay as little as $9.99 a year.) Powering up your resume Career coach Elaine Varelas has a simple "so what?" test that she thinks every line of a resume should pass: "If you say, 'I managed six people,' ask yourself, "So what?" But saying 'I managed six people with no turnover' does answer the question. Resumes are all about results." You'll also want to see strong, specific action verbs to highlight your results. "Worked, for instance, is a weak and overused word," says Randall Hansen. "Use collaborated or led." Here are a few more verbs that can help put the action back into your job search:
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Definition of Feature Feature samples Your Next Job How to write a feature article Feature facts Focusing on the theme Major classifications of feature The Wall Street Journal Formula Tips on Feature Writing Informative yet entertaining |
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